bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Statistical analysis of staphylococcal infection in hospital patients in relation to use of antibiotics and Other factors
Authors: Voors A. W. , Stewart G. T.
Published: May 2009

When staphylococcal strains from hospital patients are plotted in a frequency curve according to the size of the growth-free zone in a disk test for sensitivity to penicillin-G, this curve is trimodal. This implies that, besides the sensitive, there are two populations of resistant staphylococci: the moderately and the highly resistant, In a hospital-wide survey of coagulase or mannite positive staphylococci isolated in North Carolina Memorial Hospital between October 1964 and October 1965 it was inferred that: (1) there was a statistically highly significant difference between the distributions of the moderately and the highly resistant strains over duration of hospital stay prior to the time of isolation; (2) the highly resistant strains were seldom introduced from outside; and (3) there was no significant association between use of penicillin-G by a patient harbouring a strain and the frequency with which such a strain was found to be highly resistant to this drug. The latter finding is in contrast to significant associations found when the penicillin resistance is moderate, or when the drug used is other than penicillin-G. It is concluded that a fall in the incidence of staphylococcal strains highly resistant to penicillin-G in patients who did not receive other antibiotics may well be a valid index of the efficacy of programmes to control hospital infection. If so, there is a practical merit in adopting the routine of distinguisning between two groups of penicillin-resistant staphylococci, which behave, epidemiologically, as two distinct bacterial populations.
Water-borne outbreak of viral gastroenteritis and Sonne dysentery
Authors: Green D. M. , Scott Sheila S. , Mowat D. A. E. , Shearer E. J. M. , Thomson J. Macfarlane
Published: May 2009

1. An explosive outbreak of gastroenteritis that affected 40–50% of people in a town of 10,800 inhabitants (Montrose) is described.

2. There is epidemiological evidence that the outbreak was water-borne. The chlorination of the water supply was faulty at the time of the outbreak.

3. Echovirus type 30 and two types of Coxsackie B viruses were isolated from sixteen out of thirty-two patients examined.

4. Shigella sonnei was isolated from the faeces of 110 out of 262 patients and contacts examined. Fifty-six strains tested for colicine activity were all colicine type 4 and had the same antibiotic sensitivity pattern.

5. This particular strain of Shigella sonnei (Montrose strain) spread to surrounding areas, although it disappeared quickly from Montrose.

6. The problem of inactivating virus in water supplies contaminated with sewage is discussed briefly.

We wish to acknowledge the help given by the general practitioners of Montrose and the staff of the Public Health Department of the County of Angus in the collection of specimens and information during the outbreak. We would also like to thank the Laboratory staffs of the diagnostic laboratory and virus laboratory of the Bacteriology Department, University of Dundee and the staff of the laboratory, Stracathro Hospital, for invaluable assistance. We are indebted to Dr R. R. Gillies, Epidemiology Unit, Bacteriology Department, University of Edinburgh, who kindly carried out colicine typing for us and supplied us with strains from his collection, and to Dr R. M. Gordon, Senior Medical Officer, Scottish Home and Health Department and Mr H. F. Scrimgeour, M.I.C.E., A.I.W.E., Engineering Inspector Scottish Development Department, for their assistance during the investigation.
The immune response to viruses in calves: I. Response to Murray Valley encephalitis virus
Authors: Sanderson C. J.
Published: May 2009

Following inoculation of Murray Valley encephalitis virus into calves there was an early transient IgM response. The appearance of IgG was only slightly later than the first appearance of IgM in three calves, and in one calf IgG was detected before IgM. The secondary response was characterized by the more rapid appearance of IgG and the virtual absence of IgM. The IgG was of the electrophoretically fast type; there was an almost insignificant amount of antibody activity in electrophoretically slow fractions. IgM and slow IgG had no complement-fixing activity. IgM and IgG showed different cross-reactions to other group B arboviruses. The different cross-reactions, and the appearance of IgG before IgM in one animal suggests that the switch-over from IgM to IgG synthesis in the response is not the result of either a total or a random proportion of cells producing IgM, changing to IgG production. The fact that the IgG was almost exclusively of fast electrophoretic mobility suggested that the virus antigenic components were strongly basic, and as this is contrary to the chromatographic properties of arboviruses, it is suggested that the virus particles must be broken down before making contact with the factors determining the type of immunoglobulin formed.
Further studies on the antibiotic resistance of Shigella sonnei: II. The acquisition of transferable antibiotic resistance in vivo
Authors: Davies Joan R. , Farrant W. N. , Tomlinson A. J. H.
Published: May 2009

A method is described for the testing of strains of Sh. sonnei for antibiotic resistance, colicine type and drug resistance transfer using a multiple inoculator.

The examination of 731 strains of Sh. sonnei isolated from convalescent cases and their family contacts showed that about 5% of individuals were excreting organisms which differed from the infecting strain by a single transferable antibiotic resistance determinant. It is suggested that the acquisition of such resistance may occur in 13% of family incidents.
The outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Worcestershire
Authors: Henderson R. J.
Published: May 2009

1. Foot-and-mouth disease broke out on three pig farms of the Spetchley area of Worcestershire after the virus had been carried to them in skimmed milk.

2. A study of the natural features of the area and of the climatic conditions during the outbreak show that the wind could have carried the virus from one or other of these three to twenty-six others of the total thirty-two farms infected.

3. Bringing the cattle from the fields and keeping them in their sheds offered no protection. Nine farmers did so but the only effect was that the onset of infection was delayed for a day or so.

4. The direction in which cow-sheds faced likewise made no difference. Openings in the walls for ventilation obviously allowed virus to be carried inside.

Mr J. S. Needham, M.R.C.V.S., first showed me that the wind could have been responsible for the spread of the disease in the Spetchley outbreak. I am glad to be able, after my study, to support his view. I am indebted to Mr V. Harris, Officer-in-charge, R.A.F. Meteorological Station, Pershore, Worcestershire, for the climatic details.
The development of feline cell lines for the growth of feline infectious enteritis (panleucopaenia) virus
Authors: O'Reilly K. J. , Whitaker A. M.
Published: May 2009

Primary kitten kidney cultures are frequently contaminated with wild feline infectious enteritis (FIE) virus and this led the authors to develop feline embryo diploid cell lines. Monolayer cultures were prepared from the lungs or from eviscerated and decapitated carcases of embryos obtained by Caesarian section from healthy pregnant queens. At about the 30th passage, these cells lost their fibroblastic morphology to become polygonal. After a further thirty passages the monolayers exhibited foci of low cell density circumscribed by bands of cells stacked in disorganized arrangement. All the developed cell lines were susceptible to infection with FIE virus and produced intranuclear changes resembling those described by Johnson (1965) in primary kitten kidney monolayers.

On four occasions the cell lines became contaminated withMycoplasmaand although there was evidence that the virus could infect the cells, there was no production of infective virus.

A simple karyotype was devised in which the 38 chromosomes were arranged in three groups according to the arm-length ratio and the percentage mean index length. After the 50th passage many of the nuclei of lung-derived cultures exhibited abnormal chromosomes resulting from ring formation or translocation, whilst those of embryo culture demonstrated a new modal chromosome number of 37.

We are grateful to Mrs L. Hitchcock and Mrs P. Waller, A.I.S.T., for technical assistance, to Mr E. A. Jones, A.I.I.P., for the photomicrographs and to Dr R. H. Johnson, University of Bristol, for supplying the leopard and mink enteritis viruses.
Neutralization tests with varicella-zoster virus
Authors: Caunt Anne E. , Shaw D. G.
Published: May 2009

A technique for neutralization tests using varicella-zoster virus propagated in primary human thyroid cells is described. The level of neutralizing antibody following chickenpox does not usually exceed a titre of 1/40 and in adults many years after infection it may be very low. After zoster a much higher and more persistent antibody response occurs. Contact with chickenpox also produced a rise in neutralizing antibody in one out of the five patients tested. One case who had had chickenpox but not zoster had a high level of neutralizing antibody and the possible reasons for this are discussed. No cross-neutralization withHerpes simplexvirus was demonstrated but the rise in titre of complement-fixing antibody to HS occurring in herpetic subjects with chickenpox (Rosset al.1965) was confirmed. Two samples of human gamma-globulin were shown to have high levels of neutralizing antibody to V-Z virus and one was known to have been found effective clinically.

We are indebted to Dr R. E. Hope-Simpson for the paired contact sera and also for many valuable discussions in the course of this work. We would also like to thank Dr D. Taylor-Robinson who collected the paired zoster sera, Dr R. M. Rawcliffe and Dr F. Whitwell who arranged the supply of thyroid tissue, and Dr G. C. Turner and Dr J. Eller for the samples of human gamma-globulin. We are grateful to Mrs M. Stewart for valuable technical assistance.
Brucellosis in Northern Ireland. A serological survey
Authors: McDevitt D. G. , McCaughey W. J.
Published: May 2009

A serological survey for brucella antibodies has been carried out in Northern Ireland in an attempt to assess the effects of the brucellosis eradication programme in cattle which has been in progress since 1959. One thousand eight hundred and ninety four sera from blood donors, from farmer's lung tests, and from various groups occupationally exposed to cattle were examined by the serum agglutination test, the anti-human globulin (A.H.G.) (Coombs) test and the complement-fixation test.

The incidence of brucellosis in Northern Ireland is now less than it was 20 years ago, but is similar to that reported in a recent survey in England. It now appears that the principal method of transmission of brucellosis in the province is by occupational exposure rather than by drinking infected milk. Though it may be too early to make a serological assessment of the effects on human infections of brucellosis eradication in cattle, this survey provides a basis for future evaluation.

We thank Prof. O. L. Wade, Prof. P. C. Elmes and Dr W. R. Kerr for their encouragement and helpful advice; the Medical Officers of Health in Antrim, Armagh, Down and Fermanagh, Londonderry, and Tyrone, and in Belfast and Londonderry County Borough for help in obtaining blood samples; Dr M. C. Huth of the Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service, for sera; Dr D. W. R. Mackenzie and Miss H. E. Cairns for sera from the Mycology Diagnostic Laboratory; Dr J. H. Connolly for sera from the Virus Reference Laboratory, and for helpful advice; the farm workers and veterinary surgeons for volunteering blood samples; the technical staff of the Veterinary Research Laboratories for carrying out the tests.
Streptococcal infection in young pigs III. The immunity of adult pigs investigated by the bactericidal test
Authors: Agarwal K. K. , Elliott S. D. , Lachmann P. J.
Published: May 2009

Phagocytosis prevents the multiplication of Streptococcus suis in blood samples from conventionally reared adult pigs. It is mediated by antibody, probably IgM, present in the serum of adults and specifically directed against the capsular polysaccharide of S. suis. The blood of young pigs reared in a ‘pathogen-free’ environment allows multiplication of encapsulated S. suis. Of 160 piglets conventionally reared, the blood of 92(58%) did not permit multiplication of S. suis. Blood from the remaining 68(42%) allowed multiplication but became bacteriostatic when the animals reached the age of 6 to 8 weeks. Serum from adult pigs confers bacterio static activity on blood from susceptible piglets in vitro and passively protects such piglets against experimental S. suis infection in vivo.

We thank Dr T. J. L. Alexander, formerly of Ontario Veterinary College, and Mr P. C. Trexler of the Royal Veterinary College, London, for providing us with serum from gnotobiotic pigs.

The work described in this report was carried out by one of us (K. K. A.) during the tenure of a Commonwealth Scholarship and was incorporated in a dissertation submitted for the Ph.D. degree of the University of Cambridge.
Salmonellaexcretion by pet terrapins
Authors: Jephcott A. E. , Martin D. Randall , Stalker R.
Published: May 2009

The infection of a child withSalmonella paratyphiB phage type Battersea caught from his pet terrapins is recorded. In a small subsequent survey a relatively large proportion of these animals was found to be excreting salmonellas. The danger of these seemingly harmless pets is emphasized.

It is a pleasure to acknowledge the help and encouragement given by Dr E. H. Gillespie at all stages in the production of this manuscript. We also thank Dr Joan Taylor and Dr J. Wallace for final identification of some of the organisms isolated and Dr E. S. Anderson for phage typing theSalmonella paratyphi Bstrains.
The isolation of parainfluenza 4 subtypes A and B in England and serological studies of their prevalence
Authors: Gardner Sylvia D.
Published: May 2009

The identification of 18 strains of haemadsorbing viruses as parainfluenza type 4 viruses subtypes A and B is reported, as is a serological survey to show the distribution of antibody to these viruses in various age groups. The results suggest that although isolation of the virus is infrequent, infection in early childhood is common and the viruses may be important respiratory pathogens.

I wish to thank Dr G. B. Bruce White for kindly providing sera and also Dr B. E. Andrews, Dr Suzanne K. R. Clarke, Dr F. O. MacCallum, Dr E. M. Mackay Scollay, Dr Hélène J. Mair and Dr J. O'H. Tobin for sending the strains.
Investigations into the contamination of Ceylon desiccated coconut
Authors: Meedeniya Kamini
Published: May 2009

Investigations were carried out at the desiccated coconut manufacturing ‘Mills’ in Ceylon to attempt to trace the source and sequence of salmonella contamination of desiccated coconut. It was found that one of the sources of contamination was animal excreta found on the mill premises—the yard where the nuts were stacked. Contamination was passed through the successive stages of preparation for manufacture and into the cutter which became the focal point of contamination within the dry section of the mill. The coconut appeared, in the majority of cases, to have been contaminated before drying. Some of the organisms survived the drying process. Two strains ofS. senftenbergwere found to be the most frequent contaminants of desiccated coconut.

These investigations were carried out with the assistance of the laboratory and field staff of the Ceylon Coconut Board, for whose co-operation many thanks are due; thanks are also due to Dr T. Velaudapillai formerly of the Medical Research Institute, Colombo for many helpful suggestions; to Dr Joan Taylor, Salmonella Reference Laboratory, Colindale, for identification of the salmonella serotypes; and to Dr Betty C. Hobbs, Food Hygiene Laboratory, Colinadale, for reading the manuscript.
Experimental encephalitis following peripheral inoculation of West Nile virus in mice of different ages
Authors: Weiner Leslie P. , Cole Gerald A. , Nathanson Neal
Published: May 2009

Experimental arbovirus infections of mice provide a convenient model to study factors which determine the occurrence or severity of encephalitis following ex-traneural infection with certain neurotropic viruses. Varying doses of West Nile or Powassan viruses were inoculated by intraperitoneal or intramuscular routes into mice of varing ages; individual variables were manipulated to influence the outcome of infection. Three patterns of pathogenesis were delineated: (1) Fatal encephalitis, preceded by early viraemia, and invasion of the central nervous system. (2) In-apparent infection, with no detectable viraemia and no evidence of central nervous system invasion. (3) Subclinical encephalitis, usually preceded by trace viraemia, with minimal transient levels of virus in the brain. In this latter type of subclinical infection with a potentially lethal virus, the immune response probably plays an important role in recovery.
Postnatal decline of maternally acquired rubella antibodies
Authors: Cloonan M. J. , Hawkes R. A. , Stevens L. H.
Published: May 2009

The postnatal decline of maternally acquired rubella antibody was studied in a large group of infants. A high degree of variability was found in the rate of antibody decline (half-life). Ninety-two babies had rubella antibody half-lives lying between 14 and 70 days and three had values considerably higher. There was no significant difference between the rubella antibody half-lives of the sexes. The antibody titre at birth was weakly correlated with both birth weight and gestational age. There was a highly significant positive correlation between the baby's antibody titre at birth and that of its mother. There was a positive relationship between the half-life and the persistence of rubella antibody. Some babies had no detectable antibody by 2 months whereas others still possessed antibody at 9 months. It was found that the relationship between the half-life and the rubella antibody titre at or near birth could be described by a rectangular hyperbola.
Sampling rabbit pox aerosols of natural origin
Authors: Thomas G.
Published: May 2009

Natural aerosols of rabbit pox virus produced by groups of infected rabbits were sampled with a slit and Andersen sampler using an adhesive surface sampling technique (Thomas, 1970). The higher rate of successful recoveries of airborne virus compared with a previous report is believed to be due to the much larger volume of air sampled by this technique and to the processing of the whole of the sample collected by the direct addition of a cell suspension to demonstrate the presence of viable virus.
Sewer and drain swabbing as a means of investigating salmonellosis
Authors: Harvey R. W. S. , Price T. H.
Published: May 2009

The use of gauze swabs in drains or sewers to clarify the path followed by a salmonella from source to human host has been reviewed in the light of experience gained in Cardiff over 15 years. This period has seen a marked change in attitudes to salmonella epidemiology in that infected food is now regarded as of greater importance than infected food handlers. In these 15 years, butchers, abattoirs and knackers' yards, markets and bakehouses have been monitored. In the bakehouse survey the existence of staff infection was demonstrated by sewage examination. Sewage investigation has also been used to show frequent entry of salmonellas into households in a residential estate. The estate was carefully chosen to exclude salmonellas from industrial sources and shops. The frequent finding of infection in this sewage implies that a commonly consumed heavily infected food item is involved. The wide range of serotypes isolated suggests an animal usually fed on infected animal feed. Poultry and pigs are put forward as animals liable to spread salmonellosis to man.

It is hoped that clarification of the salmonella pathway may eventually lead to measures likely to prevent the transmission of infection to man. It is also suggested that swabs placed in abattoir drains serve as an economical method of obtaining warning of a persistent build-up of contamination. The persistence of a serotype in an abattoir is not infrequently followed by human infection.
The Resistance of Four Mouse Lines to Bacterial Infection
Authors: Schütze H. , Gorer P. A. , Finlayson M. H.
Published: May 2009

A comparison of Webster's selected, genetically heterogeneous resistant and non-resistant mice (here called mice A and B) has been made with two pure lines of mice (here called D and E) which were discovered to be similarly resistant and non-resistant to certain bacterial infections. In both cases, resistance and non-resistance were very marked characteristics when the infection in question was intraperitoneal inoculation with an organism of theSalmonellagroup; when the infective test dose consisted of intraperitoneal inoculations with aPasteurellaorPneumococcusor of intracranial inoculation with the virus of louping-ill, these characteristics were no longer maintained, there being no certain difference in the mortality rates of the four mice lines.

In an attempt to discover some factor which might help to explain the very notable differences in resistance toSalmonellainfection which exist between these mouse lines, the normal antibody content of their sera was investigated.

In experiments modelled on the bactericidal test, but possibly assessing rather the power of the sera to inhibit growth, it has been shown that both resistant races A and D possess this power to a much greater extent than do the two non-resistant races B and E.

A further examination was the estimation of the antibody response after inoculation with killedSalmonellavaccine. So far as mouse numbers permit of judgment it was seen that the resistant race A produced a higher mean titre of H agglutinin than the non-resistant races B and E.
Note On The Toxicity To Animals Of Some Oxidation Products of 1:4 Dioxan
Authors: Fairley A. , Linton E. C. , Ford-Moore A. H.
Published: May 2009

1. It has been shown that, in vitro, the final oxidation product of 1:4 dioxan is oxalic acid, with diglycollic acid either as an intermediate stage or as a by-product.

2. Renal changes have been produced in rabbits by the intravenous administration of sodium oxalate, and renal and hepatic changes in rabbits and guinea-pigs have followed the application of ethyl oxalate to the skin. These lesions were similar in type to those produced by 1:4 dioxan.

3. The rabbits, in which ethyl oxalate was applied to the skin, showed a well-marked rise in the blood-urea content.

4. Renal changes of a similar type have occurred in rabbits after the intravenous administration of sodium diglycollate. These changes were less constantly observed, and were less in degree than those following intravenous sodium oxalate. Weight for weight sodium diglycollate appeared to be less toxic than sodium oxalate, when given intravenously to rabbits.

5. A possible method by which 1:4 dioxan may produce its effects is suggested, namely that 1: 4 dioxan is oxidised in the tissues to diglycollic and oxalic acids, which are neutralized to diglycollates and oxalates as soon as formed by the alkaline tissue fluids. It is possible that the relative amounts in which these oxidation products occur in the tissues, after the administration of 1:4 dioxan, may vary, and that the severity of the resulting lesions may depend upon this variation.
The Resistance Developed Against Bacteriophage
Authors: Scholtens R. Th.
Published: May 2009

Summary and conclusions

1. Two groups of typhi-phages, one lysing typhoid bacilli only, the other Gaertner bacilli also, have been studied. Each phage stimulated, in Salmonella typhi, resistance to all phages of its own group but none to those of the opposing group.

2. It is probable from the range of their activity, that typhi-phages of the second group attack the receptor IX (of the Kauffmann-White system of Salmonella antigens).

3. There are strong grounds for believing that the phages of the first group, the specific typhi-plages, attack the Vi-antigen of Felix, for

(a) typhoid cultures which are readily agglutinated by Uaertner antiserum are relatively or entirely insensitive to these specific typhi-phages,

(b) the specific typhi-phages transform O-inagglutinable cultures into O-agglutinable forms, and

(c) the Vi-antigen is the only known element of the typhoid bacillus which is peculiar to that organism and so corresponds in specificity with the phage.

4. The fact that resistance acquired against a particular bacteriophage does not prevail against all other bacteriophages is not to be ascribed to the quantitatively differing potency of phages as suggested by d'Hérelle but to their qualitatively different activities. Each type of phage has its particular “point of attack” in the bacterium and the distinct “points of attack” of different phages develop their resistance independently. It seems that, as Marcuse has urged, the “points of attack” are located in the bacterial receptors.
The Influence Of Tuberculosis Upon The Development Of Brucella Abortus Infection
Authors: Pullinger E. J.
Published: May 2009

Summary and conclusion

1. The difficulty of isolating Br. abortus from samples of “dirty” milk by means of guinea-pig inoculation is noted. This has been shown to be due in certain instances to the presence of tubercle bacilli in the inoculum, though this is probably not the full explanation.

2. Following the simultaneous inoculation of virulent tubercle bacilli and Br. abortus into guinea-pigs, the latter infection generally failed to become established, whereas control animals inoculated under the same conditions with Brucella, but without tubercle bacilli, became infected.

Results of the inoculation of the two organisms into opposite sides of guinea-pigs indicate a generalized as well as a local increase of resistance to Br. abortus.

3. It is suggested that the mononuclear cell reaction stimulated by the tubercle bacilli destroyed Br. abortus.

I am indebted to the Directors of the United Dairies, Limited, for their interest and financial support. My thanks are due to Dr W. S. Gordon, Moredun, for sending a virulent strain of Br. abortus.
The Carriage of Plague
Authors: Roberts J. Isgaer
Published: May 2009

Summary

1. Nairobi township and other areas about the Mount Kenya endemic centre have frequently been penetrated by persons suffering from plague, but, at least during the last few years, plague has failed to become established in this way.

2. A survey of rats and fleas, conducted at Mombasa upon 66 truckloads of maize in transit, resulted in no rats being seen or captured, whilst only seven fleas (2 ♂ and 2 ♀ X. cheopis, 1 ♂ and 1 ♀ D. lypusus and 1 ♀ Ct. cabirus) were collected from clean white rats after they had been allowed to run about in the maize.

3. Although maize continues to be repeatedly unloaded and handled at Mombasa, this town has remained free from plague.

4. We have failed to obtain any evidence that the transport of maize from endemic centres by railway is a factor in the dissemination, of plague.
Salmonella Onderstepoort:A New Type ofSalmonellafrom a Sheep
Authors: Henning M. W.
Published: May 2009

Salmonellainfection is fairly frequent in some animals, but is not very common in sheep. Moreover, food poisoning in man associated with mutton is comparatively rare. It is true thatS. typhi-muriumis sometimes referred to as the “mutton type” ofSalmonella(Schütze, 1920; Lovell, 1932b).
The variability in gel-Producting properties of commercial agar and its influence on bacterial growth
Authors: Fulthorpe A. J.
Published: May 2009

1. The rigidity of agar gel in poured agar plates can be tested by a comparatively simple and easily repeatable method.

2. Commercial agar from different sources varies in the rigidity of gel it produces at a given concentration.

3. The rigidity of gel produced by any agar at a given concentration is affected by processing and by the mode of production of poured plates and to some extent by the diluent used.

4. The appearance of a spurious S-R change in colonies of Salmonella and Shigella on media with an increasing agar content is a measure of the rigidity of the agar gel used and not directly of the agar concentration of the medium.

5. The appearance of this spurious S-R change induced by rigid agar bears no relation to the agglutinability of the organism.

6. Both increased or decreased agglutinability of cultures of Salmonella and Shigella is associated with the appearance of colonies of an apparently rough morphology at a lower level of agar rigidity than that at which spurious S-R change develops in a normally agglutinable culture.

7. Without some standardization of the rigidity of the gel used in agar plates, erroneous conclusions may be drawn regarding the antigenic state of the organisms under test.

8. Samples of agar of differing gel rigidity can be blended to form a product producing a gel of a calculated 12 sec. value.

I am indebted to the Director-General, Army Medical Services, for permission to publish this article.
Inter-hospital cross-infection of epidemic infantile gastro-enteritis associated with type strains of Bacterium coli
Authors: Rogers K. B. , Koegler S. J.
Published: May 2009

Evidence of how epidemics of infantile gastro-enteritis can spread from one hospital to at least three other hospitals has been presented. Three such outbreaks are described, in two of which the α-type of Bact. coli, and in one the β-type of Bact. coli, were associated with the cases of enteritis.

It is suggested that in hospitals which admit infants routine examination of the infants' faeces should be made to identify these types of Bact. coli, and that institutional epidemics of gastro-enteritis should be notified to a central bureau together with the cultural findings, so that the pooled knowledge could be redistributed to paediatric centres.

The aetiological relationship between infantile gastro-enteritis and these type strains of Bact. coli is briefly discussed.
The kinetics of the lysis ofBacterium coliby glycine
Authors: Gordon J. , Hall R. A. , Stickland L. H.
Published: May 2009

The lysis ofBacterium colisuspensions brought about by glycine shows the following characteristics:

(1) There is a latent period of 2 hr., followed by a rapid lysis reaching a maximum in about 8 hr.

(2) The extent of the lysis is independent of the dilution of the bacterial suspension over a wide range.

(3) The extent of the lysis increases with the glycine concentration up to 10M, but is approaching a limit at this concentration.

(4) The lysis is negligible below pH 5 and above pH 10, and shows a maximum rate in the region of pH 6–5–8–5.

(5) The rate of lysis has a very high temperature coefficient (Q10 of the order of 5).
Surviving tissue suspensions for influenza virus titration
Authors: Fulton Forrest , Armitage P. , Friend J. E.
Published: May 2009

A new method of titrating the infectivity of egg-adapted influenza virus suspensions is described.

For this purpose a plastic tray has been made, drilled with one hundred conical cups. In each cup a small piece of chorio-allantoic membrane from a chick embryo is suspended in a buffered salt solution. To these surviving tissue suspensions virus dilutions are added, and the tray is put in an incubator and rocked mechanically for 60 hr.

In those cups in which the inoculum has been sufficiently large, the membrane becomes infected by the virus which multiplies within the cells and, bursting out, builds up by infection of other cells a high concentration of virus in the suspending fluid. The virus multiplication is detected by removing the pieces of tissue and adding to the cups a drop of washed chicken erythrocytes. The presence of virus in the cup is shown by the pattern of the sedimented erythrocytes, and virus multiplication is inferred because the original seed virus is too dilute to be detectable by haemagglutination.

The method has been compared with in ovo titration. As a means of detecting egg-adapted infective virus, the tissue suspension is between 20 and 80 times less sensitive; as a titration system, however, approximately one cup is equivalent to one egg, so that by using sufficient replicates accurate assays of infective virus can be made.

The technique is readily adaptable to the titration of serum-neutralizing antibodies.

In addition to haemagglutination, the infectivity end-point of the titration can also be estimated by a specific complement fixation test, and it is suggested that, with modifications, the new technique may be applicable to the titration of a large number of other viruses.
The preparation, testing and standardization of typhoid vaccine
Authors: Felix A.
Published: May 2009

1. The review of the laboratory evidence published since the introduction, ten years ago, of the alcohol-treated typhoid vaccine furnishes additional support for abandoning the old method of making typhoid vaccine. The alcohol-treated vaccine has advantages in regard to both the Vi-antibody response and the degree of systemic reactions produced.

2. The technique of the preparation of alcohol-killed and alcohol-preserved typhoid-paratyphoid vaccine has remained as originally described. The methods of selecting the vaccine strains and routinely examining the cultures have also remained unchanged.

3. The necessity of testing typhoid vaccines not only by active-immunity tests in mice but also for their antibody-stimulating properties is again stresssed. These tests consist of immunization of rabbits, estimation of their Vi- and O-agglutinin titres and passive-immunity tests in mice.

4. The most important sources of error in mouse-protection tests are:

(a) the use of a test culture of less than the maximum degree of mouse-virulence;

(b) the use of the mucin technique;

(c) immunization by intraperitoneal injections when the challenge dose also is given by this route.

Much of the experimental work on typhoid vaccine has been invalidated by these three pitfalls.

5. It is suggested that the mucin technique be abandoned in the assay of typhoid vaccine.

6. A source of error in the rabbit test is the presence of pre-formed Vi agglutinins. These are found in rabbits harbouring coliform organisms which possess the typhoid Vi antigen. Such rabbits do not respond to injections of typhoid Viantigen.

7. Standardization of the potency of typhoid vaccine has now become possible. Either an alcohol-preserved or a dried vaccine can serve as ‘standard vaccine’, to be used in combination with the ‘Provisional Standard Anti-typhoid Serum’. Both of these vaccines remain stable for a number of years.

8. Suggestions are briefly outlined for:

(a) the routine examination in the course of preparation of the vaccine;

(b) the official control of the potency of typhoid vaccine.

9.The paratyphoid components of T.A.B.C. vaccine can be standardized in an analogous manner.
A hospital outbreak of typhoid fever
Authors: Bradley W.H , Evans L. Wilson , Taylor Ian
Published: May 2009

1. An epidemic of typhoid fever involving 135 persons in a semi-closed community of. 742 persons is described.

2. There were nineteen symptomless excreters (14·1%).

3. Among the 116 clinical cases there were seven deaths, giving a case fatality of 6.03%. If the case fatality were calculated on the total persons involved (including symptomless excreters), the figure would be 5·2%.

4. The origin of the outbreak was not discovered, but there was strong cricumstantial evidence in favour of a milk-borne infection.
Studies on respiratory infection: II. The influence of aerosol particle size on infection of the guinea-pig with Pasteurella pestis
Authors: Druett H. A. , Robinson J. M. , Henderson D. W. , Packman L. , Peacock S.
Published: May 2009

The LD50 dose of Past. pestis is much greater when tested by the respiratory route than by subcutaneous challenge. This is probably due to trauma inflicted on the airborne particles.

Two forms of plague, both originating in the respiratory tract of the guinea-pig, can develop according to the size of the particle containing Past. pestis presented to the host. Small particles initiate a broncho-pneumonia which leads to septicaemia and death. Large particles establish a septicaemia, and death results more quickly without the development of a pneumonia.

Cross-infection to normal animals occurs irregularly when they are exposed to others developing plague by the respiratory route. Such incident is rare when the initially infected animals are exposed to large particles. Cross-infected animals suffer from the disease characteristic of exposure to large particles. Attempts to establish an epizootic by cross-respiratory infection were abortive, probably due, in some measure, to the type of disease developing in first cross-infections.
The distribution of vaccinia virus, complement-fixing antigen and haemagglutinin throughout the egg after inoculation of the chorio-allantoic membrane
Authors: Tobin Barbara M.
Published: May 2009

Vaccinia virus inoculated on the chorio-allantois and causing infection spread to the uninoculated part of the membrane, the embryo, the allantoic and amniotic fluids and the yolk within 1 day.

The virus grew in the embryo and possibly in the uninoculated part of the chorio-allantois, but in the latter no macroscopic lesions were detected.

Virus increased in amount in the allantoic fluid and may have grown in the lining of the allantoic sac; it did not increase in the amniotic fluid; it was present in yolk and increased slightly but its local growth was doubtful.

The presence of haemagglutinin and complement-fixing antigen was related to the amount of virus.

Allantoic fluid from infected eggs could be a ready source of antigen for complement-fixation.
Haemolytic disease of the newborn piglet
Authors: Goodwin R. F. W. , Heard D. H. , Hayward B. H. G. , Roberts G. Fulton
Published: May 2009

Four litters of newborn piglets suffering from haemolytic disease of four different grades of severity, were observed clinically. Pallor and mild jaundice were evident in some cases, but the activity of the piglets was not reduced except in the terminal stages of fatal cases. Malnutrition affected a number of piglets sometimes from fortuitous factors. In mild cases there were no clinical symptoms, and the disease could be detected only by demonstrating a fall in haemoglobin level or sensitization of the red cells.

Several blood group systems were concerned in the genesis of the disease in these piglets and both agglutinating and incomplete antibodies were shown to be present in the piglets' circulations; in one case antibody was found in the piglet's circulation only 3½ hr. after suckling started, and by 4 hr. the titre of free antibody was 256. The antibodies did not pass the placenta.

In severe cases a rapid fall in haemoglobin, interrupted by a sharp, transient rise, and accompanied by reticulocytosis and erythroblastaemia, was characteristic of the first 24 hr.; this was followed in some cases by a prolonged low level of haemoglobin before recovery started.

In some of the animals that died, severe and widespread focal necrosis of the liver, together with degeneration and necrosis in the kidney, were marked. Pigment deposits and erythrophagocytosis were common in nearly all organs but abnormal extramedullary erythropoiesis was not observed.

A number of haematological, serological and biochemical findings are recorded.
The immunity to Salmonella gallinarum infection in chickens produced by live cultures of members of the Salmonella genus
Authors: Smith H. Williams
Published: May 2009

1. The immunity to Salm. gallinarum infection produced by injecting chickens with live cultures of different species of Salmonella and other bacteria has been studied.

2. Salm. pullorum produced a complete immunity equal to that produced by Salm. gallinarum itself. The immunity evoked by 11 of 12 other Salmonella species belonging to group D, although substantial, was less complete. Three of four rough group D strains and an avirulent strain of B. coli produced no immunity. Although a considerable degree of immunity was produced by the fourth rough strain it was not equal to that produced by rough strains of Salm. gallinarum.

3. Owing to their lethal nature, it was not possible to be definite about the extent of the immunity produced by two group B strains, Salm. typhi-murium and Salm. Chester, although it may have been equal to that produced by the group D strains.

4. A slight but definite degree of immunity was produced by two group C and two group E Salmonella cultures. Since this immunity was no better than that possessed by chickens previously infected with either Pasteurella septica or Staphylococcus aureus, it was considered to be non-specific in character.
The Varying Epidemiology of Q Fever in the South-East Region of Great Britain I. In an Urban Area
Authors: Marmion B. P. , Harvey M. S.
Published: May 2009

An investigation in an urban area of south-east Kent of 160 patients who had had either pneumonia or unexplained fever during the period from the end of 1948 to the beginning of 1954 revealed that twenty-three (14%) had probably had Q fever.

A comparison of the epidemiological histories of patients who had had Q fever with those of the remainder showed that the use of a household supply of raw milk was commoner among the former.

Occupational exposure to animals (or animal products), visits to potentially infectious places, or residence near potential sources of infection were not significantly more frequent among the Q-fever cases as compared with the controls.

The isolation ofRickettsia burnetifrom the bulked milk of some local herds supplying retail dairies in the towns, together with the general epidemiological evidence, suggested that Q fever in the towns was predominantly milk-borne.
The mechanism and prevention of cross-infection in dermatological wards
Authors: Selwyn S.
Published: May 2009

Over a 2-year period a dermatology department was shown to be a valid model for the long-term study of hospital cross-infection. In the absence of specific anti-bacterial measures, consistently high levels of Staph. aureus and Gram-negative bacilli were found throughout the environment. ‘Broadcasts’ of Staph. aureus were particularly evident in the bathrooms, and notable sites of heavy, cumulative contamination were the communal baths, bedding, settled dust, and the hands of the staff.

Cross-infection of lesions occurred in ninety-four of the 233 ‘uncontrolled’ patients—15 cases being due to Gram-negative bacilli. Autogenous infection occurred in another fifteen cases. Nasal carriage of Staph. aureus developed in fifty-one patients after admission.

In one of the two main wards nasal disinfection (with ‘Soframycin’ nebulizers) was used for 4 months, and was effective in the treatment and prevention of nasal carriage; but it produced no change in the level of environmental contamination or in the incidence of cross-infection—even though efficient cleansing of the baths was also instituted. In contrast, during two separate periods of the work disinfection of skin lesions (with ‘Rikospray Antibiotic’) markedly reduced the counts of pathogens in the environment, and virtually abolished both cross-infection and the development of nasal carriage.
Studies on the pathogenesis of rinderpest in experimental cattle: IV. Proliferation of the virus following contact infection
Authors: Taylor W. P. , Plowright W. , Pillinger R. , Rampton C. S. , Staple R. F.
Published: May 2009

Cattle were infected with rinderpest virus by housing them for 24 hr. in stalls containing donor animals which had been reacting to the disease for 3–5 days. They were then transferred to individual clean stalls and killed on the 2nd to 10th days following first exposure. Various tissues were collected, particularly those of the upper and lower respiratory tracts, and their virus content was estimated in calf-kidney tissue cultures.

Virus was recovered from 15 of 35 animals tested and in eight of these generalization had occurred, although only two had begun to show a pyrexial response. The stage of the infection could not be predicted from the time that had elapsed following exposure, since early, limited proliferation was encountered on the 3rd to the 10th days.

It was considered that seven animals gave indications of the pathways by which natural infection had occurred. In each of these virus proliferation was established very early in the pharyngeal lymph node; in three the submaxillary lymph node was similarly involved and in four the palatal tonsil. It was suggested that these data probably indicated that infection always occurred via the upper respiratory tract.

In three cases virus titres were highest in the bronchial or costocervical lymph nodes; this was construed as evidence for the additional involvement of the lower respiratory tract in primary infection.

No infectivity could be demonstrated in the mucosae or lung parenchyma associated with the above-mentioned lymph nodes and this, together with previously published data, was accepted as strong presumptive evidence that the infecting virus passes through the mucosae without producing a local lesion or proliferating there. These results were compared briefly with those of Bedson & Duckworth (1963) for rabbit pox.
An assessment of oil adjuvant and aqueous influenza vaccines: II. Antibody responses to the vaccines
Authors: Forsyth J. R. L. , Russell Esther E.
Published: May 2009

In trials with polyvalent commercial influenza vaccines the antibody responses to oil-adjuvant vaccine persisted longer and were often higher. Antibody conversion was poor after all vaccines and delayed after adjuvant.
Laboratory transmission of Enterobacteriaceae by the oriental cockroach,Blatta orientalis
Authors: Burgess N. R. H. , McDermott S. N. , Whiting J.
Published: May 2009

Methods of maintaining and feeding and of infecting cockroaches with pathogenic organisms were investigated.

Cockroaches fed on known concentrations ofEscherichia coli0119,Esch. coliO1, Alkalescens Dispar O group 2 andShigella dysenteriae1 (Shiga's Bacillus) were maintained in Petri dishes. The effect of various diets on the survival of these organisms within the hind-gut and faeces was observed. With a ‘normal’ diet of gruelEsch. coli0119 was isolated for up to 20 days,Esch. coliO1 for 17 days and ADO 2 for 15 days.Sh. dysenteriae1 was isolated only sporadically to the third day.
The use of the conglutinating complement fixation test in the diagnosis of human brucellosis
Authors: Farrell I. D. , Hinchliffe P. M. , Robertson L.
Published: May 2009

The conglutinating complement fixation test was compared with the haemolytic complement fixation test for the detection of brucella antibodies in human sera. Conglutinating-complement-fixation antibodies were detectable during the early stages of acute brucellosis and persisted for approximately 1 year after the infection.
Antibody responses in patients with farmer's lung disease to antigens fromThermoactinomyces vulgaris
Authors: Hollingdale M. R.
Published: May 2009

A serological analysis of mycelial antigens ofThermoactinomyces vulgarisin immunodiffusion with human sera revealed five individual antigens. Three antigens were proteins, sensitive to pronase and soluble in phenol. Two were cationic polysaccharides, sensitive to sodium periodate, and containing glucosamine and muramic acid.

Latex coated with mycelial antigens was compared with precipitin tests in detecting antibodies toT. vulgaris;the number of positive results detected by each test differed slightly, and a combination of the two tests detected the highest number. Counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIE) was shown to be a very sensitive method for detecting precipitins, but not for their measurement. A prospective evaluation of immunodiffusion, latex agglutination and CIE as potential serodiagnostic techniques for farmer's lung disease is suggested.