bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Endotoxin removal from water using microporous polyethylene chopped fibres as a new adsorbent
Authors: Sawada Yosuke , Fujii Reiko , Igami Ikuo , Kawai Atsushi , Kamiki Teruo , Niwaf Makoto
Published: October 2009

A new adsorbent, microporous polyethylene chopped fibre, was produced from a high density polyethylene. This can adsorb lipopolysaccharides (LPS) linearly up to 2 h, and showed the highest capacity to adsorb LPS when compared with two other polyethylene-based adsorbents and a polystyrene-based adsorbent. More than twice as much orange II and 4-nitroquinoline N oxide were adsorbed in the new adsorbent as was LPS. The adsorption isotherm of the new adsorbent for LPS was of Ln type, the correlation between adsorption and concentration of solute was proportional; whereas orange II and 4-nitroquinoline N oxide were of L type (greater adsorption than Ln type); tetrachloroethylene adsorption was of S type, less than Ln type. Adsorption of LPS to the new adsorbent increased when temperature rose, whereas adsorption of orange II and 4-nitroquinoline N oxide decreased. These data suggest that the binding of LPS to the new adsorbent is a hydrophobic interaction, whereas the binding of both orange II and 4-nitroquinoline N oxide is not. The new adsorbent has a greater potential for the removal of endotoxin from tap water than other commercially available adsorbents such as charcoal and Amberlite XAD-2.
Salmonella gold-coast from outbreaks of food-poisoning in the British Isles can be differentiated by plasmid profiles
Authors: Threlfall E. J. , Hall M. L. M. , Rowe B.
Published: October 2009

Four distinctive plasmid profile types have been identified in strains of Salmonella gold-coast isolated in Britain. Strains of one type, designated plasmid profile type 4, caused an extensive outbreak of food-poisoning in 1984, and it has been confirmed that the vehicle of infection was imported French pâté.
Chemical disinfection of human rotavirus-contaminated inanimate surfaces
Authors: Lloyd-Evans Nellie , Springthorpe V. Susan , Sattar Syed A.
Published: October 2009

Fomites may play a role in the transmission of rotavirus infections, and in view of this, 27 disinfectants were evaluated for their ability to inactivate human rotavirus (HRV) on contaminated non-porous inanimate surfaces. Disks of stainless steel, glass and two types of plastics were contaminated with about 107 plaque-forming units of HRV suspended in faecal matter. The inoculum was allowed todry and an equal volume of the product under test was applied to the contaminated surface. After contact for 1 min, the action of the disinfectant was stopped by dilution. Surviving infectious virus on the disks was determined by plaque assay in MA-104 cells. A product was considered to be effective if itcould reduce the virus titre by at least 3 log10. Only 33·3% (9/27) of the formulations tested proved to be effective. Further testing of the effective products, which included antiseptics, instrument soaks and hard-surface disinfectants, showed that all of them could, in fact, reduce the virus titre on contaminated surfaces by at least 6 log10. These findings show the relative resistance of HRV to a widerange of chemical disinfectants in common use, and also emphasize the need for a more thorough evaluation of the virucidal potential of formulations regularly employed in attempts to prevent and control outbreaks of rotaviral diarrhoea.
The inactivation of a bovine enterovirus and a bovine parvovirus in cattle manure by anaerobic digestion, heat treatment, gamma irradiation, ensilage and composting
Authors: Monteith H. D. , Shannon E. E. , Derbyshire J. B.
Published: October 2009

A bovine enterovirus and a bovine parvovirus seeded into liquid cattle manure were rapidly inactivated by anaerobic digestion under thermophilic conditions (55°C), but the same viruses survived for up to 13 and 8 days respectively under mesophilic conditions (35°C). The enterovirus was inactivated in digested liquid manure heated to 70°C for 30 min, but the parvovirus was not inactivated by this treatment. The enterovirus, seeded into single cell protein (the solids recovered by centrifugation of digested liquid manure), was inactivated by a gamma irradiation dose of 1·0 Mrad, but the parvovirus survived this dose. When single cell protein seeded with bovine enterovirus or bovine parvovirus was ensiled with cracked corn, the enterovirus was inactivated after a period of 30 days, while the parvovirus survived for 30 days in one of two experiments. Neither the enterovirus nor the parvovirus survived composting for 28 days in a thermophilic aerobic environment when seeded into the solid fraction of cattle manure. It was concluded that, of the procedures tested, only anaerobic digestion under thermophilic conditions appeared to be a reliable method of viral inactivation to ensure the safety of single cell protein for refeeding to livestock. Composting appeared to be a suitable method for the disinfection of manure for use as a soil conditioner.
An outbreak of psittacosis in a boys' boarding school
Authors: Pether J. V. S. , Noah N. D. , Lau Y. K. , Taylor J. A. , Bowie J. C.
Published: October 2009

In 1980, an outbreak of a mild illness involving twenty pupils and four adults in a boys' boarding school was identified serologically as psittacosis. Intensive epidemiological investigations did not uncover the source. It is suggested either that sources of chlamydia other than avian exist, which may produce a milder illness than the avian type, or that human-to-human spread of a mild form of chlamydiosis occurs.
A study of the spread ofCampylobacter jejuniin four large kitchens
Authors: Dawkins H. C. , Bolton F. J. , Hutchinson D. N.
Published: October 2009

Campylobacters were sought in swabs taken from work surfaces, sinks and floors of four kitchens–i.e. hospital, university, cook-freeze and commercial, processing frozen or fresh chickens. Each kitchen was visited on four occasions. In the large commercial kitchen environmental contamination was found on each visit, whereas campylobacters were isolated on six of the twelve visits to the other kitchens. The hands of operatives were contaminated with campylobacters on only two of the 45 swabs taken during processing. Cleaning with detergent and hot water (or steam) and drying appears to be sufficient to remove the organism from the environment.

Evidence of carriage of campylobacters by the birds was obtained on all 16 visits. In the three kitchens where only frozen birds were used the organism was isolated from 30% and 9·8% of swabs taken from the internal and external surfaces respectively, while 41 % of giblets and 22·2% of thawed juices yielded campylobacters. The external surface of 30 (88%) of 34 fresh birds grew campylobacters.
Factors influencing salmonella shedding in broiler chickens
Authors: Gustafson R. H. , Kobland J. D.
Published: October 2009

Three variables were included in a study to determine their effect on the incidence of Salmonella typhimurium in broilers challenged at four days of age. Variables included the presence or absence of a feed additive, avoparcin; the use of new or used litter and the initiating dose of salmonella. Cloacal swabs were taken from approximately 600 chicks at weekly intervals for 45 days. At 104, 106 and 108 c.f.u./chick there was a direct association of challenge dose and the incidence of positive chicks for the first several weeks. Chicks raised on used litter showed an appreciable reduction in susceptibility to salmonella when compared to control animals on fresh litter. As the birds approached slaughter age, the influence of litter hygiene and challenge dose diminished under the conditions of this study. Avoparcin in the diet at 10 p.p.m. had no enhancing effect on salmonella shedding at any time during the 45-day sampling period. The implications of competitive exclusion are discussed.
Salmonella serotypes isolated from man in Malaysia over the 10-year period 1973–1982
Authors: Jegathesan M.
Published: October 2009

The results of serotyping of 10953 salmonella isolates from humans over a 10-year period, 1973–82 at the Bacteriology Division, Institute for Medical Research, Malaysia are presented. A total of 104 serotypes from 22 ‘O’ groups were encountered; 95 isolates were considered untypable. The three most predominant serotypes, namely Salmonella typhi, S. typhimurium and S. weltevreden together accounted for 54·1% of all isolates whilst the 25 most frequent serotypes accounted for 93·6% of the total. Whilst the commoner serotypes occurred regularly throughout the study period, the rarer ones tended to appear only in one year, when they might be associated with an outbreak, and never again.

The pattern of serotypes, though quite similar to the one seen in neighbouring Singapore, is different from those experienced in other places such as Hong Kong, Jakarta, Bangladesh and Manchester.
The use of the microagglutination technique to determine the antibody status of healthy New Zealanders to Brucella abortus
Authors: Bettelheim K. A. , Maskill W. J. , Metcalfe R. V. , Pearce J. L.
Published: October 2009

Sera from healthy blood donors from different parts of New Zealand, collected between 1977 and 1980, were analysed by the microagglutination technique for antibodies against Brucella abortus. Populations from both urban and rural areas were studied. The technique was shown to be capable of handling the 3351 sera studied and thus to be a useful screening test to assess the immune status of large populations. The results demonstrated some of the effects on the human population of the successful bovine brucellosis eradication programme.
A study of Coxsackie B virus infections, 1972–1983
Authors: Bell Eleanor J. , McCartney Robert A.
Published: October 2009

The results of a twelve-year study of Coxsackie B virus (CBV) infections in patients with a variety of acute and chronic illnesses are reported. CBVs were isolated from only 123 patients most of whom were children with respiratory illness. Virus diagnosis in adults was based mainly on the detection of significant rising or static high neutralizing antibody titrcs. Between 1972 and 1979 most investigations centred on patients with suspected viral heart disease, 12% of whom were found to have diagnostically significant CBV titres. In studies on patients with definite myo-pericarditis the number positive increased to 33%. In 1980 clinical interest switched to the possible role of CBV in myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), an illness of diverse symptomatology. Investigation of suspected cases of ME in 1983 showed that 16% were serologically positive compared to 4% of normal adults in the West of Scotland. In patients with well-documented ME this figure rose to 41%.

The demand by clinicians for CBV neutralizing antibody tests has increased over the past twelve years and continues to escalate annually, especially in patients with chronic relapsing illness.
Arginine metabolism in infected cell cultures as a marker character for the differentiation of orthopoxviruses
Authors: Osborn Joanna G. E. , Chesters P. M. , Williamson J. D.
Published: October 2009

Arginine has been shown to be essential for the replication of several orthopoxviruses in mouse sarcoma 180 cells and in chick embryo fibroblast cultures. Both host systems are characterized by their inabilities to utilize citrulline for the biosynthesis of arginine due to deficiencies in the requisite cellular enzymes and cell multiplication is absolutely dependent on the availability of exogenous arginine. Virus replication in such cells maintained with citrulline results from the induction of virus-specific enzymes. Significant virus yields in the absence of exogenous arginine or citrulline can arise from the replenishment of intracellular amino acid pools by increased utilization of arginyl residues in cellular proteins. The extent of the phenotypic expression of these characters in infected cells permitted significant discrimination between the viruses examined. Distinctions could be drawn between rabbitpox, ectromelia, cowpox, buffalopox and vaccinia strains. However, cowpox could not be distinguished from other viruses isolated from diseased animals in European zoos.
Distribution of influenza viruses in Northern Greece during 1972–1983
Authors: Kyriazopoulou-Dalaina V.
Published: October 2009

Observations on the circulation of influenza viruses in Northern Greece during the winters of 1972/3 to 1982/3 are presented.

Influenza A viruses were detected every winter with the exception of those of 1973/4 and 1981/2, when neither type A nor type B was isolated. The strains of type A isolated during the study period were similar to those circulating world-wide over the same time scale.

Influenza B viruses were isolated only during the winters of 1972/3 and 1979/80; influenza A viruses were also circulating in the community at those times. The B strains detected were similar to those recorded world-wide during the period of study.
A large outbreak of keratoconjunctivitis due to adenovirus type 8
Authors: Richmond Shirley , Burman Reeta , Crosdale Elaine , Cropper Linda , Longson Damien , Enoch Bridget E. , Dodd C. L.
Published: October 2009

A large nosocomial outbreak of keratoconjunctivitis due to adenovirus type 8 is described. Two hundred cases were identified, 123 by isolation of the virus and 77 by detecting HI antibodies in convalescent sera. Infection usually presented as a severe keratoconjunctivitis, and 107 (54%) of infected patients developed sub-epithelial corneal opacities. The majority (66%) of infections were acquired at the accident and emergency department attached to a large urban eye hospital when patients attended for other reasons; trauma to the eye, especially corneal foreign bodies, was the most frequent cause for the initial attendance. Transmission of virus within the family occurred in 13% of cases, but there was little spread outside family or hospital environments. The outbreak lasted from May to September, 1982, but it was not confirmed by isolation of the virus until the end of June when control measures were instituted. Delay in applying control measures was probably the major factor accounting for this large, prolonged outbreak of epidemic keratoconjunctivitis.
An outbreak of calicivirus associated gastroenteritis in an elderly persons home. A possible zoonosis?
Authors: Humphrey T. J. , Cruickshank J. G. , Cubitt W. D.
Published: October 2009

An outbreak of gastroenteritis caused by calicivirus began amongst residents and staff of an old persons home 24 hours after the proprietor's dog had been sick. Serological evidence suggests that the calicivirus isolated from one of the cases may be capable of infecting dogs as well as man. The virus strain responsible for this outbreak differs antigenically from those associated with two other outbreaks in the U.K. and one in Japan. The characteristic morphology of calicivirus is lost if stool is stored at – 70°C.
The development and performance of a simple, sensitive method for the detection ofCryptosporidiumoocysts in faeces
Authors: Baxby Derrick , Blundell N. , Hart C. A.
Published: October 2009

Features are described of a new staining method for the detection ofCryptosporidiumoocysts in faeces. Smears, fixed in acid-methanol, are stained with heated safranin and counterstained with methylene blue. Oocysts stain a vivid orange-pink and are easily recognized. The method is rapid and simple with little source of error. The method is more sensitive than currently recommended Ziehl-Neelson methods; of 26 cases of cryptosporidiosis diagnosed by the new method only 19 were detected by acid-fast and only 11 by acid-alcohol-fast methods. Oocysts can be stained by safranin-methylene blue after concentration by various methods, in paraffin-embedded material, and after storage for months at various temperatures.
Epidemiological investigations onCampylobacter jejuniin households with a primary infection
Authors: Oosterom J. , den Uyl C. H. , Bänffer J. R. J. , Huisman J.
Published: October 2009

Fifty-four Rotterdam patients in which a primary infection withCampylobacter jejunihad been detected (index patients) were compared with 54 control subjects with regard to the consumption and preparation of foods 7 days before onset of illness and the keeping of pet animals. Significantly more index patients than controls had eaten chicken meat (47v. 29;P= 0·0002), particularly at barbecues (14v. 2;P= 0·0015). Marginally more index patients had eaten pork (47v. 39;P= 0·048) or inadequately heated meat (13v. 8), though in the last case numbers were too small to be statistically significant. The consumption of beef or mutton and outdoor eating (other than at barbecues) were essentially the same in both groups. There was no significant association with the keeping of pet animals, although a few more index patients had cage birds than controls (18v. 12).

Twenty-one (15%) of 130 household contacts of index patients also suffered from diarrhoea during the same period. Circumstantial evidence pointed to a common source of infection with the index patient in 13 instances (nine households) and probable intrafamilial spread of infection in six instances.

Campylobacters were isolated from one of 110 swabs of kitchen work surfaces and eight of 107 swabs taken from lavatory bowls in index households.
A bacteriocin produced by certain M-type 49Streptococcus pyogenesstrains when incubated anaerobically
Authors: Tagg John R. , Skjold Stephen A.
Published: October 2009

Bacteriocin production (P)-typing of 75 M-type 49 group-A streptococci obtained from a variety of epidemiological incidents in different countries gave no evidence of production under the usual aerobic test conditions. However, with anaerobic incubation, 28% of the strains gave a pattern of inhibitory activity against the indicator strains which was indistinguishable from that previously attributed to the bacteriocin, streptococcin A-FF22 (SA-FF22). Isolation and partial purification of the M type 49 bacteriocin (SA-M49) by freeze–thaw elution from anaerobically grown lawn cultures, followed by ammonium sulphate precipitation and Sephadex chromatography, showed the activity to be associated with a heat-stable proteinaceous molecule of molecular weight approximately 8000 – properties similar to those of SA-FF22. SA-FF22 and SA-M49 were found to have identical inhibitory spectra including immunity of the producer strains to the inhibitory activity of both the homologous and heterologous bacteriocin preparations. SA-M49 production occurred in some strains of phage subtypes II, III and provisional VI and. since it was a consistent property for all isolates from single outbreaks of infection, it provides a means of discriminating between strains of each of these three phage subtypes. There was no evidence of any increased incidence of SA-M49 production in M-type 49 strains associated with nephritic sequelae
Legionella pneumophilain aerosols from shower baths
Authors: Dennis P. J. L. , Wright A. E. , Rutter D. A. , Death J. E. , Jones B. P. C.
Published: October 2009

Routine examination of the water system in an establishment where showers were used by staff after work or leisure activities revealed the presence ofLegionella pneumophila. Descaling and steaming cleared the system but six months later recolonization was found to have occurred.L. pneumophilawas isolated from air samples collected in the shower room whilst the shower was in operation. No clinical cases have occurred. Serological examination of those using the showers throughout the six month period together with a control group showed no evidence of infection.
A microbiological study of various food premises with an assessment of cleaning and disinfection practices
Authors: Tebbutt G. M.
Published: October 2009

A study of cleaning and disinfection methods in a variety of types of catering premises has been carried out. The level of bacterial contamination of the hands and of equipment was related to cleaning methods and to the type of catering establishment. Wiping cloths were frequently contaminated withEscherichia coli, and these may be important reservoirs of bacteria for contamination of the hands of catering staff. Regular and efficient cleaning of food surfaces and equipment was found to be more important than the use of a disinfectant as part of the cleaning process. Methods for reducing the risks of cross-contamination in catering premises are discussed.
Unusually severe food poisoning from vanilla slices
Authors: Fenton Patricia A. , Dobson K. W. , Eyre A. , McKendrick M. W.
Published: October 2009

Thirty six people suffered from severe vomiting and diarrhoea 15 min to 3 h after eating vanilla slices from the same bakery. Five patients were admitted to hospital, and one developed unusual skin lesions after admission. Staphylococcus aureus was isolated in large numbers from vanilla slices of the same batch as those giving rise to symptoms, and from five faecal specimens obtained from affected persons. Bacillus cereus and Bacillus subtilis were also isolated from the slices. Unbaked custard provides an ideal environment for bacterial multiplication, especially when (as on this occasion) the ambient temperature is persistently high.
The diphtheria bacillus and its toxin: a model system
Authors: Pappenheimer A. M.
Published: October 2009

Friedrich Loeffler's classical paper entitled ‘Untersuchungen über die Bedeutung der Mikroorganismen für die Entstehung der Diphtheric beim Menschen, bei der Taube und der Kalbe’ (Studies on the significance of bacteria in causing diphtheria in man, pigeons and calves), was published in 1884. In this paper and those which followed during the next few years, Loeffler described the diphtheria bacillus and its isolation in pure culture, and proved its relationship to the disease diphtheria. While the credit for the discovery of diphtheria toxin must go to Roux & Yersin (1888), Loeffler clearly predicted its existence in his original paper. Because, at autopsy, living ‘virulent’ diphtheria bacilli could only be recovered from experimental animals at the site of injection, Loeffler postulated that the bacteria must have released into the bloodstream a ‘chemical poison’ which caused the characteristicsterilehaemorrhagic lesions in remote organs. He even noted early in 1888 that ‘the bacterial poison resembles in its action the poison [now known as abrin] obtained from jaquiriti seeds, which causes inflammation and the production of false membranes when placed on the mucous membranes either of men or animals’ (cited in Loeffler, 1908). Today we know the reason for this astute observation. Both abrin and diphtheria toxin block protein synthesis in sensitive eucaryotic cells (Collier, 1975; Olsnes & Pihl, 1976; Pappenheimer, 1977), albeit by different mechanisms. Almost a quarter of a century after the discovery of the diphtheria bacillus, the British Medical Research Council published a 718-page volume on diphtheria. In the first chapter Loeffler (1908) reviewed the history of the disease and reminisced at some length about his own early work. By 1908 when this book appeared, a good deal was already known about the epidemiology of diphtheria, the bacteriology of the diphtheria bacillus, its mode of spread by healthy adults and the protective effect of antitoxin. However, other than its proteinaceous nature almost nothing was known of the chemistry of diphtheria toxin or its mode of action. The interpretation of many of Loeffler's astute early observations and questions that puzzled him remained obscure and unanswerable until the discovery of lysogenic conversion to toxinogenicity by Freeman (1951) and the realization that thetoxstructural gene was carried by a bacteriophage (Uchida, Gill & Pappenhcimer, 1971).
The detection of peste des petits ruminants (PPR) virus antigen by agar gel precipitation test and counter-immunoelectrophoresis
Authors: Obi T. U. , Patrick D.
Published: October 2009

The detectability of peste des petits ruminants (PPR) viral antigen in both ante-mortem secretions and necropsy samples from experimentally infected goats was investigated by both the agar gel precipitation test (AGPT) and counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIE). Viral antigen was detected from 42·6% of the samples tested by the AGPT and 80–3% by CIE. The detection of viral antigen in a high proportion of the ocular and nasal secretions as well as the faeces and buccal scrapings, particularly from those collected within seven days of the onset of fever, by both techniques, would seem to obviate the need for lymph node biopsies or post-mortem samples in order to make a diagnosis of PPRV infection.
The detection of rotaviruses in products of wastewater treatment
Authors: Bates J. , Goddard M. R. , Butler M.
Published: October 2009

Rotaviruses present in products of wastewater treatment were assayed in MA 104 cells by indirect immunofluorescence. Levels in settled sewage, activated sludge and effluent were greater than 103per litre in March and April but virus was not detected during later months. This pattern correlated with the decline in laboratory reports of human rotavirus infection.
Restriction enzyme fingerprinting of enterobacterial plasmids: a simple strategy with wide application
Authors: Platt D. J. , Chesham J. S. , Brown D. J. , Kraft C. A. , Taggart J.
Published: October 2009

Restriction enzyme fingerprints were generated from purified plasmid DNA from 324 clinical isolates that belonged to 7 enterobacterial genera and 88 single plasmids in Escherichia coli K12 according to the following strategy.

Purified plasmid DNA was digested with PstI. The number of fragments detected in a 0·8 agarose gel was used to determine which 2 of 6 restriction enzymes including Pstl was most likely to provide a fingerprint comprising sufficient fragments to ensure specificity but sufficiently few to allow easy visual assessment and minimize coincidental matching. When PstI produced > 20 fragments, Eco RI and HindIII were used; when PstI generated < 6 fragments Bsp 1286 and AvaII were used and SmaI was employed when between 6 and 20 fragments were obtained from PstI digests. Using a minimum of 12 fragments from a combination of 2 enzymes as the criterion for characterizing a strain/plasmid, satisfactory 2-enzyme fingerprints were obtained from 87% of the strains and plasmids studied using PstI and no more than two additional enzymes per strain. Of the remaining 54 strains, 51 harboured only small plasmids (< 10 kb) and 3 produced satisfactory fingerprints when digested with a fourth enzyme.
An outbreak of gastroenteritis on a passenger cruise ship
Authors: O'Mahony Mary C. , Noah N. D. , Evans B. , Harper D. , Rowe B. , Lowes J. A. , Pearson A. , Goode B.
Published: October 2009

In an outbreak of gastroenteritis on board a cruise ship 251 passengers and 51 crew were affected and consulted the ship's surgeon during a 14-day period. There was a significant association between consumption of cabin tap water and reported illness in passengers. Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli were isolated from passengers and crew and coliforms were found in the main water storage tank. Contamination of inadequately chlorinated water by sewage was the most likely source of infection.

A low level of reported illness and late recognition of the outbreak delayed investigation of what was probably the latest in a series of outbreaks of gastrointestinal illness on board this ship. There is a need for a national surveillance programme which would monitor the extent of illness on board passenger cruise ships as well as a standard approach to the action taken when levels of reported illness rise above a defined level.
Salmonellosis in two dairy herds associated with a sewage farm and water reclamation plant
Authors: Clegg F. G. , Wray C. , Duncan A. L. , Appleyard W. T.
Published: October 2009

Two dairy herds, situated on a sewage farm, were monitored for the presence of salmonellas following outbreaks of Salmonella dublin infection. In addition an S. dublin control scheme, which involved examination of adult animals and calf vaccination, was instigated.

During the period 1975–84, 12 salmonella serotypes and 10 phage types of S. typhimurium were isolated from the cattle and their environment although their presence was seldom associated with disease. Two adult S. dublin excreters were detected but it was concluded that none of the tests employed to examine the adult animals was sensitive enough. The prevalence of disease in the calves was low and although vaccination may have been beneficial it did not eradicate S. dublin infection. Thus S. dublin persisted in adults and calves during the 8-year period but its presence was seldom associated with disease. The results are discussed with regards the disease risk to animals from the agricultural use of sewage sludge and the public health aspects.
Antibiotic sensitivities of urinary pathogens isolated from patients in Liverpool, 1984–5
Authors: Damjanovic V. , Whitfield E.
Published: October 2009

Urinary pathogens isolated from patients in general practice, an antenatal clinic and several hospitals in Liverpool during 1984–5 have been tested for antibiotic sensitivities. The proportion of sensitive organisms varied from antimicrobial to antimicrobial and from institution to institution. Isolates from all institutions showed high rates of sensitivity to cephradine, nalidixic acid and nitrofurantoin, and somewhat lower rates to trimethoprim. Significantly lower sensitivities were found to ampicillin and sulphamethoxazole indicating that neither ampicillin nor a sulphonamide is suitable for initial choice on a ‘best guess’ basis in the situation studied. In general, the organisms derived from the antenatal patients showed the highest rates of sensitivity and those isolated from patients in geriatric hospitals the lowest.
Observations on experimental inactivated vaccines for contagious bovine pleuropneumonia
Authors: Gray M. A. , Simam P. , Smith G. R.
Published: October 2009

In two trials the efficacy of inactivated vaccines against contagious bovine pleuropneumonia was tested by exposing vaccinated cattle to droplet infection provided by close contact with experimentally infected ‘donors’. Complete protection was given by an extreme form of vaccination in which a heavy suspension of killed Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides emulsified with Freund's complete adjuvant was given in two large doses. ‘Mouse-protective antibody’ (MPA) was also produced, i.e. serum transferred to mice 2–4 h before intraperitoneal challenge prevented the development of mycoplasmaemia. However, the study did not answer the question ‘Is MPA protective for cattle?’. No protection was given by a milder form of vaccination in which a lighter suspension of killed Hiycoplasmas emulsified with Freund's incomplete adjuvant was given in a comparatively small dose on a single occasion.
Bacterial and mycotic otological infections in Singapore
Authors: Chow V. T. K. , Ho B. , Hong G. S. , Liu T. C.
Published: October 2009

This paper describes a microbiological study of 84 young adult men with clinical otitic infections. Gram-negative aerobic bacilli were frequently isolated from these patients diagnosed as having otitis externa or chronic suppurative otitis media, of whichPseudomonasspecies predominated.

Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermidisand aerobicCorynebacteriumspecies (diphtheroids) were also found. About 40% of ear infections were attributed to otomycoses, chiefly fromAspergillusspecies andCandida parapsilosis. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of the bacterial isolates revealed thatPseudomonasspecies were generally resistant to antibiotics commonly employed in general practice: ampicillin, erythromycin, co-trimoxazole, tetracycline and cephaloridine. However, polymjwin B, gentamicin and neomycin were active against somePseudomonasisolates. Other Gram-negative bacilli were also mainly sensitiveto gentamicin, neomycin as well as co-trimoxazole. Disc diffusion and minimum inhibitor concentration studies demonstrated good activity of ceftazidime, cefoperazone, tobramycin and carbenicillin against strains ofPseudomonasspecies and other Gram-negative rods. Cefotaxime and cefoxitin were active against Gram-negative bacilli other thanPseudomonasspecies. Beta-lactamase production did not appear to be the main mechanism of resistance in these communityacquired Gram-negative bacillary isolates. The antimicrobial therapy of otological infections is reviewed.
Antibody levels toMycoplasma pneumoniaein sera collected from healthy blood donors of Wellington, New Zealand, during 1976–80
Authors: Pearce J. , Bettleheim K. , Metcalfe R.
Published: October 2009

The sera of healthy blood donors from the Wellington area of New Zealand, collected between 1976 and 1980, were analysed by the complement fixation test for antibody toMycoplasma pneumoniae. A high prevalence of antibody to this organism was demonstrated and the occurrence of anM. pneumoniaeepidemic in New Zealand within the survey period was shown to be reflected i the immune status of this healthy adult population. This would suggest that during an epidemic many people within the Wellington community may haveM. pneumoniaeinfections involving littl overt illness.
Molecular epidemiology of human rotavirus
Authors: Cash P. , Freebain E. , Brown T. , Reid T. M. S.
Published: October 2009

The epidemiology of human rotavirus (HRV) in north-east Scotland was investigated between 1982 and 1984. During this period 708 HRV infections were recorded. The majority (83%) of the infections were in children less than 5 years of age although some were recorded in adults. The peak incidence occurred in the winter months although a high number of HRV infections was reported during the summer of 1983. A total of 840 faecal specimens containing rotavirus were screened for HRV genome RNA by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Seven hundred (83%) specimens gave RNA profiles suitable for establishing the HRV electrophoretype. Twenty-five different electrophoretypes were identified, of which 21 had ‘long’ RNA profiles and four had ‘short’ RNA profiles. There was extensive co-circulation of distinct electrophoretypes although during any one epidemic period the majority of viruses belonged to a relatively small number of types. Comparison of viruses collected from hospitalized and non-hospitalized Patients showed no differences in electrophoretype distribution. HRV was identified in faecal specimens from a wide age group and no correlation was demonstrated between age of patient and electrophoretype of the infecting virus.
Monoclonal antibodies directed against the flagella ofCampylobacter jejuni: cross-reacting and serotypic specificity and potential use in diagnosis
Authors: Newell D. G.
Published: October 2009

Nine monoclonal antibodies directed against the flagella ofCampylobacter jejunistrain 81116 have been investigated for serotypic and cross-reacting activity using a panel of 17 Penner serotype strains ofC. jejuni.Four monoclonal antibodies were exclusively specific for serotype-6 strains, which was the serotype ofC. jejunistrain 81116. Two monoclonal antibodies cross-reacted with all the flagellated strains ofC jejunitested. One of these cross-reacting monoclonal antibodies, CF5, was found to react with all otherCampylobacterspecies exceptC. sputorum bulbulusbut it did not react with other bacterial entcropathogens. An antigencapture ELISA technique was established, using this monoclonal antibody, which could detect flagellar antigen in human faecal material. These anti-flagella monoclonal antibodies therefore may be valuable in the diagnosis and serotyping ofC. jejuniin clinical material.
Sanitary study of surface water and of the beach of a water sports and leisure complex
Authors: Chabasse D. , Laine P. , Simitzis-Le-Flohic A. M. , Martineau B. , Hourch M. El , Becaud J. P.
Published: October 2009

This report presents the parasitological, bacteriological, mycological and physicochemical data obtained from both surface water and beach sand of a lake used for water sports. These show that the lake is contaminated in both winter and spring by water which overflows from the River Maine, and is self-purified by a mechanism of ‘lagunage’. In summer signs of pollution are at their lowest level although use of the complex is at its peak. Conversely, the amoebic flora, which is independent of the usual criteria of pollution, predominates in summer, and serves as a marker for the need for increased surveillance. The sand of the beaches does not appear to show any infectious hazard. Environmental pressure will doubtless change these data over a period of time, and it is planned to monitor this.
Detection of diphtheria toxin antibodies in human sera in New Zealand by ELISA
Authors: Lau R. C. H.
Published: October 2009

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed to detect IgG antibodies to diphtheria toxin in human serum. Serum samples obtained from 557 normal persons aged 1–65 years from different areas in New Zealand showed maximum antibody levels in the 1–9 years age group (95·1%) and the least in the 60–65 years age group (38·1%). The indirect ELISA is suitable for sero-epidemiological survey study as it is simple to perform, economical and precise.
Chlamydiosis in birds in Great Britain: 2. Isolations ofChlamydia psittacifrom birds sampled between 1976 and 1984
Authors: Bevan B. J. , Bracewell C. D.
Published: October 2009

A total of 1531 diagnostic submissions from birds were examined by culture for the presence ofChlamydia psittacibetween June 1976 and December 1984 by growth in NCTC 929 clone L mouse fibroblast cells, pretreated with an inhibitor of cell division, followed by direct immunofluorescence microscopy. Of these, 196 were found positive. The continued importance of psittacine birds as potential sources of infection was shown by the high number of positives (139) obtained from birds of that order. The percentage of submissions found positive was highest in parakeets (30·1) and was fairly high in psittacines as a group (16·6), but the latter figure was exceeded by the group ofcollared doves (Streptopelia decaocto) and wood pigeons (Columba palumbus) (25·0). Domestic poultry generally gave low rates, turkeys being the highest.

Both the numbers of submissions and their rates of positives increased between 1980 and 1984.

Comparing the isolation rates from the various organs sampled, the intestines gave the highest rate (20·4 per cent positive), closely followed by the other internal sites. The superficial swabbed sites (eye, nasal cavity, cloaca) gave lower rates.
Poliovirus antibody in Northern Greece
Authors: Kyriazopoulou-Dalaina V.
Published: October 2009

In order to study the serological status of the Northern Greek population to poliovirus, 881 sera from healthy people were examined for neutralizing antibody by the micrometabolic inhibition test. The people under examination were aged from 1 day to 70 years old. Overall, of the 881 sera examined, 704 (80%) had antibodies (titre ≥ 4) to poliovirus 1, 742 (84%) had antibodies to poliovirus 2 and 715 (81%) had antibodies to poliovirus 3. Fifty-five per cent of the sera had antibodies to all three polioviruses while 3·3% had no poliovirus antibody at all. There was no statistically significant difference in the rates of seropositivity to the various poliovirus types or between males and females. However the rates of seropositivity did vary with age.
Purified Vero cell rabies vaccine and human diploid cell strain vaccine: comparison of neutralizing antibody responses to post-exposure regimens
Authors: Suntharasamai Pravan , Chanthavanich Pornthep , Warrell M. J. , Looareesuwan Sornchai , Karbwang Juntra , Supanaranond Wichai , Phillips R. E. , Jansawan Weerapol , Xueref C. , Pouradier-Duteil X. , Warrell D. A.
Published: October 2009

Neutralizing antibody responses to conventional rabies post-exposure regimens of human diploid cell strain vaccine (HDCSV) and the new purified Vero cell rabies vaccine (PVRV) were compared in 58 healthy Thai veterinary students. The geometric mean titres (GMTs) of the group given HDCSV were slightly higher than those given PVRV, but on day 28 the peak GMTs of the two groups were statistically similar. The early antibody response to PVRV was unaffected by the addition of passive immunization, whereas the level of HDCSV response was reduced on day 14, so that there was no difference on that day between the GMTs of the two vaccine groups given HRIG. However, by day 91 the GMT of those given PVRV and HRIG was lower than in those given HDCSV alone or with HRIG. The appearance of antibody was less rapid than was observed in previous studies using multiple-site intradermal vaccination. Side effects were trivial. Our results confirm the promise of this new, potentially more economical tissue culture vaccine, but they suggest that the regimen could be improved.
Age-dependent prevalence of BK virus IgG and IgM antibodies measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA)
Authors: Flaegstad Trond , Traavik Terje , Kristiansen Bjørn-Erik
Published: October 2009

Enzyme immunoassays (ELISA) have been developed for the detection of BK virus IgG- and IgM-antibodies. Specific IgG is detected by an antigen-coated solid phase test; IgM by an antibody capture method.

These methods have been used to study the age-distribution of BK virus antibodies in Troms county in Northern Norway. The serum panels tested were: (a) 60 sera from paediatric patients aged 0–1 year; (b) 220 sera from healthy persons aged 1–82 years; (c) 74 sera from healthy blood donors; (d) 107 sera from healthy pregnant women.

The age-distribution of BKV-IgG antibodies showed that primary infections took place predominantly between the ages of 1 and 6 years, and that there were no sex differences, either in the age-specific prevalence or in the level of BKV-IgG.

We found no significant differences in the prevalence of BKV-IgM antibodies in healthy children and adults and pregnant women. BKV-IgM was detected in 26 of the 461 sera tested (5·6%).
The distribution of ticks of the Ornithodoros moubata complex (Ixodoidea: Argasidae) in Malawi, and its relation to African swine fever epizootiology
Authors: Haresnape J. M. , Mamu F. D.
Published: October 2009

The distribution of ticks of the Ornithodoros moubata complex in different habitats in Malawi, particularly pigsties and houses, was established from a four-phase survey undertaken between 1982 and 1985. The first phase consisted of preliminary interviews, the second phase consisted of a questionnaire to Veterinary Assistants (VAs) in rural areas, the third involved tick collections by VAs and the fourth involved both interviews and tick collections by members of the Central Veterinary Laboratory, Lilongwe. The area in which O. moubata is found in pigsties includes much of the African swine fever (ASF) enzootic area, and it seems likely that the enzootic area could become larger in future. The occurrence of O. moubata in warthog habitats was also investigated.
Excretion of faecal viruses during the first year of life including attendance at a day nursery in Lisbon, Portugal
Authors: Avillez Maria Francisca , Paixão Maria Teresa
Published: October 2009

In an attempt to determine the frequency of virus infections of the gastrointestinal tract, the duration of virus shedding in faeces and its relation to outbreaks of illness of any kind, faecal samples were collected from children attending a day nursery at a Lisbon institution.

In this study, ten children were surveyed from their enrolment at the nursery, weekly specimens of faeces being collected over a period of 1 year. A total of 459 samples were obtained. In addition four of these children were also followed-up from their first week of life to their enrolment at the nursery, 79 samples being collected during this period.

Viruses were detected in a high percentage (44·4%) of these stools, including strains of oral vaccine polioviruses together with viruses isolated in routine cell cultures and by electron microscopy (EM). These viruses were detected in both healthy and ill babies.

The possible association between viruses isolated in cell cultures or detected by EM and illness was examined and the results show that the asymptomatic excretion of viruses is frequent, particularly in children within this age group.
Adenovirus type 8 keratoconjunctivitis – an outbreak and its treatment with topical human fibroblast interferon
Authors: Reilly Sheena , Dhillon B. J. , Nkanza Kamona M. , D'Souza Annette M. , Taylor N. , Hobbs Sandra J. , Freke A , Roome A. P. C. H.
Published: October 2009

An outbreak of keratoconjunctivitis is described which involved at least 186 people; adenovirus type 8 was identified in 50 of the cases. Topical human fibroblast interferon was assessed in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study in which 34 patients participated. Seventeen of the 34 trial patients yielded adenovirus type 8; three were infected with adenovirus type 7. The outbreak was curtailed by control of infection measures: principally careful hand-washing by medical personnel between cases and by discouraging attendance of new cases at the Eye Infirmary. Consequently the trial numbers are small. In addition there was a wide interpatient variation in the severity of infection. Therefore it was not possible to make any statistically valid conclusions concerning the recovery rate of patients receiving interferon or placebo.
Ontogenetic changes in habitat use and diet of the sea-starHeliaster helianthuson the coast of central Chile
Authors: Manzur Tatiana , Barahona Mario , Navarrete Sergio A.
Published: October 2009

Ontogenetic shifts in habitat use and diet are ubiquitous in nature and usually have profound consequences for the ecology and evolution of the species. In the case of species with strong interactions within their communities, such as keystone predators, understanding this kind of size-related change is critical to understand variation and connectivity among spatially distinct habitats of coastal communities. Yet the ecology of early life stages of marine benthic invertebrates, particularly asteroids, is poorly understood. Here we describe the results of surveys to characterize the habitat and quantify the abundance and diet of recruits of the sun starHeliaster helianthus, a keystone predator at rocky intertidal sites in central Chile. Our results support the existence of size-related, ontogenetic changes in habitat use and diet of this species. Recruits occupy boulders and crevices in the high or mid-high intertidal zones of wave-protected habitats and as they grow they move down towards lower tidal levels. Adults are characteristically found in the low intertidal zone of wave exposed and semi-exposed habitats. These changes in habitat use are accompanied by changes in diet composition and particularly by a broadening of the prey species incorporated in the diet. Since early stages ofHeliasterappear to be most sensitive to predation and abiotic stress and since adults are such important predators in wave exposed rocky shores, knowledge of the basic ecology of early stages of this species is critical to fully understand the dynamics of intertidal communities.