[Preparative representation of the living eggs of Schistosoma mansoni]. / Präparative Darstellung lebender Eier von Schistosoma mansoni.

To maintain the hatchability of miracidia, pure worm eggs of S. mansoni were collected in great quantities from liver and spleen of experimentally infected mice. For this purpose, the tissue was digested with papain, hyaluronidase and trypsin. Worm eggs in the residue were separated from remaining host cells, tissue materials and dead eggs by using the sieving chamber (sieves 200 microns x 200 microns and 28 microns x 28 microns) and by density gradient centrifugation.

[Immunofluorescence serologic findings in schistosomiasis. Methodologic aspects]. / Immunfluoreszenzserologische Befunde bei Schistosomiasis.--Methodische Aspekte.

In 101 Africans with schistosomiasis the IFAT showed sensitivity in 71%, in which cases frozen sections of adult Mansoni-bilharzias were used as antigen. An observation of the sensitivity of the IFAT separated according to the species of parasites for the affection with S. mansoni resulted in a by 23% higher sensitivity in contrast to the S. haematobium affection. In double infestation the sensitivity was 77%. Using a soluble S. mansoni antigen the ELISA had a sensitivity of 53% in the affection by S. mansoni and of 33% in the affection by S. haematobium. One month after the treatment the sensitivity of the two methods at first increased (IFAT by 19%, ELISA by 21%) and during the further observation decreased to the initial values 6 months after the therapy and after 1 year still further diminished. In 42 Europeans free of helminths the specificity of the IFAT was 93% and in 52 Africans free of schistosomes from regions with schistosomiasis endemy 88%. The accuracy of the IFAT for the qualitative statement positive and negative was greatest in the serum dilution of 1:26.

[Current therapeutic aspects of echinococcosis]. / Aktuelle therapeutische Aspekte der Echinokokkose.

It is reported on a 63-year-old female patient who fell ill 20 years after an echinococcus cyst of the liver with a multiple parasite-caused cyst-formation in the lung which was detected by chance and was already calcified at that time. On account of inoperability a conservative treatment with mebendazole (2,000 md/die, for 4 months). During a one-year follow-up period a drastic involution of the lung cysts with improvement of the general condition of the patient appeared. The affection of the liver, however, remained uninfluenced. The ELISA on echinococcus was unchanged strongly positive also after one year.

[Kinetics of the antibody level in schistosomiasis under chemotherapy]. / Zur Kinetik des Antikörperspiegels bei Schistosomiasis unter Chemotherapie.

The antibody level (ELISA) in schistosomiasis much increased one month after therapy. The sanation of the parasitosis within 6 months led to the reduction of the values to the initial level without any further later decrease. The antibody kinetics was the same after successful Niridazol and Praziquantel treatment. When Niridazol failed a second treatment with Praziquantel led to a repeated significant increase. The decrease after the second peak was much steeper and obtained the initial level already 3 months after sanation. Patients with falsely negative ELISA before the treatment reacted partly positive one month after this. One third of all patients examined reacted negatively also at this time. Falsely positive findings in patients from endemic areas (specificity 0.74) seem to be no cross reaction to another affection with helminths, but seem to be traced back to an earlier inapparent schistosomiasis.

Kinetic investigations on the behaviour of free amino acids in the plasma and of two aminotransferases in the liver of rainbow trout (Salmo gairdnerii Richardson) after feeding on a synthetic composition containing pure amino acids.

1. Growing rainbow trout were fed at 8 a.m. daily with a composition conforming with their requirements. 2. The free amino acids in the plasma exhibit no uniform behaviour after feeding. The concentrations of the indispensable amino acids rise. The dispensable amino acids behave indifferently. The aspartate and glutamate concentrations are also high 3 and 12 hr after feeding with pure amino acids, their variability also rising to 80-100% of their mean values. 3. The GOT reaches its maximum activity 6 hr after feeding; the GPT does not change. The amount of soluble protein in the liver fluctuates after feeding. 4. When comparing fish and mammals, the behaviour of the dispensable amino acids in the former may be ascribable to their relatively high amino acid requirement. However, the behaviour of the GOT and the soluble proteins in the liver appears to follow a rhythmic activity pattern.