Isolation of Vibrio vulnificus from sea water and sand along the Dan region coast of the Mediterranean.

The occurrence of Vibrio vulnificus incoastal sea water and sand was investigated. Samples (286 in toto) were taken during the period between November 1993 and July 1994. Ten V.

Chlamydia trachomatis direct isolation, antibody prevalence and clinical symptoms in women attending outpatient clinics.

Two hundred and ninety-seven women with complaints of vaginal or urethral discharge and 100 women attending outpatient clinics for contraceptive or other advice (enrolled as controls) were studied and compared. A meticulous sampling for Chlamydia trachomatis was taken from one hundred and seventy-seven women enrolled in the study group (A1). Technical difficulties were encountered with the remaining 120 cases--study group (A2).

Monitoring of selected bacteria and fungi in sand and sea water along the Tel Aviv coast.

Monitoring sand and sea water of the Mediterranean Tel Aviv beaches during 1989-1991 for bacterial quality showed varying data and no correlation between standard bacteria parameters (SBP) and potential pathogenic bacteria (PPB). An exceptional feature was observed in 1989 when faecal coliforms including Escherichia coli and faecal Streptococcus were less in sand than in sea water. These results may be attributed to the low turbulent activity of the sea in 1989, particularly in summer, compared with the next two years.

Is syphilis an incurable disease?

Structures which morphologically resemble treponemes have been found in material from patients suffering from latent or late latent syphilis, many of whom have received treatment in the past. These structures were also found in the blood or spinal fluid (SF) of asymptomatic patients with both positive and negative serological tests for syphilis. They have been found in the eye in the presence of active disease as well as in cases without inflammation ('quiet eye').

Possible relationship between Chlamydia trachomatis and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

This study suggests the possibility that the intracellular parasite Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) may facilitate the transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) during vaginal or rectal intercourse. This is based on the following findings: a) elevated titers of anti-Ct IgG are present in symptomatic acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients; b) elevated titers of anti-Ct IgA are found in asymptomatic AIDS patients; c) low anti-Ct IgA titers were observed during the progression of the disease; d) high titers of anti-Ct IgA were found in patients suffering from autoimmune diseases; e) high levels of C3 fraction of the complement are found in many of the Ct patients. The presence of anti-Ct IgA and high C3 may be crucial since IgA inactivates Ct and C3 which may increase the invasion of HIV into the cells.