bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Virulence determinants inPseudomonas aeruginosastrains from urinary tract infections
Authors: Visca P. , Chiarini F. , Mansi A. , Vetriani C. , Serino L. , Orsi N. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYA total of 121 uropathogenicPseudomonas aeruginosastrains were examined for production of several virulence-related factors. These strains were distributed in five predominant O-serotypes, i.e. O 4, O 12, O 11, O 6 and O 5, which accounted respectively for 23·9, 23·1, 12·3, 8·2 and 5·7% of isolates. Pyochelin and pyoverdin siderophores were produced by most of the isolates, defective variants occurring at very low frequency (2·4% for pyochelin and 7·4% for pyoverdin). Adherence to uroepithelial cells and production of cytotoxins was demonstrated in 52·8 and 67·7% of the strains, respectively, with higher frequencies for epidemiologically related strains belonging to serotypes O 4 and O 12. Titration of total proteases, elastase and phospholipase C revealed a high degree of heterogeneity among isolates. However, examination of individual O-serotypes by exoenzyme production showed that elevated levels of total proteases and elastase were characteristics of serotypes of minor numerical importance, i.e. O 1, O 10, O 11 and O 17, whilst low levels of elastase were produced by strains belonging to the predominant serotypes, namely O 4 and O 12. Moreover, epidemiologically related strains belonging to serotypes O 4 and O 12 appeared more homogeneous than the whole serogroup, when compared with other groups on the basis of exoenzyme levels.
Antigenic and genetic analyses of eight influenza C strains isolated in various areas of Japan during 1985–9
Authors: Ohyama S. , Adachi K. , Sugawara K. , Hongo S. , Nishimura H. , Kitame F. , Nakamura K. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYEight strains of influenza C virus isolated in various areas of Japan between January 1985 and January 1989 were compared using monoclonal antibodies to the haemagglutinin-esterase (HE) glycoproteins and by oligonucleotide mapping of total vRNA. Five of six strains isolated during 1986–9 were closely related to one another and also resembled the virus, C/Aichi/1/81, isolated in 1981 in Aichi prefecture. This suggests that the C/Aichi/l/81-related viruses had an epidemiological advantage over any co-circulating viruses at least during that period. One of two 1985 isolates (C/Nara/1/85) was antigenically indistinguishable from the C/Mississippi/1/80 strain though their oligonucleotide patterns were markedly different from each other. This raises the possibility that C/Nara/1/85 may be a recombinant virus which receives its HE gene from the C/Mississippi/l/80-related parent.
Distribution and characteristics of verocytotoxigenicEscherichia coliisolated from Ontario dairy cattle
Authors: Wilson J. B. , McEwen S. A. , Clarke R. C. , Leslie K. E. , Wilson R. A. , Waltner-Toews D. , Gyles C. L. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYFaecal swabs obtained from a random sample of 1131 cows and 659 calves on 100 southern Ontario dairy farms were examined for verocytotoxigenicEscherichia coli(VTEC) using a Vero cell assay. Five isolates from each positive culture were tested similarly. Positive colonies were examined with DNA probes for Shiga-like toxin I (SLT-I) and SLT-II sequences. Probe-negative colonies were tested for neutralization of verocytotoxicity using anti-SLT-I and anti-SLT-IIv antisera. Colonies showing no neutralization response were examined in a polymerase chain reaction procedure. Colonies positive by any test were confirmed to beE. colibiochemically, serotyped, biotyped and tested for antimicrobial resistance. Faecal culture supernatants which were positive in the Vero cell assay, but culture negative, were examined using the neutralization assay. Animals were classified positive by faecal culture supernatant or by positive VTEC isolate. The prevalence rates of VTEC infection in cows and calves were estimated to be 9·5 and 24·7%, respectively. The proportion of animals infected on each farm ranged from 0 to 60% for cows and 0 to 100% for calves. Of 206 VTEC isolates identified, few were of serotypes which have been isolated from humans and none wereE. coliO 157. H7.
Transmission ofNeisseria meningitidisamong asymptomatic military recruits and antibody analysis
Authors: Caugant D. A. , Høiby E. A. , Rosenqvist E. , Frøholm L. O. , Selander R. K. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYFollowing the occurrence of a case of systemic meningococcal disease in a military camp in Norway, throat cultures and blood samples were collected from 33 healthy individuals belonging to the same troop as the patient (troop A) and from 29 individuals from a different troop (troop B) in the same camp. Serological studies showed that 91% of the recruits had bactericidal antibodies against the disease-causing strain. The isolates ofNeisseria meningitidisrecovered from the throat cultures were serogrouped, serotyped, and assigned to a clone on the basis of an analysis of the electrophoretic mobilities of 14 metabolic enzymes. None of the 23 carriers in troop A harboured the clone responsible for the case of disease, but 6 carried isolates of the same electrophoretic type, ET-7, which was not identified in any of the 19 carriers of troop B. Individuals in troop A were resampled 2 and 17 weeks after the meningococcal disease episode. Five of the carriers had acquired different clones and one of them changed clone twice in that period. Four of the six newly acquired clones had previously been identified in other carriers of troop A, demonstrating transmission of clones among individuals living and working in close proximity.
The serological grouping system forSerpulina (Treponema) hyodysenteriae
Authors: Lau T. T. A. , Hampson D. J. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYLipopolysaceharide from serostrains ofSerpulina (Treponema) hyodysenteriaefor serogroups A to I was characterized using sodium dodecylsulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and silver staining. All strains had lipo-polysaccharide components ranging from 10 to 16 kDa that represented lipid A-core polysaccharide regions, and short O-antigen side chain were also recognized in certain immunoblots.Serological reactions between lipopolysaceharide and antisera against each of these serostrains were examined by Western immunoblotting. There was relatively little antigenic cross-reactivity between LPS from the nine strains, thus confirming their suitability as serostrains.Using cross-absorbed sera, isolates within serogroups A and E were shown to possess unique epitopes on the core lipopolysaceharide, distinct from serogroup reactivities. These isolates were therefore identified as serovars within the serogroups.This study confirmed the usefulness of the serotyping scheme forS. hyodysenteriae, in which the bacteria can be placed into serogroups using unabsorbed sera, and into serovars within these using cross-absorbed sera.
Serological cross-reaction betweenLegionella pneumophilaand Campylobacter in the indirect fluorescent antibody test
Authors: Boswell T. C. J. , Kudesia G. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYSera from 50 patients with culture-proven Campylobacter gastroenteritis were examined for the presence of antibodies toLegionella pneumophila. Ten patients (20%) had a positive titre (≥16) as measured by indirect immunofluorescence. Antibodies were detected in only 1 of 36 acute sera but in 10 of 14 (71%) sera obtained more than 10 days after the onset of symptoms. All positive sera contained specific IgM antibodies but specific IgG or IgA could not be detected in any sample. No legionella antibodies could be detected in sera from 42 similar patients with salmonella gastroenteritis. These results were shown to be due to serological cross-reaction betweenL. pneumophilaand Campylobacter.
The distribution of the DHFR genes in trimethoprim-resistant urinary tract isolates from Taiwan
Authors: Chang Lin-Li , Chang Shui-Feng , Chow Teh-Yuan , Wu Wen-Jeng , Chang Jong-Chou 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYBetween July 1987 and June 1989, 1054 urinary isolates of enterobacteria from Kaohsiung, Taiwan were studied for their trimethoprim resistance. Trimethoprim resistance was defined as MIC greater than 4 μg/ml and high-level resistance by MIC greater than 1000 μg/ml. The incidence of trimethoprim resistance increased from 33·6% in 1987 to 42·1% in 1989. Among the resistant strains studied, 90% were resistant to high levels of trimethoprim. An increase in the proportion of resistant strains (33·9–46·3%) exhibiting high-level non-transferable trimethoprim resistance was noted. The distribution of the dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) genes by colony hybridization in 374 trimethoprim-resistant isolates revealed the presence of type I and type V DHFR genes in most of these isolates (45·4% and 10·4% respectively). Type I was predominant inEscherichia coliwhereas type V was frequently seen inEnterobacterspp. None showed homology with the type II and type III DHFR probe DNA. In addition, transposon Tn7 was present in 7·8% of 374 trimethoprim-resistant enterobacteria.
Circulating antibodies against faecal bacteria assessed by immunomorphometry: combining quantitative immunofluorescence and image analysis
Authors: Apperloo-Renkema H. Z. , Wilkinson M. H. F. , Waaij D. van der 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYA new technique to study the prevalence of circulating antibodies directed against different morphological groups (‘morphotypes’) of bacteria in fresh faeces is presented. The technique combines quantitative indirect immunofluorescence with digital image analysis. Plasma antibody titres and patterns of IgA, IgG and IgM isotype against morphotypes of faecal bacteria were determined in ten healthy individuals.
A prospective study of exposure to verotoxin-producingEscherichia coliamong Canadian children with haemolytic uraemic syndrome
Authors: Rowe P. C. , Orrbine E. , Lior H. , Wells G. A. , McLaine P. N. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYHaemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) is a leading cause of acute renal failure in childhood. Although infection withEscherichia coliO 157. H7 has been associated with HUS in North America and Europe, only a limited number of studies have examined the role of other verotoxin-producingE. coli(VTEC) serotypes in this condition. To address this issue, we conducted a comprehensive, prospective microbiological study of patients treated for HUS at eight Canadian hospitals in the summer of 1990. Of the 34 consecutive patients with HUS enrolled over 4 months,E. coli0 157. H7 was isolated from the stools of 26, and otherE. coliserotypes were isolated from four patients. In four subjects no pathogenicE. coliserotypes were identified on stool culture. Using oligonucleotide probes specific for VT-1 and VT-2, verotoxin genes were detected in the stool isolates of all patients withE. coliO 157.H7, and from two with otherE. coliserotypes. Two other patients had at least a fourfold rise in anti-verotoxin antibodies. Strong evidence of exposure to a verotoxin was present in 30/34 (88%). Patients withE. coli0 157.H7 infection were more likely to develop an antibody response to VT-2 than to VT-1 (22/22 vs 12/22; P = 0.002). These results further strengthen the association of HUS with verotoxin-producingE. coliin North America, and confirm thatE. coliserotypes other than 0 157. H7 are isolated in a small proportion of summertime HUS episodes.
A comparison ofSalmonella enteritidisphage types from egg-associated outbreaks and implicated laying flocks
Authors: Altekruse S. , Koehler J. , Hickman-Brenner F. , Tauxe R. V. , Ferris K. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYInfections due toSalmonella enteritidisare increasing worldwide. In the United States, between 1985 and 1989. 78% of theS. enteritidisoutbreaks in which a food vehicle was identified implicated a food containing raw or lightly cooked shell eggs.Under a US Department of Agriculture regulation published in 1990, eggs implicated in human food-borneS. enteritidisoutbreaks were traced back to the source flock. The flock environment and the internal organs of a sample of hens were tested forS. enteritidis. We compared theS. enteritidisphage types of isolates from 18 human, egg-associated outbreaks and the 15 flocks implicated through traceback of these outbreaks. The predominant human outbreak phage type was recovered from the environment in 100% of implicated flocks and from the internal organs of hens in 88% of implicated flocks we tested. The results support the use of phage typing as a tool to identify flocks involved in humanS. enteritidisoutbreaks.
Sialic acid content and surface hydrophobicity of group B streptococci
Authors: Teixeira L. A. , Figueiredo A. M. S. , Ferreira B. T. , Alves V. M. L. , Nagao P. E. , Alviano C. S. , Angluster J. , Silva-Filho F. C. , Benchetrit L. C. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYThe sialic acid content and the cell-surface hydrophobicity index of 40 group B streptococci (GBS) strains were assessed. GBS isolated from invasive infections (virulent strains) presented an increased level of sialic acid content (1.4%) when compared with GBS isolated from asymptomatic patients (0.53%). Treatment of GBS strain 85634 with neuraminidase resulted in a decrease (about 25%) in the net negative surface charge as assessed by cell electrophoresis. This finding suggests that sialic acid residues are important anionogenic groups exposed on GBS cell surface.N-acetylneuraminic acid was the only sialic acid derivative characterized in the strain 85634 as evaluated by gas-liquid chromatography. GBS from different serotypes presented a hydrophobic index mean value of 0.9. Even though the sialic acid contributed effectively to the negative charge on GBS cell surface, no difference was observed in the hydrophobic index when virulent and avirulent strains were compared.
Corresponding type-specificity of vibriocidal and agglutinating activities ofVibrio choleraeantisera: relevance to vaccine immunogenicity
Authors: Preston N. W. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYCholera vibrios can be allocated to one of three biotypes (classical, intermediate and El Tor), each of which can be sub-divided into two serotypes (Ogawa and Inaba). Vibriocidal tests with absorbed antisera have shown no evidence of biotype specificity in the killing of bacteria, but they have confirmed the role of the two serotype-specific antigens in immunity to cholera. The same presence of serotype specificity, and absence of biotype specificity, has been found by bacterial agglutination, an easier and quicker serological test. The use of this simpler test in ensuring a balanced serotype response to cholera vaccine is discussed, together with evidence that may lead to the production of more effective vaccine and better immunity.
Serological diagnosis of leishmaniasis: on detecting infection as well as disease
Authors: Dye C. , Vidor E. , Dereure J. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYSerological tests are very frequently used in epidemiological surveys of leishmaniasis and other parasitoses. Their sensitivity and specificity are generally defined with respect to parasitism and diseases, rather than infection. The reason is that known positives are those individuals most likely to yield parasites, or who have distinctive clinical signs, and concomitantly high antibody titres. This paper investigates the performance of one serological method, the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT), in detectingLeishmania infantuminfection during an intensive 2-year cohort study of dogs in southern France. The results show that sensitivity and specificity with respect to infection can be simultaneously high, but maximum sensitivity is probably <80%, and lasts for a relatively short period of 2–3 months after a lengthy incubation period. The IFAT gave the incidence of infection as 18–65% in the first year, whereas the best estimate of incidence based on parasite isolation and clinical observation was 72%. But data from the second year suggest that the 72% was itself an underestimate. We argue that, during epidemiological surveys, the IFAT in particular, and serological tests for leishmania in general, will underestimate prevalence, incidence and hence the scale of the control problem. However, there is evidence that tests for canine leishmaniasis employing high threshold titres will identify the most infectious animals, allowing selective treatment or culling of those which contribute disproportionately to transmission.
A model-based design of a vaccination strategy against rubella in a non-immunized community of São Paulo State, Brazil
Authors: Massad E. , Burattini M. Nascimento , De Azevedo Neto R. S. , Mo Yang Hyun , Coutinho F. A. B. , Zanetta D. M. T. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYA mixed vaccination strategy against rubella is proposed. We describe how the vaccination strategy was designed with the help of mathematical techniques. The strategy was designed for application in a non-immunized community of the State of São Paulo, Brazil, and was implemented by local health authorities in 1992. This strategy comprises a pulse vaccination campaign, covering the age interval between 1 and 10 years, followed by the introduction of the vaccine in the immunization calendar at 15 months of age. The expected impact of the proposed strategy is discussed.
The role of home-made ice cream as a vehicle of Salmonella enteritidis phage type 4 infection from fresh shell eggs
Authors: Morgan D. , Mawer S. L. , Harman P. L. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYA family outbreak of Salmonella enteritidis PT4 infection is described in which home-made ice cream was identified as the vehicle of infection. The ice cream contained approximately 105S. enteritidis PT4 organisms per gm and was probably contaminated by an infected shell egg containing between 105−108 organisms. The continued relevance of the Chief Medical Officer's warning on the use of raw shell eggs is highlighted.Home-made ice cream using the same recipe as ice cream that had been incriminated as the cause of the family outbreak of S. enteritidis PT4 infection was used to study the growth of the organism that might have occurred in the 3–4 h it took to prepare the product. When the inoculum was in the stationary phase, as it would be from shell or other cross contamination, there was a lag phase of 3 h before growth occurred at room temperature. Even when actively multiplying organisms were introduced, as may be found in an infected egg, there was less than 3 log10 increase in the salmonella count in 4 h at room temperature. It was, therefore, given the high S. enteritidis count, unlikely that the ice cream was cross-contaminated.By contrast, raspberry sorbet at pH 3·73 proved to be lethal to a large inoculum of S. enteritidis and may be a relatively safe raw egg containing product.
Sero/subtyping ofNeisseria meningitidisisolated from patients in Spain
Authors: Vazquez J. A. , Marcos C. , Berron S. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYTo know the types of meningococcal strains in Spain, we serotyped and subtyped 743Neisseria meningitidisisolates recovered between 1990 and 1992 from patients. A great number of serogroup B, serogroup C and non-groupable meningoccoci reacted with the serotyping reagents while many serogroup C and non-groupable isolates did not react with the serosubtyping reagents (78·2% and 54·8 % respectively); only 8·9 % of serogroup B meningococci were non-subtypeable (NST). Distribution of serotypes was similar in serogroup C and in non-groupable strains. Isolates showed great variability in antigenic phenotypes (71 in serogroup B, 20 in serogroup C and 25 in non-groupable meningococci). The most frequent antigenic combinations were 4:P1. 15 (39·8%) in serogroup B, 2b:NST (55·8%) in serogroup C and 2b:NST (35·6%) in non-groupable meningococci.
Typhoid fever from water desalinized using reverse osmosis
Authors: Al-Qarawi S. M. , El Bushra H. E. , Fontaine R. E. , Bubshait S. A. , El Tantawy N. A. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYIn May 1992, 81 bacteriologically confirmed cases of typhoid fever (TF) were identified in all districts of Tabuk City in northwestern Saudi Arabia. Attack rates (AR) in residential districts ranged from 0·9–10·3 per 10000. Confirmed cases included 9 workers in the city's referral hospital, King Khalid Hospital (AR 140/10000), 2 in families of medical staff, 57 in the community (AR 4·4/10000) and 13 in a local military cantonment (AR 0·8/10000). The outbreak began with the onset of TF in the three areas within 5 days, continued for 7 weeks, and ended 2 weeks after chlorination began. Among water sources, the odds ratio (OR) was highest (2·6; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1·25–5·39) for water purchased from reverse osmosis (RO) plants, especially RO plants supplied by one well (ASUW) (OR = 7·05; 95% CI 2.51–20·7). The aquifer for ASUW lay partially beneath a depression where city sewage collected. Unchlorinated water samples from ASUW 1 month after the outbreak ended yielded coliforms. ASUW probably became contaminated withSalmonella typhiwhen KKH demand overtaxed the aquifer and drew in surface water. Membranes in RO plants using this unchlorinated well water could then become fouled withS. typhi. RO plants, which are common throughout Saudi Arabia, need close monitoring. WTater for RO must be prechlorinated to prevent microbiologic fouling of the membranes.
Vibrio cholerae O139 in Thailand in 1994
Authors: Bodhidatta L. , Echeverria P. , Hoge C. W. , Pitarangsi C. , Serichantalergs O. , Henprasert-Tae N. , Harikul S. , Kitpoka P. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYVibrio cholerae O139 first appeared in India and Bangladesh in 1992. Surveillance for O139 was started at three hospitals in Thailand in 1993. By 1994 all three hospitals surveyed in Thailand had experienced an increase in Vibrio cholerae O139 infections.
Host-microflora interaction in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE): circulating antibodies to the indigenous bacteria of the intestinal tract
Authors: Apperloo-Renkema H. Z. , Bootsma H. , Mulder B. I. , Kallenberg C. G. M. , Van der Waaij D. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYExperimental data suggest a role for the microflora in the disease expression of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In active SLE anti-ds-DNA antibodies are supposed to be pathogenic by forming immune complexes with DNA. Bacteria might induce the production of anti-ds-DNA antibodies. To explore the relation between the host and his microflora in SLE in comparison with healthy controls we studied the prevalence of systemic antibodies to faecal bacteria that were discriminated by their morphology by indirect immunofluorescence.IgM titres against their own faecal microflora were found to be lower both in active and inactive SLE when compared to healthy individuals. IgG-class antibacterial antibodies were increased in inactive SLE but decreased in active SLE compared to inactive SLE and healthy controls, although plasma levels of total IgG were almost doubled in active SLE. The lower IgG antibacterial antibody titres in active SLE might possibly result from sequestration of these IgG antibodies in immune complexes, indicating a possible role for antibacterial antibodies in exacerbations of SLE.
A comparative study of food retail premises by means of visual inspection and microbiological quality of food
Authors: Powell S. C. , Attwell R. W. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYThe relationship between visual inspection ratings given to ten food retail premises and the microbiological quality of food samples was examined. Viable counts of bacteria and of Staphylococcus aureus were determined for cooked meat samples from each of the premises. There was no correlation between potential risk of foodborne infection, as assessed by total inspection rating, and bacteriological counts in food (P < 0·05). Neither was there a consistent relationship between scores given to any component of the total rating and the bacteriological quality of food.The effectiveness of the current UK inspection scheme in assessing risk of foodborne infection is questioned. Inclusion of appropriately weighted criteria such as food temperature abuse is suggested to improve the scheme.