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International audience; Brucellosis, known as "Mediterranean fever", has been an endemic zoonosis in human societies, especially in rural and island environments, for thousands of years. The macroscopic characteristics of this infection by Brucella bacteria are well defined, but they are difficult to assess in palaeopathological diagnoses, as reflected by the small number of cases in the relevant literature. This is due to the rather complex differential diagnosis of the disease, in particular involving other infections with a predilection for the spine which were very frequent in past populations. This article presents the results of a study of two unpublished cases of brucellosis, one from the mediaeval Carolingian monastic complex of Saint-Sauveur d’Aniane (34), and the other from the mediaeval and modern cemetery of La Closeraie, in Aix-en-Provence (13). The aim of this article is therefore to present the palaeopathological data obtained for these subjects, in whom macroscopic lesions observed on the lumbar spine, supported by medical imaging, suggest brucellosis. These new findings demonstrate the need to broaden the scope of approaches in order to reinvestigate this pathology in ancient contexts. Our aim is to invite anthropological biologists to consider this diagnostic possibility in their studies of osteoarchaeological series, whether newly discovered or already uncovered in the past.; En tant que "fièvre méditerranéenne", la brucellose est une zoonose endémique au sein des sociétés humaines, tout particulièrement en milieux ruraux et insulaires, depuis des millénaires. Les critères macroscopiques de cette infection par les bactéries du genre Brucella sont certes bien définis, mais demeurent difficiles à mettre en œuvre lors d’études paléopathologiques, comme en témoigne le faible nombre de cas rapportés dans la littérature. La brucellose souffre en effet d’un diagnostic différentiel plutôt complexe, impliquant notamment d’autres infections à prédilection rachidienne très fréquentes dans les populations du passé. Cet article expose les résultats de l’étude de deux cas inédits de brucellose, issus du complexe monastique carolingien et médiéval de Saint-Sauveur d’Aniane (34) d’une part, et du cimetière médiéval et moderne de La Closeraie à Aix-en-Provence (13) d’autre part. Notre étude vise à présenter les données paléopathologiques obtenues pour ces sujets, dont les lésions macroscopiques observées sur le rachis lombaire, étayées par l’imagerie médicale, évoquent une brucellose. Ces nouveaux éléments témoignent de la nécessité de multiplier les approches afin d’engager une redécouverte de cette pathologie en contextes anciens. Notre objectif est ainsi d’inciter les anthropologues biologistes à envisager cette possibilité diagnostique lors de leurs études de séries ostéoarchéologiques, fussent-elles inédites ou anciennement mises au jour.

International audience

International audience

Intra and inter genotype pairwise p-distances obtained from complete ORF2 Database (a) and on reference sequences (b). (PDF 2920 kb)

The aim of this study was to assess the seroprevalence, viremia, genotype distribution, and demographic history of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the Republic of the Congo. Testing was carried out on sera samples collected in 2005 from 807 Bantus belonging to the Kongo, Teke, and Ngala subgroups and 80 Pygmies. Positive HCV serology was found in 50 (5.6%) individuals including31 (60%) who were viremic. Seroprevalence increased with age with a cutoff at 50 years:2.8% 50. Twenty-one strains belonged to four described subtypes, that is, 4c in eight cases, 4h in two, 4k in three, and 4r in eight. Ten strains could not be assigned to any known subtype and may represent six new variants, that is, subtype 4 in five cases and subtype 2 in one. Evolutionary analysis of subtype 4c and 4r sequences indicated a period of enhanced transmission in the mid-twentieth century probably due to iatrogenic causes. This study underlines the high genetic diversity of strains in the Republic of the Congo with nine subtypes 4 and one subtype 2.

Depuis l'identification du prototype TTV en 1997, la diversité des membres constituant la famille Anelloviridae identifiés chez l'homme et certaines espèces animales n'a cessé de s'accroître. Parallèlement, les informations concernant leur histoire naturelle restent relativement restreintes. Ces virus présentent une extrême diversité génétique et une forte prévalence dans les populations, révélées par la caractérisation progressive de génomes complets et l'optimisation des systèmes de détection. Ces propriétés originales ont rendu les protocoles d'études destinés à mieux comprendre l'impact des Anelloviridae sur la santé de l'hôte délicats à définir, l'étude de leur biologie étant également freinée par l'absence d'un modèle cellulaire éprouvé. Présents dans le sang et dans de multiples compartiments biologiques, ils sont très probablement de remarquables exemples de coexistence et de coévolution avec leurs hôtes humains et animaux.

Ten years after the identification of the first partial sequences of Torque teno virus (TTV), more than 200 full-length related genomes have been characterized in humans and in several animal species. As suspected in the earlier stages of their description, a considerable genetic variability characterizes TTV and related viruses, the current members of the floating genus Anellovirous. Since information related to anelloviruses diversity is in constant evolution, the challenge in their taxonomic classification is to take into account all pertinent parameters, along with the taxonomic situation of other viruses having circular single-stranded DNA genomes. Past, present and future phylogenetic and taxonomic considerations are exposed.

International audience; PCR is, to date, the only available tool for the detection of GB virus C (GBV-C) and hepatitis G virus (HGV) RNAs. Twenty-two French laboratories participated in a quality control study to assess the sensitivity and specificity of their procedures. The panel included 13 positive controls and 7 negative controls. The laboratories used either in-house PCR techniques adapted from the literature or partly standardized commercial tests. Three laboratories performed faultlessly with the entire panel. Most laboratories had excellent specificity (100% in 20 of 22 laboratories). Sensitivity was acceptable (85 to 100%) in 15 centers and insufficient (38 to 77%) in 7. As with nonstandardized in-house PCR, the commercial assays gave discrepant performances in different laboratories. These results suggest that laboratories willing to use PCR for detection of GBV-C/HGV RNA for research or diagnostic purposes should participate in multicenter quality control trials.