Vitamin D status in preschool children in Algeria.

It is well established today that an optimal vitamin D intake plays a crucial role in the constitution of optimal osseous mass during childhood, and hence in the prevention of the osteoporosis in adults. The prevalence of the vitamin D deficiency is increasing globally and Algeria is no exception in this regard. Our study is the first to be carried out with healthy children of preschool age in North Africa. AIMS: The study aimed to evaluate the vitamin D status of a pediatric population, during all four seasons of the year, living in the north of Algeria, as well as to estimate the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency, identifying the potential risk factors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was an analytic and cross-sectional study carried out between March 2014 and March 2016 with healthy preschool infants from an urban environment in the town of Hussein Dey. A total of 1016 infants aged 9-72 months were included during this period. The consensual threshold value was 20ng/mL. RESULTS: The sex ratio was of 1.47 (535 boys/481 girls) and the average age of the children was 36.5±1.79 months. The daily average calcium ratio was 395±23 mg/with food contributions in vitamin D at an estimated average of 164 UI/day (4.1µg/day). The average concentration of the total 25-OHD for all four seasons of the year was 18.6±10.4ng/mL with an average rate of parathyroid hormone (PTH) of 30.9±14.6pg/mL. There was a highly significant inverse correlation between the serum level of vitamin D and PTH (r=-0.57; P=0.0001), the point of inflection was situated at 34.1ng/mL. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency follows a seasonal variation that is statistically significant (P=0.0001), and the prevalence is higher during the autumn-winter period. The risk factors identified by multiple logistic regression were autumn-winter season (OR: 7; 95% CI: 3-11; P=0.001), age less than 24 months (OR: 3.8; 95% CI: 3.4-4.4; P=0.0001), high body mass index (OR: 2; 95% CI: 1.2-3.2; P=0.3), darker skin pigmentation (OR: 2.8; 95% CI: 2.2-5.2; P=0.001), duration of sunlight exposure less than 15min (OR: 6.1; 95% CI: 3.6-10.2; P=0.0001), low socioeconomic status (OR: 3.9; 95% CI: 1.5-4.3; P=0.01), calcium intake lower than 500 mg/day (OR: 2.5; 95% CI: 1.8-6; P=0.001), and a weekly dietary intake of vitamin D lower than 200 UI (OR: 2.6; 95% CI: 1.6-4.2; P=0.02). DISCUSSION: No studies have been conducted in north Africa or Algeria concerning healthy preschool children; however, this population has a rapid growth rate and deserves special attention. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in the children of this study was higher than that reported in studies of children of the same age living in Europe or America, despite the fact that Algeria is closer to the equator (36° latitude north). CONCLUSION: The changes experienced by Algerian society and the shorter exposure of the population to the sun call for more efforts regarding the detection and treatment of vitamin D deficiency, as well as an update of the vitamin D supplementation schedule.

Evolution of antimicrobial resistance and serotype distribution of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated from children with invasive and noninvasive pneumococcal diseases in Algeria from 2005 to 2012.

Pneumococcal infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in developing countries. The introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) has dramatically reduced the incidence of pneumococcal diseases. PCVs are not currently being used in Algeria. We conducted a prospective study from 2005 to 2012 in Algeria to determine antimicrobial drug resistance and serotype distribution of Streptococcus pneumoniae from children with pneumococcal disease. Among 270 isolated strains from children, 97 (36%) were invasive disease; of these, 48% were not susceptible to penicillin and 53% not susceptible to erythromycin. A high rate of antimicrobial nonsusceptibility was observed in strains isolated from children with meningitis. The serotype distribution from pneumococci isolated from children with invasive infections was (by order of prevalence): 14, 1, 19F, 19A, 6B, 5, 3, 6A and 23F. Multidrug resistance was observed in serotypes 14, 19F, 19A and 6B. The vaccine coverage of serotypes isolated from children aged <5 years was 55.3% for PCV7, 71.1% for PCV10 and 86.8% for PCV13. Our results highlight the burden of pneumococcal disease in Algeria and the increasing S. pneumoniae antibiotic resistance. The current pneumococcal vaccines cover a high percentage of the circulating strains. Therefore, vaccination would reduce the incidence of pneumococcal disease in Algeria.

[Salmonella m'bandaka isolated in a nursery]. / A propos de Salmonella m'bandaka isolée en collectivité fermée.

A epidemic of enteric pathogens bacteria occurred in december 1989 and caused two deaths in a nursery. There were many investigations between december 1989 and september 1990 trying to clarify this epidemic context. A new serovar of Salmonella had for the first time been isolated from babies' feces in Algeria. Salmonella m'bandaka has been identified in more than 50% of analysis. During an hygienic investigation in this nursery the above Salmonella m'bandaka was isolated in a open physiologic solution flask.

[Epidemiology of salmonella infections in Algeria. Evolution of the salmonella serovars isolated from 1986 to 1990]. / Contribution à l'épidémiologie des salmonelloses en Algérie evolution des sérovars de salmonella isolés de 1986 à 1990.

The serovars evolution of 3340 Salmonella strains isolated from 1986 to 1990 in Algeria have been studied. Among Salmonella responsible for typhoid-paratyphoid fevers, 98% are S. typhi; the prevalence of this serovar is observed every year. Among the other Salmonella, 50 different serovars have been isolated from 1986 to 1990. The predominant serovars change every year but 98% out of the total belong to 8 groups of Kauffmann White scheme; the most frequent are: groups O: 6, 7-O: 8-O: 4 and O: 9.

[1st isolation of Yersinia enterocolitica in Algeria]. / Premíers isolements de Yersinia enterocolitica en Algérie.

Yersinia enterocolitica has been researched in 200 samples of human stools, 40 animals excrements, 38 specimens of soils and 46 of water; the microorganism has been recovered in respectively 3.5%, 10%, 10.5% and 26% out of the total of samples examined; the strains isolated belong to different Wauter's biotype scheme but the biotype 1 is the most predominant except in soil samples. None of biotype 2 and 4, admitted to be adapted to man, has been isolated from human stools. We think that the notion of adaptation of a given biotype to a given host must be reviewed. These data, although they demonstrate the existence of yersinia enterocolitica in Algeria, because of the small number of samples examined, do not reflect exactly the real incidence of the infection caused by this microorganism.

[Various isolation and enrichment media for isolating Yersinia enterocolitica]. / Etude des différents milieux d'isolement et d'enrichissement utilisés pour la mise en évidence de Yersinia entérocolitica.

Study of different isolation and enrichment media for recovering Yersinia enterocolitica has been carried out. The best data have been obtained after enrichment in phosphate buffer with sorbitol and bile salts, followed by a decontamination with Aulisio's KOH and streaking into Hectoen medium.

[Phage types of Vibrio cholerae and non agglutinable Vibrio isolated in Algeria from 1975 to 1977]. / Lysotypes des Vibrions cholériques et non agglutinables isolés en Algérie de 1975 a 1977.

1 285 strains of Vibrio cholerae and 556 strains of non agglutinable Vibrio were isolated either from stool specimens or water in Algeria from 1975 to 1977. These strains were phage-typed with Basu and Mukerjee's 5 phages for the Vibrio biotype El Tor and with Mukerjee's phage IV for the Vibrio biotype cholerae. The results obtained are discussed in terms of choleraphages used for the diagnosis and epidemiological study of cholera.

[Some aspects of the evolution of cholera in Algeria from 1971 to 1975]. / Quelques aspects de l'évolution du choléra en Algérie de 1971 a 1975.

Taking as a basis information collected in their laboratory, the authors study certain aspects of the evolution of cholera in Algeria during the different outbreaks from 1971 to 1975. 6 301 strains of vibrio-cholerae (mainly serotype Ogawa) were isolated either from cholera patients or carriers. All but two of strains were sensitive to all antibiotics tested. Most of the Wilayate (districts) were affected during these outbreaks which took place from June to December; the majority of cases were observed from August to October but principally in September.