Dobrava virus carried by the yellow-necked field mouse Apodemus flavicollis, causing hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome in Romania

Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) has been confirmed by serological methods during recent years in Romania. In the present study, focus-reduction neutralization tests (FRNT) confirmed Dobrava hantavirus (DOBV) as the causative agent in some HFRS cases, but could not distinguish between DOBV and Saaremaa virus (SAAV) infections in other cases. DOBV was detected by a DOBV-specific TaqMan assay in sera of nine patients out of 22 tested. Partial sequences of the M genomic segment of DOBV were obtained from sera of three patients and revealed the circulation of two DOBV lineages in Romania. Investigation of rodents trapped in Romania found three DOBV-positive Apodemus flavicollis out of 83 rodents tested. Two different DOBV lineages were also detected in A. flavicollis as determined from partial sequences of the M and S genomic segments. Sequences of DOBV in A. flavicollis were either identical or closely related to the sequences obtained from the HFRS patients. The DOBV strains circulating in Romania clustered in two monophyletic groups, together with strains from Slovenia and the north of Greece. This is the first evidence for the circulation of DOBV in wild rodents and for a DOBV etiology of HFRS in Romania.

Investigations upon the incidence of atmospheric fungi in the town of Craiova

The present investigation was suggested by the fact that bronchial asthma (of all types) presents in Craiova and the district of Dolj a relatively increased incidence which may be correlated with certain findings concerning the incidence of atmospheric fungi in the houses and working places of asthmatic subjects. Petri dishes with Czapek medium were exposed monthly in the open air, in 17 houses of asthmatic subjects and in a large bakery unit. The prevalence of various types of fungi was observed on the culture media and a correlation could be made with the seasons. In the houses of asthmatics Penicillium was found to predominate and in certain months of the year Aspergillus as well, which may have a certain etiopathogenic role in bronchial asthma. In certain months Cladosporium and Alternaria also appeared. In the open air the number of colonies was smaller but the incidence was identical. In the bakery unit Penicillium was predominant in 3 out of 5 months, Aspergillus prevailling in all the other months of the year. Cladosporium and Alternaria were also rather frequent. Other fungi sometimes found in relatively large proportions (Mucor, Rhizopus, Verticillium) were not in themselves etiopathogenically involved in bronchial asthma.

Atopic and non-atopic sensitivity in a large bakery

Flour is an allergen which can sensitize either by the digestive or the inhalatory route, particularly those who work with this product. Factors involved occupational four-induced asthma also include various insects and their excreta, fungi and dermato-farinae. In this study, 1303 subjects from a number of bakeries were studied. They underwent allergological investigation by means of prick-tests with allergens and respiratory function tests for those with bronchial asthma. Also studied is the relationship with atopic syndromes or atopic family history.

Treatment of bronchial asthma with disodium cromoglycate. Special indications

Forty patients with various types of bronchial asthma were treated with disodium cromoglycate (DSCG) for various periods of time ranging from 30 days to 90 months. The drug was inhaled through a spinhaler at 8-hour intervals. The symptoms of asthma, the respiratory function and the drug-induced reactions were checked during treatment. DSCG was salutary in about 80% of the patients with extrinsic asthma (even in those with pollen allergy diagnosed within the pollination period). The drug was also effective in patients with exercise induced asthma, asthma associated with pregnancy, asthma with adrenocorticosteroid psychosis. The patients with meal allergy (bakers and millers) treated with DSCG were able to keep their occupational activities. The drug may be used in the intrinsic asthma only in subjects with many positive skin tests and hypereosinophilia.