Parasites and diet as main drivers of the Malagasy gut microbiome richness and function.

Interactions between the prokaryotic microbiome and eukaryotic parasites in the vertebrate gut may affect overall host health and disease. While intertropical areas exhibit a high rate of parasites carriers, such interactions are understudied in these populations. Our objectives were to (1) describe the gut microbiome of individuals living in Madagascar, (2) identify potential associations between bacterial taxa and parasites colonizing the digestive tract and (3) highlight main determinants of the gut microbiota composition in this developing country.

Factors associated with coinfections in invasive aspergillosis: a retrospective cohort study.

Objectives: To describe the coinfections in invasive aspergillosis (IA), to identify factors associated with coinfections, and to evaluate the impact of coinfection on mortality.

Patients And Methods: We conducted a monocentric retrospective study of consecutive putative, probable, or proven IA that occurred between 1997 and 2017. All coinfections, with an onset within 7 days before or after the first sign of aspergillosis, were identified.

A phylogenetic analysis of the biting midges belonging to Culicoides Latreille (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) subgenus Avaritia using molecular data.

Background: Within the genus Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), the subgenus Avaritia is of particular interest as it contains a significant number of economically important vector species. Disagreements about the systematic classification of species within this subgenus have resulted in a taxonomic imbroglio.

Methods: A molecular phylogeny of the subgenus Avaritia was conducted to test the existing systematic classification, which is based on phenetic assessment of morphological characters.

Locally acquired infection with Dibothriocephalus nihonkaiense (=Diphyllobothrium nihonkaiense) in France: the importance of molecular diagnosis.

Diphyllobothriasis is a parasitic fish-borne disease caused by tapeworms of the genus Dibothriocephalus (=Diphyllobothrium). The majority of reported cases are attributed to D. latum, based on morphological identification of eggs or proglottids.

The Trick of the Hedgehog: Case Report and Short Review About Archaeopsylla erinacei (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) in Human Health.

Fleas are ectoparasites of various animals, including Homo sapiens Linnaeus, 1758 (Primates: Hominidae). Among the species relevant to the human health field, either due to their dermatopathological potential or because of their role as vectors of microorganisms responsible for infectious diseases, such as plague or murine typhus, are the human flea, oriental rat flea, closely related cat and dog fleas, and chigoe flea. However, other species can accidentally infest humans.

Biological Diagnosis of Ocular Toxoplasmosis: a Nine-Year Retrospective Observational Study.

Ocular toxoplasmosis (OT), i.e., the ocular manifestation of infection, is one of the leading causes of posterior uveitis.

Toxoplasma gondii ROP16 kinase silences the cyclin B1 gene promoter by hijacking host cell UHRF1-dependent epigenetic pathways.

Toxoplasmosis, caused by the apicomplexan parasite Toxoplasma gondii, is one of the most common infections in the world due to the lifelong persistence of this parasite in a latent stage. This parasite hijacks host signaling pathways through epigenetic mechanisms which converge on key nuclear proteins. Here, we report a new parasite persistence strategy involving T.

When biology supports clinical diagnosis: review of techniques to diagnose ocular toxoplasmosis.

Toxoplasmosis is a common infection whose worldwide prevalence is estimated at 30%, with large disparities across the world. Among infected subjects, the prevalence of ocular toxoplasmosis (OT) is, however, limited to about 2% in Europe and 17% in South America. In France, it is estimated that about 1 000 000 patients present either active OT or subsequent chorioretinal scars.

Cestode infections in non-human primates suggest the existence of zoonotic cycles in the area surrounding the Strasbourg primatology center.

Background: Several cases of infections due to Echinococcus multilocularis, Taenia martis and Taenia crassiceps were recently described in various species of captive non-human primates (NHPs) harbored in the Strasbourg Primate Center (SPC). Furthermore, one of the first cases of human cysticercosis due to T. martis was described in the Strasbourg region.

Type I ROP16 regulates retinal inflammatory responses during ocular toxoplasmosis.

Ocular toxoplasmosis (OT), mostly retinochorioditis, is a major feature of infection with the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. The pathophysiology of this infection is still largely elusive; especially mouse models are not yet well developed. In contrast, numerous in vitro studies showed the highly Toxoplasma strain dependent nature of the host-parasite interactions.

Human intestinal parasites in Mahajanga, Madagascar: The kingdom of the protozoa.

Introduction: Intestinal parasitic infections are a major public health problem in inter-tropical areas. The aim of our study was to describe the situation in Mahajanga, Madagascar with a particular focus on two protozoa, Dientamoeba fragilis and Blastocystis sp.

Methods: This was a prospective study from February to June 2015.

In Vitro Amoebicidal Activity of Titanium Dioxide/UV-A Combination Against Acanthamoeba.

Purpose: To assess the amoebicidal effect of titanium dioxide (TiO2)/UV-A combination against Acanthamoeba sp trophozoites and cysts.

Methods: The amoebicidal effect of the TiO2/UV-A combination was tested on trophozoites and cysts of clinical isolates of Acanthamoeba hatchetti and Acanthamoeba sp genotype T4, obtained from two severe cases of ulcerative keratitis. Samples of cultured Acanthamoeba were transferred to a 96-well plate.

Intestinal microsporidiosis in Strasbourg from 2014 to 2016: emergence of an Enterocytozoon bieneusi genotype of Asian origin.

Microsporidia cause opportunistic infections in highly immunodeficient individuals. Few studies on the epidemiology of these infections have been conducted in France. Between 2014 and 2016, we undertook a study to estimate the prevalence and circulating genotypes of this fungus-related micro-organism among the population of Strasbourg University Hospital.

Evaluation of Two Commercial Real-Time PCR Kits for Aspergillus DNA Detection in Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid in Patients with Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis.

Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) is a common complication of immunosuppression. Rapid diagnosis using molecular techniques is essential to improve patient survival. PCR techniques are promising in enhancing Aspergillus detection in blood and respiratory samples.

Molecular identification of Trichophyton benhamiae in Strasbourg, France: a 9-year retrospective study.

Trichophyton benhamiae is a zoophilic dermatophyte transmitted to humans mostly from guinea pigs and occasionally other animals. It presents two distinct phenotypes: yellow and white. T.

Simultaneous primary invasive cutaneous aspergillosis in two preterm twins: case report and review of the literature.

Background: Primary invasive cutaneous aspergillosis is a rare fungal infection that occurs mostly in immunocompromised patients. Newborns of very low birth weight present a high risk for this type of infection due to an immaturity of the cutaneous barrier and of the immune system.

Case Presentation: We describe here a case of simultaneous invasive cutaneous aspergillosis in two preterm twins.

Surgical treatment of sclerokeratitis and endophthalmitis.

A 55-year-old nurse was referred with a 5-month history of right eye corneal abscess. The initial injury occurred when doing lawn work. The infection worsened despite multiple antibiotic, antiviral, and steroid treatments.

Molecular diagnosis of Pseudoterranova decipiens s.s in human, France.

Background: Anisakis and Pseudoterranova are the main genera involved in human infections caused by nematodes of the Anisakidae family. Species identification is complicated due to the lack of differential morphological characteristics at the larval stage, thus requiring molecular differentiation. Pseudoterranova larvae ingested through raw fish are spontaneously eliminated in most cases, but mechanical removal by means of endoscopy might be required.

Description of Culicoides (Culicoides) bysta n. sp., a new member of the Pulicaris group (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) from Slovakia.

Background: Species of the genus Culicoides Latreille, 1809 (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) are mainly known as vectors of arboviruses such as bluetongue (BTV) and Schmallenberg (SBV). Among the known vectors, few species within the subgenus Culicoides Latreille, 1809 have been implicated in the transmission of BTV and SBV. Nevertheless, phylogenetic studies had revealed the presence of cryptic and undescribed species in Europe, raising questions about their vectorial role.

Intraocular Cytokine Levels in Post-Cataract Endophthalmitis and their Association with Visual Outcome.

Purpose: The host immune reaction during endophthalmitis, studied in particular through the intraocular cytokine network, is essential for the comprehension of the disease and the development of new therapies. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to elucidate the cytokine composition of aqueous humor during endophthalmitis.

Methods: In a multicenter case-control study, forty-nine patients with postoperative endophthalmitis and 60 controls (cataract surgery) were included.

First case of fungemia in a patient with cystic fibrosis.

is a hyalin fungus. It is a saprophyte of the environment, mainly found in soil and compost. In recent years, cases of opportunistic infections attributed to this pathogen have been described.

The hide and seek of Plasmodium vivax in West Africa: report from a large-scale study in Beninese asymptomatic subjects.

Background: Plasmodium vivax is considered to be absent from western Africa, where the prevalence of Duffy-negative red blood cell phenotype proves to be high. Several studies have, however, detected P. vivax infection cases in this part of Africa, raising the question of what is the actual prevalence of P.