Sensitivity of Trichomonas vaginalis, Tritrichomonas foetus and Giardia intestinalis to bacitracin and its zinc salt in vitro.

The activity of bacitracin in vitro against Giardia intestinalis, Trichomonas vaginalis and Tritrichomonas foetus was enhanced 5-10 times by equimolar concentrations of zinc. Bacitracin and bacitracin zinc activity was tolerant to either aerobic or anaerobic culture conditions and equally effective against T. vaginalis isolates sensitive or insensitive to metronidazole. This enhancement was not due to zinc toxicity and was zinc dose dependent.

Bovine trichomoniasis.

Although virtually unknown in Europe since the widespread adoption of artificial insemination (AI), infection by the sexually transmitted protozoan parasite Tritrichomonas foetus (Fig. 1) results in substantial economic losses throughout the major cattle-rearing areas of the world where natural breeding is relied upon. Infection by T. foetus is increasingly recognized as a significant cause of bovine infertility. In this review, Alex Yule, Susan Skirrow and Robert BonDurant summarize the current knowledge of bovine trichomoniasis and the problems of diagnosis and control of this economically important disease.

Development and preliminary assessment of a polyclonal antibody-based enzyme immunoassay for the detection of Tritrichomonas foetus antigen in breeding cattle.

More sensitive tests are required for the diagnosis of Tritrichomonas foetus infection in cattle and an antigen-detecting enzyme immunoassay (EIA) has been applied to this purpose. An affinity purified immunoglobulin fraction obtained from rabbits immunised with cultured T. foetus served as both capture antibody and as biotinylated indicator antibody. While highly sensitive in the detection of antigen derived from cultured organisms, the assay showed poor sensitivity in the detection of antigen in the cervico-vaginal mucus of artificially infected heifers, with only 75% of culture-positive samples being considered positive for antigen. In a direct comparison, 23/122 samples from a naturally infected dairy herd gave positive cultures, while only 10/122 samples were considered antigen positive by EIA.

New rapid latex agglutination test for diagnosing Trichomonas vaginalis infection.

A newly developed latex agglutination test for Trichomonas vaginalis infection was compared for sensitivity, specificity, efficiency, and positive and negative predictive values with microscopy, culture, and an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in the diagnosis of 395 women attending a genitourinary medicine clinic. T vaginalis infection was diagnosed in 42 (11%) women. The sensitivities of both the latex agglutination test and the ELISA were 95% compared with 74% for microscopy and 76% for culture. The latex test was specific and showed no cross reaction with a wide range of other genital tract infections. The latex agglutination test can detect antigen in both soluble and insoluble forms, and as it is simple to perform, can be undertaken during routine examination without recourse to special equipment or training. Further evaluation is required.

Detection of Trichomonas vaginalis antigen in women by enzyme immunoassay.

An enzyme immunoassay (EIA) was developed for the detection of Trichomonas vaginalis antigen in vaginal swabs. Four hundred and eighty two women attending a sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic were tested; 44 (9.1%) were positive by culture, 32 (6.6%) were positive by wet film examination, and 54 (11.2%) were considered to be positive for trichomonal antigen by EIA. Taking culture as the reference method, the EIA had a sensitivity of 93.2% and a specificity of 97.5%. The predictive value of a positive test was 82% and that of a negative test was 99.3%.

Effects of an anabolic steroid on plasma amino acids, proteins, and body composition in patients receiving intravenous hyperalimentation.

In this controlled trial we have studied the effect of anabolic steroid on ill surgical patients receiving intravenous hyperalimentation. Body composition, plasma proteins, and amino acids were compared in each of two groups of 12 patients before and after 14 days of intravenous feeding. The patients in one group were given 100 mg of nandrolone decanoate at the commencement of study and again one week later. Body weight, muscle (AMC), plasma transferrin, prealbumin, and retinol-binding protein were increased comparably in both groups. An apparent gain in total body nitrogen was not significant. However, anabolic steroid caused greater gain of water requiring a more liberal use of diuretics, but prevented the gains of fat, triglyceride and insulin that occurred in the control group. Most plasma amino acids increased due to intravenous hyperalimentation but decreased in patients given anabolic steroid. It is concluded that in patients who may be in the catabolic phase of recovery anabolic steroid probably enhances amino acid and water uptake by tissues and increases the utilization of fat but, does not promote any greater increase in "visceral" proteins than during intravenous hyperalimentation alone.

Direct comparisons between a radio-immune antiglobulin test, an enzyme-linked antiglobulin test, and a haemagglutination assay: application to the screening of anti-RBC sera and monoclonal antibodies.

Direct comparative studies between a radio-immune antiglobulin test (RIAT), an enzyme-linked antiglobulin test (ELAT) and a haemagglutination assay (HA) were carried out using anti-RBC hybridoma culture supernatants, monoclonal antibodies of established specificity, and immune mouse sera. The direct comparisons revealed that in many cases, RIAT and ELAT were slightly more sensitive than HA for the detection and study of anti-RBC antibodies. RIAT and ELAT detect non-agglutinating antibodies and sub-agglutinating concentrations of antibodies which would be missed if HA is used as the only screening test for hybridoma supernatants.

Effect of added insulin on body composition of gastroenterologic patients receiving intravenous nutrition--a controlled clinical trial.

The administration of insulin of hypercatabolic patients with burns or multiple fractures has been shown to be associated with increased nitrogen retention during intravenous nutrition (IVN) with solutions of amino acids and hypertonic dextrose. It is not known if gastroenterologic patients in whom the degree of stress is much less, show a similar response. In a controlled study of two comparable groups of 16 gastroenterologic patients on a surgical service who received IVN for 2 wk the changes in body weight, fat, water, protein, and potassium that occurred were measured. The control group received a nutrient solution of hypertonic glucose and amino acids (44.7 +/- 9.0 kcal/kg/day) and the comparative group (45.9 +/- 6.6 kcal/kg/day) in addition had 30 IU of soluble insulin added to each 1006 kcal of nutrient solution. Both groups of patients gained similar amounts of weight, fat, and water, and body protein was maintained to the same extent. Those patients receiving insulin demonstrated a gain of total body potassium (p less than 0.001). The results show that the routine administration of insulin is not indicated in this type of patient, provided that glucose intolerance is absent.

The effect of an anabolic steroid on body composition in patients receiving intravenous nutrition.

In this controlled trial we investigated the effect of an anabolic steroid, in terms of the changes in body composition that occurred in ill surgical patients requiring intravenous nutrition. Glucose was the sole non-protein energy source. The study was conducted over a 14-day study period in two comparable groups of 13 patients. The changes in body weight, fat, protein and water were measured. The control group received a nutrient solution of hypertonic dextrose and amino acids (44.8 +/- 8.2 kcal/kg/day), and the comparative group received the same solution (44.3 +/- 5.2 kcal/kg/day) and 100 mg of an intramuscular injection of nandrolone decanoate at the commencement of the study and again one week later. Over the two-week study period both groups gained body weight. In the controls this was composed of fat (0.4 kg) and water 1.5 kg). In the anabolic steroid group, weight gain was mainly water, and fat gain did not occur. Neither group gained body protein. Diuretic therapy was required more often (21 patient days compared with 5 patients days; p less than 0.001) in the anabolic steroid group to control excessive water retention. Our study has shown no benefit from an anabolic steroid when given in combination with a 14-day course of intravenous nutrition. Water retention was more of a problem with this therapy.

Dental health on Mornington Island.

A group of remote island Australian Aborigines was examined for dental caries, periodontal disease, pathologic disorders and orthodontic problems and the results were recorded. It would appear that race and heredity may influence periodontal disease.