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BACKGROUND: Bovine anaplasmosis is an infectious disease with worldwide distribution. It spreads by various routes mainly through tick bites. AIMS: This study aimed to investigate bovine related Anaplasma spp. in cattle from three northern governorates of Egypt by serological and molecular assays, to evaluate the associated risk factors and to analyze the phylogeny of revealed A. marginale isolates. METHODS: During 2020, a total of 650 blood samples were collected from asymptomatic cattle in the governorates of Kafr El-Sheikh (n=240), Menofia (n=230), and Al-Gharbia (n=180). Sera samples were examined using the Anaplasma antibody test kit, cELISA v2. Blood genomic DNA of seropositive cattle was then examined by PCRs specific to A. marginale, A. centrale, and A. bovis. Selected positive samples were subjected to nucleotide sequencing. Risk factors (i.e. geographical area, breed, type of production, sex, age, herd size, season, husbandry system, tick infestation, and application of acaricides) were evaluated by logistic regression approach. RESULTS: In total, 130 cattle (20%, 95% CI: 17.1–23.3) were recorded seropositive for Anaplasma species. Major risk factors associated with seropositivity were being crossbred, dairy cattle, aged more than 5 years, summer season, herd size of below 300, pasture grazing, tick infestation, and not being subjected to regular treatment with acaricides. By using species-specific PCR, only A. marginale was detected. Nucleotide sequencing showed the occurrence of two different msp4 genotypes. CONCLUSION: This study shows the high prevalence of A. marginale in cattle of Kafr El-Sheikh, Al-Gharbia, and Menofia. However, the connection between Anaplasma species and their tick vectors remains unknown in Egypt and merits further investigations. Since these infections primarily spread through ixodid tick bites, effective ectoparasite control strategies, regular examination of cattle and successful chemoprophylaxis are recommended.

Livestock constitute habitual hosts and carriers for several infectious pathogens which may represent a serious public health concern affecting the readiness of military forces and lead to wide economic losses. The present report aimed to investigate the prevalence of some haemopathogens infecting military livestock, particularly, dromedaries, sheep and horses using Giemsa-stained blood smears. A total of 300 animals (100 from each species) were selected, clinically examined and sampled. Trypanosoma spp. (22.0%), Anaplasma spp. (17.0%) and Babesia spp. (1.0%) were identified in camels' blood. Six dromedaries were found to be co-infected by Trypanosoma and Anaplasma organisms (6.0%). Camels of female gender, infested by ticks and showing clinical signs were statistically more infected by Trypanosoma spp., compared to those of male gender, free of ticks and apparently healthy (P= 0.027, 0.000 and 0.004, respectively). Babesia spp. infection (1.0%) was identified, for the first time in Tunisia, in one adult female camel that presented abortion and anemia. Anaplasma spp. was the only haemopathogen identified in examined sheep (6.0%) and horses (17.0%). Horses infested by Hippobosca equina flies and sheep infested by Rhipicephalus turanicus ticks were more infected by Anaplasma spp. than other non-infested animals (P=0.046 and 0.042, respectively). Hyalomma dromedarii, H. impeltatum and H. excavatum were the most prevalent diagnosed ticks removed from camels with an intensity of infestation of 1.2 ticks per animal. However, in sheep, only R. turanicus was identified. H. equina and Tabanus spp. were the potential hematophagous flies found in dromedaries and horses herds. This useful data must be taken into consideration during animal treatment and vectors' control programs in Tunisian military farms which help to limit the diffusion of vector-borne diseases, keep our livestock healthy and reduce economic losses.

One of the most important problems for residential rooftop photovoltaic systems with energy storage is grid voltage synchronization control under balanced grid conditions and fast and appropriate disconnection from the distribution electrical network if inacceptable voltage variation occurs. Connection and disconnection of such a system is performed through a static switch denoted as K. This chapter deals with an activation algorithm of the static switch K connecting and disconnecting a battery energy storage system (BESS) to and from the main grid. The BESS is dedicated to areas where grid is not available all the time, but where photovoltaic (PV) is available to ensure non-interruptible supply of residential loads. The BESS is connected to the grid via a DC-AC converter which hosts the proposed algorithm. Fast detection of special grid conditions is first ensured, to allow a fast disconnection from the grid but keeping a good power quality for connected loads. Finally, simulation and experimental results are given to validate the effectiveness of the proposed method.

We present experimental and numerical lifetime investigations of evaporating water drops on solid surfaces depending on the shape and size of their liquid/gas interface. The simulations are based on an Allen–Cahn type phase-field model, where the liquid–gas phase transition is driven by a concentration gradient. The experiments are conducted under defined initial and constant conditions. Throughout the whole experiment, contact angle, temperature, relative air humidity and drop weight are tracked continuously. The numerical and experimental results are compared with analytical predictions. In our study, we confirm that the lifetime of a drop is directly linked to its surface size and shape. We compare lifetimes of evaporating drops on smooth solid surfaces with different contact angles and find an increase in lifetime by 50% as the contact angle increases from 20° to 90°, both in experiments and in simulations. Furthermore, drops placed in different geometric set-ups such as a wedge or a corner show a lifetime behavior that is in accordance with analytical predictions. The presented computational approach captures experimentally measured drop lifetimes, for various set-ups, very well. These findings are especially relevant for industrial questions such as how fast complex components dry after cleaning or how long it takes till lacquer layers are cured on structured surfaces.

Les mucormycoses sont des infections rares mais graves dues a des champignons filamenteux de la division des Mucorales, de la classe des Zygomycetes. Elles surviennent le plus souvent chez des patients immunodeprimes, diabetiques ou ayant une hemopathie maligne avec neutropenie prolongee, et representent chez ces patients la troisieme infection fongique invasive apres les candidoses et les aspergilloses [1], [2]. Nous rapportons cinq cas de mucormycose confirmee chez des patients hospitalises dans le service de Maladies Infectieuses de Sousse entre 2000 et 2013.

Due to its higher switching frequency current harmonics attenuation, the LCL filter is extensively adopted in Grid connected Converters (GcCs). To cope with its inherent resonance phenomena, the Capacitor Current Inner Loop Active Damping (CCIL-AD) is typically employed to actively damp the LCL filter resonant peak. However, the time delay ( t d ) related to digital controllers modifies the Active Damping (AD) characteristics, resulting in reduced phase margin as well as poor dynamic and steady-state performances of the system. Moreover, high variations in the grid inductance, mainly under weak grid conditions, may threaten the system stability. In view of this, this paper proposes a robust design approach for voltage oriented PI control associated to CCIL-AD for LCL -filter-based Grid-connected Converters ( LCL-GcCs ). The aim of the considered approach is to ensure robust stability margins, fast transient response and reduced steady-state error even under severe grid inductance changes, digital time delay and LCL filter parameters variations. The proposed approach has been validated by simulation and experimental tests based on a 4-kW three-phase converter laboratory prototype. The obtained simulation and experimental results indicate the efficiency and the robustness of the proposed design approach.

Mucormycoses are serious infections caused by filamentous fungi of the order Mucorales. They occur most often in immunocompromised patients. We report five cases of mucormycosis in patients hospitalized in the Infectious Diseases Department in Sousse – Tunisia between 2000 and 2013. They were 4 males and one female, mean age 60 years. Three patients were diabetic and one patient had acute leukemia. The locations of mucormycosis were rhinocerebral, rhino-orbital, auricular, pulmonary and cutaneous. The Mucorales isolated were Rhizopus arrhizus in 3 cases and Lichteimia in 2 cases. All patients were treated with amphotericin B and 2 patients had, in addition, surgical debridement. Two patients died and 2 kept peripheral facial paralysis.

Summary The overall performance of quantitative assays in the detection of anti-Toxoplasma IgG is satisfactory, but discrepancies between assays are not uncommon especially when IgG concentrations are close to the limit of detection of the tests. The purpose of our study was to identify soluble and membrane antigens extracted from Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites by immunoblot to select the most relevant antigenic bands to be used for qualitative serodiagnosis of acquired toxoplasmosis. We selected five relevant bands (98, 36, 33, 32 and 21 kDa) with soluble antigens and four relevant bands (42, 35, 32 and 30 kDa) with membrane antigens which gave high sensitivity and/or specificity in immunodiagnosis. The association on the same blot of at least three of the five relevant bands in the soluble antigen immunoblot showed the highest sensitivity/specificity (97·4%/99·0%, respectively). Our results indicate that immunoblot using soluble tachyzoite extract with simultaneous detection of at least three of the five bands (98, 36, 33, 32 and 21 kDa) represents a valuable test for serodiagnosis of acquired toxoplasmosis and should be further evaluated as a confirmatory test for sera which give discrepant results in quantitative assays.

Parameters uncertainty effects on the dynamic instability behavior of magneto-electro-elastic beams subjected to parametric electric and magnetic excitations are investigated. Several random parameters that may follow various distribution laws are considered. Based on the Timoshenko beam model, a dynamic stochastic problem is formulated. The differential quadrature method is used for the space domain and a modal time domain is formulated. Frequency and time domains are considered and various stochastic methodological approaches are elaborated for numerical solutions. The vibration and divergence instability with respect to static electric and magnetic fields are analyzed. For the random analysis the general polynomial chaos, conditional and Monte Carlo methods are used and a large number of random coefficients as well as random external parametric excitations are considered. The effects of considered random parameters on the dynamic and parametric responses with respect to electric and magnetic fields are investigated.

L’objectif de cette etude a ete de determiner la seroprevalence d’Anaplasma phagocytophilum chez le dromadaire (Camelus dromedarius). Les serums de 226 dromadaires sains provenant de 3 regions de la Tunisie (Sidi Bouzid, Bouficha et Douz) ont ete testes par immunofluorescence indirecte (IFI). Le taux global de seropositivite a ete estime a 29,2 %. L’etude des facteurs de risque a montre que la region, l’âge, le sexe, la presence de tiques et le type d’elevage n’ont pas d’influence sur le taux de seroprevalence d’A. phagocytophilum. La presente etude indique, pour la premiere fois en Tunisie, que le dromadaire peut etre implique dans le cycle naturel d’A. phagocytophilum.

International audience; During hospitalization, sepsis occurs in one of every five very-low-birthweight infants. The emergence of Staphylococcus capitis (SC)-related sepsis in preterm infants was observed recently. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical severity of SC-related sepsis in preterm infants. Of the 105 infants who presented with sepsis related to coagulase-negative staphylococci, 74 were SC. Severe morbidity was more common in the SC group (55.4%) than in the non-SC coagulase-negative staphylococci group (32.0%) (P=0.03). Multi-variate analysis identified SC-related sepsis as an independent risk factor for severe morbidity.

Staphylococcus aureus is a major agent of bovine mastitis in dairy herds, causing economic losses in dairy industry worldwide. In addition, milk and milk-products contaminated by Staph. aureus can cause harmful human diseases. The aim of this study was to characterize Staph. aureus strains isolated from dairy farms in Tunisia. Bulk tank milk (n = 32) and individual cow milk (n = 130) samples were collected during the period of 2013-2014. Forty-three Staph. aureus isolates were recovered and typed by spa typing, 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer (RS-PCR) and multiplex PCRs for 22 virulence genes. Antimicrobial resistance was also investigated with a disc diffusion test. A selected subsample of 22 strains was additionally genotyped by multilocus sequence typing. Seventeen spa types were recovered, and t2421 (n = 10), t521 (n = 6) and t2112 (n = 5) were the most common. Fourteen different RS-PCR genotypes grouped into 11 clusters were detected in our study, with predominance of the RVI genotype (n = 24). Eight sequence types were identified and Clonal Complex 97, corresponding to RS-PCR cluster R, was the most common (n = 10), followed by CC1 (n = 4), CC15 (n = 3) and other four accounting for one or two strains. Different combinations of virulence genes were reported, and enterotoxin genes were present in few strains (seh, n = 4; sea, n = 2; sea and seh, n = 2; sec and sel, n = 2). The majority of strains were resistant only to penicillin; only one strain was found to be multiresistant and no methicillin-resistant Staph. aureus was demonstrated. Our study reported the isolation of CC97 from bovine milk in Tunisia for the first time and confirmed the relevance of this lineage in intramammary infection in cows. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This paper describes the characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from bulk tank and individual cow milk in Tunisia. All strains were genotyped by spa typing and RS-PCR, a method based on the amplification of the 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer region, and multiplex PCRs for 22 virulence genes. A selected subsample of strains was also genotyped by multilocus sequence typing. All strains were tested for antimicrobial resistance. Our study evidences a predominance of strains belonging to Clonal Complex 97. Methicillin-resistant strains were not detected, and overall low level of antimicrobial resistance was reported.

Resume Les fongemies sont classiquement dues a une seule espece fongique et la detection de plus d’une espece dans les hemocultures est rare. Nous rapportons quatre cas de fongemies mixtes (FM) diagnostiques au laboratoire de parasitologie-mycologie de l’hopital Farhat-Hached de Sousse, Tunisie. Les episodes des FM sont survenus chez deux nouveau-nes et deux adultes atteints d’une leucemie aigue myeloide. Deux especes fongiques ont ete detectees de facon concomitante dans la meme hemoculture dans tous les cas. Les associations d’especes ont ete detectees suite au repiquage des hemocultures sur le milieu chromogene Candida ID® dans trois cas et sur le milieu Sabouraud dans un cas. Les facteurs de risque etaient : les catheters vasculaires (4/4), l’antibiotherapie a large spectre (3/4), la neutropenie (2/4), la nutrition parenterale exclusive (2/4) et la colonisation candidosique (1/4). Les patients ont presente un tableau de sepsis febrile ne repondant pas a une antibiotherapie a large spectre dans tous les cas. L’evolution sous traitement antifongique a ete favorable dans deux cas et les deux autres patients sont decedes. Conclusion Les FM paraissent similaires aux fongemies monomicrobiennes beaucoup plus frequentes. L’utilisation des milieux chromogenes en routine permet d’ameliorer la detection des FM et d’adapter le traitement antifongique.

Resume Les candidemies dues a Candida pelliculosa sont rares. Nous en rapportons deux cas tunisiens : un cas de candidemie compliquee d’abces hepatiques chez un enfant atteint de leucemie aigue myeloide et un autre cas de candidemie transitoire chez une femme adulte atteinte d’une insuffisance cardiaque. Les donnees de la litterature sont passees en revue.

Summary Cutaneous aspergillosis is a rare disease that generally affects immunosuppressed patients. We report a case of primary cutaneous aspergillosis developed at the site of cervical lymphadenectomy in a 32-year-old man with underlying anaplastic large T-cell lymphoma. The lymphadenectomy was performed to confirm relapse of the malignancy. Wound infection developed during the second week of post-chemotherapy neutropenia. Histopathologic examination of a skin biopsy specimen showed abundant hyphae, cultures yielded Aspergillus flavus and galactomannan antigenemia was positive. Treatment consisted of combination of voriconazole and surgical debridement. Patient died of multiorgan failure caused by bacterial sepsis without secondary dissemination of the Aspergillus infection. Conclusion Aspergillus infection should always be considered in the differential diagnosis of wound infections, especially in neutropenic patients.

Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the genetic relatedness between Candida albicans isolates and to assess their nosocomial origin and the likeliness of cross-transmission between health care workers (HCWs) and hospitalized neonates in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Methods: We retrospectively analysed 82 isolates obtained from 40 neonates and seven isolates from onychomycosis of the fingers of five HCWs in a Tunisian NICU by using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis with CA1 and CA2 as primers. Results: In RAPD analysis, the discriminatory power (DP) of CA1 and CA2 primers was 0·86 and 0·81, respectively. A higher DP was achieved by combining patterns generated by both primers (0·92), while PFGE karyotyping exhibited the lowest DP (0·62). The RAPD-CA1/CA2 analysis revealed that 65·8% of isolates obtained from neonates derived from a limited number (6) of groups of genetically identical strains, that five temporal clusterings occurred during the study period and that three HCWs’ isolates and 11 isolates obtained from six neonates were identical. Conclusions: These findings argue for the nosocomial transmission of C. albicans in our NICU and for the transfer of strains from HCWs to patients. Significance and Impact of the Study: Identification of relatedness between Candida species obtained from neonates and health care workers by using molecular techniques with high discriminatory power is essential for setting up specific control measures in order to reduce the incidence of nosocomial candidiasis.

Resume But Les teignes du cuir chevelu (TCC) posent encore un probleme de sante publique en Tunisie. Le but de notre travail etait d’etudier l’evolution de l’incidence et des aspects mycologiques et epidemiologiques des TCC dans la region de Sousse (Centre tunisien). Methodes Nous avons mene une etude retrospective qui porte sur la totalite des prelevements du cuir chevelu realises au laboratoire de parasitologie de l’hopital Farhat Hached de Sousse, Tunisie, durant une periode de 26 ans (1983–2008). Resultats Un total de 10 505 prelevements du cuir chevelu ont ete realises, dont 5593 etaient positifs avec un examen direct ou une culture positive, soit une incidence moyenne de 215 cas par an. Les patients etaient âges de moins de 12 ans dans 89,3 % des cas. Nous avons collige 175 cas de TCC chez des adultes. Dix especes de dermatophytes ont ete isolees : Trichophyton ( T .) violaceum (66,7 %), Microsporum ( M .) canis (29,3 %), T. schoenleinii (1,6 %), T. mentagrophytes (1,1 %), T. verrucosum (0,6 %), T. tonsurans (0,2 %), T. rubrum (0,2 %), M. gypseum (0,1 %), M. audouinii (0,03 %) et M. nanum (0,01 %). Conclusion Ces resultats montrent une diminution de l’incidence annuelle des TCC pendant la periode d’etude avec une diminution nette des teignes trichophytiques et une disparition du favus au profit des teignes microsporiques et inflammatoires.

Summary Background Candida spp. has emerged as one of the most important pathogens causing nosocomial infections, especially in critically ill patients. Objective The aim of this study was to analyze the trends in incidence and distribution of Candida species causing invasive candidiasis diagnosed in Farhat-Hached teaching hospital in Sousse region (Tunisia). Material and methods Laboratory data from January 1st, 1995 to December 31st, 2009 were reviewed. Results A total of 369 Candida strains were isolated in 363 episodes of invasive candidiasis. The isolates were recovered from normally sterile sites (256) and intravascular catheters (107). The number of episodes of invasive candidiasis ranged from 10 to 49 per year with an average of 24 episodes per year. This frequency gradually increased over the 15-year study period. Neonatology accounted for highest number of invasive candidiasis episodes (61.1%). Ten Candida species were isolated and four of them (C. albicans [64.0%], C. parapsilosis [13.3%], C. tropicalis [11.6%] and C. glabrata [5.4%]) accounted for 94.3% of isolates. Our study revealed a mycological shift in the Candida species causing invasive candidiasis with an increase of the non-albicans species mainly C. parapsilosis (P = 0.0003) and to a lesser extent C. tropicalis and C. glabrata. Conclusion The invasive candidiasis, in increase in our hospital, is mainly diagnosed in neonatology. A shift in species distribution from a preponderance of C. albicans to more frequent isolation of non-albicans species was observed.

Resume Introduction L’etude retrospective dont nous rapportons les resultats a pour objectif d’evaluer l’importance reelle de cette pathologie parmi les consultants en dermatologie du centre tunisien et de preciser les especes de dermatophytes responsables et leur place respective ainsi que leur dynamique au cours des annees. Patients et methodes De 1990 a 2005, 1137 patients âges d’un a 75 ans (moyenne de 8,63 ans) ont ete adresses par les consultations du service de dermatologie de l’EPS Farhat Hached de Sousse (centre tunisien), pour suspicion de teigne du cuir chevelu. Tous les patients ont fait l’objet d’un examen direct des cheveux, complete par une culture sur milieu de Sabouraud. Resultats L’examen direct et la culture ont permis de conclure a une teigne du cuir chevelu chez 1137 patients ; sur les 1048 pour qui l’âge est precise, 801 (76,4 %) ont moins de dix ans. Soixante sont des adultes avec un âge moyen de 34,5 ans et dont 42 (70 %) sont des femmes. Les dermatophytes isoles sont : Trichophyton violaceum dans 565 cas (53,4 %), Microsporum canis dans 395 cas (37,3 %), T. mentagrophytes dans 37 cas (3,5 %), T. schoenleinii dans 26 cas (2,5 %), T. ochraceum dans 24 cas (2,3 %), T. rubrum dans quatre cas (0,37 %), M. gypseum dans quatre cas (0,37 %), M. langeronii dans deux cas (0,17 %) et T. tonsurans dans un cas (0,09 %). T. violaceum est plus frequent chez les filles alors que M. canis est plus frequent chez les garcons. L’analyse de la frequence des differentes especes isolees au cours des annees montre une regression tres nette du favus, une tendance a la baisse de T. violaceum et une augmentation significative de M. canis . La quasi-totalite des patients a ete traitee par griseofulvine. La guerison a ete obtenue chez 1123 patients dans un delai de six a 12 semaines ; 14 ont garde une alopecie definitive. Conclusion T. violaceum continue a occuper la premiere place dans les teignes du cuir chevelu du centre tunisien, malgre une augmentation sensible de M. canis. Le favus est quasiment eradique. T. ochraceum et T. mentagrophytes sont isoles dans les teignes inflammatoires avec une legere predominance de T. ochraceum .

Candida albicans has become an important cause of nosocomial infections in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). The aim of the present study was to compare C. albicans strains isolated from neonates (NN) suffering from systemic candidosis and from nurses in order to determine the relatedness between NN and health workers' strains. Thirty-one C. albicans strains were isolated from 18 NN admitted to the NICU of the neonatology service of Farhat Hached Hospital of Sousse, Tunisia and suffering from systemic candidosis, together with five strains recovered from nurses suffering from C. albicans onychomycosis. Two additional strains were tested, one from an adult patient who developed a systemic candidosis and the second from an adult with inguinal intertrigo. All strains were karyotyped by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) with a CHEF-DR II system. Analysis of PFGE patterns yielded by the 38 strains tested led to the identification of three pulsotypes that were designated I, II and III, and consisted of six chromosomal bands with a size ranging from 700 to >2500 kbp. The most widespread was the pulsotype I, which was shared by 17 NN and the five nurses' strains. The identity between NN and nurses' strains is very suggestive of a nosocomial acquisition from health-workers.

The chemical composition of essential oils isolated from fresh flowers and aerial parts of Thymus hirtus Willd was analyzed using GC and GC/MS. Forty-six components were identified in the oil of each organ. Camphor occurred as the major constituent of the aerial part oil, while α-pinene was the most notably dominating compound in the flower oil. Biological activities of the indicated oils were evaluated against eight bacteria, nine phytopathogenic, and 15 human pathogenic fungi.

We investigate the potential for reactivation to restore infectivity to UV-damaged bacteriophage 2MPO isolated from wastewater. The virus belongs to the Myoviridae family of the tailed phages. This Phage was chosen for detailed analysis, and was inspected by electron microscopy, host range determination. In addition, we explore the dynamics of bacteriophage host interactions in different conditions of UV-C irradiation. The inactivation kinetic or dose-response relationship was described by the method of plaque-forming ability. The UV-inactivation kinetic was represented in the exponential curve according to the model of Chick–Watson and Series-event kinetic model. In a 99.99% inactivation of 2MPO bacteriophage which corresponded to 720 mW s/cm2 of UV-dose, high correlation was observed between the loss of infectivity and the increase of UV-C dose. The restore of infectivity of UVexposed bacteriophage was also determined under conditions which either activated or repressed the light-dependent photolyase enzyme in host cells, in order to examine the damage-dependent response of this bacterial repair system. The results of reactivation indicated that light-dependent repair (photoreactivation) was much more efficient than dark repair in restoring infectivity to bacteriophage damaged by UV-C radiation.

Reliable tool wear monitoring technique is one of the important aspects for achieving an integrated and self-adjusting manufacturing system. In this study, an analytical model is proposed to estimate the cutting forces, the tool geometry, and the chip geometry in relation to the flank wear, when milling with a ball-end mill. Modeling is based on thermomechanical modelling of oblique cutting. The worn tool geometry is decomposed into a series of axial elementary cutting edges. At any active tooth element, the flank wear geometry is calculated and the chip formation is obtained from an oblique cutting process characterised by local undeformed chip section and local cutting angles. Coated carbide ball-end tool, and a titanium workpiece material have been considered in this paper. The results found by using developed models have shown good agreement with experimental results.

Resume Les zygomycoses sont des infections invasives dues a la proliferation dans les tissus de champignons cosmopolites du genre Rhizopus , Mucor , Rhizomucor , Absidia . Elles sont rares, surviennent sur des terrains diabetiques, immunodeprimes ou apres traumatisme et leur evolution est le plus souvent fatale. Les auteurs rapportent un cas de zygomycose secondaire a un traumatisme facial et discutent les elements diagnostiques et les modalites therapeutiques de la zygomycose compliquant les plaies faciales. Observation Il s’agit d’un patient tunisien âge de 50 ans ayant presente des plaies contuses et souillees de l’hemiface droite a la suite d’un accident de la voie publique. L’exploration et la suture des plaies ont ete realisees sous couverture antibiotique. Un œdeme important de la face et un aspect violace des teguments ont ete notes au sixieme jour postoperatoire et ont fait suspecter une cellulite diffuse a germes anaerobies. L’extension rapide des lesions malgre une antibiotherapie a large spectre et des excisions iteratives des tissus necrotiques ont alors conduit a la realisation des examens mycologique et anatomopathologique qui ont conclu a une zygomycose. La culture a permis l’identification de Rhizopus arrhizus (syn. Rhizopus oryzae ). Malgre le traitement par l’amphotericine B et le parage chirurgical, les lesions se sont etendues a la region orbitaire et a l’œil avec apparition d’une exophtalmie, puis au cerveau conduisant a terme au deces du malade.

Geotrichum capitatum septicemias are rare, occurring exclusively in immunocompromised patients. We report a case of a 55-year-old man with acute myeloid leukemia who developed a G. capitatum septicemia with lung and skin lesions in the post chemotherapy aplasic phase. Treatment with amphotericin B (cumulative dose of 2 g) and maintenance with itraconazole resolved the clinical and radiological manifestations and controlled reactivation of the infection during the subsequent courses of cytotoxic chemotherapy. The emerging role of G. capitatum as an opportunistic agent in immunocompromised patient is stressed.

Polyethylene glycol (PEG; molecular weight: 4000) was used to deactivate tannins in kermes oak ( Quercus coccifera L.) foliage. Five groups of four Alpine×Local breed male goats were each given Q. coccifera ad libitum and 300 g of ground barley grains. Ten and 20 g of PEG were mixed with barley and distributed daily to groups 2 and 3, respectively. Groups 4 and 5 received 10 and 20 g PEG, respectively, at 2-day intervals. Group 1 did not receive PEG and served as a control. Animals were housed in individual pens for 21 days to adapt to dietary treatments and then acclimatised to metabolic cages for 3 days before starting the total faecal and urine collection period (6 consecutive days). Feed intake, apparent diet digestibility, nitrogen balance, urinary excretion of allantoin and blood metabolite profiles were determined. A clinical examination of the goats was performed 1 day prior to the start of the experiment and then again of day 24. Q. coccifera foliage was high in acid detergent lignin (207 g/kg dry matter) and condensed tannins (58.5 g leucocyanidin eq./kg dry matter) and medium in crude protein (CP; 80 g/kg dry matter). PEG level and frequency had no effect on Q. coccifera intake, or on the digestibility of DM, organic matter or neutral detergent fibre in the diets ( P >0.05). However, the apparent digestibility of CP and urinary excretion of allantoin were increased with PEG, the increase being highest when 10 g PEG was administered daily ( P P >0.05). Goats in groups 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 grew at a rate of 61.4, 77.3, 82.9, 67.0 and 64.8 g/day, respectively. Overall, concentrations of glucose, urea, creatinine, albumin, phosphorus and magnesium in serum were within the normal ranges for local goats. Nutrient deficiency, mainly proteins and calcium, was considered the main reason for the slight hypoproteinaemia and hypocalcaemia. Except for urea, the level and the frequency of PEG supply had no effect on the above metabolites and calcium, total proteins and Gamma-GT. The significant increase of the level of urea in the serum was ascribed to an increase in the nitrogen level of the diet caused by the disruption of tannin–protein complexes due to PEG and probably by a decrease in the rate of urea excretion by the kidney. The apparent sate of health of goats was acceptable. Respiratory and rumen contraction frequencies did not vary among dietary treatments. It is worth noting that compared to values found 1 day prior to the start of this experiment, there was a decrease of the cardiac frequency for all goats noted on day 24. It was concluded that supplementing goats with appropriate level of barley, i.e. 300 g/day as in this experiment, matched maintenance and growth requirements of animals. The slight increase in the nitrogen value of Q. coccifera -based diets with PEG supply did not a priori justify the use of this costly reagent. Moreover, despite growth rates in excess of 60 g/day, sub-clinical intoxication was suspected. These findings highlight the importance of monitoring pathologic aspects in evaluation of tanniniferous browse species for livestock feeding.

Four groups of four Alpine × local male goats (20-month-old), each on kermes oak ( Quercus coccifera L.) foliage were used to investigate nutrient intake and utilisation, blood metabolites and clinical parameters when supplemented with polyethylene-containing and polyethylene-free feed blocks and with polyethylene glycol (PEG, molecular weight 4000). PEG was used to neutralise tannins. The composition (g/kg DM) of feed blocks (B and B PEG , respectively) was: olive cake (367 and 331), cactus fruit (90 and 80), wheat bran (243 and 218), quicklime (154 and 139), urea (73 and 66), salt (73 and 66) and PEG (0 and 100). Group 1 was not supplemented (control) and group 2 was supplemented with feed blocks (B). PEG-containing feed blocks were fed to goats in group 3 (B PEG ). The fourth group received feed blocks and PEG separately, i.e. mixed with 5 g processed barley (B+PEG). The amount of PEG distributed to the latter group was calculated so that goats supplemented with B PEG or B+PEG consume the same amount of PEG. Animals were adapted on experimental diets for 21 days before starting a 6-day-faecal collection period. The nutritive value of kermes oak foliage was low due mainly to high levels of phenolic compounds particularly lignin (236 g/kg DM) and tannins (34.8 g equivalent tannic acid/kg DM) and low concentration of crude protein (62 g/kg DM). Accordingly, dry matter intake (34.8 g/kg W 0.75 ) and apparent digestibility of DM (0.527), CP (0.332) and neutral detergent fibre (NDF, 0.429) were low in goats fed on this shrub species as a sole diet. Although DM intake of feed blocks was low (113 g per day), supplementation of PEG-free blocks almost doubled consumption of kermes oak (61.2 g/kg W 0.75 ) and intakes of digestible organic matter and CP increased from 17.4 and 1.0 g/W 0.75 , respectively, to 46.6 and 33.0 g/W 0.75 . Further improvement of these parameters was not observed by incorporation of PEG in block or by PEG supply along with the block (B PEG and B+PEG versus B, P >0.05). Irrespective of dietary treatments, blood metabolites, i.e. glucose, urea, total proteins, albumin, creatinine, gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase, calcium, phosphorus and magnesium were within the normal range for local goats. Feed blocks increased serum urea ( P

Somatic mutations in the calreticulin gene (CALR) were recently described in essential thrombocythemia (ET) and primary myelofibrosis with non-mutated JAK2 or MPL. The aim of this single-center study was to compare the clinical and biological features of ET patients according to their mutational status.We included 40 patients with ET followed in hematology consultation. The JAK2 V617F mutation was assessed by quantitative PCR. For the detection of CALR mutations, we performed a PCR amplification of CALR exon 9 followed by direct sequencing.Among 40 study patients, 23 (57.5%) harbored V617F JAK2, 12 of the 17 patients without JAK2 mutation harbored CALR, no patient expressed MPL mutation and 5 were negative for all three mutations. Five types of mutations were identified with predominance of 52bp deletion and 5bp insertion (7/12 and 2/12 respectively). The incidence of thrombotic events at diagnosis was significantly higher in JAK2 mutated patients (P0.05). Biologically, patients with CALR mutation had significantly higher platelet count (P0.01) and significantly lower hemoglobin level (P0.05) than those with V617F JAK2 mutation.JAK2 and CALR mutation screening in ET has a diagnostic value. Each mutation displays a distinct phenotype with uncertain impact on long-term outcome.

Resume Objectif Preciser la place de la leucoconcentration dans le diagnostic de la leishmaniose viscerale de l'enfant immunocompetent. Materiels et methodes Etude analysant les resultats de la leucoconcentration de prelevements sanguins de 84 enfants immunocompetents atteints de leishmaniose viscerale, hospitalises dans les services de pediatrie de Sousse et de Kairouan (region centrale de la Tunisie) entre avril 1996 et mars 2005. Resultats Les prelevements etudies appartiennent a 34 filles et 50 garcons (sex-ratio a 1,47) âges de six mois a dix ans. Parmi ces patients, 47 (56 %) ont une leucoconcentration positive. Le nombre de leishmanie detectee est de 1 a 64 par lame, un parasitisme des polynucleaires a ete note dans pres de la moitie des cas. Conclusion La parasitemie est frequente dans le Kala-azar mediterraneen ; la cytocentrifugation du sang peripherique peut etre donc proposee comme un examen de premiere intention dans le diagnostic de la leishmaniose viscerale de l'enfant immunocompetent.

The first three documented cases of anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis due to Leishmania killicki are reported from locations outside the original focus of Tataouine in southeast Tunisia. Three strains were isolated from three patients from Gafsa, Sidi Bouzid and Seliana indicating an extension of this parasite's range towards the centre and the north of Tunisia.

This paper proposes a new control method for three-phase Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) boost rectifier using only one dc-link current sensor instead of two line current sensors. Single dc-link current sensor methods have critical problems with regard to the time spent for active voltage vectors application, which must be long enough to measure reliably the dc-link current during every switching interval. It is possible to solve this problem by the use of the proposed Direct Power Control (DPC) technique synthesized via sliding mode theory. The considered DPC control method computes the three phase grid line currents using the measured current from a single dc-link current sensor. The most important features of this method are simplicity and reliability. Also, it reduces the number of current sensors, weight and volume requirements. Simulation results demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed control method.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the seroprevalence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in dromedary (Camelus dromedarius). Sera of 226 healthy dromedaries from three regions of Tunisia (Sidi Bouzid, Bouficha and Douz) were tested by indirect immunofluorescence (IFA). The overall infection rate was estimated at 29.2%. The study of risk factors showed that region, age, gender, presence of ticks and types of breeding had no influence on the seroprevalence of A. phagocytophilum. This study indicates for the first time in Tunisia that dromedary may be involved in the natural cycle of A. phagocytophilum.

In this paper a three-dimensional finite element model is presented to simulate the thermal behaviour of steady-state ball end milling process. In this model, the appropriate tool, chip and workpiece geometries are created by using CAD package techniques. The cutting edge, the chip shape coordinates, the shear angles and the interface contact length values, in each discrete element of the cutting edge, are determined from experimental and analytical formulations and integrated into the CAD model in order to regenerate as possible the real model geometry. The numerical simulation predicting temperature distribution in tool, chip and workpiece is performed with Abaqus code where thermal loads in primary and secondary shear zones take into account the variation of cutting conditions. The results of the numerical analysis are in agreement with cutting heat energy balance and experimental temperature measurements reported in the literature.

This paper presents the implementation of a Direct Power Control (DPC) for three-phase PWM boost rectifier using the SmartFusion digital solution from Actel/Microsemi Company. This digital solution is today the only device that includes an FPGA, an embedded hard-core processor “Cortex M3” from ARM and a programmable analog part that includes several analog functions such as Analog-to-Digital Converters (ADCs) and Digital-to-Analog Converters (DACs). Compared to traditional digital solutions, it offers full customization and more flexibility without the excessive cost of soft processor cores on traditional FPGAs. Indeed, it allows full System on Programmable Chip (SoPC) implementation of control algorithms in order to realize more reliable and compact controllers. Experimental results carried out on a prototyping platform are presented in order to illustrate the benefits and effectiveness of the used fully SoPC solution.

This paper presents a comparison between a standard Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) based controller and a customizable System on Programmable Chip (cSoC) digital solution. This comparison is performed through the implementation of a Direct Power Control (DPC) for three-phase Pulse Width Modulation. It concerns principally the design methodology, time performances and the quality of the system control. Experimental results are also presented for both solutions.

International audience; Over a period of ten years, a series of 694 Leishmania strains from Tunisian leishmaniasis foci were isolated and identified by isoenzymatic analysis. Strains were obtained from human cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis in immunocompetent subjects, visceral leishmaniasis in imunocompromised individuals and from dogs with visceral leishmaniasis. Two classically dermotropic species, Leishmania (L.) major and Leishmania killicki were found. L. major with the single zymodeme MON-25 was the most isolated in cutaneous leishmaniasis foci of the Centre and South of Tunisia with a recent northern extension. L killicki zymodeme MON-8 was sporadically found both in its classical microfocus of Tataouine in southeastern Tunisia as well as in some new foci in Southwestern, Central and Northern Tunisia. Leishmania infantum with its three zymodemes MON-1, MON-24 and MON-80 was isolated from both visceral and cutaneous human cases. The majority of L infantum strains were found in the Northern part of the country; however, some strains were reported for the first time in the Southern part. L infantum MON-1 was the only zymodeme isolated from canine leishmaniasis. Crown Copyright (c) 2012 Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Resume En Tunisie, le kala-azar sevit dans le nord et le centre du pays, selon un mode sporadique et affecte essentiellement l'enfant. Nous rapportons les 4 premieres observations de kala-azar adulte originaires du centre tunisien. L'association fievre, splenomegalie et anemie a ete constante. L'hepatomegalie a ete notee dans 3 cas, et associee a des perturbations biologiques dans 2 cas. Aucun malade ne presentait un deficit immunitaire evident. Le diagnostic a ete affirme par la ponction de moelle et/ou l'immunoserologie. La biopsie ganglionnaire, pratiquee dans 2 cas, a montre des leishmanies. Le traitement par le Glucantime® a raison de 2 cures de 65 mg/kg/jour pendant 10 jours, a un mois d'intervalle, a ete bien tolere et l'evolution spectaculaire.

Resume Les leishmanioses viscerales infantiles sont en pleine recrudescence dans tout le Maghreb. L'etude actuelle concerne 221 cas du centre tunisien, survenus de 1980 a 1989, periode au cours de laquelle la majorite des cas a ete declaree. La progression de l'endemie s'est faite selon une progression allant du Nord vers le Sud-Ouest. La region de Kairouan etait la plus touchee (11,5 cas pour 100 000 habitants chaque annee). Le diagnostic etait facile devant un enfant denutri en bas âge avec pâleur, splenomegalie febrile, pancytopenie, syndrome inflammatoire. Le diagnostic a toujours ete confirme par la presence du parasite (myelogramme ou ponction splenique) et/ou la positivite de la serologie (immunofluorescence indirecte). Mais le diagnostic clinique a ete parfois plus difficile et tous les tableaux cliniques possibles allant d'une forme aigue grave avec insuffisance hepatique aigue et septicemie bacterienne surajoutee a des formes moderees, a debut retarde avec symptomatologie fruste, ont ete vus. Le traitement le plus adapte au Maghreb est a la base d'un antimonie pentavalent : N-methylglucamine (20 mg/kg/jour Sb V soit 70 mg/kg/j de glucantime en intra-musculaire profonde pendant 20 jours). La stibio-intolerance et la stibio-toxicite sont restees exceptionnelles dans notre serie et nous n'avons eu aucun cas de resistance primaire vraie. Le seul moyen d'endiguer ce fleau est de lutter a la fois contre les phlebotomes et le reservoir canin, et d'ameliorer l'environnement (sedentarisation, urbanisation bien conduite pour des populations amenees a s'etablir dans de nouvelles regions agricoles du fait des progres de l'irrigation).

Fungemia is classically caused by a single species and the detection of more than one species in blood samples is uncommon. We report four cases of mixed fungemia (MF) diagnosed in the parasitology-mycology laboratory of Farhat-Hached hospital in Sousse, Tunisia. The MF episodes occurred in two neonates and two adults suffering from acute myeloid leukemia. Two fungal species were detected concomitantly within the same blood culture in all cases. Species combination was detected by the subculture of the blood culture on Candida ID(®) chromogenic medium in three cases and on Sabouraud agar in one case. Predisposing factors were: indwelling catheters (4/4), broad-spectrum antibiotics (3/4), neutropenia (2/4), exclusive parenteral nutrition (2/4) and Candida colonization (1/4). Patients presented febrile sepsis with no response to broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy in all cases. Outcome under antifungal treatment was favorable in two cases and the two other patients died.MF appears similar to the more common monomicrobial fungemia. The use of chromogenic media in routine can improve the detection of MF episodes allowing appropriate antifungal therapy.

Introduction Invasive aspergillosis is a life-threatening infectious complication in hematological patients undergoing immunosuppressive chemotherapy. Patients and methods We report 29 cases of invasive aspergillosis diagnosed in the Sousse Farhat Hached hospital Hematology unit, Tunisia, between 2002 and 2010. Results The most frequent disease (65.5%) was acute myeloid leukemia. All patients were severely neutropenic ( 3 , mean duration = 27 days). Pulmonary invasive aspergillosis was suggested in 28 (96.5%) cases. The most frequent respiratory signs were cough (64.3%), chest pain (53.6%), and hemoptysis (50%). The chest X-ray showed suggestive lesions in 60.7% of cases. CT scans revealed nodules with cavitation in 65% of cases, a halo sign in 20% of cases, and nodules in 15% of cases. Galactomannan antigenemia was positive in 88%, mycological examination positive in 51.6%, and seroconversion was noted in 35.7% of the cases. Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis was classified, according to EORTC/MSG criteria, as probable in 26 cases, possible in one case, and proven in one case. Aspergillus flavus was the dominant species in pulmonary invasive aspergillosis accounting for 73.7% of isolates. Extrapulmonary involvement was suggested in 39.3% of cases, the most frequent were sinusitis and brain abscess. Primary cutaneous aspergillosis was observed in one case. The overall mortality rate was 64.2%; the 12-week survival rate was 71.4%. Conclusion Our results are correlated to published data. A. flavus was the most frequent species in our region.

The Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) components offer effective solutions and provide real-time computation performances for control algorithms of electrical systems. The aim of this paper is to present the FPGA implementation of an Automatic Tracking Observer (ATO) for the synchronization of the grid voltage vector. This application is particularly useful for the control of a three-phase Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) boost rectifier. The used FPGA for the digital implementation of the ATO is the Fusion AFS600 from Actel, which integrates analog functions such as ADC for a fully System on programmable Chip (SopC) solution. So, the implemented ATO allowed computing the phase of the grid voltage vector in a reliable environment, while ensuring very fast computation time of only few microseconds. Experimental results are presented in order to illustrate the efficiency and benefits of the proposed Fusion FPGA-based solution.