Morphological and molecular differentiation between Culicoides oxystoma and Culicoides kingi (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in Tunisia.

Background: Culicoides kingi and Culicoides oxystoma belong to the Schultzei group of biting midges. These two species are vectors of disease in livestock of economic importance. As described in the literature, morphological identification for discrimination between them is still unclear.

[Intestinal parasitosis among non-permanent resident students in Tunisia: a review of 23 years of monitoring in the department of Parasitology-Mycology at the Rabta Hospital of Tunisia].

Background: In order to fight digestive parasitism in Tunisia, a national program of surveillance of non-permanent resident students in Tunisia has been found to detect these parasitosis in this target population.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of intestinal parasitosis among non-permanent resident students in Tunisia, to identify the different parasitic species founded and to show the interest of this screening.

Methods: During a period of 23 years (1990-2012), 7386 parasitological examinations of stools has been made among students essentially from or had visited tropical Africa, Maghreb and Middle-East, at the laboratory of Parasitology-Mycology at the Rabta Hospital of Tunis.

Blood meal analysis of culicoides (Diptera: ceratopogonidae) in central Tunisia.

To evaluate the host preferences of Culicoides species (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in Central Tunisia, we identified the source of blood meals of field collected specimens by sequencing of the cytochrome b (cyt b) mitochondrial locus and Prepronociceptine single copy nuclear gene. The study includes the most common and abundant livestock associated species of biting midges in Tunisia: C. imicola, C.

First detection of Leishmania infantum (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae) in Culicoides spp. (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae).

Background: Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) species are known to be the vectors of Bluetongue virus and African Horses Sickness virus (AHSV) in different areas of the world. Nevertheless, other researchers have hypothesized that these arthropods could be involved in the transmission of other pathogens such as Schmallenberg virus, Plasmodium and Leishmania parasites. Identification of the Culicoides' potential vector competence is crucial in understanding the worldwide Culicoides/Leishmania life cycle.

[Risk factors for Toxoplasma gondii and immune status of pregnant women: cause and effect?].

Background: Human infection with the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii is found world-wide. The differences in prevalence across the countries may be ascribed to variations in hygiene and eating habits.

Aim: To identify preventable risk factors for Toxoplasma gondii infection in pregnancy through a transversal study achieved in the laboratory of Parasitology Mycology of Rabta including all pregnant women referred to the laboratory between March 2010 and February 2011 to serological testing for toxoplasmosis methods: The age, the stage of the current pregnancy and exposures to potential risk factors associated with Toxoplasma infection were collected by a questionnaire.

Morphological description of the fourth instar larva: Culicoides cataneii and Culicoides sahariensis (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae).

This study was carried out of the region of Monastir in Central Tunisia, between July and August 2010. Larvae were collected using a floatation technique with magnesium sulfate in mud samples. The fourth instar larva of Culicoides cataneii Clastrier, 1957 and Culicoides sahariensis Callot, Kremer, Bailly-Choumara, 1970 are described, illustrated and drawn.

Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis types of Candida albicans isolates from an intensive care unit in a Tunisian hospital.

Candida albicans is the most important cause of fungal infections in intensive care units. The aim of this work was to compare the profiles of C. albicans in order to specify their genetic polymorphism and to determine the origin of these infections.

[Keratomycosis in the area of Tunis: epidemiological data, diagnostic and therapeutic modalities].

Fungal keratitis is a serious disease involving the visual prognosis. This pathology is not well known in Tunisia. The aim of our study is to determine epidemiological data and clinical and mycological characteristics of fungal keratitis in the area of Tunis (North of Tunisia) and discuss its therapeutic modalities.

[Subcutaneous dirofilariasis of the upper lip in Tunisia].

Introduction: Dirofilariasis is a rare anthroponotic disease caused by Dirofilaria, the principal reservoir of which is the dog. The first case of subcutaneous dirofilariasis in Tunisia was reported in 1990.

Case Report: We report a case involving a 40-year-old woman living in northeastern Tunisia who presented with a subcutaneous lesion of the upper lip resembling a sebaceous cyst.

[Acanthamoeba keratitis: diagnosis to consider].

Introduction: Acanthamoeba keratitis is a rare but severe disease that can cause blindness. The objective of this study is to call attention to its severity and conditions of development and to emphasize the importance of early treatment.

Case Report: We report a case of a 27-year-old woman.

Population structure of Tunisian Leishmania infantum and evidence for the existence of hybrids and gene flow between genetically different populations.

Twenty-seven strains of Leishmania infantum from north and central Tunisia belonging to the three main MON zymodemes (the MON-typing system is based on multilocus enzyme electrophoresis (MLEE) of 15 enzymes) found in this country (MON-1, MON-24 and MON-80) and representing different pathologies (visceral, cutaneous and canine leishmaniasis) have been studied to understand the genetic polymorphism within this species. Intraspecific variation could be detected in L. infantum by the use of 14 hypervariable microsatellite markers.

Mucormycosis: four case reports.

Introduction: Mucormycosis is a rare and invasive fungal infection, but frequently fatal when it occurs. It commonly affects patients with diabetes mellitus. The aim of this study is to assess the clinical presentation, radiological findings, management and prognosis of mucormycosis.

[Confirmation by PCR of the existence in Tunisia of Entamoeba histolytica and Entamoeba dispar].

Aim: Amibias are illness in Tunisia diagnosed until now on the sole basis of the morphological aspects of the parasite. Our aim is to report the first Tunisian results concerning the molecular identification of E. histolytica/E.

[Toxocariasis: under-estimated disease. Report of 9 cases].

Toxocariasis or visceral larva migrans is a parasitosis due to the migration in the human organism of animal ascarid larvae. Its importance is under-estimated and the reported tunisian cases are rare. We report nine cases of toxocariasis, noted between January of 2000 to March of 2002, in the laboratory of parasitology-mycology in La Rabta Hospital.

Plasmodium falciparum causing hemophagocytic syndrome after allogeneic blood stem cell transplantation.

We describe a case of Plasmodium falciparum infection in a 25-year-old male patient with a myelodysplastic syndrome, who underwent allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) in September 2003. Conditioning regimen consisted of total body irradiation (10 Gy) and cyclophosphamide 60 mg/kg for 2 days. A dose of 4 x 10(6) CD34+ cells/kg was transfused.

[Efficacy of doxycycline in thoracic actinomycosis: a case report].

The authors present a case of thoracic actinomycosis in a 32 year-old man with a history of cervico-facial actinomycosis. Diagnosis was made by bacterial examination of purulent drainage from sternal wound showing typical sulfures granules. One year course of doxycycline gives clinical and radiological improvement.

[Bronchopulmonary aspergillosis: study of 17 cases].

Aspergillosis is a fungic infection depending on the local or general physiologic and immunologic state of the host. We report the result of retrospective five year study (1995-1999) about 17 cases in the laboratory of Parasitology-Mycology of Rabta hospital in Tunis. Six aspergillomas were observed, they occurred after a pulmonary tuberculosis, two cases of allergic broncho-pulmonary aspergillosis described in two asthmatic patients, nine cases of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis complicating two cancers, one leukaemia, six chronic granulomatous disease.