[Histoplasmosis in two badgers (Meles meles) in northern Germany].

An infection with Histoplasma capsulatum was diagnosed in two wild badgers (Meles meles) in northern Germany, which was predominantly localized in the skin and the regional lymph nodes. The yeast-like fungi were identified in tissue sections using histological and immunohistological methods.

Granulomatous skin lesions due to histoplasmosis in a badger (Meles meles) in Austria.

We describe the first case of histoplasmosis due to infection with Histoplasma capsulatum var. capsulatum in a wild badger (Meles meles) in Austria. Diagnosis was established by histopathological and immunohistochemical characterization of yeast forms in skin lesions and lymph nodes.

Indoor survey of moulds and prevalence of mould atopy in Israel.

Background: Moulds are ubiquitous indoor as well as outdoor allergens and therefore potential candidates for indoor environmental control measures. However, very few studies have been performed to examine the significance of indoor moulds in allergic diseases and the effectiveness of measures to reduce the quantity of indoor moulds has not been established.

Objective: To determine the significance and the contribution of moulds to allergic manifestations.

Development of polyclonal antibodies for detection of aflatoxigenic molds involving culture filtrate and chimeric proteins expressed in Escherichia coli.

Polyclonal antibodies (PAb) were raised against an aflatoxigenic strain of Aspergillus parasiticus by using two different sources for antibody elicitation: (i) filtrate of a culture on which the fungus had been grown (ii) and two chimeric proteins, expressed in Escherichia coli as separate products, of the genes ver-1 and apa-2, which are involved in aflatoxin biosynthesis. The gene products were amplified by PCR, and each was cloned into the E. coli expression vector pGEX2T.

Fungal infections of the cardiovascular system--a review.

Various yeasts and filamentous fungal infections of human and animal heart and blood vessels, as well as the experimental investigations, are reviewed. Clinical, diagnostic, therapeutic and pathological aspects are discussed. The prevalence of mycotic infection of the heart, once considered to be an uncommon disease, has been reported frequently during recent years.