Tick-borne encephalitis virus activity in Styria, Austria.

From 3,404 Ixodes ricinus ticks collected in 12 localities of Styria, Austria in 1990, 15 tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) virus isolates were recovered. Minimal field infection rate reached 4.4 virus containing ticks out of 1,000 collected ticks. Five isolates of TBE virus were obtained from target organs of Apodemus flavicollis trapped in locality Wagnitz. In a serosurvey based on virus neutralizing antibodies high prevalence of TBE virus was demonstrated in A. flavicollis (47.9%) and Clethrionomys glareolus (29.4%). These rodents formed 57.8% and 41.0% of 83 trapped small mammals.

Leptospirosis in man, in wild and in domestic animals at waste disposal sites in Cairo.

The authors examined 65 Rattus rattus, 28 pigs, 12 donkeys, 67 goats, 5 sheep, 1 cow and 1 dog as well as 196 inhabitants at two settlements on the waste disposal sites at the periphery of Cairo. Rattus norvegicus were positive in 55.4% for L. ictero-haemorrhagiae, pigs in 14.3% for L. pomona and in 3.6% for L. ictero-haemorrhagiae. 2 out of 12 donkeys were positive for L. pomona, 1 of them for L. pyrogenes and L. icterohaemorrhagiae as well, goats in 1.5% for L. grippotyphosa. Human sera reacted positively in 8.7% of the cases, 7.1% of which with L. bratislava, 1.0% with L. icterohaemorrhagiae and 0.5% with L. grippotyphosa and L. sejroe respectively.

[Data from measuring air pathogens of inhabitants of refuse disposal sites in Cairo (1)]. / Erhebungen bei Luftkeimmessungen bei Bewohnern der Mülldeponie in Kairo. (1. Mitteilung).

Atmospheric germ measurements were carried out and the germ spectrum determined in medical ambulances, bedrooms and livingrooms.

Accumulation of heavy metals in animals. Part 3: Heavy metal contamination in small mammals at a waste disposal site.

Small mammals were captured at a waste disposal site; the kidneys of the animals were analysed for their content of lead, cadmium, copper and zinc. A control group was taken from the adjoining forest. Lead and copper clearly revealed higher values, no difference could be found for zinc, while the reverse was true for the cadmium content.

[The pathogen spectrum of the conjunctiva of inhabitants of refuse disposal sites in Cairo. I]. / Untersuchungen über das Keimspektrum der Augenbindehäute bei Bewohnern der Mülldeponien von Kairo. I. Mitteilung.

In Cairo's waste disposal sites conjunctivitis is frequently found resulting from the burning process of plastic, paper, etc.. Recurrent secondary contamination of the conjunctiva by pathogenic and non-pathogenic microorganisms often takes place; however, in certain germ species, the differentiation between pathogenic or non-pathogenic organisms within a damaged mucous membrane cannot be made. Furthermore, in this study, we have attempted to investigate germ reproduction during the application of PVP-eyedrops. However, our results cannot be conclusive because of the high environmental contamination, very low personal hygiene resulting from contaminated water and the constant exposure of samples to environmental contamination. Studies will be continued.