Transmission of tuberculosis by kidney transplantation

Tuberculosis occurred in two patients, each of whom received a kidney from the same cadaver donor whose cerebrospinal fluid cultures grew Mycobacteria following organ donation. Although the degree of immunosuppression and graft function were similar in the recipients, one died of disseminated tuberculosis. Kidneys contaminated with certain pathogens, including Mycobacteria, should not be transplanted. Transplant recipients with tuberculosis require prompt antituberculous therapy, and may require transplant nephrectomy for persistent evidence of urinary tract tuberculosis.

Nephritis caused by Streptococcus zooepidemicus (Lancefield group C)

Three cases of nephritis after mild upper-respiratory-tract infection occurred in five members of a family running a small dairy farm in North Yorkshire, Streptococcus zooepidemicus (Lancefield group C) was cultured from the throats of three of those affected. The organisms were shown to produce endostreptosin, a recently discovered cytoplasmic antigen of certain beta-haemolytic streptococci that has been shown to be of prime importance in the development of poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis (PSGN). Serological testing of the patients showed raised and persistent antibody tires to this substance. These findings substantiate the association, suggested by the epidemiological features of a similar outbreak that occurred in Rumania in 1968, between Strep zooepidemicus and nephritis. As in several previous reports of Strep zooepidemicus in man, infection appeared to have been acquired by the consumption of unpasteurized milk. This outbreak implicates non-group-A streptococci in the aetiology of PSGN.

Susceptibility of chickens to avian nephritis virus at various inoculation routes and ages

Factors that influence the response of chickens to avian nephritis virus (ANV) were studied. Day-old specific-pathogen-free chicks were inoculated with the G-4260 strain of ANV by oral, subcutaneous, intratracheal, intramuscular, and intracerebral routes at a dose of 10(5.0) plaque-forming units (PFUs) per chick. Inoculation induced only nephritis, and contact infection ANV occurred very easily. When 1-, 14-, 28-, 56-, and 300-day-old chickens were inoculated orally with 10(5.0) PFUs of the virus, the day-old chicks appeared to be most susceptible; histopathological responses to the virus became weak as chicks aged. The serological response of 28-day-old chickens to ANV was stronger that those of other groups. Pathologically, the adult chickens hardly responded to the virus, but they produced antibodies against the virus.

[Asymptomatic nephritis in relatives living with children with acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis]

We studied a group of 114 persons living together with children admitted in the hospital because of poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis; minute count of the urinary sediment, antistreptolysin 0 and throat culture were done. An increased was found in the urinary excretion of erythrocytes in 31% of the population studied; 71% showed a rise of serum antistreptolysin 0 and 9% showed beta hemolytic streptococci in their throat culture. It is important to search for these asymptomatic patients among relatives and follow their course; there is a possibility that some will developed chronic nephritis. It is also important to erradicate the streptococcal infection.