bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Isotype-specific antibody responses to foot-and-mouth disease virus in sera and secretions of ‘carrier’ and ‘non-carrier’ cattle
Authors: Salt J. S. , Mulcahy G. , Kitching R. P.
Published: May 2009

Isotype-specific antibody responses to foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) were measured in the sera and upper respiratory tract secretions of vaccinated and susceptible cattle challenged with FMDV by direct contact or by intranasal inoculation. A comparison was made between cattle that eliminated FMDV and those that developed and maintained a persistent infection. Serological and mucosal antibody responses were detected in all animals after challenge. IgA and 1gM were detected before the development of IgG1and IgG2responses. 1gM was not detected in vaccinated cattle. Challenge with FMDV elicited a prolonged biphasic secretory antibody response in FMDV ‘carrier’ animals only. The response was detected as FMDVspecific IgA in both mucosal secretions and serum samples, which gained statistical significance (P< 0·05) by 5 weeks after challenge. This observation could represent the basis of a test to differentiate vaccinated and/or recovered convalescent cattle from FMDV ‘carriers’.
Restriction fragment length polymorphism of the pMJ101-like plasmid and ribotyping in the fish pathogenVibrio ordalii
Authors: Pedersen K. , Koblavi S. , Tiainen T. , Grimont P. A. D.
Published: May 2009

A total of 32Vibrio ordaliistrains were studied for their plasmid content and shown to carry a plasmid of approximately 32 kb. This plasmid was subsequently subjected to restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) studies. UsingHindIII, three different restriction patterns were identified whileBamHI cleaved the plasmid into a single linear fragment. The results suggest that the 32 kb plasmid is highly conserved but that some variation in restriction pattern occurs. The same set of strains was subjected to ribotyping. UsingMluI, six different restriction patterns were demonstrated. Strains from the USA and Canada shared profiles with strains from Australia and Japan. Strains from Australia generated a single pattern whereas strains from North America were subdivided into three patterns, and the Japanese strains fell into five patterns. The results suggest that ribotyping in combination with RFLP studies of the pMJ101-like plasmid may be useful in epidemiological studies ofV. ordalii.
Salmonella typhimuriumphage type 141 infections in Sheffield during 1984 and 1985: association with hens' eggs
Authors: Chapman P. A. , Rhodes P. , Rylands Wendy
Published: May 2009

Food poisoning due toSalmonella typhimuriumphage type 141 was unusual inthe Sheffield area before 1984. The sudden increase in incidence of this phage type during 1984 and 1985, and its causative role in several small outbreaks in this period have been investigated. Epidemiological and laboratory investigations suggested that hens' eggs were the most likely source ofS. typhimuriumphage type 141.
First recognized community outbreak of haemorrhagic colitis due to verotoxin-producingEscherichia coliO 157.H7 in the UK
Authors: Morgan G. M. , Newman C. , Palmer S. R. , Allen J. B. , Shepherd W. , Rampling Anita M. , Warren R. E. , Gross R. J. , Scotland S. M. , Smith H. R.
Published: May 2009

The first recognized outbreak of haemorrhagic colitis due toEscherichia coliO 157. H7 in the United Kingdom affected at least 24 persons living in East Anglia over a 2-week period. Theillnesses were characterized by severe abdominal pain and bloody diarrhoea of short duration. Eleven patients were admitted to hospital and there was one death. Patients were mainly adult women who had not eaten out of the home in the 2 weeks before onset. Unlike previously reported outbreaks hamburgers were not the vehicle of infection, and a case-control study suggested that handling vegetables, and particularly potatoes, was the important risk factor.
Specific and non-specific serological markers in the screening for congenital CMV infection
Authors: El-Mekki A. , Deverajan L. V. , Soufi S. , Strannegard O. , Al-Nakib W.
Published: May 2009

IgM antibodies specific for cytomegalovirus (CMV) were demonstrated in 15 (2.6%) of 575 umbilical cord sera obtained from newborns in Kuwait. Some 93% and 50% of these CMV-IgM positive cord sera displayed markedly raised (more than normal mean + 2 S.D.) content of total IgM and IgA respectively. In contrast, only 0.2 and 1.8% of the CMV-IgM negative cord sera had elevated total IgM and IgA. respectively. Rheumatoid factor (RF) was demonstrable. at concentrations of 30 IU/ml or more, in 67% of the CMV-IgM positive as compared with 3.2% of the CMV-IgM negative sera whereas interferon alpha was found in the serum of only one of these infants. These results indicate that raised total immunoglobulin. in particular IgM. concentrations and the detection of RF in cord blood are useful non-specific markers for the identification of congenital CMV infection.
Pig bite injuries and infection: report of seven human cases
Authors: Barnham M.
Published: May 2009

Six patients developed local infection after being bitten or groed by swine. Wounding was often deep and occurred characteristically on the posterior aspect of the thigh. Severity of infection caried from simple wound infection with discharge and slouth to cellulitis and abscess formation; pathogens included haemolytic streptococci, pasteurellae,Bacterodiessp.,Proteussp. andEscherichia coliand were usually isolated in mixed culture. A patient withPasteurella aerogencesinfection apperars to be the first reported in England. A seventh patient developedStreptococcus millerisepticaemia after wounding himself while cutting teeth from piglets. It is suggested that a course of broad-spectrum antibiotics should be given as part of the initial treatment when patients present with the more servere pig bite injuries.
A hospital outbreak ofSerratia marcescensin neurosurgical patients
Authors: Lewis A.M. , Stephenson J.R. , Garner J. , Afshar F. , Tabaqchali S.
Published: May 2009

We report an outbreak of serious infections withSerratia marcescensin patients on a neurosurgery ward. The epidemiological investigations undertaken are described. Features of outbreaks of infection with serratia and control measures are discussed.
Truckin' pneumonia—an outbreak of Q fever in a truck repair plant probably due to aerosols from clothing contaminated by contact with newborn kittens
Authors: Marrie Thomas J. , Langille Donald , Papukna Vasilia , Yates Linda
Published: May 2009

We describe an outbreak of Q fever affecting 16 of 32 employees at a truck repair plant. None of the cases were exposed to cattle, sheep or goats. the traditional reservoirs of Q fever. The cases did not work, live on, or visit farms or attend livestock auctions. One of the employees had a cat which gave birth to kittens 2 weeks prior to the first case of Q fever in the plant. The cat owner fed the kittens every day before coming to work as the cat would not let the kittens suckle. Serum from the cat had high antibody titres to phase I and phase IICoxiella burnetiiantigens. The attack rate among the employees where the cat owner worked. 13 of 19 (68%), was higher than that of employees elsewhere, 3 of 13 (28%) [P <0·01]. The cat owner's wife and son also developed Q fever. None of the family members of the other employees with Q fever was so affected.

We conclude that this outbreak of Q fever probably resulted from exposure to the contaminated clothing of the cat owner.
Inhibitory substances produced byStreptococcus salivariusand colonization of the upper respiratory tract with group A streptococci
Authors: Charles Huskins W. , Kaplan Edward L.
Published: May 2009

It has been proposed that inhibitory substances produced by viridans streptococci colonizing the upper respiratory tract aid in cradication of established group A streptococcal colonization of that site. We studied the prevalence of inhibitory-substance producing strains ofStreptococcus salivariusin throat cultures from three groups of children: 16 children with persistently positive throat cultures for group A streptococci despite receiving recommended therapeutic courses of antibiotics (group I). 26 children from whom group A streptococci were eradicated from the upper respirator tract by antibiotic therapy (group II). and 18 children who never harboured group A streptococci in their upper respiratory tract during the study period (group Ill). An vitro deferred antagonism method was employed to detect inhibitory substances: 5233 strains ofS. salivariuswere examined. Strains ofS. salivariusproducing inhibitory substances were isolated from 76−88% of the children in each group on at least one occasion.However, only a small percentage of subjects in each group harboured strains producing these substances in every throat culture. The mean total percentage ofS. salivariusstrains producing inhibitory substances was 21·8% in children in group 1·22.4 % in children in group II. and 16.4% in children in group III: these percentages were not statistically different (P > 0·1). In this study, we could not confirm a significant role for inhibitory substances produced byS. salivariusin the eradication of group A streptococci from the upper respiratory tract of colonized individuals.
Determinants of drinking water quality in rural Nicaragua
Authors: Sandiford P. , Gorter A. C. , Davey Smith G. , Pauw J. P. C.
Published: May 2009

One hundred and fifty-three water samples from rural Nicaragua were examined for the presence of faecal coliforms during both wet and dry periods. A linear model as fitted by analysis of covariance with the logarithm of the faecal coliform count as the dependant variable. As expected, traditional water sources were grossly contaminated at all times whereas piped water sources were much cleaner. Hand-dug protected wells had significantly higher levels of faecal contamination than unprotected riverside wells and springs during the dry season. The possible reasons for this unexpected finding are discussed. A close association between rainfall and faecal contamination was demonstrated but the effect of rainfall depended on the type of water source. An association between water quality and the size of the community served by the source was also detected. The finding that stored water was usually more contaminated than fresh water samples is consistent with the results from other studies. Since it is unusual for water quality to be inversely correlated wth accessibility, this study site would be suitable for investigating the relative importance of water-borne versus waterwashed transmission mechanisms in childhood diarrhoea.
Subdivision ofSalmonella enteritidisphage types by plasmid profile typing
Authors: Threlfall E. J. , Rowe B. , Ward L. R.
Published: May 2009

Differentiation ofSalmonella enteritidisby plasmid profile typing has been compared to differentiation by phage typing. Examination of the type strains of the 27S. enteritidisphage types showed that only 11 profile patterns could be identified. Moreover, two profile patterns were found in 15 of the type strains, including those of the two most common phage types in Britain, types 4 and 8. On this basis, plasmid profile typing is not as sensitive as phage typing for the primary subdivision ofS. enteritidis.

When differentiation of 534 strains of the 27 phage types was attempted using plasmid profiles, variation in pattern suitable for epidemiologieal subdivision was found in 13 phage types and there were 9 profile patterns in strains of phage type 4. Plasmid profile typing can, therefore, be regarded as an effective adjunct to phage typing for the subdivision ofS. enteritidis
Microbial organisms carried by brown-banded cockroaches in relation to their spatial distribution in a hospital
Authors: Le Guyader A. , Rivault C. , Chaperon J.
Published: May 2009

A simultaneous study of cockroach (Supella supellectilium) distribution and of associated carried bacterial flora has been made in the main hospital in Rennes (France).

Wild cockroaches carry a high number of bacterial species that can be related to the normal environmental flora and a contaminant flora acquired from particular environments. The diversity of carried bacterial species reveals a proximity factor between continguous floors of the building which leads us to suppose that cockroaches are able to forage from one floor to the other.
The survival of salmonellas in shell eggs cooked under simulated domestic conditions
Authors: Humphrey T. J. , Greenwood M. , Gilbert R. J. , Rowe B. , Chapman P. A.
Published: May 2009

Strains ofSalmonella enteritidis, S. typhimurium and S. senftenberg inoculated into the yolks of shell eggs were found to survive forms of cooking where some of the yolk remained liquid. Survival was largely independent of the size of the initial inoculum. The organisms also grew rapidly in eggs stored at room temperature and after 2 days the number of cells per gram of yolk exceeded log 8·0. With this level of contamination viable cells could be recovered from eggs cooked in any manner.
Two outbreaks of Salmonella enteritidis phage type 4 infection associated with the consumption of fresh shell-egg products
Authors: Cowden J.M. , Chisholm D. , O'Mahony M. , Lynch D. , Mawer S. L. , Spain G. E. , Ward L. , Rowe B.
Published: May 2009

In 1988 there were two outbreaks of infection with Salmonella enteritidis phage type 4 in adjacent local authorities. The first affected 18 of 75 helpers and guests who attended a private function. Investigations revealed that home-made vanilla ice-cream containing uncooked eggs was the vehicle of infection and the causative organism was identified at the premises of the egg producer. The second affected 84 of 422 delegates attending a conference dinner, and 12 of 50 hotel staff at risk. A dessert made with lightly-cooked egg yolk and raw egg white was associated with infection, and the epidemic strain was cultured from the shell of an egg and an environmental sample from the producer's farm. It is of interest that one outbreak involved free-range and one battery-produced eggs, and that in one the vehicle was prepared at home and in the other in commercial premises. In neither incident was any deficiency in standards of egg production or catering practice discovered.
The association of enterotoxigenic and enteropathogenicEscherichia coliand other enteric pathogens with childhood diarrhoea in Yugoslavia
Authors: Čobeljić M. , Mel D. , Arsić B. , Krstić Lj. , Sokolovski B. , Nikolovski B. , Šopovski E. , Kulauzov M. , Kalenić S.
Published: May 2009

The presence of enterotoxigenic and enteropathogenicEscherichia coli(ETEC and EPEC, respectively) was investigated in stool specimens of 1082 preschool children with diarrhoea and in stools of 335 healthy controls in localities in southern Yugoslavia, as well as in 566 children with diarrhoea and in 231 controls living in northern part of the country, during the seasonal peak (August— November) of enteric diseases in 1986.

ETEC were found in 114 (10·5%) children with diarrhoea and in 14 (4·2%) controls (P < 0·001) in the southern part, and in 26 (4·6%) ill children and one (0·4%) well child (P < 0·005) in the northern part of Yugoslavia. EPEC were isolated from stools of 85 (7·9%) children with diarrhoea and of 14 (4·2%) well children (P < 0·05) in localities of southern Yugoslavia, and from 22 (3·9%) ill children and from 10 (4·3%) controls in northern Yugoslavia. Nineteen EPEC strains expressed localized adherence to HEp-2 tissue culture cells; all were isolated from stools of ill children.

In southern Yugoslavia, where other enteropathogens were sought, the most commonly found agents in ill children were shigellae (17·5%), rotavirus (11·8%), ETEC, and EPEC. Potential pathogens were detected in 44·5 % cases of sporadic diarrhoea and in 15·8% controls.

This study revealed that ETEC were associated with acute diarrhoeal disease in Yugoslav preschool children. On the other hand, the diagnosis of EPEC-diarrhoea by routine determination of serogroup established the association of these agents with sporadic diarrhoea only in the 0-2 years age categories in all investigated localities. In the less developed southern part of Yugoslavia bacteria were the predominant causative agents of enteric illness during the seasonal peak of this disease.
Incidence and nature of human tuberculosis due to Mycobacterium africanum in South-East England: 1977–87
Authors: Grange J. M. , Yates M. D.
Published: May 2009

A total of 210 new cases of tuberculosis due to Mycobacterium africanum were registered at the South-East Regional Centre for Tuberculosis Bacteriology, Dulwich, between 1977 and 1987 inclusive. This represented 1·25% of bacteriologically-confirmed cases of tuberculosis in South-East England, an incidence slightly higher than that of disease due to M. bovis. Two variants were identified: 150 strains were typed as African I (a type associated with East Africa) and 60 as African II (a type more prevalent in West Africa). Over half the patients infected with African I strains were of Indian subcontinent ethnic origin; patients of African ethnic origin predominated in the African II group while about a fifth of patients infected with either type were of European origin. The European patients with tuberculosis due to M. africanum were notably younger than those in the same region with disease due to other tubercle bacilli. The distribution of lesions due to M. africanum was similar to that due to other tubercle bacilli in the various ethnic groups, except that genito-urinary tuberculosis was uncommon. The importance of a clinical awareness that M. africanum is a highly pathogenic and transmissible tubercle bacillus rather than an opportunist or ‘atypical’ mycobacterium is stressed.
Waterborne outbreak of campylobacter enteritis after outdoors infantry drill in Utti, Finland
Authors: Aho M. , Kurki M. , Rautelin H. , Kosunen T. U.
Published: May 2009

Diarrhoea, abdominal pain, malaise and fever affected 75 of the 88 conscript soldiers in Utti, Finland after an outdoors infantry drill.Campylobacter jejuni, heat-stable serotype 3/43/59. was isolated from 37 out of 63 men investigated. A clear serological response was evident in the risk group and negligible in the control group. The entire population at risk was interviewed.
Leptospiral infection in school-children from Trinidad and Barbados
Authors: Everard C. O. R , Hayes R. J. , Edwards C. N.
Published: May 2009

A serological survey for leptospiral agglutinins was undertaken between 1980 and 1983 in over 500 Barbadian and 500 Trinidadian school-children aged 7–14 years. The children were selected randomly from urban and rural schools, and examined three times at approximately annual intervals. A total of 12·5% of the Barbadian children and 9·5% of the Trinidadian children were seropositive at a titre of 50 using the microscopic agglutination test. On both islands, seroprevalence was higher in males than females, the difference being significant in rural schools. There was no evidence of a difference in prevalence between urban and rural schools, or between junior and secondary age-ranges. Analysis of the association of serology with socio-economic and behavioural factors showed a significant association in Trinidad with father's occupation, but most other variables on both islands showed only weak non-significant associations. Fourteen children in Trinidad and three in Barbados seroconverted. Seroconversion in Trinidad occurred at a rate of 1·6% per annum and was significantly associated with livestock contact and with absence of a tapped water supply. In Trinidad, Autumnalis was the most commonly recorded serogroup, but this accounted for less than a quarter of seropositives. In Barbados, Panama accounted for over half the seropositives and was about four times more common than the next most common serogroup, Autumnalis. In Barbados, 39 persons aged 19 or less were hospitalized with leptospirosis between November 1979 and December 1986. Average annual incidence rates were 2·2, 4·9 and 13·3 per 100000 in the 5·9, 10·14 and 15·19 age-groups, respectively.
Intradermal hepatitis B immunization with yeast-derived vaccine: serological response by sex and age
Authors: Morris C. A. , Oliver P. R. , Reynolds F. , Selkon J. B.
Published: May 2009

The efficacy and acceptability of yeast-derived recombinant hepatitis B vaccine given by the intradermal route was investigated in 221 health care volunteers. Two hundred and sixteen received a full course of three doses of vaccine. Only one subject was withdrawn because of a significant adverse reaction (psoriasis). The vaccine stimulated an antibody response in 81%. The response to the vaccine was better in women than in men (87% compared with 71%, p = 0·007) and in women below the age of 40 years compared with older women (94% compared with 76%, p = 0·01). For men the response showed a sequential decline with age for each decade (90% responders from age 29 or less, 72% aged 30—39 and 65% aged 40 or more, p = 0·04). Retrospective enquiry showed that over 90% had found the intradermal route acceptable and 59% would prefer vaccine by the intradermal route in preference to intramuscular notwithstanding local reactions. Although the seroconversion rate was of a high order in younger women the antibody titres were not high with only 9 of 215 recipients developing titres >1000 mIU/ml, a level which could be expected to ensure prolonged immunity. A fourth intradermal dose of vaccine given to 60 volunteers who had shown a low response (<38 mIU/ml) or no serological response to a three-dose course stimulated a good booster effect (to 150—600 mIU/ml) in only 5 (8%).
Response of the chick embryo to live and heat-killedCampylobacter jejuniinjected into the yolk sac
Authors: Clark A. G. , Bueschkens D. H.
Published: May 2009

Graded doses of live and heat-killed cells ofCampylobacter jejuniwere injected into the yolk-sac of 5-day-old chick embryos, and the 50% lethal dose (LD50) was determined 7 days later. A strain dependent virulence was seen. In the diluted series of cultures the LD50values for live campylobacter ranged from 106c.f.u. beyond the last dilution showing growth, that is to less than one organism per embryo. When the 22 strains were tested as heat-killed cells, the chick embryo LD50values retained the same relative order of toxicity obtained with viable cells, but the LD50values were increased by + 1 to + 4 log units. Heat-killed cells from strains known to be invasive, but non-toxigenic, were still lethal for the embryos, suggesting that viability was not solely necessary for virulence. Semi-pure lipopolysaccharide from a non-virulent strain ofC. jejuniwas not toxic to the embryos, but semi-pure and ultracentrifuge-purified lipopolysaccharide from the most lethal campylobacter strains gave LD50values in the order of 3·0 μg lipopolysaccharide per ml (0·6 µg per embryo) in the yolk-sac assay. No relationship between serotype and lethality was seen. Injection into the yolk-sac appears to be an easy, rapid and reproduciblein vivoassay of the virulence ofC. jejuni.
Lymphoproliferative response to fusion proteins of human papillomaviruses in patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia
Authors: Cubie H. A. , Norval M. , Crawford L. , Banks L. , Crook T.
Published: May 2009

The cell-mediated immune response (CMI) to E6 and E4 fusion proteins of human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV-16), E6 fusion protein of HPV-18, and to control proteins similarly produced, was analysed in 29 patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and in 15 age-matched laboratory personnel using a lymphocyte proliferation assay (LPA).
Bancroftian filariasis in Pondicherry, South India: 2. Epidemiological evaluation of the effect of vector control
Authors: Subramanian S. , Pani S. P. , Das P. K. , Rajagopalan P. K.
Published: May 2009

This article examines the evaluation of a bancroftian filariasis control programme undertaken in Pondicherry from 1981–5. Integrated vector management was applied in one half of the town, and routine operations under the national programme (larviciding and chemotherapy) continued in the comparison area. The programme was evaluated by monitoring relative change in the epidemiological statistics of both populations. The results indicate that there was significant reduction in prevalence of microfilaraemia in juveniles in the controlled area. An apparent reduction in intensity of microfilaraemia was also observed but this was a consequence of the reduction in prevalence, since the density of microfilariae remained unchanged. The results suggest that primary constraints on the epidemiological evaluation of the vector control of filariasis are the longevity and the population characteristics of the parasite.
A field study of the survival ofLegionella pneumophilain a hospital hot–water system
Authors: Farrell I. D. , Barker J. E. , Miles E. P. , Hutchison J. G. P.
Published: May 2009

The colonization, survival and control ofLegionella pneumophilain a hospital hot–water system was examined. The organism was consistently isolated from calorifier drain–water samples at temperatures of 50°C or below, despite previous chlorination of the system. When the temperature of one of two linked calorifiers was raised to 60°C, by closing off the cold–water feed, the legionella count decreased from c. 104c.f.u./l to an undetectable level. However, 10 min after turning on the cold–water feed which produced a fall in calorifier temperature, the count in the calorifier drain water returned to its original level. Investigations revealed that the cold–water supply was continually feeding the calorifiers withL. pneumophila. Simple modifications in the design of the system were made so that the cold–water feed no longer exceeds 20°C; these measures have considerably reduced the number ofL. pneumophilareaching the calorifiers.
An outbreak of foodborne botulism associated with contaminated hazelnut yoghurt
Authors: O'Mahony M. , Mitchell E. , Gilbert R. J. , Hutchinson D. N. , Begg N. T. , Rodhouse J. C. , Morris J. E.
Published: May 2009

The largest recorded outbreak of foodborne botulism in the United Kingdom occurred in June 1989. A total of 27 patients was affected; one patient died. Twenty-five of the patients had eaten one brand of hazelnut yoghurt in the week before the onset of symptoms. This yoghurt contained hazelnut conserve sweetened with aspartame rather than sugar.Clostridium botulinumtype B toxin was detected in a blown can of hazelnut conserve, opened and unopened cartons of hazelnut yoghurt, and one faecal specimen.Cl. botulinumtype B was subsequently cultured from both opened and unopened cartons of the hazelnut yoghurt and from one faecal specimen. Investigations indicated that the processing of the conserve was inadequate to destroyCl. botulinumspores. Control measures included the cessation of all yoghurt production by the implicated producer, the withdrawal of the firm's yoghurts from sale, the recall of cans of the hazelnut conserve, and advice to the general public to avoid the consumption of all hazelnut yoghurts.
Immunization against hepatitis B-what can we expect?: Results of a survey of antibody response to immunization in persons ‘at risk’ of occupational exposure to hepatitis B
Authors: Westmoreland D. , Player V. , Heap D. C. , Hammond A.
Published: May 2009

One thousand three hundred and twenty adults at risk of occupational exposure to hepatitis B were immunized using genetically engineered surface antigen and their antibody response (anti-HBs IU/1) assessed. Sex was known for all subjects and age for 1120 (range from 17–71 years). Seven hundred and sixty-four subjects were immunized in the local Department of Occupational Health, the remainder mainly by general practitioners.

Analysis of ‘good responders’ (anti-HBs > 100 IU/1) according to age and sex showed that increasing age and male sex had independent adverse effects on the likelihood of developing a satisfactory level of antibody to HBsAg. Furthermore even those most likely to respond well (young women), had a 1/5 to 1/6 failure rate to achieve > 100 IU/1 anti-HBs.

Of 63 persons who received a fourth dose of vaccine, 26 developed anti-HBs titres > 100 IU/1 when tested after 6 months. Subjects who had a low level of anti-HBs following primary immunization were more likely to develop > 100 IU/1 anti-HBs following a booster dose than were non-responders (< 10 IU/1).
Detection of antibody to avian viruses in human populations
Authors: Pedersden K. A. , Sadasiv E. C. , Chang P. W. , Yates V. J.
Published: May 2009

The ability of three avian viruses to elicit antibody response in humans was surveyed for the purpose of identifying zoonotic diseases. Antibody levels in people associated with poultry were compared to those in people having limited poultry association. Antibody levels to three avian viruses: infectious bursal disease virus, a birnavirus; Newcastle disease virus, a paramyxovirus; and avian infectious bronchitis virus, a coronavirus were determined by enzyme–linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Differences between the two study groups were evident: people having a known association with poultry showed significantly higher levels of antibodies to Newcastle disease and avian infectious bronchitis virus. Antibodies detected may be due to virus exposure rather than zoonoses.
Serotype-specific outbreak of group B meningococcal disease in Iquique, Chile
Authors: Cruz C. , Pavez G. , Aguilar E. , Grawe L. , Cam J. , Mendez F. , Garcia J. , Ruiz S. , Vicent P. , Canepa I. , Martinez M. , Boslego J. , Zollinger W. , Arthur J. , Caugant D.
Published: May 2009

From 1979 to August 1987, there have been 178 cases of meningococcal disease in Iquique, Chile, a city of about 140000. The attack rate for the last 5 years has been in excess of 20/100000 per year, more than 20 times greater than for the country overall. The mortality rate was 6%. The disease occurred in patients with ages from 4 months to 60 years, but 89% of cases were in patients <21 years. The largest number of cases were in the age group 5–9 years (n= 54), but the highest incidence occurred in children less than 1 year of age (72·8/100000 per year). The male/female ratio was 1·2. Cases occurred all year round with little seasonal variation. Of the 178 cases, 173 were biologically confirmed. Serogroup analysis of strains from 135 patients revealed A = 1, B = 124, C = 10. Forty-four group B strains from 1985–7 were serotyped: 15:P1.3 = 36, 15:NT = 4, 4:P1.3 = 2, NT:NT = 2. Ten of 11 of the outbreak strains tested were sulfadiazine-resistant. This is the first recognized outbreak caused by a Gp B:15 strain in South America. It shares many of the characteristics of outbreaks caused by closely related strains in Europe, such as a predilection for older children and adolescents, sulfadiazine-resistance, and sustained high attack rates. The Iquique strain (B:15:P1.3) belongs to the same genetic clone (ET-5 complex) as the Norway (B:15:P1.16) and the Cuban (B:4:P1.15) strains.
Elimination of mycoplasmas from the murine genital tract by hormone treatment
Authors: Taylor-Robinson D. , Furr P. M.
Published: May 2009

Twenty progesterone-treated TO mice were infected intravaginally with Mycoplasma pulmonis. One month later, ten of the mice were given oestradiol which changed the reproductive cycle to the oestrous phase and within a week resulted in eradication of the organisms from six of them; vaginal persistence in the other mice may have been due, at least in part, to reinoculation of organisms from the oropharynx, a site heavily infected in all the mice. The majority of the mice not treated with oestradiol continued to shed the organisms from the vagina for at least 91 days. In another experiment, 19 oestradiol-treated BALB/c mice were infected intravaginally with M. hominis. One month later, nine of the mice were given progesterone which changed the reproductive cycle to the dioestrous phase and eradicated the organisms from seven within 2 weeks and from all of them within about a month. This was in contrast to the mice not given progesterone, the majority of which continued to shed the organisms for at least 167 days.
Legionella pneumophilaserogroup 1 population in Italy by monoclonal subtyping
Authors: Pastoris M. Castellani , McIntyre M. , Goldoni P.
Published: May 2009

The Oxford panel of monoclonal antibodies was used to subtype 83 strains ofLegionella pneumophilaserogroup 1 of human and environmental origin. The International panel was also used to subtype 50 of them. All the 18 patients' isolates were of the Pontiac subgroup, and 40/43 of the environmental strains of the Pontiac subgroup were associated with human infection. The remaining environmental strains were subgroups Olda (15 strains), Camperdown (5 strains), and Bellingham (2 strains). The Philadelphia subgroup was the commonest among the environmental strains tested with the international MABs panel.

This study confirms previous findings thatL. pneumophilaserogroup 1 isolates with the Pontiac (Oxford panel) or MAB-2 (international panel) reacting antigen marker seem to be more virulent than the other subgroups.
The incidence of virulence factors in mesophilicAeromonasspecies isolated from farm animals and their environment
Authors: Gray S. J. , Stickler D. J. , Bryant T. N.
Published: May 2009

Sixty-one isolates ofAeromonasspp. from the faeces of pigs, cows and a variety of associated environmental sources were examined for the characteristics that are reputed to have roles in pathogenicity. Most isolates ofAeromonas hydrophilawere cytotoxic (96·4%) and were capable of producing cell elongation factor (75%) and haemagglutinins (67·9%). In contrast few of theAeromonas caviaeisolates produced these three markers (13·6 %, 27·3% and 36·4% respectively). In general,Aeromonas sobriaoccupied an intermediate position (36·4%, 27·3% and 54·5%), but they did produce the highest mean invasion index for HEp-2 cells. Statistical analysis revealed significant associations between the carriage of these factors and it was clear that many isolates of aeromonads from water and animals possessed the full battery of putative virulence factors.
Salmonella colonization in commercial pet turtles (Pseudemys scripta elegans)
Authors: Shane S. M. , Gilbert R. , Harrington K. S.
Published: May 2009

An epidemiological survey was conducted on two commercial turtle farms in southern Louisiana to determine the reason for an apparent increase in the prevalence ofSalmonellaspp. in turtle hatchlings at the time of pre-export certification examination.

Pond water was consistently found to be contaminated (6/36 samples) with eitherSalmonella newport, S. arizonae, orS. poona. Environmental specimens obtained from eggs and turtle hatcheries (204 specimens) failed to yieldSalmonellaspp. A sample comprising 197 hatchlings, derived from a batch previously demonstrated to be contaminated, showed a salmonella prevalence of 12%, withS. arizonaeandS. poonathe only serotypes isolated. Four serotypes ofSalmonellasp. isolated by a certifying laboratory in 1988, and 20 salmonella isolates obtained from hatchling turtles, were all resistant to gentamicin. The emergence of gentamicin resistance inSalmonellaspp. isolated from turtles will reduce the effectiveness of preventive measures in use in Louisiana since 1984.
Selective antenatal screening for toxoplasmosis and the latex agglutination test
Authors: Holliman R. E. , Barker K. F. , Johnson J. D.
Published: May 2009

Recent publicity concerning congenital toxoplasmosis has generated a demand for serological assessment of pregnant women. Many laboratories are requested to undertake primary screening in these cases. We assessed the latex agglutination test (LAT) findings in 158 specimens with detectable toxoplasma specific IgM derived from pregnant women. The LAT titres ranged from 16 to ≥ 4000 reflecting the variable antibody response observed in acute toxoplasmosis. We recommend that non-reference laboratories test specimens from pregnant women using the LAT at a screening dilution of 1:16 and select all reactive samples for detailed investigation.
Isolations of African horse sickness virus from vector insects made during the 1988 epizootic in Spain
Authors: Mellor P. S. , Boned J. , Hamblin C. , Graham S.
Published: May 2009

This paper describes the first isolations of African horse sickness virus (AHSV) from insects in Spain. Seven isolations of AHSV serotype 4 were made; four from Culicoides imicola a known vector of the virus elsewhere, two from mixed pools of Culicoides species not including C. imicola and one from blood engorged mosquitoes. Three further isolations of AHSV serotype 4 were also made from horses kept adjacent to the insect collecting sites.

This work presents the first definitive identification of the vectors of AHSV in Spain during the 1987, 88 and 89 epizootics. Suggestions are also made concerning the significance of these findings with regard to the epidemiology of African horse sickness in Spain.
Experimental studies on the comparative infectivity and pathogenicity ofStreptococcus suistype 2. II. Porcine and human isolates in laboratory animals
Authors: Robertson I. D. , Blackmore D. K.
Published: May 2009

Mice, rats, guinea-pigs and rabbits were inoculated with isolates ofStreptococcus suistype 2. An isolate cultured from the tonsils of a healthy pig, produced disease in rabbits after intravenous inoculation but not in mice, rats or guinea-pigs. An isolate ofS. suistype 2, that was pathogenic for pigs and had been cultured from a human patient with clinical disease, produced signs of neurological disease in mice, rats and rabbits following intravenous inoculation. There was an apparent dose response in mice with 31 % of mice receiving more than 106organisms developing clinical disease, whilst mice receiving less than this did not develop disease. There were no detectable histopathological lesions in the brains or meninges of mice with nervous signs. It is proposed that the disease in mice may mimic that reported in humans and that mice may be a useful indicator species for determining the virulence of isolates cultured from pigs.
Enhanced detection ofCandidain blood cultures with the BACTEC 460 system by use of the aerobic-hypertonic (8B) medium
Authors: Yagupsky P. , Nolte F. S. , Menegus M. A.
Published: May 2009

The blood culture records during the 6-year period 1984–9 were reviewed to compare the performance of the BACTEC aerobic (6B) and aerobic-hypertonic (8B) media for the recovery ofCandidaspp. andTorulopsis glabratafrom blood. There were 137 positive blood culture sets that contained both a 6B and an 8B bottle. Sixty-eight different yeasts were recovered from 65 patients including 35Candida albicans, 19C. tropicalis, 6C. parapsilosis, 4C. krusei, 1C. pseudotropicalisand 3Torulopsis glabrata. The 8B medium detected 120 of the positive cultures (87·6%) and was the only positive medium in 35 (25·6%) sets, while the 6B medium detected 102 positive cultures (74·4%) and was the only positive medium in 17 (12·4%) sets (P < 0·04). For those sets in which both bottles were positive, radiometric detection occurred first in the 8B bottle in 39 sets and first in the 6B bottle in 11 sets (P < 0·001). The superior performance of the 8B bottle was not related to the administration of amphotericin B. Cultures of stock strains ofC. albicans,C. tropicalis, andC. parapsilosisin 6B and 8B media with and without added blood confirmed the finding that 8B was substantially superior to 6B for the detection of candidaemia. It is concluded that an 8B bottle should be included in the blood culture set whenever candidaemia is suspected.
Scabies infestation: the effect of intervention by public health education
Authors: Reid H. F. M. , Thorne C. D.
Published: May 2009

The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of scabies in an infested village; to educate the residents on self-treatment and prevention by the use of 5 % monosulfiram soap; to evaluate the short term effectiveness of this intervention by determining, 2 weeks later, the compliance to self-treatment and prevention; and to determine the prevalence rate on the second visit. In 59 households (96·7% of the village) containing 313 persons, an educational session was held and a leaflet distributed on the use and availability of the soap. Thirteen persons (4·2%) from eight households (13·6%) had scabies. After 2 weeks, 7 persons (2·2%) (2 persisting and 5 new cases) from 5 households (8·5%) were infested. Thus a cure rate of 85 % was obtained though the prevalence rate showed no statistically significant difference. Among the under 15 year olds, the numbers infected decreased from 10 to 3 while among the over 15 year olds, the numbers infected increased from 3 to 4, neither reading significance at the 5 % level.
The distribution of antibodies to HHV-6 compared with other herpesviruses in young children
Authors: Farr T. J. , Harnett G. B. , Pietroboni G. R. , Bucens M. R.
Published: May 2009

Sera from 141 infants aged 0–12 months were examined for IgG antibodies to HHV-6, HSV, CMV, VZV and EBV and for HHV-6 specific IgM. Following the decline in maternal antibody, antibody to HHV-6 was found to rise by 5–6 months and approached the level found in adults by 11–12 months. In contrast the antibody rates for the other herpesviruses were much slower to rise, especially in the case of CMV and EBV. HHV-6 IgM antibodies were detected mainly in age groups showing a rapid rise in antibody to HHV-6. HHV-6-IgM was not detected in 235 cord blood samples. The data suggest that HHV-6 infection is acquired horizontally, at a very early age in Western Australia.
Removal of pathogenic human viruses by insoluble pyridinium-type resin
Authors: Kawabata N. , Yamazaki K. , Otake T. , Oishi I. , Minekawa Y.
Published: May 2009

Cross-linked poly(N-benzyl-4-vinylpyridinium bromide) (BVP resin) was found to be very efficient in removing pathogenic human viruses from aqueous solution. In batch removal experiments using 50 g/1 of BVP resin at 35 °C. the level of infectivity in suspensions of enterovirus. herpes simplex virus, poliovirus, and human immunodeficiency virus was reduced 1000–100000 fold during a 2 h period. Those of coxsackievirus and echovirus were reduced 60–600 fold during 1 h contact. The haemagglutination titres of solutions of human rotavirus, influenza virus, human adenovirus. and Japanese encephalitis virus were reduced 16–256 fold during 30 min of contact. In removal experiments by a continuous flow column method for poliovirus. enterovirus. and coxsackievirus with initial infectivities of less than 105/ml, the infectivity of these viruses was no longer detectable in the effluent solution. For poliovirus, coxsackievirus, and echovirus with initial infectivities higher than 106, 99·8–99·9998% of the input viruses was removed as indicated by the reduction of infectivity.
Methods for enumeratingEscherichia coliin subtropical waters
Authors: Cheung W. H. S. , Ha D. K. K. , Yeung K. Y. , Hung R. P. S.
Published: May 2009

The standard membrane filtration method of the UK has been modified in order to improve its specificity for enumeratingEscherichia coliin the subtropical waters of Hong Kong. This involves incorporating into the membrane lauryl sulphate (mLS) method either anin situurease test (the mLS-UA method), or anin situβ-glucuronidase test (the mLS-GUD method). The false-positive errors of the mLS-UA and mLS-GUD methods are low, ranging from 3–5%. A comparison between the membrane filtration (mLS-UA) method and the multiple tube technique in testingE. coliin subtropical beach-waters has demonstrated that the former can give much more precise counts, and is the method of choice for such a purpose. The mLS-GUD method, for which automated counting ofE. colicolonies is possible, is a good alternative to mLS-UA in routine enumeration of this bacterial indicator in environmental waters.
Antibody to serotype 8 rotavirus in Ecuadorian and German children
Authors: Brüssow H. , Sidoti J.
Published: May 2009

Only 2 out of 71 German patients infected with rotavirus (3%) and 8 out of 147 German control patients (5%) showed serum antibody to the new serotype 8 rotavirus. Such antibody was detected in the sera of 232 of 870 Ecuadorian children (27%). Twelve Ecuadorian sera showed neutralizing activity only against serotype 8 and not to the other serotypes (1–4) tested, indicating that human serotype 8 rotavirus circulates in South America.
The occurrence ofListeriaspecies in pâté: the Cardiff experience 1989
Authors: Morris I. J. , Ribeiro C. D.
Published: May 2009

Samples of 216 pâatés were examined for the presence ofListeriaspp. Between May and August 1989; 35% were contaminated withL. monocytogenes, 5% of samples having counts of > 104/g.L. innocuawas recovered from 2% of samples but no other species was isolated. Five serotypes ofL. monocytogeneswere represented (1/2, 4b, 4b(X), 4 not 4b or 4b(X), and NT). 4b was the predominant serotype and multiple serotypes were found in eight pâatés. The incidence of contamination withL. monocytogeneswas greater in stored pâté (46%) than display pâté (30%). Sampling over a 21-day period showed an apparent increase in numbers ofL. monocytogenesin 6 of 7 samples with multiple serotypes represented. There was no correlation between contamination of pâté byL.monocytogenesand the presence of coliforms. Comparisons are made between the contamination of soft cheese and pˇaté.
Antigens recognized by the human immune response to severe leptospirosis in Barbados
Authors: Chapman A. J. , Everard C. O. R. , Faine S. , Adler B.
Published: May 2009

Serum samples obtained from patients hospitalized in Barbados with severe leptospirosis were tested by the microscopic agglutination test (MAT), enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and immunoblotting with leptospires that had been isolated from these patients. While serum samples taken a few days after onset of symptoms often showed no apparent correlation between MAT and EIA, later sequential serum samples produced similar profiles in both tests during the course of infection. Immunoblotting sonicate fromLeptospira interrogansserovars arborea,copenhageniandbimwith patients' sera, revealed reactions with a number of bands that corresponded with outer envelope components. These components included lipopolysaccharide (LPS), flagella and other outer membrane proteins, in addition to a low-molecular-weight (MW) carbohydrate cross-reactive with members of the Leptospiraceae. IgM antibodies elicited in the first to second week after infection reacted mainly with LPS and the low-MW cross-reactive carbohydrate. Comparative analysis of isolates of the same serovar by sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting showed that while two serovararboreaisolates were identical, serovarbimisolates differed significantly from each other. This difference was also observed in comparative MAT testing.
The serological relationship betweenYersinia enterocoliticaO9 andEscherichia coliO157 using sera from patients with yersiniosis and haemolytic uraemic syndrome
Authors: Chart H. , Cheasty T. , Cope D. , Gross R. J. , Rowe B.
Published: May 2009

Sera from patients with yersiniosis. shown to contain antibodies toYersinia enterocoliticaO9; and sera from patients with haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) caused byEscherichia coliO157, were used to investigate serological cross-reactions betweenY. enterocoliticaO9 andE. coliO157. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was isolated from strains ofY. enterocoliticaO9 andE. coliO157 and reacted with sera by immunoblotting and ELISA. Sera from patients with HUS contained antibodies to the LPS ofE. coliO157 only; 80% of sera from patients with yersiniosis contained antibodies to the LPS ofY. enterocoliticaO9 andE. coliO157. This one-way cross-reaction was also detected using hyperimmune rabbit antisera.
A dot-blot hybridization procedure for the detection of astrovirus in stool samples
Authors: Willcocks M. M. , Carter M. J. , Silcock J. G. , Madeley C. R.
Published: May 2009

We have developed a nucleic acid dot-blot hybridization test for the detection of astroviruses in stool samples. The test was not as sensitive as electron microscopy for the detection of low numbers of well preserved astrovirus particles, but was able to identify astroviruses in stools containing particles of indistinct morphology. In total, this procedure identified astroviruses in more samples than did electron microscopy, and the data indicate that the incidence of astroviruses may be substantially underestimated.