PrP gene polymorphism in sheep breeds in Slovakia and susceptibility to scrapie

We analyzed the prion protein (PrP) genotype based on the codons 136, 154 and 171 and assigned to five risk groups (R1-R5) in healthy and scrapie-affected sheep in Slovakia. In healthy (asymptomatic) population, 119 Merino, 106 Improved Valachian, 117 Tsigai, and 48 Suffolk breeds were tested. Among the asymptomatic sheep, the low-risk genotypes R1 and R2 were most abundant in Suffolk (94%) and Merino (84%) breeds, followed by Tsigai (58%) and Improved Valachian (40%) breeds. The medium-risk group R3 was most frequent in Improved Valachian (31%) breed, followed by Tsigai (21%), Merino (10%), and Suffolk (6%) breeds. The occurrence of high-risk groups R4 and R5 was none in Suffolk breed, followed by Merino (6%), Tsigai (21%), and Improved Valachian (30%) breeds. Since 2003, altogether 48 cases of scrapie have been confirmed in Tsigai (38), Merino (4), Improved Valachian (2), Improved Valachian x Tsigai (3), and Suffolk (1) breeds. Among sheep with scrapie, Merino breed belonged to the medium-risk group R3. The majority of scrapie-affected Tsigai sheep were classified into high-risk R5 (50%) and medium-risk R3 (42%) groups. We showed an association of scrapie with medium- and high-risk groups of PrP genotype in Slovakia. In particular, the glutamine at position 171 appears to be of major importance for the susceptibility to scrapie.

Diabetes mellitus and candidiases

Patients in various clinical states of diabetes mellitus (according to the recommendation of the American Diabetes Association) as a primary diagnosis were examined for fungal infections by Candida species. Candida spp. were detected in urine, in the material taken from the mouth cavity, nails, skin lesions, ears and eyes, by cultivation on the Sabouraud agar, CHROMagar Candida, and by saccharide assimilation. In the group of diabetics with symptoms of oral candidiasis and denture stomatitis C. albicans was identified in 8 cases, C. tropicalis in 3, C. parapsilosis in 2; 1 strain of C. guilliermondii was also isolated. In patients with urinary tract infections the presence of C. albicans was shown in 12 cases; C. parapsilosis was detected in 6 cases and two strains of each C. tropicalis and C. krusei were also isolated. In patients with leg ulcers C. albicans (25 cases), C. parapsilosis (5), C. tropicalis (3) and one strain of each C. krusei and C. robusta were isolated. Otomycosis was associated with one strain of C. albicans, C. parapsilosis, C. tropicalis and C. guilliermondii. C. albicans was most frequently associated with onychomycosis, paronychia and endophthalmitis; C. parapsilosis was the second most rated yeast.

Occurrence ofCandida strains in cases of paronychia

A total of 43 patients, 11 males and 32 females, with paronychia of the fingernails were examined for the presence of Candida spp. The yeast species isolated were identified using standard laboratory methods, including germ-tube production, morphology on rice agar with Tween 80, and mainly fermentation and assimilation of saccharides. In the male group, two Candida species were detected: C. albicans as the dominant species in 9 patients and C. parapsilosis in 2 cases. Similarly, C. albicans was the prevalent species also in females (n = 17); other Candida species detected were C. parapsilosis (n = 7), C. tropicalis (5) and C. krusei (3). In addition to the genus Candida, the following anaerobic and aerobic microorganisms were isolated from patients of both groups: Fusobacterium spp., Bacteroides spp., Staphylococcus aureus, alpha-hemolytic streptococci, group A beta-hemolytic streptococci, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Neisseria spp. and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Elaboration of enzyme immunoassay based on recombinant antigens and intended for diagnostics of syphilis

Enzyme immunoassay (EIA) using recombinant antigens for the detection of Treponema pallidum-specific antibodies in sera of syphilis patients was developed. Four low-molar-mass Treponema antigens (Tp15, Tp17, TmpA, Tp47) were investigated; 17- and 47-kDa proteins were demonstrated as immunodominant as they permitted to obtain the most sensitive EIA. Using a mixture of these proteins a 3rd-generation-EIA kit Dia-Syph was constructed, its sensitivity being 99.4% during tests of 165 sera of syphilitic patients. No false result was obtained on the commercial panel PSS01 (BBI, USA). The specificity of the elaborated test system (99.7%) was determined on 295 sera.

Candida--agent of the diaper dermatitis?

Occurrence of Candida spp. was determined in a population of 60 infants, 1-15-month-old, with diaper dermatitis, admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit in Hospital Saca (Kosice, Slovakia). Specimens were obtained from the perianal, pubic, inguinal, or gluteal areas that showed signs of secondary infection as manifested by erythema, oozing, vesiculopustular lesions, and pus formation. The most frequently isolated species was C. albicans (41), followed by C. parapsilosis (8), C. tropicalis (4), C. pulcherrima (4), C. guilliermondii (2), and C. zeylanoides (1). Other organisms present in the mixed culture from the diaper area were Staphylococcus aureus (6), Escherichia coli (3), and 2 strains of each group B and D streptococci, and Proteus mirabilis. Infants diapered exclusively in disposable diapers showed less rash than those diapered exclusively or sometimes in cloth diapers.

The PrP genotype of sheep of the improved Valachian breed

In a worldwide majority of sheep breeds an excessive susceptibility to scrapie associated with the PrP gene alleles coding for valine (V; at the 136 codon) and glutamine (Q; at the 171 codon) (e.g., VRQ/VRQ, VRQ/ARQ, or ARQ/ARQ) was demonstrated. Particularly the PrPVRQ allele is closely associated with the high-risk development of the disease; the PrPARQ allele can also fulfill this function but under certain limited conditions. Polymorphism in the PrP gene sequences (conclusively related to the increased susceptibility of sheep to scrapie) of improved Valachian sheep from two Slovak regions, Orava and Spis, was determined. Examination of 735 sheep showed that ARR/ARQ was the most frequent genotype (45.2%). High-risk genotypes were determined in 32.4% of sheep (ARQ/ARQ 19.3, ARR/VRQ 9.0, ARR/VRQ 3.5, VRQ/VRQ 0.3, ARR/VRR 0.3). Low-risk genotypes were found in 67.7% of sheep (ARR/ARQ 45.2, ARR/ARR 10.9, ARR/AHQ 5.7, ARQ/ARQ 4.9, AHQ/AHQ 0.7, ARR/AHR 0.3). Despite the geographically distant flocks of improved Valachian sheep investigated no difference in the occurrence of individual PrP genotypes was observed.

The presence of insertion elements IS861 and IS1548 in group B streptococci

The presence of insertion elements (IS) IS861 and IS1548 in the collection of 211 Streptococcus agalactiae strains isolated from pregnant women and dairy cows was assayed. IS861 was found in 67 human strains (59%) and 36 bovine strains (37%), IS1548 in 13 human strains (12%) and 16 bovine strains (16%). Two combinations, IS861+ IS1548- and IS861- IS1548-, were widely distributed in both human and bovine strains. The copy number and the restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of the two IS were determined in human group B streptococcus (GBS) strains. A minimum of 8 copies of IS1548 were detected in GBS strains while the copy number of IS861 varied from 1 to 9. The number of different hybridizing patterns with IS861 and IS1548 probes was 9 and 6, respectively. These hybridization patterns were divided into several clusters. All strains with IS were also clustered according to pulsed field-gel electrophoresis (PFGE) patterns. A correlation was found between the results of PFGE- and IS-based clustering.

The detection of anti-Candida antibodies on experimental animal models

The levels of anti-Candida antibodies were determined in experimental animals immunized with 4 different yeast doses (0.3, 0.6, 1.2, 2.4 x 10(8) CFU) at weekly intervals. After immunization (sampling intervals 1, 2, and 3 months), the intravenous blood was examined for the presence of serum anti-Candida antibodies. After one month, the titers of anti-Candida antibodies reached 1:40-1: 1280 and remained at the same level after two months in the majority of animals; only in a few of them the titers increased or were detected de novo. After three months, when the animals were no longer immunized, a decreasing trend in antibody titers was detected in the majority of animals.

Candidal urinary tract infections caused by non-albicans Candida species

The incidence of non-albicans Candida and non-Candida species isolated from the urine of patients admitted to various departments of the Faculty Hospital of the Medical Faculty of Safárik University in Kosice was examined. From a total of 94 samples of analyzed urine 58 strains of C. albicans and 36 strains of yeasts belonging to 6 species of non-albicans Candida and non-Candida spp. were detected: C. parapsilosis (n = 23), C. tropicalis (6), C. krusei (3), C. robusta (2), C. catenulata (1) and Cryptococcus neoformans (1). In relation to the diagnosis, the yeasts were isolated from patients suffering from a kidneys disease, epididymitis, diabetes, neoplastic diseases, urogenital anomalies, obstructive uropathy, cystitis, prostatitis, hemolytic-uremic syndrome, and others.

Candida species isolated from cerebrospinal fluid

In the period from November 1998 to June 2001 13 cases of nosocomial meningitis were reported. Candida albicans was isolated from 54% of the patients (7); C. parapsilosis from 23% (3); C. tropicalis from 15% (2) and C. krusei from 8% (1). C. albicans was isolated from the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of five children with the following diagnoses: nonspecified tumor of the central nervous system, Hodgkin's disease, meningitis, suspect neuroinfection, and sepsis. Examination of CSF allowed us to detect 2 strains of C. albicans from adult patients, one after neurosurgery because of a brain tumor and one with a vascular disease of the brain. C. parapsilosis was found in CSF from two premature children and one child with epilepsy. Two isolates of C. tropicalis were obtained from both blood and the CSF of a child from the neonatal intensive care unit and from a child from pediatric oncology with multiple malignant neoplasms. Only one strain of C. krusei was found in the oral cavity and CSF of a patient after neurosurgery performed after head trauma.

Effect of vaccination therapy for acne, using a staphylococci antigenic complex in combination with clindamycin

A group of 46 patients with acne vulgaris were prescribed clindamycin in combination with a vaccination therapy using a staphylococci antigenic complex (Polystafana; Sevapharma, Czechia). Acne papulopustulosa was diagnosed in 36 patients and acne indurata in 10 patients. The clinical effect of clindamycin and Polystafana was determined on the basis of the regression of the inflammatory manifestation of acne: regression by 0-30% was considered unsuccessful, by 30-80% satisfactory, and above 80% excellent; the immunomodulation effect of the treatment was evaluated in parallel. The clinical effect was excellent in 21 patients with acne papulopustulosa and in 6 with acne indurata; it was accompanied by pronounced immunomodulation effect as both cellular and humoral immunity was also tended to return to normal values. A satisfactory clinical effect was observed in 15 patients with acne papulopustulosa, whose cellular immunity component was also stimulated. Only 4 patients with acne indurata failed to respond successfully. These were the patients who showed a pronounced deficit of the cellular immunity component persisting even after the treatment. The administration of clindamycin in combination with Polystafana vaccination can be recommended as an effective means for the treatment of acne vulgaris.

Candida-associated denture stomatitis

Candida-associated denture stomatitis was demonstrated by its cultivation in 171 out of 240 patients examined with partial or total dentures. After taking smears from lesions of the oral mucosa (tongue, cheeks, palate) and the contiguous denture surface by cotton wool swabs and inoculating them onto Sabouraud glucose agar and CHROMagar Candida, individual yeast species were identified by a germ tube, filamentous, and assimilation tests employing the commercial kit AuxaColor. Seven Candida species were identified in smears from the oral mucosa lesions and the contiguous denture surface: C. albicans (95 patients), C. tropicalis (26), C. parapsilosis (20), C. krusei (14), C. guilliermondii (12), C. lusitaniae (1) and C. freyschusii (1). Diabetes mellitus, neoplastic diseases, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy were identified as some of the large number of factors predisposing patients to stomatitis prothetica.

The histopathological characterization of oral Candida leukoplakias

Sixty four biopsy specimens of oral Candida leukoplakias were examined. Histological sections were stained with periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) reagent and by Grocott's silver method. C. albicans isolates were cultivated from all the patients but fungal hyphae were proved histologically only in 23 of them. PAS-positive and Grocott-positive elements were exclusively observed in the superficial epithelial layers, e.g., the cornified layer and the stratum granulosum. The inflammatory reaction was characterized by an early phase during which polymorphonuclear cells predominated. The skeletal muscle fascicles immediately adjacent to the infected epithelium showed striking degeneration and atrophy associated with a marked infiltrate of chronic inflammatory cells.

Electrophoretic karyotyping of Candida albicans strains isolated from premature infants and hospital personnel in a neonatal intensive care unit

Electrophoretic karyotyping was used to compare DNA probes of yeasts isolated from blood of preterm neonates (n = 66) in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and from the hands of healthy hospital personnel (n = 10). The yeasts were identified as Candida albicans using standard laboratory methods. DNA was extracted from yeasts and isolation of identical DNA strains from the pairs nurse-neonate suggested that one nurse transmitted one yeast strain by her hands to three neonates. Four neonates harbored two identical strains originating from two nurses, i.e. each nurse transmitted the same strain to two neonates. In the additional 7 cases transmission of 1 yeast strain by 1 nurse to 1 neonate was observed. Our data suggest that nonperinatal nosocomial transmission of C. albicans occurs in neonates, possibly via cross-contamination being transferred on hands of health care workers. The importance of careful hand washing of staff (health care workers) and other infection-control procedures (to prevent the nosocomial transmission of pathogens in the NICU environment) is emphasized.

Candidaemia in cancer patients and in children in a neonatal intensive care unit

The species most frequently found in the group of neonates was C. parapsilosis, its incidence reaching 48%. Other yeasts isolated from blood were C. albicans (41%), C. tropicalis (7%), C. krusei and C. pseudotropicalis (2% each). Six yeast species (C. albicans 44%, C. parapsilosis 28%, C. tropicalis 11%, C. krusei 8%, C. guilliermondii 6%, C. lusitaniae 3%) were detected in cancer patients. The presence of an intravenous catheter as a possible risk in the development of candidaemia was identified in all neonates and in 69% of cancer patients. C. krusei candidaemia was associated with prophylactic fluconazole therapy.

Yeast-like microorganisms in eye infections

The proportion of yeast species involved in eye infections in 11 patients was examined. The presence of yeast organisms as causative agents of endophthalmitis was found in corneal smears (n = 4), conjunctival swabs (4), and vitreous fluid (3). Altogether 5 strains of Candida albicans, 2 strains of C. krusei and one strain each of C. guilliermondii, C. parapsilosis, C. tropicalis and Cryptococcus neoformans were isolated from the clinical material. The hematogenic origin of endophthalmitis was proved in 7 cases on the basis of positive blood samples and in 2 cases by the isolation of yeasts from the tip of an intravenous catheter. Endophthalmitis-supporting risk factors such as indwelling intravenous catheters, prolonged use of broad-spectrum antibiotics and chemotherapy, surgical intervention, diabetes mellitus, and malignancy were observed in the patients.

Genetic heterogeneity of the pathogenic potentials of human and bovine group B streptococci

One-hundred seventy-two B-streptococcal strains of human and bovine origin were analyzed for the presence of 9 genes potentially involved in virulence. Some of genes (glnA, cyl, hylB, scaA and cfb) were revealed in all the strains. However, the presence of others (bca, bac, scpB, lmb) varied from strain to strain. Taken together, 3 and 5 different types of pathogenic potential were found among human and bovine group B streptococci (GBS) strains, respectively, and only one type (bca+ bac scpB+ glnA+ cyl+ hylB+ lmb+ scaA+ cfb+) was common for both kinds of strains. We propose that different virulence genes can be involved in the development of infectious processes in humans and animals. A reliable PCR protocol with 3 pairs of primers (for the genes bca, bac and scpB) in the same reaction mixture was developed for the fast identification of the pathogenic potential of GBS. In comparison with the classical immunological methods this procedure displayed higher specificity and sensitivity as well as a shorter time of analysis. It can be recommended for use in the clinical and veterinary practice for studying the epidemiological relationship between the isolates and the ready identification of the clone causing the infection.

Production of interferons and change of the lymphocyte subpopulation phenotype in peripheral blood at cervical papillomavirus infection

IFN-gamma and IFN-alpha production in vitro by peripheral blood cells activated by phytohemagglutinin or the Newcastle disease virus was impaired in patients with a benign process, cervical intraepithelial neoplasm and cancer in situ associated with human papillomavirus infection. In case of IFN-gamma and IFN-alpha production impairment following cervical papillomavirus infection, the increased severity of disease was accompanied by remarkable IFN system suppression. The lower synthesis of both IFN correlated with changes of some lymphocyte-subpopulation phenotype in peripheral blood. Lower CD4+ and CD3+ DR+ T cell concentrations were observed in papillomavirus-infected patients with impaired IFN production; impaired IFN-gamma production was accompanied by lower CD4/CD8 index.

Detection of anti-Candida antibodies in neonates from a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Anti-Candida antibodies were determined in a group of preterm neonates from a neonatal intensive care unit with serious diseases including candidemia. Antibodies to C. albicans blastospores, i.e. antibodies to C. albicans surface mannan and to C. albicans germ tubes were detected. Higher titers of antibodies to blastospores (1:320) occurred in all patients examined while antibodies to C. albicans germ tubes (with the highest titer of 1:160) were present in 32 out of 66 neonates examined. The highest titers of both anti-C. albicans blastospore antibodies and anti-C. albicans germ tube antibodies were detected in neonates with candidemia and disorders of saccharide metabolism.

Fungal diseases of the respiratory tract

The proportion of Candida and non-Candida species in the clinical material from patients with respiratory-tract diseases was determined. C. albicans was isolated in 102 cases. An additional 89 strains of yeasts, isolated in association with respiratory diseases, belonged to 10 non-albicans Candida spp. and Cryptococcus spp. The prevailing species, which occurred in 47 cases, was C. parapsilosis. C. tropicalis, C. glabrata, and C. guilliermondii were isolated in 12, 10, and 9 cases, respectively. Four strains of C. krusei and three strains of C. lusitaniae and one strain each of C. freyschussii, C. robusta, C. zeylanoides, and Cryptococcus neoformans were also isolated.

Detection of anti-Candida antibodies by the indirect immunofluorescence assay in patients with cancer in the orofacial region

An indirect immunofluorescence assay was performed to detect antibodies to Candida albicans blastospores and germ tubes. Serum specimens were obtained from 82 patients with neoplastic diseases in the orofacial region and thrush of the oral mucosa. C. albicans was identified in the oral cavity of 63 patients investigated but serum anti-Candida antibodies were detected in only 23 of them. Serological examination showed that titers of antibodies to C. albicans blastospores ranged from 1:20 to 1:1280. High titers from 1:640 to 1:1280 were detected in patients without antibiotic, cytostatic, or radiotherapeutic treatment. The titers of antibodies to C. albicans germ tubes ranged from 1:20 to 1:640. Our results indicate that titers of antibodies to the C. albicans germ tubes were lower and were detected in a smaller number of patients.

The frequency of Candida species in onychomycosis

Mycological investigation of 108 nail specimens taken from a total of 41 patients examined over three years included direct microscopy and repeated cultures. A higher incidence of onychomycosis of the fingernails (75%) was observed in women while afflictions of the toenails (71%) prevailed in men. The highest prevalence of onychomycosis was found in patients between 50 and 70 years of age. Candida albicans was the dominant organism causing onychomycosis (prevalence rate 60.9%), followed by C. parapsilosis (19.6%), C. tropicalis (9.8), C. krusei (4.9), C. guilliermondii and C. zeylanoides (2.4% each).

Relative pathogenicity of Candida tropicalis in rat tongue mucosa

The potential of C. tropicalis to colonize and infect rat tongue mucosa was demonstrated. Thirty female Sprague-Dawley rats were infected orally with three different strains of C. tropicalis. The animals were killed one and three weeks following the inoculation and sections of their tongue were stained with hematoxylin-eosin and Grocott stain. Histological changes were observed in the group of animals killed one week after inoculation and infected with C. tropicalis strain isolated from the crural ulcer of a diabetic patient. The most important finding was acute purulent myositis with the formation of abscesses. The myositis was local without signs of spreading to the surrounding tissue. Epithelium-penetrating hyphae observed in the Grocott-stained sections were relatively fewer and more sparsely distributed.

Ovine scrapie: priorities and importance

Ovine and caprine scrapie occupies a unique place among animal transmissive spongiform encephalopathies (TSE). It is an object of intensive biomedicinal, ecological and economical studies. Its causative agents are demonstrably associated with the development of TSE in farmed minks, goats and moufflons. Ovine strains of scrapie occurring in North America (particularly in the USA) differ from strains which occur in Europe and were present at the onset of development of TSE in three species of deer living in free nature and in captivity in the USA. The studies dealing with the development of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) of the English type have indicated justifiably that its origin is associated with one (or more) heretofore unidentified ovine strain. The development of a variant form, the Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease in humans, and transmission of the BSE agent to several families of bovidae, felidae and primates, puts stress on its zoonotic potential. All this leads to the conclusion that domesticated sheep are the decisive reservoir species of animal TSE. They have been infected to an unknown extent with the causative agent of BSE probably through contaminated meat-bone meal. The occurrence of natural ovine prion isolates with properties similar to those of the BSE agent requires that scrapie should be included in the surveillance of human and animal TSE. At present, scrapie is a noticeable disease also in other than European Communities Member States. It is on the list B of the International Epizootics Office. Many countries have initiated control of ovine scrapie. It should therefore become a topical question also in Central and Eastern European countries. Elimination or even eradication of ovine scrapie (or its causative agents) from populations of small and large domestic ruminants is the prerequisite for prevention of penetration of ovine pathogenic prions into the human feed chain. Moreover, it should be ensured that these species will be able to produce foods of a new type (immunotrition and similar) or proteins with therapeutic effects in the near future. Our study established that the PrP genotype of Valachian rams, the Slovak autochthonous breed, contains also VRQ and ARQ alleles encoding the susceptibility to scrapie. Their selection is part of the improvement of Slovak Valachian sheep towards resistance to scrapie.

Characterization of the third generation enzyme immunoassay IEA-HIV1/2-III for the detection of anti-HIV specific antibodies in human sera

The sensitivity and specificity of the developed anti-HIV1/2 third generation enzyme immunoassay, the IEA-HIV1/2-III, was examined. The test system for the detection of anti-HIV antibodies included peroxidase-conjugated HIV-specific recombinant Gag protein fragments (epitopes of p24 and p17 proteins), Env-1 (epitopes of p41 and p120 proteins), and Env-2 (p36 epitopes). Sensitivity was evaluated with 346 sera from HIV1-seropositive subjects, Anti-HIV1 Low Titer panels no. 10 and PRB-106 and seropositive panel PRB-931 in comparison with other third- and second-generation assays. The IEA-HIV1/2-III assays are characterized with high sensitivity comparable to the other third generation assays and the better sensitivity with respect to the second generation test-kit to determine HIV-specific antibodies in human sera. The specificity was determined using three hundred sixty-seven potentially cross-reactive samples (but negative for anti-HIV1/2). Only one specimen among them was reactive by IEA-HIV1/2-III.

A simple procedure for expression and purification of selected non-structural (alpha and beta) herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) proteins

The expression and isolation of herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) immediate early (alpha) IE63 (ICP27) and of the early (beta) thymidine kinase (Tk) polypeptides in Escherichia coli JM 109 cells transformed with the PinPoint Xa-1 (Promega) plasmid construct carrying either the HSV-1 UL54 or UL23 genes are described. The resulting biotinylated fusion protein(s) could be easily induced and were purified in appropriate amounts by means of a monomeric avidin-conjugated resin (SoftLink Soft Release Avidin Resin, Promega) provided that: (1) the exponential growth of the selected transformed cells was monitored carefully; (2) the post-induction harvest interval was properly chosen; and (3) the period for adsorption to the avidin resin suitably adjusted. The isolated protein(s), although partially digested in the case of the IE63 polypeptide, were suitable antigen(s) for immunization of various animal species. Co-purification of trace amounts of endogenous biotinylated protein(s) produced in E. coli was eliminated by shortening the duration of adsorption to the avidin resin.

Interrelation of lymphocyte subpopulations in peripheral blood under cervical papillomavirus infection

T(CD3+)-, B(CD19+)-lymphocytes and their subsets (CD4+, CD8+, CD3+ DR+, CD3- DR+) in peripheral blood of patients with CIN I, CIN II, CIN III and cancer in situ associated with HPV infection were evaluated. In peripheral blood of women with CIN II, CIN III and cancer in situ the number of T-lymphocytes which expressed CD3+ DR+ antigen decreased. In patients with CIN I, CIN III and cancer in situ the level of the CD4+ cells decreased; the level of the CD8+ cells increased. These patients had a lower CD4/CD8 ratio, the number of B cells being standard. The results may have important implications in the prognosis and immunotherapy of HPV infection.

Cutaneous candidosis in immunosuppressed patients

One-hundred patients with candidosis of the skin, mucous membranes and nail plates (confirmed by cultivation) were examined. Topical or systemic antimycotic treatment was successful in 58 patients. After a complete evaluation, 42 patients were found to suffer from factors supporting candidosis--diabetes mellitus (12), anemia (3) and various local factors (10 patients); 27 patients showed a deficiency in cell-mediated immunity. In addition to intensive antimycotic therapy, successful treatment is affected by the actual immunity level and can be ensured by efficient immunomodulation treatment of immunodeficiency.

Use of the molecular typing methods to evaluate the control of Listeria monocytogenes contamination in a raw milk and dairy products

Nineteen serogroup 1/2a Listeria monocytogenes strains isolated from raw milk, dairy products and salt water in one dairy were analyzed. Pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and ribotyping were used to determine whether these strains isolated over a 8-month period are epidemiologically related. The samples of raw milk were contaminated by different L. monocytogenes clones. The clones isolated from dairy products (with the exception of one sample) and salt water were identical. Comparative genetic analysis of the clones isolated from raw milk, salt water and dairy products revealed the source of contamination and identified the L. monocytogenes strain involved in this process.

Prevalence of Cryptococcus neoformans in clinical specimens

Cryptococcus neoformans isolated from various clinical materials in 14 cases, was identified by (1) cultivation on Sabouraud glucose agar and CHROMagar Candida, (2) microscopic examination of Indian-ink-stained preparations and (3) determination of biochemical properties (assimilation and fermentation of saccharides, assimilation of KNO3, production of urease and phenol monooxygenase). C. neoformans was determined in five specimens from paediatric patients in the intensive care unit and in nine specimens from adult patients, most frequently from liquor at meningitis (n = 3).

Rare non-albicans Candida species detected in different clinical diagnoses

In working on the incidence of yeasts we excluded from the tested set C. albicans, C. krusei, C. parapsilosis and C. tropicalis on the basis of morphological and biochemical properties. We found 16 rare species of yeasts: C. claussenii (16), C. guilliermondii (10), C. robusta (9), C. pulcherrima (8), C. zeylanoides (4), C. glabrata (3), C. lusitaniae (3), C. catenulata (2), C. mesenterica (2), C. utilis (2), C. freyschussii, C. intermedia, C. kefyr, C. lipolytica, C. mogii, C. pseudotropicalis (1 for each). These yeasts were detected mainly in cases of premature babies (22) from the nasopharynx (13), from the rectum (4), from the skin (23), from wound drains and from blood (1 for each), with gynaecological diagnoses (15) and rarely other diagnoses, such as malignancy (5), hypertension and respiratory infections (4 for each), kidney transplantation (3), dialysis, haemolytic-uremic syndrome (2 for each), perforation of gastric ulcus, otitis, prostatitis, ulcus cruris, coma, spina bifida, peritonitis and hepatic failure from different clinical material.

Comparative genetic study of group B streptococcal strains of human and bovine origin

The presence and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of DNA fragments hybridizing with virulence and "house keeping" gene probes were analyzed for 87 group B streptococcal (GBS) strains of human and bovine origin. Most characteristics obtained for bovine strains were similar when compared with those for human strains. The most significant degree of RFLP was discovered for the sizes of HindIII fragments containing bca gene. Human GBS strains with bac gene, encoding beta antigen with IgA binding capacity, were characterized by almost identical complex hybridization patterns with multiple gene probes. At the same time bac gene was not found among bovine GBS strains. Gene scpB that encodes C5a peptidase in all human GBS strains was detected only in 9 of 39 strains of bovine origin. These two characteristics effectively distinguished bovine GBS strains from GBS strains of human origin.

Isolation of verotoxigenic Escherichia coli O157 from poultry

Results obtained by examination of cloacal swabs from poultry for the presence of verotoxigenic strains of E. coli O157:H7 are presented. Twenty samples (9.2%) of 216 samples examined were positive for E. coli O157. Out of 20 E. coli O157, 19 strains were positive for the production of both verotoxins (VT1 and VT2). However, none of them was positive for the presence of H7 antigen.