Evidence of natural infections with Trypanosoma, Anaplasma and Babesia spp. in military livestock from Tunisia.

Livestock constitute habitual hosts and carriers for several infectious pathogens which may represent a serious public health concern affecting the readiness of military forces and lead to wide economic losses. The present report aimed to investigate the prevalence of some haemopathogens infecting military livestock, particularly, dromedaries, sheep and horses using Giemsa-stained blood smears. A total of 300 animals (100 from each species) were selected, clinically examined and sampled. Trypanosoma spp. (22.0%), Anaplasma spp. (17.0%) and Babesia spp. (1.0%) were identified in camels' blood. Six dromedaries were found to be co-infected by Trypanosoma and Anaplasma organisms (6.0%). Camels of female gender, infested by ticks and showing clinical signs were statistically more infected by Trypanosoma spp., compared to those of male gender, free of ticks and apparently healthy (P= 0.027, 0.000 and 0.004, respectively). Babesia spp. infection (1.0%) was identified, for the first time in Tunisia, in one adult female camel that presented abortion and anemia. Anaplasma spp. was the only haemopathogen identified in examined sheep (6.0%) and horses (17.0%). Horses infested by Hippobosca equina flies and sheep infested by Rhipicephalus turanicus ticks were more infected by Anaplasma spp. than other non-infested animals (P=0.046 and 0.042, respectively). Hyalomma dromedarii, H. impeltatum and H. excavatum were the most prevalent diagnosed ticks removed from camels with an intensity of infestation of 1.2 ticks per animal. However, in sheep, only R. turanicus was identified. H. equina and Tabanus spp. were the potential hematophagous flies found in dromedaries and horses herds. This useful data must be taken into consideration during animal treatment and vectors' control programs in Tunisian military farms which help to limit the diffusion of vector-borne diseases, keep our livestock healthy and reduce economic losses.

Evidence of natural infections with Trypanosoma, Anaplasma and Babesia spp. in military livestock from Tunisia

@#Livestock constitute habitual hosts and carriers for several infectious pathogens which may represent a serious public health concern affecting the readiness of military forces and lead to wide economic losses. The present report aimed to investigate the prevalence of some haemopathogens infecting military livestock, particularly, dromedaries, sheep and horses using Giemsa-stained blood smears. A total of 300 animals (100 from each species) were selected, clinically examined and sampled. Trypanosoma spp. (22.0%), Anaplasma spp. (17.0%) and Babesia spp. (1.0%) were identified in camels’ blood. Six dromedaries were found to be co-infected by Trypanosoma and Anaplasma organisms (6.0%). Camels of female gender, infested by ticks and showing clinical signs were statistically more infected by Trypanosoma spp., compared to those of male gender, free of ticks and apparently healthy (P= 0.027, 0.000 and 0.004, respectively). Babesia spp. infection (1.0%) was identified, for the first time in Tunisia, in one adult female camel that presented abortion and anemia. Anaplasma spp. was the only haemopathogen identified in examined sheep (6.0%) and horses (17.0%). Horses infested by Hippobosca equina flies and sheep infested by Rhipicephalus turanicus ticks were more infected by Anaplasma spp. than other non-infested animals (P=0.046 and 0.042, respectively). Hyalomma dromedarii, H. impeltatum and H. excavatum were the most prevalent diagnosed ticks removed from camels with an intensity of infestation of 1.2 ticks per animal. However, in sheep, only R. turanicus was identified. H. equina and Tabanus spp. were the potential hematophagous flies found in dromedaries and horses herds. This useful data must be taken into consideration during animal treatment and vectors’ control programs in Tunisian military farms which help to limit the diffusion of vector-borne diseases, keep our livestock healthy and reduce economic losses.

Application of the Monte Carlo method for the efficiency calibration of CsI and NaI detectors for gamma-ray measurements from terrestrial samples.

Gamma-ray measurements in terrestrial/environmental samples require the use of high efficient detectors because of the low level of the radionuclide activity concentrations in the samples; thus scintillators are suitable for this purpose. Two scintillation detectors were studied in this work; CsI(Tl) and NaI(Tl) with identical size for measurement of terrestrial samples for performance study. This work describes a Monte Carlo method for making the full-energy efficiency calibration curves for both detectors using gamma-ray energies associated with the decay of naturally occurring radionuclides (137)Cs (661keV), (40)K (1460keV), (238)U ((214)Bi, 1764keV) and (232)Th ((208)Tl, 2614keV), which are found in terrestrial samples. The magnitude of the coincidence summing effect occurring for the 2614keV emission of (208)Tl is assessed by simulation. The method provides an efficient tool to make the full-energy efficiency calibration curve for scintillation detectors for any samples geometry and volume in order to determine accurate activity concentrations in terrestrial samples.

Uranium isotopes in Tunisian bottled mineral waters.

(234)U and (238)U activity concentrations and their relative effective doses have been determined in 10 bottled mineral waters in Tunisia. Alpha spectrometry was used as technique to measure uranium isotopes. The obtained isotopic ratio (234)U/(238)U varies between 1.1 and 3 which means that the two isotopes are not in radioactive equilibrium. Measured activity concentration varies between 3.2 and 40 mBq/l for (234)U and between 1.5 and 26.3 mBq/l for (238)U. Effective doses (assuming 2 litres per day of water consumption) coming from this two isotopes are found to vary between 0.16 and 2.02 microSv/a which is lower than the maximum recommended dose level by the WHO.

[Post-prandial plasma glucose test as screening tool for gestational diabetes: A prospective randomized trial]. / Apport de la mesure de la glycémie post-prandiale dans le dépistage du diabète gestationnel.

OBJECTIVE: To compare one hour postprandial glucose measurements with the one hour 50gm plasma glucose test as predictors of gestational diabetes. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: One hundred women at 24-28 weeks' gestation were prospectively randomized for both screening methods: one hour postprandial and one hour 50gm plasma glucose test with a one-week-interval between tests. A week later a formal 2-hour 75gm glucose tolerance test was done in each case. RESULTS: Of the 95 patients who completed the study 13 had gestational diabetes (13.6%). For a threshold of 7.1mmol/l the sensitivity of 1-hour postprandial plasma glucose screening test was 84.6% with a specificity of 87.8%. These values were respectively 84.6% and 81.7% for 1-hour 50 gm plasma glucose test screening test. A threshold of 7.7mmol/l yielded a sensitivity of 60.5% with a specificity of 91.4% for the 1-hour postprandial plasma glucose screening test (69.2% and 86.5% for 1-hour 50gm plasma glucose test) CONCLUSION: In our study the 1-hour postprandial plasma glucose screening test was as effective as the 1-hour 50 gm plasma glucose test screening test for gestational diabetes.

Polymorphism in the tumor necrosis factor-alpha promotor region and in the heat shock protein 70 genes associated with malignant tumors.

BACKGROUND: Tumor necrosis factors (TNFs) and heat shock protein 70 (hsp70) are determining factors in immunologic mechanisms to tumor cells. The authors designed a case-controlled study to investigate the potential association of the polymorphisms of TNF-alpha and of hsp70-2 and hsp70-hom genes with malignant tumors. METHODS: The authors used an allele specific polymerase chain reaction to characterize the variation of the TNF-alpha promotor region in 124 unrelated Tunisian patients with malignant tumors (non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, breast carcinoma, and other tumors) and 106 healthy control subjects. Using polymerase chain reaction and restriction enzyme digestion, polymorphic analysis of hsp70-2 and hsp70-hom genes was performed in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, in those with breast carcinoma, and in control subjects. RESULTS: Analysis of TNF-alpha polymorphism in patients with malignant tumors and in control subjects demonstrated a high relative frequency of the TNF2 allele in the cancer patients. The relative risk (RR) of lymphoma was especially high in association with TNF1/TNF2 heterozygotes (RR = 6.7; P < or = 0.0001). Polymorphism analysis of the hsp70-2 and hsp70-hom genes in patients with lymphoma and in those with breast carcinoma revealed that these patients had highly significant differences in the genotypic distribution of these biallelic loci compared with the control subjects. Homozygosity for one hsp70-2 allele was significantly associated with lymphoma (RR = 18.2; P < or = 0.0001) and with breast carcinoma (RR = 16.3; P < or = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Tunisian persons carrying the TNF2 allele may have an increased risk of cancer. In this study, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and breast carcinoma were significantly associated with polymorphism in hsp70 genes.

[Trans-urethral bladder lithotripsy using the Lithoclast in children. Apropos of 7 cases]. / Lithotritie vésicale trans-urétrale au Lithoclast chez l'enfant. A propos de 7 cas.

We report our experience with a new simple machine for endoscopic disintegration, the "Swiss Lithoclast". The principle of this lithotriptor is based on pneumatic shock waves induced by the central compressed air system of a hospital. This device was used to treat 7 children with bladder stone (5 boys, 2 girls); their age was between 7 and 9 years (average 8.2 years). Endoscopic fragmentation was successful in all patients and all were stone free before leaving the hospital. We have found the Swiss Lithoclast to be a safe, effective and inexpensive means of performing intra-corporeal lithotripsy for bladder stone in children.