Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which was identified at the end of December 2019 in China. Symptoms of COVID-19 can appear after an incubation phase of the virus of 2 to 14 days, the most common being fever, cough, and asthenia. Other specific symptoms may include shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, muscle pain, sore throat, chills, loss of smell or sensation, chest pain, headache, nausea, rash, diarrhea, and vomiting. The severity of these symptoms can be mild or even extreme causing serious damage to several organs, directly and indirectly, namely pulmonary, renal, hepatic, cardiac, digestive, neurological. Some people have only mild symptoms, while others are asymptomatic. Seniors or those at risk for certain chronic diseases, such as massive obesity, diabetes, heart disease, lung disease, kidney disease, immune system abnormalities, and liver disease are more susceptible to COVID-19 and can develop more serious and fatal complications.

Otomycosis is a fungal infection mainly affecting the outer ear, but can spread to the in nerear and become severe. The disease can cause a serious damage for its recurrence and resistance to treatment. The purpose of this work is to determine the prevalence of otomycosis in first place, then in second place to specify the contributing factors and to describe the spectrum of fungi involved. We conducted a prospective study over a period of 6 months between March 2018 and August 2018 in laboratory of parasitology and mycology at the Military Hospital Avicenna of Marrakech. Fore ach patient we performed an atrial sampling with sterile swabs. A direct examination and culture on Sabouraud-Chloramphenicol media with and without cycloheximide were carried out. The identification of fungi was based on the macroscopic, microscopic and phenotypic characteristics of colonies. Our study included 67 patients, of which 28 were positive, giving an overall prevalence of 41% with female predominance. The average age of our patients was 40 years old. Many factors enhanced the otomycosis, the daily cleaning of the external ear canal was the most recurrent factor (46%), followed by frequent bathing (35%). The most common species were Aspergillus niger (46%), Aspergillus flavus (35%), and Candida albicans (17%). This study demonstrates the importance of otomycosis in the etiologies of otitis in our population. The management of these infections must include a mycological study in order to establish an antifungal therapy adapted to the pathogen.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) which has become the pandemic par excellence of our time places pressure on various aspects of human endeavor and as such requires detailed study to better combat it. However, diagnostic tests were used to provide data on the incidence of COVID-19 and to assess the immune status of infected individuals. The objective of this chapter is to describe the diagnostic methods currently used to identify SARS-CoV-2 infection. Obtaining the first SARS-CoV-2 genome sequence was decisive for the development of molecular diagnostic assays that currently make it possible to diagnose and screen for the Sars-CoV-2 infection. Their uses depend on the target to be detected. Antigenic tests detect the presence of a virus antigen, which usually makes a proteinaceous part of the virus surface. The serology tests detect the presence of antibodies generated against SARS-CoV-2 and are also a relevant tool for epidemiological studies.