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Biomedical subjects

W Kaplan

Publications and source records attributed to W Kaplan.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Lobomycosis as a disease of the Atlantic bottle-nosed dolphin (Tursiops truncatus Montagu, 1821).

Skin lesions on an Atlantic bottlenosed dolphin, captured off the coast of Florida, were investigated and found to be histologically and microbiologically indistinguishable from those caused in humans by Loboa loboi. All attempts to isolate the etiologic agent or to transmit the infection to mice and monkeys ended in failure. Sight records of other suspected dolphin cases of lobomycosis in Florida waters are described along with citations of two previously confirmed and published dolphin infections.

Animals↗

Human pulmonary adiospiromycosis.

Emmonsia crescens, a fungus that causes granulomatous pulmonary adiospiromycosis, is an uncommon human pathogen. Histopathologic and ultrastructural evaluation of a new case of human adiospiromycosis from Guatemaia showed pulmonary granulomatosis in respose to the inhaled spores of the fungus. The wall of each spore consisted of three zones. A fenestrated layer was clearly demonstrated within the middle zone. Neither budding nor endosporulation was detected. Our findings support the pathogenetic view that E crescens produces local changes by progressive enlargement of the inhaled spores and surrounding granulomas. Characteristically, the fungus does not propagate or disseminate within the lung

Adult↗

Antigenic relationship between American and African isolates of Blastomyces dermatitidis as determined by immunofluorescence.

The antigenic relationship between American and African isolates of Blastomyces dermatitidis was investigated through the use of the fluorescent antibody technique. Preliminary results suggest that the American and African isolates studies are not antigenically identical. The American isolates share antigens with the African ones; however, it appears that they also possess distinct antigens. Additional studies are necessary to confirm these findings and to draw any conclusion whether the African isolates represent a serotype(s) of B. dermatitidis or a distinct species.

Africa↗

Identification of the Prototheca species by immunofluorescence.

Studies were carried out to develop fluorescent antibody reagents for the identification of the Prototheca species and for their differentiation from morphologically similar fungi of various genera in formalin-fixed tissues. Antisera against representative isolates of P. filamenta, P. moriformis, P. stagnora, P. wickerhamii, and P. zopfii were produced in rabbits. Antiglobulins, labeled with fluorescein-isothiocyanate that intensely stained most cells of the homologous species, were selected for use as potential diagnostic reagents. By adsorbing the conjugates with selected heterologous cross-staining protothecae, reagents that were both sensitive and specific were obtained. Evaluation of the adsorbed conjugates with sections of tissue infected with protothecae, sections of tissue infected with morphologically similar fungi, and cultures of protothecae showed that these reagents are useful for the rapid and reliable identification of the Prototheca species.

Adsorption↗

Comparative evaluation of five serological methods for the diagnosis of sporotrichosis.

The diagnosis of sporotrichosis can be time consuming. Serological procedures could facilitate the rapid and accurate diagnosis of this disease. A slide latex agglutination (SLA) test for sporotrichosis was developed and compared with the tube agglutination (TA), complement fixation (CF), and immunodiffusion (ID) tests in the serological study of 80 proven human cases of sporotrichosis representing the cutaneous, subcutaneous, and extracutaneous forms of the disease. In addition, the indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) technique was applied to 61 case sera. In the SLA test, latex particles sensitized with culture filtrate antigens from the yeast form of Sporothrix schenckii (B 959) detected 94% of the cases, as compared to 96% of the cases detected by the TA test, 68% by the CF test, and 56% by the ID test. The IFA test detected 90% of the 61 cases. The SLA and ID tests were specific, showing no reactions with sera from 86 persons with no disease or with diseases other than sporotrichosis. Because of its sensitivity, specificity, ease of performance, and ability to provide results in 5 min, the SLA test is highly recommended for routine use in the clinical laboratory.

Agglutination Tests↗

Pathogenesis and immunological aspects of experimental histoplasmosis in cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis).

Studies were carried out to obtain basic information on the pathogenesis of experimental histoplasmosis in Cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) and to determine whether such infected primates can be used as a source of positive reference sera in serological tests for histoplasmosis. Ten monkeys were inoculated intraperitoneally with approximately 9.1 x 10(7) viable Histoplasma capsulatum yeast-form cells or cell aggregates. At periodical intervals, their sera were tested for antibodies to H. capsulatum by the complement fixation (CF), immunodiffusion, and latex agglutination tests. Selected monkeys were also sacrificed at periodical intervals for cultural and pathological evaluation of their tissues. Infection with H. capsulatum elicited high-antibody responses, and the fungus disseminated to many organs. Initially, the infected monkeys developed CF titers as high as 1:256 to both histoplasmin and H. capsulatum yeast cell antigens. Subsequent challenges boosted the CF antibody titers to levels as high as 1:1,024. All of the monkeys developed M precipitins, and some also produced H precipitins. Latex agglutination titers as high as 1:1,024 were also demonstrated. Our findings show that Cynomolgus monkeys experimentally infected with H. capsulatum by the intraperitoneal route develop a mild form of histoplasmosis and that these animals can be used as a source of reference sera in serological tests for histoplasmosis.

Animals↗