Detection of Cryptococcus neoformans in bird excreta.

We evaluated 14 samples of bird excreta from pigeons, parrots, open billed storks and crows obtained from thirteen places in Bangkok and nearby areas between April and July 2004. These bird excreta were examined for Cryptococcus neoformans by direct plating method to inspect their ability to grow at 37 degrees C. Capsule production was examined by Indian ink preparation. They were also tested for urease and phenoloxidase enzymes. Cryptococcus neoformans var neoformans was recovered from pigeon excreta in 9.09%. This implies those having impaired immunity may get this fungus from the environment.

Preliminary study of the effect of vitamin E supplementation on the antioxidant status of hemoglobin-E carriers.

The antioxidant status of hemoglobin-E carriers was studied pre- and post-treatment with vitamin E for 3 months. Fourteen hemoglobin-E carriers (age = 21.36 +/- 1.08 years, BMI = 18.32 +/- 1.22 kg/m2) were treated with vitamin E 200 I.U. daily for 3 months. Fasting blood samples were collected and analyzed for erythrocyte superoxide dismutase activity, total antioxidant activity, hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit, MCV, Heinz body formation and osmotic fragility test. The blood parameters before and after vitamin E treatment were compared. The results showed that superoxide dismutase activity in the erythrocytes was significantly decreased, while total antioxidant activity in plasma, and the osmotic fragility of the erythrocytes, was significantly increased after vitamin E supplementation. However, hematocrit, MCV, and Heinz body formation did not change significantly. This demonstrated that vitamin E 200 IU could be used as a lipophilic antioxidant in red blood cells and could help increase the level of antioxidant in hemoglobin-E carriers.

Feasibility of using papaya skin extract for digestion of swamp eel viscera for harvesting infective stage larva of Gnathostoma spp.

In this study, we reported the feasibility of using papaya skin extract (Carica papaya L.) as an alternative to enzyme pepsin in harvesting Gnathostoma spinigerum third-stage larvae. From experimental digestion, we found that the different numbers of recovered larvae between papaya skin extract and pepsin were not statistically significant (p >0.05). When the derived larvae from pepsin and papaya skin extract digestion were cultivated in BME medium for 7 days, the survival rates were not significantly different either (p >0.05). Thus, papaya skin extract might be another choice for recovering Gnathostoma spinigerum third-stage larvae.