bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Selective Broth Medium Plus Neomycin-Nalidixic Acid Agar and Selective Broth Medium Plus Columbia Colistin-Nalidixic Acid Agar for Detection of Group B Streptococcal Colonization in Women
Authors: Dunne W. Michael 
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACT
The combination of neomycin-nalidixic acid (NNA) agar and a selective broth medium (SBM) has recently been shown to improve the sensitivity of screening cultures for group B streptococcal (GBS) carriage in women. Because of the relatively high cost of NNA agar, a study was initiated to determine whether Columbia colistin-nalidixic acid (CNA) agar would be an equally sensitive, more economical alternative. A total of 580 cervical-vaginal and/or rectal specimens submitted for detection of GBS were included in the study. Each was plated onto NNA and CNA agar and then inoculated into SBM. GBS were recovered from 95 of 580 (16.4%) specimens, including 61 isolates from CNA, 74 from NNA, 73 from the CNA-SMB combination, and 86 from the NNA-SMB tandem. Of those, 22 isolates were recovered on NNA but not CNA, 9 were cultured on CNA but not NNA, 52 were isolated on both media, and 12 were recovered from subcultures of SBM only. The overall sensitivity of CNA alone (64.2%) was statistically significantly less than that of NNA agar (77.9%), as was the sensitivity of combination of CNA plus SBM (76.8%) compared to that of NNA plus SBM (90.5%). Based on these findings, CNA should not be considered an acceptable alternative to NNA for the detection of GBS colonization in women despite potential cost savings.
Effects of OspA Vaccination on Lyme Disease Serologic Testing
Authors: Aguero-Rosenfeld Maria E. , Roberge Janet , Carbonaro Carol A. , Nowakowski John , Nadelman Robert B. , Wormser Gary P. 
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACT

This study presents the effects of OspA vaccination on two-step testing for
Borrelia burgdorferi
antibodies. Although vaccinees developed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay reactivity, immunoblots did not fulfill Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria for positivity. Furthermore, OspA reactivity did not interfere with interpretation of immunoblots with sera from patients who developed early Lyme disease despite vaccination.
Characterization of Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase-Producing
Salmonella typhimurium
by Phenotypic and Genotypic Typing Methods
Authors: Ait Mhand Rajaa , Brahimi Naima , Moustaoui Najat , El Mdaghri Naima , Amarouch Hamid , Grimont Francine , Bingen Edouard , Benbachir Mohamed 
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACT

During 1994, 10 isolates of extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing
Salmonella typhimurium
were recovered from children transferred to our hospital from two different centers. Two additional isolates were recovered from two nurses from one of these centers. The aim of this study was to determine if there is any relationship between these isolates. The characterization was done by phenotypic and genotypic methods: biotyping, phage typing, antibiotic susceptibility pattern determination, plasmid analysis, ribotyping (by the four endonucleases
Eco
RI,
Sma
I,
Bgl
II, and
Pvu
II), pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) of genome macrorestriction patterns with
Xba
I, and randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) pattern determination (with the three primers 217 d2, B1, and A3). The same biotype, the same serotype, and an identical antibiotype were found. All isolates were resistant to oxyimino-β-lactams, gentamicin, tobramycin, and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim. All isolates showed an indistinguishable pattern by ribotyping and very similar patterns by PFGE and RAPD. The overall results indicated the spread of a closely related strain of
S. typhimurium
in children and nurses.
Spread of a
Salmonella typhimurium
Clone Resistant to Expanded-Spectrum Cephalosporins in Three European Countries
Authors: Tassios P. T. , Gazouli M. , Tzelepi E. , Milch H. , Kozlova N. , Sidorenko S. , Legakis N. J. , Tzouvelekis L. S. 
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACT

Twelve
Salmonella typhimurium
strains resistant to broad-spectrum cephalosporins were isolated from cases of gastroenteritis during 1996 to 1998 in Russia, Hungary, and Greece. Resistance was due to the production of CTX-M-type extended-spectrum β-lactamases encoded by similar 12-kb plasmids. By pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, all strains shared the same chromosomal type. These data suggest that an
S. typhimurium
clone resistant to broad-spectrum cephalosporins is present in at least three European countries.
Molecular Epidemiological Investigation Using a Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA Assay of
Burkholderia cepacia
Isolates from Nosocomial Outbreaks
Authors: Okazaki Mitsuhiro , Watanabe Takashi , Morita Koji , Higurashi Yoshimi , Araki Koji , Shukuya Naoko , Baba Shigeyuki , Watanabe Noboru , Egami Teruo , Furuya Nobushige , Kanamori Masato , Shimazaki Shuji , Uchimura Hidemasa 
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACT

We experienced two
Burkholderia cepacia
outbreaks over a 1-year period. During this period, 28
B. cepacia
isolates were obtained from clinical specimens, and 2 were obtained from environmental specimens (i.e., from a nebulizer solution and a nebulizer tube). These 30 isolates were subjected to the PCR-based randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) assay as well as to pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). In the first outbreak, in which eight patients hospitalized in the Trauma and Critical Care Center were involved, the RAPD assay revealed that all 20 isolates obtained from clinical specimens and the 2 isolates from environmental specimens had identical DNA profiles. These RAPD data enabled us to pinpoint a possible source and to take countermeasures to prevent further spread of the epidemic-causing strain. In the second outbreak, two consecutive
B. cepacia
infection/colonization cases were seen in the surgery ward. The RAPD profiles of four isolates obtained were again identical, but they were distinct from those seen in the first outbreak, clearly indicating that the second outbreak was not related to the first. Thus, our experience demonstrated that the RAPD assay is a useful and reliable tool for epidemiological studies of
B. cepacia
isolates from nosocomial outbreaks. Since the RAPD assay could provide discriminatory potential and reproducibility comparable to those of the widely used PFGE assay with less complexity and in a shorter time, the introduction of the RAPD assay into hospital microbiology laboratories as a routine technique may help prevent nosocomial outbreaks.
Determination of Bovine Rotavirus G and P Serotypes in Italy by PCR
Authors: Falcone E. , Tarantino M. , Di Trani L. , Cordioli P. , Lavazza A. , Tollis M. 
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACT
Determination of the G and P serotypes of group A bovine rotaviruses from 149 samples of feces or intestinal contents collected from calves showing clinical signs of neonatal diarrhea was performed by a nested reverse transcription-PCR typing assay. The G6 serotype was the most prevalent, accounting for viruses in 55.7% of the samples; viruses of the G10 and G8 serotypes were found in 34.9 and 4.7% of the samples, respectively. The virus in one sample (0.7%) was not classified due to concomitant infection with G6 and G8 strains, whereas viruses in six samples (4.0%) could not be characterized with any of the three G serotype-specific primers selected for the present study. When examined for their P-serotype specificities, viruses in 55 and 42.3% of the samples were characterized as P[11] and P[5], respectively, no P[1] serotype was identified, and viruses in 2.7% of the samples could not be classified due to multiple reactivity with both P[5]- and P[11]-specific primers. Various combinations of G and P serotypes were observed, the most frequent being G6,P[5] (38.3%), G10,P[11] (31.5%), and G6,P[11] (15.4%). The results of the present study, while contributing to a better understanding of the epidemiology of bovine rotaviruses in Italy, address the relevance of serotype specificity with regard to the constancy of the quality of bovine rotavirus vaccines under different field conditions.
Molecular Epidemiology of Vancomycin-Resistant
Enterococcus faecium
in a Large Urban Hospital over a 5-Year Period
Authors: Bischoff Werner E. , Reynolds Tammy M. , Hall Gaye O. , Wenzel Richard P. , Edmond Michael B. 
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACT

To investigate the dissemination of vancomycin-resistant
Enterococcus faecium
(VREF) in a 728-bed tertiary-care hospital, all clinical VREF isolates recovered from June 1992 to June 1997 were typed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, and the transfer histories of the patients were documented. A total of 413 VREF isolates from urine (52%), wounds (16%), blood (11%), catheter tips (6%), and other sites (15%) were studied. VREF specimens mostly came from patients on wards (66%) but 34% came from patients in an intensive care unit. The number of VREF isolates progressively increased over time, with higher rates of isolation during the winter months and lower rates in the late summer months. Four distinct banding patterns were detected by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis among 316 samples (76%). Strain A (122 samples; 30%) appeared in June 1992 as the first VREF strain and was found until December 1994 throughout the entire hospital. Type B (92 samples; 22%) was initially detected in January 1994 and disappeared in November 1996. Strain C (10 samples; 2%) was limited to late 1996 and early 1997. Strain D (92 samples; 22%) showed two major peaks during March 1996 to August 1996 and January 1997 to February 1997. Unrelated strains (97 samples; 24%) appeared 1 year after the appearance of the first VREF isolate, and the numbers increased slightly over the years. Nosocomial acquisition (i.e., no known detection prior to admission and first isolation from cultures performed with samples retrieved ≥2 days after hospitalization) was found for 316 (91%) of 347 patients. Despite the implementation of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, the proportion of related strains and high number of nosocomial cases of infection indicate a high transmission rate inside the hospital. The results imply an urgent need for stringent enforcement of more effective infection control measures.
Rapid Diagnosis of Tuberculous Meningitis by a Dot Immunobinding Assay To Detect Mycobacterial Antigen in Cerebrospinal Fluid Specimens
Authors: Sumi M. G. , Mathai A. , Sarada C. , Radhakrishnan V. V. 
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACT

In the present prospective study, a dot immunobinding assay (Dot-Iba) was standardized to measure the circulating mycobacterial antigen in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens for the laboratory diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis (TBM). Immunoglobulin G antibody specific for
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
in a CSF specimen from a patient with culture-proven TBM was isolated and was coupled with activated cyanogen bromide-Sepharose 4B. By immunosorbent affinity chromatography, a 14-kDa antigen was isolated from the culture filtrate of
M. tuberculosis
. Antibody to the 14-kDa mycobacterial antigen was raised in rabbits. The Dot-Iba in this study gave no false-positive results with CSF specimens from patients with nontuberculous neurological diseases. The assay gave positive results for all five patients with culture-proven TBM. The Dot-Iba described in the present report is simple, rapid, sensitive, specific, and, more importantly, suitable for routine application in laboratories in developing countries.
Microdilution Susceptibility Testing of Amphotericin B, Itraconazole, and Voriconazole against Clinical Isolates of
Aspergillus
and
Fusarium
Species
Authors: Arikan Sevtap , Lozano-Chiu Mario , Paetznick Victor , Nangia Sunaina , Rex John H. 
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACT

We compared the activities of amphotericin B, itraconazole, and voriconazole against clinical
Aspergillus
(
n
= 82) and
Fusarium
(
n
= 22) isolates by a microdilution method adopted from the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS-M27A). RPMI 1640 (RPMI), RPMI 1640 supplemented to 2% glucose (RPMI-2), and antibiotic medium 3 supplemented to 2% glucose (AM3) were used as test media. MICs were determined after 24, 48, and 72 h. A narrow range of amphotericin B MICs was observed for
Aspergillus
isolates, with minor variations among species. MICs for
Fusarium
isolates were higher than those for
Aspergillus
isolates. MICs of itraconazole were prominently high for two previously defined itraconazole-resistant
Aspergillus fumigatus
isolates and
Fusarium solani
. Voriconazole showed good in vitro activity against itraconazole-resistant isolates, but the MICs of voriconazole for
F. solani
were high. RPMI was the most efficient medium for detection of itraconazole-resistant isolates, followed by RPMI-2. While the significance remains unclear, AM3 lowered the MICs, particularly those of amphotericin B.
Differentiation of Two Biovars of
Ureaplasma urealyticum
Based on the 16S-23S rRNA Intergenic Spacer Region
Authors: Harasawa Ryô , Kanamoto Yasuo 
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACT

The 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer regions of 14 strains representing the 14 serovars of
Ureaplasma urealyticum
were amplified by PCR and sequenced for genetic differentiation between the two biovars Parvo and T960. Although the spacer region of the Parvo and T960 biovars comprised 302 nucleotides and lacked spacer tRNA genes, 15 nucleotides were different between the two biovars. The four nucleotide sequences of the 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer region of serovars 1, 3, 6, and 14 in the Parvo biovar were found to be identical. Similarly, the 10 nucleotide sequences of the 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer region of serovars 2, 4, 5, and 7 to 13 in the T960 biovar were found to be identical. The nucleotide sequence of the T960 biovar contains multiple restriction sites for restriction endonuclease
Ssp
I, which allows differentiation of the T960 biovar from the Parvo biovar.
Rare Incidence of Interspousal Transmission of
Helicobacter pylori
in Asymptomatic Individuals in Japan
Authors: Suzuki Junko , Muraoka Hiroe , Kobayasi Intetsu , Fujita Toshiro , Mine Tetsuya 
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACT

PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism electrophoretic patterns of amplified
ureB
and
ureC
of
Helicobacter pylori
were compared between spouses after digestion with restriction endonucleases. Twenty of 21 couples, both members of which were positive for
H. pylori
, showed
ureB
and
ureC
patterns that differed between spouses. We concluded that in Japan, interspousal transmission of
H. pylori
occurs rarely.
Direct Detection of Sabin Poliovirus Vaccine Strains in Stool Specimens of First-Dose Vaccinees by a Sensitive Reverse Transcription-PCR Method
Authors: Buonagurio Deborah A. , Coleman John W. , Patibandla Sai A. , Prabhakar Bellur S. , Tatem Joanne M. 
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACTA multiplex reverse transcription-PCR method was optimized to monitor the duration of excretion of Sabin poliovirus strains in stools of vaccinees following administration of the first dose of the trivalent oral vaccine. The assay detected approximately 1 50% tissue culture infective dose of each poliovirus serotype spiked into cell culture media. Although PCR inhibitors were frequently encountered in the stool specimens, a 1:20 dilution of the extracted RNA was sufficient to obtain a positive PCR result. Analysis of 195 stool specimens collected from 26 vaccinees showed that poliovirus types 1, 2, and 3 were identified more frequently by PCR than by tissue culture isolation. The percentages of specimens positive by PCR for poliovirus types 1, 2, and 3 were 67.2, 82.6, and 53.8, respectively. In contrast, the culture method identified types 1, 2, and 3 virus in 55.4, 64.1, and 27.7% of the samples, respectively. Poliovirus type 2 excretion was detected by PCR in practically all of the oral poliovirus vaccine recipients for 4 to 8 weeks following vaccination. In contrast, excretion of type 1 and 3 viruses was more variable, with a range of 1 to 8 weeks. Shedding of type 3 virus ceased in ∼70% of vaccinees within a week after immunization. In addition to an enhanced sensitivity for the detection of poliovirus, this PCR method permits the direct characterization of virus in stool specimens without further passage in culture, which may select for genetic variants that may not accurately reflect the virus composition in the original specimen.
Evaluation of a Rapid Immunochromatographic Test for Detection of Antibodies to Human Immunodeficiency Virus
Authors: Arai Hiroyasu , Petchclai Bencha , Khupulsup Kalayanee , Kurimura Takashi , Takeda Katsumichi 
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACT
A new immunochromatographic rapid test, Determine HIV-1/2, for the detection of antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and HIV-2 in human whole blood, serum, and plasma was evaluated. Determine HIV-1/2 is a sandwich immunoassay and uses a nitrocellulose strip with a capture site for the patient’s results and a procedural control site to confirm the validity of the assay. The results can be read visually, and a positive result is indicated by the formation of a red line within 15 min after sample application. The test showed 100% sensitivity for HIV-1 with 102 whole-blood, 152 serum, and 144 plasma samples obtained from Ramathibodi Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand. The sensitivity of the test for HIV-2 was 100% with 100 serum or plasma samples obtained from Ivory Coast. The sensitivity of the test with 4 anti-HIV-1 seroconversion panels from Boston Biomedica Inc. was equivalent to or better than those of another agglutination assay with serum or plasma and the enzyme immunoassay licensed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The specificity was 100% with 367 sets of whole-blood, serum, and plasma samples from Ramathibodi Hospital. This method had an analytical sensitivity for the detection of HIV-1 equivalent to or better than that of another agglutination assay with serum or plasma. This test had an analytical sensitivity for the detection of HIV-1 better than that of another immunochromatographic test with whole blood. This evaluation demonstrated the excellent performance of this immunochromatographic test with EDTA-anticoagulated whole-blood, serum, and plasma samples. We conclude that this test is suitable for use in emerging countries and is an excellent alternative to HIV antibody testing at remote sites, as well as in traditional laboratories.
Evaluation of a Microplate Latex Agglutination Method (Verotox-F Assay) for Detecting and Characterizing Verotoxins (Shiga Toxins) in
Escherichia coli
Authors: Karmali Mohamed A. , Petric Martin , Bielaszewska Martina 
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACT

The performance of a commercial microplate latex agglutination assay, the Verotox-F assay, was compared with that of the Vero cell assay for the detection and characterization of
Escherichia coli
verocytotoxins (VTs). Culture filtrates of 68 VT-positive
E. coli
strains (65 human isolates [33 of serotype O157:H7/H−, 32 of non-O157 serotypes] and 3 reference strains) and 104 VT-negative strains (100 human isolates and 4 reference strains) were investigated. The toxin phenotypes and genotypes of the 68 VT-positive isolates were VT1 only (18 strains), VT2 and/or VT2c (33 strains), and VT1 plus VT2 (17 strains). The Verotox-F assay involved incubation of serial dilutions of culture filtrates with equal volumes of latex particles sensitized with anti-VT1 antibody or anti-VT2 antibody in 96-well microtiter plates with appropriate controls and examination for latex agglutination after 20 to 24 h. Compared to the results of the Vero cell assay, the Verotox-F assay was 100% sensitive and 100% specific for the detection of VTs in culture filtrates and correctly identified the toxin types of all 68 VT producers. By checkerboard titration with purified toxins, the sensitivity of the Verotox-F assay was found to be 14 pg (0.7 ng/ml) for VT1, 12 pg (0.6 ng/ml) for VT2, and 350 pg (17.5 ng/ml) for VT2c; this sensitivity is comparable to that of the bioassay. The anti-VT2 latex reagent detected both VT2 and VT2c and did not cross-react with VT1. The anti-VT1 reagent showed a low-level cross-reaction with VT2c only at levels (≥4.5 μg/ml) that were about 1,000-fold higher than those found in culture filtrates. We conclude that the Verotox-F assay is highly sensitive and specific for the detection and characterization of VTs in culture filtrates of human
E. coli
isolates. The test is rapid, reliable, and easy to perform; its results are easy to interpret; and it should allow testing for VT to become more widely performed.
Test Characteristics of Acridine Orange, Gram, and May-Grünwald-Giemsa Stains for Enumeration of Intracellular Organisms in Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid
Authors: De Brauwer Els , Jacobs Jan , Nieman Fred , Bruggeman Cathrien , Drent Marjolein 
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACT
For enumeration of intracellular organisms (ICO) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid samples, the May-Grünwald-Giemsa (MGG) stain displayed higher interobserver agreement than the acridine orange and Gram stains. The MGG stain offered a reliable enumeration of ICO when 200 cells were counted by one observer.
PCR–Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for Detection and Identification of
Campylobacter
Species: Application to Isolates and Stool Samples
Authors: Metherell L. A. , Logan J. M. J. , Stanley J. 
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACT

We report a PCR–enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay which identifies
Campylobacter
species by capture hybridization of a single-stranded 16S rRNA gene amplicon with species-specific probes in a microtiter plate format. Specificities were confirmed for both reference and field strains, but the type strain of
Campylobacter coli
was atypical. The assay was rapid, informative, and usable with stool-extracted DNA.
Baculovirus Expression of Chimeric Hepatitis B Virus Core Particles with Hepatitis E Virus Epitopes and Their Use in a Hepatitis E Immunoassay
Authors: Touze Antoine , Enogat Nathalie , Buisson Yves , Coursaget Pierre 
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACT
Two hepatitis B core proteins bearing the immunodominant region of the hepatitis E virus (HEV) capsid protein, one at the C terminus of hepatitis B virus core antigen (HBcAg) and the other within the HBcAg immunodominant loop, were constructed. Both chimeric proteins exhibited HEV reactivity, but only the first construct retained HBcAg reactivity. The second construct was used to develop an anti-HEV test which is equivalent to a commercial test for the detection of anti-HEV immunoglobulin G (IgG) but is more sensitive for the detection of anti-HEV IgM.
Utility of PCR Assay in Diagnosis of En-Plaque Tuberculoma of the Brain
Authors: Singh K. K. , Nair M. D. , Radhakrishnan K. , Tyagi J. S. 
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACT

This is the first report of a case in which diagnosis of en-plaque tuberculoma on the basis of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings was confirmed by a
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
complex-specific PCR assay of cerebrospinal fluid. The accuracy of the diagnosis was supported by good response to antitubercular drugs, which was shown by repeat MRI studies performed after treatment.
Retrospective Analysis of the Beijing Family of
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
in Preserved Lung Tissues
Authors: Qian Lishi , Van Embden Jan D. A. , Van Der Zanden Adri G. M. , Weltevreden Evert F. , Duanmu Hongjin , Douglas James T. 
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACT

Direct repeat spoligotyping of 85 paraffin-embedded lung biopsies was used to investigated the occurrence around Beijing of the Beijing family of
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
. Samples ranged in time from 1956 to 1990. Hybridization patterns were found with 49 (58%) samples, and 45 (92%) produced typical Beijing family patterns extending over the 34-year period.