[Animal reservoir hosts of Trypanosoma brucei gambiense in Zaire: trypanosome infections in two foci in Bas-Zaire]. / Le réservoir animal de Trypanosoma brucei gambiense au Zaire: infections trypanosomiennes dans deux foyers du Bas-Zaire.

The prevalence of Trypanosoma spp. infections in domestic animals was estimated in a forest (Boma) and a savanna (Kimpese) sleeping focus in Bas-Zaire. The miniature anion-exchange centrifugation technique was used to determine the infection rates with T. congolense, T. vivax and T. brucei spp. in 505 animals. T. congolense predominated in both foci with the highest prevalence in pigs (76.2%), followed by sheep (31.3%), dogs (30.6%) and goats (7.4%). T. vivax was seen only on two occasions. In the forest zone, T. brucei spp. infections were frequent (pigs 16.5%, sheep 6.2%, dogs 3.4%, goats 1.1%) in contrast to the savanna area where only one T. brucei spp. infection was diagnosed. Twenty five primary isolations of T. brucei were done using different isolation and stabilization approaches. Isolates and stocks await behavioural, biochemical and molecular biological identification to discriminate T. b. brucei and T. b. gambiense of domestic animal origin.

[Lymphocyte system and relative resistance of inbred mice to Trypanosoma brucei brucei]. / Système lymphocytaire et résistance relative de la souris consanguine à Trypanosoma brucei brucei.

The distribution of B-(Ig+) and T-(Thy1.2+, Lyt1+, Lyt2+) lymphocyte subsets in murine lymphoid organs was analysed by immunofluorescence (FACS) on cell suspensions throughout a primary infection of C3H/He (susceptible) and CBA/Ca (subtolerant) inbred mice with metacyclic Trypanosoma brucei brucei EATRO 1125. A direct correlation was observed between (1) the level of first-peak parasitaemia, (2) its subsequent control by the host and (3) survival time. In the course of the infection, the overall population of spleen and lymph node lymphocytes was subject to polyclonal activation whilst the proportion of differentiated B and T subsets decreased accordingly. No correlation was found between modulation of the lymphocyte system and susceptibility to trypanosomiasis.

Influence of the salmon mutant of Glossina morsitans morsitans on the susceptibility to infection with Trypanosoma congolense.

Four phenotypes of a sex-linked, maternally influenced semi-lethal eye color mutant of Glossina morsitans morsitans Westwood were fed on Trypanosoma congolense Broden infected guinea pigs. Infection rates were evaluated 25 days later by means of dissection. Procyclic as well as mature infections were significantly more common among females with salmon-colored eyes (sal/sal) than among heterozygous (+/sal, phenotypically wild-type) females. A tendency was found for more mature infections among sal/Y males than among wild-type males. Similarly, females tended to be more infected than males with both procyclic and mature infections. These results indicate that the genotype of the fly, exemplified by the allele salmon, might influence the development of T. congolense in G.m. morsitans. A possible explanation for this phenomenon is discussed.

Isolation technique for lymphocytes from bovine lymph glands.

A method is described for obtaining large quantities (grams) of lymphocytes from bovine retropharyngeal lymph glands, whereby contaminating erythrocytes are lysed and coagulation is prevented by the use of acetic acid (0.0143 mol 1(-1). On average 4.38 g (S. D. 1.83, n = 100) lymphocytes, including lymphoblasts, are obtained per lymph gland, with a purity level of about 99%.