Achievements in the fight against parastic diseases in new China.
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Dirofilaria immitis infection is an important parastic disease in many mammals, especially canids, but has not been reported in bird hosts. Filarial worms were isolated from the lumen of the right atrium of the heart and the connective tissue of the lung of a captive female Humboldt penguin, Spheniscus humboldti, that died at a zoo in Japan. One of these worms was observed morphologically and identified as D. immitis by features such as 4 pairs of cephalic papillae, 1 pair of cervical papillae, esophagus divided into 2 regions, 4 pairs of pre-anal papillae, 5 pairs of post-anal papillae, and unequal spicules. In addition, the partial DNA sequence (234 bp) of mitochondrial CO / gene of the filarial worm was identical to that of D. immitis. This is the first report of D. immitis infection in a bird.
Giardiasis is an intestinal parastic disease, occurring in many world regions. Its incidence is variable and depends on such factors as studied population and diagnostic methods. In this study the incidence of Giardiasis was assessed in children living in various environments and living conditions. Stool examination was made using microscopic and immunoenzymatic methods. Among 208 examined children 42 (20.2%) were infected with Giardia lamblia. Giardiasis was the most common in children living in orphanage--41.4%. Incidence of Giardiasis among children from day--care centers was the lowest--3.7%. Children aged 12-14 years were infected in 42.7% and aged 0-2 years only in 12.5%. There was no significant difference between boys and girls.
Precipitating tests carried out on cellulose acetate membrane can be increased by treating the immune complexes with enzyme linked anti-immunoglobulin antibodies. From our trials in parastic diseases (Amoebiasis, schistosomiasis, fasciolasis, filariasis, hydatidosis, trichinosis) and mycosis (Aspergillosis, Candidiasis), it seems that the immuno-enzymatic labelling of the "active" precipitating reactions should only be taken in consideration. We must insit on the importance of ELIEDA (enzyme-linked-immuno-electrodiffusion-assay) and ELIDEPA (enzyme-linked-immuno-double-electro-phoresis-assay). Both of these analytical assays are particularly sensitive. The sequence of appearance of the multiple precipitating systems of the complex parasitic mosaic can easily be watched. The different classes of immunoglobulins and their kinetics are determined by the use of monospecific antibodies linked to different enzymes which give a polychromic specific staining.
Technique of counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIEP) on cellulose acetate membrane (Cellogel) is described for diagnosis of (human and canine) visceral leishmaniasis (VL). Various lots of antigen were grossly obtained from the liquid phase (10, 20 and 30 tubes respectively) of cultures of Leishmania donovani by repeated freezing and thawing. Sera from patients (and, in a few cases, dogs) with confirmed VL, other parasitic and non-parastic diseases (especially blood disorders and hepatosplenomegaly) and from blood donors were tested. Positive results were obtained in 91-93% (according to various lots) of the patients with VL. All sera from infected dogs gave positive results. No precipitin lines were detected in the control sera. Antigens from 30 (or 20 tubes) showed better results with regard to the evidence of the precipitin lines. Clarity of the precipitin bands appears to be in relation to: 1. the protein concentration of the antigens; 2. the antibody levels of the sera. CIEP on cellulose acetate membrane combine the features of good sensitivity, specificity and speed of performance and appear available for use also in epidemiological research.
To observed whether the specific IgG antibody test using ELISA was useful in diagnosis of presently ill patients of paragonimiasis, a total of 95 sera were tested. The sera were collected from 21 egg positive cases, 8 from positive reactors of intradermal test, 7 from Clonorchis infected, 9 from other parasitic diseases and 50 from apparently non-infected cases. By the result, the sensitivity of the test was 86% and the specificity was 100%. There were no cross reactions between Paragonimus antigen and other parastic infections. Specific IgG antibody test by micro-ELISA was concluded to be useful for mass screening of the presently ill paragonimiasis in the field.
Renal cell carcinomas (RCCs) are rare in the pediatric population; when they occur, a significant percentage are associated with specific cytogenetic abnormalities and germline mutations. These include mutations in the von Hippel-Lindau ( VHL) gene and translocations involving the TFE3 transcription factor gene on Xp11.2. Here we report a case of a 3-year-old child with a large renal mass. Histologic examination of the tumor showed a predominantly nested growth pattern with some papillary foci. Cytogenetic analysis revealed a karyotype of t(X;1)(p11.2; p34.3), consistent with a TFE3-associated RCC. Interestingly, sequencing of the patient's VHL gene revealed a single point mutation, previously seen in a subgroup of patients with von Hippel-Lindau disease. This is the first reported case, to our knowledge, of t(X;1)-associated RCC in a patient with concurrent VHL gene mutation.
Microbial pathogens cause a spectrum of diseases in humans. Although the disease mechanisms vary considerably, most pathogens have developed virulence factors that interact with host molecules, often usurping normal cellular processes, including cytoskeletal dynamics and vesicle targeting. These virulence factors often mimic host molecules, and mediate events as diverse as bacterial invasion, antiphagocytosis, and intracellular parastism.
The authors report 9 cases of hydatic cyst of the heart which they have encountered over an 8 year period. They illustrate the variable nature of this parastic illness, which may stimulate almost and cardiovascular disorder. The various clinical presentations and the methods of diagnosis and treatment are presented: the clinical picture is of little help in establishing the diagnosis. This is made at three levels: the history (country of origin where the disease is endemic, or other associated cyst), the presence of Xray of a swelling of the heart which is later calcified, and the presence on the electrocardiograph of ischaemic changes, which may be severe enough for necrosis. They emphasise the importance of serological tests to make a formal diagnosis of the condition, and a repetition of such tests as part of the postoperative follow-up. Surgical treatment (usually by an open heart technique) is the rule. It may be coupled with medical treatment with anti-malarials (paludrin of flavoquin).
Maternal passive immunity typically plays a critical role in protecting infants from new infections; however, the specific contribution of neutralizing antibodies in limiting mother-to-child transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 is unclear. By examining cloned envelope variants from 12 transmission pairs, we found that vertically transmitted variants were more resistant to neutralization by maternal plasma than were maternal viral variants near the time of transmission. The vertically transmitted envelope variants were poorly neutralized by monoclonal antibodies b12 [corrected] 2G12, 2F5, and 4E10 individually or in combination. Despite the fact that the infant viruses were among the most neutralization resistant in the mother, they had relatively few glycosylation sites. Moreover, the transmitted variants elicited de novo neutralizing antibodies in the infants, indicating that they were not inherently difficult to neutralize. The neutralization resistance of vertically transmitted viruses is in contrast to the relative neutralization sensitivity of viruses sexually transmitted within discordant couples, suggesting that the antigenic properties of viruses that are favored for transmission may differ depending upon mode of transmission.
This paper reports the first Egyptian zoonotic infection with the common tapeworm of sheep, Moniezia expansa. Perhaps this is the first human monieziasis expansa in the sheep raising countries worldwide. Diagnosis was based on recovery of the characteristic eggs from the stool of a fifteen-years-old shepherd. A single dose of Niclosamide one gram proved effective.
During the winter of 1994, a survey of productive and reproductive parameters was undertaken in the south-central part of Chile (8th Region) on 71 cows provided by four small farms with low production (< 3000 l/year). A low food intake was recorded (8.6 +/- 0.2-12.4 +/- 0.2 kg DM/day) and, as a result, the cows calved with poor body condition score (1.9 +/- 0.04 points on the scale of one-to-five, had milk production between 10.5 +/- 0.4 and 12.8 +/- 0.6 l/day, had a delayed start of ovulatory activity (78.2 +/- 4.6 days) and an interval between calving and conception of 120.3 +/- 4.6 days. In addition, low levels of packed cell volume (PCV) and hemoglobin (HEM) were found, which were considered to be a combined effect of low feed ingestion and parastic infection by Fasciola hepatica. To improve the productive and reproductive parameters, treatments were undertaken in three of the four small farms; a parasiticide treatment was used against the F. hepatica at the beginning of the winter and the availability of forage was increased via the use of supplementary green oats. Spring crops were also cultivated: corn for silage and oats with peas to make hay. The antiparasite treatment and supplementation of forage was associated with better body condition score at calving, improved hematological parameters, increased milk production (17%), reduced number of days to conception (120 vs. 91) and increased conception rate at first service (36 vs. 60%). In the fourth small farm where no interventions were undertaken, the parameters obtained during 1994 remained unchanged.
BACKGROUND: Angiogenesis is involved in tumor growth, macular degeneration, retinopathy and other diseases. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) stimulates angiogenesis by binding to specific receptors (VEGFRs) on the surface of vascular endothelial cells. VEGFRs are receptor tyrosine kinases that, like the platelet-derived growth factor receptors (PDGFRs), contain a large insert within the kinase domain. RESULTS: We report here the generation, kinetic characterization, and 2.4 A crystal structure of the catalytic kinase domain of VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2). This protein construct, which lacks 50 central residues of the 68-residue kinase insert domain (KID), has comparable kinase activity to constructs containing the entire KID. The crystal structure, determined in an unliganded phosphorylated state, reveals an overall fold and catalytic residue positions similar to those observed in other tyrosine-kinase structures. The kinase activation loop, autophosphorylated on Y1059 prior to crystallization, is mostly disordered; however, a portion of it occupies a position inhibitory to substrate binding. The ends of the KID form a beta-like structure, not observed in other known tyrosine kinase structures, that packs near to the kinase C terminus. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of the VEGFR2 KID residues are not necessary for kinase activity. The unique structure observed for the ends of the KID may also occur in other PDGFR family members and may serve to properly orient the KID for signal transduction. This VEGFR2 kinase structure provides a target for design of selective anti-angiogenic therapeutic agents.