Fatal gastroenteritis associated with coronaviruslike particles.

The role of human enteric coronaviruses in infantile gastroenteritis is controversial. We detected coronaviruslike particles in the intestinal contents and within the epithelial cells of the ileum in a 15-month-old infant who had postmortem evidence of severe enteritis. Ultrastructural findings consistent with in vivo coronavirus replication in the human small intestine support a causative role for this agent in gastroenteritis.

Haemophilus influenzae b bacteremia and meningitis in infant rabbits after intranasal inoculation.

A suitable model of Haemophilus influenzae meningitis will facilitate better understanding of the pathophysiology, therapy, and prevention of the disease and its sequelae. Bacteremia and meningitis were induced in infant New Zealand white rabbits by intranasal inoculation of H. influenzae type b. Intranasal trypsin prior to challenge significantly increased (p = 0.002) the rate of bacteremia from 64% (7/11) to 100% (45/45). In the trypsin-treated group, H. influenzae b was isolated from the CSF of 89% (25/28) of 17- to 21-day-old rabbits and from 76% (13/17) of 23- to 30-day-old animals, p = 0.3; fatality rates were 88% and 31%, respectively, p = 0.001. Bacteremia developed within 24 hr of inoculation and meningitis within 96 hr. Death occurred 1 to 7 days after the development of meningitis. Histologic evidence of nasopharyngitis and meningitis was found at autopsy. The intranasal route of infection, the age-dependent outcome, the size of the animal, and its low cost and availability make the infant rabbit an appropriate model of H. influenzae b meningitis.

Pulmonary cytomegalovirus infection: detection by Gallium 67 imaging in the transplant patient.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infeciton is a frequent complication during the first few months following renal transplantation. The diagnosis is sometimes difficult but may be made by viral culture, a fourfold rise in the CMV antibody titer, or by demonstration of the CMV inclusions in the affected tissue. An increased pulmonary uptake of galliulm citrate Ga 67 has been demonstrated following renal transplantation in two patients, each of whom had a fourfold rise in CMV complement fixing antibody titer, one of whom additionally had CMV inclusion bodies in a lung biopsy specimen prior to clinical or radiological demonstration of the pulmonary involvement. Gallium imaging, therefore, appears to be a valuable noninvasive test for early diagnosis of CMV pulmonary infections.

Campomelic syndrome--possible role of intrauterine viral infection.

Two infants whose malformations fulfilled the clinical, radiographic and pathologic criteria of campomelic syndrome, were additionally found to have features suggestive of intrauterine viral infection. The presence of hydrocephalus and hydromyelia in both neonates and focal proliferative villitis in the placenta of one suggests that intrauterine viral infection may play a role in the pathogenesis of campomelic syndrome.