Paragangliome nasopharynge avec extension a la base du crane: Une localisation inhabituelle des paragangliomes

Introduction : Le paragangliome est une rare tumeur neuroendocrine. La localisation nasopharyngée avec extension à la base du crâne est très rare.Présentation du cas : Il s‘agissait d‘une dame de 39 ans, prise en charge au service de neurochirurgie du CHU « Hôpital du Mali » pour un paragangliome nasopharyngé qui s‘étendait à la base du crâne. La patiente présentait une dyspnée d‘aggravation progressive associée à une épistaxis à répétition évoluant depuis 3 ans environ et une paralysie faciale périphérique gauche. Le scanner avait mis en évidence une masse volumineuse siégeant au niveau du nasopharynx obstruant partiellement les fosses nasales. La lésion était rehaussée après injection de produit de contraste. La patiente a eu une chirurgie d‘exérèse de la tumeur en 2 temps. L‘analyse anatomopathologique avec immunohistochimie a permis de confirmer le diagnostic de paragangliome. Une radiothérapie complémentaire a été réalisée sur le résidu tumoral. Les suites du traitement ont été satisfaisantes.Discussion : Les paragangliomes de la tête et du cou ne représentent que 0,6% des tumeurs de la tête et du cou et 3% de tous les  paragangliomes. Le traitement repose sur la chirurgie. La radiothérapie est indiquée si la chirurgie n‘assure pas une résection complète.Conclusion : Les paragangliomes sont une entité à prendre en compte dans les tumeurs nasopharyngées et de la base du crâne.   Englsih title: Nasopharyngeal paraganglioma with extension at the skull base: An unusual location of the paragangliomas Introduction: Paraganglioma is a rare neuroendocrine tumor. Nasopharyngeal localization with extension at the skull base is very rare.Case: A thirty-nine-year-old woman, was managed by the Neurosurgery Department of « Hôpital du Mali » for a nasopharyngeal paraganglioma that extended to the skull base. The patient had progressive dyspnea associated with repeated epistaxis for 3 years and left peripheral facial palsy. The CT scan showed a bulky mass sitting in the nasopharynx partially obstructing the nasal cavity. The lesion was enhanced after injection of contrast. The patient had surgery to remove the tumor in 2 steps. Histological analysis with  immunohistochemistry confirmed the diagnosis. Complementary radiotherapy was performed on the tumor residue. The results of the treatment were satisfactory.Discussion: Head and neck paragangliomas represent only 0.6% of head and neck tumors and 3% of all paragangliomas. The treatment is based on surgery. Radiotherapy is indicated if the surgery does not provide complete resection.Conclusion: Paragangliomas are an entity to be considered in nasopharyngeal and skull base tumors

Rift Valley Fever, Mayotte, 2007–2008

After the 2006–2007 epidemic wave of Rift Valley fever (RVF) in East Africa and its circulation in the Comoros, laboratory case-finding of RVF was conducted in Mayotte from September 2007 through May 2008. Ten recent human RVF cases were detected, which confirms the indigenous transmission of RFV virus in Mayotte

Seroepidemiology of Dengue Virus in Mayotte, Indian Ocean, 2006

BACKGROUND: Although Dengue virus (DENV) circulation had been documented in neighbouring South-western Indian Ocean Islands, its presence in Mayotte is poorly characterised. To address this issue, we aimed to assess the seroprevalence of dengue IgG antibodies (DENV-IgG Ab) among the population and to investigate potential associations with individual and household characteristics. METHODS/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: In November-December 2006 we conducted a cross-sectional serologic survey in Mayotte among 1,154 inhabitants aged≥2 years by using a multistage cluster random sampling method. The overall prevalence of DENV-specific IgG antibodies (ELISA) was 22.73% (95% CI, 18.16-27.31). The age-specific seroprevalence increased with age (χ2 for trend=11.86, P<0.0006), and was linked with previous known outbreaks in this region. In multivariate analysis, older age, being born in the Comoros and living in a household with a low socioeconomic index were positively associated with DENV IgG antibody positivity. CONCLUSIONS: These findings document substantial prior exposure of the population of Mayotte to DENV and highlight the risk of severe illness due to the possibility of sequential DENV infections. Further investigations characterizing current DENV circulation patterns and associated serotypes are needed

Etude épidémiologique, clinique et thérapeutique des hydrocèles dans trois districts sanitaires de la région de Sikasso/Mali: Epidemiological, Clinical and Therapeutic Study of Hydroceles in Three Health Districts in the Sikasso Region / Mali

Context and objective. Hydrocele is one of the most common urogenital manifestations of lymphatic filariasis. It is a common cause of enlarged scrotum in the tropics. This study aims to describe the epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic aspects of hydroceles. Methods. This cross-sectional descriptive study of hydroceles in three endemic filarial Sikasso areas in Mali was conducted from November 2017 to December 2018. The variables studied were: frequency of hydrocele, age of patients, duration of evolution, type of anesthesia, surgical technique, volume, operative time and postoperative results. Results. Three hundred fifty-eight patients were operated on in fourteen months. The frequency of hydrocele‘s surgery was 31%. Their average age was 47.1 years old (extremes 4 months and 94 years). The duration of evolution was 10.7 years (extremes 6 months and 21 years). The right side was the most affected with 44.1% followed by the left side with 31.3%. Hydrocele was bilateral in 19%. Local anesthesia (with xylocaine 2%) was used in 88%. All patients underwent a successful vaginal resection. Conclusion. The hydrocele remains a common urological pathology in these endemic areas. The diagnosis is made after a long period of evolution of the disease. Treatment in outpatient surgery is undertaken using local anesthesia. These hydrocele management campaigns should be encouraged to treat the maximum number of patients. Contexte et objectif. L’hydrocèle constitue l’une des manifestations urogénitales les plus fréquentes de la filariose lymphatique. Elle est une cause fréquente de grosse bourse dans les régions tropicales. L’objectif de cette étude est de décrire les aspects épidémiologiques, cliniques et thérapeutiques des hydrocèles. Méthodes. Il s’agissait d’une étude transversale et descriptive sur les hydrocèles, réalisée entre novembre 2017 et décembre 2018 ; dans trois zones endémiques filariennes dans la région de SIKASSO au Mali. Les variables étudiées étaient : la fréquence de l’hydrocèle, l’âge des patients, la durée d’évolution, le type d’anesthésie, la technique chirurgicale, le volume, le temps opératoire et les résultats postopératoires. Résultats. Trois cent cinquante-huit patients ont été opérés en quatorze mois. L’intervention de l’hydrocèle rendait compte de 31% des activités chirurgicales. Leur âge moyen était de 47,1 ans (extrêmes 4 mois et 94 ans). La durée d’évolution était de 10,7 ans (extrêmes de 6 mois et 21 ans). Le testicule droit était le plus touché (44,1 %) suivi du côté gauche (31,3%). L’hydrocèle était bilatérale dans 19 %. L’anesthésie locale à la xylocaïne 2 % a été réalisée dans 88%. La résection vaginale a été réalisée chez tous les patients avec succès. Conclusion. L’hydrocèle reste une pathologie urologique fréquente en zone d’endémie filarienne. Le diagnostic se fait après une longue durée d’évolution de la maladie. Le traitement en chirurgie ambulatoire réalisée sous anesthésie locale a montré des résultats satisfaisants. Ces campagnes de prise en charge de l’hydrocèle sont à encourager pour pouvoir traiter le maximum de patients

High doses of favipiravir in two men survivors of Ebola virus disease carrying Ebola virus in semen in Guinea

BACKGROUND: Persistence of Ebola virus (EBOV) in semen remains of deep concern, as sexual transmission of EBOV seems plausible up to 6 months after acute phase of Ebola virus disease (EVD). Favipiravir, a broad spectrum antiviral product, has been evaluated in reducing EVD mortality in Guinea in 2014-2015 in the JIKI trial, the pharmacokinetic results of which suggest that an increase of dose might be necessary to achieve a therapeutically relevant exposure. In FORCE trial, we aimed at evaluating the tolerance and activity of high doses of favipiravir in male EVD survivors with EBOV RNA detection in semen in Guinea. CASE: In 2016, we launched a phase IIa open-labeled multicenter dose escalation study. Male survivors of EVD with EBOV RT-PCR positive on semen received a loading dose of 2400 mg BID of favipiravir on day 1 then a maintenance dose of 1800 mg BID from day 2-14. The primary outcome was the tolerance, assessed daily during period treatment and up to day 90. Unfortunately only two participants were included and the trial was stopped for lack of recruitment. No clinical adverse event of grade 3/4 was reported for both patients. One patient experienced a grade 3 hypocalcemia at day 10 and 14. CONCLUSIONS: High doses of favipiravir were well tolerated in these two participants. Better characterized tolerance and pharmacokinetics of high doses of favipiravir are of utmost importance considering that favipiravir is a candidate treatment for a variety of emerging severe viral diseases with poor prognosis

Post-Epidemic Chikungunya Disease on Reunion Island: Course of Rheumatic Manifestations and Associated Factors over a 15-Month Period

Although the acute manifestations of Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) illness are well-documented, few data exist about the long-term rheumatic outcomes of CHIKV-infected patients. We undertook between June and September 2006 a retrospective cohort study aimed at assessing the course of late rheumatic manifestations and investigating potential risk factors associated with the persistence of these rheumatic manifestations over 15 months. 147 participants (>16 yrs) with laboratory-confirmed CHIKV disease diagnosed between March 1 and June 30, 2005, were identified through a surveillance database and interviewed by telephone. At the 15-month-period evaluation after diagnosis, 84 of 147 participants (57%) self-reported rheumatic symptoms. Of these 84 patients, 53 (63%) reported permanent trouble while 31 (37%) had recurrent symptoms. Age ≥45 years (OR = 3.9, 95% CI 1.7–9.7), severe initial joint pain (OR = 4.8, 95% CI 1.9–12.1), and presence of underlying osteoarthritis comorbidity (OR = 2.9, 95% CI 1.1–7.4) were predictors of nonrecovery. Our findings suggest that long-term CHIKV rheumatic manifestations seem to be a frequent underlying post-epidemic condition. Three independent risk factors that may aid in early recognition of patients with the highest risk of presenting prolonged CHIKV illness were identified. Such findings may be particularly useful in the development of future prevention and care strategies for this emerging virus infection

Deep Sequencing of RNA from Blood and Oral Swab Samples Reveals the Presence of Nucleic Acid from a Number of Pathogens in Patients with Acute Ebola Virus Disease and Is Consistent with Bacterial Translocation across the Gut.

In this study, samples from the 2013-2016 West African Ebola virus outbreak from patients in Guinea with Ebola virus disease (EVD) were analyzed to discover and classify what other pathogens were present. Throat swabs were taken from deceased EVD patients, and peripheral blood samples were analyzed that had been taken from patients when they presented at the treatment center with acute illness. High-throughput RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and bioinformatics were used to identify the potential microorganisms. This approach confirmed Ebola virus (EBOV) in all samples from patients diagnosed as acute positive for the virus by quantitative reverse transcription-PCR in deployed field laboratories. Nucleic acid mapping to Plasmodium was also used on the patient samples, confirming results obtained with an antigen-based rapid diagnostic test (RDT) conducted in the field laboratories. The data suggested that a high Plasmodium load, as determined by sequence read depth, was associated with mortality and influenced the host response, whereas a lower parasite load did not appear to affect outcome. The identifications of selected bacteria from throat swabs via RNA-seq were confirmed by culture. The data indicated that the potential pathogens identified in the blood samples were associated with translocation from the gut, suggesting the presence of bacteremia, which transcriptome data suggested may induce or aggravate the acute-phase response observed during EVD. Transcripts mapping to different viruses were also identified, including those indicative of lytic infections. The development of high-resolution analysis of samples from patients with EVD will help inform care pathways and the most appropriate general antimicrobial therapy to be used in a resource-poor setting. IMPORTANCE Our results highlight the identification of an array of pathogens in the blood of patients with Ebola virus disease (EVD). This has not been done before, and the data have important implications for the treatment of patients with EVD, particularly considering antibiotic stewardship. We show that EVD patients who were also infected with Plasmodium, particularly at higher loads, had more adverse outcomes than patients with lower levels of Plasmodium. However, the presence of Plasmodium did not influence the innate immune response, and it is likely that the presence of EBOV dominated this response. Several viruses other than EBOV were identified, and bacteria associated with sepsis were also identified. These findings were indicative of bacterial translocation across the gut during the acute phase of EVD

Persistence and clearance of Ebola virus RNA from seminal fluid of Ebola virus disease survivors: a longitudinal analysis and modelling study

Background By January, 2016, all known transmission chains of the Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in west Africa had been stopped. However, there is concern about persistence of Ebola virus in the reproductive tract of men who have survived EVD. We aimed to use biostatistical modelling to describe the dynamics of Ebola virus RNA load in seminal fl uid, including clearance parameters. Methods In this longitudinal study, we recruited men who had been discharged from three Ebola treatment units in Guinea between January and July, 2015. Participants provided samples of seminal fl uid at follow-up every 3–6 weeks, which we tested for Ebola virus RNA using quantitative real-time RT-PCR. Representative specimens from eight participants were then inoculated into immunodefi cient mice to test for infectivity. We used a linear mixed-eff ect model to analyse the dynamics of virus persistence in seminal fl uid over time. Findings We enrolled 26 participants and tested 130 seminal fl uid specimens; median follow up was 197 days (IQR 187–209 days) after enrolment, which corresponded to 255 days (228–287) after disease onset. Ebola virus RNA was detected in 86 semen specimens from 19 (73%) participants. Median duration of Ebola virus RNA detection was 158 days after onset (73–181; maximum 407 days at end of follow-up). Mathematical modelling of the quantitative time-series data showed a mean clearance rate of Ebola virus RNA from seminal fl uid of –0·58 log units per month, although the clearance kinetic varied greatly between participants. Using our biostatistical model, we predict that 50% and 90% of male survivors clear Ebola virus RNA from seminal fl uid at 115 days (90% prediction interval 72–160) and 294 days (212–399) after disease onset, respectively. We also predicted that the number of men positive for Ebola virus RNA in aff ected countries would decrease from about 50 in January 2016, to fewer than 1 person by July, 2016. Infectious virus was detected in 15 of 26 (58%) specimens tested in mice. Interpretation Time to clearance of Ebola virus RNA from seminal fl uid varies greatly between individuals and could be more than 13 months. Our predictions will assist in decision-making about surveillance and preventive measures in EVD outbreaks

Discrepant Prevalence and Incidence of Leishmania Infection between Two Neighboring Villages in Central Mali Based on Leishmanin Skin Test Surveys

Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne disease transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected sand fly. Leishmaniasis is present in more than 88 countries and affects more than 12 million people. Depending on the species of Leishmania, the host can develop cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), which is characterized by skin ulcers in uncovered parts of the body or a more severe form, visceral leishmaniasis, which affects the liver and spleen and is fatal if not treated. This study aims to establish the past and present infection with Leishmania parasites in two villages where recent cases have been diagnosed by the dermatology center (CNAM) in Bamako. This was achieved using a Leishmania-specific skin test that was administered annually to permanent residents of Kemena and Sougoula villages from 2006 to 2008. The results show that transmission of Leishmania is active and stable in these two villages. Moreover, despite sharing similar cultural and environmental features, the individuals from Kemena presented three times the risk of Leishmania infection compared with those from Sougoula. Our findings raise awareness of the continued presence of CL in Mali

Persistence and clearance of Ebola virus RNA from seminal fluid of Ebola virus disease survivors: a longitudinal analysis and modelling study.

BACKGROUND: By January, 2016, all known transmission chains of the Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in west Africa had been stopped. However, there is concern about persistence of Ebola virus in the reproductive tract of men who have survived EVD. We aimed to use biostatistical modelling to describe the dynamics of Ebola virus RNA load in seminal fluid, including clearance parameters. METHODS: In this longitudinal study, we recruited men who had been discharged from three Ebola treatment units in Guinea between January and July, 2015. Participants provided samples of seminal fluid at follow-up every 3-6 weeks, which we tested for Ebola virus RNA using quantitative real-time RT-PCR. Representative specimens from eight participants were then inoculated into immunodeficient mice to test for infectivity. We used a linear mixed-effect model to analyse the dynamics of virus persistence in seminal fluid over time. FINDINGS: We enrolled 26 participants and tested 130 seminal fluid specimens; median follow up was 197 days (IQR 187-209 days) after enrolment, which corresponded to 255 days (228-287) after disease onset. Ebola virus RNA was detected in 86 semen specimens from 19 (73%) participants. Median duration of Ebola virus RNA detection was 158 days after onset (73-181; maximum 407 days at end of follow-up). Mathematical modelling of the quantitative time-series data showed a mean clearance rate of Ebola virus RNA from seminal fluid of -0·58 log units per month, although the clearance kinetic varied greatly between participants. Using our biostatistical model, we predict that 50% and 90% of male survivors clear Ebola virus RNA from seminal fluid at 115 days (90% prediction interval 72-160) and 294 days (212-399) after disease onset, respectively. We also predicted that the number of men positive for Ebola virus RNA in affected countries would decrease from about 50 in January 2016, to fewer than 1 person by July, 2016. Infectious virus was detected in 15 of 26 (58%) specimens tested in mice. INTERPRETATION: Time to clearance of Ebola virus RNA from seminal fluid varies greatly between individuals and could be more than 13 months. Our predictions will assist in decision-making about surveillance and preventive measures in EVD outbreaks. FUNDING: This study was funded by European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme, Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development of the European Commission, Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale (INSERM), German Research Foundation (DFG), and Innovative Medicines Initiative 2 Joint Undertaking