Proliferative glomerulonephritis in experimental Leishmania donovani infection of the golden hamster

Extensive kidney involvement is reported in golden hamsters infected with Leishmania donovani. The lesion is characterised grossly by pale and enlarged kidneys, and histologically by thickening of the basal lamina of the glomerulus, distended convuluted tubules containing protein casts, constricted glomerular capillaries and infiltration of the interstitial tissues with mononuclear cells. Quantitative measurement of the glomerular cells labelled in vivo with tritiated thymidine showed a striking increase in the glomerular cell proliferation as the infection progressed. Using direct immunofluorescent technique, granular deposits of IgG, complement C₃ and fibrinogen were detected in the glomeruli of the infected animals. A positive protamine sulphate test, as well as histological evidence, showed that disseminated intravascular coagulation had occurred in the infection. Although the antigens have not been identified, antigen-antibody complexes are strongly implicated in the pathogenesis of the proliferative glomerulonephritis observed in this study.     

Enhanced resistance to Listeria monocytogenes in mice injected with either whole cells or fractions of the aerobic corynebacterium, Corynebacterium catarrhalis

Resistance of mice to Listeria monocytogenes was shown to be enhanced by pretreatment with either intact or delipidated whole cells of a new species of aerobic corynebacteria, designated as Corynebacterium catarrhalis, as well as with fractions isolated therefrom. Both whole cells and a particulate fraction (CBAp40) proved to be effective when given intravenously, whereas a water-soluble fraction (CBA-LS) was not. In contrast, CBA-LS, as well as CBAp40 and whole cells were found to be effective when given subcutaneously as far as they had previously been adsorbed onto a gel of either calcium phosphate or aluminum hydroxide. Furthermore, pretreatment of mice with either of the mineral gels in the absence of the products failed to confer protection on them to the challenge with L. monocytogenes. It is suggested that C. catarrhalis or products derived therefrom could be used as agents for enhancing resistance to infections of immuno-compromised individuals.     

Local intestinal immune response to Escherichia Coli heat-labile (LT) enterotoxin: LT antitoxin levels in healthy, diseased and antigen-fed pigs

With purified LT toxin and IgA, specific anti-LT enterotoxin activity was demonstrated in small intestinal contents of 27 pigs. After 60 days of age, rise in intestinal LT antitoxin titer was observed. Feeding LT containing E. coli antigen increased LT antibody levels in the intestinal secretions, but decreased antibody titers in sera. In post-weaning E. coli diarrhea LT antibody levels in intestinal secretions and sera decreased significantly. This phenomenon can be related to the occurrence of the frequently observed post-weaning E. coli diarrhea.     

Some properties of beta toxin produced by Clostridium haemolyticum strain IRP-135

Six culture media were evaluated for the optimization of β-toxin production by Clostridium haemolyticum (strain IRP-135) using both batch and dialysis culture techniques. The lethal component of β-toxin remained active for 13 days when maintained at 37°C but was inactivated by heating at 60° for 20 min. A 1 : 10,000 dilution of trypsin inactivated the toxin in 15 min. Preliminary data from electrophoresis in SDS acrylamide gel indicate the molecular weight of the β-toxin to be approximately 32,000.