Cell-constituent polyamines in Candida species and new biotyping of Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis and Candida parapsilosis strains.

Intracellular amines from three Candida species were extracted and chemically derivatized by a modification of the Seiler procedure. The results of qualitative determinations of 13 amines in 20 strains each of Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis and Candida parapsilosis are presented. This report is the first to describe the detection of amines other than the classical spermine, spermidine, putrescine and cadaverine in yeasts and fungi. Characteristic profiles due to the presence or absence of particular amines in the Candida species studied are demonstrated. Although these could not be used as strict differential markers at the species level, biotyping schemes based on amines are proposed to differentiate strains of C. albicans, C. tropicalis and C. parapsilosis.

Morphological anomalies of the spore forming structures in Aspergillus species.

Morphological anomalies of the spore forming structures in 13 thermotolerant strains of aspergilli were studied on two different media (Sabouraud glucose and Czapek-Dox agar) incubated at 28 degrees C, 38 degrees C and 45 degrees C. A few more casual observations in contaminant non-thermotolerant aspergilli were also analysed. A logical classification of these anomalies was given, depending on what part of spore forming structure was affected. Some of these anomalies have either never been described before or not yet reported, i.e. in five additional Aspergillus spp. The incidence and relationship to the culture medium and incubation temperature of these anomalies, as well as possible significance of our observations, were discussed.

Growth of fresh human isolates of some Candida species at 45 degrees C.

A total of 452 fresh isolates of six Candida species from human sources were tested for their ability to grow on Sabouraud's glucose agar at 45 degrees C. The percentage of each species which grew at this temperature was: C. albicans (99%), C. tropicalis (90%), C. glabrata (93%), C. krusei (100%), C. parapsilosis (19%) and C. lusitaniae (80%). Some variation in the amount of growth obtained after 48 h incubation was also observed. Comparison of the results with data from the literature revealed a possibility of a difference in the ability to grow at 45 degrees C between fresh human isolates and laboratory stock strains of Candida species.

Profiles of amino-acid utilisation and production amongst strains of Branhamella catarrhalis.

Utilisation and production of amino acids by isolates of Branhamella catarrhalis was studied by ion exchange chromatography after cells had been grown in nutrient broth and Mueller-Hinton broth. The profiles of amino acids used and produced by each strain were compared by a single linkage cluster algorithm. The results of this study reflect the biochemical and physiological heterogeneity amongst strains of B. catarrhalis.

Ventricular function in cirrhosis and portasystemic shunt: a two-dimensional echocardiographic study.

Cardiovascular alterations such as increased heart rate, high cardiac output, reduced systemic vascular resistance, and in most of the cases, increased contractility parameters have been recognized in patients with advanced liver disease. Some investigators define a cirrhotic cardiomyopathy as a hyperdynamic failure of the heart. Consequently, in patients with cirrhosis, the risk of developing further circulatory deterioration may be increased in situations which stress the cardiovascular system. After opening a portocaval shunt, it is expected that a large amount of blood will be distributed from the splanchnic to the pulmonary circulation and put a strain on the heart. This two-dimensional echocardiographic study was made in 30 patients with cirrhosis and in 20 patients who were chronically treated (range: 16 to 156 months) with portasystemic shunt for prevention of hemorrhage from esophageal variceal bleeding. Patients with portasystemic shunts revealed a change in hemodynamic pattern. There was a significant increase in the left ventricular end-diastolic volume index and also a slight increase in the left ventricular end-systolic index. Cardiac output remained high despite a significant decrease in heart rate due to an elevated left ventricular stroke volume index. The parameters of systolic ventricular performance were normal. In contrast to the acute opening of the portacaval shunt, the chronic shunt volume put no strain of clinical significance on the heart.

Surgery in combined pulmonary and neural cryptococcosis.

A 39-year-old previously healthy patient with combined pulmonary and neural cryptococcosis was successfully managed by pulmonary resection and antifungal chemotherapy. The pulmonary mass was removed under cover of miconazole and 5-fluorocytosine even though the patient had concomitant active meningitis. He recovered dramatically after the surgical procedure and remained well 2 years later. We suggest that, as in our patient, early removal of a pulmonary cryptococcal mass under antifungal cover may in other similar patients obviate the need for protracted antifungal therapy and lead to an excellent response of the neural cryptococcosis.

Standardization of a hyphal inoculum of aspergilli for amphotericin B susceptibility testing.

Standardized, evenly dispersed hyphal suspensions served as the inoculum in a microtiter technique for amphotericin B antifungal susceptibility testing. Preliminary testing with six strains of Aspergillus fumigatus and A. flavus produced consistent and reproducible results at 30 degrees C over 24 h. The observed amphotericin B MICs required for hyphae (0.3 to 0.6 microgram/ml) were comparable to MICs required for conidia (0.16 to 0.6 microgram/ml). The results were evaluated and compared with previously published information.

Flow microcalorimetry and viable counts during the growth of Escherichia coli NTCT 10418 in Todd-Hewitt and tryptose phosphate broths.

Power-time (p-t) curve profiles and relationships between the p-t curves and viable cell counts when Escherichia coli NTCT 10418 was grown in two different broth media, were studied by flow microcalorimetry. Data obtained from a total of twenty six experiments and expressed by arithmetic means are presented and analysed. The increase in viable cell numbers did not accompany linear power output, but exhibited a stepwise pattern similar to that observed in a synchronous bacterial culture during the exponential phase of growth. Some possible explanations for this are discussed.

Survey of rats (Rattus norvegicus) in Kuwait for the presence of Leptospira.

A survey of brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) was made in Kuwait in 1979 for the presence of Leptospira organisms. Kidney tissue from 49 rats, trapped mostly from various Kuwait City districts, were cultured on E.M.J.H. and Stuart media. Eight leptospira strains were isolated; all strains were identical and belonged to Leptospira interrogans Canicola serogroup; they were later identified as a new serovar kuwait. The frequency of L. interrogans group Canicola carriers among the local rats in Kuwait was 16.3%, which is higher than reported so far. A summary of published data on the isolation of Leptospira other than L. interrogans serogroup Icterohaemorrhagiae from rats, particularly the brown rat, is presented with emphasis on the Middle East.

Corynebacterium diphtheriae in skin lesions in Ugandan children.

Diphtheritic skin lesions are known to be relatively common in tropical as opposed to temperate climates, but the possible presence of Corynebacterium diphtheriae in skin lesions has not been investigated in East Africa, where classical diphtheria cases are rare. The authors therefore studied septic skin lesions and skin ulcers in 139 preschool children and schoolchildren in Uganda. A high percentage (up to 60%) of C. diphtheriae lesions was found, a majority of the isolations being of the mitis type. At the same time, low respiratory carrier rates for C. diphtheriae were found. The practical importance of the skin reservoir of C. diphtheriae for the development of specific diphtheria immunity in the tropics is stressed.