Cryptic plasmids ranging from 2.0 to 10C kb in size were isolated from 25 out of 122 Listeria monocytogenes strains, and from 7 out of 11 strains of other Listeria species. / Of 2500 clones of a genomic library of L. monocytogenes 81-861 generated in Escherichia coli cells, 5 clones were identified in which $ beta$-hemolytic activity was stably expressed. Testing by intraperitoneal injection showed that these clones were lethal to mice. Restriction mapping of the inserts of the recombinant plasmids showed that, apart from a 650-bp internal Hind III fragment in 2 inserts, there were no other common sites. No homology was demonstrated between the DNAs of the inserts when Southern blots of restriction digests of the 5 plasmids were probed, though homology was demonstrated between the L. monocytogenes listeriolysin O gene and the DNA of one insert. The evidence suggests that at least one additional $ beta$-hemolysin, other than listeriolysin O, exists in this strain of L. monocytogenes, and that it may be a virulence factor. / Using a direct colony hybridization procedure on hydrophobic grid-membrane filters (HGMFs), the inserts of the recombinant plasmids were screened, and a DNA probe specific for L. monocytogenes was identified. After labelling with horseradish peroxidase and colour development of the chromogen, a commercial counter (HGMF Interpreter) was able to detect and count the organism electronically. When the efficacy of the chromogen-labelled DNA probe method on HGMFs was compared with the conventional method for three artificially-inoculated foods, there were no significant differences ($ alpha$ = 0.05) shown in the recovery of L. monocytogenes from the foods.

Candidate virulence genes were sought through the genetic analyses of two strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, one virulent, H37Rv, one attenuated, H37Ra. Derived from the same parent, H37, genomic differences between strains were first examined via two-dimensional DNA technologies: two-dimensional bacterial genome display, and bacterial comparative genomic hybridisation. The two-dimensional technologies were optimised for mycobacterial use, but failed to yield reproducible genomic differences between the two strains. Expression differences between strains during their infection of murine bone-marrow-derived macrophages were then assessed using Bacterial Artificial Chromosome Fingerprint Arrays. This technique successfully identified expression differences between intracellular M. tuberculosis H37Ra and H37Rv, and six candidate genes were confirmed via quantitative real-time PCR for their differential expression at 168 hours post-infection. Genes identified to be upregulated in the attenuated H37Ra were frdB, frdC, and frdD. Genes upregulated in the virulent H37Rv were pks2, aceE, and Rv1571. Further qPCR analysis of these genes at 4 and 96h post-infection revealed that the frd operon (encoding for the fumarate reductase enzyme complex or FRD) was expressed at higher levels in the virulent H37Rv at earlier time points while the expression of aceE and pks2 was higher in the virulent strain throughout the course of infection. Assessment of frd transcripts in oxygen-limited cultures of M. tuberculosis H37Ra and H37Rv showed that the attenuated strain displayed a lag in frdA and frdB expression at the onset of culture when compared to microaerophilic cultures of H37Rv and aerated cultures of H37Ra. Furthermore, inhibition of the fumarate reductase complex in intracellular bacteria resulted in a significant reduction of intracellular growth. Microarray technology was also applied in the expression analysis of intracellular bacteria at 168h post-infection. Forty-eight genes were revealed to be differentially expressed between the H37Ra and H37Rv strains, and a subset were further analysed via qPCR to confirm and validate the microarray data. phoP was expressed at a lower level in the attenuated M. tuberculosis H37Ra, whereas members of the phoPR regulon were up-regulated in the virulent H37Rv. Additionally, a group of genes (Rv3616c-Rv3613c) that may associate with the region of difference 1 were also up-regulated in the virulent H37Rv.

Copies of author's previously published articles contained in back cover pocket. / Bibliography: leaves 129-152. / xiv, 152, [60] leaves, [28] leaves of plates : ill. (some col.) (some folded) ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Examines hepadravirus and HDV replication and gene expression with particular emphasis on the block(s) preventing HBV infection invitro, the extent of the helper function provided by HDV by HBV and the mechanism of HDV RNA replication. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Depts. of Microbiology and Immunology, 1992

Orientador: Viciany Erique Fabris / Resumo: Realizou-se o estudo da patogenia de uma genodermatose mecanobolhosa que acomete búfalos Murrah. Para tal, 5 amostras de pele (íntegra, submetida a 3 graus diferentes de lesão e pele cicatrizada) de cada um dos 5 animais experimentais (4 do rebanho experimental/EMBRAPA-CPACT para obtenção de doentes e um de outro rebanho). As amostras foram destinadas a estudos de Imunofluorescência Direta para a pesquisa das frações do complemento e de auto-anticorpos, de Imuno-histoquímica para desmoplaquinas I e II e de Microscopia Eletrônica de Transmissão. A imunofluorescência foi negativa para frações C1 e C3 do complemento e para IgG nas peles dos búfalos doentes e nos controles negativos. As desmoplaquinas I e II apresentaram marcação idêntica nos doentes e controles. Na Microscopia Eletrônica verificou-se que a perda da adesão célula-célula é o evento primário na doença e que as alterações nos complexos desmossomos-tonofilamentos são conseqüência do primeiro. Os resultados desse trabalho permitem então concluir que a Genodermatose Mecanobolhosa dos Búfalos Murrah não tem caráter auto-imune e é uma doença dos desmossomos, que se deve provavelmente a alterações na estrutura e/ou estabilidade e funcionamento das caderinas desmossômicas e não a defeitos nas proteínas da placa do desmossomo. / Abstract: The pathogenesis of a Mechanobullous Genodermatosis of Murrah Water Buffalos was studied. Five skin samples (undamaged, mild to severe injured and healed skin) from each one of five animals (4 from an EMBRAPA-CPACT experimental herd and 1 from another one) were collected. In these samples were performed tests of direct immunofluorescence to C1 and C3 complement fractions and IgG autoantibody, of desmoplakin I/II immunohistochemistry and of transmission electron microscopy. The immunofluorescence was negative to C1, C3 and IgG autoantibodies in skin of affected and normal water buffalo. Desmoplakin I/II immunostaining was similar in skin of affected and health. Electron microscopy revealed that the loss of cell-cell adhesion was a primary event in this disease. Disruption of tonofilaments-desmosomes complexes was consequence of the former lesion. With these results was possible to conclude that the Mechanobullous Genodermatosis of Murrah Water Buffalos is not an autoimmune disease. Desmossomos are the key-point in this illness that occur, probably, due to defects on stability, structure or function of desmosomal cadherins and not owing to alterations in desmosomal plaque proteins. / Doutor

Orientador: Eliana Maria Zanotti-Magalhães / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-14T15:49:19Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Zuim_NadiaReginaBorim_D.pdf: 2561919 bytes, checksum: 9793a302a9d0497fca07cd4cc0bf9f23 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009 / Resumo: Na esquistossomose mansônica, a reação granulomatosa que ocorre em torno dos ovos de S. mansoni constitui a principal manifestação patogênica. A resposta granulomatosa mostrou ser específica para os ovos de cada uma das três principais espécies de Schistosoma que parasitam o homem ( S. mansoni, S. haematobium e S. japonicum). A reação granulomatosa que se desenvolve ao redor dos ovos de S. mansoni é estágio específico. Os objetivos deste trabalho foram estudar a evolução das reações granulomatosas em torno dos ovos de S. mansoni das linhagens BH e SJ, verificar se a reação granulomatosa em torno do ovo de S. mansoni é linhagem específica e avaliar a patogenia do S. mansoni da linhagem isolada do Jardim São Domingos (Campinas, SP), realizando um estudo comparativo com as linhagens BH e SJ. Para o estudo da evolução das reações granulomatosas, dois grupos de camundongos foram inoculados pela veia caudal com ovos maduros das linhagens BH e SJ e mortos após 1, 8, 15 e 34 dias. Para o estudo da especificidade da reação granulomatosa dois grupos de camundongos foram infectados por cercárias de S. mansoni BH e na 8ª semana de infecção um grupo foi inoculado pela veia caudal com ovos BH e outro grupo com ovos SJ. Os camundongos foram mortos após 1, 8, 15 e 34 dias após a inoculação dos ovos. Os parâmetros analisados foram: número de granulomas por área de tecido pulmonar e hepático e tamanho das reações granulomatosas. Para avaliar a patogenia do S. mansoni da linhagem isolada no Jardim São Domingos (Campinas, SP) e realizar um estudo comparativo com as linhagens BH e SJ foram constituídos três grupos de camundongos infectados e na oitava semana de infecção, os camundongos sobreviventes foram sacrificados para recuperação de vermes. Os parâmetros verificados foram: número de cercárias penetrantes; número de ovos eliminados nas fezes; número de esquistossomos no sistema porta-mesentérico; número de granulomas presentes no fígado, baço, intestino (cólon ascendente), pâncreas e pulmão, área dos granulomas observados no fígado e intestino e tamanho dos ovos de S. mansoni. Os resultados obtidos permitiram concluir que a reação granulomatosa em torno dos ovos de S. mansoni das linhagens BH e SJ, mostrou ser linhagem específica, indicando haver identidade parcial na resposta granulomatosa entre os ovos das duas linhagens. Os dados obtidos no estudo da linhagem SD de S. mansoni indicaram ser esta linhagem, a mais patogênica das linhagens já descritas, que tem B. tenagophila como hospedeira do trematódeo. Nos camundongos infectados com esta linhagem foi observada maior recuperação de vermes (48,62%) em relação ao número de cercárias penetrantes ( =64,50), maior número de granulomas na maioria das vísceras, maior reação granulomatosa em torno dos ovos do trematódeo e maior tamanho dos ovos (155,60 µm x 64,63 µm). De importância epidemiológica, foi a constatação de elevado número de ovos eliminados nas fezes, apresentando aspecto morfológico distinto, com um espículo lateral recurvado. / Abstract: In the schistosomiasis mansoni, the granulomatous reaction that happens around the S. mansoni eggs constitutes the principal pathogenic manifestation. The granulomatous answer showed to be specific for the eggs to each one of the three main of Schistosoma species that parasite the man (S. mansoni, S. haematobium and S. japonicum). The granulomatous reaction that grows around the S. mansoni eggs is specific stage. The objectives of this work were to study the evolution of the granulomatous reactions around the S. mansoni eggs of the BH and SJ strain, to check if the granulomatous reaction around the S. mansoni egg is specific strain and to evaluate the S. mansoni pathogenesis, of the isolated strain from Jardim São Domingos (Campinas, SP), carrying out a comparative study with the BH and SJ strains. To the study of the evolution of the granulomatous reactions, two groups of mice were inoculated by the vein tail with ripe eggs of the BH and SJ strain and sacrificed after 1, 8, 15 and 34 days. To the specific study of the granulomatous reaction, two groups of mice were infected by S. mansoni cercariae BH and in the 8th week of infection, a group was inoculated by the vein tail with BH eggs and other group with SJ eggs. The mice were killed after 1, 8, 15 and 34 days after the eggs inoculation. The analyzed parameters were: number of granulomas for area of lung tissue and hepatic and size of the granulomatous reactions. To evaluate the S. mansoni pathogenesis of the isolated strain in the Jardim São Domingos (Campinas, SP) and to accomplish a comparative study with the strains BH and SJ, three groups of infected mice were constituted and in the eighth week of infection, the surviving mice were sacrificed for recovery of the worms. The verified parameters were: number of penetrating cercariae; number of eliminated eggs in the feces; schistosome number in the system portal-mesenteric; number of granulomas present in the liver, spleen, intestine (ascending colon), pancreas and lung, area of the granulomas observed in the liver and intestine and the S. mansoni eggs size. The conclusions allowed that the granulomatous reaction around the S. mansoni eggs from BH and SJ strains, showed to be specific strain, indicating there to be partial identity in the answer granulomatous among the eggs of the two strains. The informations obtained in the study of the SD strain of S. mansoni indicated to be this strain, the most pathogenic of the strains described already, that has B. tenagophila as trematode host. In the mice infected with this strain was observed a greatest recuperation of worms (48,62%) in relation to the number of cercariae penetrating ( = 64,50), a greatest number of granulomas in most of the innards a greatest granulomatous reaction around the trematode eggs and a greatest size of the eggs (155,60 µm x 64,63 µm). About epidemic importance, it was the established high number of eliminated eggs in the feces, presenting morphological different aspect, with a side recurved spine. / Doutorado / Doutor em Parasitologia

The pathogenicity of mycobacteria is directly related to their ability to survIve within macrophages, thereby circumventing host defense responses. This ability to resist degradation in macrophage phagosomes/lysosomes derives in large part from the complex structure of the cell wall of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Surface exposure of lipid and glycolipid components of the mycobacterial cell wall is considered to be a major factor in the virulence of the pathogen by orchestrating the dialogue with host cells. Their interactions and modulating properties on host macrophage functions may contribute to our understanding of the pathogenesis of tuberculosis. In this study the modulating properties on macrophage functions by the major mycobacterial cell wall lipids, mycolic acids, were investigated. The investigation focused not only on the physical changes induced in macrophages as a result of the interaction with mycolic acids but also on the modulation of macrophage functions involved in innate and adaptive immunity. It was concluded that MA was involved both in mechanisms of pathogenesis of M tuberculosis, as in induction of protective immunity. By opening up some of the secrets of pathogenesis and immunity of tuberculosis, it provided new avenues for research to pursue a timeous and efficient solution to the disease. / Dissertation (MSc (Biochemistry))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Biochemistry / unrestricted

Candidate virulence genes were sought through the genetic analyses of two strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, one virulent, H37Rv, one attenuated, H37Ra. Derived from the same parent, H37, genomic differences between strains were first examined via two-dimensional DNA technologies: two-dimensional bacterial genome display, and bacterial comparative genomic hybridisation. The two-dimensional technologies were optimised for mycobacterial use, but failed to yield reproducible genomic differences between the two strains. Expression differences between strains during their infection of murine bone-marrow-derived macrophages were then assessed using Bacterial Artificial Chromosome Fingerprint Arrays. This technique successfully identified expression differences between intracellular M. tuberculosis H37Ra and H37Rv, and six candidate genes were confirmed via quantitative real-time PCR for their differential expression at 168 hours post-infection. Genes identified to be upregulated in the attenuated H37Ra were frdB, frdC, and frdD. Genes upregulated in the virulent H37Rv were pks2, aceE, and Rv1571. Further qPCR analysis of these genes at 4 and 96h post-infection revealed that the frd operon (encoding for the fumarate reductase enzyme complex or FRD) was expressed at higher levels in the virulent H37Rv at earlier time points while the expression of aceE and pks2 was higher in the virulent strain throughout the course of infection. Assessment of frd transcripts in oxygen-limited cultures of M. tuberculosis H37Ra and H37Rv showed that the attenuated strain displayed a lag in frdA and frdB expression at the onset of culture when compared to microaerophilic cultures of H37Rv and aerated cultures of H37Ra. Furthermore, inhibition of the fumarate reductase complex in intracellular bacteria resulted in a significant reduction of intracellular growth. Microarray technology was also applied in the expression analysis of intracellular bacteria at 168h post-infection. Forty-eight genes were revealed to be differentially expressed between the H37Ra and H37Rv strains, and a subset were further analysed via qPCR to confirm and validate the microarray data. phoP was expressed at a lower level in the attenuated M. tuberculosis H37Ra, whereas members of the phoPR regulon were up-regulated in the virulent H37Rv. Additionally, a group of genes (Rv3616c-Rv3613c) that may associate with the region of difference 1 were also up-regulated in the virulent H37Rv. / Medicine, Faculty of / Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Department of / Graduate

Pneumocystis jiroveci, Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Mycobacterium tuberculosis are respiratory pathogens associated with pneumonia, with increasing prevalence of Pneumocystis pneumonia (PcP) and tuberculosis (TB) in AIDS patients. Increased resistance of M. tuberculosis has emphasized the need for rapid susceptibility testing, such as flow cytometry. Sputum specimens (102) were assessed by PCR employing primers directed at the following genes: P. jiroveci: mitochondrial large subunit ribosomal RNA (mtLSUrRNA), dihydropteroate synthase (DHPS) and dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), and for M. pneumoniae: 16S rRNA and P1 adhesin. Positive P. jiroveci samples were genotyped by PCR-SSCP (single-strand conformation polymorphism) targeting the: internal transcribed spacer region (ITS), intron of the nuclear 26S rRNA gene (26S), variable region of the mitochondrial 26S rRNA gene (mt26S) and β-tubulin gene (β-tub). Multi-drug resistant (MDR-TB) cultures grown in the presence and absence of four antibiotics (rifampicin, isoniazid, ethambutol and ofloxacin) were heat killed, stained with SYTO16 and Propidium Iodide and analysed using flow cytometry. Rifampicin resistance gene mutations were screened by PCR and DNA sequencing. Details of patient’s gender, age, HIV and M. tuberculosis status were provided by the hospitals. Women were seen to be at high risk for community-acquired P. jiroveci colonisation. Overall, prevalence of P. jiroveci was 55.1 percent (54/102 patients). P. jiroveci was mainly associated with HIV (25/102 P. jiroveci positive patients for which clinical data was available) and co-colonisation with M. tuberculosis was observed in 11 cases. Sequence analysis of DHPS and DHFR products found no resistance associated mutations. M. pneumoniae was detected in one patient. Four simple SSCP patterns were identified and there were no co-infections with other P. jiroveci strains. Nine M. tuberculosis samples [8 MDR-TB isolates (NHLS) and M. tuberculosis ATCC® 27294TM] were tested. There was a 53 percent (19 out of 36 tests) agreement of flow cytometry with the BACTEC MGIT 960. Mutations (at two specific codons, namely 516 and 531) in the rifampicin resistance-determining region (RRDR) of the rpoB gene were observed in eight M. tuberculosis isolates. Evaluation of methods for genotyping and drug susceptibility testing of PcP and TB are imperative for epidemiology and drug resistance studies, and impact on treatment protocols.

The Staphylococcus genus comprises a diverse group of Gram-positive bacteria that are opportunistic pathogens of humans and other mammals. S. epidermidis and S. aureus are the most common human pathogens of the staphylococci, causing a variety of infections including biofilm-based medical device infections, skin infections, and pneumonia. Both of these organisms produce proteases whose functions in virulence are not fully characterized. In S. epidermidis, protein-mediated biofilm formation requires a cell wall-anchored adhesin called Aap that must be proteolytically processed in order to allow intercellular adhesion. The S. epidermidis protease(s) responsible for cleaving Aap were unknown. Chapter II describes our findings that the secreted metalloprotease SepA is required for Aap-mediated biofilm formation and cleaves Aap at two different sites. Further, this protease is negatively regulated by the global regulator SarA. Chapter III discusses studies of the S. aureus Spl (serine protease-like) proteases. Although they are produced in vivo, their substrates and role in virulence are unknown. We found that in a rabbit model of pneumonia, a mutant lacking the spl protease operon caused more localized disease compared to wild type S. aureus. Proteomics studies of the secreted and surface proteins in wild type compared to spl mutant S. aureus revealed several changes. We also found that the SplA protease cleaves human Mucin-16, the first identification of a biological substrate of the Spls. Finally, we found that the animal-associated species S. caprae produces an autoinducing peptide (AIP) that is a potent inhibitor of S. aureus quorum sensing. We identified the S. caprae AIP structure as an 8-residue thiolactone ring. A synthetic version of the peptide inhibits S. aureus virulence and quorum sensing induction in a murine skin infection model. This is a novel example of quorum sensing cross talk between staphylococcal quorum sensing systems. These studies are described in Appendix A. On the whole, this work identified two substrates of S. aureus proteases and demonstrated their importance in biofilm formation and infection. We also characterized a novel inhibitor of S. aureus quorum sensing that attenuates virulence. These findings shed light on the importance of staphylococcal secreted proteases and quorum sensing cross talk in the modulation of virulence factor production and the ability to cause disease.

Trials were performed in sheep and rats to elucidate the pathogenesis of the myocardial lesions in gousiekte. In the first trial the macro- and lightmicroscopical lesions and myofibre morphometrical changes were studied in ten sheep exposed daily to Pachystigma pygmaeum at 10 g/kg live body weight for 23 to 31 days. All the treated animals either died or were euthanased in extremis between 31 and 51 days after the commencement of dosing. In the second trial the myocardial ultrastructural lesions were studied in six sheep dosed with Fadogia homblei at a dosage rate of 10 g/kg per day live body weight for 22 to 23 days. All the treated animals either died or were euthanased in extremis between 34 and 57 days after the commencement of dosing. The main objective of the third trial was to compare the myocardial lesions in rats exposed to pavetamine with lesions recorded in sheep exposed to P. pygmaeum and F. homblei plant material. Seven rats were injected intraperitoneally with pavetamine at a dosage rate of 5 mg/kg on day 0 and three were killed on day 6. The remaining four were injected with a second dose of pavetamine at a dosage rate of 3 mg/kg on day 27 and euthanased on day 42. In the sheep exposed to P. pygmaeum pulmonary oedema and hydropericardium were present in eight, hydrothorax in four and ascites in two cases. In two sheep cardiac dilatation was associated with subendocardial pallor (fibrosis) and transmural myocardial mottling. Myofibre hypertrophy was recorded in all the sheep, myofibre necrosis and replacement fibrosis occurred in seven animals the latter being particularly evident in animals with medium to long latent periods. A mononuclear cellular infiltration that varied from mild to severe was evident in all the cases and endocardial thickening, which is an indication of cardiac dilatation, was present in seven animals. Myofibre atrophy occurred in eight animals and was the most striking lesion in a sheep with a short latent period. “Typical” gousiekte lesions, characterised by myofibre necrosis and atrophy, replacement fibrosis and an associated round cell infiltration in the subendocardial region, were present in eight of the sheep. “Atypical” lesions, characterised by hypertrophy of myofibres with multifocal coagulative necrosis or myofibre atrophy, were recorded in two sheep, both of which had short latent periods. The myofibre diameter and nuclear area in the affected animals differed statistically from those of the controls (larger) and anisocytosis and anisonucleosis were particularly striking in sheep with intermediate to long latent periods. The most striking ultrastructural lesions included breakdown of myofibrils, involving in particular what appeared to be thick (myosin) filaments; selective proliferation of organelles such as mitochondria and sarcoplasmic reticulum in areas previously occupied by myofibrils; excessive folding of the myofibre sarcolemma; and advanced myocardial injury characterised by complete loss of myofibrils with loss of intercellular connections and necrosis of myocardial cells. No lesions were present in the rats exposed to a single dose of pavetamine, although they became anorexic and lost weight. Rats exposed to pavetamine twice became anorexic within two to three days after the first exposure and regained weight within a few days (on about day 7). However, they kept on losing weight after the second exposure and continued to do so until termination of the experiment. As a general rule the myocardial lesions were mild in the rats dosed twice with pavetamine. Transmural multifocal myocardial necrosis, with an associated round cell infiltration and replacement fibrosis, was the most striking light- microscopical lesion. The lesions were comparable with “atypical” lesions in ruminants. Ultrastructural lesions in degenerative/necrotic fibres included karyolysis, swelling of the mitochondria and focal lysis of myofilaments. In rats exposed to pavetamine twice there was statistical evidence of myofibre atrophy. Based on the information emanating from this study and previous research the following deductions are made to explain the pathogenesis of the myocardial lesions: 1. Pavetamine has a prolonged effect on the myocardium owing to inhibition of protein synthesis, and also influences the energy production system, which affects the function of myocytes. The structure of the myocytes is not affected during the early stages of the latent period but eventually myofibre hypertrophy, atrophy, degeneration and necrosis are seen. 2. Replacement fibrosis in the subendocardial region is a sequel to the effect of pavetamine on myofibres and the consequence of ischaemia owing to impaired myocardial perfusion of, particularly, the subendocardial region, as a result of decreased myocardial contraction, increased diastolic pressure, tachycardia and myofibre hypertrophy. 3. Cardiac dilatation is a compensatory mechanism, a result of the myofibre damage inflicted by pavetamine and ischaemia (pathological dilatation). 4. Lesions in animals with gousiekte represent a final common pathway of cellular damage rather than a manifestation of a specific type of heart disease. Animals may die during any stage in the development of the lesions. “Atypical” lesions represent a manifestation of the disease in a progression that terminates with dilated cardiomyopathy if the animal does not die during the early stages. These deductions provide an explanation, for the first time, for the latent period between ingestion of the plant and the onset of illness in gousiekte. They also explain the wide range of lesions seen in experimental cases. It furthermore demonstrate that the “typical” lesions of gousiekte are not pathognomonic, and that the absence of “typical” lesions does not rule out a diagnosis of gousiekte in situations where exposure to the causative plants and the clinical history support such a diagnosis. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Paraclinical Sciences / unrestricted