Séquelles respiratoires des infections à Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) et Chlamydophyla pneumoniae (CP) chez l’enfant

The respiratory sequelae of pulmonary infections with MP and CP are very diverse. Some of them are associated with the development of a non-specific acute pulmonary complication (e.g., empyema, pleurisy, pneumomediastinum). In contrast, others appear to be associated with a particular tropism of these bacteria for the respiratory tract.     

Contrôle endocrine et neuroendocrine de la mue de puberté chez les mâles de Sphaeroma serratum (Fabricius, 1787) (Crustacea,Isopoda, Flabellifera)

In the males of Sphaeroma serratum, the course of the puberty molt is controled by the Y organs, the brain, and perhaps the antennary glands. Y organs initiate and follow up proecdysis (probably by participating in production of ecdysterone, the physiological rate of which is high during D₀ and D₁) and secrete an ecdysis factor. After the puberty molt, they degenerate and the rate of ecdysterone reduces to zero. The brain initiates proecdysis, probably by secreting a Y-stimulating neurohormone (YSH), and in the control of ecdysis; it could stop in C₄ the molting cycle of adult males. The antennary glands control the mineral water metabolism and could act during the ecdysis, paticularly during the physiological ecdysis. These controls and their connections are discussed and a synthetic diagram is proposed.     

Gonadotropine glycoproteique maturante et oestradiol-17β pendant le cycle reproducteur chez la truite fario (Salmo trutta) femelle

Maturational glycoprotéique gonadotropin and estradiol-17β during the reproductive cycle of the female brown trout (Salmo trutta). Female brown trout were sacrificed every month or twice a month during the reproductive season. Plasma gonadotropin (GtH) and estradiol-17β (E₂-17β) were measured using radioimmunological techniques, in relation with the state of gametogenesis. From ovulation to July egg's diameters remained less than 1 mm, and ovogenesis was characterized from the histological appearance of three types of vitellus: glycoproteique (type I), lipidique (type II), lipidoprotéique (type III), and the immunological plasma detection of the vitellogenin. During this period GtH levels remained lower than 1 ng/ml except in March, when they increased around 5 ng/ml, both with pituitary GtH and plasma E₂ 17β. This rise occurred just before the appearance of the type III vitellus within the oocyte, and might correspond to a critical phase of the reproductive cycle during which vitellogenin could not be detected in 70% of the animals. During rapid growth of the oocyte from 1 to 5 mm, mean GtH levels increased from 0.75 to 2.5 ng/ml when those of the E₂-17β increased more rapidly but began to drop before the end of vitellogenesis. Maturation and ovulation were accompanied by a rise of the GtH level, in correlation with the lower levels of E₂-17β measured during the cycle, GtH remained high even after ovulation, and more in fish which had kept their eggs within the body cavity. Correlation among GtH, E₂-17β, and the diameters of eggs had been calculated. There was a positive correlation among GtH, E₂-17β levels, and the diameters of eggs during exogenous vitellogenesis, and a negative between GtH and E₂-17β at the end of the reproductive cycle. These results were discussed, in relation to the existence of a pulsatile mode of GtH secretion.     

Variations saisonnieres de la teneur plasmatique en testostérone et dihydrotestostérone chez le crapaud de Mauritanie (Bufo mauritanicus)

The changes in the plasma levels of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone during the annual reproduction cycle of the toad, Bufo mauritanicus, were determined by radioimmunoassay. Large variations were found, with highest levels during clasping (amplexus) in both males and females, when plasma testosterone rises to 595 and 91.7 ng/ml, respectively. Such high concentrations have not been reported previously.     

Localisation et cytologie des cellules neurosécrétrices protocérébrales chez Lithobius forficatus L. (Myriapode Chilopode)

In L. forficatus (Chilopoda), various types of protocerebral neurosecretory cells and pathways of secretory products were studied.Light microscopy data include the transverse distribution, the localization of two cell types (types 1 and 2) and their arborizations. The ultrastructural study permits characterization of three cell types (A, B and C), which differ mainly in the size, number and electron opacity of their granules; variations are related to the secretory cycle.Results obtained with light and electron microscopes are compared.     

Ultrastructure of immature stages of Peckia (Euboetcheria) collusor (Diptera: Sarcophagidae)

Peckia (Euboettcheria) collusor (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) is a necrophagous insect and represents an important role in forensic entomology, as it is always collected at animal/human corpses. Immature sarcophagids are extremely similar in morphological aspects and can be found colonizing both fresh and mummified bodies. Flesh fly larvae are reported to cause accidental myiasis. In the Neotropical regions little is known about the ultrastructure of immature stages of Sarcophagidae. Scanning electron microscopy gives detailed information on the morphological characters, which can help identify the immature forms of the flies. The aim of this study is to identify larvae and puparia of P. (E.) collusor using this methodology. The integument with net-like patches and the shape and disposition of intersegmental spines of the larval instars can be used to distinguish this flesh fly larva. The number of spiracular ramifications is variable at larval instars. The puparia are very similar to third instar larvae, except for the cephalic structures that are retracted. In conclusion, scanning electron microscopy could help entomologists to identify the immature forms of P. (E.) collusor in forensic investigations and consequently serves as a tool in crime scene investigations.     

Sergentomyia (Neophlebotomus) monticola, a new species of sand fly (Diptera: Psychodidae) from the Western Ghats,Thiruvananthapuram District,Kerala, India

Sergentomyia (Neophlebotomus) monticola, a new species of sand fly (Diptera: Psychodidae), from the Kani tribal settlements, Thiruvananthapuram District, Kerala, southern India was described. These settlements were located in the Western Ghats, which is one of the 25 biodiversity hotspots in the world. Morphological characters of male and female specimens of Sergentomyia (Neophlebotomus) monticola were described with illustrations and its taxonomic position is defined within the genus. The DNA barcode analysis showed that both male and female specimens of the species were belonging to a single taxonomic category. The genetic distance with the most similar taxonomic neighbour was 14.61%, which confirms its distinctness from its congeners. Voucher specimens of the new species were deposited at the museum, Vector Control Research Centre (Indian Council of Medical Research), Puducherry, India, Zoological Survey of India, India and Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (NMNH), Washington, D.C., USA.     

Finding of Parastrongylus cantonensis (Chen, 1935) in Rattus rattus in Tenerife, Canary Islands (Spain)

Parastrongylus cantonensis is a parasite of murid rodents that can infect humans and cause health problems as eosinophilic meningitis. Although it is endemic in south Asia, the Pacific islands, Australia, USA, and a few Caribbean islands, it has been extended to new geographical regions. In the Canary Islands (Spain) a survey of helminths of Rattus rattus, Rattus norvegicus and Mus musculus domesticus was carried out. Furthermore, five species of molluscs were examined for nematode larvae to determine whether they are potential intermediate hosts of P. cantonensis. Nematodes were found in the lungs of 15% of 67 R. rattus examined in Tenerife, one of the four studied islands, with a prevalence of 20% in the highest focus of infection. Based on morphological and molecular analysis, with the complete internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS-2) and a fragment of the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) nucleotide sequences, nematodes were identified as P. cantonensis. Larval nematodes found from snails and slugs were identified as third-stage (L₃) Metastrongyloidea, but the molecular study showed that they did not belong to P. cantonensis. This is the first finding of angiostrongyliasis in rats in the Canary Islands (Spain). New molecular data for this species and Parastrongylus dujardini are reported. The presence of P. cantonensis in Tenerife could be of importance from the public health point of view. Further studies are required in order to look for other potential foci of infections in the Canary Islands.     

Cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania (L.) major infection in Sindh province, Pakistan

Leishmaniasis is endemic in Pakistan and is wide-spread throughout the country. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed to identify the Leishmania species present in cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) patients from new endemic areas of the central part of Sindh province, Pakistan. The PCR primers used were designed for the identification and differentiation of Leishmania (Leishmania) major and Leishmania (Leishmania) tropica species, and PCR bands at 620 and 830 bp of the parasite-specific kinetoplast DNA sequences was identified for L. (L.) major and L. (L.) tropica, respectively. Among a total of 144 DNA samples purified from the skin biopsies of clinically suspected CL patients, 108 (75%) were positive for PCR amplification. Out of the 108 cases, 105 (97.2%) were determined to be positive for L. (L.) major infection, and 3 (2.8%) were positive for L. (L.) tropica infection. It was concluded that CL caused by L. (L.) major is the main source of infection in the central part of Sindh province in Pakistan. This rapid screening technique could be used for the diagnosis of a large number of samples from skin lesions, which commonly contain other bacterial and fungal infections.     

Evidence for control of vitellogenin synthesis by an ovarian hormone in Orchestia gammarella (Pallas), crustacea; Amphipoda

Females of the amphipod crustacean Orchestia gammarella were bilaterally ovariectomized. Synthesis of vitellogenin completely ceased 5 to 8 days after the operation and was restored by an ovarian transplant. Based on these results, the existence of an ovarian hormone is postulated which controls vitellogenin synthesis. We propose to call this hormone “vitellogenin stimulating ovarian hormone” (VSOH).     

Combination therapy with nitazoxanide and amphotericin B,Glucantime, miltefosine and sitamaquine against Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum intracellular amastigotes

Leishmaniasis is a neglected disease that affects poorest population mainly in developing countries, representing one of the major causes of mortality and morbidity. Therefore, efforts to find new chemotherapeutics for leishmaniasis remain a priority. Previous reports demonstrated the in vitro and in vivo antileishmanial activity of nitazoxanide, an antiprotozoan agent used in the treatment of infectious diarrhea. The present work was carried out to determine the effect of nitazoxanide in combination with current antileishmanial drugs. Mouse peritoneal macrophages were infected with Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum amastigotes in order to calculate the 50% and 90% inhibitory concentration values. Drug interactions were assessed with fixed ratio isobologram method and fractional inhibitory concentrations (FIC₅₀ and FIC₉₀); sum of FIC (ΣFIC₅₀ and ΣFIC₉₀) and overall mean ΣFIC (xΣFIC₅₀ and xΣFIC₉₀) were calculated for each combination. The nature of interactions was classified according to the xΣFIC₅₀ and xΣFIC₉₀. The combination between nitazoxanide and amphotericin B, Glucantime^®, miltefosine and sitamaquine showed xΣFIC₅₀ values of 1.13, 0.83, 1.06 and 0.94, respectively, indicating additive interaction. Considering the in vitro activity of nitazoxanide and the obtained results, further in vivo studies may be considered to evaluate possible drug interactions in visceral leishmaniasis.