Publications by authors named "Idir Bitam"

We conducted a Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) survey of Hyalomma spp. ticks collected from camels in southeastern Algeria. Of 138 tick pools, 1 was CCHFV positive; the sequenced strain belonged to the Africa 1 genotype.

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  • Eight phleboviruses transmitted by sandflies have been identified in North Africa, with an infection rate of 0.02-0.6% among the virus-carrying sandfly species.
  • Seroprevalence studies show low rates of Toscana virus (TOSV) in dogs from Algeria and Tunisia, while Sandfly Fever Sicilian virus (SFSV) and Punique virus (PUNV) have higher rates in Tunisia.
  • Among humans, TOSV and SFSV are the most prevalent, with TOSV confirmed in Algeria and Tunisia, while other phleboviruses have been detected to a lesser extent, indicating a need for further research into their epidemiology.
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  • Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a viral disease transmitted by ticks, and its prevalence in northern Africa, particularly Algeria, is not well understood.
  • A study was conducted on 269 camels in southern Algeria to determine CCHFV antibodies, revealing a high seroprevalence rate of 94.8%.
  • The presence of ticks was identified as a significant risk factor for CCHF exposure in camels, urging further research on CCHFV's impact on humans, animals, and ticks in the region.
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Background: Several reports have shown that saliva specimen is an excellent alternative biofluid sample for SARS-CoV-2 detection. We conducted this study, in order to assess the sensitivity and specificity of using saliva self-collected by adult and pediatric patients, as a biological sample for RT-PCR diagnosis.

Aims: The present study was carried out to assess the sensitivity and specificity of using saliva self-collected from adult and pediatric patients, as a biological sample for RT-qPCR diagnosis.

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Toscana virus is a sandfly-borne human pathogen belonging to Phlebovirus genus into Phenuiviridae family. It is emerging in north Africa posing a complex threat to public health. TOSV is heavily affecting sandfly-exposed people in northern Algeria.

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Rift Valley fever (RVF) is a mosquito-borne viral zoonosis caused by the Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV). The present work aims to investigate the epidemiological status and identify the risk factors associated with RVFV infection in dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius) from southern Algeria. A total of 269 sera of apparently healthy camels was collected and tested using a competitive Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA).

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Tropical theileriosis, babesiosis, and anaplasmosis are the most dominant tick-borne infections in North Africa where they cause significant economic losses in ruminants' industry. The aim of the present work was to study infections and co-infection patterns in 66 cattle with clinical signs of piroplasmosis and/or anaplasmosis in two localities, Beni Hamidene and Grarem Gouga, districts of Constantine and Mila (Northeast of Algeria), respectively. This study was conducted between early May and late September during four years 2017, 2018, 2020, and 2021.

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  • Tularemia is a zoonotic disease caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis, primarily linked to leporids like hares and rabbits in the northern hemisphere.
  • Recent research in Algeria challenges the belief that Africa is free of tularemia, revealing the presence of the disease in local wild leporids.
  • Out of 74 leporid carcasses analyzed, 19.44% of Cape hares and 13.15% of wild rabbits tested positive for F. tularensis, indicating a need for further investigation into potential human infections in the region.
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  • This study analyzed tick species infesting camels in Tamanrasset, Algeria, using MALDI-TOF MS and molecular techniques.
  • A total of 91 adult ticks were identified as various species, with 88 yielding quality spectra for species identification.
  • The research also highlighted the identification of microorganisms associated with the ticks, including the first detection of a specific species in Algeria and a potential new species.
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  • Mosquitoes are crucial public health threats due to their role in transmitting diseases, and their spread has expanded to new regions like North Africa due to climate change and globalization.
  • Recent data shows 26 confirmed mosquito species capable of transmitting diseases in North Africa, linked to seven major mosquito-borne diseases, including malaria and various viral infections.
  • The review aims to fill research gaps and assist in developing strategies for effective mosquito control and surveillance to manage these public health risks.
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  • In the past decade, several phleboviruses carried by sand flies have been found in Mediterranean countries, with some potential health effects still unclear.
  • During a study in northern Algeria from September to October 2020, researchers collected 3,351 sand flies and identified two pools containing phleboviruses related to the Punique virus (PUNV), already noted in Tunisia and Algeria.
  • The dominance of a specific sand fly species was confirmed, marking the first isolation of PUNV in the region and indicating its wider circulation in North Africa, necessitating more research on its public health impact.
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Toscana virus (TOSV) is major meningitis and meningoencephalitis agent in the Mediterranean basin. Dogs are frequently exposed to TOSV; thereby they can contribute to estimating its circulation. In Algeria, little is known about its circulation, and available data are restricted to the Kabylian region.

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Vector-borne diseases represent a real threats worldwide, in reason of the lack of vaccine and cure for some diseases. Among arthropod vectors, mosquitoes are described to be the most dangerous animal on earth, resulting in an estimated 725,000 deaths per year due to their borne diseases. Geographical position of Algeria makes this country a high risk area for emerging and re-emerging diseases, such as dengue coming from north (Europe) and malaria from south (Africa).

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  • Mediterranean spotted fever (MSF) is a tick-borne disease caused by the bacterium Rickettsia conorii, primarily spread by the brown dog tick, and mostly found in the Mediterranean region.
  • Symptoms of MSF typically include skin rash, high fever, and a specific sore (eschar) at the tick bite site, with varying severity from mild to potentially severe.
  • A case report highlights a patient who experienced isolated facial nerve paralysis as a rare complication of MSF, showing the disease can have unusual neurological effects.
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Being the only established vectors of the protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania, sand flies have become very important in all countries where leishmaniasis exists. It is caused by a variety of species, each one having specific mammalian reservoir hosts and vectors. Leishmania and sand fly classification has always been a controversial matter, and the increasing number of sand fly species described world complicates the task.

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Hedgehogs are small mammals. They are potential reservoirs of various zoonotic agents. This study was conducted in Bouira, a north-central region of Algeria.

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  • The study highlights the high potential for pathogen exchange between humans and African nonhuman primates due to their close evolutionary relationship.
  • A molecular investigation revealed that a significant percentage of both NHPs (93%) and humans (95%) carried pathogenic bacteria, particularly highlighting shared strains between gorillas and humans in the Republic of Congo.
  • The findings emphasize the need for ongoing surveillance and preventive measures to manage the risk of infectious diseases that could affect both species.
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A study on tick infestation of 43 sheep with clinical symptoms of piroplasmosis and anaplasmosis was carried out during summer seasons of 2016 and 2017 in 34 sheep flocks from Beni Hamidene locality, district of Constantine, Northeast Algeria. Only animals with clinical symptoms of piroplasmosis and/or anaplasmosis were checked for tick infestation. Among the 43 examined sheep, 58 ± 15% were infested by ticks.

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Introduction: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has been associated with the occurrence since summer 2020 of several viral variants that overlapped or succeeded each other in time. Those of current concern harbor mutations within the spike receptor binding domain (RBD) that may be associated with viral escape to immune responses. In our geographical area a viral variant we named Marseille-4 harbors a S477 N substitution in this RBD.

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This aim of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of haemopathogens in cattle in Beni Hamidene locality, district of Constantine (Νortheastern Algeria). Between June and October 2014, 169 bovines from 25 farms were included in this survey, 32 (18.9%) among them were suspected of piroplasmosis and/or anaplasmosis.

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Cattle piroplasmoses are tick-borne diseases, spread worldwide that cause significant economic losses. A participatory epidemiological study was conducted individually or in focus groups with 73 cattle owners in Beni Hamidene locality (district of Constantine, Algeria). The aim of this study was to study cattle owners' knowledge, attitude and perception on cattle piroplasmosis.

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Background: In Marseille, France, the COVID-19 incidence evolved unusually with several successive epidemic phases. The second outbreak started in July, was associated with North Africa, and involved travelers and an outbreak on passenger ships. This suggested the involvement of a new viral variant.

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(Ft) is the etiological agent of tularemia, a disease known for over 100 years in the northern hemisphere. Ft includes four subspecies, of which two are the etiologic agents of tularemia: Ft subsp. (Ftt) and Ft subsp.

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Leishmaniasis is among the world's most neglected diseases. Dogs are the main reservoirs/hosts of Leishmania infantum, causative agent of both canine and human visceral leishmaniosis. Canine leishmaniasis (CanL) represents a public health problem as one of the most prevalent zoonotic diseases worldwide.

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The zoonotic and tick-transmitted filarioids of the genus remain less well known due to the difficulties in accessing to skin samples as target tissues. Here, we proposed a molecular approach reliying on multiplex qPCR assays that allow the rapid identification of filarioids from canine blood, skin, and tick samples. This includes two newly developed duplex qPCR tests, the first one targeting filarial and DNA (CanFil-).

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