Seasonal dynamics of house dust mites in dust samples collected from sleeping places in north-western Poland.

The most common families of mites found in house dust are Pyroglyphidae, Glycyphagidae and Acaridae; all are a source of many antigens responsible for allergic diseases. The aim of this study was to examine the seasonal dynamics of allergenic mite populations in dust samples collected from sleeping places in apartments in north-western Poland. The mites were isolated from the dust using a saturated saline floating method. In 132 dust samples we determined: Dermatophagoides farinae, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Euroglyphus maynei, Hirstia sp., Chortoglyphus arcuatus, Lepidoglyphus destructor, Gohieria fusca and Cheyletus sp. The greatest frequency was observed for D. farinae, D. pteronyssinus, Ch. arcuatus and Cheyletus sp., in the fourth quarter and D. farinae in the third quarter. Smaller coefficients of dominance were found for D. pteronyssinus, Ch. arcuatus and Cheyletus sp., and their greatest mean concentrations were found in the first and fourth quarters. Given the division of the year into heating and non-heating seasons, mites D. farinae and D. pteronyssinus achieved the highest mean concentration in the first season, and Cheyletus sp. in the second season. The analysis of the participation of developmental stages showed that the adults of D. farinae were more prevalent than juveniles in the first, second and third quarters, and imago stages of D. pteronyssinus were more numerous in relation to juveniles in the first, third and fourth quarters. The results confirm the high incidence of house dust mites in sleeping places in north-western Poland dwellings; the best conditions for the development of these mites, mainly D. farinae and D. pteronyssinus, occur in the fourth quarter and are the least favourable in the second quarter. In many cases, these results are consistent with data from other parts of Poland collected by various authors.

Cryptosporidiosis in patients with colorectal cancer.

Parasitological examination of feces was carried out for 55 patients with diagnosed colorectal cancer before chemotherapy. Except for Cryptosporidium sp., no other intestinal parasites were found in the specimens; moreover, only the patients with watery diarrhea were Cryptosporidium sp.-positive by enzyme immunoassay. Prevalence of infection in the group of patients with diarrhea (23 persons) was 43.5%, whereas it was 18% for the entire group of patients under study. Coproantigens of this parasite were detected primarily in the patients with tumors located on the left side (in the sigmoid and descending colon).

[Strongyloidosis--a case report]. / Wegorczyca (strongyloidosis)--przypadek kliniczny.

A case of Strongyloides stercoralis infection was described.

Effect of ochratoxin A (OTA) on the activity of some enzymes in developing eggs ofAscaris suum.

The studies focused on the effect of 1-ppm ochratoxin A solution on the activity of some enzymes during successive embryogenesis stages ofAscaris suum. As a result of OTA-affected incubation ofA suum eggs, inhibition of AcP reactions was observed throughout the embryonic development, reduction in of SDH and LDH activity during cleavage and gastrulation, and enhancement of the SDH and LDH activity was found in larvae. Moreover, inhibition of the processes of cleavage, gastrulation and organogenesis was recorded. The observed morphological and metabolic embryo disorders demonstrated teratogenic properties of the studied mycotoxin, and the presence of granules of various sizes in the developing eggs may indicate that OTA penetrated into the eggs.

[A case of imported human babesiosis in Poland]. / Przypadek importowanej ludzkiej babesiozy w Polsce.

The first cae of human babesiosis in Poland imported from Brazil were ascertained in our Department. Diagnosis was based on hamster inoculation by intraperitoneally injection of patient's blood. In Giemsa stained erythrocytes characteristic forms of Babesia microti were detected.

[Cytochemical study on the activity of enzymes in trophozoites of Entamoeba histolytica from the cecum of guinea pigs with invasive and non-invasive amebiasis]. / Cytochemiczne badania aktywnosci enzymów w trofozoitach Entamoeba histolytica pochodzacych z jelita slepego swinek morskich z inwazyjna i nieinwazyjna ameboza.

Experimental amoebiasis was inflicted on guinea pigs using the PS-2 strain of Entamoeba histolytica. Cytoenzymatic studies were conducted on the trophozoites sampled from the caecum of hosts with non-invasive and invasive amebiasis. The results show higher intensity of the processes of intracellular digestion, transportation, and anaerobic respiration in the amoebae originating from intestine of the host with infective amoebiasis.

[Histological and histochemical investigations of large and small intestine in guinea pigs infected by entamoeba histolytica]. / Histologiczne i histochemiczne badania jelita grubego i cienkiego swinek morskich zarazonych Entamoeba histolytica.

In order to gain better knowledge about pathomechanisms of amebiasis, histological and histochemical studies were performed on large and small intestine of guinea pigs infected by PS-2 Entamoeba histolytica strain. Results of these studies showed that the presence of E. histolytica in large intestine caused also pathomorphological changes of small intestine: partial atrophy of villi, epithelium destruction, epithelial metaplasia, lacteral dilation, infiltration of mucous membrane by lymphocytes, plasmocytes and macrophages. Influence of this parasite on lowering of investigated enzyme reactions and reduction of mucus secretion in large intestine as well as in small intestine of infected animals were also shown. These results suggest influence of E. histolytica cytotoxins (studied earlier by others authors) on the enzymes activity in host tissues and next on the weakness of intracellular metabolism and on cells destruction. For induction of these changes the adhesion host cell-amoeba is not necessary.

Assessment of the nasal mucosa in workers exposed to the prolonged effect of phosphorite and apatite dusts.

One hundred and thirty one workers occupationally exposed to phosphorite and apatite dusts and a control group underwent repeated laryngological and cytological examinations of nasal mucosa smears. The clinical examination showed chronic simple or atrophic rhinitis. The cytological test revealed metaplasia of the respiratory epithelium towards squamous epithelium in all smears. Both the rate of catarrhal changes and the degree of epithelial metaplasia varied with the duration of exposure.

Activity of some respiratory and lysosomal enzymes of lymphocytes in golden hamster with induced melanoma.

A considerable increase in activity of the following enzymes: succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), beta-hydrogenase (beta-HBDH), cytochrome oxidase (CO), and acid phosphatase (AP) was found in lymph nodes lymphocytes after 1 week of malignant melanoma passage in golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus Waterhouse). The peripheral blood lymphocytes displayed, too, an increase in activity of all the enzymes mentioned except beta-HBDH and SDH. After 3 weeks of the melanoma growth, the animals affected showed a considerable decrease in activity of all the enzymes studied both in the lymph nodes and in the peripheral blood. The increase in enzymatic activity during the initial phase of tumour growth may be a manifestation of biological activation of the cellular defence of lymphocytes. On the other hand, the decrease in the activity seen at the advanced phase of the disease speaks for an impaired immune response.