bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synonymy of strains of Center for Disease Control group DF-1 with species of Capnocytophaga
Authors: Williams B L , Hollis D , Holdeman L V
Published: January 2020

Of eight strains of Center for Disease Control group DF-1 examined, seven had 62 to 87% deoxyribonucleic acid homology with the neotype strain of Capnocytophaga ochracea and one had 72% deoxyribonucleic acid homology with the type strain of C. gingivalis. Deoxyribonucleic acid homology of four strains of Bacteroides ochraceus with the neotype strain of C. ochrecea was 76 to 86%.
Rapid identification of Prototheca species by the API 20C system
Authors: Padhye A A , Baker J G , D'Amato R F
Published: January 2020

The conventional auxanographic method of testing for the assimilation of carbohydrates and alcohols by the various species of Prototheca requires at least 2 weeks of incubation at 25 to 30 degrees C before definitive results are obtained. Even though Prototheca spp., in culture as well as in fixed tissues, can be identified more rapidly by fluorescent-antibody techniques in which species-specific reagents are used, such diagnostic facilities and reagents are not available in most diagnostic laboratories. The API 20C clinical yeast identification system, a commercially available ready-to-use micromethod, was found to permit the definitive identification of P. stagnora, P. wickerhamii, and P. zopfii within 4 days.
Bacteriophage typing scheme for Salmonella infantis
Authors: Kasatiya S , Caprioli T , Champoux S
Published: January 2020

A bacteriophage typing system is described for Salmonella infantis. Nine phages were selected, of which three were isolated from sewage and six from human feces. All except 7 of the 546 strains collected between 1974 and 1978 could be classified into 23 different phage types. The five most common phage types comprised 26, 13, 9, 9, and 9% of all strains, respectively. Strains from humans, animals, food, and water isolated during nine episodes, or from given patients at different intervals of time, belonged to the same phage type.
Failure of serology in diagnosing chlamydial infections of the female genital tract
Authors: Schachter J , Cles L , Ray R , Hines P A
Published: January 2020

Chlamydia trachomatis was recoved from 20% (36/180) of women attending a venereal disease clinic. All infected women had chlamydial antibodies in their serum and cervical secretions. However, the background rates of chlamydial antibody in chlamydia-negative women were very high. Measurement of antibodies in serum (complement fixation or immunoglobulin G [IgG] and IgM by microimmunofluorescence) or cervical secretion (IgG, IgM, IgA or secretory IgA classes) did not result in predictive values of greater than 32%. It is concluded that the detection of chlamydial antibodies in serum or cervical secretions cannot be substituted for agent isolation in diagnosing these infections.
Vibrio alginolyticus infections in humans
Authors: Schmidt U , Chmel H , Cobbs C
Published: January 2020

Two clinical isolates of Vibrio alginolyticus from New Jersey are reported, one from a mixed stump infection and the other grown in pure culture from the conjunctival discharge of a man with conjunctivitis. The biochemical characteristics and antibiotic susceptibilities of these two isolates are presented. Human infections caused by V. alginolyticus are reviewed.
Rapid identification of Enterobacteriaceae from blood cultures with the Micro-ID system
Authors: Edberg S C , Clare D , Moore M H , Singer J M
Published: January 2020

Micro-ID is a new test system designed to identify members of the family Enterobacteriaceae in 4 h. It consists of 15 biochemical tests on reagent-impregnated paper disks; each test is in its own compartment in a molded plastic tray. Based on the pattern of positive and negative biochemical reactions, a five-digit octal code number is calculated. A computer-generated identification manual accompanies the product, and for each octal code listed there is a numerical value that represents the unknown isolate's degree of fit to a typical organism (LFR), a second numerical value that represents its separation from other organisms (PNOR), and a verbal description of the quality of identification. Only one reagent is added to the system. Manufacturer's directions were modified in this laboratory to allow identification from a turbid blood culture bottle within 4 h. Based on 330 routine clinical cultures tested, there was a 96.1% agreement with conventional identification to the genus and species level: 1.2% yielded first two choices possible, with one being the correct choice; 1.2% provided a correct genus, but no species identification; and 1.5% produced an incorrect identification. The Micro-ID is an accurate, facile system for the rapid identification of Enterobacteriaceae from blood cultures.
Adaptation of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to the avian system
Authors: Slaght S S , Yang T J , van der Heide L
Published: January 2020

A microplate enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was developed to detect chicken anti-rovirus antibodies. Studies of the parameters which affect the outcome of the assay with avian serum revealed two aspects for a successful assay. First, enzyme-antibody conjugates prepared by the periodate oxidation technique were found to have retained far more immunological activity than conjugates produced by a glutaraldehyde cross-linking. Second, the results indicated an unusually high affinity of chicken immunoglobulin for the microplate plastic which was mostly eliminated by a pretreatment technique with fixed fetal calf serum. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay compared favorably with the latex passive agglutination test, yielding a titration endpoint of 1:511,000, or approximately 1,300 times more sensitive than the latex passive agglutination assay. The assay proved not only to be sensitive to less than 1 ng of specific antibody, but also to have low to moderate variance and high reliability.
Regulation of melanin production by Cryptococcus neoformans
Authors: Nurudeen T A , Ahearn D G
Published: January 2020

Species of Filobasidiella, the agents of cryptococcosis, produced melanin-like pigments within 4 to 48 h with diphenol, aminophenol, and diaminobenzene compounds as substrates. The rate of phenyloxidase activity was found to be regulated by glucose and nitrogen catabolite repression. Increased glucose concentration reduced pigmentation of all serotypes of Filobasidiella, whereas repression by nitrogen sources varied with the strain. Glutamine repressed the phenyloxidases of all isolates except those of serotype B, and (NH4)2SO4 repressed the phenyloxidase of all isolates except that of serotype A. Tyrosine and glycine appeared to be near optimal for phenyloxidase activity but not necessarily for growth of all strain examined. Representatives of serotype C were unique in that their phenyloxidase system was adpative in contrast to the constitutive system found in the other serotypes. No single medium was found to support pigmentation of all strains of Cryptococcus neoformans within a 72-h incubation period; false-negative reactions can occur.
Virus-like particle, 35 to 40 nm, associated with an institutional outbreak of acute gastroenteritis in adults
Authors: Taniguchi K , Urasawa S , Urasawa T
Published: January 2020

In an outbreak of acute gastroenteritis in an institution for the mentally retarded at Otofuke, Hokkaido, Japan, virus-like particles were observed by electron microscopy in five of seven stool specimens from the patients. The particles had 10 rod-shaped and 10 round projections or capsomeres on the periphery, measured 35 to 40 nm in diameter, and had a buoyant density of 1.35 to 1.37 g/ml in cesium chloride. Attempts to culture these particles in tissue culture or in mouse brain were unsuccessful. Immune electron miscroscopy performed with the virus from the patients as antigen demonstrated significant serological responses in all patients examined. Antigenic similarity of the virus particles obtained from five patients was also confirmed by immune electron microscopy with the paired acute- and convalescent-phase sera of one of the patients. Furthermore, in immune electron micrsocopy these particles appeared to have no antigenic relationship to three candidate viruses for gastroenteritis so far reported: the Norwalk agent, the W agent, and the calicivirus-like particle. These results suggested the possibility that this agent, tentatively designated as the Otofuke agent, might be a new candidate virus for gastroenteritis.
Enzyme immunoassay for detection of antibody to Epstein-Barr virus-specific early antigen
Authors: Garnlund D J , Levine P H , Fuccillo D A
Published: January 2020

Antibody to Epstein-Barr virus-induced early antigen could be measured in sera using enzyme-linked antibody. The sensitivity of this assay was comparable to that of the indirect immunofluorescent technique. Measurement of early antigen was accomplished on a producer cell line which was specifically treated to block late gene expression. It is now possible to measure Epstein-Barr virus-induced early antigen and viral capsid antigen antibodies by using the same cell line.
Application of O-serotyping in a study of Providencia rettgeri (Proteus rettgeri) isolated from human and nonhuman sources
Authors: Penner J L , Hennessy J N
Published: January 2020

A somatic (O) antigen serotyping scheme for Providencia rettgeri (Proteus rettgeri) was modified to exclude O-type strains recently reclassified as urea-positive Providencia stuartii and was extended to include new serotypes to provide for serotyping on the basis of 93 O-antigens. Isolates from two hospitals, five public health laboratories, and nonhuman sources (polluted water and frogs) were serotyped. The 112 isolates collected from a large general hospital over a 99-month period were distributed among 42 O-serotypes. No serotype showed significant predominance that would suggest the occurrence of human strains that are more prone than others to cause human infections, but in an institution experiencing cross-infection, 11 of the 22 (50%) isolates belonged to one serotype. The 54 isolates from the five public health laboratories belonged to 33 serotypes, 15 of which were found also among hospital isolates. All but 5 of 99 frog isolates were typable, and the 94 typable isolates were separated into 25 serotypes. Each of the four isolates from polluted water samples was of a different serotype. Sixteen of the serotypes found in frogs and three found in water were also identified among human isolates.
Bacteremia associated with Enterobacter sakazakii (yellow, pigmented Enterobacter cloacae)
Authors: Monroe P W , Tift W L
Published: January 2020

A case report of bacteremia due to Enterobacter sakazakii, listed previously as yellow-pigmented Enterobacter cloacae (R. Sakazaki, in R. E. Buchanan and N. E. Gibbons, ed., Bergey's Manual of Determinative Bacteriology, 8th ed., p. 325, 1974), occurred in a 7-day-old, Caucasian male who responded successfully to ampicillin therapy. The source of the infection was not known; however, because of the time lapse between birth and the onset of symptoms, the infection was thought to have occurred postnatally.
Ethyl acetate as a substitute for diethyl ether in the formalin-ether sedimentation technique
Authors: Young K H , Bullock S L , Melvin D M , Spruill C L
Published: January 2020

Ethyl acetate appears to be a satisfactory subsitute solvent for diethyl ether in the Formalin-ether sedimentation technique. In comparative studies, concentration of organisms with ethyl acetate was equal to or greater than that with diethyl ether. No distortion or alteration of morphology was observed with eigher solvent, and preparations were comparable in appearance and ease of examination. In addition, ethyl acetate is less flammable and less hazardous to use than diethyl ether.
Time of lymphocyte response after onset of tularemia and after tularemia vaccination
Authors: Tärnvik A , Sandström G , Löfgren S
Published: January 2020

Blood lymphocytes were prepared from 6 patients at various time intervals after the onset of tularemia and from 10 subjects after vaccination against this disease. Lymphocytes were also prepared from subjects who had been vaccinated 1 and 2 years previously. The lymphocytes were incubated in the presence of membranes of the vaccine strain. Lymphocytes obtained 2 weeks or later after onset of the disease responded to the membranes with increased deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis, whereas lymphocytes obtained earlier than 2 weeks after onset did not respond. Lymphocytes of the vaccinated subjects did not respond to the membranes of the vaccine strain before vaccination. Two to 4 weeks after vaccination lymphocytes from six of the vaccinees yielded a high response, and this response was consistently high for several months. Lymphocytes from four of the vaccinated individuals responded to a low extent only, and this was consistently low for several months. Lymphocytes from individuals vaccinated 1 year before testing responded to a similar extent to the membranes, as did lymphocytes from those who had been vaccinated 1 month previously. Lymphocytes from individuals vaccinated 2 years previously, however, showed a diminished response to the membranes. There was no correlation between titer of agglutinating antibodies and magnitude of lymphocyte reactivity.
Immune response and prevalence of antibody to Norwalk enteritis virus as determined by radioimmunoassay
Authors: Blacklow N R , Cukor G , Bedigian M K , Echeverria P , Greenberg H B , Schreiber D S , Trier J S
Published: January 2020

A solid-phase microtiter radioimmunoassay was established for the detection of Norwalk virus and its antibody, with clinical materials from human volunteers previously studied in Massachusetts as reagents. A study of 308 Massachusetts residents showed that serum antibody to Norwalk agent was rarely present during childhood but was detectable in approximately 50% of adults. All volunteers inoculated with Norwalk virus who developed illness seroconverted (10/10), whereas only one-third (5/15) of nonill volunteers seroconverted (P = 0.0009). The 10 nonill, nonseroconverting subjects had undetectable to low preexisting antibody levels. Paradoxically, 10/13 subjects with preexisting antibody became ill, whereas 17/25 lacking antibody did not (P = 0.009). All 3 subjects with preexisting anti-Norwalk radioimmunoassay blocking activity in duodenal intraluminal fluids became ill, whereas only 5/11 lacking such activity developed illness (P = 0.15). These data further support the unique concept that some individuals are susceptible to repeated infections with this agent, whereas others are incapable of developing infection.
Enhancement of Ureaplasma urealyticum growth on a differential agar medium (A7B) by a polyamine, putrescine
Authors: Shepard M C , Combs R S
Published: January 2020

Growth of Ureaplasma urealyticum isolates from clinical exudates and urine specimens was significantly improved by supplementation of a Ureaplasma differential agar medium by putrescine. The improved medium was designated medium A7B.
Rapid biochemical characterization of Haemophilus species by using the micro-ID
Authors: Edberg S C , Melton E , Singer J M
Published: January 2020

Biotyping of Haemophilus influenzae into five type and H. parainfluenzae into three types based on indole production, ornithine decarboxylase, and urease has been reported (M. Kilian, Acta Pathol. Microbiol. Scand. Sect. B 82:835--842, 1976). A commercially available test system designed for the 4-h identification of Enterobacteriaceae. Micro-ID, proved efficacious for the rapid biotyping of these two Haemophilus species. The nitrate reductase, indole production, ornithine decarboxylase, urease, and o-nitrophenyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside hydrolysis tests in Micro-ID correlated over 99% with conventional methodology. By utilizing the indole and o-nitrophenyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside tests it was possible, with 261 of 272 (96.1%) isolates, to distinguish H. influenzae from H. parainfluenzae. Cerebrospinal fluid isolates were over 90% H. influenzae biotype I, and conjunctival isolates were approximately 70% biotype II. Type b H. influenzae were predominantly biotypes I and II; these type b isolates were also overwhelmingly indole producers. Although over 90% of biotypes I and II have been reported to produce beta-lactamase, this was not confirmed by the small number of beta-lactamase producers encountered here. The 4-h Micro-ID should prove a useful mechanism, amenable to the routine clinical laboratory, for the further exploration of the association of Haemophilus with the site of isolation, antigenicity, and antibiotic resistance.
Comparison of Different Assays for Definition of Heat-Stable Enterotoxigenicity of
Escherichia coli
Porcine Strains
Authors: Olsson Eva , Söderlind Olof
Published: January 2020

Ninety-one
Escherichia coli
strains isolated from porcine neonatal diarrhea, representing 28 O-groups and rough and non-O-groupable strains, were examined for enterotoxigenicity (heat stable [ST] or heat labile [LT]) by using bacterial suspensions in intestinal loop tests in 3- to 7-week-old piglets and culture supernatant fluids in the Y1 adrenal cell test, the 18-h rabbit intestinal loop test, and the infant mouse test. Eleven strains in O-groups 101, 138, 147, and 149 were positive in all four assay systems and were designated ST + LT. Fourteen strains within O-groups 8, 9, 20, 64, 141, and 149 and non-O-groupable were positive only in the 3- to 7-week-old piglet loop test and the infant mouse test and were designated ST pig + mouse. Sixteen strains distributed among O-groups 8, 16, 32, 50, 51, 98, 115, 141, 149, and 157 were positive only in the piglet intestinal loop test and were designated ST pig. Three strains of O-groups 8, 9, and 140 were positive only in the infant mouse assay and were designated ST mouse. Two strains of O-group 149 were positive in all tests except the infant mouse test and were designated LT. A total of 42 strains were negative in all four tests (Ent
-
), and 3 strains could not be categorized by the enterotoxigenicity criteria used. All K88-positive isolates, 17 strains of O-groups 8, 32, 147, and 149, were positive in at least one enterotoxigenicity test. ST pig and ST mouse strains gave positive intestinal loop tests as bacterial suspensions in 4- to 10-day-old piglets. A 6-h piglet intestinal loop test performed with heat-inactivated culture supernatants was preferable to an 18- to 20-h test for determination of ST production by strains of diverse O-groups. ST production by the two strains designated LT was detected by the 6-h test. The infant mouse test, although highly reproducible and convenient, appears to possess considerable limitations in routine screening of
E. coli
of porcine origin for ST production.
Microscopic examination of stools from nonhuman primates as a way of predicting the presence of Shigella
Authors: Hirsh D C , Davidson J N , Beards L R , Anderson J H , Budd C P , Henrickson R V
Published: January 2020

Microscopic examination of stool samples from captive nonhuman primates with diarrhea for the presence or absence of leukocytes or erythrocytes or both as a means of predicting the presence of Shigella spp. was performed. Analysis of the data multivariately by means of a log linear model did not show a three-way association between diarrhea, Shigella, and the presence or absence of cells.
Hyaluronidase production by type B Pasteurella multocida from cases of hemorrhagic septicemia
Authors: Carter G R , Chengappa M M
Published: January 2020

Seventy-four cultures of Pasteurella multocida representing all four capsular types, A, B, D, and C, from various animal species and diseases were examined for the production of hyaluronidase by two procedures. In one, hyaluronidase production was determined by the depolymerization of streptococcal capsular hyaluronic acid, and in the other, production was determined by degradation of sodium hyaluronidate in a solid culture medium. Hyaluronidase production was only demonstrated in the 13 type B cultures that had been recovered from cases of hemorrhagic septicemia.
New heat-stable acid-phosphatase test for differentiation of mycobacteria
Authors: Saito H , Masai H
Published: January 2020

A simple, rapid, heat-stable (70 degrees C) acid-phosphatase test for differentiation of mycobacteria was developed with the alpha-naphthylphosphoric acid-diazonium o-dianisidine color reagent.
Specific identification of human cytomegalovirus isolates by anti-complement immunofluorescence with immune hamster sera
Authors: Schmidt N J , Gallo D
Published: January 2020

An anti-complement immunofluorescence test utilizing cytomegalovirus immune hamster sera specifically identified cytomegalovirus isolates showing an early, typical cytopathic effect. Inclusion of a control conjugate against adenovirus group antigen permitted correct identification, as adenoviruses, of a few isolates initially suspected of being cytomegalovirus on the basis of cytopathic effect.
Detection of Salmonella typhi D, Vi, and d antigens, by slide coagglutination, in urine from patients with typhoid fever
Authors: Rockhill R C , Rumans L W , Lesmana M , Dennis D T
Published: January 2020

Salmonella typhi antigens D, Vi, and d were detected in the urine of 59 out of 61 (97%) bacteriologically confirmed typhoid fever patients by slide coagglutination with monovalent antisera coupled to protein A-rich staphylococci. These antigens were also detected in the urine of an additional 22 patients, 16 of whom subsequently demonstrated seroconversion by S. typhi O antibody agglutination, but from whom the bacterium was not isolated. The remaining 13 patients had negative urine coagglutination results, no isolation of S. typhi from blood or stool specimens, and no demonstration of seroconversion. These results suggest that the method of slide coagglutination of urine can be used to screen patients with suspected typhoid fever with a high degree of reliability. The method may also have potential importance in the diagnosis of typhoid when the bacterium is not isolated.
Indirect hemagglutination test for pseudorabies antibody detection in swine
Authors: Haffer K , Gustafson D P , Kanitz C L
Published: January 2020

An indirect hemagglutination test for the detection of antibodies in swine serum specific for pseudorabies virus is described. The indirect hemagglutination test was less time consuming than the standardized virus nertralization test while being highly sensitive and accurate. Serum samples that were toxic to virus neutralization indicator cells were readily tested in the indirect hemagglutination test. The indirect hemagglutination test may also be more sensitive than the virus neutralization test for determining early titers in pseudorabies virus infections. Complete methodology is described.
Rapid Semiautomated Screening and Processing of Urine Specimens
Authors: Jenkins Ronald D. , Hale DeVon C. , Matsen John M.
Published: January 2020

A rapid urine culture procedure was evaluated in which positive urines were detected by using light-scatter photometry (Autobac). Specimens were analyzed at 3, 5, and 6 h. Specimens detected as positive at 3 h were then further evaluated by a direct 3-h susceptibility procedure (Autobac) and by a 4-h identification procedure (Micro-ID). Of 949 specimens, 175 had >10
5
colony-forming units per ml by colony count. Of these latter specimens, 75.4% had been detected by 3 h, and 95.4% were detected by 6 h. Of specimens positive by Autobac at 3 h, 96% (95.7%) had >10
5
colony-forming units per ml. If pure by Gram stain, those positive specimens were inoculated to direct susceptibility and identification systems. When direct Autobac susceptibilities were compared with the standard Autobac method done from the plate the following day, discrepancy rates were 1.3% very major, 2.1% major, and 7.4% total. The direct identifications were 94% (94.2%) correct when using the Micro-ID manual and a collection of octal patterns unique to this system, in which urine/broth culture inoculum was employed instead of the usual organism colony suspension. Those urine specimens negative after screening at 3 h were evaluated at 5 and 6 h, and an additional 126 specimens were detected as positive. These were then processed by routine plate inoculation, due to the limitations of the work day. By 6 h, 95.4% of specimens with >10
5
colony-forming units per ml were detected. The 4.6% false-negative results consisted of patients on antibiotics, or slowly growing bacteria suspected of being distal urethral contaminants. Thus, 83.5% of the urine cultures received by 9:00 a.m. (10.6% 3-h positives and 72.9% negative at 6 h) could be evaluated and reported within one 8-h work day.
Atmospheric analysis and redox potentials of culture media in the GasPak System
Authors: Seip W F , Evans G L
Published: January 2020

Oxygen and carbon dioxide concentrations, internal atmospheric pressure, catalyst temperature, and time of appearance of water condensate were monitored for various time intervals at ambient (20 to 25 degrees C) temperature in a GasPak 100 Anaerobic System (BBL Microbiology Systems, Cockeysville, Md). Simultaneously, the redox potential (Eh) of various plated culture media in the system was also measured. The oxygen concentration was reduced to less than 0.4% in 100 min. The Eh of the media, corrected for hydrogen ion, reached -100 mV within 60 to 100 min, and the carbon dioxide concentration increased to between 4 and 7% in 60 min, depending on the number of plates of media present. Condensate appeared generally between 10 and 15 min, and the temperature of the lid reached a maximum between 20 and 40 min. Condensate time and lid temperature increase are important early indicators of a correctly functioning GasPak System. A characteristic pressure-vacuum-pressure profile is produced as a result of controlled release of hydrogen and carbon dioxide gases and the reaction of hydrogen and oxygen to produce water. Anaerobic conditions were achieved well before the methylene blue anaerobic indicator became decolorized, which required more than 6 h at 20 to 25 degrees C. At this time the Eh of media in the jar was well below -200 mV. Since the indicator is reduced within 5 h at 35 degrees C, the Eh of media in the jar would also be expected to decrease more rapidly at the higher temperature.
Comparison of slide coagglutination test and countercurrent immunoelectrophoresis for detection of group B streptococcal antigen in cerebrospinal fluid from infants with meningitis
Authors: Webb B J , Edwards M S , Baker C J
Published: January 2020

The usefulness of Phadebact streptococcus reagents for the detection of group B streptococcal antigen in cerebrospinal fluid was evaluated in 54 infants with meningitis and in 22 normal infants. Antigens was detected by slide coagglutination in 19 (82.6%) and by countercurrent immunoelectrophoresis in 20 (87.0%) of 23 cerebrospinal fluid specimens from infants with group B streptococcal meningitis at admission. After initiation of antimicrobial therapy, antigen could be detected in 11 of 19 (by slide coagglutination) and 7 of 18 (by countercurrent immunoelectrophoresis) cerebrospinal fluids. False-positive reactions were noted by slide coagglutination in one infant with S. bovis meningitis and one with group B streptococcal bacteremia without meningitis; none occurred with countercurrent immunoelectrophoresis. The commercial availiability, simplicity, sensitivity (82.6%), and specificity (96.4%) of the Phadebact slide coaggluatination test for detecting group B streptococcal antigen in cerebrospinal fluid suggest that it may be useful for the early and rapid diagnosis of group B streptococcal meningitis.
Rapid presumptive identification of anaerobes in blood cultures by gas-liquid chromatography
Authors: Sondag J E , Ali M , Murray P R
Published: January 2020

Production of volatile and nonvolatile metabolic acids in blood culture broths by aerobic, facultative anaerobic, and obligate anaerobic bacteria was analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography. Anaerobic blood culture isolates were presumptively identified by the qualitative analysis of volatile fatty acids. Isolates, with a characteristic Gram stain reaction and cellular morphology, were identified by the following acid patterns: Bacteriodes fragilis group with acetic and propionic acids; Fusobacterium with acetic, butyric, and usually propionic acids; Veillonella with acetic and propionic acids; gram-positive cocci with acetic and butyric acids; and Clostridium with acetic and butyric acids.
Amino acid requirements of Legionella pneumophila
Authors: George J R , Pine L , Reeves M W , Harrell W K
Published: January 2020

The amino acids required for growth and as energy sources by 10 strains of Legionella pneumophila were determined by using a chemically defined medium. All strains required arginine, cysteine, isoleucine, leucine, threonine, valine, methionine, and phenylalanine or tyrosine. Most strains (7 of 10) required serine, and two strains had to be supplied proline before growth could be established. All 10 strains used serine and, to a lesser extent, threonine as the sole sources of carbon and energy. The Y serine calculated was 94.9 +/- 8.5 g (dry weight) of cells/mol of serine. Assuming that the value of Y adenosine 5'-triphosphate is 10.5, these results indicate that oxidative catabolism of 1 mol of serine yielded approximately 9 mol of adenosine 5'-triphosphate. This high yield suggests that although serine was the major source of carbon, other amino acids may also be metabolized.
Photograms for microbiological assays
Authors: Miller M H , Edberg S C , Daly C C
Published: January 2020

The use of photograms provides a permanent record of microbiological assays in which diffusion of a substance in agar is measured. The accuracy of this procedure is comparable to direct measurement. This technique is inexpensive, does not require special photographic equipment, and is applicable to many tests commonly employed in clinical microbiology and immunology laboratories.
A Reticulated Cover Slip
Authors: Dubin Stephen
Published: January 2020

Preparation and use of a reticulated cover slip is described as an aid in orientation under the microscope.
Isolation and serotyping of Streptococcus mutans from teeth and feces of children
Authors: Hamada S , Masuda N , Kotani S
Published: January 2020

Streptococcus mutans were detected in the feces from 10 of 29 caries-active patients, aged 4 to 9 years. The percentage of S. mutans to the total counts of facultatively anaerobic streptococci on mitis salivarius agar (Difco Laboratories) varied from 0 to 72.5%. S. mutans were then isolated from dental plaque of sound teeth and carious dentin of the 10 subjects known to harbor S. mutans in the feces. The frequency distribution of various serotypes of these dental and fecal isolates of S. mutans was compared by the immunodiffusion technique. Of the total 1,047 isolates (290 isolates from feces, 289 from dental plaque, and 468 from carious dentin), type c isolates were most prevalent (ca. 66%). Serotype d, e, f, and g isolates were also found but in far lower frequencies. Plural serotypes of S. mutans were occasionally found in dental and fecal samples of a single subject. For two subjects, relatively rare serotypes of S. mutans in the population examined, serotype e, f, or g, were predominantly found in their fecal and dental samples and those of their siblings and mother, suggesting an intrafamilial transmission of S. mutans.
Screening of bacterial isolates for mannose-specific lectin activity by agglutination of yeasts
Authors: Mirelman D , Altmann G , Eshdat Y
Published: January 2020

A total of 393 clinical bacterial isolates were tested for their ability to agglutinate yeast cells of either Saccharomyces cerevisiae or Candida albicans. A positive agglutination of yeasts that could be prevented by methyl alpha-D-mannoside was taken as an indication for the possible presence of a mannose-specific lectin (carbohydrate-binding protein) on the surface of the tested bacteria. Agglutination tests on glass slides showed that 38% of all the isolates tested were positive in their capacity to agglutinate yeasts. Among the various strains tested, all isolates of Serratia marcescens, Proteus morganii, and Citrobacter diversus, as well as 94% of Klebsiella pneumoniae, were positive. On the other hand, only 46% of the Escherichia coli, 48% of the salmonellae, 44% of the Citrobacter freundii, and 71% of the Aeromonas hydrophila isolates were positive. A quantitative determination of the lectin activity done by observing the agglutination of yeasts in microtiter plates showed that S. marcescens isolates were the most avid binders to the yeast, whereas Klebsiella and Citrobacter isolates were the weakest.
Foodborne outbreak of shigellosis caused by an unusual Shigella strain
Authors: Huq I , Alam A K , Morris G K , Wathen G , Merson M
Published: January 2020

A family outbreak of foodborne shigellosis caused by an unusual strain of Shigella is described. The strain was a mannitol-positive variant of Shigella dysenteriae and agglutinated in antiserum prepared against provisional serotype 3341-55.
Significance of Aspergillus species isolated from respiratory secretions in the diagnosis of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis
Authors: Nalesnik M A , Myerowitz R L , Jenkins R , Lenkey J , Herbert D
Published: January 2020

To determine the significance of Aspergillus species isolated from sputum or other respiratory secretions with respect to the diagnosis of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, the clinical records and radiographs of all patients whose respiratory secretion cultures yielded an Aspergillus species between 1972 and 1978 were reviewed. All known predispositions to invasive aspergillosis, e.g., presence of cancer or granulocytopenia, and therapy with corticosteroids, antibiotics, and cytotoxic drugs, were significantly associated with proven or probable invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. Most notable were patients with acute leukemia and granulocytopenia. Prolonged duration of hospitalization between initial isolation (greater than 2 weeks) and multiple isolates (greater than three isolates) were also significantly associated with a high frequency of proven or probable disease. Isolation of A. niger was only rarely associated with proven or probable disease (one of eight patients). The isolation of A. fumigatus and A. flavus from respiratory secretions does not usually represent laboratory contamination and must be interpreted in the light of known predispositions to aspergillosis. In some situations, e.g., granulocytopenic patients with acute leukemia, even a single isolation carries a high likelihood of invasive aspergillosis.
Bacterial antigen detection in body fluids: methods for rapid antigen concentration and reduction of nonspecific reactions
Authors: Doskeland S O , Berdal B P
Published: January 2020

We sought procedures which would allow a rapid concentration in high yield of bacterial antigens from tissue fluids of patients and which could be applied also to protein-rich fluids like serum. Ethanol precipitation at a subzero temperature with albumin added as an antigen coprecipitant made it possible to achieve a more than 20-fold concentration of antigen in 15 min and a 200-fold concentration in 45 min. Heat-stable antigens could be concentrated from protein-rich fluids (like serum) after the sample had been deproteinized by boiling. Such heating (100 degrees C, 3 min) also liberated bacterial polysaccharides from antibody complexes and elminated the nonspecific interference of serum in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
Evaluation of rapid carbohydrate degradation tests for identification of pathogenic Neisseria
Authors: Pizzuto D J , Washington J A
Published: January 2020

A total of 156 clinical isolates were tested by the modified rapid fermentation test, the BACTEC Neisseria differentiation kit, and the cystine-Trypticase agar method. The modified rapid fermentation test and BACTEC methods accurately identified at least 95% of 101 strains of N. gonorrhoeae tested and at least 91% of 45 strains of N. meningitidis tested within 4 h. Overall, the cystine-Trypticase agar method was the most accurate (97%) but required as long as 48 h of incubation. The data presented appear to show that rapid carbohydrate degradation tests can provide reliable and specific identification results.
New invasive Escherichia coli strain
Authors: Toledo M R , Reis M H , Trabulsi L R
Published: January 2020

A new invasive Escherichia coli serogroup is described. Its O antigen is identical to the O antigen of Shigella boydii 3. We propose the designation of E. coli São Paulo for this serogroup until the situation of its O antigen is settled.
Evaluation of the sensititre microdilution antibiotic susceptibility system against recent clinical isolates: three-laboratory collaborative study
Authors: Jones R N , Gavan T L , Barry A L
Published: January 2020

The Sensititre broth microdilution antibiotic susceptibility testing system was found to be comparable to a reference broth dilution method. Of 3,194 minimum inhibitory concentration data pairs, 93.9% were within the acceptable +/- 1-log2 dilution range. Only rare (0.6%) very major errors were found between methods.
Accuracy of presumptive criteria for culture diagnosis of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in low-prevalence populations of women
Authors: Smeltzer M P , Curran J W , Brown S T , Pass J
Published: January 2020

The accuracy of presumptive criteria for identification of Neisseria gonorrhoeae was assessed in two separate populations of women with a low prevalence of gonorrhea. Of the presumptively positive cervical isolates available for confirmation, 98.5% were identified as N. gonorrhoeae. Of 25 isolates that could not be confirmed, 20 failed to grow on subculture, and of the remaining 5, only 2 (0.6% of all viable recoveries) were identified as nongonococcal isolates (N. meningitidis). Our study confirms earlier findings that meningococcal isolates are rarely found in endocervical specimens. The benefits from early treatment and counselling of women for gonorrhea on the basis of presumptive criteria outweight the risks occasioned by the rarely encountered nongonococcal isolate.
Coagglutination and counterimmunoelectrophoresis for detection of pneumococcal antigens in the sputum of pneumonia patients
Authors: Edwards E A , Coonrod J D
Published: January 2020

Coagglutination was compared with counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIE) for sensitivity and specificity in the detection of pneumococcal antigens in sputum. Initial sputum samples from patients with pneumococcal pneumonia (less than 12 h of antibiotic therapy) were positive for antigens in 37 of 44 cases (84%) by either test. There was a decline in the number of positive results with sputum samples obtained during continuing antibiotic therapy, but the decline was greater with CIE (only 29% of samples were positive at 3 days of therapy) than with coagglutination (61% of samples were positive at 3 days of therapy) (P less than 0.05). Sputum from 3 of 11 patients (27%) and from 2 of 11 patients (18%) with nonpneumococcal pneumonia was positive for pneumococcal antigens by CIE and coagglutination, respectively, indicating a similar degree of non-specificity. Coagglutination produced the same results as CIE with sputum from patients with chronic bronchitis but without pneumonia; 9 of 23 of these patients were positive. Coagglutination was simpler to perform than CIE and required only a fraction (about 1/30) of the antiserum required for CIE. These advantages, plus the greater sensitivity of coagglutination with sputum samples obtained during antibiotic therapy, suggest that coagglutination is preferable to CIE.
Rapid presumptive identification of vibrios by immobilization in distilled water
Authors: Chester B , Poulos E G
Published: January 2020

Each of 28 Vibrio strains and 3 Campylobacter strains was immobilized in distilled water (pH 6.9), but retained full motility in Trypticase soy broth. This phenomenon was not seen with any of 243 non-Vibrio, non-Campylobacter isolates representing 44 taxa of gram-negative bacteria.
Direct agglutination test for diagnosis of Toxoplasma infection: method for increasing sensitivity and specificity
Authors: Desmonts G , Remington J S
Published: January 2020

A method that increases the sensitivity and specificity of the direct agglutination (AG) test for diagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii infection is described. Qualitative results in the Sabin-Feldman dye test (DT) and AG test were in excellent agreement (98%). Differences in titers between these two tests often related to the length of time the individual was infected. The AG test titer was most often lower than the DT titer during acute (recent) infection; the AG test titer was most often higher than the DT titer in older or chronic infection. If the AG test antigen described here can be made available, the AG test would be ideal for use as a screening test and would provide a simple and inexpensive means for the surveillance of seronegative women during pregnancy and for detection of seroconversions.
Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of Haemophilus influenzae type b antigen
Authors: Wetherall B L , Hallsworth P G , McDonald P J
Published: January 2020

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the detection of Haemophilus influenzae type b antigen was developed. It was able to detect purified polyribose phosphate at concentrations of greater than or equal to 1 ng/ml in cerebrospinal fluid. This was 50 times more sensitive than counterimmunoelectrophoresis with the same antiserum. The sensitivity for polyribose phosphate in urine was similar, but that in serum was about 10 times less. Nonspecific reactions were observed with blood-stained cerebrospinal fluid and some sera. These were differentiated from true positive reactions by a blocking test with unconjugated immune serum. A wide range of organisms was tested for cross-reactivity in the assay. With the exception of a protein A-rich strain of Staphylococcus aureus, they gave absorbances of < 8% of that of the homologous system. In a series of five cases of proven H. influenzae type b meningitis, the sensitivity of the assay with cerebrospinal fluid was confirmed to be at least 2(5) times greater than that of counterimmunoelectrophoresis. The results indicate that the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay is highly sensitive and specific in detecting H. influenzae type b antigen. The necessity to perform the blocking assay on all sera limits its usefulness for the examination of these specimens. However, it should prove valuable for the detection of the antigen in cerebrospinal fluid and urine.
Immunological methods for detection of Kanagawa phenomenon of Vibrio parahaemolyticus
Authors: Honda T , Chearskul S , Takeda Y , Miwatani T
Published: January 2020

A modified Elek test and an immuno-halo test were developed for detection of the thermostable direct hemolysin produced by Kanagawa phenomenon-positive strains of Vibrio parahaemolyticus. The sensitivity of the modified Elek test was almost the same as that of the Kanagawa phenomenon on Wagatsuma medium, and the results of both reactions correlated very well. The immuno-halo test was a little less sensitive than the modified Elek test. Since the Kanagawa phenomenon on Wagatsuma medium sometimes give false-positive results due to instability of the blood used in the medium, we recommend the immunological techniques described here as reproducible methods for identification of the thermostable direct hemolysin by V. parahaemolyticus.
Cultural and physiological characteristics and antimicrobial susceptibility of Clostridium botulinum isolates from foodborne and infant botulism cases
Authors: Dezfulian M , Dowell V R
Published: January 2020

Isolates Clostridium botulinum from foodborne and infant botulism cases in the United States were compared on the basis of toxigenicity, cultural and biochemical characteristics, metabolic products, and susceptibility to antimicrobial agents. Seventy-eight strains, including 42 from foodborne and 36 from infant botulism sources, were examined. Cultures on anaerobic blood agar exhibited circular, spindle, and rhizoid (medusa head) colonies. Overall, the characteristics of isolates from foodborne and infant botulism cases were quite similar. We concluded that it was not possible to differentiate C. botulinum isolates associated with foodborne botulism from those recovered from infant botulism cases. All of the 78 strains produced an unidentified indole derivative(s), detected with paradimethylaminocinnamaldehyde reagent, and hydrocinnamic acid, detected by gas-liquid chromatography; all exhibited a high degree of resistance to cycloserine, sulfamethoxazole, and trimethoprim. These characteristics should prove to be useful in the isolation and identification of C. botulinum from mixed microbial populations.
Four-layer radioimmunoassay for detection of adenovirus in stool
Authors: Halonen P , Sarkkinen H , Arstila P , Hjertsson E , Torfason E
Published: January 2020

A four-layer antispecies radioimmunoassay (RIA) was developed for the detection of adenovirus in stool specimens. Polystyrene beads were used as the solid phase, anti-adenovirus guinea pig immunoglobulin (1 microgram per bead) was used as the primary antibody, anti-adenovirus rabbit immunoglobulin (16 micrograms/ml) was used as the secondary antibody, and 125I-labeled sheep anti-rabbit immunoglobulin was used as the indicator antibody. A highly purified, crystallized adenovirus type 2 hexon antigen was used as the immunizing antigen for the production of hyperimmune sera. The sensitivity of the test was 1 ng of hexon protein per ml. Each of the 13 stool specimens positive for adenovirus by electron microscopy was positive for adenovirus by the RIA. Of 200 nonconcentrated stool specimens negative by electron microscopy, 14 additional specimens were positive by the RIA, increasing the detection rate from 6% by electron microscopy to 13% by the RIA. A confirmatory test was done on the RIA-positive, electron microscopy-negative specimens, and the test indicated a true specific result with each specimen. A confirmatory test was also done on each specimen with a low positive counts per minute value. The specificity of the RIA was further demonstrated by the fact that a positive result was found with only 3 of 295 specimens positive by the rotavirus RIA. In two of these three specimens, adenovirus and rotavirus were also detected simultaneously by electron microscopy, and the third specimen was from a patient with serological evidence for a dual infection. The adenovirus and rotavirus RIAs are now in a routine diagnostic laboratory, and in the 307 stool specimens tested during the first 5 months, the positive rate was 32% for rotavirus and 9.5% for adenovirus.
Cellular fatty acid composition of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and Haemophilus aphrophilus
Authors: Braunthal S D , Holt S C , Tanner A C , Socransky S S
Published: January 2020

Strains of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans isolated from deep pockets of patients with juvenile periodontitis were analyzed for their content of cellular fatty acids. Oral Haemophilus strains, morphologically and biochemically similar to Haemophilus aphrophilus, were also examined for their content of cellular fatty acids. The extractable lipids of the actinobacilli represented approximately 10% of the cell dry weight, with the bound lipids representing 2 to 5%. The major fatty acids consisted of myristic (C14:0) and palmitic (C16:0) acids and a C16:1 acid, possibly palmitoleic acid, accounting for 21, 35, and 31% of the total extractable fatty acids, respectively. Haemophilus strains had a similar cellular fatty acid content.