Leishmania major inhibits IL-12 in macrophages by signalling through CR3 (CD11b/CD18) and down-regulation of ETS-mediated transcription.

Leishmania major is an aetiological agent of cutaneous leishmaniasis. The parasite primarily infects immune sentinel cells, specifically macrophages and dendritic cells, in the mammalian host. Infection is receptor mediated and is known to involve parasite binding to cell surface protein complement receptor 3 (CR3, Mac-1, CD11b/CD18).

Detection of Dirofilaria immitis microfilariae in peripheral blood. A quantitative comparison of the efficiency and sensitivity of four techniques.

Four techniques for the detection and quantification of Dirofilaria immitis microfilariae in peripheral blood were compared, namely the conventional thick smear, thick films prepared by cytocentrifugation, filtration of blood through polycarbonate membranes, and density gradient centrifugation followed by membrane filtration. The efficiency of the methods and their sensitivity was assessed by determining quantitatively the recovery of known numbers of microfilariae from defined volumes of blood. Polycarbonate membrane filtration either alone or in combination with density gradient centrifugation showed an efficiency of 0.

Quantification of amebae specific antibodies as "Multiple of normal activity (MONA)" with a standardized enzyme immunoassay (EIA).

Sera of 853 returnees from tropical countries, of 24 cases with amebic liver abscess and of 172 nonexposed German individuals were tested for antibodies to E. histolytica in the enzyme immunoassay (EIA). Antibody results were expressed as "multiple of normal activity (MONA)".

Analysis of enzymatically isolated adults of Onchocerca volvulus after treatment of patients with suramin or metrifonate.

The application of a new technique is described permitting a better recognition of activities of drugs on macrofilariae of Onchocerca volvulus. In two villages of a hyperendemic focus in Liberia onchocercomata were excised from untreated persons and from patients treated with conventional doses of suramin or metrifonate. The adult worms were enzymatically isolated with collagenase and microscopically examined for degenerative alterations including calcifications and for the presence of eggs and embryos in the female parasites.