Genomic surveillance of invasive strains in south Tunisia during 2012-2022.

Invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) remains a major global public health concern due to its high morbidity and mortality rates, particularly among children and the elderly. This study aimed to apply whole-genome sequencing (WGS) to characterize strains responsible for IPD in south Tunisia, including serotype distribution, clonal relationship and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) profiles. A total of 148 IPD isolates were collected from the microbiology laboratory at Habib Bourguiba University Hospital in Sfax, Tunisia, between 2012 and 2022.

Bacterial Pathogens and Antibiotic Resistance in Bloodstream Infections in Tunisia: A 13-Year Trend Analysis.

The antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance network has been monitoring bloodstream bacterial pathogens and their resistance since 1999 in Tunisia. We report the long-term trends in the distribution of bloodstream bacterial pathogens and their resistance patterns from this surveillance database. We analyzed antibiotic resistance rates in 11 tertiary teaching hospital laboratories under the AMR surveillance network during 2011-2023, focusing on six priority bacterial pathogens, using the Cochrane-Armitage test for trend analysis.

Molecular epidemiology of a multidrug-resistant outbreak in Tunisia (2022-2023) using whole-genome sequencing.

The prevalence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) is increasing globally, raising concerns for public health. In 2022, an outbreak of MDR was observed in Tunisia. We aimed to evaluate the genetic profile of isolates during the outbreak, including their clonal relationship, antimicrobial determinants and connection to international strains.

Genomic analysis of Brucella melitensis isolates recovered from humans in south Tunisia over 35 years between 1988 and 2022.

Brucella melitensis is a zoonotic pathogen that poses a worldwide public health challenge. In recent years, whole-genome sequencing has become a widely accepted molecular typing method for the genomic epidemiology of brucellosis. This study reports the genomic characteristics of 24 B.

Reliability of the rapid antigen test for diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 in Tunisia.

Background: Early and accurate diagnosis is crucial for preventing the spread of SARS-CoV-2 infection. The rapid antigen test was developed for testing infection, and it was necessary to assess its performance before widespread use in Tunisia.

Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of a rapid antigen test for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in nasopharyngeal swabs in Tunisia.

Large spontaneous HBV DNA fluctuations and potential usefulness of a single-point measurement of combined HBV DNA and quantitative HBsAg for the exclusion of HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B: A prospective Tunisian cohort study.

Background And Study Aim: During the natural course of HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B (CHB), fluctuations in hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels are often observed, making the classification of patients difficult. We aimed to describe spontaneous short-term HBV DNA level fluctuations and to assess the usefulness of qHBsAg in Tunisian patients with HBeAg-negative chronic HBV infection.

Patients And Methods: We included 174 treatment-naive Tunisian patients with HBeAg-negative chronic HBeAg-negative HBV infection.

The Delta variant wave in Tunisia: Genetic diversity, spatio-temporal distribution and evidence of the spread of a divergent AY.122 sub-lineage.

Introduction: The Delta variant posed an increased risk to global public health and rapidly replaced the pre-existent variants worldwide. In this study, the genetic diversity and the spatio-temporal dynamics of 662 SARS-CoV2 genomes obtained during the Delta wave across Tunisia were investigated.

Methods: Viral whole genome and partial S-segment sequencing was performed using Illumina and Sanger platforms, respectively and lineage assignemnt was assessed using Pangolin version 1.

The value of West Nile virus RNA detection by real-time RT-PCR in urine samples from patients with neuroinvasive forms.

Introduction: Routine laboratory screening is based on the detection of WNV specific IgM and IgG in blood and cerebrospinal fluid. Confirmation is then classically applied by real time RT-PCR (rRT-PCR) in Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which often gives negative results due to too short virorachia and late sampling. rRT-PCR was applied-for the first time for routine diagnosis purpose-on urine samples.

Clinical characteristics and outcomes of critically ill COVID-19 patients in Sfax, Tunisia.

Background: Africa, like the rest of the world, has been impacted by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. However, only a few studies covering this subject in Africa have been published.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of critically ill adult COVID-19 patients-all of whom had a confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection- admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of Habib Bourguiba University Hospital (Sfax, Tunisia).

Genetic characterization of West Nile Virus strains during neuroinvasives infection outbreak in Tunisia, 2018.

West Nile Virus (WNV) is an arbovirus transmitted by mosquito bite involving birds as reservoirs, humans and equines as accidental hosts. Eight distinct lineages (WNV-1 to WNV-8) have been identified: WNV-1 and WNV-2 infect humans and animals, and WNV-3 to WNV-8 have been identified only in vectors. WNV has been implicated in neuroinvasives infections, especially meningitis and encephalitis.

The intrathecal polyspecific antiviral immune response (MRZ reaction): A potential cerebrospinal fluid marker for multiple sclerosis diagnosis.

We tested the performance of MRZ-reaction, an intrathecal humoral immune response against-Measles (M), Rubella (R) and Varicella Zoster (Z) viruses, in multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis. The MRZ-reaction was significantly more positive in MS than in non-MS group with a specificity of 91.9%.

Childhood rubella encephalitis: diagnosis, management, and outcome.

We to report clinical biological and radiologic features of rubella encephalitis in childhood and assess its prognostic impact. Our retrospective study was conducted in an intensive care unit of a university hospital in Sfax, Tunisia. Twenty-one children (age range, 1-15 years) were included.

HLA association with nasopharyngeal carcinoma in southern Tunisia.

In order to study the association of HLA-A, -B and/or DRB1, DQB1 and the nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), 141 patients affected with NPC were typed for the HLA class I by serology method of microlymphocytotoxicity. Among these patients 101 were genotyped for HLA class II system by the PCR-SSP technique. HLA typing results were compared to those of 116 controls.

Lipid peroxidation and antioxidant system in the tumor and in the blood of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Reactive oxygen species play a key role in cancer development by inducing and maintaining the oncogenic phenotypes of cancer cells. In this study, we examined lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzymes activities in the blood and in the tumor of nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients. Plasma malondialdehyde, conjugated dienes, erythrocytes catalase, and superoxide dismutase activities have been measured in 30 untreated nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients and 30 controls on one hand.

Epstein-Barr virus-targeted immunotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is constantly present in undifferentiated and poorly-differentiated nasopharyngeal cancer. Thus, tumour-associated viral antigens are potential targets for immunotherapy. Recently, both preclinical and early clinical studies have shown that various strategies can enhance EBV-specific immunity.

EBV latent membrane protein 1 abundance correlates with patient age but not with metastatic behavior in north African nasopharyngeal carcinomas.

Background: Undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinomas are rare in a majority of countries but they occur at a high incidence in South China and to a lesser extent in North Africa. They are constantly associated with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) regardless of patient geographic origin. In North Africa, the distribution of NPC cases according to patient age is bi-modal with a large group of patients being around 50 years old (80%) and a smaller group below 25 years old.

[Nonresponse to hepatits B vaccine in health care workers].

The authors report the results of an investigation of witness cases realised in collaboration between Occupational Medecine Service and Immunology Laboratory of Hedi CHAKER University Hospital SFAX during the year 2000. The purpose was to search the genetic control of the HLA class I system for the non-response to hepatitis B vaccine and to evaluate the contribution of other favorite factors as tabac, sex, age. Thus, in a population of 32 healthy agents found nonresponders to hepatitis B vaccine by the titers of anti HBs antibody, we have performed the HLA-A, -B phenotypes by the technique of complement dependent microcytotoxicity.