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Procalcitonin as a Biomarker for a Bacterial Infection on Hospital Admission: A Critical Appraisal in a Cohort of Travellers with Fever after a Stay in (Sub)tropicsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Fever in a returned traveller may be the manifestation of a self-limiting, trivial infection but it can also presage an infection that can be rapidly progressive and lethal. We studied the diagnostic accuracy of procalcitonin (PCT) as a biomarker for a bacterial cause of fever in a cohort of 157 consecutive travellers with fever after a stay in the (sub)tropics. Elevated procalcitonin levels were observed not only in about 50% of travellers with proven bacterial infection, but also in a significant proportion of travellers with a likely infection. Using a cutoff point of 0.5 ng/mL, procalcitonin had a sensitivit...
Source: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases - November 18, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: journals

In Vitro Synergy of Levofloxacin Plus Piperacillin/Tazobactam against Pseudomonas aeruginosaEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In vitro synergy testing using levofloxacin (LVX) plus piperacillin/tazobactam (TZP) was performed by Etest and time-kill assay (TKA) for 31 unique fluoroquinolone-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates. The Etest method showed synergy for 9/31 (29%) of isolates, while TKA showed synergy with 14/31 (45%) of isolates. When comparing the Etest method and TKA, concordant results for synergy, antagonism, and indifference were obtained for 24/31 (77%) of the isolates tested. (Source: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases)
Source: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases - November 8, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: journals

Human Cystic Echinococcosis: Old Problems and New PerspectivesEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a widespread chronic endemic helminthic disease caused by infection with metacestodes of the tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus. CE affects humans and has a worldwide prevalence of approximately six million. In this review, we discuss current findings in diagnosis and clinical management of CE and new concepts relating to E. granulosus molecules that directly modulate the host immune responses favouring a strong anti-inflammatory response and perpetuating parasite survival in the host. New insights into the molecular biology of E. granulosus will improve considerably our knowledge of the disease...
Source: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases - November 1, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: journals

B Cell IgD Deletion Prevents Alveolar Bone Loss Following Murine Oral InfectionEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Periodontal disease is one of the most common infectious diseases of humans. Immune responses to infection trigger loss of alveolar bone from the jaw and eventual tooth loss. We investigated the contribution of B cell IgD to alveolar bone loss by comparing the response of B cell normal BALB/cJ mice and IgD deficient BALB/c-Igh-5−/−J mice to oral infection with Porphyromonas gingivalis, a gram-negative periodontopathic bacterium from humans. P. gingivalis-infected normal mice lost bone. Specific antibody to P. gingivalis was lower and oral colonization was higher in IgD deficient mice; yet bone loss was comp...
Source: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases - October 25, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: journals

Antibiotic-Resistant Gram Negative Bacilli in Meals Delivered at a General Hospital, ItalyEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This study aimed at detecting the presence of antibiotic-resistant Gram-negatives in samples of meals delivered at the University General Hospital of Palermo, Italy. Antibiotic resistant Gram negatives were isolated in July—September 2007 ffrom cold dishes and food contact surfaces and utensils. Bacterial strains were submitted to susceptibility test and subtyped by random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD). Forty-six of 55 (83.6%) food samples and 14 of 17 (82.3%) environmental swabs were culture positive for Gram negative bacilli resistant to at least one group of antibacterial drugs. A total of 134 ...
Source: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases - September 10, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: journals

Update on BabesiosisEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Human babesiosis is an emerging tick-borne infectious disease caused by intraerythrocytic protozoan species of the genus Babesia with many clinical features similar to those of malaria. Over the last 50 years, the epidemiology of human babesiosis has changed from a few isolated cases to the establishment of endemic areas in the northeastern and midwestern United States. Episodic cases are reported in Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America. The severity of infection ranges from asymptomatic infection to fulminant disease resulting in death, although the majority of healthy adults experience a mild-to-moderate illness. Peop...
Source: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases - August 27, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: journals

Diagnosis and Treatment of NeurocysticercosisEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This article reviews the current literature on neurocysticercosis, including newer diagnostics and treatment developments. (Source: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases)
Source: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases - August 27, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: journals

Chemotherapy of Human African TrypanosomiasisEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This article presents an update of classic chemotherapeutic agents, in use for >50 years and the recent development of promising non-toxic combination chemotherapy suitable for use in rural clinics. (Source: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases)
Source: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases - August 21, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: journals

The Impact of HIV and Malaria Coinfection: What Is Known and Suggested Venues for Further StudyEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
HIV and malaria have similar global distributions. Annually, 500 million are infected and 1 million die because of malaria. 33 million have HIV and 2 million die from it each year. Minor effects of one infection on the disease course or outcome for the other would significantly impact public health because of the sheer number of people at risk for coinfection. While early population-based studies showed no difference in outcomes between HIV-positive and HIV-negative individuals with malaria, more recent work suggests that those with HIV have more frequent episodes of symptomatic malaria and that malaria increases HIV plasm...
Source: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases - August 10, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: journals

Sterol Biosynthesis Pathway as Target for Anti-trypanosomatid DrugsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Sterols are constituents of the cellular membranes that are essential for their normal structure and function. In mammalian cells, cholesterol is the main sterol found in the various membranes. However, other sterols predominate in eukaryotic microorganisms such as fungi and protozoa. It is now well established that an important metabolic pathway in fungi and in members of the Trypanosomatidae family is one that produces a special class of sterols, including ergosterol, and other 24-methyl sterols, which are required for parasitic growth and viability, but are absent from mammalian host cells. Currently, there are several ...
Source: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases - August 6, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: journals

Molecular Diagnostic Tests for MicrosporidiaEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This report reviews the molecular diagnostic tests that have been described for the identification of the microsporidia that infect humans. (Source: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases)
Source: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases - August 3, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: journals

Diagnosis of Infections Caused by Pathogenic Free-Living AmoebaeEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Naegleria fowleri, Acanthamoeba spp., Balamuthia mandrillaris, and Sappinia sp. are pathogenic free-living amoebae. N. fowleri causes Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis, a rapidly fatal disease of the central nervous system, while Acanthamoeba spp. and B. mandrillaris cause chronic granulomatous encephalitis. Acanthamoeba spp. also can cause cutaneous lesions and Amoebic Keratitis, a sight-threatening infection of the cornea that is associated with contact lens use or corneal trauma. Sappinia pedata has been identified as the cause of a nonlethal case of amoebic encephalitis. In view of the potential health consequences d...
Source: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases - August 3, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: journals

Perspectives on Adipose Tissue, Chagas Disease and Implications for the Metabolic SyndromeEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The contribution of adipose tissue an autocrine and endocrine organ in the pathogenesis of infectious disease and metabolic syndrome is gaining attention. Adipose tissue and adipocytes are one of the major targets of T. cruzi infection. Parasites are detected 300 days postinfection in adipose tissue. Infection of adipose tissue and cultured adipocytes triggered local expression of inflammatory mediators resulting in the upregulation of cytokine and chemokine levels. Adipose tissue obtained from infected mice display an increased infiltration of inflammatory cells. Adiponectin, an ad...
Source: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases - July 27, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: journals

Rapid Diagnosis of MalariaEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Malaria's global impact is expansive and includes the extremes of the healthcare system ranging from international travelers returning to nonendemic regions with tertiary referral medical care to residents in hyperendemic regions without access to medical care. Implementation of prompt and accurate diagnosis is needed to curb the expanding global impact of malaria associated with ever-increasing antimalarial drug resistance. Traditionally, malaria is diagnosed using clinical criteria and/or light microscopy even though both strategies are clearly inadequate in many healthcare settings. Hand held immunochromatographic r...
Source: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases - July 7, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: journals

Cell Therapy in Chagas DiseaseEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Chagas disease which is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi is an important cause of cardiomyopathy in Latin America. In later stages chagasic cardiomyopathy is associated with congestive heart failure which is often refractory to medical therapy. In these individuals heart transplantation has been attempted. However, this procedure is fraught with many problems attributable to the surgery and the postsurgical administration of immunosuppressive drugs. Studies in mice suggest that the transplantation of bone-marrow-derived cells ameliorates the inflammation and fibrosis in the heart associated with this infection. Car...
Source: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases - July 7, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: journals

Over the Counter Availability of Antituberculosis Drugs in Tbilisi, Georgia in the Setting of a High Prevalence of MDR-TBEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Georgia, a country of 4.5 million people, has a high incidence of tuberculosis (TB) including drug resistant cases. Easy access and inappropriate use of anti-TB drugs are risk factors for further development of multidrug resistant (MDR)-TB. We carried out an investigation to assess the availability of over the counter anti-TB agents in pharmacies in Tbilisi. During February 2006, 15 pharmacies were randomly selected and the pharmacist at each store was interviewed. We found that all anti-TB medications stocked by these pharmacies were available and sold without a prescription. All 15 pharmacies sold isoniazid, rifampicin, ...
Source: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases - July 7, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: journals

Oxidative Stress in Chagas DiseaseEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
There is growing evidence to suggest that chagasic myocardia are exposed to sustained oxidative stress induced injuries that may contribute to disease progression. Trypanosoma cruzi invasion- and replication-mediated cellular injuries and immune-mediated cytotoxic reactions are the common source of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during acute infection. Mitochondria are proposed to be the major source of ROS in chronic chagasic hearts. However, it has not been established yet, whether mitochondrial dysfunction is a causative factor in chagasic cardiomyopathy or a consequence of other pathological events. A better understandi...
Source: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases - July 7, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: journals

Rapid Diagnosis of Intestinal Parasitic Protozoa, with a Focus on Entamoeba histolyticaEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Entamoeba histolytica is an invasive intestinal pathogenic parasitic protozoan that causes amebiasis. It must be distinguished from Entamoeba dispar and E. moshkovskii, nonpathogenic commensal parasites of the human gut lumen that are morphologically identical to E. histolytica. Detection of specific E. histolytica antigens in stools is a fast, sensitive technique that should be considered as the method of choice. Stool real-time PCR is a highly sensitive and specific technique but its high cost make it unsuitable for use in endemic areas where there are economic constraints. Serology is an important component of the diagn...
Source: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases - July 7, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: journals

Rapid Diagnosis of MalariaEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Malaria's global impact is expansive and includes the extremes of the healthcare system ranging from international travelers returning to nonendemic regions with tertiary referral medical care to residents in hyperendemic regions without access to medical care. Implementation of prompt and accurate diagnosis is needed to curb the expanding global impact of malaria associated with ever-increasing antimalarial drug resistance. Traditionally, malaria is diagnosed using clinical criteria and/or light microscopy even though both strategies are clearly inadequate in many healthcare settings. Hand held immunochromatographic r...
Source: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases - June 17, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: journals

Cell Therapy in Chagas DiseaseEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Chagas disease which is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi is an important cause of cardiomyopathy in Latin America. In later stages chagasic cardiomyopathy is associated with congestive heart failure which is often refractory to medical therapy. In these individuals heart transplantation has been attempted. However, this procedure is fraught with many problems attributable to the surgery and the postsurgical administration of immunosuppressive drugs. Studies in mice suggest that the transplantation of bone-marrow-derived cells ameliorates the inflammation and fibrosis in the heart associated with this infection. Car...
Source: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases - June 17, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: journals

Over the Counter Availability of Antituberculosis Drugs in Tbilisi, Georgia in the Setting of a High Prevalence of MDR-TBEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Georgia, a country of 4.5 million people, has a high incidence of tuberculosis (TB) including drug resistant cases. Easy access and inappropriate use of anti-TB drugs are risk factors for further development of multidrug resistant (MDR)-TB. We carried out an investigation to assess the availability of over the counter anti-TB agents in pharmacies in Tbilisi. During February 2006, 15 pharmacies were randomly selected and the pharmacist at each store was interviewed. We found that all anti-TB medications stocked by these pharmacies were available and sold without a prescription. All 15 pharmacies sold isoniazid, rifampicin, ...
Source: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases - June 17, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: journals

Oxidative Stress in Chagas DiseaseEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
There is growing evidence to suggest that chagasic myocardia are exposed to sustained oxidative stress induced injuries that may contribute to disease progression. Trypanosoma cruzi invasion- and replication-mediated cellular injuries and immune-mediated cytotoxic reactions are the common source of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during acute infection. Mitochondria are proposed to be the major source of ROS in chronic chagasic hearts. However, it has not been established yet, whether mitochondrial dysfunction is a causative factor in chagasic cardiomyopathy or a consequence of other pathological events. A better understandi...
Source: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases - June 17, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: journals

Combining Microarray Technology and Molecular Epidemiology to Identify Genes Associated with Invasive Group B StreptococcusEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Many bacterial species function as both commensals and pathogens; we used this dual nature to develop a high-throughput molecular epidemiological approach to identifying bacterial virulence genes. We applied our approach to Group B Streptococcus (GBS). Three representative commensal and one invasive GBS isolates were selected as tester strains from a population-based collection. We used microarray-based comparative genomic hybridization to identify open reading frames (ORFs) present in two sequenced invasive strains, but absent or divergent in tester strains. We screened 23 variable ORFs against 949 GBS isolates using a GB...
Source: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases - June 9, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: journals

Interactions of the Intestinal Epithelium with the Pathogen and the Indigenous Microbiota: A Three-Way CrosstalkEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The mucosal surfaces of the gastrointestinal tract harbor a vast number of commensal microbiota that have coevolved with the host, and in addition display one of the most complex relationships with the host. This relationship affects several important aspects of the biology of the host including the synthesis of nutrients, protection against infection, and the development of the immune system. On the other hand, despite the existence of several lines of mucosal defense mechanisms, pathogenic organisms such as Shigella and Salmonella have evolved sophisticated virulence strategies for breaching these barriers. The constant ...
Source: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases - June 9, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: journals

Conceptualizing Human Microbiota: From Multicelled Organ to Ecological CommunityEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The microbiota of a typical, healthy human contains 10 times as many cells as the human body and incorporates bacteria, viruses, archea, protozoans, and fungi. This diverse microbiome (the collective genomes of the microbial symbionts that inhabit a human host) is essential for human functioning. We discuss the unstated assumptions and implications of current conceptualizations of human microbiota: (1) a single unit that interacts with the host and the external environment; a multicelled organ; (2) an assemblage of multiple taxa, but considered as a single unit in its interactions with the host; (3) an assemblage of multip...
Source: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases - June 9, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: journals

Application of Ecological Network Theory to the Human MicrobiomeEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In healthy humans, many microbial consortia constitute rich ecosystems with dozens to hundreds of species, finely tuned to functions relevant to human health. Medical interventions, lifestyle changes, and the normal rhythms of life sometimes upset the balance in microbial ecosystems, facilitating pathogen invasions or causing other clinically relevant problems. Some diseases, such as bacterial vaginosis, have exactly this sort of community etiology. Mathematical network theory is ideal for studying the ecological networks of interacting species that comprise the human microbiome. Theoretical networks require little consort...
Source: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases - June 9, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: journals

Probiotic Bacteria Influence the Composition and Function of the Intestinal MicrobiotaEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Probiotics have a range of proposed health benefits for the consumer, which may include modulating the levels of beneficial elements in the microbiota. Recent investigations using molecular approaches have revealed a human intestinal microbiota comprising over 1000 phylotypes. Mechanisms whereby probiotics impact on the intestinal microbiota include competition for substrates, direct antagonism by inhibitory substances, competitive exclusion, and potentially host-mediated effects such as improved barrier function and altered immune response. We now have the microbial inventories and genetic blueprints to begin tackling int...
Source: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases - June 9, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: journals

Insights into the Roles of Gut Microbes in ObesityEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Obesity is a major public health issue as it enhances the risk of suffering several chronic diseases of increasing prevalence. Obesity results from an imbalance between energy intake and expenditure, associated with a chronic low-grade inflammation. Gut microbes are considered to contribute to body weight regulation and related disorders by influencing metabolic and immune host functions. The gut microbiota as a whole improves the host's ability to extract and store energy from the diet leading to body weight gain, while specific commensal microbes seem to exert beneficial effects on bile salt, lipoprotein, and cholest...
Source: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases - June 9, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: journals

Emerging Insights into Antibiotic-Associated Diarrhea and Clostridium difficile Infection through the Lens of Microbial EcologyEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Antibiotics are the main, and often only, clinical intervention for prophylactic and active treatment of bacterial infections in humans. Perhaps it is not surprising that these drugs also shift the composition of commensal bacteria inside our bodies, especially those within the gut microbial community (microbiota). How these dynamics ultimately affect the function of the gut microbiota, however, is not fully appreciated. Likewise, how antibiotic induced changes facilitate the outgrowth and pathogenicity of certain bacterial strains remains largely enigmatic. Here, we discuss the merits of a microbial ecology approach towar...
Source: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases - June 9, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: journals

Application of Sequence-Dependent Electrophoresis Fingerprinting in Exploring Biodiversity and Population Dynamics of Human Intestinal Microbiota: What Can Be Revealed?Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Sequence-dependent electrophoresis (SDE) fingerprinting techniques such as denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) have become commonplace in the field of molecular microbial ecology. The success of the SDE technology lays in the fact that it allows visualization of the predominant members of complex microbial ecosystems independent of their culturability and without prior knowledge on the complexity and diversity of the ecosystem. Mainly using the prokaryotic 16S rRNA gene as PCR amplification target, SDE-based community fingerprinting turned into one of the leading molecular tools to unravel the diversity and popu...
Source: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases - June 9, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: journals

Climate Change and Malaria in Canada: A Systems ApproachEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This article examines the potential for changes in imported and autochthonous malaria incidence in Canada as a consequence of climate change. Drawing on a systems framework, we qualitatively characterize and assess the potential direct and indirect impact of climate change on malaria in Canada within the context of other concurrent ecological and social trends. Competent malaria vectors currently exist in southern Canada, including within this range several major urban centres, and conditions here have historically supported endemic malaria transmission. Climate change will increase the occurrence of temperature conditions...
Source: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases - June 9, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: journals

Smallpox and Season: Reanalysis of Historical DataEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Seasonal variation in smallpox transmission is one of the most pressing ecological questions and is relevant to bioterrorism preparedness. The present study reanalyzed 7 historical datasets which recorded monthly cases or deaths. In addition to time series analyses of reported data, an estimation and spectral analysis of the effective reproduction number at calendar time t, R(t), were made. Meteorological variables were extracted from a report in India from 1890–1921 and compared with smallpox mortality as well as R(t). Annual cycles of smallpox transmission were clearly shown not only in monthly reports but also in ...
Source: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases - June 9, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: journals

Effects of Climate Change on Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases in EuropeEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Zoonotic tick-borne diseases are an increasing health burden in Europe and there is speculation that this is partly due to climate change affecting vector biology and disease transmission. Data on the vector tick Ixodes ricinus suggest that an extension of its northern and altitude range has been accompanied by an increased prevalence of tick-borne encephalitis. Climate change may also be partly responsible for the change in distribution of Dermacentor reticulatus. Increased winter activity of  I. ricinus is probably due to warmer winters and a retrospective study suggests that hotter summers will change the dynamic...
Source: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases - June 9, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: journals

Ecological Characterization of the Colonic Microbiota of Normal and Diarrheic DogsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
We used terminal restriction fragment polymorphism (T-RFLP) analysis to assess (1) stability of the fecal microbiota in dogs living in environments characterized by varying degrees of exposure to factors that might alter the microbiota and (2) changes in the microbiota associated with acute episodes of diarrhea. Results showed that the healthy canine GI tract harbors potential enteric pathogens. Dogs living in an environment providing minimal exposure to factors that might alter the microbiota had similar microbiotas; the microbiotas of dogs kept in more variable environments were more variable. Substantial changes in the ...
Source: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases - June 9, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: journals

Cryptococcus gattii: Emergence in Western North America: Exploitation of a Novel Ecological NicheEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The relatively uncommon fungal pathogen Cryptococcus gattii recently emerged as a significant cause of cryptococcal disease in human and animals in the Pacific Northwest of North America. Although genetic studies indicated its possible presence in the Pacific Northwest for more than 30 years, C. gattii as an etiological agent was largely unknown in this region prior to 1999. The recent emergence may have been encouraged by changing conditions of climate or land use and/or host susceptibility, and predictive ecological niche modeling indicates a potentially wider spread. C. gattii can survive wide climatic variations and co...
Source: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases - June 9, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: journals

Temporal Shifts in Microbial Communities in Nonpregnant African-American Women with and without Bacterial VaginosisEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) has been described as an increase in the number of anaerobic and facultatively anaerobic bacteria relative to lactobacilli in the vaginal tract. Several undesirable consequences of this community shift can include irritation, white discharge, an elevated pH, and increased susceptibility to sexually transmitted infections. While the etiology of the condition remains ill defined, BV has been associated with adverse reproductive and pregnancy outcomes. In order to describe the structure of vaginal communities over time we determined the phylogenetic composition of vaginal communities from seven women ...
Source: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases - June 9, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: journals

Probiotics and Gastrointestinal InfectionsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Gastrointestinal infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, particularly in developing countries. The use of probiotics to prevent and treat a variety of diarrheal diseases has gained favor in recent years. Examples where probiotics have positively impacted gastroenteritis will be highlighted. However, the overall efficacy of these treatments and the mechanisms by which probiotics ameliorate gastrointestinal infections are mostly unknown. We will discuss possible mechanisms by which probiotics could have a beneficial impact by enhancing the prevention or treatment of diarrheal diseases. (Source: In...
Source: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases - June 9, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: journals

The Human Vaginal Bacterial Biota and Bacterial VaginosisEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The bacterial biota of the human vagina can have a profound impact on the health of women and their neonates. Changes in the vaginal microbiota have been associated with several adverse health outcomes including premature birth, pelvic inflammatory disease, and acquisition of HIV infection. Cultivation-independent molecular methods have provided new insights regarding bacterial diversity in this important niche, particularly in women with the common condition bacterial vaginosis (BV). PCR methods have shown that women with BV have complex communities of vaginal bacteria that include many fastidious species, particularly fr...
Source: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases - June 9, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: journals

Vaginal Microbiota and the Use of ProbioticsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The human vagina is inhabited by a range of microbes from a pool of over 50 species. Lactobacilli are the most common, particularly in healthy women. The microbiota can change composition rapidly, for reasons that are not fully clear. This can lead to infection or to a state in which organisms with pathogenic potential coexist with other commensals. The most common urogenital infection in premenopausal women is bacterial vaginosis (BV), a condition characterized by a depletion of lactobacilli population and the presence of Gram-negative anaerobes, or in some cases Gram-positive cocci, and aerobic pathogens. Treatment of BV...
Source: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases - June 9, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: journals

The Human Microbiome and Infectious Diseases: Beyond KochEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
(Source: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases)
Source: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases - June 9, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: journals

Paleopathology of Human Tuberculosis and the Potential Role of ClimateEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Both origin and evolution of tuberculosis and its pathogens (Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex) are not fully understood. The paleopathological investigation of human remains offers a unique insight into the molecular evolution and spread including correlative data of the environment. The molecular analysis of material from Egypt (3000–500 BC), Sudan (200–600 AD), Hungary (600–1700 AD), Latvia (1200–1600 AD), and South Germany (1400–1800 AD) urprisingly revealed constantly high frequencies of tuberculosis in all different time periods excluding significant environmental influence on tuberculo...
Source: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases - June 9, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: journals

Climate Change and Infectious DiseaseEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
(Source: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases)
Source: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases - June 9, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: journals

Cryptococcus gattii: An Emerging Cause of Fungal Disease in North AmericaEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
During the latter half of the twentieth century, fungal pathogens such as Cryptococcus neoformans were increasingly recognized as a significant threat to the health of immune compromised populations throughout the world. Until recently, the closely related species C. gattii was considered to be a low-level endemic pathogen that was confined to tropical regions such as Australia. Since 1999, C. gattii has emerged in the Pacific Northwest region of North America and has been responsible for a large disease epidemic among generally healthy individuals. The changing epidemiology of C. gattii infection is likely to be a consequ...
Source: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases - June 9, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: journals

Could Proteomic Research Deliver the Next Generation of Treatments for Pneumococcal Meningitis?Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most common bacterial cause of community-acquired meningitis worldwide. Despite optimal antibiotic therapy and supportive care, the mortality of this condition remains very high at 20–30% in the developed world and over 60% in under-resourced hospitals. In developed countries, approximately half of the survivors suffer intellectual impairment, hearing loss, or other neurological damage. There is an urgent need for more information about the mechanisms of brain damage and death in pneumococcal meningitis so that new treatments can be designed. Using proteomic techniques and bioi...
Source: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases - June 9, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: journals

New Means of Canine Leishmaniasis Transmission in North America: The Possibility of Transmission to Humans Still UnknownEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
At present it is not possible to determine in advance the outcome of Leishmania infantum infection. Canine Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL), caused by Le. infantum, is a natural disease process which offers a insight into the interaction of the host and resultant disease outcome. Canine VL results in the same altered pathophysiology and immunodysregulation seen in humans. VL in US dogs is likely to be transmitted primarily via nontraditional, nonvector means. VL mediated by Le. infantum is endemic in U.S. Foxhound dogs, with vertical transmission likely to be the novel primary means of transmission. This population of dogs offe...
Source: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases - June 9, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: journals

Could Proteomic Research Deliver the Next Generation of Treatments for Pneumococcal Meningitis?Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most common bacterial cause of community-acquired meningitis worldwide. Despite optimal antibiotic therapy and supportive care, the mortality of this condition remains very high at 20–30% in the developed world and over 60% in under-resourced hospitals. In developed countries, approximately half of the survivors suffer intellectual impairment, hearing loss, or other neurological damage. There is an urgent need for more information about the mechanisms of brain damage and death in pneumococcal meningitis so that new treatments can be designed. Using proteomic techniques and bioi...
Source: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases - May 28, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: journals

Cryptococcus gattii: An Emerging Cause of Fungal Disease in North AmericaEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
During the latter half of the twentieth century, fungal pathogens such as Cryptococcus neoformans were increasingly recognized as a significant threat to the health of immune compromised populations throughout the world. Until recently, the closely related species C. gattii was considered to be a low-level endemic pathogen that was confined to tropical regions such as Australia. Since 1999, C. gattii has emerged in the Pacific Northwest region of North America and has been responsible for a large disease epidemic among generally healthy individuals. The changing epidemiology of C. gattii infection is likely to be a consequ...
Source: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases - May 27, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: journals

Climate Change and Infectious DiseaseEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
(Source: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases)
Source: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases - April 18, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: journals