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A Essig

Publications and source records attributed to A Essig.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

[Cat-scratch disease as cause of Lymphadenitis colli].

Cat-scratch Disease as Cause of Lymphadenitis colli. Cat-scratch disease is a frequent cause of lymphadenitis colli. It mainly affects children and adolescents younger than 21 years. Since the clinical picture is not characteristic, a history of contact to cats or kittens is highly valuable for diagnosing the disease. Major aspects of the disease concerning epidemiology, diagnostic procedures, clinical presentation and therapy are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus in house dust mite allergic patients and healthy controls.

BACKGROUND: Staphylococcal colonization may influence the course of allergic diseases such as atopic dermatitis or allergic rhinitis. The frequency of Staphylococcus aureus (SA) nasal carriage and its possible influence on persistent allergic rhinitis was investigated. METHODS: In nasal lavages from 22 patients with house dust mite allergy and 18 healthy controls, the number of SA colony forming units per ml were assessed and related to nasal symptom scores, the concentrations of three inflammatory cell activation markers, nasal total IgE and 17 cytokines in nasal secretions. RESULTS: SA was found in 15/22 allergic patients and 4/18 controls (P < 0.01). Comparing allergic SA carriers with allergic noncarriers, nasal symptom scores tended to be higher (P < 0.1), and the cell activation markers ECP (10(2.23+/-0.33)vs 10(1.45+/-0.50) ng/ml; P < 0.05) and elastase (10(2.70+/-0.21)vs 10(2.12+/-0.34) ng/ml; P < 0.01), and nasal total IgE-levels (10(1.66+/-0.38)vs 10(1.2+/-0.28) kU/ml; P < 0.05) were significantly higher in allergic SA carriers. Nasal SA carriers had a higher nasal IL-13/IFN-gamma ratio (P < 0.01), and this was correlated with higher nasal total IgE in allergic patients (r = 0.6, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Nasal SA carriage is frequent in patients with persistent allergic rhinitis. The data of this study suggest that they are not only secondary bystanders, but actively modulate the disease by promoting local IgE production.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Lymphogranuloma venereum - a rare cause of genital ulcers in central Europe.

Lymphogranuloma inguinale, caused by Chlamydia trachomatis serovar L1-L3 is rare in patients from western countries but needs yet to be considered in the differential diagnosis of genital ulcers. We report a case of a young male patient without any eventful travel history who presented with a genital ulcer at the sulcus coronarius and painfully enlarged lymph nodes in the right inguinal area. The typical clinical picture and serum IgM and IgG antibody titers of 1:16 and 1:512, respectively, against C. trachomatis were suggestive of infection with C. trachomatis serovar L1-L3. The diagnosis was confirmed by isolation of the organisms from the ulcer ground and subsequent sequence analysis of the omp1 gene which led to identification of C. trachomatis genotype L2 with 99% homology to a reference strain of C. trachomatis serovar L2. The lesion healed rapidly under treatment with doxycycline for 3 weeks, and the lymph nodes did not ulcerate. Thus, clinical suspicion was confirmed by genotyping of the isolated strain allowing timely diagnosis and treatment of lymphogranuloma inguinale.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Rapid and standardized detection of Chlamydia pneumoniae using LightCycler real-time fluorescence PCR.

In order to meet the need of many microbiological laboratories for a standardized system for detecting Chlamydia pneumoniae in respiratory specimens, a hybridization probe-based LightCycler (Roche Diagnostics, Germany) PCR assay was developed. The assay's analytical sensitivity and specificity were evaluated according to the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (USA) and Laboratory Centre for Disease Control (Canada). Seventy-four bacterial species other than Chlamydia pneumoniae, including strains of Chlamydia trachomatis, Chlamydia psittaci, and Chlamydia pecorum, tested negative. Six of six representative Chlamydia pneumoniae strains tested positive. An analytical sensitivity of 1 inclusion forming unit per ml of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, corresponding to 0.02 inclusion forming units per PCR reaction, was observed. The assay showed 100% specificity and sensitivity for Chlamydia pneumoniae when testing DNA preparations from 12 specimens of patients with known pulmonary Chlamydia pneumoniae infection and from 78 specimens of patients with respiratory tract disease of other origin. The newly developed LightCycler assay may contribute to the urgently needed standardization of laboratory diagnosis of Chlamydia pneumoniae.

Bacteriological Techniques↗
PubMed2001

Value of Candida antigen and antibody assays for the diagnosis of invasive candidosis in surgical intensive care patients.

During a 3-year period, a clinical diagnosis of invasive candidosis was made in 8 out of 2054 consecutive surgical intensive care unit (ICU) patients. These patients were retrospectively matched with 16 control patients who underwent similar surgical procedures and had a similar clinical course except for negative Candida cultures. In all patients, Candida antigen (Ramco CandTec serum antigen test) and antibody serology (Candida HA test) were determined at least once a week during their stay. The antigen test was positive in 1/8 patients and 4/16 controls and thus did not differentiate patients with candidosis from non-infected controls. The HA antibody titer results fulfilled the manufacturer's criteria for positivity in 7/8 patients with candidosis and 2/16 control patients. Thus, the Candida HA antibody test, but not the Ramco antigen test, can be recommended to confirm a clinical diagnosis of invasive candidosis.

APACHE↗
PubMed2001

Taxonomic reconsideration of the genus Chorioptes Gervais and van Beneden, 1859 (Acari: Psoroptidae).

The present review of the literature on mites of the genus Chorioptes Gervais and Van Beneden, 1859 argues for a support of the validity of C. bovis (Hering, 1845) and C. texanus Hirst, 1924 based on biological, morphological and molecular genetic studies. However, the validity of three further species. C. crewei Lavoipierre, 1958, C. mydaus Fain, 1975 and C. panda Fain and Leclerc, 1975, is regarded as questionable because discriminations of mites, which were described as isolated cases only, were based on morphological features while transfer or cross-breeding studies were not done.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Survival of Chlamydia pneumoniae-infected Mono Mac 6 cells is dependent on NF-kappaB binding activity.

The respiratory tract pathogen Chlamydia pneumoniae has been associated with atherosclerosis. Monocytes are supposed to serve as a vehicle for systemic dissemination of intracellular C. pneumoniae from the lung to the artery vessel wall. We were therefore interested in pathogen-induced cellular events associated with NF-kappaB, a crucial transcription factor for both inflammatory cytokines and antiapoptotic molecules. In this study we demonstrate by electrophoretic mobility shift assay that C. pneumoniae infection of the human monocytic cell line Mono Mac 6 induces activation of NF-kappaB over 48 h, with a maximum level at 1 h postinfection. As shown by supershift assay, the activated NF-kappaB complex consists of the subunits RelA (p65) and NF-kappaB1 (p50). Apoptotic host cells were not detected during the early stages of the infection when maximal activation of NF-kappaB was detected. Pretreatment of Mono Mac 6 with the antioxidant and NF-kappaB inhibitor PDTC (pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate) induced activation of caspase-3 and led to apoptotic cell death. The C. pneumoniae-induced activation of the NF-kappaB complex was reduced by PDTC, which in parallel resulted in an increased apoptosis, as quantified by annexin V labeling and terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling reaction. In the complete absence of activated NF-kappaB, when Mono Mac 6 cells were pretreated with the more potent NF-kappaB inhibitors MG-132 and parthenolide a C. pneumoniae-mediated rescue of cells from induced apoptosis could not be achieved. Our results indicate that activation of NF-kappaB in C. pneumoniae-infected Mono Mac 6 cells is associated with protection of Mono Mac 6 cells against apoptosis and might thereby contribute to systemic spread of the pathogen.

Apoptosis↗
PubMed2000

Decontamination of a Mycoplasma-infected Chlamydia pneumoniae strain by pulmonary passage in SCID mice.

We describe a procedure to eliminate contaminating Mycoplasma from Chlamydia pneumoniae (C. pneumoniae) cultures by pulmonary passage in severe combined immunodeficiency mice (SCID). Four weeks after experimental infection only C. pneumoniae could be cultured from the lungs of the infected animals while Mycoplasma could not be detected any longer, as shown by PCR, culture and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Species of the genus Psoroptes (Acari: Psoroptidae): a taxonomic consideration.

The biosystematic status of mite species belonging to the genus Psoroptes Gervais, 1841 is difficult to determine by phenotypic methods and has been subject to taxonomic revisions and ongoing debate. At present, the existence of five species, P cuniculi (Delafond, 1859), P. ovis (Hering, 1838). P. equi (Hering, 1838), P. cervinus Ward, 1915 and P. natalensis Hirst, 1919, is generally accepted. This classification is based mainly on the host species, the localization of the mites on their hosts and morphological characters of male mites. However, a critical review of the literature indicates that the features used to discriminate between the five species are not unequivocal: (a) the localization of mite populations on host animals is not completely strict, (b) the lengths of the outer opisthosomal setae of male mites, which are the main morphological features used for species discrimination, overlap between the five postulated species, and (c) host specificity cannot be deduced from results of transfer experiments. Rather, conspecificity of the members of the genus Psoroptes has to be presumed which is supported by molecular genetic analyses. On these grounds and on rules of priority P. cervinus Ward, 1915, P. cuniculi (Delafond, 1859), P. natalensis Hirst, 1919 and P. ovis (Hering, 1838) are seen as synonyms of P. equi (Hering, 1838).

Animals↗
PubMed2000

[Invasive Candida infection in surgical patients: a valid clinical entity].

OBJECTIVE: Establishment of a case definition for invasive candidosis in postsurgical intensive care patients. METHODS: During the period of 1996-1999, 8 cases of invasive candidosis were observed on a surgical intensive care unit. Patient records were evaluated with respect to diagnostic criteria and response to antimycotic therapy. RESULTS: Patients included 3 women and 5 men with a mean age of 62.7 (37-85) years. Candida peritonitis (n = 6) occurred after surgery or perforation of the intestinal tract, and Candida pneumonia was due to artificial ventilation (n = 3). C. albicans was isolated in all 8 cases, but mixed infections with other Candida spp. occurred in 3 cases. The Candida serum antigen test yielded a positive result in only 2/8 cases. I.v. therapy with fluconazole was successful in 7 cases, one patient with severe initial disease died with ongoing infection. With the exception of the lethal case, all patients showed a diagnostic serum antibody test, proving systemic candida infection. CONCLUSION: Based on the case descriptions, we propose the following definition of invasive candidosis: (1) Clinical signs of infection after surgery, (2) absence of bacterial pathogens and/or failure to respond to systemic antibiotics, (3) cultivation of Candida spp. from normally sterile sites or abundant growth in tracheal aspirate, (4) response to antimycotic therapy and (5) diagnostic serum antibody test. This definition proved to be valid for our patients and could be used as an inclusion criterion for future clinical studies of serodiagnosis of Candida infection or antimycotic chemotherapy.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Severe Chlamydia pneumoniae infection in patients with neutropenia: case reports and literature review.

Three cases of life-threatening C. pneumoniae infection in patients with acute leukemia and treatment-induced neutropenia are described. Diagnosis was made on the basis of the detection of C. pneumoniae-DNA, complemented by serology. The role of the widely distributed respiratory tract pathogen C. pneumoniae in febrile neutropenia is poorly understood, and studies are needed to estimate the frequency of severe pulmonary infection caused by this agent in patients with neutropenia.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Molecular analyses suggest monospecificity of the genus Sarcoptes (Acari: Sarcoptidae).

To clarify the taxonomic status of mites of the genus Sarcoptes, the second internal transcribed spacer (ITS-2) of the rRNA gene, as well as phenotypic characters, were investigated in 23 isolates from nine host species in four continents. Phenotypic differences among isolates were observed, but the range of variation within each isolate precluded the differentiation of individual mites. Genotypically, there was no delimitation between distinct genotypic groups and no correlation with host species or geographic origin was evident. These results support the conspecificity of the mites investigated and confirm the view that the genus Sarcoptes consists of a single, heterogenous species.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Genetic differentiation of mites of the genus Chorioptes (Acari: Psoroptidae).

In an effort to clarify the species status of mites of the genus Chorioptes the second internal transcribed spacer of the rRNA gene was characterized in 14 isolates from cattle, horse, sheep and llama of different geographic origins. The genotypes segregated into two clearly separated groups of DNA sequences. In addition, two phenotypes could be distinguished by the lengths of the outer opisthosomal setae of male adults which had previously been designated as Chorioptes bovis and Chorioptes texanus. The bipartite division of genotypes and phenotypes correlated completely in all isolates. Nine out of ten cattle isolates from three continents were determined to be C. texanus including the first description in Europe and Northern America. Chorioptes texanus appears to have a wider geographic distribution than previously known. Chorioptes bovis was found in four different host species. The apparent lack of host specificity of both species implicates a potential that mites are dispersed freely in a wide range of hosts and this might have contributed to the wide geographic distribution of these species.

Acari↗
PubMed1999

Analysis of the humoral immune response to Chlamydia pneumoniae by immunoblotting and immunoprecipitation.

Chlamydia pneumoniae is a widely spread agent of respiratory tract infections in humans. A reliable serodiagnosis of the disease is hampered by the poor knowledge about immunodominant antigens in C. pneumoniae infections. We applied a novel strategy to identify immunogenic proteins of C. pneumoniae TW183 combining metabolic radiolabeling of de novo-synthesized chlamydial antigens with immunoprecipitation. By this technique C. pneumoniae antigens of approximately 160, 97 to 99, 60 to 62, 40, 27, and 15 kDa were detected in the vast majority of sera from patients with a current C. pneumoniae infection. By immunoblotting purified elementary bodies of C. pneumoniae TW183 with the same sera, only the 60- to 62-kDa antigen could be detected consistently. Sequential immunoprecipitation performed at different stages of the chlamydial developmental cycle revealed that the 60- to 62-kDa antigen is strongly upregulated after 24 to 48 h of host cell infection and is presented as a major immunogen in both C. pneumoniae-infected patients and mice. We conclude that, due to its high sensitivity and concurrent preservation of conformational epitopes, metabolic radiolabeling of chlamydial antigens combined with immunoprecipitation may be a useful method to reveal important immunogens in respiratory C. pneumoniae infection which might have been missed by immunoblot analysis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Clearance of Chlamydia trachomatis-induced polyserositis in SCID mice requires both CD4+ and CD8+ cells.

To characterize the role of specific lymphocyte subsets in Chlamydia trachomatis infection, we established a murine model using the mouse pneumonitis agent (MoPn) of C. trachomatis and C.B-17 scid/scid (SCID) mice which lack functional B and T cells. After intraperitoneal inoculation with the bacteria, SCID mice developed polyserositis with pleuritis, pericarditis, and perihepatitis. Within 8 weeks post infection, SCID mice succumbed to the disease, whereas immunocompetent congenic C.B-17+/+ mice resolved the infection. Adoptive transfer of immune spleen cells into MoPn-infected SCID mice resulted in a complete elimination of the agent and prevention of polyserositis as measured by quantitative chlamydial culture, direct immunofluorescence and histopathological analysis. Selective reconstitution of MoPn-infected SCID mice with immune B lymphocytes, CD4+ T cells or CD8+ T cells alone did not influence the chlamydial load in the lung and liver of infected SCID animals, resulting in a polyserositis as observed in untreated MoPn-infected SCID mice. However, co-transfer of both CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells led to a significant reduction of chlamydiae in quantitative organ culture coupled with unremarkable histopathology. These data confirm that T cell-mediated immune responses are essential for immune protection in chlamydial infection, although total eradication of the agent could not be achieved. Further experiments are needed to stress the importance of a concerted action of B and T lymphocytes, as indicated by the complete protective efficacy of transferred splenocytes.

Adoptive Transfer↗
PubMed1998

Genetic evidence suggests that Psoroptes isolates of different phenotypes, hosts and geographic origins are conspecific.

The second internal transcribed spacer of the rRNA gene was characterised in 15 Psoroptes isolates collected from the ears or bodies of rabbits, goats, sheep and cattle originating from four continents. Morphologically, the isolates were differentiated as Psoroptes cuniculi, Psoroptes ovis and Psoroptes cervinus. Genotypically, the isolates were highly homogeneous, except for the existence of different rDNA classes. In view of previous phenotypic data, a possible conspecificity of these species is proposed.

Animals↗