Some diagnostic, biologic and morphologic characteristics of Francisella tularensis strains isolated from the ticks Ixodes ricinus (L.) in the Prague agglomeration

Four infectious agents were isolated from the ticks Ixodes ricinus (L.) collected in the recreational area and park-forest of Prague. On the basis of cultivation, staining, biochemical, serologic properties, pathogenicity for animals and histological tests they were identified as Francisella tularensis with the following features: they are short, gram-negative rods of approximate dimensions of 0.3 X 0.8 micron, growing in enriched media after 3-4 day incubation at 37 degrees C. They form small circular, at first transparent, later greyish turbid colonies with regular rims. They are little active biochemically. They are susceptible to streptomycin and some broad spectrum antibiotics. They react positively with tularemic serum, but in lower titres than those in which this serum reacts with standard antigen. The microbes are highly pathogenic for mice, guinea-pigs, young rats, in which a massive bacteriemia occurs before death, but they do not kill rabbits. They multiply well in chick embryo, but do not grow in cell or tissue cultures. The most important histologic changes were observed in liver and spleen of mice. No pathologic changes were found in brain, lungs, heart, kidneys. Necroses were found in liver and in their marginal zones the microbes were present. Conspicuous were changes in numerous hepatocytes which became enlarged due to microbial multiplication and finally transformed into "sacs" packed with microbes. Histological and electronoptical examination showed that these are intracellular parasites fringed with a light lytic zone. Discussed is the problem to what extent the properties of the isolated strains are typical of F. tularensis as well as the importance of their detection from the aspect of epidemiology and differential diagnostics.     

A fossil noctuid moth egg from the late cretaceous of eastern north america

A moth egg assignable to the family Noctuidae (Lepidoptera) is described from 75-million-year-old sediments from Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts. This sample, which extends the fossil record of this farnily and modern heteroneuran moths back to the Cretaceous, may provide insight into the coevolution of moths and flowering plants, as well as have implications for the evolution of bats.     

Depression of polymorphonuclear leukocyte function associated with experimentally induced Escherichia coli mastitis in sows

In a study of susceptibilities of sows from 2 herds to experimentally induced Escherichia coli mastitis, a marked difference was seen. The "susceptible" sows were from a conventional herd and "resistant" sows were from a specific-pathogen-free herd. The purpose of the study was to determine whether deficient neutrophil function was associated with increased susceptibility to E coli-induced mastitis. Four in vitro procedures were used to evaluate polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) function: (i) random migration under agarose, (ii) ingestion of 125I-iododeoxyuridine-labeled Staphylococcus aureus, (iii) quantitative nitroblue tetrazolium reduction, and (iv) iodination. After parturition and intramammary inoculation with E coli, sows from the susceptible herd were neutropenic and the neutrophils which were present in the peripheral blood had reduced function. Specifically, there were depressed random migration under agarose, S aureus ingestion, and iodination when compared with PMN function in resistant sows. These data indicate that susceptibility to E coli mastitis was associated with deficiencies in PMN numbers and function. Potential causes of the neutrophil dysfunction are discussed and include possible systemic hormonal aberrations or the presence of an inapparent viral or bacterial infection.     

Atrophic rhinitis of swine--a multifactorial disease?

Atrophic rhinitis is caused by toxigenic Pasteurella multocida strains. The infection is supported by Bordetella bronchiseptica and other widespread agents and by non-infectious factors damaging the nasal epithelium. The term "infectious multifactorial disease" means in German, that ubiquitous low-virulent agents cause disease when intensified by non-infectious factors. Atrophic rhinitis does not belong to this group but is an infectious disease, caused by a specific agent and influenced by several factors.     

Facile catalyst separation without water: fluorous biphase hydroformylation of olefins

A novel concept for performing stoichiometric and catalytic chemical transformations has been developed that is based on the limited miscibility of partially or fully fluorinated compounds with nonfluorinated compounds. A fluorous biphase system (FBS) consists of a fluorous phase containing a dissolved reagent or catalyst and another phase, which could be any common organic or nonorganic solvent with limited or no solubility in the fluorous phase. The fluorous phase is defined as the fluorocarbon (mostly perfluorinated alkanes, ethers, and tertiary amines)-rich phase of a biphase system. An FBS compatible reagent or catalyst contains enough fluorous moieties that it will be soluble only or preferentially in the fluorous phase. The most effective fluorous moieties are linear or branched perfluoroalkyl chains with high carbon number; they may also contain heteroatoms. The chemical transformation may occur either in the fluorous phase or at the interface of the two phases. The application of FBS has been demonstrated for the extraction of rhodium from toluene and for the hydroformylation of olefins. The ability to separate a catalyst or a reagent from the products completely at mild conditions could lead to industrial application of homogeneous catalysts or reagents and to the development of more environmentally benign processes.