Apmis

Traavik, Terje

doi: 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1979.tb02395.xpmid: 433598

Antisera from various animal species containing antibodies to »Runde« virus were not able to neutralize virus infection in newborn mice, the outcome of which is an acute, fatal CNS disease. There was, however, one noticeable exception. Mixtures of virus and hyperimmune mouse serum or ascitic fluid inoculated intracerebrally into newborn mice resulted in a persistent infection and a chronic disease which had previously only been recognized in 2 to 3‐week‐old mice inoculated with »Runde« virus. A serum pool from persistently infected mice had the same effect, though this was less pronounced. The addition of unheated guinea pig serum to the virus‐hyperimmune serum mixtures reinforced the tendency to persistence and chronic disease, and unheated guinea pig serum alone modified the infection in the same way. The results suggest an immunological basis for the virus persistence and chronic disease in suckling mice.

Traavik, Terje

doi: 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1979.tb02396.xpmid: 107724

Sera from 341 individuals living in the distribution area of the tick Ixodes recinus were tested for tick‐borne encephalitis (TBE) antibodies by HAI and gel diffusion. Kaolin treatment was unreliable for the removal of non‐specific HAI inhibitors. Seven sera positive after this treatment were shown to be negative after acetone extraction/flotation centrifugation. The antibody prevalence rate was 19.6%. Seventy‐one % of the sera had titres > 40. The prevalence rate decreased with age. Some sera with low HAI titres could be confirmed by a sensitive Ouchterlony technique, while some with high titres could not, even after ten‐fold concentration. Clinical information obtained retrospectively regarding patients with high antibody titres revealed some cases consistent with a TBE virus infection. Antibody prevalence rates indicate that TBE virus is more active than Uukuniemi and Kemorovo group virus in tick‐infested areas. Mixed foci of these viruses have been indicated by serological findings and virus isolations.

Borghans, J. G. A.; Hosli, Marja Th. C.; Olsen, H.; Ravn, Elsebeth M.; Siboni, K.; SØgaard, P.

doi: 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1979.tb02397.xpmid: 373379

In November‐December 1977 an epidemic of bacteræmia due to P. cepacia was observed in Odense, Denmark (nine patients), and in Nijmegen, Holland (seven patients). All patients recovered. The epidemic was traced to intrinsic contamination of two batches of the anæsthetic fentanyl. All isolates from the patients and from the two batches belonged to the same biotype, had identical sensitivity patterns, and identical antigens. The P. cepacia strain differed from stock strains in being able to grow in two passages in methyl‐p‐hydroxi‐benzoate, 0.5 mg/ml, which promoted the growth of the microorganism; inocula of 2–20 cfu were sufficient to initiate growth in the drug or preservative. These facts indicate the inadvisability of using p‐hydroxi‐benzoates as preservatives in vials. The strain was inhibited at temperatures above 38.5°C, corresponding to the recovery of the patients after a period with fever above 39°C. Fourteen out of 15 patients examined had agglutinin titres ≥ 320, while 36 blood donors had titres <40. Of 12 patients with postoperative fever in the same period whose blood cultures did not yield P. cepacia, three had titres >320.

Berthold, C‐H.; Berthold, P.; Nord, C. E.

doi: 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1979.tb02398.xpmid: 373380

Streptococcus mutans subspecies sobrinus serotype d (B13) was cultivated in a fermentor under controlled conditions in two different media: a complex proteose‐peptone medium and a defined minimal medium (C4). Specimens from different growth phases were examined by electron‐microscopy and tested electron‐immunohistochemically. Irrespective of the growth medium used, no differences were observed in the immunohistochemical staining pattern of bacteria during the lag, the exponential and the early stationary phases. Specimens obtained several hours after exponential growth contained areas where the bacteria showed staining that ranged from a strong deposit of reaction product to no deposit. This appearance seems partly to explain the differences in the intensity of immunohistochemical staining of certain bacteria observed in dental plaques stained for identification of S. mutans subspecies sobrinus.

Svenungsson, Bo; Lindberg, ALF A.

doi: 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1979.tb02399.xpmid: 373381

An antiserum against the synthetic disaccharide abequose 13 rhamnose (AR), representative of Salmonella O‐antigen 8, coupled to bovine serum albumin (BSA) was used for diagnosis of Salmonella bacteria by indirect immunofluorescence (IFL) and by co‐agglutination (COA) using sensitized protein A‐containing staphylococci. Among the 1150 enteric bacteria tested in IFL, the antiserum correctly identified all 99 Salmonella serogroup C 2 and C 3 bacteria with O‐antigen 8. No fluorescence was seen with 484 Salmonella bacteria belonging to other serogroups or 567 non‐Salmonella enteric bacteria. The anti‐AR‐BSA serum was favourable as compared to a conventional Salmonella factor O8 serum as regards both titre and specificity. In the COA test, all 22 Salmonella serogroup C 2 and C 3 strains agglutinated strongly and within seconds, whereas no agglutination could be seen when 93 Salmonella bacteria representing other serogroups were tested.

Vinther, O.; Freundt, E. A.

doi: 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1979.tb02400.xpmid: 433599

The ultrastructural aspects of the interaction of Mycoplasma gallisepticum with specific rabbit antibody have been studied. In particular, fixation conditions which allow the simultaneous preservation of cellular fine structure and membrane antigenicity have been established and applied in a procedure of indirect immunological labelling of the antibody‐coated organisms with ferritin conjugated sheep anti‐rabbit IgG. The advantages of working with agar embedded organisms in a multistep labelling procedure are discussed. In membrane fractions of M. gallisepticum, prepared by osmolysis and freeze‐thawing, only sealed membranes retained their antibody‐binding capacity. Electron microscopical examination of “break‐through” colanies from immune growth inhibition zones revealed that the majority of cells in these colonies were destroyed, sometimes limited only by a single‐layered membrane and without extracellular antibody coat. An exception from this was the presumedly young cells in the periphery of colonies and in microcolonies which appeared to be intact and had a heavy antibody layer surrounding the cells. Based on these characteristics, a possible sequence of events is suggested eventually leading to destruction of mycoplasma organisms in immune growth inhibition zones.

Hovelius, Birgitta; Mårdh, Per‐anders

doi: 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1979.tb02401.xpmid: 107721

Staphylococcus saprophyticus was found to differ from Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus by its ability to agglutinate sheep erythrocytes. On testing 30 strains of each species, 28 strains of S. saprophyticus and one strain each of the other two species, caused agglutination. Twenty‐eight of 30 strains of Staphylococcus cohnii and Staphylococcus xylosis failed to cause haemagglutination. The haemagglutinating activity of S. saprophyticus. when using a 10 per cent bacterial suspension was demonstrated in dilutions of 1:2–1:32. It was reduced twofold, at most, when exposing the bacteria to 56° C for 30 minutes, while no agglutination could be demonstrated after treatment for 10 minutes at 8° C. No haemagglutination could be demonstrated after treatment of the bacteria with a 5 per cent solution of trypsin. Treatment of S. saprophyticus with 0.1 M EDTA did not affect the haemagglutinating activity, whereas exposure of the bacteria to 10 per cent trichloroacetic acid reduced the activity. The haemagglutination was D‐mannose‐resistant, and it was inhibited by homologous rabbit antiserum. The agglutinates dispersed when heated at 45–56°C for 30 minutes. A few of the strains of S. saprophyticus tested also agglutinated human, bovine, and guinea pig erythrocytes.

Bevanger, Lars; Mæeland, Johan A.

doi: 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1979.tb02402.xpmid: 107722

The Ibc protein fraction of group B streptococci was isolated from the type Ib strain H36B, the type Ic strain A909, and the type Ic strain 335, and examined against antisera by immunodiffusion and immunoelectrophoresis. The fraction from the Ib strain and one of the Ic strains (A909) contained two antigens or groups of antigens, called the α and β antigens, respectively. Strain 335 produced the a but not the β antigen. This was also the case with three other group B isolates previously classified as type Ic. One type II and one type III strain produced both antigens. The results suggest that group B streptococci producing the Ibc fraction can be subdivided further on the basis of the antigens that are present in that fraction.

Danielsson, Dan; Sandström, Eric

doi: 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1979.tb02403.xpmid: 86276

Among a group of four selected strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, common and strain‐specific antigens were demonstrated by immunoelectrophoresis, indirect immunofluorescence (IFL) and co‐agglutination (COA). In preparations of ultrasonically‐disrupted organisms, the strain‐specific antigens appeared in crossed‐line immunoelectrophoresis (C‐LIE) with antigen containing intermediate agar get as a two‐peak precipitin line, one peak close to the antigen well, the other towards the anode. A similar pattern was found for each of the four strains studied. These strain‐specific precipitin lines were also identified in rocket‐line immunoelectrophoresis (R‐LIE) tests, which were found useful for comparative studies. Using whole cells, strain‐specific antigens were also demonstrated by COA and IFL tests with the use od cross‐absorbed antibodies. The results corresponded to those obtained with C‐LIE and R‐LIE. Immunosorption experiments indicated identity between the strain‐specific antigens shown by COA tests and those demonstrated by C‐LIE and R‐LIE tests.

Ripa, K. Torvald; MØller, Birger R.; Mårdh, Per‐Anders; Freundt, Eyvind A.; Melsen, Flemming

doi: 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1979.tb02404.xpmid: 107723

Chlamydia trachomalis is a common cause of sexually transmitted diseases. Recently it has been shown that chlamydiae are also responsible for complications to such lower genital tract infections. In this study, isolates of C. trachomatis from the fallopian tubes of patients with acute salpingitis were inoculated direct into the fallopian tubes of two, and through the cervical canal into the uterine cavity of one grivet monkey. The experimental infections resulted in a self‐limited acute salpingitis in the three animals. C. trachomatis was recovered from the monkeys 2 and 3 weeks post inoculation. As found at laparotomy, the infected tubes were swollen and reddened, and there was watery exudate in the abdominal ostia. Microscopically, cellular infiltrates — mainly lymphocytes — were seen in the mucosa, muscularis and subserosa of the tubes. Serologically, a primary antibody response with an IgM to IgG conversion was found. Salpingitis did not occur in a control monkey inoculated in the tubes with a medium lacking Chlamydia. The histological changes in the fallopian tubes of the infected monkeys were reminiscent of those described as being characteristic of »gonococcal« salpingitis in man. The fulfilment of Koch's postulates in the animal model used adds to the earlier evidence that C. trachomatis is capable of causing acute salpingitis in humans.