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

Rubella seroprevalence among women aged 15-39 years in Morocco

This study was designed to determine the age-specific rubella seroprevalence in women of childbearing age in Morocco and to contribute to the development of a rubella vaccination strategy in the country. Of 967 women aged 15-39 years tested in 2000, 161 [16.6%] were susceptible to rubella based on absence of IgG antibodies. A significantly higher rate of susceptibility among women aged 15-19 years was observed [29.3%] compared with age 35-39 years [8.3%]. An estimated 77 562 live births occur annually to rubella-susceptible women. No statistical difference in seroprevalence was seen between women in rural and urban areas [81.5% and 85.0% respectively]. A substantial risk of rubella infection exists for Moroccan women of childbearing age

[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

International collaborative assessment study of the AHD [575] method for the measurement of blood haemoglobin

Accurate, economical methods for haemoglobin determination by laboratories in countries with limited resources are not available. This report provides the results of an international collaborative study evaluating the alkaline haematin detergent [AHD[575]] method as a reference method for laboratory services with limited resources. The study included 6 laboratories; 3 in East Mediterranean countries, 1 in East Africa and 3 in Europe. The [AHD[575]] method was evaluated against the HiCN method, with blood samples drawn from healthy and sick subjects. The results indicate that the AHD[575] method is suitable for measuring haemoglobin in laboratories at all levels

[Evaluation of the response to vaccination against poliomyelitis and measles in malnourished children in Morocco]

We made a comparative survey of the poliovirus antibodies [anti-poliovirus type 1, anti-poliovirus type 2 and anti-poliovirus type 3] and the measles antibodies in malnourished but completely vaccinated children [37] and control children [34].The age range was 10 months to 5 years. Immunization in children with protein-energy malnutrition was low for both vaccines. Seroprevalence rates of the polio 1, polio 2, polio 3 antibodies and the measles antibodies in the control group were 94.1%, 97.1%, 91.2% and 82.4% respectively. In malnourished children the respective rates were in some cases significantly lower being: 40.5% [P = 0.001], 59.5% [P = 0.001], 40.5% and 35.1%. Malnutrition is a major determinant of the humoral response to oral polio and measles vaccines and must be given due consideration to prevent vaccination failure

Monitoring HIV through sentinel surveillance in Morocco

HIV sentinel surveillance was performed in five provinces of Morocco in 1993, expanded to 10 provinces in 1996. The activity was done by unlinked anonymous testing procedures. We analysed the data from 1993 to 1999. The groups studied were sexually transmitted infections, clinic attendees, pregnant women and patients with pulmonary tuberculosis. The results show that overall HIV prevalence rate over the whole period in 10 cities was 0.10% [45/44,233]. Casablanca had a significantly high rate with 0.39% [10/2567]. The patients with pulmonary tuberculosis displayed the highest prevalence with 0.36% [9/2530]. These data confirm the assumption that the HIV epidemic is low in Morocco. However, the increase of HIV prevalence lately calls for reinforcing preventive measures to limit its spread

[Urethral discharge in Morocco: prevalence of microorganisms and susceptibility of gonococcos]

We studied 422 patients with urethral discharge recruited from 4 sentinel sites in Morocco to determine sociodemographic characteristics, history of STI infection, infecting organism and antibiotic susceptibility of Neisseria gonorrhoeae. The mean age of the sample was 28 years [range 16-67 years], and most were single, had multiple sex partners without taking protective measures and came from all social backgrounds; 59.9% had a history of a previous STI. The majority [87%] of the infections were the acute form. By polymerase chain reaction of urine samples of 399 patients, 41.6% had N. gonorrhoeae infection, 6.3% Chlamidia trachomatis and 10.8% both organisms; in 41.4% no organism was identified. N. gonorrhoeae was strongly susceptible to ciprofloxacin

Some characteristics of the HIV epidemic in Morocco

The first case of AIDS in Morocco was declared in 1986 and since then the number of AIDS cases has steadily increased. According to the Ministry of Health, the cumulative number of AIDS cases in December 2002 was 1085. HIV in Morocco is acquired mainly through heterosexual intercourse. Individuals aged between 30 and 39 years and in the regions of Marrakech and Agadir have been the most affected. Monitoring of the trend of the epidemic by sentinel surveillance surveys indicates that Morocco is still a low prevalence zone, since prevalence among pregnant women is less than 1%. The estimated number of HIV-infected people in Morocco is around 15 000. It is not clear why the epidemic here has not evolved as it has in the sub-Saharan countries where it is spreading at an alarming rate. Late introduction of HIV-1 subtype B in Morocco, which is relatively less transmissible, circumcision and reduced risk behaviours of Muslims may explain this. Nonetheless, because prevalence has increased in recent years, unless preventive measures are strengthened, the HIV epidemic will worsen in Morocco

[Rhumatoid factors: methods of detection diagnostic value]

Since the discovery of rhumatoid factor in 1948, several studies have schown the immuno globulin groups to which they belong [immunoglobulins M, G and A] and their antigenic specificites [Cristallisable fragment [Fc] of human and animal immuno globulins G, hi stones and some nuclear antigens...]. Several arguments plead in favor of the rhumatoid factors of the IgM class being natural antibodies. They would be involved in the immune response and in the defense against infectious agents. Numerous technics have been developed for the detection of the diverse forms of the rhumatoid factors. They have e,volved from the simplest, as agglutination [Latex test or Waaler-Rose reaction] to the most elaborated [immunoenzymatic, radioimmunologic and nephelometric assay]. However the former are, still, the most used. Utilization of reference sera from WHO allows the data to be expressed in international unit and the comparison between laboratories. Clinico biological correlation studies have shown that Waaler-Rose is positive in 70% of rhumatoid arthritis cases. Rhumatoid factor is also frequent in rhumatismal diseases, infectious diseases, systemic diseases and other diseases. Rhumatoid factor is also found in healthy subject and its frequency increases with age from 1 to 5% under 65 years to 7 to 30% after 65 years