Immunopathogenesis of Toxoplasmosis in Pregnancy

The immunopathogenesis of toxoplasmosis during pregnancy is not completely understood. This paper will try to discuss the most frequently asked questions about the immunopathogeny of congenital toxoplasmosis: differential virulence of Toxoplasma isolates, genetic susceptibility to infection, facilitation of placental transfer, models of congenital toxoplasmosis, and transmission in seropositive hosts. Most published data suggest a role of the genetic background of the host and of the parasite. Models of congenital toxoplasmosis have been evaluated, but it appears that the conclusion drawn would be barely appropriate to understand the pathogenesis in pregnant women

Associating hydroxychloroquine and azythromycine eliminates virus in covid-19 patients according to preliminary results of “IHU-Méditerranée Infection”

Dupouy-Camet Jean. L’association hydroxychloroquine-azythromycine négative la charge virale de patients atteints, de Covid 19 selon une étude préliminaire de l’ihu-méditerranée infection. In: Bulletin de l'Académie Vétérinaire de France tome 173 n°1, 2020. pp. 75-77

Rediscovery of diphyllobothriosis in the area of french sub-alpine lakes

Diphyllobothriosis, caused by Diphyllobothrium latum, was rediscovered in the area of subalpine lakes and in particular in the lake of Geneva, fifteen years ago, probably due to increasing popularity of preparations made from raw fish. This rediscovery was the opportunity to develop techniques of molecular identification of this parasite for eggs, proglottids or larvae. The parasite seems absent from the area of Annecy and Bourget lakes. Around the lake of Geneva, the prevalence of diphyllobothriosis in fish and the incidence of human disease appear to decrease compared to previous surveys carried out a few years ago. Nevertheless, the parasite is always present in the Lake Geneva region. Regular surveys of the medical laboratories in the region and regular examinations of the fillets of perch and of a few pikes would be simple data to collect and able to allow an epidemiological surveillance of the parasitosis.La diphyllobothriose à Diphyllobothrium latum est réapparue dans la région des lacs sub-alpins et, en particulier, du lac Léman, il y a une quinzaine d’année, probablement en raison d’une popularité croissante des préparations à base de poisson cru. Sa résurgence a été l’occasion de mettre au point des techniques d’identification moléculaire du parasite, utilisables à la fois pour les oeufs, les anneaux et les larves. Les poissons des lacs d’Annecy et du Bourget sont indemnes. La prévalence de la parasitose chez les poissons du lac Léman et l’incidence de la maladie humaine dans la région apparaissent en diminution par rapport à d’autres enquêtes effectuées il y a quelques années. Le parasite est néanmoins toujours présent dans la région du lac Léman. Des enquêtes régulières auprès des laboratoires d’analyses médicales de la région et des examens réguliers des filets de perche et de quelques brochets seraient des données simples à recueillir et, à même, de permettre une surveillance épidémiologique de la parasitose

One health concept, definition, human-animal-environment interactions in parasitology and emerging viruses

Jestin André, Dupouy-Camet Jean. Le concept « une seule santé », définition, relations homme-animal-environnement en parasitologie et en émergences virales. In: Bulletin de l'Académie Vétérinaire de France tome 172 n°1, 2019. pp. 110-111

Toxoplasma gondii infection in slaughter pigs in Serbia

A seroepizootiological study of Toxoplasma gondii infection involving a total of 488 slaughter pigs (468 market-weight pigs and 20 sows) in the Belgrade area, also included examination of the presence of T. gondii in the blood. Blood sampled at the slaughter line was examined for specific antibodies by modified direct agglutination, and blood clots of those seropositive at titres of 1:50-1:12800 were bioassayed in mice. The overall seroprevalence was 9.2%, significantly higher (p = 0.0063) in sows (30.0%) than in market-weight pigs (8.3%). Amongst the 22 bioassays performed, a total of 16 (72.7%) were positive, by observation of T. gondii cysts (12), seropositivity (7, including 3 in which cysts were not detected), and/or detection of T. gondii DNA by real-time PCR (12, including one otherwise negative). The positive bioassays originated from the blood of 12 market-weight pigs and 4 sows. Despite a general increase in the rate of demonstration of T. gondii with the increase in the specific antibody level, the association was not significant (p = 0.101). The risk of infection was 41-fold increased in sows vs market-weight pigs, and 15-fold in pigs from smallholders' finishing type farms vs those from large farrow-to-finish farms. The presence of viable T. gondii in a proportion of the samples indicates that some of the pigs had an active parasitaemia at the time of slaughter, which, along with the seroprevalence established, points to a potential source of human infection in Serbia. This is the first report on parasitaemia in naturally infected swine

Molecular diagnosis of Pseudoterranova decipiens s.s in human, France

Background: Anisakis and Pseudoterranova are the main genera involved in human infections caused by nematodes of the Anisakidae family. Species identification is complicated due to the lack of differential morphological characteristics at the larval stage, thus requiring molecular differentiation. Pseudoterranova larvae ingested through raw fish are spontaneously eliminated in most cases, but mechanical removal by means of endoscopy might be required. To date, only very few cases of Pseudoterranova infection have been reported in France. Case presentation: A 19-year-old woman from Northeastern France detected, while brushing her teeth, a larva exiting through her mouth. The patient who presented with headache, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps reported having eaten baked cod. The worm was a fourth-stage larva with a size of 22 × 0.9 mm, and molecular biology identified it as Pseudoterranova decipiens sensu stricto (s. s.). In a second P. decipiens infection case, occurring a few months later, a worm exited through the patient’s nose after she had eaten raw sea bream. Conclusion: These two cases demonstrate that Pseudoterranova infection is not uncommon among French patients. Therefore, molecular techniques should be more widely applied for a better characterization of anisakidosis epidemiology in France