[Ecological study of Pyroglyphides mites in house dust in the Grenoble area. A qualitative approach and incidence of various parameters: seasons, altitude, temperature and relative dampness in their multiplication]. / Etude écologique des Acariens Pyroglyphides de la poussière de maison dans la région grenobloise. Approche qualitative et incidence de différents paramètres: saisons, altitude, température et humidité relative, sur leur multiplication.

This study concerns the analysis of 70 samples of dust mites taken periodically from 13 sample areas or mattresses at different altitudes. It shows the presence of Pyroglyphid mites in all the mattresses studied. Four species were found: Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Dermatophagoides farinae, Euroglyphus maynei and Dermatophagoides evansi. From a quantitative point of view, the statistical analysis of the results obtained allows the following conclusions to be drawn: -- All the Pyroglyphids (adults and young) undergo seasonal fluctuations at low, middle and high altitude. In the plains and at middle altitude these mites have a seasonal maximum and minimum. At high altitude only the seasonal maximum can be determined. -- The number of Pyroglyphids found is much higher in the plaine than at middle altitude and at middle altitude than at high altitude. The influence of altitude can be demonstrated with certitude. -- The conditions of temperature and relative dampness most favourable to the multiplication of mites are found in the plaine. At middle and high altitude these conditions are only met in summer. In flat country the statistical analysis allows us to show the existance of a correlation between the rate of dampness and the number of Pyroglyphids, and more specially, between the dampness rate and Dermatophagoides farinae, a predominant species at this sampling area. At middle and high altitude such a correlation cannot be shown clearly. At the three altitudes considered, no correlation can be established between the temperature and the number of Pyroglyphid mites found.

[Report of two cases of acute or cerebral malaria with atypic on-set (author's transl)]. / Deux cas de paludisme aigu ou accés pernicieux de paludisme á dèbut atypique.

Report and comments on one case of cerebral malaria with myocardial infarction, icterus and renal insufficiency, and of another one with a black-water-like syndrome with complete recovery under quinine treatment.

[Epidemic of autochthonous hepatic and intestinal amebiasis in a place near Grenoble]. / Epidémie d'amibiase autochtone hépatique et intestinale dans une localité proche de Grenoble

We had the opportunity of studying an epidemic of autochthonous amoebiasis occurring in the autumn of 1974 in a small town of 4000 inhabitants 30 km from Grenoble. Attention was originally attracted by the occurrence in this town of two cases of hepatic amoebiasis and one of intestinal amoebiasis identified by rectoscopy. Systematic investigations (coproctic examinations and serological tests for amoebiasis by indirect antibody fluorescence) were then carried out on everyone in the locality with digestive disorders which were possibly referable to amoebiasis, and on the other members of their families. A total number of 148 coproctic examinations were made and in two cases revealed the presence of vegetative forms of Entamoeba histolytica. In both cases the infestation provoked few symptoms (asthenia, vague abdominal discomfort, intermittent and apparently banal diarrhoea). On the other hand 20 out of 94 serological tests revealed positive results, 14 of which were equal to or greater than a titre of 1/100, a level at which all risks of non-specificity are virtually ruled out under our experimental conditions. Material reasons made it impossible to subject these cases to repeated faecal checks, but in two of them at least the rectoscopic appearances were very suggestive of subacute intestinal amoebiasis. Moreover, amoebic disease appears to be well confirmed by the results obtained among the patients as a whole by treatment with Metroinidazole. A variety of hypotheses on the origin of this epidemic have been put forward and then abandoned (market garden produce, receipt by certain families of exotic frut from overseas). In actual fact water seems to be the point of departure, for, although specimens of water taken at 7 different levels in the water supply system failed to reveal the presence of a single amoeba, bacteriological analyses during autumn 1974 showed signs of faecal contamination. The locality, which is situated at the foot of the Chartreuse massif, receives its water solely from springs but there is a holiday camp for the staff of an international airline situated above the main water catchment.