bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Class-specific antibodies to bovine respiratory syncytial virus in experimentally infected lambs
Authors: Sharma R. , Woldehiwet Z. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYEnzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA) was used to titrate virus-specific IgG, IgM and IgA levels in nasal secretions, lung lavage fluids and serum samples sequentially obtained from lambs experimentally infected with bovine respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Virus-specific IgG and IgM responses were measured by the indirect double antibody sandwich ELISA using anti-bovine RSV monoclonal antibody, as capture antibody, and peroxidase-conjugated anti-sheep IgG and anti-sheep IgM. Virus-specific IgA antibodies were measured by antibody capture assay using anti-sheep IgA (α–chain specific) and anti-bovine RSV monoclonal antibodies.Bovine RSV-specific IgM and IgA antibodies were detected in the serum samples within 6 days post-inoculation (p.i.). Virus-specific IgC antibodies appeared in serum samples 4 days later. In nasal secretions, IgA antibodies appeared 7 days p.i. but IgM antibodies were not detected until 12–16 days p.i. In serum samples, IgM titres were predominant for the first 2 weeks p.i. IgC titres becoming predominant thereafter. In nasal secretions and lung lavage fluids, IgA titres were significantly higher than IgM or IgG titres up to 21 days p.i. (0·01).
Methods for estimating the incidence of primary infection in pregnancy: a reappraisal of toxoplasmosis and cytomegalovirus data
Authors: Ades A. E. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYAccurate incidence information is required to plan and evaluate screening programmes which have been proposed for the detection of primary toxoplasmosis and cytomegalovirus infection in pregnancy. Appropriate statistical methods are described for deriving incidence rates and their confidence intervals from three types of data: change in age-specific seroprevalence, seroconversion, and IgM studies. These methods are applied to seven published studies on toxoplasmosis and cytomegalovirus carried out in the UK. In these publications only one estimate of the infection rate per pregnancy was correctly derived, and none were accompanied by confidence intervals. Using the proposed methods, most estimates of the primary toxoplasmosis rate in these studies were between 2·5 and 5·5 per 1000 pregnancies, compared to the 2 per 1000 usually cited. Most cytomegalovirus incidence estimates were between 4 and 10 per 1000 pregnancies.
Estimation of the dynamics and rate of transmission of classical swine fever (hog cholera) in wild pigs
Authors: Hone J. , Pech R. , Yip P. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYInfectious diseases establish in a population of wildlife hosts when the number of secondary infections is greater than or equal to one. To estimate whether establishment will occur requires extensive experience or a mathematical model of disease dynamics and estimates of the parameters of the disease model. The latter approach is explored here. Methods for estimating key model parameters, the transmission coefficient (β) and the basic reproductive rate (RDRS), are described using classical swine fever (hog cholera) in wild pigs as an example. The tentative results indicate that an acute infection of classical swine fever will establish in a small population of wild pigs. Data required for estimation of disease transmission rates are reviewed and sources of bias and alternative methods discussed. A comprehensive evaluation of the biases and efficiencies of the methods is needed.
The importance of P and type 1 fimbriae for the persistence ofEscherichia coliin the human gut
Authors: Tullus K. , Kühn I. , Ørskov I. , Ørskov F. , Möllby R. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYThe faecalEscherichia coliflora was studied in 89 infants. Each infant was followed with a mean of 12 faecal samples (range 5–21) between 0 and 18 months of age. All isolates were assayed for P fimbriae and biochemically phenotyped and the persistence of each strain (phenotype) in the infant's gut was determined. In a subset of strains the occurrence of type 1 fimbriae and adherence to HeLa cells was studied. Thirty-one per cent of isolates belonging to strains colonizing for longer than 6 months expressed P fimbriae compared to 19% of the isolates from strains colonizing 1–6 months or transient strains colonizing less than 1 month. Type 1 fimbriae and adherence to HeLa cells occurred similarly often in all groups of strains. We conclude that P fimbriae, but not type 1 fimbriae or HeLa cell adherence seemed to contribute to the ability of theE. colistrain to colonize the human intestine.
Seroepidemiology ofHelicobacter pyloriinfection in vegans and meat-eaters
Authors: Webberley M. J. , Webberley J. M. , Newell D. G. , Lowe P. , Melikian V. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYAn enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay has been used to diagnose serologically the prevalence ofHelicobacter pyloriinfection in Asian life-long vegans. There was no difference in the seropositivity between these individuals and a group of age-and sex-matched Asian meat-eaters, indicating the meat consumption is not a risk factor forH. pyloriinfection. However, both Asian groups had a higher prevalence of infection than age- and sex-matched Caucasian meat-eaters. Additionally, the Asian individuals had a wider range of specific IgG antibody concentrations than the Caucasians. This did not appear to be due to antigenic cross-reactivity betweenH. pyloriandCampylobacter jejuni. The significance of these observations to the establishment of cut-off levels for the serodiagnosis of certain ethnic groups is discussed.
Bancroftian filariasis in Pondicherry, South India – epidemiological impact of recovery of the vector population
Authors: Das P. K. , Manoharan A. , Subramanian S. , Ramaiah K. D. , Pani S. P. , Rajavel A. R. , Rajagopalan P. K. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYAn Integrated Vector Management (IVM) strategy was implemented from 1981 to 1985 in one part of Pondicherry, South India, for the control of the bancroftian filariasis vector Culex quinquefasciatus (the IVM area). The rest of the town (the comparison area) received the conventional larvicidal input. After 1985 both the areas were managed conventionally. The switch to conventional strategy resulted in an increase of vector density in both areas. The microfilaraemia prevalence in humans showed a general decline (P < 0·05) from 1986 to 1989 only in the IVM area whereas its intensity did not change significantly in either area. While the age-specific rate of gain of infection was generally unchanged in the IVM area, an increase in all age classes was observed after 1985 in the comparison area, where the Annual Transmission Index was high during the previous years. In both areas the rate of loss of infection increased during 1986–9 compared to 1981–6. The results suggest that 3 years is too short a period to relate the changes in entomological parameters to those in the microfilaraemia status of the population.
Serological responses of chickens experimentally infected with Salmonella enteritidis PT4 by different routes
Authors: Chart H. , Baskerville A. , Humphrey T. J. , Rowe B. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYCommercially reared chickens were challenged with Salmonella enteritidis phage-type (PT) 4 by aerosol, or via the conjunctiva. Inhalation of 2·9 × 102 or 4·2 × 103 S. enteritidis resulted in the production of IgG antibodies to the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of S. enteritidis PT4. When the aerosol inoculum was increased to 2·4 × 105 bacteria per bird the antibody produced were predominantly of the IgM-class. Chickens challenged with 103S. enteritidis PT4 via the conjunctiva mounted only a poor immune response. Increasing the challenge dose to 108 S. enteritidis resulted in the production of high-titre serum antibodies of both the IgG and IgM classes. Results from this study suggest that aerosols containing small numbers of S. enteritidis PT4 might be responsible for intraflock infection of poultry.
Destruction of bacteria on fresh meat by hot water
Authors: Smith M. G. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYStrains of different bacterial genera: Escherichia coli (7), Salmonella serotypes (7), Enteropathogenic E. coli O 157 (2), Aeromonas hydrophila (4), Yersinia enterocolytica (1), Pseudomonas fragi (5), and Listeria monocytogenes (5), inoculated onto the surface tissues of pieces of fresh beef were found to be susceptible to the lethal action of hot water. On average, more than 3 log10 (99·9%) of these organisms were destroyed when water at 80 °C was applied for 10 or 20 s. Therefore, a hot water decontamination cabinet would be effective for destroying in situ any viable cells of these bacteria which might be present on the surface tissues of fresh beef carcasses.
Laboratory diagnosis ofMycoplasma pneumoniaeinfection. 4. Antigen capture and PCR-gene amplification for detection of the mycoplasma: problems of clinical correlation
Authors: Williamson J. , Marmion B. P. , Worswick D. A. , Kok T. -W. , Tannock G. , Herd R. , Harris R. J. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYDirect detection assays forMycoplasma pneumoniaewere established by PCR amplification of short sequences within the foot protein/adhesin (P1) gene and the 16S ribosomal RNA gene.Specificity and sensitivity was excellent, no hybridization was observed withM. genitaliumand other humanMycoplasmaspecies. In nose and throat washings from subjects with respiratory infection a pattern of high counts (c.f.u./ml) ofM. pneumoniae(deduced from the amount of amplified PCR product), and a positive antigen capture assay, was found in 83% of subjects with serological evidence of current infection withM. pneumoniae.A small proportion of subjects with serological patterns suggesting infection in the more distant past had positive PCR assays. This was considered to represent either persistence of the organism from a previous infection or perhaps transient carriage during a reinfection, without substantial change in antibody response.PCR-based assay ofM. pneumoniaeoffers a powerful, rapid, and sensitive substitute for culture of the mycoplasma. Antigen capture, while less sensitive than PCR, offers the advantage that it is more often positive with samples from current infection and requires less stringent laboratory organization to contain false positive results. We conclude however that the laboratory diagnosis of a chosen clinical episode should not rest on the PCR or Ag-EIA assays alone, but must also include antibody assays to confirm whether infection is current or represents persistence from past exposure.
rRNA gene restriction patterns and biotypes ofShigella sonnei
Authors: Nastasi A. , Pignato S. , Mammina C. , Giammanco G. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYShigella sonneiis a major agent of diarrhoeal disease in developed as well as in developing countries. Several phenotypic methods to define strain differences have been applied to this species ofShigellaincluding, more recently, analysis of extrachromosomal and chromosomal DNA.In this study, 432 endemic and epidemic strains isolated between 1975 and 1991 in Italy, France and Switzerland were submitted to rRNA gene restriction pattern analysis, after digestion of whole-cell DNA byHincII, and to concomitant biotyping.Thirteen ribotypes, HI to H13, and five biotypes, a, d, e, f, g, were detected. Xinety-five percent of the sporadic strains were assigned to ribotypes HI to H4, which could be subtvped, except for H4, in different biotypes. Strains from each of seven different outbreaks had indistinguishable ribotype-biotype patterns. In contrast, 65 strains, isolated in Sicily in 1980 over an extended period of apparently epidemic increase of isolations and which had previously been considered to be a single bacterial clone on the basis of resistance pattern and phage type, were found to belong to two different and scarcely related ribotypes.Ribotyping and biochemical subtyping appear to be a useful epidemiological tool in studies on the circulation and distribution of strains ofS. sonnei.
The carriage ofStreptococcus suistype 2 by pigs in Papua New Guinea
Authors: Paterson R. A. , Robertson I. D. , Sanders R. C. , Siba P. M. , Clegg A. , Hampson D. J. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYAn indirect fluorescent antibody test was used to detect the presence ofStreptococcus suistype 2 in nasal and pharyngeal swabs taken from pigs in Papua New Guinea. The rate of carriage for the two sites in domesticated indigenous village pigs was 0·5 and 2·5% respectively, compared to 39 and 43% for intensively reared pigs. These findings were supported by the results of a serological survey, using an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, in which 87% of intensively reared pigs but only 8% of village pigs were seropositive toS. suistype 2.It is proposed that in intensive piggeriesS. suistype 2 is continually cycled between pigs. In village pigs, the low population density and harsh environmental conditions prevents this cycle of infection.
The prevalence and genetics of resistance to commonly used antimicrobial agents in faecal Enterobacteriaceae from children in Bangladesh
Authors: Mamun K. Z. , Shears P. , Hart C. A. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYThe present study was undertaken to investigate the occurrence of antibiotic resistance in enteric flora in 64 children in rural Bangladesh over a 12-month period. The antibiotic resistance pattern of the isolates varied throughout the year and multiple resistance was highest during the post monsoon period. Seventythree percent of children had isolates resistant to more than three antibiotics throughout the year. Resistance to streptomycin was highest (78%), followed closely by ampicillin (72%). Of 82 multiply resistant isolates, plasmid DNA was demonstrated in 75%. Plasmid sizes ranged between 3·7 and 110 MDa, the commonest plasmids were of 70, 98 and 110 MDa. Complete or partial resistance was transferred by conjugation from 52% of the isolates, most frequently by single plasmids. The commonest plasmid incompatibility group was F11-A (46%) followed by incompatibility group P (22%). Plasmids of molecular weight 98 MDa most often hybridized with F11-A probes and those of 110 MDa with H11 probes. Plasmids from 10 transconjugants were digested with restriction enzymes and digest patterns demonstrated the presence of common plasmids. The findings show that there is a diverse, and mobile, genetic pool of resistance genes in this rural community. This genetic reservoir is potentially transferable to enteric pathogens, with major implications for public health and diarrhoeal disease control.
Factors enhancing adherence of toxigenicStaphylococcus aureusto epithelial cells and their possible role in sudden infant death syndrome
Authors: Saadi A. T. , Blackwell C. C. , Raza M. W. , James V. S. , Stewart J. , Elton R. A. , Weir D. M. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYToxigenic strains ofStaphylococcus aureushave been suggested to play a role in sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). In this study we examined two factors that might enhance binding of toxigenic staphylococci to epithelial cells of infants in the age range in which cot deaths are prevalent: expression of the Lewisaantigen and infection with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). By flow cytometry we demonstrated that binding of three toxigenic strains ofS. aureusto cells from non-secretors was significantly greater than to cells of secretors. Pre-treatment of epithelial cells with monoclonal anti-Lewisaor anti-type-1 precursor significantly reduced bacterial binding (P< 0·01); however, attachment of the bacteria correlated only with the amount of Lewisaantigen detected on the cells (P< 0·01). HEp-2 cells infected with RSV bound significantly more bacteria than uninfected cells. These findings are discussed in context of factors previously associated with SIDS (mother's smoking, bottle feeding and the prone sleeping position) and a hypothesis proposed to explain some cases of SIDS.
An epidemic of cholera due toVibrio choleraeO139 in Dhaka, Bangladesh: clinical and epidemiological features
Authors: Mahalanabis D. , Faruque A. S. G. , Albert M. J. , Salam M. A. , Hoque S. S. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYWe describe the disease spectrum and socio-demographic and epidemiological features of an epidemic of cholera due to a new pathogen.Vibrio choleraeO139, in patients attending a very large hospital in the metropolitan city of Dhaka, Bangladesh.This hospital treats 70000–90000 patients a year with diarrhoeal diseases. A 4% systematic sample of 1854 patients attending from January to April 1993 were studied.Five hundred and two (27%) of the 1854 patients were culture positive forV. choleraeO139 and 63 (3%) were culture positive forV. choleraeO1 biotype El Tor. Patients withV. choleraeO139 were mainly adults with a short history of watery diarrhoea. Eight-three percent of patients had moderate to severe dehydration. All recovered except one 80-year-old man with compromised renal function who died. Seventy-eight percent of patients required initial intravenous rehydration followed by oral rehydration therapy with rice ORS; they also received tetracycline to reduce diarrhoea severity. Most patients were from urban slums with inadequate sanitation facilities and hygiene practices.The newly recognizedV. choleraeO139 infection produced an epidemic of severe dehydrating diarrhoea indistinguishable from clinical cholera in a population which experiences two epidemic peaks of cholera in a year due toV. choleraeO1. Infection with the latter does not appear to confer any cross-protection fromV. choleraeO139. The new pathogen suppressed, albeit temporarily,V. choleraeO1. Unlike other non-O1 serogroups ofV. choleraethis new serogroup appears to have epidemic potential.
Apramycin-resistantEscherichia coliisolated from pigs and a stockman
Authors: Hunter J. E. B. , Bennett M. , Hart C. A. , Shelley J. C. , Walton J. R. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYEscherichia coliserotype O147:K89:K88a,c was found to be associated with outbreaks of diarrhoea in preweaner pigs of up to 4 weeks of age on a pig unit. Resistance to apramycin, gentamicin, netilmicin, tobramycin and other antibiotics was associated with conjugative plasmids of approximately 62 kb. The presence of a gene which encoded for the aminoglycoside acetyltransferase enzyme AAC(3)IV was confirmed by DNA hybridization.Samples collected during the following 12 months revealed widespread dissemination of these resistance plasmids in non-serotypable, non-haemolyticE. colithroughout the farm. Apramycin-resistantE. coliwere also isolated from a stockman and it appeared from plasmid profile analysis and antibiotic sensitivity testing that the human isolates carried the same plasmid as that carried by the porcineE. coli.Klebsiella pneumoniae, with a slightly smaller conjugative plasmid and similar resistance pattern, was isolated from the stockman's wife.
Fatal nosocomial Legionnaires' disease: relevance of contamination of hospital water supply by temperature-dependent buoyancy-driven flow from spur pipes
Authors: Patterson W. J. , Seal D. V. , Curran E. , Sinclair T. M. , McLuckie J. C. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYThe investigation, epidemiology, and effectiveness of control procedures during an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease involving three immunosuppressed patients are described. The source of infection appeared to be a network of fire hydrant spurs connected directly to the incoming hospital mains water supply. Removal of these hydrants considerably reduced, but failed to eliminate, contamination of water storage facilities. As an emergency control procedure the incoming mains water was chlorinated continuously. Additional modifications to improve temperature regulation and reduce stagnation also failed to eliminate the legionellae.A perspex test-rig was constructed to model the pre-existing hospital water supply and storage system. This showed that through the hydraulic mechanism known as ‘temperature buoyancy’, contaminated water could be efficiently and quickly exchanged between a stagnant spur pipe and its mains supply. Contamination of hospital storage tanks from such sources has not previously been considered a risk factor for Legionnaires' disease. We recommend that hospital water storage tanks are supplied by a dedicated mains pipe without spurs.
Resistance in faecal Escherichia coli isolated from pigfarmers and abattoir workers
Authors: Nijsten R. , London N. , Bogaard A. Van Den , Stobberingh E. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYFaecal samples collected from three populations of healthy adult volunteers (290 pigfarmers, 316 abattoir workers, 160 (sub)urban residents) living in the south of The Netherlands were analysed for the prevalence and degree of antibiotic resistance of Escherichia coli.Significant differences in prevalence of resistance to amoxicillin, neomycin, oxytetracycline, sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim were observed. The pig-farmers showed the highest percentages of resistance and the (sub)urban residents the lowest. In contrast no significant differences in high degrees of resistance were observed, except for neomycin.Although both pigfarmers and abattoir workers have regular contact with pigs differences in prevalences of resistance were observed. However, because abattoir workers with intensive and less intensive pig(carcass) contact did not show significant differences, this is probably not the only important source of resistant E. coli in pigfarmers.The high antibiotic use by pigfarmers (5%) and abattoir workers (8%) than by (sub)urban residents (0%) did not result in significantly different resistance percentages.
A community outbreak of haemolytic-uraemic syndrome in children occurring in a large area of Northern Italy over a period of several months
Authors: Tozzi A. E. , Niccolini A. , Caprioli A. , Luzzi I. , Montini G. , Zacchello G. , Gianviti A. , Principato F. , Rizzoni G. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYFrom March to October 1993. 15 cases of haemolytic-uraemic syndrome (HUS) in children were detected in a large area of northern Italy, where only 8 cases had occurred in the previous 5 years. Analysis of stool and serum specimens obtained from 14 cases showed evidence of Verotoxin-producingEscherichia coli(VTEC) infection in 13. Serum antibodies to theE. coliO157 lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were found in 8 patients and to the O111 LPS in 2. An O86 VTEC was isolated from another patient. Fourteen children needed dialysis, and 1 died. No obvious epidemiologic link was observed among cases, most of whom lived in small townships. A case-control study did not show an association between HUS and food or exposure to cattle, but suggested an association with contact with chicken coops (OR = 6·5. 95% C.I. 1·2–34·9). However, VTEC were not isolated from stool samples obtained from the chicken coops involved. The risk factors for VTEC infection related to living in rural settlements, including the exposure to live poultry, should be considered in outbreak investigations.