Colonization of the lower urogenital tract with Ureaplasma parvum can cause asymptomatic infection of the upper reproductive system in women: a preliminary study.

PURPOSE: Genital ureaplasmas are considered opportunistic pathogens of human genitourinary tract involved in adverse pregnancy sequelae and infertility. While association of Ureaplasma urealyticum with urogenital tract infections is well established, the role of Ureaplasma parvum in these infections is still insufficient. In the study, we compared how often cervicovaginal colonization with U. parvum is associated with the presence of these microorganisms in the upper genitourinary tract of fertile and infertile women. METHODS: We used PCR assay to determine the prevalence of U. parvum and U. urealyticum in pairs of specimens, i.e., vaginal swabs and Douglas' pouch fluid samples from consecutive 40 women with no symptoms of genital tract infection. RESULTS: In total, 19 (47.5 %) of the 40 samples were positive for ureaplasmas. U. parvum was simultaneously detected in pairs of samples in five (55.5 %) of the nine (47.4 %) women positive in PCR assay. As many as 5 (18.5 %) of the 27 infertile women and 1 (7.7 %) of the 13 fertile women showed infection of the upper genital tract with U. parvum. CONCLUSION: The results of the study demonstrated that colonization of the lower genital tract with U. parvum can produce asymptomatic infection of the upper reproductive system in women. These findings also imply that U. parvum may be present in the upper genital tract at the time of conception and might be involved in adverse pregnancy outcomes.

[Influence of Lactobacillus casei on biofilm formation by enteroaggregative Escherichia coli strains isolated from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)]. / Wplyw Lactobacillus casei na tworzenie biofilmu przez enteroagregacyjne szczepy Escherichia coli izolowane od osób z zespolem jelita nadwrazliwego.

INTRODUCTION: Many pathogenic bacterial species have the ability to biofilm formation. In our study we determined the influence of Lactobacillus casei on biofilm formation by enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) strains obtained from irritable bowel syndrome patients. METHODS: The ability of EAEC isolates to biofilm formation was assessed in the presence of various concentrations of the probiotic L. casei strain in an a semi- quantitative microtitre plate assays under culture conditions, similar to those prevailing in the human intestine. RESULTS: Depending on the concentrations L. casei inhibited biofilm formation of the majority (> 80%) of the EAEC strains. Concentration of 4.5 x 10(7) cfu/ml of L. casei was the most effective inhibitory dose, although a few strains (approximately 18%) formed the biofilm regardless of the presence and concentration of the probiotic L. casei strain. CONCLUSION: The inhibitory effect of L. casei on biofilm formation at most of studied EAEC strains suggest that L. casei may reduce the risk of developing persistent intestinal infections in humans.

[Curli fimbria production among Escherichia coli strains isolated from children with diarrhea and healthy children]. / Synteza fimbrii curli przez szczepy Escherichia coli izolowane z przypadków biegunek dzieciecych.

E. coli curli fimbria are produced during starvation and at room temperature. In the study curli synthesis among E. coli strains isolated from children with diarrhea and healthy children was investigated at human body temperature and in the variable atmosphere conditions: aerobic, supplemented with CO2 and anaerobic. The ability of curli synthesis was estimated using qualitative and quantitative methods basing on Congo red binding by curli. Curli production of all E. coli strains examined was observed at temperature 37 degrees C during anaerobic cultivation, confirming their role in colonization of intestinal mucosa.

[Evaluation of the usefulness examination of IgG avidity for serodiagnosis of toxoplasmosis]. / Ocena przydatnosci testu badania awidnosci przeciwcial klasy G w serodiagnostyce toksoplazmozy.

An assay measuring the avidity of T. gondii-specific IgG is a useful serological indicator of toxoplasmosis which in many cases allows on the basis of single serum sample testing to confirm or exclude acute infection. IgG antibodies against T. gondii produced in the recent primary infection are of low-avidity while IgG antibodies in the chronic toxoplasmosis are of high-avidity. In the present study 80 sera: 47 sera of patients with suspected acute toxoplasmosis, 23 sera of pregnant women and 10 sera of healthy blood donors, were evaluated for the presence of IgM, IgA and IgG antibodies and for the avidity of IgG. Among the 80 tested sera IgM antibodies were present in 34 (42.5%) cases of which 22 (64.7%) showed low-avidity of IgG and the presence of IgA antibodies confirming acute toxoplasmosis. In the rest of these 34 sera three of them showed low avidity index and nine other high avidity in spite of the presence of IgM antibodies. In these 12 sera IgA antibodies were not present. In 46 (57.5%) examined sera IgM or IgA antibodies were not detectable and the present the IgG antibodies showed high-avidity what is characteristic of chronic infection. An assay for evaluation of avidity of IgG antibodies specific for T. gondii is valuable in complementing existing tests and in many cases it has decisive value for interpretation of results.