Optimization of polymerase chain reaction for detection of Clostridium botulinum type C and D in bovine samples.

Botulism is a rare but serious paralytic illness caused by a nerve toxin that is produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. The economic, medical and alimentary consequences can be catastrophic in case of an epizooty. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based assay was developed for the detection of C.

Determination of humoral immunoglobulins M and G directed against mycobacterial antigen 60 failed to diagnose primary tuberculosis and mycobacterial adenitis in children.

The serodiagnosis of primary tuberculosis (TB) and mycobacterial adenitis in children was tried using the Anda-Tb tests (Anda Biologicals, France) that measure immunoglobulins (Ig) M and G directed against mycobacterial antigen 60 (A60) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The 188 cases studied included 81 healthy or mycobacteria-unrelated diseased children with no reaction to tuberculin skin test (STN); 9 recent BCG vaccination (BCG); 35 asymptomatic (AsTB), 29 symptomatic (STB) primary TB and 11 adenitis caused by atypical mycobacteria from the group avium-intracellulare-scrofulaceum (MAIS) tested before treatment; and 23 past primary TB tested at different times after completion of specific treatment (past TB). The individual IgM and IgG levels largely overlapped whatever the clinical status of the children.

Serological comparison of purified antigens 60 and 85A (P32) of Mycobacterium bovis BCG, and purified protein derivative, in active pulmonary tuberculosis.

The immunoglobulin G (IgG) response directed against Mycobacterium bovis BCG antigens 60 (A60) and 85A (P32), and purified protein derivative (PPD), was investigated in order to compare the serodiagnostic potentials of these antigens in tuberculosis (TB). The sera of 59 patients with active minimal or moderately advanced pulmonary TB and of 59 healthy control subjects were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The frequencies of positivity were significantly higher (P < 0.