Giornale di batteriologia, virologia ed immunologia最新文献

In the present paper the characteristics of cytomegalovirus (CMV), herpes simplex virus (HSV) and varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infections were serologically investigated in renal transplant recipients. At transplantation CMV-seropositivity was 88.2%. At the end of the study, the frequency of primary CMV-infections was 58.3% and the frequency of recurrent infections (reinfections or reactivations) was 84.4%. The 57.1% of primary infections and the 64.5% of recurrent infections occurred between the first and the third month after transplantation. There was no correlation between recurrent infections and type of immunosuppressive treatment (CyA vs. Triple). The 70% of pairs of patients who received a kidney from the same CMV-seropositive donor reacted in the same way: or neither had any infection or both had active CMV-infection. There was no correlation between rejection and active CMV-infection. HSV-seropositivity was 96.2%. Primary HSV-infections didn't occur and the frequency of reactivation in seropositive patients was 31.4%. No correlation was found between rejection and active HSV-infection as well. As regards VZV-infection, seropositivity at transplantation was 90%. Primary VZV-infections didn't occur. During the study, seropositive patients showed variations in VZV-antibody titers which returned to initial values. Clinical signs of zoster were observed in 6% of patients at third and ninth month after transplantation and were serologically confirmed.

Fungistatic and fungicide activity of 4 preparations available on the market for the prevention and treatment of infection due to P. ovale has been defined. P. ovale is a microorganism which complicates phlogosis of seborrhoeic dermatitis. The advantages of the presence of a limited antifungal activity are considered.

Over a period of 60 months 137 cases of intestinal and extra-intestinal salmonellosis were registered in the microbiology department of the Ivrea-Castellamonte hospital. The authors conducted a retrospective study relative to the extra-intestinal salmonellosis manifested in elderly patients. In order to carry out such a study the authors considered only patients who were in the hospital, who were over the age of 65, and who had a clinical history different from the usual one of gastroenterocolitis. Out of 61 patients who were in hospital 50 were with complete registration data; 9 (18%) were over 65 years of age. The analysis of the clinical cards permitted the identification of 4 cases with unusual clinical histories due to the presence of serious systemic complications (sepsis with prolonged fever and positive blood cultures) or focal infections in extra-intestinal tissues (abscess of soft tissues, osteomyelitis). The authors focused their attention on these and described the general clinical characteristics of each patient, the type and the position of the isolated microorganism, the manifestations or extra-intestinal complications of the infection and the predisposing factors regarding the same complications. For each patient the essential clinical history and the treatment of the disease have been described. The authors conclude by affirming that in the cases of elderly patients with salmonellosis, apart from those infections in positions different from intestinal one, it would be opportune to consider an antimicrobe treatment also for enteritis infections and cases of asymptomatic infection.

Data of a transversal research on 36 suspected tuberculosis (tb) inpatients of St. Luigi Hospital are reported. Serum antimycobacterial antibodies Class IgG to A60 were measured by means of ELISA. Final diagnosis was tb in 19 subjects, while 9 had a tb history over different years. Sensitivity was 78.94% and specificity 75%. According to with other recent reports, our results are poorly discriminating. However, the test, if valued with other clinical data, can contribute to the ascertainment of tb.

Some enzymes produced by the protozoon Leishmania can have an important role in the intraphagocytic survival of the parasites. The production of hydrolytic enzymes by promastigotes belonging to two Leishmania sp. (major and infantum) and maintained in different experimental conditions was evaluated. The proteolytic activity was moderate, while superior was the production of acid phosphatase in L. infantum. An increase of the trypsin-like activity was observed after incubation of protozoa for 24 h at 37 degrees C, while a mouse injection did not changed the enzymatic activity of L. major.

Replication of HHV-6 in cord blood lymphocytes (CBL) and Jurkat cells has been studied by comparing their infection rate and susceptibility. Jurkat cells were less susceptible to HHV-6 infection and CBL cell cultures stimulated with PHA proved more sensitive culture for its isolation.

In the last ten years the interest in the controversial Blastocystis hominis microorganism of the intestine has greatly increased. The authors conducted a retrospective study of feces for parasitology investigations at the Ivrea-Castellamonte hospital. These investigations lasted 42 months (1/1/1988-31/6/1991) and the authors focused their attention on samples with 5 or more Blastocystis hominis at the microscopically examination with a 40X phase objective. During the study 2,138 samples of feces (belonging to 1552 patients) arrived. 284 samples (13.3%), corresponding to 200 patients (12.9%), proved to be positive for one or more parasites. In 155 samples (7.2%) regarding 109 patients (7.0%)--53 males, 56 females--Blastocystis was present. These patients were between 2 and 78 years of age. In 19 (17.4%) of these patients other parasites were associated, parasites such as Giardia lamblia (in 6 cases), Entamoeba coli (in 4 cases), Entamoeba spp. (in 2 cases), Entamoeba histolytica (in one case), Entamoeba hartmanni (in one case), Iodamoeba butschlii (in one case), Hymenolepis nana (in one case); helminths (in 3 cases). The most effect proved to be those patients between 21 and 50 years of age (53 of 98 patients). Few infants were affected. The greatest incidence of Blastocystis hominis infection occurred during the months of January to June. The authors conclude by considering how the incidence data of such parasitosis in the Canavese region can be superimposed on as much as has been observed in territories which are very different regarding social-economic and geoclimatic conditions. The authors think it is necessary to start a prospective clinical-epidemiological investigation in the Canavese region with a view to defining the clinical approach to the parasite under discussion in a better way.

Here we report a case of Corynebacterium G1 group endocarditis following acute bpn in non immunodeficient host. The bacterial strain was isolated from the surgically removed heart valve. To our knowledge this is the first report of such an isolate. Recently recurrent peritonitis in CAPD were also ascribed to the same agent.

The division of T cells into distinct subsets (Th-1 and Th-2), based upon cytokine production, is a major advance in understanding the immune reactivities particularly those associated with allergy. This report summarizes some of the highlights on pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis. Th-2 cells, driven by IL-4, play an important role in allergic reactions inducing IgE switching in B cells and proliferation of mastocytes. In addition, by interaction with IL-5, Th-2 lymphocytes promotes eosinophil growth. By contrast, Th-1 cells antagonize Th-2 activity by IFN-gamma production. Finally IL-10, produced by Th-2, blocks the effects of the cytokines elaborated by Th-1. Recent results of this rapidly expanding area of research provide the background for this review. The intricate connections between Th-1, Th-2, the endothelial cells of the nose vessels and stromal cells are discussed.