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Biomedical subjects

L Ciceroni

Publications and source records attributed to L Ciceroni.

36 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Prevalence of antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi, Borrelia parkeri and Borrelia turicatae in human settlements of the Cordillera Province, Bolivia.

A seroepidemiological study to determine the prevalence of human Lyme borreliosis and tick-borne relapsing fever was carried out in three communities (Camiri, Boyuibe and Gutierrez) of the Cordillera Province, Santa Cruz Department, south-eastern Bolivia. Anti-B. burgdorferi, anti-B. turicatae and anti-B. parkeri antibodies, tested by the indirect immunofluorescent assay (IFA), were detected in 10.8, 16.1 and 8.2% of the serum samples tested, and confirmed by IFA-ABS in 1.3, 1.3 and 1.0%, respectively. This is the first report of the presence of Lyme borreliosis and tick-borne relapsing fever in Bolivia. For Lyme borreliosis these findings represent a further datum to support its existence in South America.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Evaluation of a passive microcapsule agglutination test for the screening of human leptospirosis.

Microcapsules, absorbed with two mixed antigens--each composed of 3 sonicated leptospira serovars--were developed in the past as a microcapsule agglutination test (MCA-LS) for the screening of clinical leptospirosis. For this study, fifty serum samples, taken at an earlier and at a later stage of illness from 25 Italian in-patients with clinical symptoms of leptospirosis, were tested with both the MCA-LS one-dilution test and the microscopic agglutination (MA) test, the confirmatory test for leptospirosis, with 18 leptospira strains circulating in Italy. Compared with MA, MCA-LS showed a sensitivity of 91.7%, and a specificity of 92.3%, including leptospirosis not sustained by the diagnostic strains used in the MCA-LS kit.

Agglutination Tests↗
PubMed1993

Complement activation and sensitizing antibodies in Lyme borreliosis. A microbial adherence immobilization assay for Borrelia burgdorferi (MAIA-BB).

A report is presented about the capability of complement to directly clump Borrelia burgdorferi. The new phenomenon which has been termed "microbial adherence", is either antibody-independent or requires the presence of "sensitizing" antibodies depending the strains tested. Microbial adherence is associated with immobilization and killing of borrelias. A microbial adherence immobilization assay for B. burgdorferi (MAIA-BB) was developed to detect sensitizing antibodies in patients with Lyme borreliosis and in B. burgdorferi-infected animals.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Chromosomal rearrangement and serovar conversion in Leptospira biflexa strains.

A bacterial population change involving chromosomal rearrangement and phenotypic changes in antigens, proteins and lipopolysaccharides is described for strains of Leptospira biflexa that were previously grown in media containing homologous oligoclonal antibodies. The chromosomal rearrangement phenomenon showed that the variants differed from the parent strains, yet they were similar to phenotypically related serovars already occurring in nature. Accordingly, in vitro serovar conversion mediated by chromosomal rearrangement, due to as yet unknown genetic mechanisms, had occurred.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Fatty acid profiles in the family Leptospiraceae.

Fatty acid profiles of six leptospira strains representative of genera, species, and serogroups within the family Leptospiraceae were determined by gas liquid chromatography (GLC) of fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) derivatives. The influence of methodological and biological variables on FAME profiles of the same strain was tested. FAME profiles were sharply affected by the fatty acid composition of the culture medium but not by the growth phase. Twenty-four FAME peaks were selected on the basis of their presence in repeated gas chromatographic runs of single strains. Inter-strain divergences of FAME profiles were quantified by linear regression analysis (LR). Step-wise divergences in FAME profiles were observed between strains at serogroup, species, and genus levels.

Chromatography, Gas↗
PubMed1988

Recent trends in human leptospirosis in Italy.

The recent epidemiological trends of human leptospirosis in Italy were investigated using data collected for the years 1981-1985. A total of 626 hospitalized patients with clinical diagnoses of suspected leptospirosis were reported by hospital centers from several Italian regions. Epidemiological, clinical and seroimmunological data were collected in 517 of these cases and examined by the National Center for Leptospirosis. Serological findings in 33.5% of these subjects met the criteria for confirmation of the disease. In 21.8% of the subjects, low titer antibodies were detected, which possibly reflected previous leptospiral infections. An early antibiotic treatment of the current infection may also have lowered the seroimmunological response in some of these patients. In 59.3% of the confirmed cases, modes of transmission were allotted equally between accidental events and recreational or occupational activities. Drinking water from an open air fountain emerged as an uncommon mode of transmission; it was responsible for an outbreak of 33 cases of leptospirosis. In another 37.07% of the subjects, it was impossible to establish the mode of transmission. Respiratory or influenza-like symptoms were the only clinical signs of illness in 21.2% of the patients with confirmed leptospirosis. In comparison to the sixties and seventies, the prevalence of infecting serovars showed increasing incidence of infections due to serovars of the Javanica (11.0%) and Australis (11.0%) serogroups and an important decrease in the Bataviae serogroup infections (from 58.8% in rice-field workers in the forties to 0.6% in the years 1981-1985). Sejroe serogroup infections accounted for 4.5 per cent of confirmed cases of leptospirosis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Broad reacting surface antigens in Leptospira biflexa serovar andamana.

Previous investigations had demonstrated that genus-specific and species-specific antigens of leptospires are deep-seated within the leptospiral cell. Conversely, the present study has shown that strain CH11, serovar andamana of the non-pathogenic species of Leptospira biflexa is endowed on its surface with two cross-reacting antigens; a newly recognized antigen common to L. interrogans and L. biflexa spp. and an antigenic determinant common to a previously described genus-specific protein antigen (GP-Ag). The serovar andamana, when thimerosal-treated, behaved like an interspecies-specific antigen, cross-reacting in the complement fixation test with sera from rabbits immunized with L. interrogans and L. biflexa spp. and with sera from subjects with leptospirosis from various serovars. In the immuno electron microscopic test, human leptospirotic sera bound to the surface of thimerosal-treated andamana and not to the surface of untreated andamana showing that an interspecies-specific antigen was located underneath the outermost layer of this serovar. In the same test, the monoclonal antibody GP-7 against the GP-Ag bound to the surface of untreated andamana and not to the surface of thimerosal-treated andamana, showing that an antigenic determinant, common to GP-Ag and different from the first one, was located on the outer membrane of andamana. In human leptospirotic sera, antibodies against the cross-reacting antigen of thimerosal-treated andamana demonstrated by the complement fixation test were formed earlier and in a higher percentage of sera than the serovar-specific antibodies against 16 L. interrogans serovars demonstrated by the microagglutination test.

Agglutination Tests↗
PubMed1988

Rickettsiae of the spotted fever group associated with the host-parasite system Oryctolagus cuniculi/Rhipicephalus pusillus.

Wild rabbits--Oryctolagus cuniculi--living in large numbers in a protected zone of Tuscany, the park of Migliarino--San Rossore--Massaciuccoli, showed to be carriers of the hard tick Rhipicephalus pusillus, previously observed in North Africa and Sicily. Antibodies to Rickettsia conorii and R. slovaca were detected in 78.9 per cent of the wild rabbits captured in that area. Seroconversion towards R. conorii was also observed in guinea pigs inoculated with homogenates of R. pusillus parasitizing the wild rabbits. These results identify an ecological niche of rickettsiae of the Spotted fever group in the host-parasite system O. cuniculi/R. pusillus. Attempts to isolate rickettsiae from the ticks and the wild rabbits were unsuccessful both in the egg yolk sac and in the guinea pig. This failure probably shows the low pathogenicity of the rickettsiae parasitizing the biosystem O. cuniculi/R. pusillus.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Prevalence of leptospirosis in man. Pilot survey.

A survey on the prevalence of leptospirosis was performed on the population living in an area of central Italy. The size of the sample was calculated in order to provide significant results in the case of a prevalence of infection in not less than 1% of the population. Results demonstrated an unexpectedly wide circulation of leptospirosis in the surveyed area, showing a prevalence rate of infection of 11.34% for people living in rural areas and 3.08% for people living in the main town. The highest prevalence of infection (17.44%) was found in people between 30 and 44 years of age, living in rural areas. Such a wide circulation of undiagnosed past leptospiral infections was attributed both to the prevalence of mild clinical cases of leptospirosis in humans and the lack of microbiological tests performed to differentiate current leptospirosis from other infectious illnesses. An unexpected persistence in sera of co-agglutinins towards non-pathogenic serovars of L. biflexa was also noticed in healthy people. Criteria were established for the extension of the survey on the prevalence of leptospirosis to cover larger areas by limiting sampling to the more exposed age groups and to areas representative of a larger land belt.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Selection of antigenic variants from Leptospira interrogans serovar canicola by means of anti-canicola monoclonal antibody.

Antigenic variants were isolated from canicola by a single selection with anti-canicola monoclonal antibody CT-3. The variants were not identical to any serovars of serogroup Canicola and thought to be a new serovar. Variation frequency was calculated at 5.9 X 10(-4). The usefulness of monoclonal antibodies for selection of antigenic variants of leptospiras is discussed.

Agglutination Tests↗
PubMed1987

A waterborne outbreak of leptospirosis.

During the period from July 10-26, 1984, 33 cases of serologically confirmed leptospirosis occurred in a small town in central Italy. The fatality rate, including the deaths of two unconfirmed cases, was 8.6% (3 of 35). Based on serologic evidence, the infection was caused by leptospires of the serogroup Australis. Epidemiologic study showed that the patients contracted the infection by drinking water from a fountain. The source of leptospiral contamination was probably a hedgehog trapped in a reservoir of water not in use but still connected to the water system of the fountain.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

More experience on the microagglutination test in the diagnosis of Legionella pneumophila infection.

The sensitivity of the indirect immunofluorescence (IFA) test in Legionella pneumophila infection is said to be maximal when a plyimmunoglobulin conjugate is used. However commercially available non-class-specific fluorescent antisera are not always sensitive enough to detect IgM antibodies as class-specific conjugates do. IFA test's drawback is its inability to detect early stages of infection. We routinely performed the microagglutination (MA) test in order to check the reliability of this test alone in screening diagnostic work for L. pneumophila group 1 infections. The 252 sera tested were from suspected or confirmed legionellosis cases. Five-hundred and thirty sera from healthy-people, 49 sera from patients with serologically confirmed chlamydia, coxiella and mycoplasma pneumonia, and ten sera from patients with Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection were used as controls. There was a good agreement between IFA and MA tests, the MA proving almost as specific as, and in some cases more sensitive than the IFA test. This was particularly evident in early stages of infection. For these reasons, together with its low cost and the ease to perform, it appears that the MA test can be a useful screening test for presumptive cases of legionellosis even on a single serum specimen.

Agglutination Tests↗
PubMed1985

[Preliminary studies on the occurrence of Rickettsiae of the spotted fever group in Rhipicephalus sanguineus captured in suburban areas].

In the urban periphery of Rome, two sub-zones could be distinguished, characterized by uncultivated steppeland and by small shacks with large quantities of domestic refuse, respectively. Rhipicephalus sanguineus appeared to be typical of this second sub-zone. R. sanguineus adults and nymphae were captured in different seasonal periods and were checked for the prevalence of rickettsiae of the Spotted Fever (SF) group. Moreover, larvae from hatched eggs, laid by captured R. sanguineus females, were checked for the transovarial transmission of rickettsiae. Ten lots each of three guinea-pigs, seronegative to rickettsiae of the SF group, were inoculated with R. sanguineus extracts, prepared from adults or larvae. Clinical signs of infection, fever and scrotal reaction, could be observed only in one lot of guinea-pigs inoculated with adult parasites. On the other hand, in 8 out of 10 guinea pig lots, antibodies to the soluble antigens of R. conori and R. slovaca were observed by the complement fixation (CF) test. In the remaining two lots only antibodies to R. slovaca were detected. No antibodies to Coxiella burneti could be demonstrated in the same sera.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Antitoxoplasma antibodies in mothers in labour and their newborn children.

A serological investigation on antitoxoplasma antibodies of women in labour and their newborn babies was carried out on a population sample representative of a defined geographical area. The relevant findings revealed: a) high titer antibodies in 21.2% of parturient-newborn pairs; b) slight or non-apparent toxoplasma infection, limited to 2.4% of newborns with high titer antibodies; c) quick drop of antibody titer in two thirds of seropositive women in labour observed 90 days from childbirth; d) a steady proportion of seronegative pregnant women - 40% ca. - detected in all age groups from 20 and 40 years and over. These findings are discussed, and assumptions on their meaning are put forward.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Complement fixation reaction in toxoplasmosis.

In toxoplasmosis serodiagnosis the complement fixation reaction (CF) is barely sensitive and specific and supplies results below the general standard levels of this technique. The reasons for this deficiency are discussed and detected in the preparation modalities of the toxoplasma antigens. Two diagnostic antigens are prepared and evaluated; the former, a suspension of whole toxoplasma (WT) the latter a total extract of toxoplasma (TET). The antigens are characterized by the preparative process, culture host and the extractive technique with a modified ultrasonic disintegrator. The antigens are used in the CF reaction, performed with the modified LBCF method, with a 100% hemolysis reading (H 100). The LBCF-H 100 reaction with WT and TET antigens is evaluated parellely to the indirect immunofluorescence reaction (IF) and dye test (DT) on 2514 human sera from cases os suspected toxoplasmosis and pregnant women. The analysis of the serological results pointed out that the LBCF-H 100 reaction performed with WT antigen, shows a sensitivity and specificity equivalent to that of the DT. The LBCF-H 100 reaction with TET antigen extends the range of the antibodies detectable with WT antigen. The optimal serological combination to identify the highest number of seropositive cases of toxplasma infection is given by LBCF-TET and IF reactions.

Complement Fixation Tests↗
PubMed1978

[Evaluation of non-treponemal VDRL and RPRC reactions].

The non-treponemal reactions VDRL and RPRC for the serological diagnosis of syphilis were compared in serum samples having low-titer antibodies and/or antibody dissociations. The analysis of the serological results obtained by performing non-treponemal (VDRL, RPRC) and treponemal (FTA-5, FTA-ABS) tests indicates the best choice of reactions for the serology of lues, which may be summarized as follows: a) The VDRL is the most sensitive and specific test of the non-treponemal reactions which employ cardiolipin antigen. b) A screening serology of syphilis, performed by associating two selected tests (VDRL, FTA-5), demonstrates more positive cases than the use of only one test. c) The serological identification of the antibodies present in luetic sera, obtained by associating selected treponemal and non-treponemal tests (VDRL, FTA-5, FTA-ABS, CF-ATPS) enables us to correlate the serological data with the main biological phases of lues, even during the periods of clinical latency of the disease.

Antibodies↗
PubMedDate not supplied

In vitro susceptibility of isolates of Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. to antimicrobial agents.

In the present study, we investigate the in vitro antimicrobial activity of macrolides, beta-lactams and tetracycline against Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. clinical and tick isolates. Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined in normal growth condition and after pre-exposure of the strains to sub-MIC of the founder of each drug family. All the classes of tested antibiotics showed good antibacterial activity against all the borreliae isolates and there were no significant susceptibility differences among clinical and tick isolates. After pre-exposure of the strains to sub-MIC of erythromycin, cefoxitin and tetracycline, we observed that some strains of B. burgdorferi s.l. showed higher MIC values to both the pre-exposed drug and drugs of the same family. The less susceptibility of borreliae, in the last growth condition in vitro, could be one of the justifications of clinical results indicating the limited efficacy of these antibiotics in treatment of B. burgdoferi infections.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗