Frequency of seropositivity for Coxiella burnetii immunoglobulins in livestock and abattoir workers in Trinidad

Coxiella burnetii is a zoonotic, rickettsial pathogen which causes mild and severe diseases often referred to as Q-fever in humans, particularly those occupationally exposed. This study determined the seropositivity for Coxiella burnetii IgM immunoglobulins using the enzyme immunoassay (EIA) in livestock and abattoir workers in Trinidad and related to selected personal characteristics to seroprevalence. Overall, of the 455 humans whose serum samples were tested, 20 (4.4%) were seropositive for C. burnetii IgM immunoglobulin, comprising 13 (4.6%) out of 283 livestock workers, 4 (4.7%) out of 85 abattoir workers and 3 (3.4%) out of 87 office workers (P>0.05; ö2).The age, sex and race of workers were not significantly associated with the occurrence of acute Q-fever (P>0.05; ö2). This is considered the first documentation of Q-fever in the human population in Trinidad. It is difficult to assess the impact of the disease in the country since the disease is not routinely tested for in the local hospitals or diagnostic laboratories.

The significance of immune disorder in tropical spastic paraparesis

The reports of the occurrence of HTLV-1 infection and/or HTLV-1 associated myelopathy (HAM)/tropical spastic paraparesis (TSP) in patients with certain organ-specific and nonorgan-specific autoimmune diseases prompted us to assess the relationship between TSP and humoral autoimmunity. Blood samples from 76 TSP patients, 60 asymptomatic HTLV-1 carriers and 100 HTLV-1 seronegative blood donors were examined for the presence of organ-specific and nonorgan-specific autoantibodies, reactive serological tests for syphilis, immunoglobulin and complement concentrations as well as immunecomplexes. High prevalences of autoantibodies (39/76, 51 percent), reactive serological tests for syphilis (23/76; 30 percent), hypergammaglobulinaemia (69/76, 90 percent) and the complement fixing immune complexes (44/76, 58 percent) were found in the TSP patients. These indicators of immunological disorder were found in statistically significantly lower prevalences in asymptomatic HTLV-1 carriers (12/60, 20 percent; p < 0.001; 6/60, 10 percent; p < 0.05; 32/60, 53 percent; p < 0.001 and 8/60, 13 percent; p < 0.001, respectively) and HTLV-1 seronegative blood donors (8/100, 8 percent; p < 0.001; 3/100, 3 percent; p < 0.001; 15/100, 15 percent p < 0.001 and 5/100, 5 percent; p < 0.001, respectively). The profiles of autoimmune phenomena observed in the patient and control groups revealed that they were associated with TSP rather than mere HTLV-1 infection and consequently pathogenic significance. The array of immunological features present in TSP was suggestive of autoimmune disease resulting from immune dysfunction. Studies which explore the possible existence of HTLV-1 induced autoantibodies with specificity for antigens of the spinal cord in TSP might be useful in elucidating its pathogenesis.(Au)

The Importance of determining levels of immunoglobulin and IgG subclasses in neonates in Trinidad - abstract

The occurence of multiple outbreaks of contagious diseases in Trinidad over the past decade led to an investigation of the role of immunoglobulin levels and IgG subclasses in neonates for whom there had hitherto been no established baseline. The mean immunoglobulin levels obtained for Trinidad were as follows: IgG 1,232 ñ 225 mg/d, IgA 1.4 ñ 3 mg/d, IgM 12 ñ 11 mg/d. For the IgG subclass determinations, the values obtained were IgG1 840 ñ 182 mg/d, IgG2 21 ñ 115 mg/d, IgG 364 ñ 62 mg/d and IgG4 111 ñ 94 mg/d. The mean G, A, M, G1, Gs and G4 concentrations differed significantly from those obtained in the USA. When our IgG subclass means were compared with those in a Swedish study, IgG1 and IgG4 were elevated. During the course of the study, baseline values were also determined for beta 2 microglobulin (0.44 ñ 1.6 mg/d) and C reactive protein. Normal neonates showed no production of CRP. However, 4 apparently normal neonates gave values ranging from 0.2 to 6.1 mg/d. Within 72-96 hours, all 4 developed pneumonia, jaundice and/or sepis. This suggests that CRP can be employed as an indicator for infection in neonates in the absence of overt clinical symptoms (AU)

The importance of serum immunoglobulin levels and IgG subclass composition of circulating immune complexes in patients with post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis - abstract

Immunoglobulin levels, circulating immune complexes and IgG subclasses in the immune complexes were studied in sera from 34 patients with post-streptococcal acute glomerulonephritis (PSAGN). Serum IgG levels were depressed in 91 percent of PSAGN patients while serum IgA (82 percent) and IgM (97 percent) levels were elevated when compared with the mean values for 106 children all under 10 years of age. Circulating immune complexes were prepared by the 3 percent polyethylene glycol (PEG) 6,000 precipitation method and IgG- and IgM-containing immune complexes of PSAGN patients were elevated compared with those of controls. No IgA-containing complexes were seen in these patients. IgG-complexes returned to normal levels within 3-6 months after onset. In contrast, IgM-contain complexes, which were heightened at onset of illness, remained elevated even after six months. Subclass determinations of circulating IgG-containing immune complexes from PSAGN patients showed that IgGl and IgG2 were predominant while IgG3 was much reduced. IgGl-, IgG2- and IgG3- containing complexes returned to normal values within 3 months, but IgG2 complexes appeared to rise again at 6 months. IgG3-containing immune complexes appear to initiate glomerular injury in PSAGN patients whereas IgG2- containing immune complexes may be implicated in long-term glomerulonephritis (AU)

Immunoglobulin and C3 levels in maternal and cord blood in Jamaica

IgG, IgM, IgA and C3 were estimated by radial immunodiffusion (RID) in one hundred paired maternal and cord blood samples. The mean maternal IgG, and IgM, and IgA were 2112 mg/dl, 118 mg/dl and 251 mg/dl, respectively, while in corresponding infants, the mean levels were 2194 mg/dl, 36 mg/dl and 19 mg/dl. Mean cord serum C3 levels was 113 mg/dl, approximately half the maternal level (203 mg/dl). Variation in the gestational age, birth weight, duration of labour and maternal pre-eclamptic toxaemia did not significantly affect the immunoglobulin levels. Seven out of 36 (16 percent) cord blood with IgM level greater than 36 mg/dl showed either fourfold rise or high antibody titres against one of the TORCH (toxoplasma, rubella, cytomegalovirus and herpes simplex virus) agents. Screening of cord serum for IgM levels can be of particular value in detection of newborn infants with clinically apparent or inapparent intrauterine infections (AU)

Recurrent infections in sickle cell disease: haematological and immune studies

Some haematological and immunological indices were compared in 19 children with sickle cell disease and a history of recurrent infections and in 16 children with sickle cell disease without any known infections. The recurrent infection group had significantly greater pitted red cell counts and greater absolute monocyte counts. No differences were apparent in routine haematological indices, foetal haemoglobin, immunoglobulin, or complement levels between the groups. The interpretation of these results is discussed (AU)

Immunoglobulin and C3 levels in normal human amniotic fluid

Forty-one amniotic fluid samples were tested by single radial immunodiffusion, using Hyland plates for the demonstration of IgG, IgA, IgD, IgM and C3. All of the immunoglobulins except IgM could be detected throughout gestation. There was a tendency to increase during mid-pregnancy and thereafter to decrease toward term. IgM was detected in only 5 samples (12.2 percent) obtained at term. The literature is reviewed with particular emphasis on IgD, IgM and C3 in amniotic fluid (AU)

Serum immunoglobulin levels in children with homozygous sickle cell disease

Serum immunoglobulin levels (IgA, IgG, and IgM) have been assayed in a representative sample of children (aged 1-7 years) with homozygous sickle cell disease and in age/sex-matched control children with a normal haemoglobin genotype, followed from birth in a prospective cohort study. In SS disease, significant elevation of IgA occurred from the age of two years and of IgG from the age of six years. IgM levels were not significantly different in the two genotypes. The mechanisms contributing to these changes in immunoglobulins are currently unclear as is their clinical significance.(AU)

Estimation of a reference range for immunoglobulins by a turbidimetric method

The assay of the major immunoglobulins by a turbidimetric method is described. The reference ranges for the sexes and different age groups have been determined (AU)

Infantile cortical hyperostosis with raised immumoglobulins

Two cases of infantile cortical hyperostosis are reported. Both had raised immunoglobulins. Particularly remarkable were the IgA and IgM levels, a finding infrequently reported (AU)

In vitro synthesis of humoral factors (immunoglobulins and complement) in lesional skin of leprosy patients

Reviews the leprosy situation in the world and in Suriname, as well as its clinical forms and immunological aspects. Skin samples with a diameter of 6 mm were taken from untreated lepers, 3 samples per patient. The aims were: to determine whether humoral factors are synthesized in the skin lesions of lepers, to study cells producing immunoglobulins and complement, and to study whether the locally synthesized immunoglobulins have antibody activity against M. leprae. The in vitro culture technique (Hochwald 1961/ Furth 1966), the direct immunofluorescence technique and the crossed immuno-electrophoresis with intermediate gel (Axelsen/Week;1973) were used. It was shown that lesional skin of indeterminate leprosy does not synthesize immunoglobulines. However, IgG was synthesized in tissue cultures of other leprosy varieties. Ig-positive cells were found in some of the patients examined, whereas complement-positive cells were not found. Culture fluid did contain newly synthesized antibodies against different M. leprae antigenic components. These antibodies were also found in the sera of the patients examined. This showed that antibody synthesis does not take place in the skin lesions, but elsewhere in the body. The biological significance of these antibodies is not yet known. Further study is needed to throw light upon this problem

Immunological studies in Schistosoma mansoni infection in St. Lucia

An investigation was made of the immunological status of matched groups of patients with Schictosoma mansoni infection in St. Lucia, one group with hepatosplenic disease and the other with only intestinal disease. No impairment of humoral or cellular immunity was detected in either group. IgG and IgM levels were above normal range and were higher in the patients with intestinal disease, but only the difference between groups in IgG level was statistically significant. In their reaction to specific schistisome antigens and ability to develop delayed hypersensitivity, the groups were about equal. (AU)

Relationship of acute rheumatic fever to acute glomerulonephritis in Trinidad

The incidence of acute rheumatic fever decreased during a major epidemic of acute glomerulonephritis in Trinidad in 1965. Subsequently, several minor increases in the incidence of acute rheumatic fever have been coincident with more marked increases in the incidence of acute glomerulonephritis. The relation of streptococcal infections to acute glomerulonephritis has been studied in Trinidad for the past six years. Their relation to acute rheumatic fever also has been examined during the last year of these studies. The streptococcal strains isolated from patients with acute rheumatic fever generally have differed from those found in patients with acute glomerulonephritis. Moreover, while streptococcal skin infections have been associated with acute glomerulonephritis, no such association has been apparent with rheumatic fever. However, titers of antistreptolysin O were relatively low, while titers of antihyaluronidase were makedly increased in the patients with acute rheumatic fever, much as they have been in most patients with acute glomerulonephritis in Trinidad (AU)