Sister chromatid exchange in murine alveolar macrophages, regenerating liver and bone marrow cells--a simultaneous multicellular in vivo assay.

Differential labeling of sister chromatids was achieved simultaneously in murine alveolar macrophages, regenerating liver, and bone marrow cells of partially hepatectomized mice as well as in alveolar macrophages and bone marrow cells of nonhepatectomized mice. The mean frequency of SCE/cell +/-S.D. and the percentage of second division cells for each cell type were determined. No significant differences in mean frequencies of SCE/cell were observed among the cell types or between hepatectomized (alveolar macrophages--3.6+/-2.2, bone marrow--3.4+/-2.2; regenerating liver--3.6+/-2.4) and nonhepatectomized (alveolar macrophages--3.4+/-1.9; bone marrow--2.9+/-1.8). Although the percentage of second division cells was dependent upon cell type, no significant differences were apparent between hepatectomized (alveolar macrophages--57+/-8%; bone marrow--37+/-6%; regenerating liver--65+/-6%) and nonhepatectomized mice )alveolar macrophages--53+/-6%; bone marrow--36+/-4%). Comparisons between BrdU treated and nontreated nonhepatectomized mice revealed no significant alteration in mitotic yields.

Evaluation of serodiagnostic tests for visceral larva migrans.

Four serologic techniques for the diagnosis of visceral larva migrans caused by Toxocara canis, namely indirect hemagglutination (IHA), bentonite flocculation (BF), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and double diffusion in agar (Ouchterlony), were evaluated using sera sent to the Center for Disease Control from patients with a presumptive diagnosis of visceral larva migrans (VLM). Patients having 5-6 of the clinical or laboratory criteria for VLM were designated as cases while those with 0-2 criteria served as controls. The sensitivity of the ELISA was 78.3% compared to 18.2%, 25.8% and 65.2% for the IHA, BF, and Ouchterlony, respectively; the sepcificity of all four tests was greater than 92%. The predivtive value of positive test was greater than 85% for all tests except the IHA, while the predictive value of a negative test was greater than 85% only for the ELISA. The results of a ELISA were reproducible in different laboratories. Based on these findings, the ELISA using a larval antigen appears to be the serodiagnostic method of choice for VLM.