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K Janitschke

Publications and source records attributed to K Janitschke.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Nitrocellulose dot-ELISA for serodiagnosis of schistosomiasis.

The diagnostic value of the nitrocellulose (NC)-ELISA technique originally described for the detection of viral and bacterial antigens was studied for the detection of antibodies in patients with parasitologically confirmed schistosomiasis, using only about 100 ng total protein content per NC disc of Schistosoma mansoni soluble egg antigen supplied by WHO. The results showed excellent sensitivity: 100% (38/38) for S. mansoni cases and 93.6% (44/47) for S. haematobium. The specificity tested on 50 sera of persons from non-endemic areas was also 100%. 34 sera of patients suffering from other parasitoses were also included. 3 sera of 10 from filariasis cases reacted positively by NC-ELISA, but they were also positive by indirect immunofluorescence, indicating a possible undetected Schistosoma infection. One positive reaction among sera from 4 toxocariasis cases was not confirmed by further tests. We conclude that the NC-ELISA can be a useful technique, especially in developing countries where tests with low cost equipment are needed. Large-scale screening studies should be done to evaluate its usefulness under field conditions.

Animals↗

Isoenzyme patterns of Entamoeba histolytica isolated from homosexual men.

This is a preliminary report on isoenzyme patterns of Entamoeba histolytica which were examined by starch gel electrophoresis. By this means the amoebae isolated from 17 asymptomatic male homosexuals were characterized into zymodemes. No amoebic strain isolated corresponded to a pathogenic zymodeme.

Amebiasis↗

Serodiagnosis of parasitic infections by ELISA with different antigens.

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay is described in which four antibodies (amoebiasis, schistosomiasis, echinococcosis and filariasis) can be tested at once. Because of the sensitivity, specificity, reproducibility and practicability this test system can be recommended as a quantitative routine test.

Animals↗

Effects of muramyl dipeptide and trehalose dimycolate on resistance of mice to Toxoplasma gondii and Acanthamoeba culbertsoni infections.

The effects of synthetic muramyl dipeptide (MDP) and natural trehalose dimycolate (TDM) against parasitic infections by intracellular Toxoplasma gondii and free-living Acanthamoeba culbertsoni were studied. Significant resistance against oral T. gondii infection was induced by intraperitoneal pretreatment with TDM but not with MDP. The protective effect of TDM against T. gondii was corroborated by a significant reduction in the number of cysts in brains of pretreated animals and elevated serum antibody levels. Partial protection against lethal intranasal A. culbertsoni infection was conferred by specific immunization with viable trophozoites of nonpathogenic Acanthamoeba lugdunensis. The nonspecific resistance induced by intravenous pretreatment with MDP was similar to, whereas that stimulated by TDM was lesser than the protection conferred by A. lugdunensis. The Fc receptor-mediated phagocytosis of 51Cr-labeled sheep red blood cells by alveolar macrophages was enhanced by MDP. The phagocytic activity of peritoneal macrophages was increased by lower doses of TDM.

Acetylmuramyl-Alanyl-Isoglutamine↗

[False negative reactions in the serodiagnosis of cystic echinococcosis in humans].

Clinically supposed cases of echinococcosis can be strongly confirmed by application of serodiagnostic techniques. In certain cases false-negative reactions have to be taken into account. This has been observed in 4 out of 51 parasitologically confirmed cases. One patient had a hyalin cyst, a case in which supposingly no antigen diffused into the host's system. In two cases the cysts were calcified, in one patient only no explanation could be given.

Adult↗

Serodiagnosis of bovine besnoitiosis by ELISA and immunofluorescence tests.

Sera from non-infected cattle and cattle infected with Anaplasma, Babesia, Theileria and Sarcocystis were tested for antibodies to Besnoitia in ELISA and immunofluorescence tests (IFT) with Besnoitia besnoiti of blue wildebeest origin as antigen. Only 2 out of 86 sera gave false positive reactions in ELISA and none in the IFT, indicating a high specificity for the tests. Three-hundred-and-three bovine sera from 3 farms in an area endemic for besnoitiosis were similarly tested and the results were correlated with clinical findings based on visual inspection for typical symptoms and the presence of cysts in the scleral conjunctiva. Most of the positive tests were observed in cattle older than 1 year. Of the cases with scleral cysts, 68,7% were positive in the ELISA and 81,74% in the IFT. However, 45,74% (ELISA) and 49,47% (IFT) of the clinically negative cattle were clinically positive, indicating a high incidence of clinically inapparent infection. These results indicate a relatively low sensitivity for these serological tests. An unexpected finding was that the ELISA remained negative for at least 60 days after experimental infection of the cattle, the maximum period for which tests were done, whereas the IFT became positive. No antibodies against B. besnoiti could be found in human sera. Besnoitia jellisoni antigen gave positive results with B. besnoiti antibodies in ELISA, but not in the IFT.

Animals↗

[Pathogenicity of Acanthamoeba isolated from water].

Two Acanthamoeba strains were isolated from rivers in Berlin by intranasal inoculation into mice. No clinical or pathological symptoms could be observed in the animals. The intention of this study was to initiate and to increase the pathogenicity of these amoebae. The two strains were passaged in mice as well as in liquid medium followed by inoculation into mice. The pathogenicity was measured by the rate of lethality. The first cases of death were found after the 10th passage in those mice which had been infected with the amoebae only passaged in animals. Acanthamoebae could be isolated from brains and lungs, but pathological changes were found only in lungs. After the 11th and 12th animal passage, respectively, the amoebae were only cultivated in vitro for 15 weeks followed by another series of animal passages. Here, first cases of death were recorded after the 5th and 3rd inoculation into mice, respectively. No animals died having been infected with amoebae only maintained in vitro. A third experiment with animal passaged strains showed that mice died even up to the 6th week p.i. and that amoebae could be re-isolated until the 7th week i.p. The results are discussed in view of a possible selection of pathogenic Acanthamoeba strains by fast passages from man to man.

Amebiasis↗

Subacute and chronic meningoencephalitis in mice after experimental infection with a strain of Naegleria fowleri originally isolated from a patient.

Swiss mice were inoculated intranasally with trophozoites of a cloned substrain of the Naegleria fowleri strain LL originally isolated from a human being. The original strain had decreased in virulence after ten years of maintenance in axenic culture. survivors were sacrificed from the fourth to the tenth week p.i. They were tested in a labyrinth experiment in which some demonstrated a diminution in performance. N. fowleri could be reisolated from the brains of five clinically inconspicuous animals. The histopathological findings in the brains of these animals resembled the features of a chronic granulomatous amebic encephalitis (GAE) which has been described in infections due to Acanthamoeba spp. It was not expected that N. fowleri could also produce latent infections. The significance of these findings is discussed.

Amebiasis↗

[Examination of thermally polluted water for free living amoebae and testing for their possible pathogenic properties].

Water and mud samples were collected from canals and rivers which were adjacent to outlets discharging warm water of 3 power plants in Berlin. Downstream samples from 1 bathing resort were also collected. Free living amoebae were isolated from 138 water and 69 mud samples. From these respectively 156 and 73 strains could be cultured and were administered intranasally to mice for pathogenicity tests. Two Acanthamoeba strains from water and 7 from mud could be reisolated from mouse brain and or lungs, although no pathological disorders could be observed. Five Naegleria strains were negative in mouse inoculation tests. Four Acanthamoeba strains which were positive in mice were cultured at + 45 degrees C; no cytopathogenic effects were observed in tissue cultures. Acanthamoeba infective for mice could also be isolated from samples at low water temperatures. Further investigations have to show, whether changes in virulence of amoebic strains are of significance and therefore for epidemiology and pathogenicity in man.

Amoeba↗

Evaluation of the ELISA test as an epidemiological tool in schistosomiasis.

The ELISA test was studied to assess its applicability in epidemiological surveys of schistosomiasis. Specimens of serum, stool and urine from persons attending an outpatient clinic in an endemic area for S. mansoni and S. haematobium in Egypt were tested in the laboratories of the Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Cairo. The ELISA test results were compared with parasitological findings and with the results of indirect immunofluorescence and indirect hemagglutination tests as reference data. The ELISA test showed an excellent sensitivity and specificity for both infections; the reading and recording of the extinction rates can be automated by using in time and money. The test can be strongly recommended for epidemiological surveys.

Adolescent↗

[Contribution to the morphology and pathogenesis of eosinophilic colitis (author's transl)].

A 40 year old woman suffered from acute diarrhea and convulsive abdominal pains. Because of a palpable tumor of the right lower abdomen, which was thought to be localized in the deeper layers of the colon ascendens, a hemicolectomy on the right side was performed. Histologically there was a severe phlegmonous eosinophilic inflammation of the bowel wall and the surrounding fatty tissue. A parasite was found within the strongly oedematous submucosal layer. The different forms of eosinophilic inflammatory processes are referred to, with special emphasis on Anisakiasis. The so called "herring-worm-disease" proceeds under the same clinical and morphological features as the above mentioned disease and is caused by a larval nematode. This worm lives as an immature parasite in different saltwater fishes. Most often the stomach and the small intestine are involved; only in a few cases an eosinophilic phlegmon of the large bowel has been observed.

Adult↗

[Examinations on the occurrence of free-living amoebae with possible pathogenic traits in swimming pools (author's transl)].

Water of basins and filters taken from 9 indoor-pools and 5 heated outdoor-pools has been tested for free-living amoebae by means of filtration and subsequent cultivation on agar and in fluid media. In 94.6% of the samples taken from basins and in 60.7% of the samples taken from flushing back filter water, amoebae could be cultivated which all belonged to the genus of Acanthamoeba. They were tested for pathogenic symptoms by means of mouse inoculation tests, temperature tolerance tests, cross-reaction in the immunofluorescence test, and on tissue culture. 19 strains of amoebae could be re-isolated from lungs and brains of healthy mice. Only after the third series of inoculation from animal to animal, for mice characteristic pathogenic symptoms could be observed. The importance of acanthamoebae in swimming pools to the health of men cannot be estimated yet. But existing findings did not deliver reason for grave concern.

Amoeba↗