Molecular epidemiology of meningococci isolated in Niger in 2003 shows serogroup A sequence type (ST)-7 and serogroup W135 ST-11 or ST-2881 strains

In 2003, in the Zinder and Maradi regions (Niger), epidemics were due to serogroup A:4:P1.9 meningococci belonging to sequence type 7 (ST-7). In Niamey, only sporadic cases were reported: 55% of the meningococcus strains were in serogroup A, and 38% were in serogroup W135 and could be placed in ST-11, identical to the 2002 Burkina Faso epidemic clone, and in ST-2881, a new ST.

[Oculomotor muscles involvement revealing dermatomyositis in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis]

INTRODUCTION

Oculomotor muscles (OMM) involvement in dermatomyositis (DM) and in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is unusual. The DM always leads to OMM inflammation, whereas the RA particularly leads to tenosynovitis of the superior oblique muscle referred to as the Brown syndrome.

OBSERVATION

The patient is a 43-year-old woman who gives a 17-year-history of severe seropositive RA with bilateral coxite. She was hospitalized for acute painful proptosis. The clinical examination revealed an orbital erythema and a muscular rhizomelic weakness. The muscular enzymes were increased. The orbital CT revealed in the right side, an enlargement of the superior rectus muscle that was enhanced after intravenous injection, which is compatible with myositis involvement. The muscular biopsy practiced at the level of the calf showed the specific histological signs of the DM. This orbital involvement was resolved with a high dose of corticosteroids.

CONCLUSION

Our observation has the specificity of associating RA with DM with an involvement of the superior rectus muscle, which is due to the DM rather than the RA.

[Desmoid cervical tumour following the placing of an internal jugular catheter]

INTRODUCTION

A desmoid tumour is a rare fibroblastic tumour and generally located in the abdomen. However, it can also develop on surgical scars.

OBSERVATION

A 36 year-old woman on chronic dialysis consulted for a cervical mass on the left side that was progressively increasing in volume, on the site of a scar of an internal jugular catheter placed 7 months earlier. Histological analysis of a sample of this mass concluded in a benign fibroblastic proliferation and led to the diagnosis of a desmoid tumour. Study of the patient's history revealed that a left jugular catheter had been placed on two occasions to be used for the hemodialysis approach, the lesion provoked by the latter would explain the development of the desmoid tumour.

COMMENTS

The potential severity of this tumour is related to its proximity with the carotid, trachea and base of the skull. In general, desmoid tumours, rare benign tumours of the connective tissue, exhibit a complex multifactor etiopathogenesis. A surgical trauma can often trigger-off such tumours.

Immortalized goat milk epithelial cell lines replicate CAEV at high level

Primary milk epithelial cells were isolated from CAEV-uninfected goats and three cell lines designated TIGMEC-1, TIGMEC-2 and TIGMEC-3 were established. The three cell lines retained their morphological characteristics of epithelial cells and expressed specific epithelial cytokeratin marker as well as the immortalizing SV40 large T antigen. The kinetics of growth of TIGMEC1, TIGMEC2 and TIGMEC3 cell lines showed a doubling time of 24-48 hours while the parental cell lines became senescent after the passage 6 in cell culture. Like the parental primary cells, the three cell lines were found to be highly sensitive to CAEV-pBSCA, an infectious molecular clone of CAEV-CO strain, and to a French isolate CAEV-3112. TIGMEC cell lines infected with CAEV-pBSCA became chronically infected producing high virus titers in absence of cytopathic effects. These cell lines may be useful for study of the possible physiological alterations in mammary epithelial cells infected with small ruminant lentiviruses and their consequences on milk quality. On an other hand, these cell lines can be used to study their role in virus transmission and pathogenesis.

Evaluation of postabortion IUD insertion in Egyptian women

This study was carried out at Alhussein University Hospital and Elmonera General Hospital to assess the safety and efficacy of intrauterine device (IUD) insertion immediately after spontaneous abortion compared with insertion 2 weeks after abortion. One hundred women between ages 18 and 40 years were recruited from those admitted via the emergency room with first trimester spontaneous abortion. All women were counseled about a method of contraception, particularly copper T-380, and divided into two groups: Group I, which included 69 women who preferred immediate IUD insertion, and Group II, which included 31 women who asked for late IUD insertion 2 weeks after an abortion. All women were followed at 2, 6, and 10 weeks after insertion of IUDs. Bleeding patterns were comparable in both groups. Mild bleeding occurred in 9.2% and 16% in Groups I and II, respectively; moderate bleeding occurred in 80% and 64%, respectively, and severe bleeding was observed in 10.8% and 20%, respectively. This was not significant. Expulsion rate was 4.5% and 3.4% in Groups I and II, respectively, which was also not significant. There were no cases of perforation or pelvic infections. This study showed that insertion of an IUD immediately after a spontaneous abortion is safe and could be offered to those who have had an abortion and who ask for a method of contraception.

Bovine viral diarrhoea virus genotype 1 can be separated into at least eleven genetic groups

Seventy-eight bovine viral diarrhoea viruses (BVDV) recently collected in Austria, France, Hungary, Italy, Slovakia, Spain and UK were genetically typed in the 5'-untranslated (5'UTR) and autoprotease (Npro) regions of the pestivirus genome. Seventy-six of the isolates were BVDV-1 and two French isolates were of the BVDV-2 genotype. Phylogenetic analysis of the 5'UTR (245 nt), including additional BVDV-1 sequences from USA, Canada, Germany, New Zealand, Mozambique and Sweden, taken from GenBank and from our previous works, indicated that these viruses were clustered not only into the two generally accepted groups (BVDV-1a-"NADL like" and BVDV-1b-"Osloss like"), but altogether into 11 phylogenetic groups. Similar clustering was observed with Npro region sequences (385 nt) and the highest bootstrap values (over 95%) were obtained by phylogeny combining 5'UTR and Npro sequences. Some associations between the genetic grouping and the origin of the isolates were apparent, probably reflecting historical trade contacts. Considering the variability of isolates it is recommended that diagnostic PCR primers should be re-examined to ensure coverage of all BVDV-1 groups. The genogroups were less clearly differentiated by monoclonal antibody typing, suggesting significant antigenic similarities within the BVDV-1 genotype.

Slow-onset, long-duration 3-(3',4'-dichlorophenyl)-1-indanamine monoamine reuptake blockers as potential medications to treat cocaine abuse

A series of 3-(3',4'-dichlorophenyl)-1-indanamine monoamine reuptake blockers have been synthesized in an effort to develop a compound that could be used as a maintenance therapy to treat cocaine abuse. Since the effects of cocaine on dopamine (DA) and serotonin (5HT) transporters are important components of its pharmacological activity, the focus was on nonselective inhibitors of monoamine transport. To reduce or eliminate the abuse potential of a DA reuptake blocker, the compounds were designed to be slow-onset, long-duration prodrugs whose N-demethylated metabolites would have increased activity over the parent compound with the ideal being a parent compound that has little or no activity. To achieve this, pairs of compounds with different groups on the amine nitrogen and with and without an additional N-methyl group were synthesized. All of the synthesized compounds were screened for binding and reuptake at the cloned human DA, 5HT, and norepinephrine (NE) transporters. As previously found, trans isomers are nonselective blockers of DA, 5HT, and NE reuptake, cis isomers with small N-alkyl groups are selective blockers of 5HT reuptake, and tertiary amines of the trans compounds are less potent than the corresponding N-demethylated secondary amines as blockers of DA reuptake. Larger N-alkyl groups in both the trans and cis series were found to reduce activity for the 5HT and NE transporters with less effect at DA transporters. Selected trans compounds were also screened for locomotor activity in mice and generalization to a cocaine-like profile in rats. With intraperitoneal administration, all of the trans isomers showed a slow onset of at least 20 min and an extremely long duration of action in the locomotor assays. Several of the trans compounds also fully generalized to a cocaine-like pharmacological profile. An initial lead compound, the N,N-dimethyl analogue trans-1b, was resolved into chirally pure enantiomers. Surprisingly, both enantiomers were found to have significant affinity for the DA transporter and to cause locomotor activation. This is in contrast to the N-methyl compound in which only the (+)-enantiomer had significant activity. The absolute configuration of the more active enantiomer was determined by X-ray crystallography to be 3R,1S.

The matrix protein gene sequence analysis reveals close relationship between peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV) and dolphin morbillivirus

The gene encoding the matrix protein of peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV) has been cloned and its nucleotide sequence determined. This gene is 1466 nucleotides long and contains an open reading frame (ORF) capable of encoding a basic protein of 335 amino acid residues with a predicted molecular weight of 38,057 Da. This ORF starts at position 33-35 and ends with the codon TAA at position 1038-1040 thus leaving a long untranslated region (426 nucleotides) at the 3' end of the messenger RNA. This fragment is very G/C rich (68.5%) and in contrast to the ORF region appears to be least conserved in the M gene sequence of the morbilliviruses. A comparison of the PPRV M protein with those of other viruses in the group confirms the previously noted high degree of conservation for this protein sequence. The percent of identity within the group ranges from 76.7 to 86.9%, the highest being with the dolphin morbillivirus matrix protein.

Serological and virological studies on the infectious bovine rhinotracheitis in Algeria

Clinical cases of infectious bovine rhinotracheitis and infectious pustular vulvovaginitis were observed within the cattle population in Algeria. The isolation and identification of six bovine herpes virus type 1 strains from diseased cattle and the serological surveys undertaken in the central region of the country on 2948 sera revealed a 20.5% incidence of IBR infections in Algeria. The DNA restriction profiles of the isolated strains showed the existence of only the BHV1-2a subtype associated with the endemic infections in Algerian cattle. These results emphasized also the lack of correlation between the observed clinical symptoms and the DNA restriction pattern of the isolated herpes virus strain. The plans for disease control are based mainly on the application of strict control measures at the borders for avoiding the introduction of other BHV1 subtypes.

Assembly of enveloped respiratory syncytial virus particles within the cytoplasm of infected Vero cells

Electron microscopic examination of syncytia induced by a bovine respiratory syncytial virus strain in Vero cell cultures revealed the presence in the cytoplasm of assembled enveloped virus particles within inclusions of variable sizes. Moreover, budding virus particles were shown occasionally in the intracytoplasmic vesicles. These particles were filamentous in form, about 80-120 nm in diameter, variable in length, containing 12 nm diameter nucleocapsids, and looked like the extracellular particles budding at the plasma membranes. This is the first report on assembly of intracellular virus particles in cells infected by a member of the family Paramyxoviridae. Vero cell-dependent variations appear to be the factor leading to the defect in the late virus replication cycle.

Quality of care in general practice. A delphi study of indicators and methods

OBJECTIVE

To identify methods for measuring quality of care in general practice, and to assess general practitioners' views about their acceptability, practicality and usefulness.

DESIGN

A delphi design was used. Questionnaires consisting mainly of open-ended questions were sent to 50 general practice teachers in New South Wales. A second questionnaire derived from the responses from the first round was sent to the same GPs who were asked to rate each of the responses.

RESULTS

The response rate by the general practitioners was 46 per cent for the first questionnaire and 64 per cent for the second one. A total of 29 indicators of quality of care and 20 strategies for assessing quality were suggested. The most favoured indicators were appropriate prescribing, communication skills, and participation in continuing medical education. A mixture of methods assessing both performance and competence was suggested.

CONCLUSION

A good consensus was achieved by teaching general practitioners criteria for defining and measuring quality of care.

Identification of Moraxella-like bacteria isolated from caprine and ovine nasal flora

Twenty four Moraxella related bacterias were isolated from healthy caprine and ovine nasal swabs and were investigated by classic biochemical tests and by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) of whole-cell proteins in comparison with 9 reference strains. Proteolytic and haemolytic strains were investigated by electron microscopy. The biochemical results clustered field isolates in four groups corresponding to Branhamella and Moraxella species. Proteolytic, haemolytic and fimbriated field isolates showed the same morphological structure and biochemical features as Moraxella bovis. SDS-PAGE results indicated that DICE coefficient between a field isolate and the corresponding reference strain can be as 62.5%; 41.7% and 36% respectively for the groups 1, 3 and 4. The group 2 showed a similarity percentage over 75% with the reference strain Moraxella nonliquefaciens. This results indicated that a non proteolytic but haemolytic bacteria, closely related to Moraxella nonliquefaciens was commonly isolated from small ruminants nasal flora. These animals can also be hosts of a subspecies of Moraxella bovis.

Haemorrhagic disease of lagomorphs: evidence for a calicivirus

Studies on the aetiological agents of rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) and European brown hare syndrome show that the viruses responsible for these infections can be placed in the family Caliciviridae. Established members of this group are vesicular exanthema virus (prototype), San Miguel sea lion virus and feline calcivirus. The human hepatitis E virus and the Norwalk agent may soon be included. The RHD virus genome consists of a positive stranded RNA molecule composed of 7437 nucleotides. A major subgenomic RNA of 2.2 kb, colinear with the 3' end of the genomic RNA, can also be recovered from infected liver tissue, and both RNAs are enclosed within viral capsids formed by a single major protein of approximately 60 kDa. Electron microscopic examination of organ suspensions from diseased animals shows two types of particle; 35-40 nm complete virions have the regularly arranged cup-shaped depressions typical of calcivirus morphology, and 23-25 nm smooth particles resulting from degradation of the outer surface structures of the complete virions.

Round table on infectious bovine rhinotracheitis/infectious pustular vulvovaginitis virus infection diagnosis and control

The current situation of infectious bovine rhinotracheitis/infectious pustular vulvovaginitis infection in various European countries is reviewed. Whilst some have a high serological prevalence and use live virus vaccines to control the disease, others have a low prevalence and two countries (Denmark and Switzerland) have national eradication schemes which are almost complete. Serology remains important for diagnosis although other tests such as delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity may have a role to play. New tests such as polymerase chain reaction may find increasing application where high sensitivity is required, such as the detection of virus in semen.

[Laboratory diagnosis of respiratory diseases of cattle]

The authors describe the procedure of laboratory diagnosis for bovine respiratory diseases: direct diagnosis by isolation and for identification of bacteria or viruses and indirect diagnosis by serological methods. They specify the restraints and limits of this diagnosis and the significance results which are obtained and connected with knowledge of anamnestic information.