bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Experimental studies on the comparative infectivity and pathogenicity ofStreptococcus suistype 2. I. Porcine and human isolates in pigs
Authors: Robertson I. D. , Blackmore D. K. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYPiglets between 1 and 40 days of age were inoculated with varying numbers and with different isolates ofStreptococcus suistype 2 by the intranasal, intravenous and subarachnoid routes. Less than 100 organisms of an isolate cultured from apparently normal pigs caused subclinical infection in 1-day-old piglets after intranasal inoculation. This infection was naturally transmitted between litter mates. Intravenous inoculation of a similar isolate in 7-week-old pigs resulted in a sub-clinical bacteraemia in 3 of 8 piglets. One other piglet developed a bacteraemia 7 days after inoculation and concurrently developed signs of lameness and nervous dysfunction. Ten piglets were inoculated by the subarachnoid route with a porcine isolate and two with an isolate from a person with clinical disease. Only the latter two pigs developed the classical signs of nervous disease associated with infection byS. suistype 2. It is concluded that strains ofS. suistype 2, of varying pathogenicity for both pigs and man, are endemic in New Zealand. It is suggested that the occurrence of disease is associated with both exposure to a pathogenic strain and other, as yet undetermined, secondary factors.
Red kidney bean poisoning in the UK: an analysis of 50 suspected incidents between 1976 and 1989
Authors: Rodhouse J. C. , Haugh C. A. , Roberts D. , Gilbert R. J. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYBetween July 1976 and February 1989, 50 incidents of suspected red kidney bean poisoning were reported in the UK. Nine incidents in which nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea developed within 1–7 h of ingestion, were confirmed by the detection of haemagglutinin in the beans. The diagnosis was made on a further 23 incidents on the basis of symptoms, incubation time and the description of preparation of beans prior to consumption. The haemagglutinin (lectin), which occurs naturally in the red kidney bean, is inactivated by thorough cooking of well soaked beans. In many of the outbreaks reported the implicated beans were consumed raw or following an inadequate heat process.
Diversity studies of salmonella incidents in some domestic livestock and their potential relevance as indicators of niche width
Authors: Hunter P. R. , Izsák J. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYThis study attempts to determine whether or not livestock are becoming more susceptible to epidemics of salmonella infections by the analysis of published data on the annual number of reported infections in various animals. The number of incidents reported each year may be subject to a variety of biases due to temporal and geographical differences in reporting practices. This study analysed these reports by the calculation of diversity indices which are not subject to some of these potential biases. The relationship between the ecological concept of niche width and the diversity of species or types occupying that niche is discussed. The diversity of salmonella types reported in fowl has shown a highly significant decline over the 13-year period 1976–88. It is suggested that this declining diversity may be related to the declining niche width of the biotope available to this pathogen. Although speculative, this reduction in niche width could be related to a declining genetic diversity in the host animals or to an increasing intensification of animal husbandry.
Neisseria cuniculi in ruminants: epidemiological aspects
Authors: Elad D. , Shlomovitz S. , Bernstein M. , Bassan J. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYNeisseria cuniculi was isolated, between March 1987 and March 1989, from 38 cases of respiratory disease in small and large ruminants. In all but five cases N. cuniculi was cultured together with other potential respiratory pathogens. A survey was conducted to assess the prevalence of N. cuniculi in the pharyngeal region of Merino and Awassi purebred sheep, Awassi/East-Friesian and Merino/Romanov crossbred sheep and one exotic cross breed (goat/ibex).N. cuniculi was isolated from 80–88% of the animals under 1 month of age. Among older animals, the microorganism was isolated from 20·5% of the pure bred animals and 79·3% of the crossbred ones. This difference was significant (P < 0·001) by the χ2 test. The prevalence of N. cuniculi in the second age group coincides with the susceptibility of the breeds to respiratory pathology.This, we believe, is the first report of N. cuniculi involved in multiple cases of respiratory pathology and of a survey assessing the prevalence of this microorganism in small ruminants.
Specific IgE response in patients with brucellosis
Authors: Araj G. F. , Lulu A. R. , Khateeb M. I. , Haj M. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYIn the search to find discriminative serological markers to differentiate between patients with acute brucellosis and those with chronic brucellosis, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to determine and compare the brucella-specific IgE response in 80 sera from patients with acute brucellosis, 37 sera from patients with chronic brucellosis, 26 sera from patients with positive blood cultures for bacteria other than brucella and 51 sera from healthy controls. The IgE findings were compared to brucella-specific IgG, IgM, IgA and IgG1–4demonstrated by ELISA, and to microagglutination test (MAT) results. Elevated (positive) antibrucella IgE titres were detected in 89 and 81 % of sera from patients with acute and chronic brucellosis respectively. The predominant antibodies found in patients with acute brucellosis were of the IgG, IgM, IgA, IgE, IgG1and IgG3types while in chronic brucellosis IgG, IgA, IgE and IgG4were found. Although IgE can be detected in patients with brucellosis, it does not discriminate between the acute and chronic stages of the disease.
Acute upper respiratory tract viral illness and influenza immunization in homes for the elderly
Authors: Nicholson K. G. , Baker D. J. , Farquhar A. , Hurd D. , Kent J. , Smith S. H. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYOccupants of 482 long-stay and 33 short-stay beds in 11 Leicester City Council homes for the elderly were studied during a 30-week period from September 1988 to March 1989 to determine the incidence, aetiology, morbidity, and mortality of acute upper respiratory tract viral infections and the use of influenza vaccine.Influenza immunization rates by home ranged from 15·4 to 90% (mean 45%). There were no differences in the distribution of medical conditions by home. The highest immunization rates were seen in people with chest disease (77%), heart disease (60%), diabetes (56%), and those with three medical conditions (75%). There was an average of 0·7 upper respiratory episodes per bed per annum with a mortality of 3·4% (6/179). Half of all episodes were seen by a general medical practitioner and 81 of 90 (90%) referrals were prescribed antibiotics costing approximately £7.50 per patient. Lower respiratory tract complications developed during 45 (25%) of 179 episodes including 3 of 12 coronavirus infections, 3 of 9 respiratory syncytial virus infections, 2 of 4 adenovirus infections, 1 of 11 rhinovirus infections, but none of 5 influenza infections. Respiratory infections were caused mostly by pathogens other than influenza virus during the influenza period documented nationally. This highlights the role of coronaviruses, respiratory syncytial virus, and unidentified agents in the elderly, and questions the assumptions made in American estimates on the impact of influenza and the value of influenza vaccines.
The prevalence of Salmonella enteritidis and other Salmonella spp. among Canadian registered commercial layer flocks
Authors: Poppe C. , Irwin R. J. , Forsberg C. M. , Clarke R. C. , Oggel J. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYA survey was conducted to estimate the prevalence of Salmonella enteritidis and other salmonellas among Canadian commercial egg producing flocks. Environmental (faecal and eggbelt) samples from 152 of 295 (52·9%) randomly selected flocks were contaminated with salmonellas. Thirty-five different salmonella serovars were isolated. Eggbelt samples were more often contaminated with salmonellas than faecal samples (25·7 v. 10·1 %). The most prevalent serovars were S. heidelberg, S. infantis, S. hadar, and S. schwarzengrund; they were isolated from samples of 59/295 (20%), 18/295 (6·1%), 17/295 (5·8%), and 15/295 (5·1%) flocks, respectively. Feed samples of 21/295 (7·2%) flocks were contaminated with salmonellas. Salmonella enteritidis was isolated from the environmental samples of 8/295 (2·7%) flocks. Salmonella enteritidis phage type (PT) 8 was isolated from 5 flocks, PT 13a from 2 flocks, and PT 13 from 1 flock.
Endotoxin liberation by strains ofN. meningitidisisolated from patients and healthy carriers
Authors: Mellado M. C. , Rodríguez-Contreras R. , Fernandez-Crehuet M. , Lopez-Gigosos R. , Rodriguez M. Delgado , Galvez-Vargas R. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYThe main objective of this study was to assess whether the capacity ofNeisseria meningitidisto release endotoxin depends upon the type of strain or upon bacterial mass. Endotoxin release was studied in 32 strains isolated from patients with meningococcal infections and in 49 from asymptomatic carriers, using a quantitative test (limulus test with a chromogenic substrate). The results show that the strains from patients release significantly higher amounts of endotoxin than strains from carriers regardless of serogroup and isolation site. No correlation was found between stage of bacterial growth and the amount of endotoxin liberated. These findings suggest that endotoxin liberation is a characteristic of certain strains ofN. meningitidisand is not determined simply by bacterial mass.
Chronic atrophic oral candidiasis among patients with diabetes mellitus – role of secretor status
Authors: Aly F. Z. , Blackwell C. C. , MacKenzie D. A. C. , Weir D. M. , Elton R. A. , Cumming C. G. , Sofaer J. A. , Clarke B. F. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYNon-diabetic individuals who are non-secretors of blood group antigens are prone to superficial infections by Candida albicans. In this study, 216 patients with diabetes mellitus who were denture wearers were examined for the presence or absence of denture stomatitis. There was an overall trend for non-secretors to be prone to denture stomatitis compared with secretors. Stepwise linear discriminant analysis was used to dissect the contribution of secretor status and other variables to the development of the disease. Secretor status was found to be a contributory factor among patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes but not among those with insulin-dependent diabetes. The possible reasons for this are discussed.
Isolation and identification of arboviruses from the Sultanate of Oman
Authors: Al-Busaidy S. M. , Mellor P. S. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYSentinel herds and a vector surveillance system were used to identify the presence of arboviruses in Oman. Two strains of bluetongue virus (BTV) serotype 4 and two strains of Akabane virus, were isolated and identified. Both BTV isolates and one Akabane virus isolate came from goats while the second Akabane isolate came from Culicoides imicola. This is the first isolation of an Akabane virus from Culicoides in Arabia. Vector competence studies with the Oman viruses in laboratory reared C. variipennis showed that after oral infection both viruses replicated in Culicoides and were maintained at high titre for at least 10 days post infection.
Bluetongue in the Sultanate of Oman, a preliminary epidemiological study
Authors: Taylor W. P. , Al Busaidy S. M. , Mellor P. S. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYA group specific agar-gel immunodiffusion test was used to demonstrate that there is a frequent and widespread distribution of bluetongue virus throughout the Sultanate of Oman. The Culicoides midges C. imicola and C. schultzei, both capable of transmitting bluetongue group viruses, were recorded throughout the year. Although these studies did not establish that bluetongue is enzootic in Oman, type-specific neutralizing antibody results supported previous evidence for the existence of a Saudi Arabian bluetongue ecosystem. Variations in antibody evidence of virus activity within a restricted locality suggested a hot-spot theory concerning the perpetuation of the virus.
Cockroaches (Blattella germanica) as carriers of microorganisms of medical importance in hospitals
Authors: Fotedar R. , Shriniwas U. Banerjee , Verma A. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYA study was conducted to isolate and identify microorganisms of medical importance from cockroaches (Blattella germanica) and to ascertain their vector potential in the epidemiology of nosocomial infections. Bacteria, fungi and parasites of medical importance were isolated and identified. Important bacterial pathogens responsible for wound infections, were further studies by antibiograms. One hundred and fifty-eight out of 159 (99·4%) cockroaches collected from hospital (test) and 113 out of 120 (94·2%) cockroaches collected from residential areas (control) were carrying medically important microorganisms (P < 0·05). A significantly higher (P < 0·001) number of test cockroaches were carrying a higher bacterial load (1 × 104 and 1 × 105) as compared to control cockroaches. Multiple drug-resistant bacteria were isolated from test cockroaches. The diversity of drug-resistant bacterial species isolated from test cockroaches suggests their involvement in the transmission of drug-resistant bacteria. Various fungi and parasitic cysts of medical importance were also isolated from the test and control cockroaches, but the carriage rates were low. The findings suggest that cockroaches, in hospitals, can act as potential vectors of medically important bacteria/parasites/fungi.
Gentamicin-resistantSalmonella typhimuriumphage type 204c: molecular studies and strain diversity in a putative bovine outbreak
Authors: Platt D. J. , Smith I. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYAs part of the investigation of a putative bovine outbreak, 13 isolates of Salmonellatyphimuriumphage type 204c were subjected to plasmid analysis.Plasmid profiles suggested that several distinct strains were involved and these observations were supported by minor variations in antibiotic resistance pattern. Restriction enzyme fingerprinting and conjugational segregation of the plasmids confirmed these findings. Although 12 of the 13 isolates were resistant to gentamicin, resistance was conferred by 4 distinct plasmids; 3 of these belonged to Inc I and were distantly related on the basis of restriction fingerprints and the fourth was a resistant derivative of the 60 MDaS. typhimuriumserotype-specific plasmid. The molecular evidence refuted the hypothesis that geographical and temporal clustering of these gentamicin-resistant isolates could be explained on the basis of a single epidmiological episode.
Characterization ofNeisseria meningitidisisolates by ribosomal RNA gene restriction patterns and restriction endonuclease digestion of chromosomal DNA
Authors: Jordens J. Z. , Pennington T. H. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYThe use of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene restriction patterns to study the molecular epidemiology ofNeisseria meningitidiswas investigated. Ninety-four isolates ofNeisseria meningitidiswere characterized by their rRNA gene restriction patterns with 16 + 23 S rRNA fromEscherichia colias a probe. Thirteen rRNA gene restriction patterns were recognized; each of these patterns represented between 1 and 30 isolates. Isolates with the outbreak-associated phenotype B15P1.16 (sulphonamide resistant) all gave a single rRNA gene restriction pattern but this pattern also contained isolates with other phenotypes. Further discrimination between isolates was achieved by comparison of banding patterns resulting from restriction endonuclease digestion of chromosomal DNA withBglII. This gave a banding pattern consisting of about ten bands which was simple to interpret. Using this technique 94 isolates were classified in 54 patterns containing between 1 and 14 isolates. Restriction endonuclease analysis withBglII characterized outbreak-associated isolates with the phenotype B15P1.16 and enabled strains not typable by conventional methods to be identified as probable outbreak-associated isolates. The techniques should prove useful for epidemiological studies.
The social and economic impact of salmonellosis: A report of a national survey in England and Wales of laboratory-confirmed salmonella infections
Authors: Sockett P. N. , Roberts J. A. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYThis study presents the findings of a national survey of 1482 cases of salmonellosis reported to Environmental Health Departments in England and Wales between August 1988 and March 1989. A questionnaire survey of ill individuals and the environmental health officers who investigated them sought information about costs which were imposed upon public health authorities, the health sector, individuals and their families and the costs to the wider economy in terms of lost production.Costs of £996339 were identified. Over half (£507555) resulted from lost production due to sickness absence and more than a third (£392822) were costs to the public sector which resulted from health care and local authority investigation of cases. The remaining costs (£95962), although the smallest proportion of the total, indicated that salmonellosis can have a significant impact on affected individuals and their families.
An outbreak of pneumonia and meningitis caused by a previously undescribed Gram-negative bacterium in a hot spring spa
Authors: Hubert B. , De Mahenge A. , Grimont F. , Richard C. , Peloux Y. , De Mahenge C. , Fleurette J. , Grimont P. A. D. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYAn outbreak of infection caused by a previously undescribed Gram-negative bacterium affected people attending a hot (37 °C) spring spa in France in 1987. Thirty-five case of pneumonia and two cases of meningitis occurred. None of these patients died. Attack rates were significantly higher for patients above 70 years old and for male patients. An epidemiological comparison of the 26 hospitalized eases with 52 matched controls suggests that spa treatment early on the first day (OR = 4·8) and attendance at the vapour baths (OR = 10·7) were significant risk factors for acquiring the infection. Person-to-person spread was not thought to have occurred. The same bacterium was isolated from the hot spring water. All strains studied shows a single rRNA gene restriction pattern. Epidemiological data indicated that the thermal water was the source of infection. This outbreak stresses the need for increased surveillance of infections in people attending hot spring spas.
The dynamics of microfilaraemia and its relation with development of disease in periodic Brugia malayi infection in South India
Authors: Sabesan S. , Krishnamoorthy K. , Panicker K. N. , Vanamail P. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYRates of acquisition and loss of Brugia malayi microfilaraemia were estimated using the parasitological data of a cohort of population in Shertallai, South India. The rate of acquisition of microfilaraemia was found to be dependent on age but not gender. The decline in the rate of acquisition of microfilaraemia in adults above 35 years could be due to the development of acquired immunity. The mean reproductive lifespan for the periodic Brugia malayi adult female worm was estimated to be 34 years and it was independent of host age and gender. The age-specific estimated proportion of population at risk (microfilaria carriers who lost their microfilaria in course of time) of developing lymphoedema approximately mirrored the observed age specific prevalence of lymphoedema in the study-population. On an average, 99% of population at risk developed manifestations of disease. The estimated population at risk of developing disease in different endemic areas is compared and its epidemiological significance is discussed.
Evaluating the sensitivity and predictive value of tests of recent infection: toxoplasmosis in pregnancy
Authors: Ades A. E. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYThe diagnosis of maternal infection in early pregnancy depends on tests which are sensitive to recent infection, such as specific IgM. Two types of test are considered: those where the response persists for a period following infection and then declines, such as IgM. and those whose response increases with time since infection, such as IgG-avidity. However, individuals vary in their response to infection, and it may not always be possible to determine whether an infection occurred during pregnancy or before it. Mathematical methods are developed to evaluate the performance of these tests, and are applied to the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis in pregnancy. It is shown that, based on existing information, tests of recent infection are unlikely to be both sensitive and predictive. More data on these tests are required, before they can be reliably used to determine whether infection has occurred during pregnancy or before it.
The population structure and transmission ofEscherichia coliin an isolated human community; studies on an antarctic base
Authors: Tzabar Y. , Pennington T. H. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYThe population structure and transmission ofEscherichia coliin a small group of individuals isolated for 26 weeks on an Antarctic base were studied by multilocus electrophoresis of eight enzymes and plasmid analysis. Two hundred and sixty-nine strains were isolated. They were grouped into 60 allozyme types (ETs). Half of these ETs were only isolated once; others were repeatedly isolated from single subjects. Eleven were found in more than one subject and the pattern of the occurrence of some of them was considered to provide evidence of their spread from subject to subject.
Study of colonization resistance for Enterobacteriaceae in man by experimental contamination and biotyping as well as the possible role of antibodies in the clearance of these bacteria from the intestines
Authors: Apperloo-Renkema H. Z. , Van Der Waaij D. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYThe colonization resistance (CR) of the digestive tract was determined in 10 healthy volunteers by oral contamination with a neomycin resistantEscherichia coli(NR-E. coli) strain and measurement of the faecal concentration of this strain during 14 days after the contamination. This ‘gold standard’ was compared with another parameter of CR; the determination of the mean number of different biotypes of Enterobacteriaceae isolated from four faecal samples per volunteer. Both measures are significantly correlated (P < 0.01). The NR-E. colistrain could be cultured from faecal samples of 4/10 volunteers as long as 300 days after contamination. Serum antibody titres against endogenousE. colistrains and the NR-E. colistrain used for experimental oral contamination were measured by an indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) assay. The assay was read by a video camera connected to an image processing system. The 95% confidence limits of antibody titres (log2) against endogenousE. colistrains ranged between < 3 and 7.1 for IgA, between < 3 and 8.7 for IgG and between < 3 and 7.4 for IgM. Antibody titres against the NR-E. coli4 strain were within this (normal) range. The serum antibody titres against the NR-E. colistrain increased slowly after oral contamination, especially IgG and IgM. Little increase in IgA titres could be observed. An increase of serum antibody titres did not correlate with the elimination of the oral contaminant from the intestines. Therefore, we conclude that the CR is not IgG nor IgM antibody mediated.