Publications by authors named "Cathy Chemla"
Background: Cases of Toxoplasma reactivation or more severe primary infection have been reported in patients receiving immunosuppressive (IS) treatment for autoimmune diseases (AID). The purpose of this study was to describe features of toxoplasmosis occurring in patients with AID treated by IS therapy, excluded HIV-positive and transplant patients.
Methods: A multicenter descriptive study was conducted using data from the French National Reference Center for Toxoplasmosis (NRCT) that received DNA extracts or strains isolated from patients, associated with clinical data.
Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite infecting up to one third of the world's population. T. gondii infection is usually benign in immunocompetent patients but can be life-threatening when congenitally transmitted.
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- Diarrhea is a common issue post-kidney transplant, mainly due to immunosuppressive therapies, prompting the need for better diagnostic methods when stool tests are negative.
- A study found that molecular testing methods identified enteric pathogens in 72% of stool samples, significantly higher than the 23% found using traditional methods, and also revealed multiple infections in some patients.
- The primary pathogens identified were E. coli, Campylobacter, and Norovirus, with Norovirus associated with more significant weight loss and linked to specific medication risks, highlighting the advantages of molecular diagnostics for managing diarrhea in transplant recipients.
Background And Objective: The practical value of immunological diagnosis of bird-breeder's disease (BBD) is controversial, because of difficulties in distinguishing active disease patients from simple contact subjects. The aim of this study was to determine the diagnostic and prognostic value of (a) presumed disease-associated antibodies precipitating pigeon antigens (immunoglobulin A (IgAp) and P2 component), (b) characterization of specific isotypes (IgG, IgM, and IgA), and (c) antibody kinetics after antigen eradication.
Methods: 405 subjects (775 sera) in contact with birds were studied [by means of co-immunoelectrodiffusion (Co-IED) and enzyme-linked immunofiltration (ELIFA)] with soluble extracts of pigeon droppings and squab crop milk.