Cell adherence--a determinant of virulence in Yersinia enterocolitica.

The adherence of pathogenic bacteria to eukaryotic cells plays a central role in their ability to colonize the mucosal epithelial surfaces. The adherence by Y. enterocolitica to the mucosal surface of the gut is the initiating event leading to penetration of mucosa. Adhesion of 10 probable pathogenic and one non-pathogenic isolate was studied using ileum and colon epithelial cells of mouse for 90 minutes. Adhesion study revealed that isolates of Y. enterocolitica had a good adhesive property while non pathogenic showed negligible adherence. All isolates showed better adherence to colon epithelial cells. The organism continued to be excreted in faeces up to 8-10 days after oral feeding. Adhesion positive isolates were found to be virulent when tested in mice for diarrhoea and death. Adhesion was found to be thermoregulated.

Occupational contact dermatitis among the traditional 'tie and dye' cottage industry in Western Rajasthan.

BACKGROUND: Dyeing is an age-old process and forms an integral part of textile industries. Tying is a process by which a particular part of cloth is prevented from the process of dyeing. The skin diseases in workers engaged in the 'tie and dye' industry have not been extensively studied. AIMS: To study the prevalence of contact dermatitis among workers engaged in the 'tie and dye' industries in and around Jodhpur (Western Rajasthan). METHODS: One thousand three hundred workers engaged in 'tie and dye' work were evaluated for occupation-related dermatitis. Those with skin lesions were subjected to patch tests using 2% aqueous solution of the dyes and chemicals commonly used by them. These included direct dyes, VAT dyes, sulfur dyes and azo dyes. Fifty workers without skin lesions served as controls. RESULTS: One hundred patients (7.69%) had dermatitis involving the exposed sites, mainly the hands and forearms. Eighty-one patients showed positive reactions to one or more dyes, most commonly Red RC base (azo dye), followed by naphthol. CONCLUSION: Red RC base and naphthol were the commonest allergens in the 'tie and dye' industry.

Florid cutaneous papillomatosis with adenocarcinoma of stomach in a 35 year old male.

Various paraneoplastic dermatoses may be seen in association with underlying visceral, especially gastrointestinal, malignancy. Florid cutaneous papillomatosis describes the sudden appearance of multiple acuminate keratotic papules that morphologically resemble viral warts. It may be seen in association with acanthosis nigricans and/or the sign of Leser Triotalat. We report a 35-year-old male with extensive seborrhoeic keratoses and florid cutaneous papillomatosis. Unusually marked verrucous changes caused disfigurement of the hands and feet. The patient also reported dyspepsia, abdominal distention and weight loss 6 months prior to the development of cutaneous lesions. Gastroscopy revealed a large growth in the stomach. Histopathology of the tumor showed features of adenocarcinoma.

Juvenile hyaline fibromatosis in siblings.

Juvenile hyaline fibromatosis (JHF) is a rare, autosomal recessively inherited disorder. We report two siblings with multiple large tumors on the scalp, translucent papules on the nape of the neck, hypertrophic gingiva, and severe flexural contractures of large joints. The histopathology from the skin lesions showed features characteristic of juvenile hyaline fibromatosis. The cases are being reported on account of the extreme rarity of the condition.

Histopathological and ultrastructural alterations of induced Yersinia enterocolitica infection in mice.

Yersinia enterocolitica is an enteric bacterium and infections by this organism are mostly foodborne. It has been implicated to cause enterocolitis, terminal ilitis. diarrhoea, mesenteric lymphadenitis and arthritis in man. Due to paucity of information regarding histopathological and specially ultrastructural alterations in tissues affected, this study was planned with mice as the experimental model. Nine pathogenic Y.enterocoliticaisolates were used to infect 80 albino mice by oral and intraperitoneal route. Pathological alterations were studied by light and electron microscopy. Histopathological examination of intestines showed severe edema, purulent enteritis, goblet cell hyperplasia infiltration of mononuclear cells, thickening of mucosa and necrosis of the tips of villi. Liver showed congestion, hepatocellular degeneration and necrosis, atrophy of hepatocytes and microabcesses. The lungs revealed congestion, edema, haemorrhage and purulent ronchopneumonia, while kidneys showed mild necrotic changes and bacterial emboli in glomeruli. Ultrastructural changes were indicative of mitochondrial degeneration and their loss in kidneys, membranous degeneration with formation of myelin figures in lungs and disorganization, disruption and bleb formation of microvilli in intestines. Y.enterocolitica caused significant histopathological and ultrastructural alterations in experimentally infected mice. Variation in pathogenicity of different strains of Y.enterocolitica was also observed.

Y.enterocolitica gastroenteritis - A prospective study.

Two thousand faecal samples were collected from diarrhoeal patients of all age groups and processed by using MacConkey agar and Yersinia selective agar [Cefsulodin-Irgasan-Novobiocin (CIN) media]. One hundred and seventy faecal samples from non-diarrhoeal (healthy controls) were also processed. Samples were subjected to cold enrichment before processing. Three hundred and seventy-four (18.7%) faecal samples were positive for bacterial pathogens, of which 41 (2.05%) had Y.enterocolitica infection. Y.enterocolitica was more common in patients above 16 years of age 23/41 (56%). Higher rates of isolation were recorded during winter months. Of the typable isolates 21.9% belonged to 0:3 serotype followed by 01, 2a, 3 (17%) serotype. Twelve (29.2%) isolates were untypable. 51.2% isolates of Y.enterocolitica belonged to biotype IV whereas 24.4%, 19.5%, 4.9% belonged to type I, II and III respectively. Majority of the isolates were found sensitive to chloramphenicol, gentamicin, amikacin, ciprofloxacin, ampicillin, netromycin, cefoperazone, tobramycin and pefloxacin. All isolates were resistant to ofloxacin.

Seropositivity for intracellular bacterial infections among abattoir associated personnels.

Studies were carried out to detect the antibodies against zoonotic intracellular bacterial infections viz., brucellosis, listeriosis and tuberculosis in abattoir associated personnel employing dot-ELISA. Out of 165 serum samples tested 25.5, 40.0 and 10.9 per cent were detected as positive for brucellosis, listeriosis and tuberculosis, respectively. Immunodetection of these occupationally exposed persons for IgM as well as IgG antibodies revealed positivity for IgM, IgG and IgM + IgG in 8.5, 17.6 and 13.9 per cent for listeriosis and 5.5, 2.4 and 3.0 for tuberculosis respectively. Antibodies against brucellosis and listeriosis both were detected in 10.9 per cent persons, while 6.7 per cent persons were positive for both listeriosis and tuberculosis. No person was found positive with both brucellosis and tuberculosis. All the three infections were detected in 3.6 per cent persons.

Identification of bovine sperm specific polypeptides reactive with antisperm antibodies.

The present study was taken to characterize molecular weights of sperm specific polypeptides antigenic to rabbits and calf with the aim to assess their immunoreactivity with IgG antibodies in sera from immuno-infertile cows. Seropositivity for antisperm IgG antibodies in 75 repeat breeder and 15 pregnant control cattle was tested by cellular ELISA using washed spermatozoa antigen from 4 bulls. Molecular weights of bovine sperm polypeptides antigenic to rabbit and calf were determined by 10% SDS-PAGE and Western blotting. Molecular weights of sperm peptides reactive with sera from immuno-infertile cows were also determined. Seropositivity of antisperm IgG antibodies for bull I, II, III and IV was 23.6, 14.6, 26.6 and 20%, respectively. A total of 16 polypeptides were discernible on gel. Out of these, 7 polypeptides were immunoreactive with sera from hyperimmunized rabbits as compared to 3 poly-peptides which reacted with sera from hyper-immunized calf. Only two polypeptides were reactive with sera from immuno-infertile cows. Variable number of sperm polypeptides and their immunoreactivity have been reported in different species. Antigenicity of different polypeptides in sperm needs further investigations.