Experimental intoxication of sheep and cattle with Wedelia glauca.

Wedelia glauca was administered experimentally to 11 sheep and 4 cattle. The minimum toxic dose for both species was of 4 to 5 g of fresh plant/kg bw. Clinical signs were depression, muscle fasciculations, increased respiratory and cardiac frequencies, opisthotonous, sternal or lateral recumbency and terminal paddling movements. Time of onset of signs ranged from 12 to 40 h after dosing. Serum AST, LDH and GGT were increased. Three cattle and 5 sheep died after clinical manifestation periods of 2 to 18 h, and 2 sheep survived after being affected for 14 and 46 h. Macroscopic and histologic lesions were similar in cattle and sheep; the liver was swollen and dark reddish, and the wall of the gall bladder was edematous. The cavities had yellowish fluid. Petechiae and echymoses were seen on serous membranes. Microscopically the liver had periacinar hemorrhagic necrosis. Two sheep dosed with 1 g/kg bw daily for 20 d and 1 dosed with 1 g/kg bw for 10 d were not affected. Six sheep were transferred from an area free of W glauca to an area where this plant was present. These animals ate small amounts of the plant and lost weight rapidly, but clinical intoxication did not occur. Two sheep were fed with lucerne hay containing 9% W glauca. They ingested 2.5 g/kg of the dry plant (corresponding to 10 g/kg bw of fresh plant) in 24 h, but did not show intoxication. Because the intoxication occurred in sheep and cattle administered 4 to 10 g/kg bw of the plant in a period of 1 to 2 h, the intoxication may only occur when animals ingest a single toxic dose in a short time.

[Study of lymphocyte subpopulations with monoclonal antibodies in acute hepatitis A and B]. / Estudio de sub-poblaciones linfocitarias mediante anticuerpos monoclonales en hepatitis aguda A y B.

Using monoclonal antibodies, it was determined the T3, T4 and T8 1ym phocyte populations in the blood samples of 40 patients with acute viral hepatitis (20 type A and 20 type B). al patients showed complete remission from it. The results of this study were compared with those of a control group of 20 healthy subjects. There was a non significant decreased of the total number of lymphocytes measured with the T3 monoclonal antibody in both types of hepatitis. The number of T8 lymphocytes was significantly increased (p less than 0.05) when the results were compared with those of the control group. The quotient T4/T8 was diminished in the initial phase of the disease (p less than 0.05). There were no other differences between hepatitis A and hepatitis B. In the follow up of the disease, the results tend to normal values in the whole group of patients.

[Study of lymphocyte subpopulations by means of monoclonal antibodies in acute hepatitis A and B]. / Estudio de sub-poblaciones linfocitarias mediante anticuerpos monoclonales en hepatitis aguda A y B.

We studied T3, T4 and T8 lymphocyte populations in peripheral blood by monoclonal antibodies in 40 patients with acute viral hepatitis (Type A 20; Type B 20) who underwent outcome to complete recovery. We compared the results with 20 healthy subjects (control group). We found a decrease in total lymphocytes measured by T3 monoclonal antibodies and a significant increase in T8 lymphocyte populations compared with control groups. In the early stage the T4/T8 ratio was decreased. Lymphocyte populations and T4/T8 ratio was normal in 3-6 month follow-up for the acute A hepatitis group and 3.6 month to a year follow-up for the B hepatitis group. Results were related to the humoral and clinical outcome.

Survival of Candida albicans in tropical marine and fresh waters.

A survey of Candida albicans indicated that the organism was present at all sites sampled in a rain forest stream and in near-shore coastal waters of Puerto Rico. In the rain forest watershed no relationship existed between densities of fecal coliforms and densities of C. albicans. At two pristine sites in the rain forest watershed both C. albicans and Escherichia coli survived in diffusion chambers for extended periods of time. In near-shore coastal waters C. albicans and E. coli survival times in diffusion chambers were enhanced by effluent from a rum distillery. The rum distillery effluent had a greater effect on E. coli than on C. albicans survival in the diffusion chambers. These studies show that neither E. coli nor C. albicans organisms are good indicators of recent fecal contamination in tropical waters. It further demonstrates that pristine freshwater environments and marine waters receiving organic loading in the tropics can support densities of C. albicans which may be a health hazard.

[T and B lymphocytes in hepatic diseases]. / Linfocitos T y B en afecciones hepáticas.

T and B. lymphocytes in peripheral blood were determined in 102 patients with several hepatic diseases: acute hepatitis, persistent and chronic active hepatitis and hepatic cirrhosis. Significant differences (p less than 0.05) were found between all groups of patients and controls. T lymphocytes were decreased (p less than 0.05) in patients with acute hepatitis that developed chronic disease in relation with those with good evolution. A remarkable decrease was found in cirrhotic patients with hepatic insufficiency. The prognostic value of these lymphocytes populations in hepatic diseases is enhanced.

Linfocitos T y B en afecciones hepaticas / T and B lymphocytes in hepatic diseases

Se estudiaron en 102 pacientes con diversas afecciones hepáticas; 36 hepatitis agudas, 9 hepatitis crónicas persistentes, 36 hepatitis crónicas activas y 21 cirrosis hepáticas, realizándoles conteo de linfocitos T y B en sangre periférica. Ambas poblaciones linfoides fueron significativamente menores en todos los grupos estudiados en relación con los controles (p < 0,05). En los pacientes con hepatitis aguda que evolucionaron a la cronicidad la población de linfocitos T fue significativamente menor (p < 0,05> que la de aquéllos que fueron a la curación. Ambas poblaciones linfoides no diferieron entre los casos en que el antígeno de superficie de la hepatitis B fue negativo o positivo. En dos pacientes con cirrosis se apreció un descenso notable de los linfocitos T en el estadío de insuficiencia hepática severa. Se destaca el interés pronóstico de estas poblaciones linfoides en pacientes con afecciones hepáticas

Linfocitos T y B en afecciones hepáticas. / [T and B lymphocytes in hepatic diseases]

T and B. lymphocytes in peripheral blood were determined in 102 patients with several hepatic diseases: acute hepatitis, persistent and chronic active hepatitis and hepatic cirrhosis. Significant differences (p less than 0.05) were found between all groups of patients and controls. T lymphocytes were decreased (p less than 0.05) in patients with acute hepatitis that developed chronic disease in relation with those with good evolution. A remarkable decrease was found in cirrhotic patients with hepatic insufficiency. The prognostic value of these lymphocytes populations in hepatic diseases is enhanced.

Linfocitos T y B en afecciones hepaticas / T and B lymphocytes in hepatic diseases

Se estudiaron en 102 pacientes con diversas afecciones hepáticas; 36 hepatitis agudas, 9 hepatitis crónicas persistentes, 36 hepatitis crónicas activas y 21 cirrosis hepáticas, realizándoles conteo de linfocitos T y B en sangre periférica. Ambas poblaciones linfoides fueron significativamente menores en todos los grupos estudiados en relación con los controles (p < 0,05). En los pacientes con hepatitis aguda que evolucionaron a la cronicidad la población de linfocitos T fue significativamente menor (p < 0,05> que la de aquéllos que fueron a la curación. Ambas poblaciones linfoides no diferieron entre los casos en que el antígeno de superficie de la hepatitis B fue negativo o positivo. En dos pacientes con cirrosis se apreció un descenso notable de los linfocitos T en el estadío de insuficiencia hepática severa. Se destaca el interés pronóstico de estas poblaciones linfoides en pacientes con afecciones hepáticas (AU)