ABSTRACT
Hippoboscid flies were collected from wild birds on Santiago and Fernandina Islands, Galapagos, Ecuador in August 1985. An epidermoptid mite, identified as Myialges caulotoon, was found on Icosta nigra from Galapagos Hawks and on Olfersia sordida from Brown Pelicans and a Flightless Cormorant. This report is the first record of Myialges from the 2 birds endemic to Galapagos. It is also the first report to provide an identity of a species of Myialges from Galapagos hosts.
Subject(s)
Bird Diseases/parasitology , Mite Infestations/veterinary , Mites/anatomy & histology , Animals , Birds , Diptera/parasitology , Ecuador , Female , Insect Vectors/parasitology , Mite Infestations/parasitologyABSTRACT
The free-ranging population of rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) on Cayo Santiago was sero-surveyed for human measles, simian virus 40, B virus (Herpes simiae), rhesus cytomegalovirus, human and simian retroviruses and encephalomyocarditis virus to determine the prevalence of these viruses in the colony. The results of this study indicate that the colony is free of SV40, HTLVIII (HIV-1), STLVIII (SIV) and SRV1; has a low prevalence of measles and EMCV; and high prevalence rates for B virus, CMV and HTLVI.
Subject(s)
Antibodies, Viral/analysis , Macaca mulatta/immunology , Macaca/immunology , Monkey Diseases/diagnosis , Virus Diseases/diagnosis , Academies and Institutes , Age Factors , Animals , Cytomegalovirus/immunology , Deltaretrovirus Antibodies/analysis , Encephalomyocarditis virus/immunology , Measles virus/immunology , Monkey Diseases/immunology , Population Surveillance , Puerto Rico , Simian Immunodeficiency Virus/immunology , Virus Diseases/immunologySubject(s)
Antibodies, Viral/analysis , Deltaretrovirus/analysis , Paraplegia/blood , Adult , Blood Donors , Colombia , Humans , Muscle Spasticity/bloodABSTRACT
Two patients from Martinique with tropical spastic paraparesis had antibodies to human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) in serum and spinal fluid but no antibodies to other retroviruses tested. They presented with spastic weakness of both lower extremities, hyperreflexia with upgoing toes, sphincteric dysfunction, and normal sensation. By means of agarose isoelectric focusing and selective immunoblotting we demonstrated an increased intrathecal synthesis of IgG antibodies to HTLV-I in the spinal fluid. Unique oligoclonal bands of IgG antibodies to HTLV-I were present in the cerebrospinal fluid. Using a battery of monoclonal antibodies we also found in these patients an increased number of circulating T cells that expressed activation markers. We conclude that the HTLV-I retrovirus associated with tropical spastic paraparesis has both lymphocytotropic and neurotropic properties.
Subject(s)
Paraplegia/immunology , Tropical Medicine , Adult , Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic/analysis , Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic/cerebrospinal fluid , Antibodies, Viral/analysis , Antibodies, Viral/cerebrospinal fluid , Deltaretrovirus Antibodies , Female , Humans , Immunoglobulin G/immunology , Immunoglobulins/analysis , Immunoglobulins/cerebrospinal fluid , Lymphocytes/classification , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Martinique , Middle Aged , Muscle Spasticity/complications , Muscle Spasticity/immunology , Muscle Spasticity/microbiology , Muscle Spasticity/pathology , Oligoclonal Bands , Paraplegia/complications , Paraplegia/microbiology , Paraplegia/pathologySubject(s)
Coxsackievirus Infections/complications , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/etiology , Mumps/complications , Pregnancy in Diabetics/etiology , Respirovirus Infections/complications , Adolescent , Adult , Antibodies, Viral/analysis , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/immunology , Enterovirus/immunology , Female , Humans , Mumps virus/immunology , Pregnancy , Pregnancy in Diabetics/immunology , Respiratory Syncytial Viruses/immunologyABSTRACT
The immunological responses of patients with clinical signs of SSPE were examined by the direct migration inhibition, complement-mediated antibody cytoxicity and the lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity assay techniques. Peripheral lymphocytes migrated similarly to controls when exposed to measles antigen. Lymphocytes from SSPE patients responded to a SSPE strain of measles infected cells in a manner similar to lymphocytes from controls. A factor which interfered with the expected activity of sensitized lymphocytes to measles virus was detected in some cerebral spinal fluid obtained from SSPE patients. The blocking activity varied from 100% in 4 of 20 patients with SSPE to no blocking in 2 of the SSPE patients. The occurrence of blocking factor in SSPE patients could not be related to sex or age of the patient, serum of CSF antibody levels, and duration of disease or outcome.