Molecular detection of Chlamydia trachomatis and semen quality of sexual partners of infertile women.

Chlamydia trachomatis is considered as the bacterium that is more sexually transmitted as cause of male urethritis, epididymitis, orchitis and infertility. A total of 116 semen samples of men whose couples are infertile women were analysed. The quality of the semen was measured by standard procedures recommended by WHO while C. trachomatis was detected by the PCR assay. Thirty-seven semen samples were positive for C. trachomatis (31.9%). Regarding semen analysis, no different values were observed between positive and negative samples to C. trachomatis. However, the presence of leucocytes and erythrocytes suggests an inflammatory process; however, these were high in negative samples to C. trachomatis. Furthermore, an association between low seminal volume at 1, 5 ml and the positivity to C. trachomatis was observed (OR=2, 1; CI95 % 1,16-3,07). The total semen volume is a contribution by the various accessory glands (this reflects the secretory activity of the glands); a low semen volume could be due to an obstruction of the ejaculatory duct or infection of accessory glands by C. trachomatis. More studies are necessary to identify the causes of a reduced semen volume.

Seroprevalence and risk factors associated with within-flock transmission of Leptospira interrogans in transhumant farming systems in Mexico.

A number of recent reports emphasize the risk of zoonotic diseases and the high degree of prevalence of asymptomatic animals infected with Leptospira interrogans. This report sought to assess the prevalence of antibodies to certain serovars of L. interrogans, and to describe the association between seropositivity and risk factors associated with within-flock transmission in a mountainous region of Mexico. Overall seroprevalence to L. interrogans was 54·5% (95% confidence interval 48·3-60·7); the most frequent serovar was Icterohaemorrhagiae. The accumulation of placentas and fetuses at a site close to lambing paddocks can play a significant role as a risk factor for within-flock transmission of L. interrogans in transhumant farming systems in the municipality of Xalatlaco. The high prevalence of L. interrogans antibodies supports the hypothesis that natural foci of this zoonosis are present in sheep flocks in this area. These findings emphasize the need for planning and implementation of control programmes for ovine leptospirosis in Mexico and elsewhere.

Adherence of five serovars of Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale to chicken tracheal epithelial cells.

1. Interaction between bacteria and host tissue is important, both for primary adhesion and tissue-specific colonisation, as well as for pathogen invasion for different host tissues. 2. Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale is a bacterium associated with respiratory tract infections in poultry. The mechanisms by which O. rhinotracheale causes infection are not known. To date, at least 18 serovars of this bacterium, with or without the ability to agglutinate erythrocytes of chicken and other species, have been identified. 3. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the ability of five references strains, belonging to serovars A, B, C, D and E, to adhere to a culture of primary chicken tracheal cells. 4. Serovars A and B adhered to less than 20% of tracheal cells with no specific adherence pattern. Serovars C, D and E gave adherence values greater than 70%. Serovars C and E showed a diffuse adherence pattern, while serovar D had an aggregated adherence pattern. 5. The adherence ability and pattern could be associated with different pathogenicity mechanisms in the various serovars but more studies are needed to understand the reasons for these differences.

Induction of tumor necrosis factor-alpha by cefodizime in U-937 cells.

Cefodizime has modulating effects on the release of diverse cytokines. We determined the modulator activity of this antibiotic on the production of TNF in human monocytic U-937 cells. The measurement of TNF was carried out by ELISA test and by a L-929 cells-based citotoxic bioassay. The results showed that cefodizime alone induced the production of TNF on U-937 cells, however, the addition of LPS led to a decrease in the release of this cytokine (p < 0.05). On the other hand, the combination of cefodizime-PMA had a synergic effect (p < 0.05), while addition of LPS to this combination caused a decrease of TNF production (p < 0.05). With these results we conclude that cefodizime modulates the production of TNF in U-937 cells, which is down regulated by the addition of LPS.

Tumor necrosis factor in peritoneal fluid from asymptomatic infertile women.

BACKGROUND: Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is a cytokine that can be found in the peritoneal fluid (PF) of patients with endometriosis and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) as a response to inflammatory disorders and infections. The cytotoxic effect of this cytokine could be a factor participating in the pathology of various gynecological diseases, and could also be accountable for the high immunological response and damage to the tubal epithelium. The objective of this study was to establish the presence of TNF-alpha in asymptomatic infertility and its association with various isolated bacteria. METHODS: Ten milliliters of PF were collected from each of 73 patients by means of laparoscopy and cultured in synthetic medium and McCoy cells for the isolation of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, as well as for Chlamydia trachomatis. The activity of TNF-alpha was determined by means of a bioassay using L-929 cells. RESULTS: Forty-three percent of the PFs showed positive TNF-alpha activity, while the laparoscopic evaluation showed that 32 patients had Fallopian tube occlusion (FTO), 7 had endometriosis, 30 had PID, and 4 had myomas and adhesions. TNF-alpha activity was found to be high in FTO patients (p < 0.05). Positive cultures were found in 50.7% of patients; of these, 31.5% had PID (p < 0.05), and only 20.5% of positive cultures were TNF-alpha positive. Chlamydia trachomatis (16%) was the most frequently isolated bacteria in these patients. CONCLUSIONS: The detection of TNF-alpha could be useful in the diagnosis of active infectious and inflammatory diseases in asymptomatic infertile patients.

[Determination of the tumor necrosis factor in the peritoneal fluid of gynecologic patients with intraperitoneal infections and endometriosis]. / Determinación del factor de necrosis tumoral en líquido peritoneal de pacientes ginecológicas con infecciones intraperitoneales y endometriosis.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) is a cytokine which can be found in peritoneal fluid (PF) of patients with endometriosis and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) as a response of inflammatory disorder and infections diseases. The cytotoxic effect of this cytokine could be participating in the pathology of different gynecologic problem and be accountable of the high immunological response and damage on the tubal epithelium. The objective of this study was determinate the presence of TNF-alpha in PF of endometriosis patients, fallopian tube occlusion (FTO) and PID and their correlation with different isolated bacteria. Ten mililiter PF were collected and cultured in antificial medium and Mc Coy culture cells for isolation of acrobic, and anaerobic bacteria and Chlamydia trachomatis from 73 patients by laparoscopy. The TNF-alpha activity was determined by L-929 cells endometriosis, 30 PID and 4 had miomas and adherences. The 50.7% of patients were cultive positive, fom these, 31.5% were PID. Chlamydia trachomatis (16%) was the most frecuenty isolated bacteria in these patients. 59.4% of FTO patients displayed TNF-alpha activity. However, only 4% showed positive isolation, in conclusion the detection of TNF-alpha could be useful in active infectious and inflammatory diseases in patients which not present simptomatologic characteristic of these illnesses and plus being attended at for sterility clinical as a result of their incapacity to get pregnant.

[Phagocytic activity of polymorphonuclear leukocytes of pregnant women]. / Actividad fagocítica de leucocitos polimorfonucleares de mujeres embarazadas.

Cellular and humoral immunity are depressed during pregnancy, for this reason the non-specific immunity mediated by polymorphonuclear leukocytes plays an important role in the defense against bacterial infections. The objective of this study was evaluate the phagocytosis, phagocytic index (particles ingested average by cell) and nitroblue tetrazolium reduction (NBTr) in three trimesters of pregnancy. The phagocytosis and rNBT assays were carried out by means of adherence on surface of the glass. The resulted showed that phagocytosis, phagocytic index and NBTr were normal in two first trimesters of pregnancy compared with nonpregnant women group. However, phagocytosis and phagocytic index were significantly decrease (p < 0.05) in the third trimester pregnancy. This phagocytosis deficiency possibly explains the increase of respiratory infections, diarrhea disease and bacteriuria. Several factors could be responsible of this non-specific immunity depressed during pregnancy. Further studies are necessary to define the biological significance of this immunosuppression.

[Prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis in newborn infants with respiratory problems]. / Prevalencia de Chlamydia trachomatis en recién nacidos con dificultad respiratoria.

The prevalence of C. trachomatis in neonates with respiratory distress was studied after 24 h of birth, nine patients were positive for C. trachomatis culture (12.9%). The chest radiographs showed six with hyaline membrane disease and two with pneumonia. One patient with treatment of ventilation mechanics developed bronchopulmonary dysplasia and was C. trachomatis positive in a second cell culture. Of the nine patients with C. trachomatis, eight were neonates preterm with low weight to the birth and with leukocytosis. Six patients were delivered by cesarean section. These results suggest that C. trachomatis can participate in an important way in the development of the distress respiratory in infants preterm.

[Evaluation of sensitivity and specificity of 3 reagents of direct immunofluorescence in the diagnosis of Chlamydia trachomatis]. / Evaluación de la sensibilidad y especificidad de tres reactivos de inmunofluorescencia directa para el diagnóstico de Chlamydia trachomatis.

The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values and positive and negative false percentage of three monoclonal immunofluorescence reagents for direct diagnosis of Chlamydia trachomatis infections were evaluated, 150 cervical specimens and 50 samples of peritoneal liquid of patients with pelvic inflammatory disease, were studied. The results showed that the reagents against the main protein of external membrane of Chlamydia introduced high sensitivity but minor specificity than the reagent of immunofluorescence direct against then chlamydial lipopolysaccharide.