Foodborne enterobacterial pathogens and rheumatoid disease

Persistent diarrhea, arthritis, and other complications of enteric infections: a pilot survey based on California FoodNet surveillance, 1998-1999

Numerous complications of enteric infections have been described, including persistent diarrhea, reactive arthritis, and Guillain-Barre syndrome. We determined the frequency of self-reported complications of enteric infections in a pilot study in the California site of the Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network. From 1 April 1998 through 31 March 1999, active surveillance identified 1454 infections in Alameda and San Francisco counties, of which 52% were Campylobacter infections, 22% were Salmonella infections, 15% were Shigella infections, 6% were Cryptosporidium infections, 2% were Escherichia coli O157:H7 infections, 2% were Yersinia infections, and 1% were Vibrio infections. We mailed surveys to 1331 eligible participants, and 571 (43%) were returned. A new health problem following infection was reported by 153 (27%) of the respondents: 12 (8%) reported new onset of joint pain and 53 (35%) reported new gastrointestinal symptoms, of whom 38 reported persistent diarrhea, including 2 who reported irritable bowel syndrome. Three respondents reported hair loss. The frequency, nature, and etiology of these complications merit further investigation.

Síndrome de reiter: relato de caso

Relato de um caso de síndrome de Reiter em paciente jovem, do sexo masculino, com lesões dermatológicas típicas e achado positivo para o antígeno do complexo de histocompatibilidade HLA-B27. O quadro surgiu após infecção intestinal por Salmonella enteritidis, evoluindo com melhora após utilização de tetraciclina, prednisona e indometacina. Episódio recidivante foi tratado com metotrexato. É feita uma revisão da literatura, abordando os aspectos clínicos, laboratoriais, etiológicos e fisiopatogênicos dessa síndrome.

Myosin-cross-reactive epitope of Shigella flexneri invasion plasmid antigen B

IpaB, invasion plasmid antigen B, of Shigella flexneri is a 62-kDa protein required for invasion of intestinal epithelial cells. IpaB is also one of several major protein antigens recognized by the humoral immune systems of most humans and monkeys after infection with shigellae. Computer analysis of the deduced IpaB amino acid sequence indicates that an alpha-helical structure is likely through much of the molecule. Homology searches with protein data banks show that one alpha-helical domain between amino acid residues 95 and 181 has a moderate level of identity with myosin and streptococcal M protein. By using a monoclonal antibody (2F1) which recognizes an epitope in the amino-terminal third of the IpaB protein, it was possible to demonstrate a cross-reactive epitope(s) on skeletal muscle myosin. Epitope mapping localized the 2F1 epitope to three noncontiguous regions of the IpaB protein within the alpha-helical domain that contains homology with myosin. Antibodies produced in rabbits immunized with synthetic peptides from one of the 2F1 epitope regions (residues 99 to 110) of IpaB were capable of reacting with IpaB as well as myosin. Furthermore, sera from several monkeys previously infected with S. flexneri 2a contained antibodies to IpaB pep 101-116 (IpaB peptide 101-116) and also myosin. Sera from animals with antibodies against other IpaB peptides did not contain antibodies against myosin.