bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of sub-lethal treatment with formalin on the germination ofAspergillus fumigatusspores
Authors: Smith G. R.
Published: May 2009

Sub-lethal exposure ofAspergillus fumigatusspore suspensions to formalin resulted in prolongation by 1–22 days of the period of less than one day normally needed by spores to produce visible growth in Sabouraud's liquid medium at 37° C.; the degree of delay depended on the concentration of formalin and the duration of exposure, and was due to an increase in the germination-time of spores. The formalin concentration could be adjusted so as to affect the germination-time of almost all spores in a suspension without reducing viability. The effect on germination was not abolished by thorough washing or treatment with sodium sulphite. The spores of four different strains ofA. fumigatusand of cultures aged 3 to 14 days reacted similarly to formalin treatment. Although of greatly reduced virulence for mice, affected viable spores were still capable of producing infection and death following intravenous inoculation, provided they were not eliminated by the host before germination occurred.
Skin tests with influenza virus
Authors: Habershon R. B. , Molyneux M. E. , Slavin G. , Loewi G. , Tyrrell D. A. J.
Published: May 2009

Skin reactions have been produced in normal subjects by the injection of highly purified influenza A and B viruses. The reactions reached a maximum at 24–48 hr. and the histological pattern was compatible with a delayed hypersensitivity reaction. There was no close relation between skin test results and circulating antibodies. Twenty-seven subjects were challenged intranasally with attenuated influenza A (H3N2): 5 of 14 skin-test-negative subjects were infected, but none of 13 skin-test-positive subjects.
Open-air factors in enclosed systems
Authors: Hood A. M.
Published: May 2009

Ventilation of vessels varying widely in size was found to preserve the toxic effect of open-air factor(s). There was a correlation between the minimum rates of ventilation required and the ratios of the surface area of the vessels to their volumes. The data obtained allowed an estimate to be made of the diffusion coefficient of open-air factor(s) and gave an indication that the molecular weight range of the open air factor(s) was from 50 to 150.
A field study of some swimming-pool waters with regard to bacteria, available chlorine and redox potential
Authors: Victorin Katarina
Published: May 2009

The waters of one indoor bath and three outdoor baths were examined once an hour during 3 days (bath 1) or 6 days, for available chlorine, redox potential, permanganate number, ammonium, nitrate and total nitrogen, total bacterial count at 22° C., total bacterial count at 37° C. and faecal coliform bacteria. The weather, number of swimmers and the chlorine gas addition were continuously registered, and the pH was checked a few times at each bath. In bath 1, an indoor pool with aluminium sulphate precipitation about once a week and with sand filters back-washed every 2 days, less than 10 bacteria/ml. were found in all samples. In bath 2, an outdoor pool with aluminium sulphate precipitation twice a week and with sand filters back-washed twice a week, also few bacteria were found. In bath 3, an outdoor pool with only filtering through sand filters back-washed about every 14 days, high bacterial counts were found every day except the first, when the filters had been newly back-washed. In bath 4, an outdoor pool with only filtering through sand filters back-washed about once a week, high bacterial counts were found now and then during the first 4 days when the weather was warm, but few bacteria were found the last 2 days when the weather was cold and windy, and there were few swimmers.

Values from different analyses on the same sample showed relatively good correlation between the redox potential and the free available chlorine. In bath 3 both the redox potential and the available chlorine were weakly correlated to the bacterial count, but in bath 4 there was no such correlation. No other factors were well correlated with the bacterial count either.

The bacterial counts at 22° and 37° C. were of the same order. No faecal coliforms were ever found. Use of these bacteria as indicator organism in swimming pools is criticized.

The method of using certain minimum values of the free available chlorine as guarantee for a satisfactory bacteriological quality of the swimming pool water is also questioned. The degree of purity of the water is fundamentally connected with the disinfecting power of the available chlorine.

Use of certain minimum values of the redox potential, according to these investigations, seems to be a method of somewhat greater accuracy. Provided that the methods of precipitation are performed correctly and filters are being back-washed often enough, then an automatically registering redox potential device, perhaps connected to the chlorine gas pump, ought to constitute a good control of the hygienic quality of a swimming-pool water. This must, however, always be completed by bacteriological examinations, preferably made at high bathing load.
Bacteriological evaluation of a laminar cross-flow tunnel for surgery under operational conditions
Authors: van der Waaij D. , Heidt P. J. , Hendriks W. D. H.
Published: May 2009

A transportable surgery cross-flow unit has been tested under ‘operational conditions’. By the use of artificial aerosols and a volunteer surgical team, or dummies, it was found that, at an air velocity of 0·45 m./sec., a detectable transfer to above the table occurred only when quite highly concentrated aerosols (of more than 103·6 bacteria/m.3 of air or more) existed underneath the table. The short disappearance time under these conditions and the quite stable flow pattern above the table found when a surgical team was working, standing along both sides of the table, make it unlikely that an aerosol of detectable concentration can develop during surgery, at this site. The chance that particles, liberated from the heads of the surgical team, settle on the table, was found to be strongly reduced when a cross-flow tunnel operated at an air velocity of 0·45 m./sec. The transfer from outside the unit to the inside was prevented by closing the upper part of the open front side.
ExperimentalSalmonellainfection in calves. 2. Virulence and the spread of infection
Authors: Grønstøl H. , Osborne A. D. , Pethiyagoda S.
Published: May 2009

Calves with a serum ‘H’ titre of 1/160 developed a chronic form of salmonellosis after infection withS. dublin. Their growth rate was severely retarded by this illness. An aerogenic strain ofS. dublinwas found to be much more virulent than an anaerogenic strain. Faecal samples were superior to mouth swabs in detecting animals carryingS. dublin.

During transport two uninoculated calves became infected and after transport stress, latent carriers ofS. dublinwith faecal samples negative forSalmonellafor 5 weeks, restarted excretion. At slaughterSalmonellawere isolated from viscera and organs and from the surface of five of six carcasses.
The epidemiology of Salmonella dublin infection in a dairy herd: I. Excretion and persistence of the organism
Authors: Lawson G. H. K. , McPherson E. A. , Laing A. H. , Wooding P.
Published: May 2009

This paper describes the epidemiologically relevant events that took place in a dairy herd infected by Salmonella dublin. The evidence presented indicates that it may be possible to eliminate infection from the farm and that residual infection or persistent excretion are uncommon. In two animals infection persisted, in one instance in the tonsil and in the other in the gall bladder. In this latter case the infection remained from the neonatal period until adulthood. It is possible that both these animals are relevant in a more general context and are indicative of the source of infection in outbreaks in which the origin of infection cannot be deter-mined by more routine examinations.
Antibodies against adeno-, cytomegalo- and rubella viruses in Australia-antigen-negative sera from patients with infectious hepatitis
Authors: Alwen J. , Emmerson A. M.
Published: May 2009

Antibodies neutralizing adenovirus type 5 were found in all of 50 pairs (100%) of sera from patients with acute icteric infectious hepatitis. The incidence in sera from the general population was 57%. No differences in mean titre or in proportion of positive sera were found in the same sera tested for complement-fixing antibodies to cytomegalovirus and for antibodies to rubella virus haemagglutinin. The results can be interpreted as supporting the involvement, either direct or indirect, of adenovirus in the aetiology of infectious hepatitis; but could also be due to a non-specific anamnestic enhancement of the production of antibody to adenovirus, or to coincidental infection with adenovirus and the agent of infectious hepatitis.
Air sampling of smallpox virus
Authors: Thomas G.
Published: May 2009

Airborne smallpox virus has been recovered in an isolation hospital using an adhesive surface sampling technique in the presence of very low aerosol concentrations. Previous work in this field is reviewed. Successful recovery of airborne virus depends on sampling large volumes of air with a suitable sampler and thorough investigation of the whole sample taken for the presence of viable virus. More information on the characteristics and behaviour of airborne smallpox virus is needed in particular with regard to the future design and siting of smallpox isolation units.
Statistical analysis of data bearing on the number of particles required to form a plaque
Authors: Kalbfleisch J. G. , Sprott D. A.
Published: May 2009

Methods of statistical analysis are presented for one or more dilution series experiments where the quantity of interest is the number of virus particles required to infect a cell. These methods are illustrated on several data sets drawn from the literature. Data from seven series, which have been used to support a two-particle model in the literature, are here shown to reject such a model decisively, whereas fifteen other experiments are found to be in excellent agreement with a one-particle model.
Swine vesicular disease: comparative studies of viruses isolated from different countries
Authors: Burrows R. , Mann J. A. , Goodridge D.
Published: May 2009

Seven viruses isolated from outbreaks of swine vesicular disease in various countries between 1966 and 1973 were compared in pigs and infant mice. All produced a similar disease and virus excretion pattern in the pig, although the Italy/66 virus was considerably less virulent than the other viruses. The results of cross neutralization tests of convalescent pig sera and the response of 5-day-old mice to intraperitoneal inoculation indicated minor differences between some viruses. The Italy/66, Hong Kong/71 and France/73 viruses differed from each other and also from the Italy/72, England/72, Austria/73 and Poland/73 group of viruses.
Aetiology and epidemiology of viral croup in Glasgow, 1966–72
Authors: Buchan K. A. , Marten Karen W. , Kennedy D. H.
Published: May 2009

A retrospective study of 258 children admitted to Ruchill Hospital, Glasgow, with croup between 1966 and 1972 indicated that the viruses most frequently associated with the syndrome were parainfluenza types 1 and 3 and influenza A. Most cases were admitted in the late autumn and winter months, with a small peak in May and June. This seasonal distribution mirrored the circulation of the main causative agents in the community, parainfluenza 1 being principally associated with the autumn cases, influenza A the winter cases and parainfluenza 3 the summer cases. Two of these ‘croup associated’ viruses showed regular periodicity, parainfluenza 1 occurring biennially in even years and influenza A in most years. The periodicity of parainfluenza 3 is as yet undetermined.
Diarrhoea in general practice: a sixteen-year report of investigations in a microbiology laboratory, with epidemiological assessment
Authors: Mair Thomas E. M. , Tillett Hilary E.
Published: May 2009

Results are presented of the laboratory examination of faeces specimens from 20,273 patients with acute diarrhoea. These were household index cases seen in general practice in a London borough during the years 1953–68. An annual average of about 2% of households in the area were affected, but there was considerable fluctuation with year and season. Half the patients were children although only one-fifth of the population at risk was under 15 years of age. The greatest incidence of diarrhoea was among children under 5 years old. Male children, but female adults predominated.

Specimens were sent for laboratory diagnosis at the discretion of the general practitioner. The laboratory found some abnormality in nearly a third and there were indications that transmissible infection was involved in about one-fifth of patients. The most common diagnosis was Sonne dysentery (9%) which came in epidemic waves and made its greatest impact among young school children. Microscopy was useful, and giardiasis was diagnosed in 1·4% of index patients. Other parasites were less commonly found. Fatty globules characteristic of an infectious condition we have called ‘fatty diarrhoea’ were frequently observed by microscopy in stools from young children and occasionally from older persons. Blood or pus cells were seen in less than half the shigella and salmonella infections and in a much smaller proportion of the remainder. A test for occult blood performed on specimens from all patients of 40 years or older was positive, in the absence of visible red cells, in a tenth of these cases.

Other studies on the bacteriology of diarrhoea in general practice are referred to and some epidemiological comparisons made. The possible place of unidentified infective agents in the aetiology of undiagnosed diarrhoeas and of ‘fatty diarrhoea’ is discussed.
Outbreaks of bovine salmonellosis caused by serotypes other than S. dublin and S. typhimurium
Authors: Richardson A.
Published: May 2009

Outbreaks of salmonellosis caused by serotypes other than S. dublin and S. typhimurium were investigated on 41 farms in north-west England. Of these, 37 (90%) were in dairy cows. There was strong circumstantial evidence that contaminated dairy cake was the source of infection in at least four herds and probably many more. Twenty-six serotypes were encountered with S. newport, the commonest, causing the most severe disease. Most cattle seemed to rid themselves of infection during the following months whether or not they were at pasture, housed in cubicles or in byres. Some cows excreted salmonellas for up to 11 months after the disease outbreak. Associated human salmonellosis was confirmed on 3/41 (7%) of the farms.
A new surface-antigen-adsorbed influenza virus vaccine II. Studies in a volunteer group
Authors: Potter C. W. , Jennings R. , McLaren C. , Edey Dorothy , Stuart-Harris C. H. , Brady Margaret
Published: May 2009

A group of 23 volunteers were each inoculated with 600 CCA of a new form of influenza virus A/England/42/72 vaccine; this vaccine consisted of purified haemagglutinin and neuraminidase antigens adsorbed to alhydrogel. No significant reactions to the vaccine were reported. Twenty-two volunteers produced increased titres of serum HI antibody, and all showed increased titres of NI antibody after immunization. Thus, for volunteers with no pre-immunization serum HI antibody, the geometric mean titre of serum antibody increased from 1/5 to 1/196 after immunization. Ten volunteers developed local neutralizing antibody after immunization; this antibody response was detected most frequently in volunteers who showed the greater serum antibody response to immunization, and in nasal washings with the higher concentrations of protein and IgA. Ten weeks after immunization, the vaccinees and a group of matched controls were inoculated intranasally with attenuated A/England/42/72 virus. Evidence of infection with the challenge virus was found in 14 of the control subjects and in one of the vaccinees. The results indicate that the surface-antigen-adsorbed vaccine induced high titres of serum antibody, and gave significant protection against challenge infection.
Persistence of antibody induced by rubella vaccine (Wistar RA 27/3 strain) after six years
Authors: Hillary Irene B. , Freestone D. S.
Published: May 2009

A total of 21 rubella seronegative children vaccinated subcutaneously with Wistar RA 27/3 strain live attenuated rubella vaccine in a family study of vaccine virus transmissibility were reviewed after 6 years. Haemagglutinating inhibiting (HAI) antibody titres of sera collected 46 days, 2 years and 6 years after vaccination were compared. Antibody titres in the vaccinated subjects were not significantly influenced by time, infection in susceptible siblings or revaccination.
Comparative trials of live attenuated and detergent split influenza virus vaccines
Authors: Mackenzie J. S. , Mackenzie Isobel , Lloyd Julie , Dent Veronica
Published: May 2009

Comparative clinical trials of live attenuated and detergent-split subunit influenza virus vaccines were undertaken with 1048 volunteers in Western Australia. Volunteers were divided into three main groups, each of which received either live virus vaccine or a saline control administered intranasally, or subunit vaccine injected subcutaneously. No differences were recorded between the three groups in their post-vaccination symptoms. Serum samples were collected at various times up to 50 weeks after vaccination, and antibody titres were measured by haemagglutination-inhibition (HI) tests and, for 231 volunteers, by virus neutralization tests. The two vaccines were almost equivalent in inducing seroconversion in vaccinees with pre-trial HI titres of 96 or less, but the subunit vaccine stimulated a higher geometric mean HI antibody titre. The longevity of the HI antibody response was greater for the live virus vaccine. The height of the response and the longevity of neutralizing antibody were the same for both vaccines. Both vaccines provided a high degree of protection against epidemic A/England/42/72 influenza, and some protection against A/Port Chalmers/1/73 influenza.
Coated bedpans: their cleaning and disinfection
Authors: Mostafa A. B. M. G. , Chackett K. F. , Deverill C. E. A.
Published: May 2009

This paper reports on tests of cleaning and disinfection of stainless steel bedpans which have been coated with either a silicone grease or polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). The coatings were applied manually using an aerosol spray (silicone grease and PTFE), and by an industrial process (PTFE). Soils used comprised (i) British Standard Soil (B.S., 1966), (ii) human serum albumin labelled with technetium-99m (HSA-Tc), and (iii) a suspension of Streptococcus faecalis in broth. Tests of cleaning and disinfection were carried out in automatic washing and steam disinfector machines. Results show that aerosol spraying impairs the cleaning process but that bedpans coated by the industrial process with PTFE are superior to uncoated bedpans.
Toxic activity against alveolar macrophages of products ofPseudomonas aeruginosaisolated from respiratory and non-respiratory sites
Authors: Al-Dujaili A. H.
Published: May 2009

The toxic effect of certain products ofPseudomonas aeruginosaon guinea-pig alveolar macrophages has been studied in an attempt to account for the apparent infrequency with which certain strains of this species are associated with respiratory infection. Tests were carried out on strains derived from the respiratory tract, strains from infection at other sites, and strains from the inanimate hospital environment which were believed not to have been responsible for infection (‘environmental’ strains).

Haemolysin, pigments, enzyme-containing fractions, slime and cell-wall fraction all exhibited toxic activity against macrophages in anin vitrosystem, although for any given strain ofPs. aeruginosathe haemolysin was by far the most potent factor. The activity of this factor against macrophages was directly proportional to its haemolytic activity against human erythrocytes. The haemolysin fractions of environmental strains, which have previously been found to have little activity on erythrocytes, were also less active against macrophages than haemolysin preparations from ‘infective’ strains.

It is therefore postulated that the ability of a strain ofPs. aeruginosato initiate respiratory infection may be related to the degree of haemolysin production. The activity of other fractions against macrophages is more variable, but they may contribute in different ways to the development of infection once entry into the lung has been achieved.
Natural infection with influenza A (H3N2). The development, persistence and effect of antibodies to the surface antigens
Authors: Smith A. J. , Davies Joan R.
Published: May 2009

A technique for estimating antibodies to the neuraminidase antigens of influenza A is described.

The antibody response to the haemagglutinin and neuraminidase antigens of influenza A (H3N2) was studied in a boys' public school over the four-year period 1970–4. During this time there were two outbreaks of influenza A and the effect of antibody on the result of natural challenge was investigated. No boy who had homotypic neuraminidase antibody had clinical influenza.
Commercial factor VIII associated hepatitis, 1974–75, in the United Kingdom: a retrospective survey
Authors: Craske J. , Kirk P. , Cohen B. , Vandervelde Elise M.
Published: May 2009

A retrospective survey of transfusion hepatitis associated with a brand of commercial Factor VIII was carried out in 24 Haemophilia Centres from January 1974 until December 1975. Of 371 patients who were transfused with this product, and were followed up, 78 cases of hepatitis affecting 66 patients were found (17·7%). Two types of hepatitis were observed: hepatitis B and non-B hepatitis, the latter with an incubation period of between 8 and 60 days. Twelve patients contracted two types of hepatitis, non-B followed by hepatitis B. Only one patient died after contracting hepatitis B. Four of the suspect batches of concentrate were found to be positive for HBsAg by radioimmunoassay.

There was evidence that the presence of hepatitis B surface antibody in a patient's serum prior to exposure was associated with immunity to hepatitis B. Evidence was presented suggesting that the non-B hepatitis observed was not due to hepatitis A. The factors affecting the incidence of transfusion hepatitis in haemophiliacs were discussed.
Comparison of the results of some serological tests for bovine brucellosis
Authors: Chappel R. J. , McNaught D. J. , Bourke J. A. , Allan G. S.
Published: May 2009

A total of 1887 bovine sera positive to the Rose Bengal plate test were subjected to other serological tests for bovine brucellosis: the complement fixation test using warm fixation (CFTW), the serum agglutination test (SAT) and the radioimmunoassay (RIA).

The SAT was generally much less sensitive than the CFTW. Many sera, however, gave positive reactions in the SAT but no reaction in the CFTW or the RIA. These SAT reactions were attributed to IgM antibody.

Comparison between the results of the CFTW and the RIA led to the conclusion that 200 ng could be used as a minimum diagnostic reaction in the RIA.
Laboratory evaluation of pyriminyl used as a rodenticide against the lesser bandicoot rat,Bandicota bengalensis
Authors: Brooks Joe E. , Htun Pe Than
Published: May 2009

The properties of pyriminyl (N-3-pyridylmethyl-N′-p-nitrophenyl urea) as a rodenticide against the lesser bandicoot rat (Bandicota bengalensis) in Rangoon, Burma, were investigated in the laboratory. The acute LD 50 and LD 95 dose of orally administered pyriminyl forB. bengalensiswere found to be 6·7 mg/kg and 23·0, mg/kg of body weight respectively. When caged bandicoots were given a choice between plain and poisoned baits, the optimum rodenticidal concentration in the bait was found to be 0·25–0·5%. Symptoms of pyriminyl poisoning appear from 1 to 4 h after feeding starts, giving individual animals time to consume from 2 to over 30 LD 50 doses of 0·5% pyriminyl before feeding stops. Deaths occurred from 4 to 96 h after either oral dosing or free-choice feeding. There appeared to be no significant aversion to the poison at 0·25% or 0·5% concentration in foods. The potential hazards and use of pyriminyl as a field bait against populations ofB. bengalensisare discussed.
Clostridium botulinumin aquatic environments in Great Britain and Ireland
Authors: Smith G. R. , Milligan R. A. , Moryson Caroline J.
Published: May 2009

Mud samples from aquatic environments in many parts of Great Britain and Ireland were collected, mainly in 1975 and 1976, and examined forClostridium botulinum. The samples were taken from lakes, ponds, reservoirs, marshes, mud-fiats, streams, rivers and canals, and the sampling areas included a number of bird refuges and reserves. Of 554 samples 194 (35·0%) were positive and 167 (30·1 %), 19 (3·4%), 6 (1·1%) and 15 (2·7%) contained types B, C, D and E respectively; 13 (2·3%) contained more than one type. Each type demonstrated was found in both fresh-and salt-water environments. Type B was widespread; types C, D and E were demonstrated in widely separated areas in England and Wales, and type C was found in both the north and south of Scotland. The results were compared with those reported earlier in respect of surveys in the London area, the Norfolk Broads and the Camargue (France).
Possible windborne spread of bluetongue to Portugal, June–July 1956
Authors: Sellers R. F. , Pedgley D. E. , Tucker M. R.
Published: May 2009

The possible sources for the epidemic of bluetongue in Portugal at the beginning of July 1956 were examined. Introduction through authorized importation of domestic or wild ruminants was not feasible, since no cattle, sheep or goats were imported and the wild ruminants were confined to Lisbon Zoo, which was too far from the initial outbreaks. Weather maps were examined to see if the wind could have carried infected Culicoides midges from North Africa. On 21 June 1956 infected midges in Morocco could have been taken offshore by southeast winds and then carried by south winds unusual at that time of year to the south coast of Portugal. The 200–300 km sea crossing would have taken some 10 h and been by day when air temperatures near the sea surface were about 18–20 °C. Bluetongue had not been reported at that time in Morocco, and the possibility of the presence of the virus in Moroccan animals without clinical signs is discussed.
Studies on louping-ill virus (Flavivirus group) in wild red grouse (Lagopus lagopus scoticus)
Authors: Reid H. W. , Duncan J. S. , Phillips J. D. P. , Moss R. , Watson A.
Published: May 2009

Studies were made to find evidence of louping-ill virus infection in free-living red grouse and relate this to their breeding success. In areas where ticks were abundant 61 (84%) adult grouse had antibody to the virus compared with 1 (10%) in areas where ticks were relatively scarce. Of 162 chicks tested 25 were shown to be viraemic. Infected chicks were of significantly less weight than comparably aged uninfected birds and the probability that they died was much greater than that of uninfected birds. It is concluded that the relatively poor breeding success in areas of high tick numbers was principally due to infection with louping-ill virus. The susceptibility of the red grouse to infection is discussed.
The relative effectiveness of commonly used disinfectants in inactivation of coxsackievirus B5
Authors: Drulak Murray , Wallbank Alfred M. , Lebtag Ingrid , Werboski Larry , Poffenroth Linda
Published: May 2009

Coxsackievirus B5 in the presence of fetal calf serum was exposed to six commonly used disinfectants for times of 10, 20 and 30 s. At the end of exposure times skim milk neutralized the disinfectant activity, with residual virus assayed by the plaque technique. The six disinfectants considered were Javex, sodium hydroxide, ethanol, Wescodyne, One Stroke Ves-Phene and Sonacide. Although 95% (v/v) ethanol was significantly more virucidal than dilutions of the other five disinfectants tested causing a 106reduction in 20 s, it may not be practical to use in many instances. Next to 95% (v/v) ethanol, 1/75 (800 parts/b6) Javex, 0·25% (w7/v) sodium hydroxide and 1/200 Wescodyne were the most effective virucides. These disinfectants were equal in effectiveness causing a 105reduction of coxsackievirus B5 in 30 s. Of these three disinfectants Javex is the most practical to use since sodium hydroxide is caustic and Wescodyne is selective in its virucidal action. Undiluted Sonacide was a less effective virucide causing a less than 10-fold reduction of coxsackievirus B5 in 30 s. A 1/50 dilution of One Stroke Ves-Phene was the least effective virucide tested since it did not significantly inactivate coxsackievirus B5 in 30 s.
Protection from natural infection after live influenza virus immunization in an open population
Authors: Rocchi G. , Carlizza L. , Andreoni M. , Ragona G. , Piga C. , Pelosio A. , Volpi A. , Muzzi A.
Published: May 2009

Live attenuated influenza vaccine containing the recombinant of A/Victoria/3/75 with A/PR/8/34 virus was administered to healthy adults in a field trial aimed at evaluating protection provided by immunization. The study was designed to measure the effect of vaccination on absenteeism from respiratory disease during a natural influenza epidemic. A total of 2115 male employees of the public transport service of Rome volunteered to participate in the trial, 1050 and 1065 receiving vaccine and placebo respectively, in a randomized blind fashion. Vaccination procedure was completed by the end of December 1976. A small-sized outbreak of influenza, due to a viral strain antigenically homologous to the vaccine, occurred during the month of February 1977. Analysis of absenteeism data, classified according to medical certificate, indicated that morbidity from respiratory disease was reduced in vaccinees compared with controls during the epidemic month; the rate of increase of morbidity compared with that of the preceding month was then three times lower in vaccinees than in controls and the difference in absenteeism between the two groups greatly exceeded the ordinary fluctuation that was observed during non-epidemic periods.
A laboratory model for the investigation of contact transfer of micro-organisms
Authors: Marples R. R. , Towers A. G.
Published: May 2009

The model was based on grasping a fabric-covered bottle contaminated with a strain of Staphylococcus saprophyticus, then grasping a sterile fabric-covered bottle and counting the organisms transferred. When the donor fabric was moist 10% of the available cells passed onto the hands, but this fell to 0·05% when the inoculum dried. Transfer from wet hands to the fabric amounted to 85%, but in the complete model only 0·06% of the available cells were transferred. The model was used to assess simple methods of degerming the hands. Washing the hands reduced transfer by 95%, while washing in 70% alcohol reduced transfer by 99·99%. Lesser procedures investigated included applying 0·2 ml of 80% ethanol to the hands, which reduced transfer by 93%.
The use of spore strips for monitoring the sterilization of bottled fluids
Authors: Selkon J. B. , Sisson Penelope R. , Ingham H. R.
Published: May 2009

A bacterial spore test has been developed which enables the efficacy of the sterilizing cycle recommended by the British Pharmaceutical Codex (1973) for bottled fluids to be accurately monitored. During a 14-month period this test detected faults in 3.3% of the sterilizing cycles, representing five distinct episodes of sterilization failure that passed unnoticed by the conventional controls of physical measurements and sterility testing. There were no failures of sterilization as detected by conventional techniques which were not indicated by the spore test.
The distribution of plasmids determining citrate utilization in citratè-positive variants ofEscherichia colifrom humans, domestic animals, feral birds and environments
Authors: Ishiguro Naotaka , Sato Gihei
Published: May 2009

summary

Sixty-seven isolates of citrate-positive variants ofEscherichia coliwere isolated from human, domestic animal, feral bird and environmental sources. With the exception of citrate utilization, all isolates were identified as typicalE. coliby their biochemical reactions. The transmission of the ability to utilize citrate on Simmons' citrate agar was demonstrated in 53 (79·1%) out of the 67 citratepositiveE. colivariants obtained from various sources. Drug resistance determinants and citrate utilizing character were co-transmitted intoE. coliK-12 by conjugation among citrate-positiveE. coliisolates carrying R plasmids except for that isolated from horses. The other characters (haemolysin or colicin production, raffinose or sucrose fermentation) were not transmitted together with the citrate utilizing character. These facts suggested that the structural gene responsible for citrate utilizing ability in citrate-positive variants ofE. coliwas located on a conjugative plasmid.
A solid-phase enzyme linked immunosorbent assay for the detection of African swine fever virus antigen and antibody
Authors: Wardley R. C. , Abu Elzein E. M. E. , Crowther J. R. , Wilkinson P. J.
Published: May 2009

summary

A solid-phase enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was developed to measure both African swine fever virus (ASFV) antigen and antibody. Experiments showed it to be reproducible and able to detect limiting antigen concentrations of 50–500 HAD50/ml. The assay was more sensitive than those used at present to detect ASFV antibody and it is suggested that it might be of great diagnostic use in countries where African swine fever has recently appeared.
Salmonella isolation from hospital areas
Authors: Harvey R. W. S. , Price T. H. , Joynson D. H. M.
Published: May 2009

Evidence of the presence of salmonellas in a paediatric ward, a special care baby unit, a maternity unit and a hospital kitchen was obtained by culture of sewer swabs, faeces and food samples. The survey was designed to cause as little administrative interference as possible. The technical aspects of the survey did not strain laboratory facilities. Minimal secondary spread of salmonella infection was experienced.
A blastogenic test for foot-and-mouth disease
Authors: Wardley R. C. , Chapman W. G. , Garland A. J. M.
Published: May 2009

A blastogenic test to detect peripheral blood leukocytes specifically sensitized to foot-and-mouth disease virus antigen is described. The test is carried out in microtitre plates and optimum conditions were found by titration. These employed 7.5 × 105cells/well and 20 complement fixing units of antigen. Peak [3H]thymidine incorporation was found to take place at 2–3 days.
Intradermal versus subcutaneous immunization with typhoid vaccine
Authors: Iwarson S. , Larsson P.
Published: May 2009

Swedish nationals about to travel abroad were immunized against typhoid with a monovalent heat-inactivated vaccine which was administered intra- or subcutaneously. No major differences in serum antibody response were noted in the two groups of vaccinees as determined with direct agglutination and indirect hemagglutination techniques. As the intracutaneous route caused fewer adverse reactions this way of administration seems to be preferable.
Laboratory and field evaluation of pyriminyl as a poison for Rattus norvegicus
Authors: Rentnison B. D. , Redfern R. , Dubock A. C. , Gill J. E. , Richards C. G. J.
Published: May 2009

Laboratory tests indicated that the optimum concentration for pyriminyl in rat baits was between 1% and 3%. In field trials in which 0·5% pyriminyl (the concentration in commercial use) was compared with 2·5% zinc phosphide for the control of rats on farms, the pyriminyl treatments were significantly less effective than the zinc phosphide even when the poisoned baits were left down for 7 days instead of 1 day after prebaiting. Both poisons were as effective in medium oatmeal bait as they were in medium oatmeal containing 5% corn oil and 5% sugar.
The use of the non-specific immunological factors, conglutinin, immunoconglutinin and heterophile antibody, in the serodeiagnosis of bovine brucellosis
Authors: Mittal K. R. , Tizard I. R. , Martineau R.
Published: May 2009

The changes in the titres of immunoconglutinin (IK), conglutinin and heterophile antibodies were measured in calves vaccinated with Br. abortus Strain 19. The IK titres rose rapidly following vaccination but returned to normal within ten weeks.

A survey of the sera of over 300 cattle showed no significant correlation between the Brucella STA titre and of these ‘non-specific’ indicators. It is concluded that they are of little assistance in the serodiagnosis of brucellosis.
The number of bacilli harboured by enteric carriers
Authors: Thomson Scott
Published: May 2009

Salmonella typhi or S. paratyphi B were found in very large numbers in the faeces of enteric carriers. Of twenty-four carriers, four were found negative by the fullest examination. Of the twenty found positive almost all harboured many millions of bacilli per gram of faeces.

A minute inoculum of one drop (1/50 ml.) of a 1:1000 dilution of faeces on a culture plate only rarely failed to reveal all the positives without the use of an ‘enrichment’ medium and the result of such a procedure was a culture plate with virtually a pure culture of the pathogen.

I am grateful to the Medical Superintendents of the Mental Hospitals at Cardiff, Bridgend and Denbigh, and the Medical Officer of Health for Brecon for submitting specimens for examination.
The release of influenza virus from the infected cell
Authors: Hoyle L.
Published: May 2009

1. When detached portions of the chorioallantoic membranes of normal fertile eggs are examined in the dark-field microscope spherical and tubular cytoplasmic protrusions are seen to develop from the margins of the cells and to become detached from them. This is probably a normal physiological phenomenon which occurs to some extent in the intact egg.

2. Similar cell protrusions occur from chorioallantoic membranes of eggs infected with influenza virus. The phenomenon appears to be more pronounced in the infected egg than in the normal egg and in particular tubular cytoplasmic protrusions are much more frequent in the infected egg than in the normal.

3. Tubular cytoplasmic protrusions may fragment into small spherical particles or may contract into filaments. All types of cell protrusion become detached from the cells and undergo contraction in size probably as a result of loss of water. The infective elementary bodies and filaments present in the allantoic fluid of eggs infected with influenza virus are derived from the cells in this way.

4. It is concluded that the infective particle of the influenza virus is a fragment of the cell cytoplasm and consists of a closely aggregated mass of virus protein enclosed in cell membrane.

The author is indebted to Prof. W. T. Astbury and Dr R. Reed for the electron photomicrographs reproduced in this paper.
The dilution assay of viruses
Authors: Moran P. A. P.
Published: May 2009

Suppose that λ is the average density of virus particles per unit volume. If x is a dilution of this and unit volume is applied to an egg (or plate in other problems) the probability that the egg remains sterile is

provided that if a particle is present, it will infect the egg. To make a dilution assay we choose dilutions x1, …, xm (m levels) and apply these to n1, …, nm eggs. If these result in r1, …, rm sterile eggs we can estimate λ by maximum likelihood. The theory has been given by Barkworth & Irwin (1938), and full references to work on this problem will be found in Finney (1952). If we plot the quantities r1/n1, …, rm/nm against x1, …, xm we get a set of point whose fit to the curve (1) can be tested by a χ2 test. In a number of situations, however, it is found that (1) does not give a good fit. The estimation of λ is then completely invalid. In the present paper we consider why this happens, what types of curve may be fitted to the data and what they imply, and we also give a simple rapid test for such data fitting an exponential curve.
The combination of antitoxin with toxin and toxoid
Authors: Barr Mollie , Glenny A. T. , Stevens Muriel F.
Published: May 2009

1. Non-avid tetanus antitoxin appears to have a higher titre in relation to an avid standard if titrations are made against test toxins with a high toxoid content. The least avid serum tested appeared to be 2·87 times as potent when titrations were made against a toxin grown for 35 days than when a 2-day growth was used. Using the same test doses avid sera did not show this discrepancy.

2. A mixture of short-growth toxin and formol toxoid reacted similarly to the long-growth toxin.

3. Some non-avid tetanus antitoxic sera showed evidence of difference in goodness of fit with two test toxins; one serum was 2·49 times the titre of another when tested against one toxin and only 1·37 times when tested against another toxin.

4. Diphtheria toxoid has less affinity than toxin for antitoxin; this difference is greater with formol toxoids of poor immunizing efficiency; the difference is further accentuated if non-avid anti-toxin is used.

5. The Danysz effect may be very small if non-avid antitoxin is used.

6. In the presence of excess antitoxin, toxin or formol toxoid can combine with 3, 4 or more times its equivalent as judged byin vivotitrations for free antitoxin.

7. The serum ratio, i.e.in vivotitre/in vitrotitre of high or low ratio antitoxin in multiple combinations is nearer unity than that of the original antitoxin.
The neutralization of pox viruses I. Evidence for antibody interference
Authors: McNeill T. A.
Published: May 2009

Evidence was presented to support a hypothesis that competition between antibody molecules can be an important factor in vaccinia virus neutralization.

It has been shown that there is little difference in the virus neutralizing properties of 7 S and 19 S antibody and it has been further postulated that in the context of protective immunity the proportions of antibodies having neutralizing and interfering effects is likely to be more important than the absolute concentration of neutralizing antibody or the type of immunoglobulin in which it is present.
Myxomatosis. The effect of age upon survival of wild and domestic rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) with a degree of genetic resistance and unselected domestic rabbits infected with myxoma virus
Authors: Sobey W. R. , Conolly Dorothy , Haycock P. , Edmonds J. W.
Published: May 2009

The response of wild and domestic rabbits with a degree of genetic resistance to myxomatosis has been shown to be markedly affected by the age at which they were infected with a virulent strain of the virus. The response, in terms of mean survival time and percentage survival, fell with increasing age from 10 to 30 weeks with little change thereafter.
Studies with inactivated equine influenza vaccine: 2. Protection against experimental infection with influenza virus A/equine/Newmarket/79 (H3N8)
Authors: Mumford Jennifer , Wood J. M. , Scott A. M. , Folkers C. , Schild G. C.
Published: May 2009

Forty ponies immunized with inactivated virus vaccine containing A/equine/Miami/63 (H3N8) virus and six unvaccinated, seronegative ponies were experimentally challenged with a representative of recent equine H3N8 virus isolates, A/equine/Newmarket/79. All unvaccinated ponies became infected as judged by virus excretion, febrile responses and antibody responses, but only two of the vaccinated ponies were fully protected. Pre-challenge antibody levels to A/Newmarket/79 virus detected by single radial haemolysis (SRH) correlated well with the degree of clinical protection but the levels required for complete protection (SRH zones > 65 mm2) were high. The importance of these results in relation to conventional vaccination procedures against equine influenza is discussed.
Evidence of the Necessity for a Bacteriological Standard for Grade “A” Milk
Authors: Mattick A. T. R. , Williams R. Stenhouse
Published: May 2009

The following paper contains a discussion of the results of the bacteriological examinations of samples of Grade “A” milk from two farms numbered 5 and 6.
Some Observations on the Distribution of Cancer in the Severn Valley
Authors: Young Matthew
Published: May 2009

While research on the immediate cause of cancer is being pursued with tireless zeal by many earnest investigators it seems that there is still some work to be done on the nature of what may be termed the secondary or accessory causes, those external or envioronmental factors or conditions which predispose to, or favour the onset of the disease in the presence of the determining cause, whether this be chronic irritation of some kind superadded to an inborn tendency and special suceptibility in the patient or the activity of some micro-organism.
Plague in the Orient with Special Reference to the Manchurian Outbreaks
Authors: Teh Wu Lien
Published: May 2009

1. Pneumonic Plague epidemics arise as a secondary manifestation of Bubonic Plague.

2. The prevalence of purely septicaemic cases towards the end of the epidemic is significant as a probable explanation of its decline and termination.

3. Subacute or chronic plague may exist among tarabagans (Arctomys bobac) in Mongolia and Siberia, giving rise to periodical outbreaks of bubonic plague in man, as a result of direct infection from injury due to skinning by trappers or marmot eaters.

4. The tarabagan is easily susceptible to pneumonic plague produced by inhalation of B. pestis in spray form.

5. The existence of Pneumonic Plague carriers has been proved in the 1921 Manchurian epidemic.

6. Rooms where patients have died of pneumonic Plague are not particularly dangerous. In all four instances recorded, sick patients travelling in railway carriages have not infected their fellow passengers.

7. Disinfectants and antiseptics, even in strengths above those usually employed, have very little effect upon plague sputum. Alcohol is the surest means of sterilising the hands and gloves in plague work.

8. We have cultivated B. pestis from seemingly dry sputum of partients.

9. The mask is the principal means of personal protection against Pneumonic Plague.

10. The problem of successful vaccination against Pneumonic Plague still awaits solution.
Certain Limitations of the Bacillus coli method in Water Examinations
Authors: Raju V. Govinda
Published: May 2009

Contradictory opinions are at present held on the subject of bacterial standards of purity of water in India. My recent researches tend to throw some light on some of the causes of this divergence of opinion. The presence of frogs in water has been found to be responsible for an increase in faecal bacilli which, though negligible in the case of large bodies of water, is apt to be misleading in the case of waters of great purity. Stasis in reservoirs and passage through pipes may be responsible for a considerable increase in faecal bacilli in water, so that a mere increase in the number of faecal bacilli in a reservoir or pipe water does not necessarily indicate faecal contamination but may simply be due to stasis in reservoirs or flow through pipes. These findings lead to two conclusions of importance in regard to the bacteriological examination of water: (1) in testing for the bacterial efficiency of sand filters, samples should be collected from the filter well and not from the clear water reservoir where water is usually stagnant for some hours; (2) in interpreting the results of the examination of pipe waters the possibility of an increase of B. coli having occurred through multiplication in the pipes should always be borne in mind before inferring that such increase is indicative of faecal contamination or leakage in the mains.