The purpose of this survey was to systematically collect data on individuals with histoplasmosis in Europe over a 5-year period (from January 1995 to December 1999). This included information on where and how the infection was acquired, the patient's risk factors, the causative organism, how the infection was diagnosed and what therapy the patients received. Data were sent on a standardized survey form via a national convenor to the coordinator. During the survey, 118 cases were reported, with 62 patients having disseminated disease, 31 acute pulmonary infection, chronic pulmonary infection in 6 and localized disease in 2 patients. For 17 patients, the diagnosis of histoplasmosis was incidental, usually secondary to investigations for lung cancer. Most patients had travelled to known endemic areas, but 8 patients (from Italy, Germany and Turkey) indicated that they had not been outside their countries of origin and hence these cases appear to be autochthonous. Notable observations during the survey were the reactivation of the disease up to 50 years after the initial infection in some patients and transmission of the infection by a transplanted liver. Itraconazole was the most commonly used therapy in both pulmonary and disseminated disease. The observation of autochthonous cases of disease suggests that the endemic area of histoplasmosis is wider than classically reported and supports continued surveillance of the disease throughout Europe.

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In 62 strains of Candida albicans cultivated from specimens of patients with recurrent vaginal candidosis or with renal transplants, the biotypes were determined according to several characters: colony morphology, production of chlamydospores, auxanogram of C- and N-substances, zymogram, growth kinetics, adherence capability, proteolytic activity, sensitivity to 6 antimycotics, and serotypes. On the basis of this typing system the endogenous and exogenous sources of chronic vaginal candidosis as well as the sources of systemic candidosis in patients with renal transplants could be evaluated.

We describe Kaposi's sarcoma accompanied by osteomyelitis of the gum, cystic degeneration of the kidneys and E. coli sepsis in an Alsatian with very severe acquired immunodeficiency stimulated by poisoning with organophosphates. This is the first case of Kaposi's sarcoma observed in animals.

Zusammenfassung Die immunologischen Reaktionen bei C. albicans werden unter verschiedenen Gesichts‐punkten besprochen. Der erste Abschnitt schildert die Problematik, im zweiten wurden die serologische Methodik, d. h. die Herstellung der korpuskulären und nichtkorpuskulären Antigene für die serologischen Methoden, die Zubereitung von Allergenen und die in der Serologie und Allergologie verwendbaren Methoden, behandelt. Im dritten Kapitel sind die Ergebnisse zusammengefaßt, die bei der AG‐Analyse, dem Antikörpernachweis im menschlichen Serum, der Cutantestung, der in vitro‐Allergie‐Testung und spezifischen Desensibilisierung bei allergischen Zuständen sowie bei der experimentellen Schutzimpfung erzielt wurden. Die Ergebnisse werden abschließend mit Berücksichtigung der praktischen Anwendung aus immunologischer Sicht kurz erörtert. Summary The immunological reactions with C. albicans antigens are discussed under various aspects. The first section reviews the problems. The second deals with the serological methods with particular reference to the production of corpuscular and non‐corpuscular antigens for serological studies. The preparation of Candida allergens and the test procedures applied in serological and allergy studies are dealt with. The third chapter summarizes the results obtained with antigenic analysis of Candida spp. and with antibody findings in human sera. Furthermore the hypersensitivity tests, specific desensitization in allergic conditions and the results of experimental protective immunization are discsused. Finally the results are evaluated with due consideration of the practical usefulness of the serological tests. Die Autoren sind den Herren Dr. K. Flogaus und Dr. H. Sühler für die Mitarbeit an der Literaturerfassung und Korrektur zu aufrichtigem Dank verpflichtet.