Rat bite fever, a diagnostic challenge: case report and review of 29 cases.

Rats can transmit Streptobacillus moniliformis, which may cause rat-bite fever (RBF), a rare and potentially lethal zoonosis. Fastidious in vitro growth and unspecific symptoms, including fever, arthralgia, and polymorphous skin lesions, complicate the diagnosis. Rat-bite fever follows exposure to contaminated bodily fluids of infected rodents; however, reports on Streptobacillus moniliformis-related infections are few so far.

Quality assurance of gelcards centrifuged multiple times before use for testing.

Background: Further use of reagents, that have not been consumed in total by tests in the laboratory, is of financial and ecological interest. If there are no instructions by the manufacturer, such a procedure must be validated thoroughly. As gelcards of the DiaMed-ID Micro Typing System contain 6 microtubes for immunohematological reactions, sometimes not all of these microtubes are needed at the same time.

Evaluation of a new monoclonal anti-k (anti-KEL2) reagent.

Background: The first monoclonal anti-k (anti-KEL2) reagent of the IgM-class (clone: LK1) for the tube spin method is now commercially available. As this reagent is directly agglutinating in contrast to conventional polyclonal anti-k reagents requiring an indirect antiglobulin test, we studied the reaction characteristics of this new reagent carefully before starting its use in our routine blood grouping laboratory.

Methods: The titer of the monoclonal anti-k reagent (manufacturer: Biotest, D-63303 Dreieich) was compared with that of two polyclonal anti-k reagents.

Hemolytic Transfusion Reactions.

SUMMARY: The risk of hemolytic transfusion reactions (HTRs) is approximately 1:70,000 per unit. Acute HTRs occurring during or within 24 h after administration of a blood product are usually caused by transfusion of incompatible red blood cells (RBCs), and, more rarely, of a large volume of incompatible plasma. Delayed HTRs are caused by a secondary immune response to an antigen on the donor's RBCs.

Relationship between ABO and Secretor genotype with plasma levels of factor VIII and von Willebrand factor in thrombosis patients and control individuals.

In contrast to earlier reports, this study examined the relationship between plasma levels of factor VIII (FVIII) and von Willebrand factor (VWF) and ABO blood group and secretor status at the genetic level in 355 patients with venous thrombosis as well as in 236 controls. ABO glycosyl transferase alleles A(1) and B were more frequent in the thrombosis collective and alleles O(1), O(2) and A(2) were more frequent in the controls. A low-risk group for venous thrombosis of individuals with genotypes O(1)O(1), O(1)O(2) and O(1)A(2) (H-antigen rich) could be distinguished from a high-risk group with genotypes A(1)A(1), A(1)B, O(1)A(1) and O(1)B (H-antigen poor).

Use of the enzyme method for antibody identification.

Enzyme methods for red blood cell antibody testing may have two goals: detection of weak antibodies by increasing the strength of the reactions and differentiation of the antibodies in an antibody mixture by abolishing the reaction of antibodies against enzyme-labile antigens. We analyzed the phenotype listing sheets of all lots of one year (expiration date in 2002) of 8 products (5 manufacturers) (together 130 worksheets). The aim was to find out how often some antibodies could only be detected after enzyme treatment, when there is an additional antibody against one of the following enzyme-labile antigens in the patient's serum: Fya, Fyb, M, N, S and s.

The molecular basis of the Rhesus antigen Ew.

Background: The Rhesus antigen Ew (ISBT designation 004 011) was first described in 1955. It is defined by a specific antibody, but its molecular genetic basis has not yet been resolved.

Study Design And Methods: Two individuals serologically characterized to express the rare Rhesus antigen Ew were analyzed by sequencing of all 10 exons of the RHCE gene.