[The incidence of viral and microbial antigens and the serum interferon titer in certain forms of rheumatism]. / Recherches sur l'incidence de quelques antigènes viraux et inframicrobiens et sur le titre de l'interféron sérique dans certaines formes de rhumatisme.

The presence of some viral and inframicrobial antigens in peripheral leukocytes was investigated by the indirect immunofluorescence technique in 120 patients with different forms of rheumatism and 50 clinically healthy controls. Mycoplasma pneumoniae and type 3 para-influenza virus were detected most frequently. The determination of serum interferon titer revealed a rise of this product in rheumatic patients.

[An immunofluorescence study of the viral and inframicrobial flora of the pharynx in 0- to 5-year-old children with acute respiratory diseases]. / Etude en immunofluorescence de la flore virale et inframicrobienne du pharynx chez des enfants de 0 à 5 ans atteints d'affections respiratoires aiguës.

The pharynx viral and inframicrobial flora of 52 0-5-year-old children with acute respiratory diseases was investigated through the immunofluorescence techniques. Results showed a high positivity rate (91% to 95%), the simultaneous presence in most of the patients of two to five antigens and the dominance of parainfluenza type 3 virus. The significance of the pharyngeal flora is discussed from an immunologic point of view.

[The pharyngeal viral flora in dystrophic infants 0 to 1 years of age with acute respiratory diseases]. / Etude de la flore virale pharyngienne chez des enfants dystrophiques âgés de 0 à 1 an, atteints d'affections respiratoires aiguës.

Pharyngeal viral flora was studied in 0-1-year-old dystrophic children with acute infections of the upper respiratory tract and with interstitial pneumopathy. Influence of the dystrophic factor on the qualitative and quantitative aspects of the viral flora is discussed.

[The circulation of influenza virus in human communities subjected to the action of noxious chemical substances]. / Recherches sur la circulation des virus de la grippe dans des collectivités humaines soumises à l'action de substances chimiques nocives.

Investigations were conducted during 1985 and 1986 years on the effect of some noxious chemicals on the influenza virus circulation in an industrial enterprise community. The presence of influenza virus type A (H1N1), A (H3N2) and B was revealed by immunofluorescence in exfoliated cells collected from nasopharynx. The kinetic of type specific hemagglutination inhibiting antibodies was followed monthly. Chick embryos were used to isolate influenza virus strains. Meaning of the results is discussed from an epidemiological point of view.

[Circulation of parainfluenza viruses and adenoviruses in groups exposed to the action of noxious chemicals or not]. / Recherches sur la circulation des virus paragrippaux et des adénovirus dans des collectivités soumises ou non à l'action de substances chimiques nocives.

Investigations were conducted during 1985 and 1986 years on the effect of some chemicals on the parainfluenza and adenovirus circulation in an industrial enterprise community. The presence of type 1, 2 and 3 parainfluenza virus and of adenovirus was revealed by immunofluorescence in exfoliated cells collected from nasopharynx. The kinetic of specific hemagglutination inhibiting and complement fixing antibodies was followed monthly by immunological tests. Meaning of the results is discussed from an epidemiological point of view.

[Effects of treatment with Macronil on the viral population of the pharynx in 0- to 5-year-old children with acute respiratory infections]. / Etude des effets du traitement au Macronil sur la population virale pharyngienne chez des enfants âgés de 0 à 5 ans, souffrant d'infections respiratoires aiguës.

Macronil (a concentrated proteic extract from mackerel) associated to usual therapeutics (antibiotics, antipyretics, vitamins) in children aged 0-5 years, with acute respiratory infections led to a reduction of the viral pharyngeal population as detected by immunofluorescence (IF) technics. The IF positivity rate in children receiving Macronil was half as high as in controls receiving only the usual therapeutics. At the same time, the number of virus species detected in the pharynx of Macronil treated children was lower than in controls in which the viral pharyngeal population was not influenced in any way by the administered therapeutics without Macronil.

[Pharyngeal viral population in 3- to 6-year-old children before and after influenza immunization using the NIVGRIP vaccine administered orally]. / Etude de la population virale du pharynx chez des enfants âgés de 3 à 6 ans avant et après l'immunisation contre la grippe à l'aide du vaccin NIVGRIP administré par voie orale.

Immunofluorescence techniques were used to investigate the incidence of viral antigens in exfoliated pharyngeal cells collected from 94 3-6-year-old children living in a collectivity, vaccinated by oral route with NIVGRIP inactivated influenza vaccine. The vaccination resulted in a significant decrease of IF-positive subjects from 80% before to 39% after immunization, indicating a fall in the virus carriage level. The percentage of children in which two or more viral antigens were found also decreased from 72% to 33%. As regards the incidence of different viruses, the complete disappearance of influenza antigens and a marked decrease of the other investigated viral agents were recorded.

Presence of viral and inframicrobial germs detected by immunofluorescence reaction in 0-5-year-old children with acute respiratory infections.

The presence of viral and/or inframicrobial antigens was investigated by the immunofluorescence (IF) technique in exfoliated pharyngeal cells collected from 85 children aged 0-5 years, with acute infections of the upper or lower respiratory tract. Positive IF reactions were recorded in 83% of the children with bronchopneumonia, 81.8% of those with acute pharyngitis, 77.7% of those with acute upper respiratory tract infections and 66.6% of those with acute bronchitis. In 68.75% of the IF-positive cases 2-5 different antigens were simultaneously visualized. Herpes and parainfluenza virus antigens appeared to be predominant. The proportion of positive IF reactions was much lower (20%) in a control group of 20 apparently healthy children, where a single viral antigen (parainfluenza 1) was detected.

Virological investigations in adults with acute pneumonia.

Virological investigations (immunofluorescence reactions and isolation attempts with pharyngeal exudate specimens, as well as serological tests) were performed in 110 adult patients with pneumonia. Viral or inframicrobial agents were involved in 70 (63.7%) of the cases, either alone (27 cases) or in association with bacteria (43 cases). Parainfluenza and adenoviruses were most frequently encountered both in the cases with mixed (viral + bacterial) and in those with strictly viral pneumonia. Mycoplasma pneumoniae accounted for 11% of the cases; the role of chlamydial and rickettsial germs was insignificant.

Detection by immunofluorescence of possible viral implications in "idiopathic" peripheral facial paralysis.

The presence of viral antigens was detected by the indirect immunofluorescence technique in exfoliated cells occurring in the pharyngeal exudate of 18 out of 29 patients with peripheral facial paralysis. The most frequently encountered antigens were: Coxsackie A and B virus (33.3%), adenovirus (16.7%), and the association Coxsackie B virus + adenovirus (16.7%). The possibility that some of the so-called "idiopathic" peripheral facial paralyses may have a viral etiology is discussed.