There is much hope that HIV-infected patients and AIDS patients can reckon with a prolonged survival in future. The increased survival of AIDS patients with positive Toxoplasma serology is not necessarily associated with an increased risk of developing Toxoplasma encephalitis. For HIV-infected patients with negative Toxoplasma serology, the probability of acquiring a primary Toxoplasma infection in highly endemic areas such as Germany had not been studied to date. One hundred eighty-three HIV-infected patients were followed up between 1987 and 1995 in a retrospective study. Within the cohort, 95% of the patients were male and 83% haemophiliacs. The initial (1987) and final (1995) prevalence rate of Toxoplasma antibodies was 33.3% and 36.6%, respectively. The annual rise of the primary infection rate was calculated as 0.41%. The dye test was used for the detection of Toxoplasma-specific antibodies. This assay proved to be reliable and stable during long-term observation. The rate of primary toxoplasmosis found in this long-term study was not higher than that of pregnant women in Germany. Chemoprophylactic measurements for seronegative HIV-infected patients are therefore not recommended, but regular serological screening to detect seroconverters is.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Extrahepatic alveolar echinococcosis without liver involvement: a rare manifestation.

BACKGROUND: Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) primarily affects the liver and extrahepatic disease is considered the consequence of a secondary infection via metastatic spread from the hepatic focus. PATIENTS: Two patients with extrahepatic AE without liver involvement are presented. The first case is a patient with AE of the spleen and a small pulmonary calcification. In the second case exclusive affection of the spine was observed. DISCUSSION: Various pathogenetic explanations for hepatic omission appear plausible: a passage of oncospheres through hepatic sinuses without causing disease, a passage via lymphatic vessels or via portocaval anastomoses and the vascular passage in a retrograde fashion. Extrahepatic manifestation of AE without apparent liver involvement is rare. However, AE should be taken into account among other differential diagnoses even in cases of extrahepatic lesions without liver involvement.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A comparison of phase contrast microscopy and an immunofluorescence test for the detection of Giardia spp. in faecal specimens from cattle and wild rodents.

As part of a study on the presence of Giardia cysts in water, a commercial direct immunofluorescence (DIF) test for the cysts was evaluated and compared to phase contrast microscopy. Forty faecal samples were collected from cattle; 31 contained Giardia. All 31 samples were positive by DIF whereas only 17 were detected by microscopy. The detected Giardia cysts were identified as belonging to the G. duodenalis group. 216 faecal samples were collected from wild rodents (Apodemus flavicollis, A. sylvaticus and Clethrionomys glareolus); 103 contained Giardia. Cysts were detected in 97 samples by DIF and in 57 by microscopy; 51 samples were positive by both methods. Nineteen rodents harboured cysts which morphologically resembled G. duodenalis. Specific identification was possible only by phase contrast microscopy, but the results suggested that DIF was superior for the detection of Giardia cysts in faeces of the animals tested.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Opportunistic properties of Nosema algerae (Microspora), a mosquito parasite, in immunocompromised mice.

In the last ten years microsporidia have been recognized as opportunistic pathogens in AIDS patients. The sources of infection and the mechanisms of transmission of these organisms in humans are mostly uncertain. Transmission of invertebrate microsporidia to mammals is normally considered impossible, temperature being a limiting factor for development. Mice treated with cortisone acetate and with cyclosporin A, respectively, as well as athymic nice were injected intravenously, intranasally, perorally and subcutaneously with spores of Nosema algerae, a microsporidian species of culicine mosquitoes. No infection could be detected in tissue samples of cortisone acetate and cyclosporin A treated mice. However, the experimental inoculation of spores into the tail and foot of athymic mice caused severe infection in skeletal muscles and the connective tissue. In some tails, nerve tissue and bone marrow were also infected. Vegetative stages and spores were seen in direct contact to host cell cytoplasma. For the first time the prolonged and progressive development of an invertebrate microsporidium in a mammalian host is shown. The possibility of invertebrate microsporidia as a source of human microsporidiosis should now be taken into consideration.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

In vitro replication of Nosema algerae (Microsporidia), a parasite of anopheline mosquitoes, in human cells above 36 degrees C.

Microsporidia form a large and ubiquitous group of obligately intracellular parasitic eukaryotes, increasingly recognized as pathogens in humans. Transmission of invertebrate microsporidia to mammals has been considered impossible because temperature seemed to be a limiting factor for development. Nosema algerae, a microsporidian of anopheline mosquitoes, was cultured in human muscle fibroblasts at temperatures of 31 degrees C and 38 degrees C. This is the first record of an invertebrate microsporidian developing in human cells at a temperature above 36 degrees C. The ultrastructure of N. algerae growing in human muscle fibroblasts is similar to that of Brachiola vesicularum, a microsporidian species previously described in the muscle of an AIDS patient.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Detection of toxoplasma-specific IgA and IgM antibodies in serum samples of adults with acquired toxoplasma infection].

In a study of persons with and without toxoplasmosis, IgA-ISAGA (immunoglobulin A-immunosorbent agglutination assay) was found to be specific. However, serum samples from subjects recently infected wtih toxoplasma were less reliable than the DNR test (IgM-ISAGA by the original method, 1981) and the IgM-IIFT. On the other hand, some serum samples from persons infected for up to a year or longer were IgA-positive. The IgA-ISAGA should therefore not be included in serodiagnosis in pregnancy as a substitute for IgM-ISAGA or IgM-IIFT, but, if at all, in addition to them.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Analysis of neonatal and fetal blood for the diagnosis of congenital toxoplasmosis infection].

A total of 175 serum samples, including 35 obtained from neonates and 5 from fetuses in whom connatal toxoplasma infection was suspected, were simultaneously tested for toxoplasma-specific IgA and IgM antibodies by immunosorbent agglutination assay (ISAGA). If sufficient serum was available, IgM-IIFT (Remington test) was also performed prior to and following IgG absorption. All the control samples from children not infected with toxoplasma (SFT negative, or titers less than or equal to 1:256) were negative in the IgA and IgM ISAGA. Of the 35 congenitally infected children, results were positive in 91.4% in the IgA and/or the IgM ISAGA. Of 5 fetuses with positive results in animal experiments 3 were positive in the IgM ISAGA. The serum from the fourth fetus was low positive in the IgM IIFT, while that from the fifth fetus was both IgM- and IgA-negative. The results of this study show that several methods should always be used simultaneously to detect connatal toxoplasma infection.

Antibodies, Protozoan↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Trichinosis. Detection of trichina in the pterygoid muscle].

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Humans↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Detection of toxoplasma-specific IgM antibodies--comparison with the ISAGA (immunosorbent agglutination assay) and immunofluorescence results].

Serum samples from 702 persons were examined for Toxoplasma-specific IgM-antibodies using the immunosorbent agglutination assay (ISAGA) and the immunofluorescence-test (IIFT). 250 samples showed a positive reaction in the Sabin-Feldman-test (SFT) with titers greater than or equal to 1: 1 024, 58% were positive in ISAGA and 36% in the IIFT. Samples of persons with acute Toxoplasma-infection, showed high titers in the ISAGA and SFT as well, even in cases where the IgM-IIFT was negative. SFT-negative sera and others with weakly-positive reactions and also rheuma-positive samples were negative in the ISAGA. It is discussed how far it is possible to determine the duration of the Toxoplasma infection by applying the ISAGA in combination with other antibody tests.

Adolescent↗