Seroprevalence of hepatitis B and C among barbers and their clients in the Rabat region of Morocco

A cross-sectional seroepidemiological study was conducted in the Rabat-Sale-Zemmour-Zaer region of Morocco in 2007 among 267 barbers and 529 clients, all men with no history of hepatitis B [HBV] vaccination. The overall prevalence of HBV seropositivity was 28.1% in barbers and 25.1% in clients; 1.9% and 1.7% respectively had active HBV [HBsAg positive]. Risk factors for HBV included older age, low educational level, urban living, being married, history of transfusion, lack of current heterosexual relationship and liver-associated symptoms. Observations showed that HBV seropositivity was lower in clean barbershops and those using alum as an antispetic. The rate of PCR-confirmed hepatitis C virus [HCV] was only 1.1% and 1.3% in barbers and clients respectively, and was associated with increased age, drug use, history of surgery and symptoms of liver disease. Less than 1% of barbers were aware of HBV or HCV as causative agents of liver disease or jaundice

Omenn syndrome with mutation in RAG1 gene.

Omenn syndrome is a form of severe combined immunodeficiency associated with erythrodermia, hepatosplenomegaly, lymphadenopathy, and alopecia. Inherited hypomorphic mutations in the recombination activating genes 1 and 2 (RAG1 and RAG2) and in ARTEMIS genes and more recently defects in IL7RA, and RMRP genes have been described to be responsible of this peculiar immunodeficiency. The authors report here a Moroccan patient of four-months-old with classical features of Omenn syndrome, carrying a deletion at the N terminal part of RAG1. Early recognition of this condition is important for genetic counseling and early treatment.

[Diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis: evaluation of the TB IgA EIA assay in Morroco]

We analysed 2 evaluation lots of the TB IgA EIA test in pulmonary tuberculosis patients [TBp]. Sera were obtained from 345 TBp, 18 healthy subjects [HS], 28 subjects in contact with tuberculous patients [CS] and 16 non-tuberculous lung disease patients [N-TB] for the first evaluation lots and 302 TBp, 60 HS, 21 CS and 18 N-TB for the second. IgA titres against p-90 antigen with the second evaluation lot were significantly higher than the first evaluation lot. With the second evaluation lots, the sensitivity was 78.8% whereas with the first evaluation lot, the sensitivity was 75.9%. Specificity for the first and second evaluation lots was 50% and 70.7% respectively. The sensitivity of this test is still not satisfactory to establish pulmonary tuberculosis diagnosis

Parental Miscarriages and balanced chromosomal anomalies

We estimate at 15% the number of pregnancies that do not succeed to term and 1% the proportion of couples who have at least three miscarriages consult in gynaecology, thus answering the usual definition of the abortive disease. The balanced chromosomal anomalies constitute one of the reasons of the repeated spontaneous abortions. The chromosomal translocations robertsonian or reciprocal are the most the anomalies observed, because they predispose to the production of genetically not balanced gamete and non viable fetuses. We report 5 observations of couples having repeated miscarriages secondary to balanced translocations at one the parents, among the 400 couples followed in the consultation of medical genetics from 1992 to 2004. The karyotype has been achieved at the couples with at least three miscarriages. We identified 5 chromosomal abnormalities: two reciprocal translocations: t[7;8]; t[l;15] and three robertsonian translocations: t[22q22q]; t[14;21]; t[13;14]. The genetic advice is according to the type of the translocation, the localization of the points of break and also of the viability or not of the malformed fetus. It aims to explain to the couples the mechanism responsible for the failure of reproduction, to make them understand them the inefficiency of the hormonal treatment and the theoretical possibilities to lead pregnancies to term. It also permits to estimate the risk of birth to a sick child and to propose to the parents the different means of follow-up of these much desired pregnancies. In this work, we discuss the mechanism by which these anomalies produce the miscarriages and the interest of the chromosomal analysis at the couples who consult for an abortive disease

[Female drug abuse in a university setting]

Morocco is a country with Muslim-Arab tradition. In this sociocultural context, drug abuse in women is very taboo. We tried to approach the subject of drug use in women in a cross-sectional study of a sample of 1208 students [744 women and 464 men] who completed an anonymous self-administered questionnaire. We found 6.59% of women and 36.2% of men used drugs. Using DSM IV criteria, drug dependence was found in 2% of the subsample of female drug users and drug abuse in 1.5%. Place of residence and level of income were statistically significant risk factors for drug use

[Investigation of a measles epidemic in Kouf, Tetouan Province, Morocco]

The investigation of a measles epidemic that occurred in May 1995 in the locality of Kouf [Province of Tetouan] detected 64 cases of measles among 281 children below 15 years of age. The attack rate was 22.8%. The most affected age group was 1-3 years. Age, sex, sublocality, school attendance and number of brothers and sisters did not seem to be risk factors for measles in this epidemic. The vaccine coverage among children aged 9 to 59 months was 83.8% with or without vaccination document and 92.7% with document. The vaccine efficacy in children 9 months to 3 years of age was 40%. Further investigations would be needed in order to clarify the reasons for this low percentage