A dot-blot ELISA comparable to immunoblot for the specific diagnosis of human parastrongyliasis

A dot-blot enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (dot-blot ELISA) using an electroeluted 31-kDa glycoprotein from adult worms of Parastrongylus cantonensis as the specific antigen was evaluated for the immunological diagnosis of patients infected with P. cantonensis. The sensitivity and specificity for the detection of serum antibody to P. cantonensis in dot-blot ELISA were both 100%, as determined with serum samples of ten P. cantonensis-infected patients, 60 patients with other related parasitic infections, and 20 uninfected controls. The test was as sensitive and specific as the immunoblot test which revealed a reactive band of 31 kDa. Both the dot-blot ELISA and immunoblot detected all sera from ten P. cantonensis-infected individuals, but not with those of other heterologous parasitoses (gnathostomiasis, toxocariasis, filariasis, paragonimiasis, cysticercosis and malaria) or sera from healthy controls. The dot-blot ELISA is much simpler to perform than the immunoblot technique, and the test can be applied under field conditions where sophisticated facilities are lacking.     

Third report of ocular parastrongyliasis (angiostrongyliasis) from Sri Lanka

A further case of ocular parastrongyliasis has been seen in a patient from Sri Lanka. As it is a juvenile female worm it could not be identified to the species, but it is probably Parastrongylus (= Angiostrongylus) cantonensis which is the commonly reported species in the country. This is the third authentic case of such an infection in Sri Lanka in recent years.     

Formosan subterranean termite swarming behavior and alate sex-ratio (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)

Summary The Formosan subterranean termite (Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki) was first sighted in the cities of New Orleans and Lake Charles, Louisiana, in 1966. Its distribution in the historic French Quarter of New Orleans 23 years later (1989) and in 1991 and 1992 is reported here using counts of alates from light-traps. Light-trappings revealed a Quarter-wide distribution of the termite.C. formosanus shows an extended pause in flight behavior in the middle of the two-month flight season that is predictable and independent of weather. A colony-level mechanism, namely, developmental inhibition of nymphs by alates, may regulate this intermission in flight. The sex-ratio of light-trapped alates varies over time, but is generally female-biased, especially at the height of the flight season.     

Rodent-Borne <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bartonella</Emphasis> Infection Varies According to Host Species Within and Among Cities

It is becoming increasingly likely that rodents will drive future disease epidemics with the continued expansion of cities worldwide. Though transmission risk is a growing concern, relatively little is known about pathogens carried by urban rats. Here, we assess whether the diversity and prevalence of Bartonella bacteria differ according to the (co)occurrence of rat hosts across New Orleans, LA (NO), where both Norway (Rattus norvegicus) and roof rats (Rattus rattus) are found, relative to New York City (NYC) which only harbors Norway rats. We detected human pathogenic Bartonella species in both NYC and New Orleans rodents. We found that Norway rats in New Orleans harbored a more diverse assemblage of Bartonella than Norway rats in NYC and that Norway rats harbored a more diverse and distinct assemblage of Bartonella compared to roof rats in New Orleans. Additionally, Norway rats were more likely to be infected with Bartonella than roof rats in New Orleans. Flea infestation appears to be an important predictor of Bartonella infection in Norway rats across both cities. These findings illustrate that pathogen infections can be heterogeneous in urban rodents and indicate that further study of host species interactions could clarify variation in spillover risk across cities.     

Taxodium distichum (baldcypress) growth rings reveal origins of an 18th century Jesuit plantation,New Orleans,Louisiana, USA

Tree-ring methods along with historical documents and oral history reveal the structure history of a Jesuit plantation built in the 1760s in New Orleans, Louisiana. Jesuit missionaries arrived in South Louisiana and other European colonies in the early 18th century with intentions to spread Catholicism to local natives and African Americans. Tree-ring dating of the attic and ceiling timbers reveal cutting dates as early as 1762 and hand-made nails demonstrate pre-1800 construction, confirming that the Jesuit plantation is the second-oldest surviving structure in New Orleans. Historic documents depict a standing structure similar to that of today’s structure in 1765. However, the current structure is missing a second floor, and numerous attic timbers date to the late 1780s. We assume that repairs to the original structure follow numerous hurricane strikes and a city-wide fire in New Orleans. Taxodium distichum (baldcypress) timber samples are also indicative of logging and lumber practices of the time, especially within a large city. Dendrochronological analyses reveal that the baldcypress trees used in construction of the structure may have been sourced from numerous sites across the Gulf Coast via a lumberyard that may have served as an export station for timbers across the Caribbean and Europe. Historical documents allude to the appearance of the original structure in 1765, the 300-year ownership of the property, lumber practice of the time, and the history of New World Jesuit missions.     

Harnessing Catastrophe to Promote Resource Recovery and Eco-industrial Development

Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, causing widespread damage to industry, housing, and infrastructure. The area of New Orleans East was particularly devastated, including a cluster of industries, such as a major food-processing plant, manufacturing facilities, and bulk material and gas processors. Although this area was well suited for resource recovery and eco-industrial linkages, little progress has been made in implementation. This article explores New Orleans as a case study in the application of industrial ecology to disaster management. Hurricane Katrina's damage to New Orleans resulted in a significant increase in the amount of waste flowing into New Orleans East, which precipitated a massive expenditure of federal funds toward debris management. Those circumstances created an unprecedented opportunity to capitalize a resource recovery program and to establish eco-industrial relationships, both of which would have resulted in new jobs and environmental improvement. Yet straightforward opportunities for resource recovery and eco-industrial linkage were overlooked or dismissed, in spite of antilandfill activism from the environmental community and formal recommendations for recycling from scientists and other professionals. We describe the specific resource recovery and eco-industrial opportunities that were available to New Orleans East, especially those that were magnified by Hurricane Katrina, and analyze the barriers that prevented their actualization. We also provide recommendations for overcoming barriers to resource recovery and eco-industrial progress with the goal that future postcatastrophe scenarios may benefit from more effective use of relief and recovery funding.     

Surface antigens of Angiostrongylus cantonensis developing in permissive and non-permissive hosts

The immunofluorescent antibody test and immunocytochemical method were employed to study the surface antigens of Angiostrongylus cantonensis obtained from infected rats, mice and guinea pigs. Positive results with intense fluorescence and brownish peroxidase staining were observed on the cuticular surface of A. cantonensis recovered from rats 22 days (late cerebral phase) and 34 days (lung phase) post-infection when tested with antisera against host (normal rat serum) antigens as well as crude extracts of A. cantonensis. However, host antigens were not observed on the surface of the nematode recovered from the brain of mice and guinea pigs 15 days post-infection.     

Distinguished Lecture: Recent Work in the Decipherment of Palenque's Hieroglyphic Inscriptions

This essay was delivered as the Distinguished Lecture at the 89th annual meeting of the American Anthropological Association, December 1, 1990, in New Orleans, Louisiana.     

Distinguished Lecture in Archeology: Constraint and Freedom—A New Synthesis for Archeological Explanation

This article was presented as the second annual Distinguished Lecture in Archeology at the 89th annual meeting of the American Anthropological Association, November 30, 1990, in New Orleans, Louisiana.     

Development of a double antibody sandwich ELISA assay for the diagnosis of angiostrongyliasis

With the use of 2 monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against excretory/secretory (ES) antigens of adult Angiostrongylus cantonensis, a new method was developed for double antibody sandwich ELISA for the detection of circulating antigens (CAg). To evaluate the sensitivity of the new procedure, the CAg in sera of rats (80) and mice (15) infected with A. cantonensis, as well as CAg in sera of clinically confirmed angiostrongyliasis patients (70), were evaluated. Cross-reaction testing was used to determine the specificity of serum from patients infected with Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichinella spiralis , Toxoplasma gondii , Schistosoma japonicum, Paragonimus westermani, Clonorchis sinensis, Echinococcus granulosus, Spirometra, and Taenia solium, as well as normal healthy people. The results proved that the sensitivity and the specificity of the new method were totally effective for the detection of A. cantonensis CAg. The assay is highly sensitive, specific, and reproducible, with easy handling and excellent cost effectiveness, and thereby provides a new method for the accurate diagnosis of angiostrongyliasis.     

Angiostrongylus cantonensis: role of eosinophils in the neurotoxic syndrome (Gordon-like phenomenon)

The role of eosinophils in the pathophysiology of Angiostrongylus cantonensis infections was investigated in nonpermissive (guinea pig) and permissive (rat) hosts. Neurological symptoms similar to the Gordon phenomenon (ataxia, tremor, paralysis) together with a loss of Purkinje cells in the cerebellum were observed after intracraneal injection of human eosinophil extracts or after infection with A. cantonensis, only in guinea pigs and not in rats. Blood eosinophilia as well as eosinophil numbers present in the cerebellum and in the cerebrospinal fluid were higher in guinea pigs than in rats, at all times after infection with A. cantonensis. Increased levels of cytotoxicity toward L3 larvae in vitro were obtained in the presence of guinea pig eosinophils and IgE antibodies, rather than with the corresponding rat effector system. The detection of one eosinophil granule component, the eosinophil peroxidase, in the cerebrospinal fluid from infected guinea pigs but not from rats suggested that in nonpermissive hosts, neurological disorders, similar to the previously described Gordon phenomenon, might be due to eosinophil neurotoxins released after interaction of eosinophils with the parasites.     

Observations on the transmission of Angiostrongylus cantonensis from snail to rodent

A survey of Angiostrongylus cantonensis was carried out to investigate the mode of transmission from mollusc to rat in a fixed study area of Yoron Island from 1979 to 1982. Rattus rattus was found to be infected with a small number of worms in spite of heavy infection with third-stage larvae in Achatina fulica and an abundance of this snail in the area. Natural infection and/or susceptibility with A. cantonensis were confirmed in three small snail species. Bradybaena circulus, Fruticicola despecta and Luchuena reticulata. Young A. fulica was found to be infected with fewer third-stage larvae than mature A. fulica. It was concluded that molluscs which were infected with a small number of third-stage larvae of A. cantonensis play an important role in maintaining the life cycle of A. cantonensis. The percentage of rat stomachs containing mollusc tissue was relatively low, and the incidence and infection was low in rats. Infection with A. cantonensis did not occur very often in R. rattus in nature.     

Multi-immunodot for rapid differential diagnosis of eosinophilic meningitis due to parasitic infections

A multi-dot enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed for the rapid and simple differential diagnosis of eosinophilic meningitis due to helminth infections. Ultrafiltered, purified antigens of Parastrongylus (=Angiostrongylus) cantonensis, Gnathostoma spinigerum and Taenia solium metacestodes, the most common parasites that invade the central nervous system and cause eosinophilic pleocytosis, were dotted onto a single nitrocellulose membrane strip. Antigen-coated strips, when blocked with 5% skimmed milk and dried, were stable for at least 6 months at 4 degrees C. With peroxidase conjugated anti-human immunoglobulins and 4-chloro-1-naphthol as a substrate, antibodies in the corresponding patients' sera were clearly detected on the membrane strip as well-defined blue dots. Although cross-reactions between P. cantonensis and G. spinigerum antigens were observed with the use of partially purified antigens, the darkest dot correlated well with the infecting parasites in all cases. This fast, easy and economical multiple dot-blot ELISA method is useful for the differential diagnosis of eosinophilic meningitis caused by parasitic helminths, as semi-purified antigens can be easily obtained by ultrafiltration and used. Further improvements using highly specific parasite antigens may make this multi-immunodot test more suitable for wide-scale use in field studies and diagnostic laboratories.     

Systematics of species referred to the genus Angiostrongylus

Based on morphological criteria of the male bursa, angiostrongylid nematodes often placed in the genus Angiostrongylus Kamensky (1905) were found to be heterogeneous, comprising species which are relegated to 5 distinct genera: Angiostrongylus Kamensky, 1905 (syn. Haemostrongylus Railliet and Henry, 1907); Parastrongylus Baylis, 1928 (syn. Pulmonema Chen, 1935, Rattostrongylus Schulz, 1951, Morerastrongylus Chabaud, 1972, Chabaudistrongylus Kontrimavichus and Delyamure, 1979); Angiocaulus Schulz, Orlov and Kutass, 1933; Gallegostrongylus Mas-Coma, 1977 (syn. Thaistrongylus Ohbayashi, Kamiya and Bhaibulaya, 1979 n. syn); and Stefanskostrongylus Drozdz, 1970. These genera all contain species located primarily in specific host groups: Angiostrongylus in carnivores; Parastrongylus in rodents (Muridae), Angiocaulus in mustelids; Rodentocaulus in rodents (Cricetinae), Gallegostrongylus in rodents (Muridae), and Stefanskostrongylus in insectivores. Species in each genus include: Angiostrongylus (A. vasorum, A. raillieti, A. chabaudi); Parastrongylus (P. tateronae, P. cantonensis, P. mackerrasae, P. sandarsae, P. sciuri, P. petrowi n. comb., P. dujardini, P. schmidti, P. costaricensis n. comb., P. malaysiensis n. comb., P. ryjikovi n. comb., P. siamensis n. comb.); Angiocaulus (A. gubernaculatus, A. ten n. comb., A. sp. Caballero, 1951); Rodentocaulus (R. ondatrae) and Gallegostrongylus (G. ibicensis, G. andersoni, G. harinasutai n. comb.). Angiostrongylus pulmonalis is likely similar to Stefanskostrongylus soricis and is transferred to this genus. Angiostrongylus minutus is removed to Stefanskostrongylus.     

Inhibition of sodium chloride toxicity in seedlings of Myriophyllum spicatum L. with calcium

Treatment of milfoil seedlings with NaCl results in disruptionof the cell wall and membranes and in depressed photosynthesis,respiration, and Na accumulation. Addition of low levels ofCa to NaCl treatment solutions inhibited these toxic effects. ¹Present address: Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine,Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana 70118, U.S.A. (Received January 16, 1974; )     

Osteogenic sarcoma of the mandible: a plea for radical initial surgery

A total of 24 cases of osteogenic sarcoma of the mandible have been reported to the SEER Program of the National Cancer Institute from 1973 to 1983. Out of 14 patients whose disease was staged as regional, only 9 were eligible for 5-year survival figures and only 2 are alive, for a 23 percent 5-year cure. For those patients staged as localized, only four of six eligible for 5-year cure survived, for a 66 percent 5-year survival. Considering all patients reported to SEER who were eligible for 5-year cure, the rate is 40 percent. We believe this reflects the practice of localized resection of these tumors. At Charity Hospital of Louisiana at New Orleans there have been 10 cases of osteogenic sarcoma of the mandible since 1948. There have been no 5-year survivors for those operated on by other services, usually by local resection. On the Tulane Plastic Surgery Service, a total of six cases of osteogenic sarcoma of the mandible were treated by radical surgery with 100 percent survival from 11 to 22 years.     

CCM8: The Eighth International Symposium on Inorganic Carbon Uptake by Aquatic Photosynthetic Organisms

The articles in this special issue of Photosynthesis Research arose from the presentations given at the Eighth International Symposium on Inorganic Carbon Uptake by Aquatic Photosynthetic Organisms held from May 27 to June 1, 2013 in New Orleans, Louisiana USA. The meeting covered all the aspects of CO₂ concentrating mechanisms (CCMs) present in photosynthetic bacteria, microalgae and macrophytes, and spanned disciplines from the molecular biology of CCMs to the importance of CCMs in aquatic ecosystems. The publications in this special issue represent our current understanding of CCMs and highlight recent advances in the field. The influences of CCMs on algal biofuel production as well as recent efforts to use the CCM to improve crop plants are also explored.     

Effects of age and splenectomy on heavy infection of Angiostrongylus cantonensis in rats

This study was designed to determine the effects of age and the role of spleen in rats with heavy Angiostrongylus cantonensis infection. Young rats (8 weeks) infected with 100 larvae were found to have significantly higher worm recovery rate (75.0±6.6%) than the adult (6 months) (55.7±1.5%) and the aging ones (13 months) (57.6±4.0%). Moreover, the recovery rate in adult rats with 400 larvae (33.6±10.67%) was significantly lower than those with 100 larvae (55.7±1.53%) or 200 larvae (53.3±5.4%). The splenectomized young rats with 100 larvae had a significantly higher recovery rate (84.3±2.5%) than the intact (75.0±6.6%) or sham splenectomized ones (74.4±3.8%). Although titers of antibody against A. cantonensis increased with time, those against young adults were significantly higher before week 4 whereas those against adult worms become significantly higher since week 4. Titers in the splenectomized rats were also found to be significantly lower than those in the intact ones. These finding indicate that young rats are more susceptible to A. cantonensis. Crowding effect may occur in rats with heavy infections. The effects of splenectomy on the host are independent of the intensity of infection.     

Host-parasite relationship of Angiostrongylus cantonensis. 1. Intracranial transplantation into various hosts.

Various stages of Angiostrongylus cantonensis recovered from the brain of experimentally infected mice were transplanted intracranially into rats. Third and fourth-stage worms recovered 2--7 days postinfection were able to develop normally after transplantation into recipient rats. The fifth-stage worm obtained 14--15 days postinfection would enter the brain tissue of rats but died shortly afterwards. However, the same stage of worms recovered from rats, after a similar transplantation, were found to develop normally in the recipient animal. Young fifth-stage worms, from the subarachnoid space of rats, which were ready for the pulmonary migration were also transplanted into rabbits but the worms failed to reach the lungs. In the control rat-to-rat transplantation, the worms successfully completed the pulmonary migration. The morphogenesis and initial growth rate of A. cantonensis were similar in both mice and rats but in the former host the worms started to grow at a markedly slower rate after the last moult and gradually degenerated.     

Nitrogen loading into an urban estuary: Lake Pontchartrain (Louisiana,U.S.A.)

We constructed a nitrogen loading budget for the Lake Pontchartrain watershed located north of New Orleans, Louisiana (U.S.A.). Water quality measurements, discharge estimates, and literature values were used to establish the annual and seasonal variations in loading rates for total nitrogen and nitrate. The relatively stable annual loadings (million kg N) are about 10× that of the pre-settlement nitrogen loading, and come from atmosphere (1.3), the watershed (7.8), pumped urban runoff from New Orleans (1.0), and leakage through the Bonnet Carré flood control structure (0.5–0.9). Relatively minor additional amounts come from nitrogen fixation in the Lake. Occasional openings of the Bonnet Carré Spillway (for flood protection) could triple the annual average loading within 1–2 months. Proposed smaller diversions (for wetland restoration) could raise present N loadings by 50%. The results of water quality management, flood protection and wetland restoration may thus have conflicting effects on the Lake's phytoplankton community, which is primarily nitrogen limited. Lowering the total nitrogen loading, however, seems quite possible, especially given that the present loadings are almost all reducible through existing technology, especially sewerage treatment. The analysis demonstrates that the consequences of ecosystem restoration efforts, continued population growth and flood protection to estuarine nitrogen budgets are intertwined with each other, have a seasonal component, and are changing as policies evolve.