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1.
Parasite ; 27: 51, 2020.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32955429

ABSTRACT

Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite that can be transmitted to humans through a variety of routes including blood transfusion. This study aimed to investigate the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection and associated risk factors in healthy blood donors in Tunisia. A total of 800 healthy blood donors from two blood centers in south and coastal Tunisia were analyzed for anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and enzyme-linked immunoassays (ELISA), respectively. Structured questionnaires were used to gather information on risk factors for T. gondii infection during collection. The overall seroprevalence was 44.4% of which 352 (44%) and 3 (0.4%) were positive for IgG and both IgG and IgM anti-T. gondii antibodies, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that T. gondii seropositivity was significantly associated with the birth place (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 2.72; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.49-4.94) and the age of the donors (adjusted OR = 4.98; 95% CI: 1.50-16.58) which are independent risk factors. In addition, the variables of hand washing before eating (adjusted OR = 0.52; 95% CI: 0.37-0.74) and living in an urban environment (adjusted OR = 0.30; 95% CI: 0.13-0.71) are two protective factors. This study provided the first data on the seroprevalence and epidemiology of T. gondii infection in healthy blood donors in Tunisia.


TITLE: Séroprévalence de Toxoplasma gondii chez des donneurs de sang sains dans deux sites en Tunisie et facteurs de risque associés. ABSTRACT: Toxoplasma gondii est un parasite protozoaire qui peut être transmis à l'homme par diverses voies, dont la transfusion sanguine. Cette étude vise à étudier la séroprévalence de l'infection à T. gondii et les facteurs de risque associés chez les donneurs de sang sains en Tunisie. Au total, huit cents donneurs de sang sains de deux centres de transfusion sanguine du sud et de la côte tunisienne ont été analysés respectivement pour la recherche des anticorps IgG et IgM anti-T. gondii par immunofluorescence indirecte (IFA) et par dosage immuno-enzymatique (ELISA). Des questionnaires structurés ont été utilisés pour recueillir des informations sur les facteurs de risque d'infection à T. gondii pendant la collecte. La séroprévalence globale était de 44,4 % dont 352 (44 %) et 3 (0,4 %) étaient respectivement positifs pour les anticorps IgG et IgG/IgM anti-T. gondii. Une analyse multivariée a montré que la séropositivité à T. gondii était significativement associée au lieu de naissance (rapport de côtes ajusté [OR] = 2,72 ; intervalle de confiance à 95 % [IC] : 1,49­4,94) et à l'âge des donneurs (OR ajusté = 4,98 ; IC 95 % : 1,50­16,58) qui sont des facteurs de risque indépendants. De plus, le lavage des mains avant de manger (OR ajusté = 0,52 ; IC 95 % : 0,37­0,74) et vivre dans un milieu urbain (OR ajusté = 0,30 ; IC 95 % : 0,13­0,71) sont deux facteurs de protection. Cette étude a fourni les premières données sur la séroprévalence et l'épidémiologie de l'infection à T. gondii chez les donneurs de sang sains en Tunisie.


Subject(s)
Seroepidemiologic Studies , Toxoplasmosis , Animals , Antibodies, Protozoan/blood , Blood Donors/statistics & numerical data , Cats , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Humans , Immunoglobulin G/blood , Immunoglobulin M/blood , Risk Factors , Toxoplasma/immunology , Toxoplasmosis/epidemiology , Tunisia/epidemiology
2.
J Food Prot ; 83(7): 1104-1109, 2020 Jul 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32074629

ABSTRACT

ABSTRACT: Foodborne diseases continue to represent an important threat to public health in many parts of the world and are particularly widespread in developing countries. They are essentially acquired through an oro-fecal route via the consumption of uncooked fruits and vegetables. This study evaluated the parasitological contamination of vegetables for sale to humans in Tunisian retail markets. A total of 240 samples of fresh vegetables were examined for helminth eggs and protozoan cysts and oocysts (collectively, (oo)cysts) contamination. The parasitic elements (helminth eggs and protozoan (oo)cysts) were concentrated by sucrose flotation and identified by microscopic examination. The molecular identification of Echinococcus granulosus eggs was carried out using PCR. Helminth eggs and protozoan (oo)cysts eggs were found in 12.5% of the unwashed vegetables, and the most common parasites observed in vegetables were coccidian oocysts (4.1%), Toxocara spp. (2.5%), hookworm (2.1%), and Taenia spp. (1.25%) eggs, followed by Pseudolimax butschlii (1.6%) and Entamoeba coli (1.6%) protozoan cysts. Furthermore, parasite contamination differed significantly from one city to another. Taeniid eggs were identified by PCR as E. granulosus sensu stricto (s.s.) (genotype G1). To our knowledge, this study highlights for the first time in Tunisia that fresh vegetables for sale in markets are contaminated with helminths and protozoan cysts, which are potentially pathogenic for humans. The control of these pathogens is in part a question of sanitary education, especially for retail vendors, and in part of improvement in hygiene measures throughout the food production chain, from the field to the consumer.


Subject(s)
Fruit , Helminths , Vegetables , Animals , Humans , Tunisia
3.
Parasit Vectors ; 10(1): 280, 2017 Jun 05.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28583158

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Although data on the parasite environmental contamination are crucial to implement strategies for control and treatment, information about zoonotic helminths is very limited in Tunisia. Contamination of areas with canid faeces harboring infective parasite elements represents a relevant health-risk impact for humans. The aim of this study was to assess the environmental contamination with eggs and oocysts of gastrointestinal parasites of dogs and wild canids in Tunisia with special attention to those that can be transmitted to humans. RESULTS: One thousand two hundred and seventy faecal samples from stray dogs and 104 from wild canids (red foxes and golden jackals) were collected from different geographical regions throughout Tunisia. The helminth eggs and protozoan oocysts were concentrated by sucrose flotation and identified by microscopic examination. The most frequently observed parasites in dog samples were Toxocara spp. (27.2%), E. granulosus (25.8%), and Coccidia (13.1%). For wild canid faeces, the most commonly encountered parasites were Toxocara spp. (16.3%) followed by Capillaria spp. (9.6%). The parasite contamination of dog faeces varied significantly from one region to another in function of the climate. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, the study highlights for the first time in Tunisia a serious environmental contamination by numerous parasitic stages infective to humans. Efforts should be made to increase the awareness of the contamination risk of such parasites in the environment and implement a targeted educational program.


Subject(s)
Environmental Microbiology , Feces/parasitology , Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic/veterinary , Parasites/isolation & purification , Parasitic Diseases, Animal/epidemiology , Animals , Canidae , Humans , Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic/epidemiology , Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic/parasitology , Parasites/classification , Parasitic Diseases, Animal/parasitology , Tunisia/epidemiology , Zoonoses/parasitology
4.
Infect Genet Evol ; 44: 356-360, 2016 10.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27456279

ABSTRACT

G1 genotype of Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto is the major cause of hydatidosis in Northern Africa, Tunisia included. The genetic relationship between lung and liver localization were studied in ovine, bovine and human hydatid cysts in Tunisia. Allozyme variation and single strand conformation polymorphism were used for genetic differentiation. The first cause of genetic differentiation was the host species and the second was the localization (lung or liver). The reticulated genetic relationship between the liver or the lung human isolates and isolates from bovine lung, is indicative of recombination (sexual reproduction) or lateral genetic transfer. The idea of two specialized populations (one for the lung one for the liver) that are more or less successful according to host susceptibility is thus proposed.


Subject(s)
Echinococcosis, Hepatic/pathology , Echinococcosis, Hepatic/parasitology , Echinococcosis, Pulmonary/pathology , Echinococcosis, Pulmonary/parasitology , Echinococcus granulosus/classification , Echinococcus granulosus/genetics , Host-Parasite Interactions , Alleles , Animals , Cattle , Disease Susceptibility , Genetic Loci , Genetic Variation , Genotype , Humans , Linkage Disequilibrium , Phylogeny , Protozoan Infections, Animal/parasitology , Protozoan Infections, Animal/pathology , Sheep
5.
Parasitol Res ; 115(10): 3817-24, 2016 Oct.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27225001

ABSTRACT

Cystic echinococcosis, due to Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato (s. l.), currently affects three million people, especially in low-income countries and results in high livestock production loss. DNA-based methods demonstrated genetic variability of E. granulosus s. l., and five species were recognized to belong to the complex, including E. granulosus sensu stricto (s.s) (genotypes G1-G3), Echinococcus equinus (genotype G4), Echinococcus ortleppi (genotype G5), Echinococcus canadensis (genotypes G6-G10), and the lion strain Echinococcus felidis. The characterization of Echinococcus species responsible for human and animal echinococcosis is crucial to adapt the preventive measures against this parasitic disease. The sequencing approach is the gold standard for genotyping assays. Unfortunately, developing countries do not often have access to these techniques. Based on in silico RFLP tools, we described an accurate PCR-RFLP method for Echinococcus spp. characterization. The double digestion with the HaeIII and HinfI restriction enzymes of the PCR product from nad1 gene (1071 bp) led to a clear discrimination between E. granulosus s. l. and most closely related species (Echinococcus shiquicus and Echinococcus multilocularis).Molecular procedures and phylogenetic analysis confirmed the efficiency and the reproducibility of this simple and fast PCR-RFLP method. This technique is proved useful for fresh/unfixed and FF-PET tissues and enables large-scale molecular epidemiological screening in developing countries.


Subject(s)
Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism Analysis/methods , Cattle Diseases/parasitology , Dog Diseases/parasitology , Echinococcosis/parasitology , Echinococcosis/veterinary , Echinococcus granulosus/isolation & purification , Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods , Sheep Diseases/parasitology , Animals , Cattle , Developing Countries , Dogs , Echinococcus/classification , Echinococcus/genetics , Echinococcus/isolation & purification , Echinococcus granulosus/classification , Echinococcus granulosus/genetics , Genotype , Humans , Molecular Epidemiology , Phylogeny , Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length , Sheep
6.
Korean J Parasitol ; 54(1): 113-8, 2016 Feb.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26951990

ABSTRACT

Hydatidosis has become a real concern for health care institutions and animal rearers in Tunisia. The Tunisian endemicity is aggravated by the growing number of dogs and the difficulty of getting rid of contaminated viscera because of the lack of equipment in most slaughterhouses. Therefore, microscopic and molecular tools were applied to evaluate the role of slaughterhouses in canine infection and Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato (s. l.) egg dissemination. Exposure risk to E. granulosus s. l. eggs in urban and rural areas was explored in order to implant preventive and adapted control strategies. Microscopic examinations detected taeniid eggs in 152 amongst 553 fecal samples. The copro-PCR demonstrated that 138 of 152 taeniid samples analyzed were positive for E. granulosus s. l. DNA. PCR-RFLP demonstrated that all isolated samples belonged to E. granulosus sensu stricto (s. s.). An important environmental contamination index (25.0%) by E. granulosus s. l. eggs was demonstrated. The average contamination index from the regions around slaughterhouses (23.3%; 95% CI: 17.7-28.9%) was in the same range as detected in areas located far from slaughterhouses (26.0%, 95% CI: 21.3-30.8%). Echinococcosis endemic areas were extended in both rural (29.9%, 95% CI: 24.8-34.9%) and urban locations (18.1%, 95% CI: 13.0-22.9%). The pathogen dissemination is related neither to the presence/absence of slaughterhouses nor to the location in urban or rural areas, but is probably influenced by human activities (home slaughtering) and behavior towards the infected viscera.


Subject(s)
Abattoirs/standards , Dog Diseases/epidemiology , Echinococcosis/veterinary , Echinococcus granulosus/physiology , Environmental Exposure , Rural Population , Urban Population , Abattoirs/statistics & numerical data , Animals , Dog Diseases/prevention & control , Dogs , Echinococcosis/epidemiology , Echinococcosis/prevention & control , Tunisia/epidemiology
7.
Parasitol Res ; 115(3): 1065-9, 2016 Mar.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26612498

ABSTRACT

Cystic echinococcosis is a widespread zoonotic parasitic disease especially in Tunisia which is one of the most endemic countries in the Mediterranean area. The etiological agent, Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato, implies dogs and other canids as definitive hosts and different herbivore species as intermediate hosts. Human contamination occurs during the consumption of parasite eggs passed in the environment through canid feces. Hydatid cysts coming from a child operated for multiple echinococcosis were collected and analyzed in order to genotype and to obtain some epidemiological molecular information. Three targets, ribosomal DNA ITS1 fragment, NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 (nad1), and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxydase subunit 1 (CO1) genes, were amplified and analyzed by RFLP and sequencing approach. This study presents the first worldwide report in human of a simultaneous infection with Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto (genotype G1) and Echinococcus canadensis (genotype G6) species. This is also the first report of the presence of E. canadensis in the Tunisian population which argues in favor of a greater importance of this species in human infestation in Tunisia than previously believed.


Subject(s)
Echinococcosis/parasitology , Echinococcus granulosus/classification , Albendazole/therapeutic use , Animals , Anticestodal Agents/therapeutic use , Canidae/parasitology , Child , DNA, Helminth/chemistry , DNA, Helminth/isolation & purification , DNA, Intergenic/chemistry , DNA, Intergenic/genetics , Dogs , Echinococcosis/drug therapy , Echinococcosis/surgery , Echinococcus granulosus/genetics , Echinococcus granulosus/pathogenicity , Electron Transport Complex IV/genetics , Genotype , Humans , Liver/parasitology , Liver/surgery , Male , Mitochondria/genetics , Molecular Epidemiology , Oxidoreductases/genetics , Peritoneum/parasitology , Peritoneum/surgery , Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length , Tunisia , Zoonoses/parasitology
8.
Dermatology ; 232(6): 752-759, 2016.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28253508

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is based on the microscopic detection of amastigote, isolation of the parasite, or the detection of Leishmania DNA. Nevertheless, since these techniques are time consuming and not usually available in many endemic countries, the diagnosis remains clinical. Consequently, such disease may be overlooked because of its similarity to other skin diseases. The aim of this study is to describe the clinical polymorphism of CL caused by Leishmaniamajor. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was carried out on 166 patients. Diagnoses were made by both microscopic examination of stained tissue-scraping smears and PCR. The Leishmania species was identified by restriction enzyme analysis of the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 1 region. The clinical polymorphism was analyzed only for patients with a positive diagnosis for CL and L. major as the identified species. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Of the 166 patients, 75 patients fit the inclusion criteria. Twelve different types of CL caused by L. major were defined. The most common type was the ulcero-crusted form followed by the papulonodular form and the impetigenous form. The ulcerated, mucocutaneous, lupoid, and sporotricoid forms were less common. The eczematiform, erysipeloid, verrucous, psoriasiform, and pseudotumoral types were represented by a single case. Zoonotic CL caused by L. major can simulate many other skin diseases, which may lead to a significant spread of this disease and increases in morbidity and drug resistance. This large polymorphism may be the result of a complex association between the genetics of the parasite and the immune response of the host.


Subject(s)
Leishmania major/isolation & purification , Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous/diagnosis , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Child , Child, Preschool , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Humans , Infant , Male , Middle Aged , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Young Adult
9.
PLoS Negl Trop Dis ; 9(12): e0004204, 2015 Dec.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26645812

ABSTRACT

Leishmania (L.) killicki (syn. L. tropica), which causes cutaneous leishmaniasis in Maghreb, was recently described in this region and identified as a subpopulation of L. tropica. The present genetic analysis was conducted to explore the spatio-temporal distribution of L. killicki (syn. L. tropica) and its transmission dynamics. To better understand the evolution of this parasite, its population structure was then compared with that of L. tropica populations from Morocco. In total 198 samples including 85 L. killicki (syn. L. tropica) (from Tunisia, Algeria and Libya) and 113 L. tropica specimens (all from Morocco) were tested. Theses samples were composed of 168 Leishmania strains isolated from human skin lesions, 27 DNA samples from human skin lesion biopsies, two DNA samples from Ctenodactylus gundi bone marrow and one DNA sample from a Phlebotomus sergenti female. The sample was analyzed by using MultiLocus Enzyme Electrophoresis (MLEE) and MultiLocus Microsatellite Typing (MLMT) approaches. Analysis of the MLMT data support the hypothesis that L. killicki (syn. L. tropica) belongs to the L. tropica complex, despite its strong genetic differentiation, and that it emerged from this taxon by a founder effect. Moreover, it revealed a strong structuring in L. killicki (syn. L. tropica) between Tunisia and Algeria and within the different Tunisian regions, suggesting low dispersion of L. killicki (syn. L. tropica) in space and time. Comparison of the L. tropica (exclusively from Morocco) and L. killicki (syn. L. tropica) population structures revealed distinct genetic organizations, reflecting different epidemiological cycles.


Subject(s)
Genotype , Leishmania/classification , Leishmania/isolation & purification , Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous/epidemiology , Microsatellite Repeats , Phlebotomus/parasitology , Rodentia/parasitology , Africa, Northern/epidemiology , Animals , Disease Transmission, Infectious , Electrophoresis , Enzymes/analysis , Genetic Variation , Genotyping Techniques , Humans , Leishmania/genetics , Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous/parasitology , Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous/transmission , Spatio-Temporal Analysis
10.
Parasit Vectors ; 8: 231, 2015 Apr 17.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25888846

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Tunisia is a hyper endemic country for human echinococcosis. The infection is transmitted via the eggs of Echinococcus granulosus which are passed in the faeces of the definitive canid host. METHODS: This study evaluated the contamination rate of the dog faeces in different climatic conditions at eight different geographic regions throughout Tunisia. Dog faecal samples were collected from the soil and the Echinococcus eggs were identified using microscopic and molecular (Eg1121/1122 PCR, Egss1 PCR and Nad1 PCR-RFLP) tools. RESULTS: The contamination index of dog faeces by E. granulosus eggs ranged from 8.3% to 41.3% depending on the region. Comparisons of the dog faecal contamination rate against human incidence found them to be independent. Neither human prevalence nor dog contamination index appeared to be related to climatic conditions or geographic characteristics. The genetic variability of E. granulosus samples was different within each region but was not related to geographic distance which is indicative of local divergent evolutions rather than isolation by distance. CONCLUSIONS: A high environmental dog contamination index does not necessarily correspond to high prevalence in humans as transmission is strongly linked to human behavior and hygiene.


Subject(s)
Dog Diseases/epidemiology , Dog Diseases/parasitology , Echinococcosis/veterinary , Echinococcus granulosus/isolation & purification , Endemic Diseases , Animals , Climate , Dogs , Echinococcosis/epidemiology , Echinococcus granulosus/classification , Echinococcus granulosus/genetics , Feces/parasitology , Genetic Variation , Geography , Humans , Incidence , Microscopy , Phylogeography , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length , Prevalence , Tunisia/epidemiology
11.
PLoS One ; 10(3): e0120528, 2015.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25793285

ABSTRACT

To evaluate the host preferences of Culicoides species (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in Central Tunisia, we identified the source of blood meals of field collected specimens by sequencing of the cytochrome b (cyt b) mitochondrial locus and Prepronociceptine single copy nuclear gene. The study includes the most common and abundant livestock associated species of biting midges in Tunisia: C. imicola, C. jumineri, C. newsteadi, C. paolae, C. cataneii, C. circumscriptus, C. kingi, C. pseudojumineri, C. submaritimus, C. langeroni, C. jumineri var and some unidentified C. species. Analysis of cyt b PCR products from 182 field collected blood-engorged females' midges revealed that 92% of them fed solely on mammalian species, 1.6% on birds, 2.4% on insects and 0.8% on reptiles. The blast results identified the blood origin of biting midges to the species level with exact or nearly exact matches (≥98%). The results confirm the presence of several Culicoides species, including proven vectors in Central Tunisia. Blood meal analyses show that these species will indeed feed on bigger mammals, thereby highlighting the risk that these viruses will be able to spread in Tunisia.


Subject(s)
Ceratopogonidae/physiology , Feeding Behavior , Animals , Cytochromes b/genetics , Geography , Molecular Sequence Data , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Sensitivity and Specificity , Tunisia
12.
Parasit Vectors ; 7: 51, 2014 Jan 25.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-24460752

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) species are known to be the vectors of Bluetongue virus and African Horses Sickness virus (AHSV) in different areas of the world. Nevertheless, other researchers have hypothesized that these arthropods could be involved in the transmission of other pathogens such as Schmallenberg virus, Plasmodium and Leishmania parasites. Identification of the Culicoides' potential vector competence is crucial in understanding the worldwide Culicoides/Leishmania life cycle. FINDINGS: Blood fed and parous females of biting midges Culicoides spp. were collected between 2009 and 2010 in Central Tunisia. DNA was extracted from individual blood fed Culicoides and used as a template in a genus-specific PCR. Leishmania DNA was detected in 14 Culicoides imicola specimens and one Culicoides circumscriptus. In a second step, parasite identification was performed based on a single copy Topo-isomerase II gene specific amplification and sequencing. Leishmania infantum was identified in two infected Culicoides spp. CONCLUSION: This is the first report of Leishmania DNA detection from naturally infected wild caught Culicoides spp. Our finding supports the assumption that Culicoides spp. are a potential vector for L. infantum.


Subject(s)
Diptera/parasitology , Leishmania infantum/isolation & purification , Animals , Female , Genes, Protozoan , Leishmania infantum/genetics , Sequence Analysis, DNA
13.
J Vector Ecol ; 38(1): 1-5, 2013 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-23701601

ABSTRACT

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) has been endemic in northern Tunisia and has occurred sporadically in the center of Tunisia. Recently, there have been several cases from areas known to be free of VL. We report in this work all human and canine cases of VL recorded between 2003 and 2011 and an entomological study of phlebotomine fauna in a previously non-endemic region. Sixty-three cases of VL were diagnosed and identified as L. infantum using several different methods. Eight species of 179 sand flies were caught and identified by both morphological and molecular methods. Two genera were present, Phlebotomus and Sergentomya, with an abundance of the subgenus Phlebotomus (Larrousius) spp., a classic vector of VL in Tunisia. Moreover, Leishmania DNA was detected in seven unfed Phlebotomus pernicousus and L. infantum was identified in three of them. This result confirms the establishment of a transmission cycle of VL in the studied region by the coexistence of infected vectors with infected hosts.


Subject(s)
Leishmaniasis, Visceral/transmission , Animals , DNA, Protozoan/genetics , Dogs , Female , Humans , Leishmania/genetics , Leishmania/pathogenicity , Leishmaniasis, Visceral/epidemiology , Male , Phlebotomus/genetics , Phlebotomus/pathogenicity , Psychodidae/parasitology , Tunisia/epidemiology
14.
Zootaxa ; 3666: 160-70, 2013.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26217843

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out of the region of Monastir in Central Tunisia, between July and August 2010. Larvae were collected using a floatation technique with magnesium sulfate in mud samples. The fourth instar larva of Culicoides cataneii Clastrier, 1957 and Culicoides sahariensis Callot, Kremer, Bailly-Choumara, 1970 are described, illustrated and drawn. Measurements of instars IV are also presented. This is the first record of Culicoides cataneii and Culicoides sahariensis (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) to Tunisia.


Subject(s)
Ceratopogonidae/classification , Larva/anatomy & histology , Animal Structures/anatomy & histology , Animal Structures/growth & development , Animals , Body Size , Ceratopogonidae/anatomy & histology , Ceratopogonidae/growth & development , Larva/classification , Larva/growth & development
15.
Parasit Vectors ; 4: 159, 2011 Aug 11.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-21834996

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Leishmania killicki was originally described in 1980 in southeast Tunisia. It was also recently reported in Lybia and Algeria. Nevertheless, neither vector nor reservoirs of this parasite are known. The identification of the vector and the animal reservoir host of L. killicki is critical for the establishment of an efficient control strategy. FINDINGS: blood, popliteal lymph node, spleen, bone marrow, liver and skin were collected from 50 rodents in 2009 in south western Tunisia. Samples were smeared onto glass slides, cultured on NNN medium and tested by polymerase chain reaction for Leishmania detection. Parasites were detected by PCR from 10 Psammomys obesus and from two Ctenodactylus gundi. Parasite identification was performed simultaneously by internal transcribed spacer 1 PCR-RFLP and by PCR sequencing. Both Leishmania major and Leishmania killicki were identified from infected Psammomys and Ctenodactylus gundi respectively. CONCLUSION: This is the first report of Leishmania killicki identified from Ctenodactylus gundi in Tunisia. This result supports the assumption that C. gundi is a potential reservoir for Leishmania killicki.


Subject(s)
Disease Reservoirs , Leishmania/isolation & purification , Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous/transmission , Rodentia/parasitology , Animal Structures/parasitology , Animals , DNA, Protozoan/chemistry , DNA, Protozoan/genetics , DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/chemistry , DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/genetics , Leishmania/classification , Parasitology/methods , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length , Sequence Analysis, DNA , Tunisia
16.
Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis ; 68(2): 152-8, 2010 Oct.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-20846587

ABSTRACT

Topoisomerase II gene of Leishmania genus was used to develop a molecular tool for detection and species differentiation of Leishmania from clinical samples. Identification was achieved by a polymerase chain reaction followed by digestion with 2 restriction endonucleases BstU1 and Taq1. Despite the relatively low sensitivity, it is able to differentiate between 3 complexes responsible for cutaneous leishmaniasis.


Subject(s)
DNA Topoisomerases, Type II/genetics , Leishmania/classification , Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous/diagnosis , Leishmaniasis/diagnosis , Molecular Diagnostic Techniques/methods , Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods , Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length , Base Sequence , DNA, Protozoan/analysis , DNA, Protozoan/genetics , Humans , Leishmania/genetics , Leishmania/isolation & purification , Leishmania infantum/classification , Leishmania infantum/genetics , Leishmania infantum/isolation & purification , Leishmania major/classification , Leishmania major/genetics , Leishmania major/isolation & purification , Leishmaniasis/parasitology , Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous/parasitology , Sensitivity and Specificity , Sequence Analysis, DNA , Species Specificity , Tunisia
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