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Biomedical subjects

B Carme

Publications and source records attributed to B Carme.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

Litomosoides carinii infection in cotton-rats: evolution of microfilaraemia before and after treatment with diethylcarbamazine and suramin.

The activity of diethylcarbamazine (DEC) and suramin (S) on Litomosoides carinii filariasis was assessed by the study of microfilaraemia in 30 cotton-rats (Sigmodon hispidus). DEC (per os) and S (injected subcutaneously) were administered alone or in combination, at doses of 50 mg/kg/day for five consecutive days. 15 rats were treated at day 91 after infection and 15 others at day 184. The immediate but temporary efficacy observed with DEC was in contrast to the delayed and long-lasting effect of S. With combined therapy there was neither antagonism nor synergism. The demonstration of an apparently smaller reduction of parasitaemia in the rats treated with DEC before the plateau phase of the microfilaraemia was consistent with the lack of action of this drug on microfilariae outside the blood system.

Animals↗

Blood group active substances in Paragonimus westermani.

Lyophilized crude extracts of Paragonimus westermani were investigated for the presence of human blood group active substances, using an automated haemagglutination inhibition technique. This sensitive method allowed the detection of A, B, H, Lewis (a), Lewis (b) and P1 blood group specificities, in the fluke's extracts. No inhibition was observed with C, c, D, E, e, K, Kpa, Kpb, Fya, Fyb, Jka and Jkb blood group antibodies.

Blood Group Antigens↗

Comparative automated assay of anti-P1 antibodies in acute hepatic distomiasis (fascioliasis) and in hydatidosis.

An automated assay of anti-P1 allohemagglutinins has been carried out on 133 P2 subjects: 13 with acute hepatic distomiasis (Fascioliasis), 20 with hydatidosis and 100 healthy blood donors. Anti-P1 were detected in 100% of the distomatid sera, in 50% of the hydatid and in 29% of the healthy individuals. When compared to a reference serum test (anti-P1 standard), their concentration was found to be weak in healthy subjects, moderate in hydatidosis and exceptionally increased in acute distomiasis (up to 5-6 times the standard anti-P1 level). The 2-mercaptoethanol treatment showed that even the increased distomatid anti-P1 sera were of an IgM nature. The respective origin, synthesis and strength of these allohemagglutinins are discussed and the advantages of using distomatid IgM anti-P1 as human sera test are emphasized.

Autoanalysis↗

[Ocular loaiasis in a young Caucasian tourist (author's transl)].

This observation perfectly illustrates the main epidemiological, clinical and biological peculiarities of this parasitic disease. Particularly, as it concerns a tourist who travelled across Africa for a short period of time it is possible to assess the time of exposure to infecting mosquito bites, the maturation period of time as well as the time of clinical incubation. On the other hand the value of the immunological techniques to make the diagnosis of loaiasis as well as the difficulties to treat this affection are stressed upon.

Adult↗

[Lymphoedema and elephantiasis due to filariasis. Pathogenesis and clinical aspects (author's transl)].

Adult lymphatic filariae (Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi) can cause blocking of lymphatics producing obliterating endolymphitis lesions. The subsequent extravasation of lymph (or chyle when the obstruction is canal) is at the origin of the formation of lymphedema or elephantiasis, in which the main histological finding is great hypertrophy of collagen elements. This theory involving filaria only is not the full picture, and bacterial infection, mainly by streptococci, is an important factor. The association of filaria with microbes is particularly dangerous because the presence of the latter, or its toxins, causes death of local microfilariae and even adult worms, which are known to be more harmful dead than alive. The progression of the disease, especially in cases with lymphedema, which mainly affects the limbs and the genital organs, depends on three factors: the species of filaria, the degree of transmission, and the receptivity of the patient to the parasite. Large differences are found according to the region involved, and in the same endemic zone, according to the individuals affected. However, they almost always occur progressively in areas where there have been recurrent attacks of acute lymphangitis.

Bacterial Infections↗

[Lewis blood group activity in Fasciola hepatica].

Lewis blood group specificities are detected in the liver Fluke: Fasciola hepatica. Such specificities had never been reported in nature, other than in the human body. The investigation of this phenomenon might contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in parasite-host relationship.

Animals↗

Filarial elephantiasis in French Polynesia: a study concerning the beliefs of 127 patients about the origin of their disease.

127 patients from Tahiti who were suffering from elephantiasis were interviewed about their opinion of the origin of their disease. Ancestral beliefs are still widely held even after 25 years of antifilarial campaigns which have resulted in a drastic decrease in endemicity with almost no clinical incidence. It is disappointing that the responsibility of mosquitoes is denied by a majority of patients. The explanations are to be found in the unusual evolution of this disease and in the small importance attached to sanitary education.

Adult↗

Longevity of Wuchereria bancrofti var. pacifica and mosquito infection acquired from a patient with low level parasitemia.

Two cases are reported which illustrate important epidemiological aspects of lymphatic filariasis--prolonged longevity of the adult parasite and the possibility of transmission by individuals with ultra-low level microfilaremia. These cases demonstrate that people can remain carriers of microfilariae in the peripheral blood for many years without reinfection, and even those with a low level microfilaremia can constitute a significant reservoir of mosquito infection. Such cases represent one of the most serious obstacles to the eradication of lymphatic filariasis in regions where control is based on chemotherapy.

Adult↗

[Detection of blood group P1 activity in F. hepatica and F. gigantica (author's transl)].

Four lyophilizated liver flüke antigens and one of hydatid fluid were examined for the presence of blood group like antigens P1, A, B, M and N by an hemagglutination inhibition test with hyperimmune and natural hemagglutinating sera. P1 or P1-like substance was found in the extracts of "Fasciola hepatica" and "F. gigantica" in a lower concentration than in echinoccocal fluid. This presence may explain the occurrence of anti-P1 antibodies in patients infected with liver flüke and belonging to the P2 blood group. However biochemical studies will be necessary to determine if the P1 activity is due to the blood group P1 substance of the red cell itself or due to a P1 like substance.

Animals↗

Loa loa and Mansonella perstans filariasis in the Chaillu mountains, Congo: parasitological prevalence.

1934 Bantus and 379 Pygmies were investigated for Loa loa and Mansonella perstans filariasis in 7 villages in the Chaillu forest of the Congo. Bantus were more frequently infected with L. loa than Pygmies (18.9% of microfilariae carriers compared with 10.6%). In individuals over 30 years of age, males were more frequently infected than females. Microfilarial densities increased until the age of 20 years and then remained stable. Parasite load was not significantly different in the two ethnic groups. For mansonelliasis, the microfilarial rate was higher in the Pygmies (67.5% compared with 22.0%) and males of the 2 groups were more frequently infected than females. Microfilarial load was also higher in Pygmies than in Bantus (mean microfilarial densities (MfD 50) 13 and 2 respectively). In the Pygmy group, MfD 50 for M. perstans increased with age whereas it remained stable in the Bantus. 53.8% of the 249 questioned persons had experienced worm migration under the conjunctiva. Both ethnic groups were equally exposed to the vectors of L. loa and reasons for the difference in prevalence of microfilaria carriers are discussed. For mansonelliasis increased contact with vectors may explain the higher degree of infestation observed in Pygmies. Other filariases were infrequent in (Mansonella streptocerca), or absent from (Onchocerca volvulus and Wuchereria bancrofti), the study area.

Adolescent↗