Brucellosis, a reported zoonotic disease caused by several species of the genus Brucella, is endemic to many countries, including Morocco, and poses a major public health challenge. Available studies and national surveillance data highlight its persistent presence and impact, with an incidence rate that is difficult to estimate owing to under-reporting of cases. Human diagnosis is mainly based on serological tests (Rose Bengal and ELISA) without the routine implementation of molecular techniques, which are faster and more specific. To our knowledge, in Morocco, no study has demonstrated the use of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as a routine diagnostic tool. This study aimed to develop, test, and optimise a multiplex real-time PCR assay capable of detecting all Brucella spp. using the conserved bcsp31 gene to differentiate between B. melitensis and B. abortus. Using the KoMa plasmid as an internal extraction control, this study assessed the analytical sensitivity of the assay, which showed a detection limit of ≤10 plasmid copies and 5-10 genomic copies per reaction, including its specificity, which reached 100%, with no amplification observed for non-Brucella strains. This pilot study evaluated the diagnostic performance of the assay using 30 suspected brucellosis samples. All 17 were confirmed to be positive by ELISA and Rose Bengal tests, whereas 13 were negative. Seventeen positive samples were confirmed by real-time PCR, which showed 100% agreement (95% confidence interval [CI]: 98%). The results showed that all positive human cases studied were caused by B. melitensis. This fast and reliable method is a promising tool for monitoring and managing the rapid clinical diagnosis of human brucellosis. However, validation on a larger scale is required.

Background and Objectives: Brucellosis, a contagious infection caused by Brucella spp, remains the most widely reported bacterial zoonosis globally. Since the clinical manifestations are often non-specific, reliable laboratory confirmation, in accordance with World Health Organization recommendations, is essential. This study reports human brucellosis cases between 2017 and 2025 based on serological confirmation; it also discusses approaches to improve diagnostic accuracy for better surveillance, timely treatment, and support public health strategies. Materials and Methods: A total of 95 serum samples were obtained from patients presenting with clinical manifestations suggestive of brucellosis. Initial screening was performed using the Rose Bengal test, and positive or equivocal samples were further analyzed by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay to detect both IgG and IgM antibodies for serological confirmation. Results: Among the 95 patients investigated, the Rose Bengal test yielded positive results in 69.5% of cases. Serological confirmation by ELISA demonstrated IgM seropositivity in 57.9% of patients and IgG seropositivity in 55.8%. The diagnostic performance of ELISA showed a sensitivity of 83.3% for IgM detection and 80.3% for IgG detection. Regarding patient demographics, the mean age was 37.9 ± 16.4 years, with a slight male predominance (54.7%). Conclusion: The study reveals a considerable proportion of brucellosis-positive cases, confirming the value of serological testing in endemic regions such as Morocco. Nonetheless, serology should be complemented with advanced diagnostic methods, including PCR to improve both the accuracy and timeliness of diagnosis. These findings support the adoption of integrated diagnostic approaches and the reinforcement of laboratory capacity in high-risk areas.

Objectives:Gonorrhea is a prevalent sexually transmitted infection among men who have sex with men (MSM). In Morocco, the basic laboratory diagnosis of Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) is based on microscopy and, in some settings, on culture. However, no nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) has been implemented for routine diagnosis of gonorrhoeae.The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of an in-house real-time PCR test for detecting N. gonorrhoeae DNA in anal swabs samples collected during an Integrated Behavioral and Biological survey. Patients and methods:Samples from 245 MSM, recruited using a Respondent Driven Sampling, were collected and tested for NG infection using GeneXpert CT/NG assay (Cepheid, USA). An In-House real-time PCR technique targeting the pseudo gene porA was developed and used for a parallel investigation of the same infection. The reliability of the in-house RT-PCR was validated through tests of reproducibility, repeatability, limit of detection, and cross-reactivity with other bacteria. The intrinsic performance characteristics of the qRT-PCR were assessed, namely, the sensitivity, the specificity, the positive predictive value (PPV), and the negative predictive value (NPV). The GeneXpert CT/NG assay was adopted as a reference method. Results:For N. gonorrhoeae detection, the in-house real-time PCR assay showed a sensitivity and specificity of 80% and 100%, respectively. The PPV of the assay was 100% and the NPV was 97.3%. Conclusion:The in-house real-time PCR assay has high specificity and sensitivity, and it emerges as a promising approach for detecting N. gonorrhoeae in clinical specimens, particularly in decentralized settings such as regional laboratories.

Objectives:Due to the limited data available within the Moroccan context, the aim of the study was therefore to estimate the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) and Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) infection and co-infection among men who have sex with men (MSM) as well as to update the behavioral indicators for this population.Methods:During the period of November 2020 to January 2021, 275 and 303 MSM in Agadir and Fes respectively, were recruited by using respondent-driven sampling protocol (RDS). Eligibility criteria for participants included men identified as having anal sex with another man in the last 6 months, aged 18 years or older and residing in either Agadir or Fes, regardless of their nationality, for the past 6 months.Anal swabs were collected from 445 respondents for molecular investigation of CT, NG, and TV. GeneXpert (Cepheid, USA) was used to test all samples. A survey on the socio-demographic, and risk behavior was then administered to participants.Results:Most MSM subjects were identified as being young, and homosexual. CT prevalence was 11.3% (95%CI, 7.2 to 15.4) and 12.5% (95%CI, 7.5 to 17.5) in Agadir and Fes respectively; NG was 13.3% (95%CI, 8.5 to 18.1) in Agadir and 5.5% (95%CI, 1.9 to 9.2) in Fes. Meanwhile, TV prevalence was 0.4% (95%CI, 0 to 1.1) in Agadir and 0.2% (95%CI, -0.2 to 0.6) in Fes. A CT/NG co-infection was found in 4.5% (95%CI, 3.5 to 5.9) of cases in Agadir and 2.7% (95%CI, 1.9 to 3.9), in Fes.Conclusion:It follows that a regular risk assessment and Sexually Transmitted Infectious (STIs) screening should be administered in these two cities as part of a global strategy to enhance the sexual health of the key populations in question.

Nosocomial infections are a major public health problem. They are mainly caused by bacteria that often present antibiotic resistance profiles, which complicates their management. The diagnosis of these infections is based on clinical and biological criteria that lack sensitivity and specificity, and on microbiological examinations that are lengthy. Unfortunately, the inadequate empirical antibiotic therapy in many cases, and the late implementation of an effective treatment, are associated with the emergence and spread of bacteria that are multi-resistant to antibiotics, i.e. strains producing extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL). Rapid diagnostic methods, identifying the pathogen and its resistance profile, are therefore necessary. Our laboratory is committed to develop PCR techniques to genotypically identify the most frequent ESBLs from four hospital facilities. Among all the enterobacteria detected, we observed the predominance of OXA type ESBL (38%), followed by CTX-M type ESBL (33%). TEM and SHV genes represent respectively 19% and 10%.The optimization of these technologies could allow the identification of all known resistance mechanisms in only a few hours and find new preventive or curative strategies in the fight against these nosocomial infections, to better respond to this health threat.

Isolation and determination of s.pneumoniae by culture and serological methods can be time consuming or indeterminate. Molecular diagnosis by real-time PCR is independent of the growth of the pathogen causing meningitis, and is not diminished with non-viable organisms. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance criteria of pre-PCR-TR DNA extraction step and PCR-TR step by targeting two genes encoding s.pneumoniae. In this study we evaluated the inter-sample contamination of the pre-PCR-TR step, the intermediate fidelity and the repeatability of the DNA essay. PCR-TR verification was performed by two genes targeting s. pneumoniae the Lyt A and SP 2038 gene; sensitivity, specificity and LLD were determined. Contamination rate had a value of less than 0%, which is in agreement with an absence of inter-sample contamination; the repeatability and intermediate fidelity have a cv˂7%. The evaluation of the sensitivity and specificity of the RT-PCR assays targeted 100% the Lyt A gene and the SP 2038 gene. The standard curve generated detected less than 10copies for the Lyt A gene and less than 100copies for the SP 2038 gene. This study showed that the pre-PCR and PCR-TR assays met the performance criteria targeted in this study.

Background: Table olives are one of the most important vegetable canning products in Morocco, which is considered one of the world's largest producing countries. Currently, many outlets prepare table olives by different methods that do not comply with standard hygiene practices. Hence, this research was conducted to assess the quality standard of these olives by evaluating their physico-chemical and microbiological properties.Methodology: A total of 108 samples of table olives (pitted green olives and blacks) obtained from Rabat-Salé and Rabat-Temara markets in Morocco were evaluated. Physico-chemical properties of the olives including pH, oxido-reduction potential (ORP) and titrable acidity were determined using the analytical methods of the Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC). Microbiological analyses including standard plate count (SPC) for total aerobic mesophilic flora (TAMB), total coliforms (TC), faecal coliforms (FC), yeasts, clostridia, Staphylococcus aureus, faecal streptococci and salmonella counts, were performed using standard microbiological methods. The identification of yeast isolates was carried out with the commercial API 20C biochemical identification kit.Results: The average microbial loads for traditional olive samples were 3.2x106 CFU/ml for SPC, 1.7x104 CFU/ml for TC, 8.7x103 CFU/ml for FC, and 2.5x106 CFU/ml for yeast, which were higher compared to the average microbial loads of industrial olives with values of 5.9x105 CFU/ml, 5x101 CFU/ml, 0 CFU/ml and 0 CFU/ml respectively. One hundred percent (56 of 56) of the traditional olives (pitted green and black) from Temara-Rabatmarkets were contaminated with coliforms while 50% of green and 65% of black olives in Salé-Rabat were contaminated with coliforms. Five percent (5%) each of the traditional green and black olives in Salé-Rabat markets were contaminated with clostridia (spore forming bacteria). No FC or other bacteria and yeasts were present in the industrial olives, and none of the olives was contaminated with S. aureus, faecal streptococci and salmonella. Of the total of 8 yeast strains isolated from the traditional olives, 4 (50%) were Candida guilliermondii, 2 (25%) Candida lusitaniae and 2 (25%) Candida famata.Conclusion: The contamination of olive oil products may be due to different sources such as water, processing materials, storage condition, cleaning, labour and others. There is need for increase awareness and control of these at the points of sale of these traditional olives. Keywords: hygiene; physico-chemical properties; microbiology; traditional olives; quality French Title: Qualité Hygiène des olives de table traditionnelles et industrielles des marchés des villes de Rabat-Salé et Témara au Maroc Contexte: Les olives de table sont l'un des produits de mise en conserve de légumes les plus importants au Maroc, qui est considéré comme l'un des plus grands pays producteurs du monde. Actuellement, de nombreux points de vente préparent les olives de table par différentes méthodes non conformes aux pratiques d'hygiène standard. Ainsi, cette recherche a été menée pour évaluer le standard de qualité de ces olives en évaluant leurs propriétés physico-chimiques et microbiologiques.Méthodologie: Un total de 108 échantillons d'olives de table (olives vertes dénoyautées et noires) obtenus sur les marchés de Rabat-Salé et Rabat-Témara au Maroc ont été évalués. Les propriétés physico-chimiques des olives, y compris le pH, le potentiel d'oxydoréduction (ORP) et l'acidité titrable ont été déterminées en utilisant les méthodes analytiques de l'Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC). Les analyses microbiologiques, y compris la numération sur plaque standard (SPC) pour la flore mésophile aérobie totale (FMAT), les coliformes totaux (CT), les coliformes fécaux (CF), les levures, les clostridies, Staphylococcus aureus, les streptocoques fécaux et les numérations de salmonelles, ont été effectuées à l'aide de méthodes microbiologiques standard. L'identification des isolats de levure a été réalisée avec le kit d'identification biochimique API 20E du commerce.Résultats: Les charges microbiennes moyennes pour les échantillons d'olives traditionnelles étaient de 3,2x106 UFC/ml pour le SPC, 1,7x104 UFC/ml pour le TC, 8,7x103 UFC/ml pour le FC et 2,5x106 UFC/ml pour la levure, qui étaient plus élevées par rapport aux charges microbiennes moyennes des olives industrielles avec des valeurs respectives de 5,9x105 UFC/ml, 5x101 UFC/ml, 0 UFC/ml et 0 UFC/ml. Cent pour cent (56 sur 56) des olivestraditionnelles (dénoyautées vertes et noires) des marchés de Témara-Rabat étaient contaminées par des coliformes tandis que 50% des olives vertes et 65% des olives noires de Salé-Rabat étaient contaminées par des coliformes. Cinq pour cent (5%) de chacune des olives vertes et noires traditionnelles des marchés de Salé-Rabat étaient contaminées par des clostridia (bactéries sporulantes). Aucune FC ni aucune autre bactérie et levure n'étaient présentes dans les olives industrielles, et aucune des olives n'était contaminée par S. aureus, des streptocoques fécaux et des salmonelles. Sur un total de 8 souches de levure isolées des olives traditionnelles, 4 (50%) étaient Candida guilliermondii, 2 (25%) Candida lusitaniae et 2 (25%) Candida famata.Conclusion: La contamination des produits à base d'huile d'olive peut être due à différentes sources telles que l'eau, les matériaux de traitement, les conditions de stockage, le nettoyage, la main-d'œuvre et autres. Il est nécessaire d'accroître la sensibilisation et le contrôle de ceux-ci dans les points de vente de ces olives traditionnelles. Mots-clés: hygiène; propriétés physico-chimiques; microbiologie; olives traditionnelles; qualité

Multidrug-resistant Enterobacteriaceae are a major public health threat worldwide. These germs are the most redoubtable because they are producers of beta-lactamases and possess other mechanisms of resistance to many antibiotics. The objective of this work is to identify isolated strains of Enterobacteriaceae and to study their antibiotic resistance profiles, thus contributing to the surveillance of antibioresistance. This is a retrospective study over a period of three years (2018-2020) including urine samples taken in the region of Rabat-Salé-Zaire and examined at the laboratory of Epidemic Diseases in National Institute of Hygiene of Rabat. Enterobacteriaceae were the most frequent germs with a predominance of Escherichia coli (68%) followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (23%). Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae accounted for 10.5%. The highest resistance was observed with amoxicillin, followed by ticarcillin, cefalotin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, amoxicillin+clavulanic acid, nalidixic acid and finally ciprofloxacin and norfloxacin. The aminoglycosides and the 2nd and 3rd cephalosporins were the most active molecules. The sensitivity of imipenem and ertapenem was 100%. This study shows the worrying appearance of resistance to the usual antibiotics in uropathogenic enterobacteria. Rational prescription of antibiotics and monitoring of the evolution of bacterial resistance are necessary in each region.

The discovery of antibiotics has always been a medical advance that has improved the prognosis of infections. However, resistance to these products has evolved into a major health problem. Some diseases are even resistant to all antibiotics currently available on the market. A reduction in the use of antibiotics must be based on other approaches, namely the use of alternative treatments to antibiotics, such as phytotherapy. In the same objective our study focused on the research of the antibacterial power of Olea Europaea known for its various medicinal properties. 31 bacterial strains were tested for their susceptibility using the agar diffusion method, and we determined their MIC by the micro titration technique on microplates. Five bacteria belonged to the American collection (ATCC) and 26 strains isolated from nosocomial infections between the period of 2011 and 2015. We noticed that our aqueous, methanolic, ethanolic and ethyl acetate extracts are active against all tested bacteria. On the other hand, we observed that the hexane and dichloromethane extracts showed no inhibition effect on all the bacteria tested. The methanolic extract showed a higher MIC against ESBL enterobacteria (E. coli, E. cloacae, P. mirabilis) and imipenem-resistant A. baumanii. The lowest MIC was 1.56 ug / ml.

Human brucellosis is an infectious disease, caused by different species of the genus Brucella. It is a mandatory notifiable disease in most countries, including Morocco, and thus requires special vigilance on the part of health agencies. Prevention of this disease is based on surveillance and prevention of risk factors. Its management is based on serological or other diagnostic tests. The National Laboratory of Epidemic Diseases received 17 blood samples of human origin for notified cases of brucellosis in a region of southern Morocco. Biological confirmation of these samples was performed by Rose Bengal test and ELISA IgM test. The results showed a positivity rate of 88% proving the important role of serological tests in the diagnosis of brucellosis. Other rapid and efficient techniques are becoming essential for the confirmation of cases, taking into account the advanced biosafety procedures for these highly infectious pathogens.

Le Maroc a mis en œuvre un programme de vaccination systématique des nourrissons avec le vaccin anticoquelucheux à cellules entières en 1963, la politique nationale de vaccination a offert un vaccin anticoquelucheux à cinq cellules pour les enfants administrés à l’âge de 6, 10, 14 semaines, 18 mois et 5–6 ans. Cependant, la vaccination des femmes en âge de procréer n’est pas systématique au Maroc. Les membres de la famille sont probablement le principal réservoir, infectant les nourrissons sensibles avant la fin de la vaccination infantile. Les nouveau-nés ont un système immunitaire immature, qui n’est pas capable de se protéger activement contre les infections évitables par la vaccination. Par conséquent, le nouveau-né dépend du transport transplacentaire de l’immunoglobuline G (IgG). Dans le cadre de la surveillance épidémiologique, le laboratoire des maladies épidémiques a réalisé cette étude visant à enquêter sur la séroprévalence des anticorps contre la coqueluche chez les femmes enceintes au centre hospitalier Elidrissi de Kenitra. Des sérums non sélectionnés ont été recueillis chez 88 femmes enceintes. Les sérums ont été analysés pour déterminer la présence d’anticorps IgG anti-toxine de pertussis (PT) et anti-hémagglutinine filamenteuse (FHA), par dosage immuno-enzymatique (Elisa). Les taux d’anticorps ne sont pas détectables chez 11 % des femmes enceintes, 72 % ont une sérologie négative, 17 % ont une sérologie positive. Malgré la précédente vaccination des enfants, un grand nombre de femmes enceintes ont des taux d’anticorps faibles ou indétectables liés à la coqueluche. Ces études confirment la nécessité de vacciner les femmes enceintes contre Bordetella pertussis. Morocco implemented a routine infant immunization program with whole-cell pertussis vaccine in 1963, the national vaccine policy has offered a five-dose whole-cell pertussis vaccine for children given at the ages of 6, 10, 14 weeks, 18 months and 5–6 years. However, vaccinations for women of childbearing age are not routine in Morocco. The members of the family are the likely major reservoir, infecting susceptible infants before completion of childhood vaccination. Newborn infants, have an immature immune system, which is not capable to actively protect against vaccine-preventable infections. Therefore, the newborn is dependent on the transplacental transport of Immunoglobulin G (IgG). In the framework of epidemiological surveillance the laboratory of epidemic diseases carried out this study aimed to investigate the seroprevalence of antibodies to pertussis among pregnant women in hospital center Elidrissi Kenitra. Unselected sera were collected from 88 of pregnant women. Sera were analyzed for the anti-pertussis toxin (PT), filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA) IgG antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Elisa). The antibody levels are no detectable in 11% of pregnant women, 72% have negative serology and 17% have positive serology. Despite previous childhood immunization, a large number of pregnant women have low or undetectable pertussis-related antibody levels. This study supports the need for pregnant women vaccination against Bordetella pertussis.

La coqueluche continue de provoquer une maladie grave et des décès chez les nouveau-nés et les nourrissons trop jeunes. La technique de PCR est de plus en plus utilisée comme test de diagnostic direct pour le diagnostic de la Coqueluche, la connaissance des performances de la méthode analytique utilisée au laboratoire est essentielle pour vérifier la fiabilité des résultats. L’objectif de cette étude est de vérifier les performances de la technique de PCR-RT multiplex, utilisée au laboratoire pour le diagnostic de la coqueluche, en déterminant sa sensibilité, sa spécificité, sa valeur prédictive positive et négative. Un total de 12 bactéries non-Bordetella a été inclus dans l’étude de la spécificité. Onze échantillons sont positifs pour les 3 espèces : Bordetella pertussis, Bordetella parapertussis et Bordetella holmesii ont été inclus dans l’étude de la sensibilité. La recherche de l’ADN des 3 espèces est réalisée par PCR-RT multiplex. La sensibilité de la PCR est de 100 %, la spécificité de la PCR est de 100 %. La valeur prédictive négative et la valeur prédictive positive sont de 100 %. Une PCR en temps réel ciblant B. pertussis, B. parapertussis et B. holmesii s’est avérée spécifique et utile pour confirmer la présence de la séquence d’insertion 481, IS1001 et hIS1001. On conclut que les performances de la technique de PCR-RT répondent aux exigences du laboratoire des maladies épidémiques pour le diagnostic de la coqueluche. Pertussis continues to cause serious illness and death in newborns and infants who are too young. The PCR technique is increasingly used as a direct diagnostic test for the diagnosis of Pertussis, knowledge of the performance of the analytical method used in the laboratory is essential to verify the reliability of the results. The objective of this study is to verify the performance of the PCR-RT multiplex technique, used in the laboratory for the diagnosis of pertussis, by determining its sensitivity, its specificity, its positive and negative predictive value. A total of 12 non-Bordetella bacteria were included in the specificity study. Eleven samples are positive for the 3 species: Bordetella pertussis, Bordetella parapertussis and Bordetella holmesii were included in the sensitivity study. The DNA research of the 3 species is carried out by multiplex PCR-RT. The sensitivity of the PCR is 100%, the specificity of the PCR is 100%. The negative predictive value and the positive predictive value are 100%. A real-time PCR targeting B. pertussis, B. parapertussis and B. holmesii was found to be specific and useful for confirming the presence of the insertion sequence 481, IS1001 and hIS1001. It is concluded that the performance of the PCR-RT technique meets the requirements of the epidemic disease laboratory for the diagnosis of pertussis.

In this work, we are interested in the synthesis of new N-glucosyl 1,4-benzothiazin-3-ones by grafting 5,6-anhydro-3-O-alkyl-1,2-O-isopropylidene-alpha-D-glucofuranoses onto (Z)-2-benzylidene-3,4-dihydro-2H-1,4-benzothiazin-3-one 1. Deprotection of compounds 3a-c was performed in the mixture CF3COOH-H2O (9/1: v/v) leading to the corresponding compounds 4a-c with good yields. The structures of the synthesized compounds have been characterized using H-1 NMR and C-13 NMR. Compounds 3a-c and 4a-c were subjected to the evaluation of antibacterial activity. Some compounds tested showed significant activity.

Background: Currently, qPCR has been used as a rapid diagnostic method for human leptospirosis. Previous studies have indicated that qPCR has high sensitivity in the early days of the illness. Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate qPCR as a diagnostic method for human leptospirosis in the National Institute of Hygiene, Rabat, Morocco. Methods: From 2004 to 2016, 67 sera related to 67 patients with clinical signs mimic to leptospirosis were sent to the laboratory of Bacteriology for routine diagnosis and confirmation. SAT, ELISA IgM, ELISA IgG, and qPCR were used for the diagnosis. Results: High positivity was observed by SAT (88.24%), ELISA IgM (58.82%), and real-time PCR (17.64%), in sequence. Nonegative results by serological tests had positive results by real-time PCR. Forty-six patients were males (68.68%) and 21 were females (31.34%). The high incidence observed was from Sidi Qacem (40%). Conclusions: SAT and ELISA IgM are useful for the diagnosis of human leptospirosis in Morocco and they can provide prompt and low-cost diagnosis, especially when resources are limited.

Objectives: The number of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) cases is rising worldwide. The present investigation aimed to evaluate, using the GenoType (R) MTBDRplus assay, the most common mutations associated with rifampicin (RIF) and isoniazid (INH) resistance among resistant strains in Morocco. Methods: A total of 319 Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates sent to the National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory between 2013 and 2015 were subjected to GenoType (R) MTBDRplus for detecting M. tuberculosis and determination of drug susceptibility. Correlation of the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of INH with genotypic assay results was carried out for 97 MDR-TB strains. Various concentrations of INH were tested. Results: The most frequent mutations observed were rpoBS531L (67.2%) and katGS315T1/2 (66.5%). Isolates with inhA gene mutation, katG gene mutation, and dual mutations in katG and inhA had MICs ranging from 0.5-1 mu g/mL, 2-10 mu g/mL and >= 12 mu g/mL, respectively. Conclusion: In Morocco, 66.5% and 76.7% of M. tuberculosis strains carried mutations causing high-level resistance to INH and RIF, respectively. (c) 2017 International Society for Chemotherapy of Infection and Cancer. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Objective: Given the importance of the association between diabetes and periodontal disease, the main objective of the present study was to compare the microbial diversity responsible for gingivitis in patients with and without type 2 diabetes.Methods: Samples were collected from the oral cavity of 134 patients with gingivitis and categorised into 3 groups (68 non-diabetic patients and 66 diabetic patients; 33 with controlled diabetes and 33 with poorly controlled diabetes). Sample culture was carried out on selective culture media. The identification of isolated strains involved a series of biochemical tests including miniature galleries (API 20E and 20 Strep), the traditional biochemical gallery (tubes) and automated bacterial identification (BD Phoenix™).Results: Identification by biochemical methods made it possible to differentiate 14 bacterial species and one yeast. There was greater bacterial diversity in diabetic patients as compared to non-diabetic patients. Periodontal pathogens were isolated from both diabetic and non-diabetic populations; however, certain microbes such as Streptococcus acidominimus, Enterobacter cloacae, Klebsiella oxytoca, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were present only in diabetics, with a much higher percentage in those with poorly controlled diabetes.Conclusion: Poorly controlled diabetes causes metabolic dysregulation that can increase the severity of periodontal disease.

A novel series of 1,2,3-triazole derivatives containing 1,4-benzothiazin-3-one ring (7a–9a, 7b–9b), (10a–12a, 10b–12b) and (13–15) were synthesized by 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions of azides α-d-galactopyranoside azide F, 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-(d)-glucopyranosyl azide G and methyl-N-benzoyl-α-azidoglycinate H with compounds 4–6.

BackgroundLeptospirosis is a zoonotic bacterial disease that affects humans and animals. The disease occurs by contact direct or indirect with the urine of infected animal and common among agriculture workers, garbage collectors, sewage works, forestry and animal slaughtering. The disease also spreads in tropical regions where the conditions are favourable for leptospires.AimsThe purpose of this study is to determine human leptospirosis among suspected cases by ELISA IgM (a retrospective study on 50 cases from 2004 to 2010).MethodsSera from patients had fever and jaundice suspected clinically from leptospirosis, were referred to the National Institute of Hygiene in Rabat, Morocco. ELISA IgM and SAT were used for the diagnosis.ResultsWhile 33 serums were positive by Slide Agglutination Test (SAT), thirty one serums were positive by ELISA IgM. The sensitivity was 62 per cent and 66 per cent in ELISA and SAT respectively.ConclusionELISA IgM and SAT seem to be useful for human leptospirosis; they can detect the disease from the 5th day of the illness. They are easy, inexpensive and useful for developing countries and less equipped laboratories. However, if the first sera was negative, the second sera should obtained in the second week, or PCR used in combination with serological tests if it is available.

Objectives: Extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) has recently been identified as a major global health threat. The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of XDR-TB among Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates in Morocco and its association with demographic, clinical and epidemiological features. Methods: A total of 524 patients from the Moroccan National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory, representative of all of the geographic regions, were subject to first-line drug susceptibility testing (DST). Subsequently, 155 isolates found to be multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) underwent second-line DST. Moreover, to enhance our understanding of the genetic basis of these drug-resistant strains, drug resistance-associated mutations were investigated in isolates either identified as pre-XDR- and XDR-TB or suspected resistant using the GenoType (R) MTBDRsl V1.0 assay. Results: In this study, 4 (2.6%) XDR-TB and 18 (11.6%) pre-XDR-TB isolates were identified. Agreement between the MTBDRsl assay results and phenotypic DST was 95.2% for ofloxacin, 81.0% for kanamycin and 95.2% for amikacin. Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate the frequency of XDR-TB in Morocco. These results highlight the need to reinforce the TB management policy in Morocco with regard to control and detection strategies in order to prevent further spread of XDR-TB isolates. (C) 2017 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of International Society for Chemotherapy of Infection and Cancer.