This study, conducted in Nyungwe Forest, Rwanda, examines the role of two bublbul birds species, Andropadus tephrolaemus and A. latirostris, in dispersing seeds of the secondary forest tree Maesa lanceolata. By quantifying each species' tree visitation frequency, duration of time in the tree, seed passage time, and the germination rate of defecated seeds, the relative effectiveness of these birds as dispersers was determined. The data suggest that both species are effective dispersers of M. lanceolata, but A. tephrolaemus is potentially more effective since it visits and takes fruits significantly more frequently. Enteroviruses are responsible for the majority of aseptic meningitis infections within the pediatric population. However, because it is a very difficult to rapidly determine that a patient has an enterovirus associated meningitis rather than bacterial meningitis, hospitalization and the administration of intravenous antibiotics are recommended until extensive evaluation of the patient has been completed.
Viral culture is the current method used for confirmation of enterovirus infection.
Results from viral culture are usually not available for at least a week and not all enteroviruses will grow in the same type of cell culture. By determining the patient's status within 24 hours of their spinal tap, prolonged hospitalization and antibiotic therapy can be avoided. The RT-PCR assay used in this study was applied to 66 CSF samples obtained during 1996. The results of this study were inconclusive regarding the synergistic effect of the three drugs on FIV production. However, possible synergistic treatment of retroviral infection, including FIV and HIV, remains an intriguing concept and should be further examined in the future.