Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to K H Böhm.
A PCR specific for Candida glabrata that amplifies a mitochondrial rRNA gene fragment was developed by analysis of C. glabrata-specific agarose gel bands, which were generated by arbitrarily primed PCR. The expected PCR product was successfully amplified with genomic DNA from 95 C. glabrata isolates but not from a number of other fungal isolates.
This short communication presents a review on the work of the mycological laboratory of the Institute of Microbiology and Epidemics, Hannover, Germany, concerning the mycological investigation on feeding stuff. Out of the routine diagnostic work, examining more than 4000 probes in the last 10 years, some selected investigations on scientific questions will be mentioned. Different subjects as the influence of homogenisation of feeding stuff on the mycological evidence rate, the microbiological status of germinating feeding stuff for pet birds the contamination of wheat with Fusarium spp. after fungicidal treatment will be discussed. Out of the great number of diagnostic investigations the most often examined feeding stuffs, those for pigs, will be looked at more closely. The evidence rate of yeasts and moulds and the number of isolated fungi are demonstrated.
A total of 220 isolates of the genus Malassezia obtained from affected skin of animals and humans were included in this study. The isolates were examined for their belonging to the known species Malassezia pachydermatis, Malassezia sympodialis, Malassezia furfur, Malassezia obtusa, Malassezia restricta, Malassezia globosa and Malassezia slooffiae by means of phenotypic and biochemical characteristics as well as their ability to assimilate polyethylen(20)-sorbitan-esters (Tween 20, 40, 60, 80). The electrophoretic karyotypes of all isolates were studied by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Of the 220 Malassezia isolates examined, 217 were identified as M. pachydermatis and three were classified as M. sympodialis. Moreover, the proof of limited lipid-dependence of M. pachydermatis indicated that the commonly used criterion 'lipid-independence' is not sufficient to differentiate this species from the other known Malassezia species.
In 1993 and 1994 a highly increased occurrence of equine dermatophilosis was observed, and a study was initiated to determine phenotypic heterogeneity among 120 clinical isolates using biochemistry, antibiotic resistance profiles, membrane protein profiles and Western blotting. The biochemical examinations contained 1% equine serum in medium. Moreover, the API ZYM-test from bioMérieux was used. The biochemical reactions were suited to identify Dermatophilus congolensis but did not allow a differentiation among the various isolates. Antibiotic resistance in one or more isolates was observed against polymyxin B, enrofloxacin, oxacillin, neomycin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazol. All isolates were sensitive penicillin G, ampicillin, streptomycin, gentamicin, lincomycin, erythromycin, tetracycline, oxytetracycline, bacitracin and ceftiofur. The evaluation of silver-stained and immuno-stained membrane protein profiles showed minor differences among several isolates. In total, all isolates appeared to be closely related and the minor differences observed did not correlate with the geographic origin of the respective isolates.
A dermatomycosis of swine caused by Trichophyton verrucosum is reported. Trichophyton verrucosum could be identified in skin scrapings of pigs and contacting calves by fluorescence microscopy and culture. The mode of transmission and the rare isolation of Trichophyton verrucosum from pigs are discussed.
In a combined pig production and fattening unit the weaned piglets on the flatdecks and some young fattening pigs were suffering from a Microsporum canis-infection. Besides the pigs the children of the farmer showed skin alterations. The infection was spread probably by the cats, which had access to the houses for sows and for sows with piglets. In cases of uncertain skin alterations, a mycologic etiology should be considered.
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It is the first time that a fluorescent microscopic rapid-stain process is compared with the alkali method and with mycological culture examination. 810 skin scrapings primarily from horse, cat, and dog were available for analysis. The preparation of the samples for the fluorescent microscope test is easy and quick. The fluorescent stain solution keeps sufficiently long. When the slide preparations are looked at under the fluorescent microscope, the mycological elements light up and can easily be distinguished under survey enlargement. This leads to a considerable reduction of evaluation time. The microscopic proof of dermatophytes is considerably improved by the introduction of the fluorescent microscopic technique into mycological diagnosis, as this process is clearly superior to the alkali method. Dermatophytes are identified and finally evaluated after finishing the cultural analysis. Furthermore, the fluorescent microscopic proof of yeasts of the kind of Pityrosporum yeasts and of Demodex mites is possible. The not inconsiderable costs of the technical equipment may stand in the way of general and routine use of the fluorescent microscope for diagnosing dermatophytes. However, for laboratories with a large number of submitted skin scrapings, this process can be rated as a useful enrichment of their diagnostic potential.
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This paper describes investigations on disinfection of germ carriers, contaminated with an alcoholic suspension of Bacillus cereus or Bacillus subtilis. Result of disinfection is compared with that of an additional heat treatment (80 degrees C, 60 min) after disinfection. Besides Formalin, Tegodor forte (Th. Goldschmidt, Essen) and P 3 oxonia active (Henkel KG, Düsseldorf) are tested with different concentration and duration. Heat activation was possible with all three disinfectants. For illuminating the conditions of activation, circumstances of heat action after disinfection with formaldehyde-aerosol have been varied. Heat activation in dry air, moist air and distilled water was not successful. Only in Nutrient Broth (Standard I-Bouillon; Merck, Darmstadt) spores were viable again, after activation. Addition of serum as a protective cover had no influence on the result. Consequences of the results on a disinfection method with formaldehyde-aerosol are discussed.
Sera from swine and rats experimentally infected with Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae and field sera from swine were investigated for antibodies against E. rhusiopathiae using the microtiter enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and, for comparison, the growth test (GT) and the agglutination test (AT). In principle there was a good correspondence between the results of EIA and those of the two other methods, but EIA and GT were more sensitive than AT. On the basis of the evaluation pattern of GT and AT on swine sera, EIA titers of 1/320 were considered as "chronic erysipelas titers". Compared with GT and AT, the EIA has some advantages: it is not influenced by contamination of the test sera, it takes only a few hours and using the microtiter system it is easy and economical to perform.
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In a glove-box made of stainless steel germ-carriers of lime-wood and aluminium were layed out after having been contaminated with different vegetative bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus faecium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis). Disinfectant aerosols of several germicidal substances belonging to different chemical groups were brought into the glove-box. The aerosol was produced by a commercial generator. The following substances proved to have a good disinfectant effect under the conditions used: hydrogen peroxide, peracetic acid, formaldehyde, glutardialdehyde, beta-propiolacton, Lysoformin resp. Lysoformin 2000 and Tegodor 73, whereas triethylenglycol, phenol-derivatives (Gevisol, Environ), Chloramine 80 and detergents were not able to kill all the bacteria on the germ-carriers within 2 h. Determination of the natural mortality rate showed, that at relative humidities of over 58% the test bacteria die within 72 h on the germ-carriers without presence of disinfectants. At a relative humidity of 77%, Staphylococcus aureus on wooden germ-carriers died within 24 h.