The prevalence of environmental mycobacteria in drinking water supply systems in a demarcated region in Czech Republic, in the period 1984-1989.

The presence of environmental mycobacteria was studied in drinking water supply systems in Olomouc Country, Czech Republic, in order to detect the possible spread of M. kansasii from the neighbouring region in Ostrava County. Drinking water samples from water supply systems of 16 identical localities were investigated. The samples of running water, and tap swabs or tap scrapings were collected twice a year, in the spring and in the autumn. The most common cultivated and identified species were M. gordonae (20.4%), M. flavescens (13.8%), rapidly growing mycobacteria (5.0%) and then by occasional identification of M. fortuitum, M. terrae, M. scrofulaceum. M. kansasii was not detected. The prevalence rates showed no time trend over the period 1984-1989. We conclude that there is no evidence at present that endemic M. kansasii, isolated repeatedly from the environment in the Ostrava neighbouring region, has spread to Olomouc County.

The spring-fall variations in the prevalence of environmental mycobacteria in drinking water supply system.

The fluctuation in the prevalence of environmental mycobacteria in relation to nutritional conditions in nature was repeatedly described in literature. The seasonal difference in potable water supply system has not yet been documented. Potable water samples from water supply systems of 16 localities were analyzed. The samples of running water, and tap swabs or tap scrapings were collected twice a year, in the spring and in the autumn. McNemar's test was used to analyze the difference of the occurrence of environmental mycobacteria between the vernal and the autumnal samples. A significant change in the presence of environmental mycobacteria in the potable water supply system was observed: the vernal samples yielded more positive results. This finding supports other observations of superficial water. We infer that this effect in potable water supply system may be caused by the change in temperature. Contamination rates were similar with no statistically significant difference between running water samples and that of swabs or scraping. No time trend in the period 1984-1989 in the prevalence of mycobacteria was detected. Direct microscopy showed massive colonisation with environmental mycobacteria of potable water supply system. Public health consequences of these findings should be further evaluated, as colonisation of water pipes can be associated with outbreaks of mycobacterial disease in immunocompromised patients. There has been also an increase in the incidence of mycobacterioses in North Moravian Region in recent years.

The prevalence of environmental mycobacteria in drinking water supply systems in Olomouc County, north Moravia, Czech Republic, in the period 1984-1989.

The presence of environmental mycobacteria was studied in drinking water supply systems in Olomouc County, Czech Republic, in order to detect the possible spread of M. kansasii from the neighbouring region in Ostrava County. Drinking water samples from water supply systems of 16 localities were investigated. The samples of running water, and tap swabs or tap scrapings were collected twice a year, in the spring and in the autumn. The most common cultivated and identified species were M. gordonae (20.4%), M. flavescens (13.8%), rapidly growing mycobacteria (5.0%) and then by occasional identification of M. fortuitum, M. terrae, M. scrofulaceum. M. kansasii was not detected. The prevalence rates showed no time trend over the period 1984-1989. We conclude that there is no evidence at present that endemic M. kansasii, isolated repeatedly from neighbouring region, has spread to Olomouc County. Different environmental and nutritional constituents in soil and coal mine dust in the endemic regions seem to be the most probable limiting environmental factor of the endemic occurrence of M. kansasii in its endemic locality in Ostrava and Karviná regions.

[Spontaneous and induced fetal movement activity in the 2d trimester of pregnancy]. / Spontánní a indukovaná pohybová aktivita plodu ve 2. triemestru tehotenství.

During routine screening in the first half of pregnancy the authors evaluated in 3446 foetuses the incidence of spontaneous movements and movements after their attempted induction by movement of the uterus, when no spontaneous movements were recorded during examination. The examinations were made by means of a rotation probe 3.5 MHz of a Sonoline 2 apparatus (Siemens) always between 7.30 and 11.30 a.m. It was revealed that: 1. Spontaneous motor activity of the foetus depends significantly ot the foetal age; during the period between the 12th and 16th week it was recorded in 94.4%, in the 17th to 21st week it declines to 87.4% and during the 22nd-25th week it rises again to 94.7%. 2. The number of foetuses where movements were recorded after the first movement of the uterus depends also significantly on foetal age: in the 12th-16th week it is 57.5% of the number of foetuses without spontaneous movement, in the 17th to 21st week 66.3% and in the 22nd to 25th week 66.7%. 3. On the basis of preliminary work it is not possible to decide whether the movements observed after movement of the uterus are spontaneous or induced, however, if attempts to induce movements would imply only prolonged examination and recording of spontaneous activity, it is justified. 4. In one foetus where we did not observe spontaneous activity nor movements after movement of the uterus we revealed during a check-up examination rapidly developing polycystic kidneys. 5. Observation of foetal movements during screening is not time consuming and should become a matter of routine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Comparison of microscopic positivity in smears from sputa stained according to Ziehl-Neelsen in different modifications.

Some basic factors influencing the detection of microscopic positivity in the sputa of patients with tuberculosis of the lungs, stained according to Ziehl-Neelsen in various modifications, were studied in 9 laboratories in 5 different countries (Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Mongolia, German Democratic Republic and Poland). Each laboratory prepared 200 coded slides from 50 suspect-positive sputa. The slides were stained using four different methods and despatched, without examination, to the next laboratory in the series. A total of 1 800 slides from 450 sputa were thus evaluated and each smear was successively examined by 8 different readers. The study has shown that the result of direct microscopy depends primarily on the individual qualities and attentiveness of the workers evaluating the slides while the remaining factors are less important. Mechanical homogenization of sputa before making the smear, carried out by shaking the sputum with glass beads, had a significant effect on the number of detected mycobacteria while homogenization using soda lye did not influence the positivity in any direction. The detection of mycobacteria after hot staining was significantly higher than after a 2-hour action of carbolfuchsin without heating. Additional staining with picric acid or malachite green had no effect on the amount of bacteria detected and the method of examination (in one line or meander-like on selected spots) was found to be completely unimportant.