Immune responsiveness to Mycobacterium leprae of healthy humans. Application of the leucocyte migration inhibition test.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to B Myrvang.
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Attempts have been made to cultivate Mycobacterium leprae in human macrophages in vitro. In 27 out of 55 experiments a two- to ninefold increase (mean 2.31 +/- 1.46) in acid-fast organisms were observed over a period of 1.5 to 3 months of cultivation. No such increase was observed with heat-killed bacilli (mean fold increase 0.88 +/- 0.19). Macrophages were necessary for obtaining increases. No multiplication was observed on artificial media. A close correlation between increases of acid-fast organisms and changes in viability as determined by the morphology of the bacilli (morphologic index) was found. The increases in acid-fast organisms could be inhibited by anti-leprosy drugs. It is concluded that multiplication of M. leprae may take place inside human macrophages in vitro. Multiplication appears not to be dependent on whether the macrophages are derived from lepromatous or tuberculoid patients or healthy individuals. Moreover, multiplication took place both at 33 and 37 C. The applicability of this method is at present limited by the restricted survival of human macrophages in vitro.
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BACKGROUND: Schistosomiasis is a major parasitic disease, increasingly imported into temperate climates by immigrants from and travelers to endemic areas. METHOD: To generate valid data on imported infectious diseases to Europe and to recognize trends over time, the European Network on Imported Infectious Diseases Surveillance (TropNetEurop) was founded in 1999. Three hundred and thirty-three reports of schistosomiasis were analyzed for epidemiologic and clinical features. RESULTS: Male patients accounted for 64% of all cases. The average age of all patients was 29.5 years. The majority of patients were of European origin (53%). Europeans traveled predominantly for tourism (52%). Main reasons for travel for people from endemic areas were immigration and refuge (51%) and visits to relatives and friends (28%). The majority of infections were acquired in Africa; 92 infections were clearly attributable to Schistosoma haematobium, 130 to Schistosoma mansoni, and 4 to Schistosoma intercalatum. Praziquantel was the only treatment used. No deaths were recorded. CONCLUSION: TropNetEurop sentinel provides valuable epidemiologic and clinical data on imported schistosomiasis to Europe.