Schistosomiasis (Schistosoma mansoni)-a rare cause of complex liver cysts.

In this paper, we describe the case of a 40-year-old patient with an expanding and symptomatic complex liver cyst. Despite comprehensive diagnostics, including labs, imaging and biopsy, a clear etiology could not be determined. As a result, a partial liver resection was performed. The histopathological examination revealed evidence of schistosomas. We postulate that the displacement of the portal fields created a pseudocyst and that the resultant ischemia was the root cause of the patient's discomfort. Postoperatively, the patient received an antihelmintic therapy with praziquantel with which she was able to fully recover.

Fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) accelerates identification of Gram-positive cocci in positive blood cultures.

Sepsis is a life-threatening disease with a high mortality rate. Rapid identification of blood culture isolates plays a crucial role in adequate antimicrobial therapy in sepsis patients. To accelerate microbiological diagnosis, a comprehensive panel of oligonucleotide probes for fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) targeting Gram-positive cocci was compiled and evaluated on 428 positive blood culture specimens. By combining genus-specific and species-specific probes, the assay allowed discrimination of staphylococci, streptococci and enterococci as well as differentiation of therapy-relevant pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecium/durans. Furthermore, the newly designed FISH probes STREP2, ENCO and GRANU targeted Streptococcus pneumoniae/mitis, Enterococcus spp. (except E. faecalis) and Granulicatella adiacens group, respectively. The FISH assay achieved an overall sensitivity of 98.65% and a specificity of 99.0% and therefore allowed rapid and reliable molecular identification of Gram-positive cocci in blood culture specimens.

A view on Bartonella quintana endocarditis--confirming the molecular diagnosis by specific fluorescence in situ hybridization.

Culture-negative endocarditis is a frequent problem in cardiology, especially if caused by fastidious organisms. Among these, the diagnostic tools for the detection of Bartonella quintana are still unsatisfactory. In a culture-negative case of suspected endocarditis undergoing aortic valve replacement, polymerase chain reaction amplification and sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene indicated B. quintana infection. To develop a new diagnostic tool, independent from culture and amplification techniques, we designed and optimized an oligonucleotide fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) probe specific for B. quintana and suitable for FISH. FISH succeeded in simultaneous visualization and identification of vital microorganisms directly within the aortic valve tissue and in fast and univocal diagnosis of B. quintana endocarditis.