[Cyclospora sp]. / Cyclospora sp.

A few years ago, a new Coccidian, "Cyclospora sp', has been found in the stools of both immuno-competents and AIDS patients with diarrhoeal illness. The epidemiology, natural history and clinical manifestations of Cyclospora infection have been charted, but its life cycle has not been described yet. We present here 19 cases of Cyclospora infections diagnosed in our laboratories in the past two years.

[Blastocystis hominis: a common commensal in the colon. Study of prevalence in different populations of Paris]. / Blastocystis hominis: commensal habituel du côlon. Etude de la prévalence à Paris, dans diverses populations.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the prevalence of Blastocystis hominis in different population categories in Paris, including immunodepressed subjects. METHODS: Stool examinations were performed for 7,677 patients to determine the prevalence of Blastocystis hominis. RESULTS: Prevalence varied according to the population group: subjects free of any digestive tract disorders 17.4%; adults with digestive tract disorders 19.8% (this level was independent of digestive tract motility and of ethnic origin); children 13.8% (p < 0.01). In HIV-positive patients, the prevalence in immunocompetent patients was 19.6% compared with 15 to 16% in patients with AIDS (difference non significant). Blastocystis hominis was shown to be non-contagious in children and was not found to be sexually transmitted in homosexual men. CONCLUSION: Generally, Blastocystis hominis infection resolves spontaneous before any manifestation of the protozoa. This common parasite is a commensal germ of the intestinal tract, even in subjects free of gastro-intestinal manifestations, and does not usually require prescription of an antibiotic. In exceptional cases with rapid proliferation, treatment can be proposed with nitroimidazol, particularly for certain strains with an abnormal variability.

[Isospora belli coccidiosis in immunocompetent subjects (a study of 40 cases seen in Paris)]. / La coccidiose à Isospora belli chez les sujets immuno-compétents (étude de 40 cas observés à Paris).

35 of the 40 cases with Isospora belli infection were from France: 33 patients presenting with "travellers diarrhoea" were infected abroad (especially in tropical Africa and the Middle East) but 7 were infected in France itself. Charcot-Leyden crystals were found together with I. belli oocysts in the stools of 35 subjects. 61% of the cases presented with hypereosinophilia of between 6 and 20%. The average eosinophilia was 7.6% or 649/mm3.

[Retrospective study of 1,934 cases of strongyloidiasis diagnosed in Paris (1970-1986). I. Geographic origin. Epidemiology]. / Etude rétrospective de 1,934 cas de strongyloidose diagnostiqués à Paris (1970-1986). I. Origine géographique. Epidémiologie.

The geographic origins of the 1,934 strongyloidiasis cases were as follows: 1,211 cases originated from the West Indies, most of whom resided in France. From 1973 to 1986 the prevalence decreased from 47 to 30% for men, and from 30% to 17% for women. 433 cases originated from other intertropical countries, 257 of which were from 4 prevalence zones of Africa: 4.5% Mauritania, Mali, Niger; 9% Senegal, Burkina Faso, Togo, Zaïre; 23% Guinea, Nigeria, Congo, Cameroon; 32% Ivory Coast, Gabon. 235 cases were French who had live, fought or travelled abroad (mainly Indochina and Africa). 33 Europeans of rural origin, infected in their country (2 in France?). 8 French cases infected in France (2 in Spain or Italy?).

[Retrospective study of 1,934 cases of strongyloidiasis in Paris (1970-1986). II. Diagnosis, Eosinophilia. Treatment]. / Etude rétrospective de 1,934 cas de strongyloidose diagnostiqués à Paris (1970-1986) II. Diagnostic. Eosinophilie. Traitement.

The best methods of detection of strongyloidiasis were by "combined concentrations" described in 1965 and 1972: a faecal sample was concentrated with or without ether, then floating. Baermann's extraction was positive in only 80% of the cases. The average blood eosinophilia was higher in Europeans (16.4%) than in subjects from intertropical countries (13.4%). In West Indians; it was higher in cases of strongyloidiasis than in ankylostomiasis (9.4%) and intestinal bilharziasis (8.3%). Treatment with thiabendazole: overall efficacy in 621 patients was 89%. The most effective dosage (97%) with the lowest dose was 4 g in adults, taken in two doses, one in the evening and the other the next morning.

[Comparative results of coprological tests for the detection of intestinal amebae and flagellates in 200 male homosexuals. An appraisal of the risk of amebiasis]. / Résultats comparés des examens coprologiques effectués en vue du dépistage des amibes et flagellés intestinaux chez 200 homosexuels masculins. Evaluation du risque amibien.

When comparing the results of coprological tests carried out in optimal conditions among 200 male homosexuals (MHS) (1) and 500 male heterosexuals, most of whom were suffering from intestinal disorders, it was found that 52% of MHS and only 3.6% of heterosexuals were Ent. histolytica carriers. The 14 to 1 ratio shows the "uncorrected" relative risk of amoebiasis among MHS, which becomes a 10-12 to 1 corrected relative risk, after taking into account intervening factors. Travelling to the tropics does not increase the incidence of amoebiasis among examined MHS. The occurrence rates of Ent. coli, End. nana, Giardia are higher among MHS, and the rates of two species which are usually rare, Pseudolimax (or Iodamoeba) and Enteromonas (flagellate of the colon), rise sharply in this group, although the occurrence rates of the other protozoa stay at the same level in both groups. Presently, we are unable to explain fully these different behaviors. The highly increased presence of intestinal protozoa and the unusual prevalence of some species among the MHS condition numerous and diversified parasitic associations. Some associations found only among MHS indicate oro-faecal contamination which is the only way for direct transmission of protozoa between individuals.