IgA and IgG antibodies to Candida albicans in the genital tract secretions of women with or without vaginal candidosis

Levels of anti-Candida albicans immunoglobulin A (IgA) and IgG were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in serum and cervicovaginal secretions from 64 non-pregnant women with vaginal candidosis and 158 uninfected non-pregnant women. Specific IgA and IgG were detected in the serum and secretions of all 222 women. There was no significant difference between the mean levels of specific IgA or IgG in secretions from women with candidosis and those of uninfected women. Neither was there a significant difference between mean levels of specific IgA or IgG when women using oral contraception were compared with others who were not. There was a significant correlation between the levels of IgA and IgG in serum and secretions from women with candidosis and from uninfected women. Blastospore and hyphal forms of C. albicans were seen in vaginal smears from 29 of the 64 women with culture-proven candidosis: in nine, both IgA- and IgG-coated C. albicans cells were recovered from the genital tract; in a tenth, IgG-coated cells were found.     

A revision and key to the genera of Afrotropical Mantispidae (Neuropterida, Neuroptera), with the description of a new genus

The Afrotropical Mantispidae genera have previously been neglected and are poorly known. The genera are revised and redescribed. A new genus Afromantispa Snyman and Ohl is described with Afromantispa tenellacomb. n.as type species. Perlamantispa (Handschin, 1960) is synonymised with Sagittalata Handschin, 1959. The new combinations within the genus include Sagittalata austroafricacomb. n., Sagittalata bequaerticomb. n., Sagittalata dorsaliscomb. n., Sagittalata girardicomb. n., Sagittalata nubilacomb. n.,Sagittalata perlacomb. n.,Sagittalata pusillacomb. n., Sagittalata similatacomb. n., Sagittalata royicomb. n., Sagittalata tinctacomb. n. andSagittalata vasseicomb. n. An illustrated key to the genera Afromantispagen. n., Sagittalata Handschin, 1959, Mantispa Illiger, 1798, Cercomantispa Handschin, 1959, Rectinerva Handschin, 1959, Nampista Navás, 1914, and Pseudoclimaciella Handschin, 1960 is provided. The wing venation of Mantispidae is redescribed. Similarities between the genera are discussed. Subsequent studies will focus on revising the taxonomic status of species, which are not dealt with in this study.