Isolation, Identification and Molecular Typing of Cryptococcus neoformans from Pigeon Droppings and Other Environmental Sources in Tripoli, Libya.

Cryptococcus neoformans and C. gattii are the major cause of fungal meningitis, a potentially lethal mycosis. Since pigeon excreta and other environmental sources can be considered a significant environmental reservoir of this species in urban areas, 100 samples of pigeon excreta and 420 samples from Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Olea europaea (olive tree) around the city of Tripoli, Libya, were collected.

Gastric mucosal cytokine and epithelial cell responses to Helicobacter pylori infection in Mongolian gerbils.

Experimental infection with Helicobacter pylori in Mongolian gerbils results in chronic gastritis and gastric cancer. To investigate epithelial cell proliferation, apoptosis, and mucosal cytokine responses in gastritis, Mongolian gerbils were infected with the H pylori SS1 strain. At 4 weeks post-infection, gastritis was predominantly within the antrum, but extended to the corpus in approximately 50% of gerbils by 36 weeks.

Infection of Mongolian gerbils with Chinese Helicobacter pylori strains.

To date only a few Helicobacter pylori strains have been demonstrated to colonise Mongolian gerbils successfully. The aim of this study was to establish stable colonisation of Chinese strains of H. pylori in gerbils.