ABSTRACT
A Legionella-like organism, strain 1407-AL-H, was isolated from a transbronchial lung biopsy specimen from a cardiac transplant recipient undergoing immunosuppressive therapy. The strain grew on buffered charcoal-yeast extract agar (BCYE) but not on BCYE in the absence of cysteine, and it showed gas-liquid chromatographic fatty acid profiles that were predominantly branch chained. Strain 1407-AL-H was antigenically distinct in slide agglutination tests from the 23 Legionella species and 39 serogroups previously described. DNA hybridization studies placed it in a new Legionella species, Legionella birminghamensis (ATCC 43702).
Subject(s)
Heart Transplantation , Legionella/classification , Legionellosis/microbiology , Lung/microbiology , Agglutination Tests , DNA, Bacterial/analysis , Fatty Acids/analysis , Humans , Immunosuppression Therapy , Legionella/analysis , Legionella/growth & development , Legionella/isolation & purification , Male , Middle AgedSubject(s)
Antibodies, Bacterial/analysis , Antigens, Bacterial/immunology , Brucella abortus/immunology , Brucella/immunology , Brucellosis/diagnosis , Brucella/classification , Brucella abortus/classification , Brucellosis/immunology , Cross Reactions , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Humans , Lipopolysaccharides/immunologyABSTRACT
We have described a case of infection with Strongyloides stercoralis manifested as asthma. As a result of treatment with corticosteroids, hyperinfection developed with aggravation of symptoms. The patient's condition improved only after thiabendazole therapy was instituted and corticosteroids were discontinued.
Subject(s)
Asthma/diagnosis , Strongyloidiasis/diagnosis , Adult , Diagnosis, Differential , Down Syndrome/complications , Feces/parasitology , Humans , Male , Sputum/parasitology , Strongyloidiasis/drug therapy , Thiabendazole/therapeutic useSubject(s)
Brucellosis/pathology , Aged , Brucellosis/diagnosis , Cholestasis/diagnosis , Diagnosis, Differential , Hepatitis/diagnosis , Hepatitis/pathology , Humans , MaleABSTRACT
Human infection by Brucella canis is not often recognized due to a lack of serious consideration of the disease as a diagnostic possibility. Another factor is the limited availability of specific serologic tests needed in the absence of cross-reactivity between antibodies to B. canis and other Brucella pathogenic to humans. In addition, the organism may not be isolated from blood culture, particularly after antibiotic therapy. We report clinical and laboratory features of four patients with serologically diagnosed B. canis infection and point out the importance of specific serologic testing for B. canis when brucellosis is a diagnostic possibility.
Subject(s)
Brucellosis/etiology , Adult , Aged , Antibodies, Bacterial/analysis , Brucellosis/diagnosis , Brucellosis/immunology , Female , Humans , Immunoglobulin G/analysis , Immunoglobulin M/analysis , Male , Serologic TestsABSTRACT
A microagglutination test for the detection of Brucella canis antibodies in humans is described. The use of safranin-dyed B. canis organisms as antigen gave easily interpretable settling patterns and reproducible endpoints. The finding of 18 of 1,147 sera with titers greater than or equal to 1:160 resulted in a presumed false-positive rate of 1.6%. Repeat testing of these positive sera in diluent to which 0.6 m NaCl had been added showed a decrease in titer to less than or equal to 1:40 in eight. Conversely, the increased salt concentration permitted detection of blocking antibodies in two sera which were originally thought to be negative. The test provided serologic evidence for B. canis infection in four patients with otherwise undiagnosed febrile illness. The disease is underdiagnosed due to general lack of serologic testing facilities and misconceptions concerning its prevalence.
