ABSTRACT
The food handlers control is one of the major measures of the National program against intestinal parasitoses in Tunisia. The collected data allow regular updates of the prevalence and profile of the involved parasitic species and note possible evolutions in time. From 1998 to 2008, 8502 stool samples of food handlers working in Tunis area were examined in the laboratory of Parasitology, Pasteur Institute of Tunis. The mean prevalence of intestinal parasites was 13.5% [1152 positive samples]. The protozoa were the most detected parasites [93% of the species observed]. Among the pathogenic or potentially pathogenic parasites, Dientamoeba fragilis [15.5%] and Giardia intestinalis [7.6%] were the most frequently encountered. Entamoeba [E.] histolytica/dispar was diagnosed in 41 subjects [a prevalence of 0.5%]. Hymenolepis nana was the most frequent helminth [4.5% of the whole parasites]. Therapeutic failures were noticed in 43.8% of infection by this cestode because of the lack of the appropr iate antihelminthic. The identification using PCR of cysts and/or vegetative forms of E. histolytica/dispar revealed the exclusive presence of E. dispar
ABSTRACT
In order to update the geographical distribution of the three noso-geographical of cutaneous leishmaniasis [CL] occurring in Tunisia, namely the sporadic [SLCL zoonotic [ZCL] and chronic [CCL] forms, and to review their main pattern, a involving 244 cases, was carried out. Most of patients were infected in the Central and Southern parts of the country 74.2% and suffered of ZCL in 64.8% of cases. The three forms were registered in zones considered so far as preserved thus confirming their geographical spread. Sexes were equally affected [sex ratio: 1.02]. The patients were predominantly children and young] adults aged 24.6 years on average. ZCL lesions were mainly multiples [54.1%] localised in the limbs [81.5%] while those of SCL were rather isolated [91%, p<001] and affected the face [84.3%, p<0,00l]. Two clinical presentations prevailed: the classical ulcerous presentation with scabs in ZCL [72%] and the erythematous presentation in SCL [55,9%, p=0.002]. A negative correlation was found between the number and duration of the lesions on presentation [r=0, 22; p<0,00l]. The iso-enzymatic identification of 105 isolated strains confirmed that L. major was the most prevalent species [60.9%] followed by L. infantum [27.6%] and L. killicki [11.4%]. Within L. infantum complex, zymodeme MON-24 was prevailing [75,9%]. CL remains an emergent disease in Tunisia with an incidence and a geographicol spread continuously on the increase. Recent environmental changes, auspicious to Phlebotomine vectors and rodents reservoirs, had probably contributed to that situation
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous/diagnosis , Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous/parasitology , Leishmania major , Leishmania infantum , PsychodidaeABSTRACT
This work aims to estimate prevalence and evaluate risk factors of leishmanin-skin test positivity. A cross-sectional leishmanin skin test study was carried out on a sample of 3190 healthy volunteers living in the gouvernorates of Kairouan and Kasserine. Age standardized prevalence of leishmanin-skin test positivity was 45.9% [CI95% = [43.9-47.9]] confirming the hyper endemicity of this region. The rate of leishmanin-skin test positivity ranged from 75.9% [CI95% = [71.9-79.5]] in Zaghdoud [Kairouan] to 6.5% [CI95% = [3.7-11.01] in Abdeladhim [Kasserine]. There is no significant difference between men and women suggesting a similar exposure to infection. In the districts of Zaghdoud, Sidi Amor, El Hajeb and chbika, age specific rates showed a rapid increasing positive prevalence with age reaching a proportion exceeding 80% after the age of 15 years. However, the age specific prevalence from other delegations showed a progressive increasing trend with age, with a low rate for younger children and a plateau of 75% after 45 years. Multivariate analysis of leishmanin-skin test positivity risk factors showed that only district and age are determinants of this infection