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Biomedical subjects

L Monjour

Publications and source records attributed to L Monjour.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1983

Relevance of autoantigens to autoimmunity in African trypanosomiasis: study of DNA and thyroglobulin antibodies.

In order to investigate whether the autoantibody production in the course of African trypanosomiasis is the result of a generalized polyclonal activation or if it is a specific (antigen-dependent) phenomenon we looked for the presence of autoantibodies directed against autoantigens likely to be released (DNA) or unlikely to be released (thyroglobulin) into the circulation during human T. gambiense infection. Sera from 21 patients with African trypanosomiasis were screened for anti-native DNA or anti-denatured DNA antibodies by a Farr DNA binding radioimmunoassay. In addition, antibodies to native DNA were also assessed by indirect immunofluorescent assays using Crithidia luciliae or rat liver sections as substrates. Anti-thyroglobulin antibodies were studied by the passive hemagglutination technique. IgM levels and fluorescent anti-trypanosomal antibodies (FATA) were concomitantly evaluated. The denaturated DNA binding capacity was significantly higher in the sera from trypanosomiasis patients than in sera from healthy blood donors. These capacities were greater in patients with high IgM levels and high FATA titres. Anti-native DNA or anti-thyroglobulin antibodies were not detected. This preferential formation of anti-denatured DNA antibodies suggests a specific antigen-dependent) activation of autoreactive cells rather than a generalized polyclonal activation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

General considerations on endemic treponematosis in the rural Sahel region of Upper Volta.

A sero-immunological survey conducted by indirect immunofluorescence technique has made it possible to determine accurately the prevalence and distribution of treponematoses in the Sahel rural region of Upper Volta. The number of carriers of antitreponemal antibodies varies from one place to another, but is particularly high in a nomad community, where prevalence attains 84.2%. The magnitude of endemic foci can also be expressed in terms of maximal titer and geometric mean of antibody titers. The seropositive values increase as a function of age, but sex is not a significant factor as regards prevalence, which would appear to depend essentially on the way of life, habits and promiscuity.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

[Evaluation of the effects of malnutrition and malaria on skin reactions in delayed hypersensitivity to tuberculin, varidase and phytohemagglutinin].

The effects of both malnutrition and malarial infection on cell mediated hypersensitivity (CMH) to tuberculin, varidase and phytohemagglutinin (PHA) has been evaluated in a group of children from a rural area of Upper Volta, aged lower than 3 years. Only the response to PHA was decreased during the course of malnutrition. In plasmodium infection associated with a low degree of parasitemia, it appeared that there was no effect on the frequency of positive responses to either these antigens or mitogen at any nutritional conditions. The high prevalence of tuberculin positive test allows to support the interest of a precocious anti tuberculin vaccination.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1983

An epidemiological survey of toxoplasmosis in Mauritania.

A sero-epidemiological survey to assess the frequency and the distribution of toxoplasmosis has been conducted in schools of Mauritania. The prevalence, although very low compared to European standards, varies in the different villages, higher values being related to the presence of Arab-Berber populations. The main determinants of this difference are probably the food habits. Prevalence increases and reaches a stable level during adolescence. No difference was shown between sexes. These results are discussed in the context of the geography of toxoplasmosis in West Africa.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

[Rubella epidemiology in rural Upper Volta].

A survey aiming at evaluating the proportion of the female population aged 0-29 years, with a positive anti-rubella antibody titer, was carried out in two Upper-Volta villages, representative of the Sahel (Oursi) and the Savannah (Donsé) biotopes. A technique of inhibition of haemagglutination was used and 40 or more was considered as a positive titer. Seventy per cent of 230 serums were positive, all ages confounded. The proportion positive was 96% in the age group 12-18 years and 76% in the age group 19-29 years. Extrapolating these findings to the Upper-volta rural population we estimated the risk of congenital infection to justify the decision against or in favour of a vaccination campaign. On the basis of our results, it is suggested that rubella has low priority in public health planning in rural Upper-Volta and that mass vaccination is at present not justified.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

[Geographic distribution of malaria in the valley of the Senegal River: school survey (sero-immunologic evaluation, year 1973)].

In 1973, a sero-epidemiological survey was undertaken to investigate the prevalence of malaria along the Senegal river valley. More than 75 % of school children had antimalarial antibodies in their sera. This prevalence was independent of age and sex, and was found to be effectively high particularly in the regions of Gorgol and Guidimaka. These results may be considered exclusively as an indication to raise up, nevertheless, a general planning of malaria protection along the Senegal river.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Correlation between genetic regulation of antibody responsiveness and protective immunity induced by Plasmodium berghei vaccination.

High (H) and low (L) antibody responder lines of mice were produced by two independent bidirectional selective breedings for quantitative antibody responsiveness to heterologous erythrocytes (selection I and selection II). In both selections the antibody response to P. berghei antigens was 8- to 10-fold higher in H than in L lines. The character "high response" presents an incomplete dominance o- 18% in selection I and 67% in selection II. In selection II the variance analysis indicates that at least three independent loci intervene in the regulation of responsiveness to P. berghei antigens. The innate resistance and the protective efficacy of vaccination against P. berghei infection induced by parasitized erythrocytes was measured in H and L lines and in the interline hybrids F1, BcH, and BcL of selections I and II. No very significant difference was observed in the innate resistance to P. berghei infection between H and L mice of both selections. Vaccination induced a very efficient protection in the two H lines (94 and 95% survival), whereas only a weak protection was induced in the two L lines (16 and 31% survival); the degree of protection is intermediate in interline hybrids F1, BcH, and BcL. In both selections a good linear correlation was demonstrated between the level of vaccination-induced antibody and the degree of resistance measured as percentage of survival. The present results indicate that the vaccination-induced P. berghei immunity is essentially due to the antibody response, whereas the bactericidal activity of macrophages and the cell-mediated immunity do not play a determinant role.

Animals↗