Adenoviruses in faeces of children with acute gastroenteritis in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Faeces from 746 children less than 5 years old with acute gastroenteritis were screened for the presence of adenovirus particles or antigens by immunoelectron microscopy (IEM) and enzyme immunoassay (EIA). Thirty-five samples were positive by both IEM and EIA, two only by IEM, and two only by EIA, giving a total of 39 (5.2%) samples with positive results. Of these, 25 could be propagated in HEp2 cells and were neutralized by one of the antisera to adenovirus types 1 to 18. The remaining 14 samples could be propagated only in the 293 permanent line of human cells transformed by adenovirus type 5 DNA [Graham et al, 1977] and were not neutralized by antisera to adenovirus types 1 to 31. An EIA carried out by the antibody-capture technique, using antiserum specific for "enteric" adenoviruses [Johansson et al, 1979], gave positive results with all isolates that could be propagated only in 293 cells and with none of those capable of growing in HEp2 cells.     

Some endocrine and morphological aspects of the acute toxicity of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)

Hormonal status was evaluated in TCDD-treated rats and in pair-fed and ad libitum-fed controls in order to separate hormonal changes resulting from the toxic insult of TCDD from those arising from progressive feed deprivation as it occurs in pair-fed controls. TCDD-treated rats received either a usually non-lethal (25 micrograms/kg) or a usually lethal (125 micrograms/kg) dose of TCDD whereas pair-fed and ad libitum-fed controls were given vehicle alone. Animals were terminated at predetermined time intervals and several hormones measured in serum or plasma. In addition, the morphology of the thyroid, pancreas, and pituitary was also examined. In both dosage groups, TCDD-treatment had the following effects: decreased TT4, FT4, insulin, and glucagon; mixed effects upon TT3, FT3, TSH, and GH. Pair-feeding to the non-lethal dose of TCDD had no effect on any of the hormones measured. Pair-feeding to the lethal dose of TCDD had the the following effects: slightly decreased TT4, FT4, TT3, TSH, and insulin; no effect on FT3 and glucagon. It is concluded that the endocrine status of TCDD-treated rats was different from that of pair-fed rats suggesting that some hormonal changes represent responses to an insult other than that due to starvation stress alone. A differential response between TCDD-treated and pair-fed rats was also observable morphologically in the corresponding endocrine glands indicating the importance of this additional control for morphologic observations in instances when reduced feed intake and body weight loss are prominent features of toxicity.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Trypanosoma evansi</Emphasis> in inbred and Swiss-Webster mice: distinct aspects of pathogenesis

Trypanosoma evansi (Trypanosomatidae, Kinetoplastida) is a salivarian trypanosomatid that infects eight mammal orders spread over America, Europe and Asia. In Brazil, T. evansi is the etiological agent of Mal de Cadeiras, a horse disease very often described in the region known as Pantanal do Mato Grosso. Few data concerning the genetic diversity and biology of subpopulations of T. evansi that circulate in Brazil are available. The factors that modulate the interaction of this parasite with its hosts also remain to be elucidated. Here we evaluated the course of experimental infection of six T. evansi isolates derived from domestic and wild animals in Swiss-Webster mice and three Mus musculus lineages. The follow-up included biological, immunological as well as biochemical and hematological parameters. The same isolates as well as three others were characterized by pulsed-field electrophoresis. Our results showed that T. evansi isolates displayed significant differences regarding behavior and morbidity patterns in the distinct mouse lineages. Nevertheless, these differences could not be correlated with pulsed-field electrophoresis profiles. Indeed, concerning this molecular marker, only microheterogeneity was observed. Moreover, we observed that the outcome of the infection is defined by both host genetic background and peculiarities (virulence factors) of the distinct T. evansi isolates. Anemia and hypoglycemia were the only features that could be observed in all mouse lineages, independently of the inoculated T. evansi subpopulation. In addition, our data also show that Mus musculus is a suitable model host for the study of the different pathogenetic features of T. evansi infection.     

High levels of interleukin-1 in patients with endemic pemphigus foliaceus

Endemic pemphigus foliaceus (EPF) is an autoimmune disease characterized by blister formation with a loss of cohesion and infiltration of inflammatory cells. We observed that supernatants of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients produced significantly more interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) than those from stimulated healthy controls. Furthermore, a Th2 bias was observed in EPF patients when the IL-5/gamma interferon ratio was analyzed. These results indicate that cells from pemphigus patients react with a vigorous proinflammatory response.     

Antimicrobial resistance of Salmonella serotypes isolated from slaughter-age pigs and environmental samples

The aim of this study was to determine the antimicrobial resistance patterns of Salmonella strains isolated from slaughter-age pigs and environmental samples collected at modern swine raising facilities in Brazil. Seventeen isolates of six serotypes of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica were isolated out of 1,026 collected samples: Salmonella Typhimurium (1), Salmonella Agona (5), Salmonella Sandiego (5), Salmonella Rissen (1), Salmonella Senftenberg (4), and Salmonella Javiana (1). Resistance patterns were determined to extended-spectrum penicillin (ampicillin), broad-spectrum cephalosporins (cefotaxime and ceftriaxone), aminoglycosides (streptomycin, neomycin, gentamicin, amikacin, and tobramycin), narrow-spectrum quinolone (nalidixic acid), broad-spectrum quinolone (ciprofloxacin and norfloxacin), tetracycline, trimethoprim, and chloramphenicol. Antimicrobial resistance patterns varied among serotypes, but isolates from a single serotype consistently showed the same resistance profile. All isolates were resistant to tetracycline, streptomycin, and nalidixic acid. One isolate, Salmonella Rissen, was also resistant to cefotaxime and tobramycin. All serotypes were susceptible to ceftriaxone, norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin, ampicillin, gentamicin, and chloramphenicol. The high resistance to tetracycline and streptomycin may be linked to their common use as therapeutic drugs on the tested farms. No relation was seen between nalidixic acid and fluoroquinolone resistance.     

Comparison of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, indirect immunofluorescence assay, and virus isolation for detection of respiratory viruses in nasopharyngeal secretions.

Nasopharyngeal secretions obtained from 94 children with acute respiratory illness were examined for the presence of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), adenovirus, and influenza virus type A by virus culturing (virus isolation technique [VIT]), immunofluorescence assay (IFA), and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Similar results were obtained in at least two tests for RSV, influenza virus type A, and adenovirus in 92 (97.9%), 88 (93.6%), and 88 (93.6%) cases, respectively. Both rapid virus detection methods showed good specificity for the diagnosis of these virus infections (greater than or equal to 90.7%) and were more sensitive than was VIT for RSV detection. In a more accurate statistical analysis, the indexes of agreement between VIT and ELISA were substantial for RSV (kappa = 0.69; zeta = 5.5; P less than 0.0001), influenza virus type A (kappa = 0.67; zeta = 5.3; P less than 0.0001), and adenovirus (kappa = 0.71; zeta = 6.0; P less than 0.0001), while it was almost perfect for RSV when ELISA was compared with IFA (kappa = 0.88; zeta = 5.7; P less than 0.0001). Although the observed agreement was good in the comparison of these two tests for these three viruses (89%0, the indexes of agreement were moderate in the comparison of IFA and VIT for RSV (K = 0.55; Z = 2.0; P < 0.05), influenza virus type A (K = 0.42; Z = 9.7; P < 0.0001), and adenovirus (K = 0.41; Z = 6.5; P < 0.0001) and of ELISA and IFA for influenza virus type A (K = 0.55; Z = 7.0; P < 0.0001) and adenovirus (K = 0.59; Z = 6.8; P < 0.0001). All of the statistical evaluations demonstrated better agreement between ELISA and VIT for influenza virus type A and adenovirus.     

Leu-676-Pro mutation of the androgen receptor causes complete androgen insensitivity syndrome in a large Hutterite kindred

A large Manitoba Hutterite kindred with X-linked receptor negative complete androgen insensitivity syndrome (CAIS) was studied. In attempts to identify all carriers of the syndrome in this kindred, using the androgen receptor (AR) cDNA, we have found a novel diagnostic Mspl polymorphic pattern, which cosegregates with the disease. This polymorphism was not detected in 79 unrelated X-chromosomes of which 22 were from Hutterite controls. We were able to localize the polymorphism to exon 4, which is known to encode part of the androgen receptor hormone binding domain. A single base substitution (T→C) was detected, which creates a new Mspl site. This novel transition mutation replaces Leu-676 with Pro at a site which is conserved in numerous members of the steroid receptor gene family. Sequencing all 8 exons of the AR revealed the Leu-676→Pro mutation as the only change in the primary structure of the receptor. Transfection of COS-l cells with an expression vector of the mutant AR demonstrates that this point mutation of nucleotide 2558 abolishes receptor binding activity. The mutation can easily be detected by MspI digestion of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplified exon 4 product.© 1995 wiley-Liss, Inc.     

The Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome (HPS) protein is part of a high molecular weight complex involved in biogenesis of early melanosomes

Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome (HPS) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder in which oculocutaneous albinism, bleeding tendency and a ceroid-lipofuscin lysosomal storage disease result from defects of multiple cytoplasmic organelles: melanosomes, platelet dense granules and lysosomes. The HPS polypeptide, a 700 amino acid protein which is unrelated to any known proteins, is likely to be involved in the biogenesis of these different organelles. Here, we show that HPS is a non-glycosylated, non-membrane protein which is a component of two distinct high molecular weight complexes. In non-melanotic cells the HPS protein is contained almost entirely in an approximately 200 kDa complex that is widely distributed throughout the cytosol. In melanotic cells the HPS protein is partitioned between this cytosolic complex and a >500 kDa complex that appears to consist of the approximately 200 kDa complex in association with membranous components. Subcellular fractionation, immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy studies indicate that the membrane-associated HPS complex of melanotic cells is associated with tubulovesicular structures, small non-coated vesicles, and nascent and early-stage melanosomes. These findings suggest that the HPS complex is involved in the biogenesis of early melanosomes.