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J Robson

Publications and source records attributed to J Robson.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1972

The composition of the Trypanosoma brucei subgroup in nonhuman reservoirs in the Lambwe Valley, Kenya, with particular reference to the distribution of T. rhodesiense.

Identification by means of the blood incubation infectivity test (BIIT) of 159 Trypanosoma brucei subgroup strains recently isolated from non-human hosts in the Lambwe Valley, Kenya, has defined the distribution in these hosts of both T. brucei and T. rhodesiense in an endemic sleeping sickness area. The presence of a small third group strongly suggestive of a population intermediate between these two species has also been revealed for the first time.Repeated testing of a number of these strains has shown marked consistency in the results. Strains identified by the BIIT as T. rhodesiense have been isolated for the first time from a reedbuck and a sheep. There appears to be direct relationship between the local prevalence rates of T. rhodesiense in non-human reservoirs and the incidence of sleeping sickness in man.

Animals↗
PubMed1972

Trypanosomiasis in domestic livestock in the Lambwe Valley area and a field evaluation of various diagnostic techniques.

A preliminary survey of 2 073 domestic animals in the Lambwe Valley, Kenya, showed a 7.4% rate of infection with Trypanosoma congolense and T. vivax. In comprehensive surveys covering 6 384 domestic stock, pathogenic trypanosomes were found in 17.0% of cattle, 5.0% of sheep, and 2.1% of goats. Adults were more often infected than young animals, and males more often than females. T. congolense was the trypanosome most frequently diagnosed, followed by T. vivax and the T. brucei subgroup. T. theileri was also found. The examination of wet blood films in the field as a means of diagnosing trypanosome infections was shown to be valueless. More infections were detected in peripheral blood films than in systemic blood films, but both should be examined. An examination of smears of glandular fluid is essential for the diagnosis of T. vivax in cattle, while mouse-inoculation tests are necessary for the diagnosis of the T. brucei subgroup. The detection of T. vivax was improved by the high-speed centrifugation of blood samples in capillary tubes.

Animals↗
PubMed1970

The testing of proven Trypanosoma brucei and T. rhodesiense strains by the blood incubation infectivity test.

The authors describe a simple test (the blood incubation infectivity test) by which Trypanosoma brucei (sensu stricto) may be differentiated from T. rhodesiense without recourse to human volunteers. The method consists in incubating the strain of trypanosome under test for 5 hours at 37 degrees C in vitro in human blood, followed by observation of the effect of this procedure on the strain's infectivity to rats.Thirteen strains of T. rhodesiense were investigated; in each, the ability to infect rats was retained after incubation. In all 6 strains of man-tested T. brucei, it was destroyed.The consistency of the results with proven strains suggests very strongly that the blood incubation infectivity test provides a valid means of differentiating these parasites.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Permeability measurement of macromolecules and assessment of mucosal antigen sampling using in vitro converted M cells.

INTRODUCTION: M cells are located in the epithelial layer covering the gut-associated lymphoid tissue and are responsible for delivery of macromolecules and microorganisms to the underlying lymphoid cells. It has been shown that the human colonic cell line Caco-2 can be converted to M cells in vitro following coculture with isolated lymphocytes from murine Peyer's patches. Studies were undertaken to evaluate and characterize the transepithelial transport of select macromolecules across these in vitro derived M cells. METHODS: Caco-2 cells were converted to M cells as reported previously. The morphology of Caco-2 cells and M cells was compared by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The transport properties of macromolecules such as horseradish peroxidase, FITC-conjugated polystyrene beads, and radiolabeled dextrans were examined. The activation of murine antigen-specific T cells following transport of the antigen ovalbumin across the M-cell barrier was assessed by measuring cytokine production. RESULTS: M cells were shown to be irregular in shape and have fewer and shorter microvilli compared to the Caco-2 cell progenitors. These cells were still able to form tight junctions and monolayers on polycarbonate membranes. Time-course studies demonstrated that the transport of polystyrene beads and large-molecular-weight dextrans at physiological temperature across M-cell-containing monolayers was size dependent and more rapid than across Caco-2 cell monolayers. The transport of dextrans was also shown to be temperature and concentration dependent. Befitting the role of the M cell in mucosal defense, protein antigen could be delivered by these cells in order to be processed and presented to antigen-specific CD4+ T lymphocytes. DISCUSSION: The M-cell permeability model is a functional and practical system for evaluating the transport properties of macromolecules and assessing the potential for intestinal mucosal antigen sampling to elicit immunological responses.

Animals↗