bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Crystal violet reactions ofStaphylococcus aureusstrains colonizing infants in the first six weeks
Authors: Hudson S. J. , Freeman R. , Burdess D. , Cookson B. D. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYNasal colonization withStaphylococcus aureusoccurred in 18% of babies leaving a maternity unit and had risen to 40% by 6 weeks after birth.S. aureuswas first acquired by 34·5% of babies after discharge. Female infants were more likely to be colonized than males. Colonization was not significantly different between babies receiving standard postnatal care and those nursed on the Special Care Baby Unit.Crystal violet (CV) tests showed that purple-reacting isolates accounted for approximately 60% of strains, whether first detected at hospital discharge or subsequently acquired. Purple-reacting strains, once acquired, were significantly better able to persist than non purple-reacting strains and formed a cumulatively higher proportion of the strains isolated at 6 weeks after birth than at hospital discharge. CV purple-reactions were significantly associated with lysis by phages of groups III and I and non-purple-reactions were significantly associated with lysis by phages of group II and/or 94/96.Maternity units remain a significant route whereby strains ofS. aureuswith some characteristics associated with a hospital origin gain access to the community.
Detection ofCowdria ruminantiumby means of a DNA probe, pCS20 in infected bont ticks,Amblyomma hebraeum, the major vector of heartwater in Southern Africa
Authors: Yunker C. E. , Mahan S. M. , Waghela S. D , McGuire T. C. , Rurangirwa F. R. , Barbet A. F. , Wassink L. A. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYA DNA probe, pCS20, previously described for use in detection ofCowdria ruminantiuminfections inAmblyomma variegatum(the principal vector of heartwater) hybridized withC. ruminantiumDNA in organs of laboratory-infectedA. hebraeumadult ticks (the major southern African vector of heartwater). The probe hybridized withC. ruminantiumDNA in 46/49 midguts from male ticks and 26/29 from females, thus indicating infection. Corresponding salivary glands were less heavily infected, but infections were more numerous in glands from males. Infection in ticks was confirmed by transmission of the disease to susceptible goats. The probe did not hybridize with DNA from uninfected ticks or with DNA from a spotted fever group rickettsia commonly associated withA. hebraeumin Zimbabwe. TheC. ruminantiumspecific pCS20 DNA probe can be applied to determine accurately the infection rates in the two major vectors of heartwater and the risk of exposure of ruminants in endemic areas.
Occurrence of oocysts ofCryptosporidiumsp. inLarusspp. gulls
Authors: Smith H. V. , Brown J. , Coulson J. C. , Morris G. P. , Girdwood R. W. A. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYBetween November 1990 and February 1991 101 gull faecal samples, collected in central Scotland, and 50 cloacal lavages, from gulls captured at two refuse tips near Durham, England were examined for the presence ofCryptosporidiumsp. oocysts. Five of 101 (c 5%) of faecal samples and 11 of 50 (22%) of cloacal lavages contained oocysts, of which 64% and 83%, respectively were considered viable when examined with propidium iodide and 4′-6-diamidino-2-phenylindole. Since there is insufficient evidence to ascribe these oocysts to a recognized species they are therefore referred to asCryptosporidiumsp. oocysts. There were significant differences in the occurrence of oocysts between gulls captured at the different refuse tips (P < 0.01), but no significant difference between the distribution of oocysts in two species of gull,Larus argentatus(Herring Gull) andL. ridibundus(Black-head Gull). The differences may be explained by different food sources and feeding habits. The contribution of gulls to environmental contamination withCryptosporidiumsp. oocysts is probably generally small, but may be more significant when large numbers roost on surface waters.
Pathogenicity ofFusobacterium necrophorumstrains from man and animals
Authors: Smith G. R. , Thornton E. A. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYNecrobacillosis occurs in man and animals. The typical forms of the disease in animals are caused byFusobacterium necrophorumbiovar A; biovar B strains are much less pathogenic. In this study the pathogenicity for mice of eight human isolates ofF. necrophorumwas compared with that of animal biovar A and B strains.By subcutaneous inoculation seven of the human strains differed from biovar A but resembled biovar B in (1) producing, at the most, mild local lesions that rapidly healed, and (2) showing no enhancement of infectivity when suspended in sub-lethal doses ofStaphylococcus aureusbroth culture. The eighth human strain (A2433) resembled biovar A but differed from biovar B in (1) producing severe lesions, and (2) showing greatly enhanced infectivity in the presence ofS. aureus. Nonetheless, strain A2433 differed from biovar A, both in the nature of the lesions produced and in its failure to cause severe general signs of illness and rapidly fatal infection.By intravenous inoculation one of two biovar B strains and all except one of the eight human strains produced purulent lesions, often severe, in the liver and elsewhere, but infection was not usually associated with general signs of illness. In contrast, intravenous injection of a biovar A strain gave rise to a rapidly fatal infection, with severe lesions in the liver or elsewhere.The results suggest that the term ‘necrobacillosis’ as used in human and veterinary medicine refers to diseases that differ in important respects.
Occurrence ofGiardiasp. cysts andCryptosporidiumsp. oocysts in faeces from public parks in the west of Scotland
Authors: Grimason A. M. , Smith* H. V. , Parker J. F. W. , Jackson M. H. , Smith P. G. , Girdwood R. W. A. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYOne hundred faecal specimens, randomly collected from various locations within seven public parks in the west of Scotland, were examined for the presence ofGiardiasp. cysts andCryptosporidiumsp. oocysts. Eleven percent of samples containedGiardiasp. cysts and 1 % containedCryptosporidiumsp. oocysts. Occurrence data from individual parks varied from 0 to 40% forGiardiaand 0 to 2.4% forCryptosporidium. The occurrence of parasitic organisms in public parks, especially in the vicinity of children’s playing areas is a matter of concern for public health officials and regulators of leisure and recreation amenities.
Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhoea: epidemiological data from Western Australia
Authors: Riley T. V. , O'Neill G. L. , Bowman R. A. , Golledge C. L. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYThe incidence ofClostridium difficile-associated diarrhoea (CDAD) was investigated retrospectively at a 690-bed teaching hospital for the period 1983–92. Our aims were to determine: (i) the distribution by age and sex of patients with CDAD, (ii) the possibility of a seasonal trend and, (iii) the influence of infection control procedures, contamination of the hospital environment and the use of third-generation cephalosporins. The laboratory diagnosis of CDAD was based on demonstration of the organism by stool culture and/or detection of specific cytotoxin in stool filtrates.C. difficilewas detected in 917 patients who were being investigated for diarrhoeal illness. Yearly isolations varied from a low of 49 in 1983 to a high of 120 in 1990 (Chi square for linear trend 128·8;P <0·005). Most patients were elderly, with 63% aged 60 years or more; the majority (59%) were female. The relationship between culture ofC. difficileand detection of cytotoxin in faecal extracts was also examined. Sixty percent of a sample of 132 isolates from patients in whom faecal cytotoxin was not detected produced cytotoxinin vitro, suggesting that culture is a more sensitive indicator of infection withC. difficilethan cytotoxin detection. When the total number of faecal specimens received in the laboratory was used as a denominator there was an increase in the number of incident cases of CDAD between 1983 and 1990, apart from 1986. When occupied bed days was used as the denominator a similar trend was observed with a peak in 1990. These increases correlated with an increase in the use of third-generation cephalosporins at SCGH between 1983 and 1989 (Pearson's correlation coefficient, 0·90). The introduction of Body Substance Isolation in 1989, in conjunction with other infection control procedures, appears to have halted the rise, despite a continuing use of broad-spectrum cephalosporins. In order to reduce the number of cases of CDAD, either a reduction in levels of environmental contamination or a reduction in the use of third-generation cephalosporins is required. If this can be achieved the economic consequences, in terms of an opportunity cost, will be considerable.
Reinfection with influenza B virus in children: analysis of the reinfection influenza B viruses
Authors: Nakajima S. , Nishikawa F. , Nakamura K. , Nakao H. , Nakajima K. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYInfluenza B virus reinfection in Japanese children was studied epidemi-ologically during 1979–91 and virologically during 1985–91. During this investigation, there were four epidemics caused by influenza B viruses, each of which accompanied antigenic drift. Between the epidemics in 1987/88 and 1989/90, the viruses changed drastically, both genetically and antigenically. The minimum rate of reinfection with influenza B virus during the whole period was 3–25% depending on the influenza seasons. The antigens of primary and reinfection strains of influenza B virus isolated from 18 children during 1985–90, which covered three epidemic periods, were studied by haemagglutination inhibition tests. The results showed that the viruses isolated in the 1984/85 and 1987/88 influenza seasons, which belonged to the same lineage, were antigenically close, and reinfection occurred with these viruses. The results of amino-acid analysis of the HA1 polypeptide of these viruses corresponded with those of antigenic analysis. There were no specific amino-acid changes shared by the primary infection and reinfection influenza B viruses; the patients were infected with the viruses epidemic at that time.
A mathematical model of detection and dynamics of porcine transmissible gastroenteritis
Authors: Hone J. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYTransmissible gastroenteritis (TGE) is a viral disease causing dehydration, diarrhoea and death in pigs. The disease is widespread in pig-producing areas of the world but does not occur in Australia. A mathematical model of TGE spread within a pig herd is proposed and calibrated by reference to published data. The model is then applied to two situations of special interest; first to estimate the delay before detection of TGE (6 to over 30 days) when infection is first introduced into a herd of domestic or feral pigs, and second the effect of the disease in a population of feral pigs (could become endemic if transmission is high).
Trimethoprim resistant dihydrofolate reductases in normal faecal flora isolated in India
Authors: Tait S. , Amyes S. G. B. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYA high incidence of resistance to trimethoprim has been shown in the normal faecal flora in a population in south India. The dihydrofolate reductase (dhfr) genes mediating transferable resistance to trimethoprim have been identified. Unusually, in this study, thedhfrV was shown to be the predominant resistance gene (dhfrV 50% of tranaconjugants,dhfrIa 30%), thedhfrIb was also detected being distinguished from thedhfrV by an oligo-probe. However, when non-transferable resistance was considered, thedhfrIa was the most prevalent of thedhfrs identified. All those plasmids harbouring thedhfrIa were shown to possess Tn7. All the plasmids that probed positive for thedhfrV and thedhfrIb were shown to be associated with the integrase of the Tn21-like transposons, but 8 of thedhfrV genes were not associated with the Tn21resolvase. ThedhfrIV was shown to be present in all seven plasmids that produced low level trimethoprim-resistance. ThedhfrV. first characterized in Sri Lanka, would seem to have a local distribution in this region of Asia but is distinguishable from thedhfrIb only by the use of an oligo-probe.
Detection ofmecA, femA, andfemBgenes in clinical strains of staphylococci using polymerase chain reaction
Authors: Kobayashi N. , Wu H. , Kojima K. , Taniguchi K. , Urasawa S. , Uehara N. , Omizu Y. , Kishi Y. , Yagihashi A. , Kurokawa I. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYMecA, a structural gene located on the chromosome ofStaphylococcus aureus, characterizes methicillin-resistantS. aureus(MRSA), andfemAandfemB(fem)genes encode proteins which influence the level of methicillin resistance ofS. aureus. In order to examine effectiveness of detectingmecAandfemgenes in identification of MRSA, the presence of these genes in 237 clinically isolated strains of staphylococci was investigated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). An amplifiedmecADNA fragment of 533 base pairs (bp) was detected in 100% of oxacillin-resistantS. aureus, in 16·7 % of oxacillin-sensitiveS. aureus, in 81·5% ofS. epidermidis, and in 58·3% of other coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS). While the PCR product offemA(509 bp) orfemB(651 bp) was obtained from almost all theS. aureusstrains except for five oxacillin-resistant strains (2·5%), neither of these genes were detected in CNS. Therefore, the detection offemAandfemBtogether withmecAby PCR was considered to be a more reliable indicator to identify MRSA by differentiating it frommecA-positive CNS than single detection ofmecA.
Estimated costs of postoperative wound infections
Authors: Poulsen K. B. , Bremmelgaard A. , Sørensen A. I. , Raahave D. , Petersen J. V. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYA cohort of 4515 surgical patients in ten selected intervention groups was followed. Three hundred and seventeen developed postoperative wound infections, and 291 of these cases were matched 1:1 to controls by operation, sex and age. In comparison to the controls the cases stayed longer in hospital after the intervention and had more contact after discharge with the social security system.Using data from a national sentinel reference database of the incidence of postoperative wound infections, and using national activity data, we established an empirical cost model based on the estimated marginal costs of hospital resources and social sick pay. It showed that the hospital resources spent on the ten groups, which represent half of the postoperative wound infections in Denmark, amounted to approximately 0·5% of the annual national hospital budget. This stratified model creates a better basis for selecting groups of operations which need priority in terms of preventive measures.
Parvovirus B19 outbreak on an adult ward
Authors: Seng C. , Watkins P. , Morse D. , Barrett S. P. , Zambon M. , Andrews N. , Atkins M. , Hall S. , Lau Y. K. , Cohen B. J. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYIn November and December 1992, an outbreak of parvovirus B19 infection occurred among patients and staff on an adult mixed surgical ward at a large hospital in London. Three patients and 15 staff members were serologically confirmed as acute cases. The attack rate among susceptible members of staff was 47%. In those infected, arthralgia (80%) and rash (67%) were the most common symptoms. Of six susceptible in-patients on the ward, three became infected. One of the in-patients who had carcinoma of the mouth was viraemic for more than 10 days with marrow suppression resulting in the postponement of chemotherapy until intravenous immunoglobulin was given and he was no longer viraemic. Control measures taken included closure of the ward to new admissions, transfer of only immune staff to the ward, and restriction of the ward nursing staff to working only on that ward. Although no specific exposure was conclusively identified as a risk factor, there was a suggestion of an increased risk of acquiring parvovirus B19 infection among those staff who did not adopt strict hand washing procedures after each physical contact with a patient (RR = 2·33; P = 0·07). Knowledge of parvovirus B19 among interviewed health care workers was poor: only 42% reported knowing about parvovirus B19 and only 38% could name a patient category at risk of a severe outcome following infection. This is the first report of a nosocomial outbreak affecting an adult ward and of possible transmission of parvovirus B19 infection from staff to in-patients. Hospital control of infection teams should include parvovirus B19 in their outbreak containment plans.
Outbreak of measles in a teenage school population: the need to immunize susceptible adolescents
Authors: Morse D. , O'shea M. , Hamilton G. , Soltanpoor N. , Leece G. , Miller E. , Brown D. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYAn outbreak of measles occurred in a community school and the surrounding area in Crowborough, East Sussex, UK, from December 1992 to February 1993. There were 96 suspected cases reported: 66 cases among 1673 students at one school and 30 community cases. The majority of suspected cases were in those aged 11–17 (78%), 2 cases occurred in infants < 1 year old and 8 cases in adults aged 18 years or over. Data collected on 60 (91 %) of the 66 suspect school cases showed 56 (93%) had an illness which met a case definition of measles. Eighteen had confirmatory IgM measles antibody. Two cases were hospitalized. The local percentage uptake for measles immunization for the school age years affected varied between 64 % and 84 %. A survey of parents showed that approximately 74% of the students attending the school had a history of measles immunization. The immunization rates reported by parents for children who developed measles was 21 %. (29 % based on GP records) compared with 77 % for those who remained well. Vaccine efficacy was estimated to be 92%. This outbreak, along with others recently reported in older unimmunized children in the UK, reinforces the need for catch-up immunization programmes to reach this susceptible group of adolescents.
Western blot analysis of virus-specific antibody responses for capripox and contagious pustular dermatitis viral infections in sheep
Authors: Chand P. , Kitching R. P. , Black D. N. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYThis paper reports the development and evaluation of serological tests for the differentiation of antibodies in animals infected with capripox and parapox viruses. Agar-gel immunodiffusion tests using sera from sheep with naturally-acquired infections and from sheep experimentally inoculated with orf or capripox viruses showed cross reactions. Virus-specific antibody responses to structural proteins of the viruses were analysed by Western-blot analysis. This analysis readily differentiated the infections as either capripox or contagious pustular dermatitis. The antibody responses to the 32 kDa and 26 kDa proteins of capripox virus provided a firm basis for differention.
Direct milk excretion ofCampylobacter jejuniin a dairy cow causing cases of human enteritis
Authors: Orr K. E. , Lightfoot N. F. , Sisson P. R. , Harkis B. A. , Tweddle J. L. , Boyd P. , Carroll A. , Jackson C. J. , Wareing D. R. A. , Freeman R. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYConsumption of milk contaminated withCampylobacter jejunihas been described as a cause of human enteritis. Although faecal contamination of milk with the organism has frequently been described, direct milk excretion ofCampylobacter jejuniinto milk has rarely been linked with cases of human infection. We describe the investigations undertaken following the isolation ofCampylobacter jejunifrom samples of unpasteurized milk prior to retail. Results of epidemiological investigations including typing ofCampylobacter jejuniisolates using pyrolysis mass spectrometry, Penner and Lior serotyping, biotyping, phage typing and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis provided convincing evidence implicating direct milk excretion ofCampylobacter jejuniby one asymptomatic dairy cow as the source of the milk contamination and the cause of local cases of human enteritis.
Distribution and virulence ofVibrio choleraebelonging to serogroups other than O1 and O139: A nationwide survey
Authors: Mukhopadhyay A. K. , Saha P. K. , Garg S. , Bhattacharya S. K. , Shimada T. , Takeda T. , Takeda Y. , Nair G. Balakrish 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYThe distribution and virulence ofVibrio choleraeserogroups other than O1 and O139 in India before, during and after the advent of O139 serogroup was investigated. A total of 68 strains belonging to 31 different ‘O’ serogroups were identified during the study period. With the exception of O53, there was no spatial or temporal clustering of any particular non-O1 non-O139 serogroup at any given place. Two of the 68 strains examined produced cholera toxin (CT) which could only be partially absorbed with anti-CT immunoglobulin G. Tissue culture assay revealed that some of the non-O1 non-O139 strains produced factors which evoked either a cell rounding or cell elongation response depending upon the medium used. This study indicates that serogroups other than O1 and O139 should also be continuously monitored.
Incidence and spread ofHaemophilus influenzaeon an Antarctic base determined using the polymerase chain reaction
Authors: Hobson R. P. , Williams A. , Rawal K. , Pennington T. H. , Forbes K. J. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYA PCR-based method of detectingHaemophilus influenzaein cultures inoculated from throat swabs was evaluated using samples from groups of laboratory staff and medical students and then applied to samples originating from the closed human community of an Antarctic research station. Suitable PCR primers to anH. influenzaegene (ompP2) were used to amplify the gene from DNA preparations made from mixed growth on chocolate agar with added vancomycin. PCR product was reamplified and subjected to restriction endonuclease digestion to allow temporal and spatial mapping of strains over an 8-month period. Eleven different strains ofH. influenzaewere detected. One particular strain was detected in a third of the base members.
Prevalence ofLeptospiraspp. in wild brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) on UK farms
Authors: Webster J. P. , Ellis W. A. , Macdonald D. W. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYWild brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) are frequently implicated in the carriage and spread ofLeptospiraspp. Wild brown rats (n= 259) were trapped from 11 UK farms and tested forLeptospiraspp. using a number of diagnostic tests. The prevalence of leptospiral infection was low, but there was variation in the results obtained with the different diagnostic tests. Estimates of prevalence ranged between 0% by silver-staining of tissues, 1% by the microscopic agglutination test, 4% by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, 4% by culture, and 8% by fluorescent antibody technique. In total, 37 (14%) rats were positive by at least one of the tests, which contrasts with the frequently reported prevalences of 50–70% for wild rats in the UK. Serovarbratislavawas as prevalent asicterohaemorrhagiae, although it was present only on farms with larger rat populations.