PADIC: extension and new experiments

International audiencePADIC is a multidialectal parallel Arabic corpus. It was composed initially by five Arabic dialects, three from the Maghreb and two from the Middle East, in addition to standard Arabic. In this paper, we present an augmented version of PADIC with a Moroccan dialect. We give also an evaluation, using the σ–index, of the computerization level of the Arabic dialects present in PADIC which reveals that these languages are really under-resourced. Several experiments in machine translation, in both sides between all the combinations of language pairs, are discussed too. For each language, we interpolated the corresponding Language Model (LM) with a large Arabic corpus based LM. The results show that this interpolation is in some cases without effect on the performances of translation systems and in others is rather penalizing

Spread of Leishmania killicki to central and south-west Tunisa

International audienceTwenty cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) cases were notified from December 2001 to February 2002, in a small village in the district of Oueslatia (governorate of Kairouan, central Tunisia) which is an endemic focus of infantile visceral leishmaniasis due to Leishmania (L.) infantum and that hod never been concerned previously by CL. The parasite typing of two isolates obtained from two children that have never left the region has identified L. killicki. This species hod only been reported previously in a limited focus of Tunisian Southeast. In October 2002, an epidemiological survey with isoenzym characterization of the parasite led in a well-known focus of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis of South-West Tunisia also revealed the presence of L. killicki. These results suggest the spread of this species and stress the need of further investigations for a better control of CL in Tunisia

Development of a murine infection model with Leishmania killicki, responsible for cutaneous Leishmaniosis in Algeria : application in pharmacology

In Algeria, Leishmania infantum, Leishmania major, and Leishmania killicki (Leishmania tropica) are responsible for cutaneous leishmaniosis. We established a murine model of L. killicki infection to investigate its infective capacity, some immunophysiopathological aspects, and its suitability for pharmacological purposes. Following the injection of L. major or L. killicki metacyclic promastigotes in the ear dermis of BALB/c mice, the course of infection was followed. The infection with L. killicki caused slower lesion formation than with L. major. The presence of L. killicki or L. major DNA and parasites was detected in the ear dermis and in lymph nodes, spleen, and liver. Lesions induced by L. killicki were nonulcerative in their aspect, whereas those caused by L. major were highly ulcerative and necrotic, which matches well with the lesion phenotype reported in humans for L. killicki and L. major, respectively. The treatment of L. killicki lesions by injection of Glucantime (R) significantly reduced the lesion thickness and parasite burden. Ear dermal injection of BALB/c mice constitutes a model to study lesions physiopathology caused by L. killicki and presents interest for in vivo screening of new compounds against this pathogen, emerging in Algeria

Neglected Tropical Diseases of the Middle East and North Africa: Review of Their Prevalence, Distribution, and Opportunities for Control

The neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are highly endemic but patchily distributed among the 20 countries and almost 400 million people of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, and disproportionately affect an estimated 65 million people living on less than US$2 per day. Egypt has the largest number of people living in poverty of any MENA nation, while Yemen has the highest prevalence of people living in poverty. These two nations stand out for having suffered the highest rates of many NTDs, including the soil-transmitted nematode infections, filarial infections, schistosomiasis, fascioliasis, leprosy, and trachoma, although they should be recognized for recent measures aimed at NTD control. Leishmaniasis, especially cutaneous leishmaniasis, is endemic in Syria, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Morocco, and elsewhere in the region. Both zoonotic (Leishmania major) and anthroponotic (Leishmania tropica) forms are endemic in MENA in rural arid regions and urban regions, respectively. Other endemic zoonotic NTDs include cystic echinococcosis, fascioliasis, and brucellosis. Dengue is endemic in Saudi Arabia, where Rift Valley fever and Alkhurma hemorrhagic fever have also emerged. Great strides have been made towards elimination of several endemic NTDs, including lymphatic filariasis in Egypt and Yemen; schistosomiasis in Iran, Morocco, and Oman; and trachoma in Morocco, Algeria, Iran, Libya, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, and the United Arab Emirates. A particularly noteworthy achievement is the long battle waged against schistosomiasis in Egypt, where prevalence has been brought down by regular praziquantel treatment. Conflict and human and animal migrations are key social determinants in preventing the control or elimination of NTDs in the MENA, while local political will, strengthened international and intersectoral cooperative efforts for surveillance, mass drug administration, and vaccination are essential for elimination

First Molecular Epidemiological Study of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Libya

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania. The disease is characterized by the formation of chronic skin lesions followed by permanent scars and deformation of the infected area. It is distributed in many tropical and subtropical countries with more than 2 million cases every year. During the past few years CL has emerged as a major public health problem in Libya. So far, diagnosis was based on clinical symptoms and microscopic observation of parasites. Disease outbreaks were not investigated and the causative leishmanial species of CL were not identified so far. Our study indicates the presence of two coexisting species: Leishmania major and Leishmania tropica. These results are crucial in order to provide accurate treatment, precise prognosis and appropriate public health control measures. The recent armed conflict in Libya that ended with the Gadhafi regime collapse on October 2011 has affected all aspects of the life in the country. In this study we discussed multiple risk factors that could be associated with this conflict and present major challenges that should be considered by local and national health authorities for evaluating the CL burden and highlighting priority actions for disease control

Culex pipiens, an Experimental Efficient Vector of West Nile and Rift Valley Fever Viruses in the Maghreb Region

West Nile fever (WNF) and Rift Valley fever (RVF) are emerging diseases causing epidemics outside their natural range of distribution. West Nile virus (WNV) circulates widely and harmlessly in the old world among birds as amplifying hosts, and horses and humans as accidental dead-end hosts. Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) re-emerges periodically in Africa causing massive outbreaks. In the Maghreb, eco-climatic and entomologic conditions are favourable for WNV and RVFV emergence. Both viruses are transmitted by mosquitoes belonging to the Culex pipiens complex. We evaluated the ability of different populations of Cx. pipiens from North Africa to transmit WNV and the avirulent RVFV Clone 13 strain. Mosquitoes collected in Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia during the summer 2010 were experimentally infected with WNV and RVFV Clone 13 strain at titers of 107.8 and 108.5 plaque forming units/mL, respectively. Disseminated infection and transmission rates were estimated 14–21 days following the exposure to the infectious blood-meal. We show that 14 days after exposure to WNV, all mosquito st developed a high disseminated infection and were able to excrete infectious saliva. However, only 69.2% of mosquito strains developed a disseminated infection with RVFV Clone 13 strain, and among them, 77.8% were able to deliver virus through saliva. Thus, Cx. pipiens from the Maghreb are efficient experimental vectors to transmit WNV and to a lesser extent, RVFV Clone 13 strain. The epidemiologic importance of our findings should be considered in the light of other parameters related to mosquito ecology and biology

PARAMETRES ORGANIQUES ET POTENTIELS DE FORMATION DU CHLOROFORME D’EAUX DE SURFACE DE L’EST ALGERIEN ORGANIC PARAMETERS AND CHLOROFORM FORMATION POTENTIALS OF EASTERN ALGERIAN SURFACE WATERS

Le présent travail a pour objectif d’apporter une contribution à la connaissance de la réactivité du chlore vis-à-vis d’eaux desurface de l’Est algérien de caractéristiques physico-chimiques variables. Les essais expérimentaux sont réalisés sur onze eauxde barrages pour lesquelles différents paramètres globaux et organiques sont déterminés. Les essais de chloration, réalisés en laboratoire, permettent de déterminer les potentiels de consommation en chlore et de formation de chloroforme. Les différences de réactivité observées sont apparues comme corrélables à la nature et aux teneurs en matières organiques, à la proportion en substances humiques ainsi qu’à certains éléments minéraux.  The present work aims to contribute to the knowledge of the chlorine reactivity towards eastern algerian surface waters. Thesehave various physico-chemicals characteristics and are sampled from eleven dams. Tests are performed to evaluate some global and organic parameters. Then, chlorination is applied to surface waters in order to determine chlorine consumption and chloroform formation potentials. The observed variations in reactivity seem to be well correlated with the nature and levels oforganic matter, the proportion of humic substances and with some inorganic components as well

PADIC: extension and new experiments

International audiencePADIC is a multidialectal parallel Arabic corpus. It was composed initially by five Arabic dialects, three from the Maghreb and two from the Middle East, in addition to standard Arabic. In this paper, we present an augmented version of PADIC with a Moroccan dialect. We give also an evaluation, using the σ–index, of the computerization level of the Arabic dialects present in PADIC which reveals that these languages are really under-resourced. Several experiments in machine translation, in both sides between all the combinations of language pairs, are discussed too. For each language, we interpolated the corresponding Language Model (LM) with a large Arabic corpus based LM. The results show that this interpolation is in some cases without effect on the performances of translation systems and in others is rather penalizing