Evaluation of isoenzyme patterns for identification of pathogenic poultry Mycoplasmas

Electrophoretic analysis of isoenzymes in 8 enzymatic systems were used for differentiation of 4 isolates of chicken Mycoplasmas including two strains of M gallisepticum, one strain of M. gallinarum and one unknown isolate in comparison with a vaccinal strain of M agalactiae that basically is a pathogen in small ruminants. The enzymatic systems were lactate dehydrogenase [LDH], glucose dehydrogenase [G1DH], glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase [G6PD], galactose dehydrogenase [GalDH], 6 phosphogluconate dehydrogenase [6PGDH], malic enzyme [ME], glucose phosphate isomerase [GPI] and alkaline phosphatase [AP]. The number of isoenzyme patterns obtained for LDH, G1DH, G6PD, GalDH, 6PGDH, ME, GPI and AP enzymatic systems were 2, 3, 2, 4, 2, 3, 3 and 0, respectively. Except AP enzyme system which is not active in Mycoplasma species, it is concluded that isoenzyme pattern of 7 other studied enzymatic systems, could differentiate between chicken Mycoplasmas and the small ruminant's strain. Based on the isoenzyme patterns of GalDH system, 2 strains of M gallisepticum were differentiated from M. gallinarum and the unknown isolate. Isoenzyme patterns of ME system was able to differentiate M gallinarum from the other chicken isolates. The isoenzyme patterns of GPI system were different for the two strains of M gallisepticum. The isoenzyme patterns of GalDH, GPI and ME systems, showed that the unknown strain of chicken Mycoplasma is a strain of M gallisepticum and it is closely related to one of the known M. gallisepticum isolates

Adherencia de acinetobacter baumannii al tejido de tráquea de la rata / Adherence of acinetobacter baumannii to rat trachial tissue

Background: Acinetobacter baumannii is an important nosocomial pathogen whose virulence factors have not been fully elucidated. Aim: To study the adherence and hemagglutinating capacity of several biotypes of Acinetobacter baumannii. Material and methods: Thirty nine strains of Acinetobacter baumannii isolated from hospitalized patients were studied. The adherence of these strains to small pieces of rat tracheal tissue was studied. Additionally, their ability to hemagglutinate human erythrocytes and the effect of D-mannose and D-galactose on the adherence and hemagglutinating capacity was assessed. Transmission electron microscopy of strains was performed looking for the presence of fimbriae. Results: All strains exhibited adherence to tissues. All strains had also D-mannose and D-galactose resistant hemagglutinating ability. Fimbriae were found in Acinetobacter baumannii and E coil cells. Conclusions: Adherence of Acinetobacter baumannii to rat tracheal tissue, apparently not related to the presence of fimbriae, may be a virulence mechanism of this bacterium

Haptoglobinas em populaçäo normal e em portadores de cardiopatias valvares / Heptoglobins in normal population and in patients with heart valve diseases

Haptoglobina sérica em 100 doadores de sangue foi determinada utilizando-se da capacidade de ligaçäo da haptoglobina à hemoglobina; os valores médios encontrados foram de 211 ñ 82mg/dl; 38 pacientes portadores de valvopatia valvar foram também estudados e apresentaram valores significativamente mais altos (estenose: 310 ñ 128 e insuficiência 409 ñ 137mg/dl) que a populaçäo normal. A atividade da desidrogenase lática também estava aumentada em pacientes com cardiopatia valvar, indicando a presença de doença sistêmica ou eventual hemólise. Estes dados sugerem ter sido a desidrogenase lática mais sensível que a determinaçäo das haptoglobinas em detectar hemólise intravascular leve, nos doentes estudados