Chlamydophila psittaci infections in humans during an outbreak of psittacosis from poultry in Germany.

In 2005, an outbreak of severe respiratory disease in a mixed poultry flock that was infected with Chlamydophila (C.) psittaci led to dissemination of the infection to at least 100 small poultry farms in 11 districts of Central Germany. At the same time, a total of 24 persons in contact with poultry from one of the flocks reported flu-like symptoms to their physician, thus suggesting zoonotic transmission. Within 3 weeks, seven individuals had to be hospitalized, with three of them requiring intensive care. Analysis of ompA sequences from chlamydial isolates and directly from clinical samples revealed the presence of both genotype A and E/B of C. psittaci at the source of the outbreak and in contact flocks. Genotype A was also detected in the three severely ill patients. The findings of the present study demonstrate the high zoonotic potential of avian chlamydiae. To ensure speedy eradication of psittacosis in poultry flocks and effective treatment of infected humans, fast, sensitive and species-specific detection of the causative agent is essential, as well as close collaboration between regional public health services, attending physicians and the diagnostic laboratories involved.

A marine bioassay test set to assess marine water and sediment quality-its need, the approach and first results.

There is a need for establishing a marine bioassay test set to assess marine water and sediment samples in Germany. The selected marine bioassay test set, two tests for the water phase (with the luminescence bacteria Vibrio fischeri and the algae Phaeodactylum tricornutum Bohlin) and a whole sediment test with the marine amphipod Corophium volutator (Pallas) is described and first results are shown.

[Protein utilization by premature infants with a birth weight less than 1,500 g during nutrition with MANASAN or breast milk protein]. / Proteinverwertung Frühgeborener mit einem Geburtsgewicht unter 1500 g während Ernährung mit MANASAN oder Frauenmilchprotein.

Protein utilization in very low birth weight infants fed the formula MANASAN or human milk protein. The influence of protein utilization was studied in 19 very low birth weight infants appropriate for gestational age between the 5th and 6th week of postnatal life. 8 of the infants were fed with the formula MANASAN (protein: cow's milk casein) and 11 were fed with similar quantities of human milk (HM) protein (HM fortified with 6g freeze-dried HM/100 ml). On two following days the protein intake and the nitrogen excretion in urine and stools were measured and the nitrogen balance was calculated. In the urine the excretions of alpha-amino-nitrogen, urea, ammonium and sulfuric acid were also estimated. On one of both study days the concentrations of alpha-amino-nitrogen and urea were measured in the preprandially obtained serum. The weight gain was calculated as mean of two weeks ending with the last day of study. Despite the similar protein intakes and the sufficient energy intakes in both study groups the serum concentration of alpha-amino-nitrogen and the renal excretions of alpha-amino-nitrogen, ammonium and sulfuric acid were significantly higher in the groups fed MANASAN than in the groups fed HM protein. The excretion of ammonium in the urine was significantly correlated to the excretion of sulfuric acid. The weight gain and the nitrogen balance were significantly lower in the infants fed MANASAN in comparison to the infants fed HM protein.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)