Latent Tuberculosis Infections in Different Intensity of Exposure within Moroccan Population: Influence of Age and Bacille Calmette-Guérin Vaccination.

Background: In Morocco, latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is a public health concern affected by the country's location as transit area between sub-Saharan Africa with high TB burden to Europe. This study aimed to assess the influence of exposure intensity to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), age, and Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination on LTBI prevalence in Morocco.

Methods: A cross-sectional study of 131 participants, including 98 non-exposed healthy volunteers (NEHV) and 33 healthcare workers exposed to active TB (exposed healthcare workers [EHCW]), was conducted.

CD1 gene polymorphism and susceptibility to celiac disease: Association of CD1E*02/02 in Moroccans.

CD1 glycoproteins are a class of antigen presenting molecules that bind and present non-peptidic antigens (lipids and glycolipids) for immune recognition. CD1 polymorphisms, although limited, could have a critical role in antimicrobial, anticancer, and autoimmune responses and disease susceptibility. Ethnic differences and interactions between genetic and environmental factors make it attractive the study of these molecules in autoimmune inflammatory disorders, such as celiac disease (CD), in which a strong genetic predisposition (HLA-DQ2/DQ8) and pressure of environmental factors have a central role.

Moroccan lymphocyte subsets reference ranges: age, gender, ethnicity, and socio-economic factors dependent differences.

Lymphocyte subsets reference ranges are helpful for a precise diagnosis and therapy of various diseases. We attempted in the current study to establish Moroccan lymphocyte reference range and reveal age, gender, ethnicity, income, and instructional levels dependent differences. Lymphocyte subsets percentage and absolute count were determined by 4-color flow cytometry in a population study of 145 adults Moroccan healthy volunteers.

Proteomics characterization of CENP-B epitope in Moroccan scleroderma patients with anti-centromere autoantibodies.

Background: Anti-centromere auto-antibodies (ACA) have been described as a marker in Systemic sclerosis (SSc) disease. CENP-B is the major centromere auto-antigen recognized by SSc patients with positive ACA. Our aim was to characterize the major epitope involved in the anti-CENP-B immune response of Moroccan SSc patients.

Immune activation and regulatory T cells in Mycobacterium tuberculosis infected lymph nodes.

Background: Lymph node tuberculosis (LNTB) is the most frequent extrapulmonary form of tuberculosis (TB). Studies of human tuberculosis at sites of disease are limited. LNTB provides a unique opportunity to compare local in situ and peripheral blood immune response in active Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) disease.

Immunological and Clinical Characteristics of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Series from Morocco.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune disease with a high female predominance. To date, studies about SLE in Morocco are few. This retrospective study describes the clinical and immunological features in a series of 50 SLE Moroccan patients in University Hospital Center of Rabat, Morocco, between December 2011 and December 2013.

New variant identified in major susceptibility locus to tuberculosis on chromosomal region 8q12-q13 in Moroccan population: a case control study.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a global health problem. Several studies have implicated genetic host factors in predisposing populations to TB disease. In this study, we have selected NSMAF (Neutral Sphingomyelinase Activation Associated Factor) as a candidate gene to evaluate its level of association with TB disease in a Moroccan population for two reasons: first, this gene is located in a major susceptibility locus on chromosomal region 8q12-q13 in the Moroccan population, closely linked to the CYP7A1 gene, which was previously shown to be associated with TB disease; second, NSMAF has an important role in immune system function.

CD1A, D and E gene polymorphisms in a North African population from Morocco.

CD1 molecules are specialized in capturing and presenting lipids and glycolipids to distinct subsets of T and NKT cells. Glycolipid presentation could play a significant role in the immune response against microbial infections. There are five closely linked CD1 genes in humans, named CD1A, B, C, D, and E, which all show a limited polymorphism.

Real-Time PCR for Measles Virus Detection on Clinical Specimens with Negative IgM Result in Morocco.

Since the confirmation of measles cases represents an important indicator regarding the performance of the measles-elimination program, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the routine procedures followed in Morocco for the laboratory confirmation of measles cases. Suspected cases reported between January 2010 and December 2012 were assessed for the timeliness of the sample collection, occurrence of measles clinical symptoms, and the results of the laboratory diagnoses. For 88% of the 2,708 suspected cases, a clinical specimen was collected within 7d of rash onset, of which 50% were IgM-positive and 2.

Molecular Typing of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Complex by 24-Locus Based MIRU-VNTR Typing in Conjunction with Spoligotyping to Assess Genetic Diversity of Strains Circulating in Morocco.

Background: Standard 24-locus Mycobacterial Interspersed Repetitive Unit Variable Number Tandem Repeat (MIRU-VNTR) typing allows to get an improved resolution power for tracing TB transmission and predicting different strain (sub) lineages in a community.

Methodology: During 2010-2012, a total of 168 Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex (MTBC) isolates were collected by cluster sampling from 10 different Moroccan cities, and centralized by the National Reference Laboratory of Tuberculosis over the study period. All isolates were genotyped using spoligotyping, and a subset of 75 was genotyped using 24-locus based MIRU-VNTR typing, followed by first line drug susceptibility testing.

MICA∗078: A novel allele identified in a Moroccan individual affected by celiac disease.

A novel MICA allele, MICA(∗)078, has been identified during HLA/MICA high resolution typing of Moroccan patients with celiac disease. MICA(∗)078 shows an uncommon variation at a highly conserved nucleotide position (nt 493, G → A), resulting in one amino acid change at codon 142 (V → I) of MICA gene (compared to MICA(∗)002:01), located in the α2-domain, in which V142 is the common residue.

The CYP7A1 gene rs3808607 variant is associated with susceptibility of tuberculosis in Moroccan population.

Introduction: Despite the medical progress in treatment. Tuberculosis (TB) continues to be a serious global health problem. A genome-wide linkage study identified a major susceptibility locus on chromosomal region 8q12-q13 in Moroccan TB patients.

A qualitative study of vaccine acceptability and decision making among pregnant women in Morocco during the A (H1N1) pdm09 pandemic.

Vaccination uptake of pregnant women in Morocco during the A (H1N1) pdm09 pandemic was lower than expected. A qualitative study using open-ended questions was developed to explore the main determinants of acceptance and non-acceptance of the monovalent A (H1N1) pdm09 vaccine among pregnant women in Morocco and to identify information sources that influenced their decision-making process. The study sample included 123 vaccinated and unvaccinated pregnant women who were in their second or third trimester between December 2009 and March 2010.

Rotavirus and norovirus infections among acute gastroenteritis children in Morocco.

Background: Acute gastroenteritis is a serious cause of child mortality and morbidity in resource-limited countries. A viral etiology is most common, and rotavirus and norovirus are reported to be the leading causative agents. There are still few epidemiological data on the simultaneous occurrence of these viruses in Morocco.

Genetic diversity of TLR2, TLR4, and VDR loci and pulmonary tuberculosis in Moroccan patients.

Introduction: Toll-like receptors (TLRs) 2, 4, and the vitamin D receptor (VDR) are central components of the innate and adaptive immunity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). TLR2, TLR4, and VDR polymorphisms were previously associated with tuberculosis (TB) and were here investigated as candidates for pulmonary TB (PTB) susceptibility in a Moroccan population group.

Methodology: Genomic DNA from 343 PTB patients and 203 healthy controls were analyzed for 12 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located in TLR2, TLR4, and VDR genes using polymerase chain reaction-based restriction fragment length polymorphism and TaqMan SNP genotyping assays.

Treatment default amongst patients with tuberculosis in urban Morocco: predicting and explaining default and post-default sputum smear and drug susceptibility results.

Setting: Public tuberculosis (TB) clinics in urban Morocco.

Objective: Explore risk factors for TB treatment default and develop a prediction tool. Assess consequences of default, specifically risk for transmission or development of drug resistance.

Antimicrobial resistance monitoring in Neisseria gonorrhoeae and strategic use of funds from the Global Fund to set up a systematic Moroccan gonococcal antimicrobial surveillance programme.

Objectives: The aims of this study were to assess antimicrobial resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae infections and update the treatment in the national guidelines for the syndromic management of sexually transmitted infections in Morocco.

Methods: 171 men complaining of urethral discharge were recruited from basic health services during 2009. Urethral swab samples were collected and N gonorrhoeae identification was performed by culture.

Outcomes in patients with mixed phenotype acute leukemia in Morocco.

Mixed phenotype acute leukemia (MPAL) includes biphenotypic and bilineal types of leukemia, which constitute rare subtypes that require individualized therapy. Outcomes in Moroccan patients with MPAL are unknown. Among 1264 patients with acute leukemia, 20 were classified as having MPAL, including 17 with biphenotypic acute leukemia (1.

2009 Pandemic influenza A virus subtype H1N1 in Morocco, 2009-2010: epidemiology, transmissibility, and factors associated with fatal cases.

Background: Following the emergence of 2009 pandemic influenza A virus subtype H1N1 (A[H1N1]pdm09) in the United States and Mexico in April 2009, A(H1N1)pdm09 spread rapidly all over the world. There is a dearth of information about the epidemiology of A(H1N1)pdm09 in Africa, including Morocco. We describe the epidemiologic characteristics of the A(H1N1)pdm09 epidemic in Morocco during 2009-2010, including transmissibility and risk factors associated with fatal disease.

The genotypic population structure of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex from Moroccan patients reveals a predominance of Euro-American lineages.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major health problem in Morocco. Characterization of circulating Mycobacterium tuberculosis genotypic lineages, important to understand the dynamic of the disease, was hereby addressed for the first time at a national level.

Methodology/principal Findings: Spoligotyping was performed on a panel of 592 M.

Monitoring of rotavirus vaccination in Morocco: establishing the baseline burden of rotavirus disease.

Background: Rotavirus is a leading cause of childhood morbidity and mortality worldwide. Clinical trials for two rotavirus vaccines recommended by the WHO for global use since 2009 have successfully demonstrated the safety and efficacy of these vaccines in a wide range of countries. To control the burden of severe and fatal diarrheal disease, the Ministry of Health of Morocco introduced the single strain rotavirus vaccine into their national immunization program in 2010.

HIV-1 Subtype distribution in morocco based on national sentinel surveillance data 2004-2005.

Background: Little is known about HIV-1 subtype distribution in Morocco. Some data suggest an emergence of new HIV subtypes. We conducted phylogenetic analysis on a nationally representative sample of 60 HIV-1 viral specimens collected during 2004-2005 through the Morocco national HIV sentinel surveillance survey.

The MCP-1 (CCL2) -2518 GG genotype is associated with protection against pulmonary tuberculosis in Moroccan patients.

Introduction: Both monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), also designated officially as chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2), and interleukin-12 p40 (IL-12 p40) molecules, encoded by polymorphic genes, are central components of the immune response to infection by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). Their genetic diversity has previously been associated with the outcome of tuberculosis (TB) infection. We investigated whether the MCP-1 -2518 A/G and the IL-12B (p40) +1188 A/C polymorphisms influence susceptibility to or resistance against pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) in a Moroccan population group.