In vitro study on cytotoxic effect of some chemicals on serum McCoy and serum-free McCoy-Plovdiv cell culture systems.

The cytotoxicity of test agents on serum-free McCoy cultures has not been studied at all. The cytotoxic effect of EDTA, methanol, DMSO, and cycloheximide on serum-free McCoy-Plovdiv cell culture (SF) was detected visually on inverted microscope and quantitatively by tests for viability (NR) and total protein (KBP). The IC50 values for the tested chemicals were calculated. SF showed the lowest IC50 values for cycloheximide, DMSO and EDTA and the highest for methanol according to both tests. EDTA, methanol, DMSO and cycloheximide had dose-effect relationship in the cell test systems after treatment. The data indicate that McCoy-Plovdiv cell line is a suitable serum-free cell system for in vitro cytotoxic studies.

A case of Chlamydia trachomatis infection in a renal allograft patient.

We describe a renal allograft patient with a Chlamydia trachomatis infection. A 43 year-old man was diagnosed with end-stage renal disease in 1985 which necessitated the transplantation of a cadaver kidney in 1986. The kidney was rejected two years later. A second transplantation was performed in 1991. At the beginning of 1998 symptoms and signs of chronic renal failure and dysuria set in. Routine microbiological studies were negative. Cell culture on McCoy cell line was positive for an active infection with C. trachomatis--initially 3+, then 2+, 1+ and negative following treatment. The patient was positive on the AMPLICOR CT/NG test (Roche Diagnostic Systems, Branchburg, USA) twice with OD values OVER--above 2 at 450 nm wavelength measured on an ELISA reader. The patient received treatment with azithromycin and doxycycline for 10 days following which the serum creatinine levels fell and the creatinine clearance values improved. Dynamic microbiological follow-up showed disappearance of C. trachomatis as evidenced by the negative PCR test. We conclude that the deterioration of renal function in our patient is complex but the infection with C. trachomatis is part of the complex of the underlying chronic renal failure and immunosuppressive treatment.

Biological effects of a novel intestinal peptide--inhibiting enterocytogenin on cultured 3T3 mouse fibroblasts and L5178Y mouse lymphoma cells.

The effects of a new intestinal peptide, inhibiting enterocytogenin (IEG) derived from pig intestinal mucosa were studied in vitro on 3T3 mouse fibroblasts and L5178Y mouse lymphoma cell line. IEG caused considerable growth inhibition together with specific morphological changes, necrotic effects as well as formation of monolayers at the highest concentration applied (1000 micrograms/ml). A biologically active fraction (IEG-BAF) derived by further purification of IEG by gel-filtration, proved to possess most of the described activity. The concentrations of IEG and IEG-BAF inhibiting the growth of L5178Y lymphoma cells by 50% (IC50 values) were calculated to be 759 micrograms/ml and 192 micrograms/ml, respectively. IEG-BAF has a molecular mass of 4450 +/- 180 Da and is most probably a peptidylnucleotidate as revealed by spectral analysis.

[Active immunoprophylaxis of Salmonella abortion in sheep]. / Prinos kum aktivnata imunoprofilaktika na salmonelozniia abort po ovtsete.

A live vaccine was produced against the salmonellosis abortion in sheep with the use of an attenuated (chemically) strain of Salmonella abortus ovis. It was tested comparatively with a killed vaccine in sheep under experimental conditions. The dynamics of the agglutinating antibodies was followed up after immunization with the two vaccines, studying also the class of the immunoglobulins. It was found that the production of class IgG antibodies in sheep treated with the live vaccine proceeded more rapidly and at a higher level. After challenging with a virulent Salmonella abortus ovis strain te animals treated with the killed vaccine and those left as controls miscarried, while the sheep immunized with the live vaccine lambed normally. The vaccine was applied in field conditions to more than 400 000 sheep without postvaccinal accidents whatever. On farms where Salmonella abortus ovis infection was recorded in sheep the disease has no longer been a problem with the regular annual vaccinations of these animals.

[Epizootiology of foot rot in sheep]. / Prouchvane vurkhu epizootologiiata na kopitniia gnilets po ovtsete.

Investigations were carried out on the outbreak and spread of foot rot in sheep as well as on the ways of its restriction and eradication. It was found that the disease had been introduced with the import of breeding animals, its further spread being associated with the activity of the Breeding Centers for pedigree animals. The diseased animals have been 25 per cent, on an average, for the whole country, and the economic losses, as expressed in production parameters, have amounted to: produce of animal origin--20 per cent; culling of animals--15 per cent; mortality--1 per cent. Best in the group treatment of the affected animals prove: the dipping in a 5--10 per cent solution of formalin or a 20 per cent solution of copper sulfate, combined with the respective surgical and orthopedic handling and the disinfection of premises. The individual parenteral treatment and the local application of antibiotics and chemotherapeutics have proved suitable and successful in the cases of moderate spread of the disease. The eradication of foot rot can be achieved only via the planned and complex application of pertinent measures.