bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Application of a new phagetyping scheme to campylobacters isolated during outbreaks
Authors: Salama S. M. , Bolton F. J. , Hutchinson D. N. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYA new scheme for phagetyping campylobacters has been evaluated using strains isolated from five outbreaks. The phagetyping results have been compared with the results of Penner serotyping, Lior serotyping and Preston biotyping. Phagetyping recognized the causative strains in all of the incidents and also differentiated these strains from animal and environmental strains isolated during these investigations. In some outbreaks phagetyping proved to be more discriminatory than serotyping or biotyping, e.g. strains of Penner serotype 2, and serogroup 4, 13, 16, 50 were subdivided by this method. Phagetyping is to be recommended for typing strains from outbreaks and although the results indicate that it may be used alone we advocate that it should be used in conjunction with one of the established typing methods.
A study of human respiratory tract chlamydial infections in Cambridgeshire 1986–88
Authors: Wreghitt T. G , Barker C. E , Treharne J. D , Phipps J. M , Robinson V , Buttery R. B 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYHuman respiratory tract chlamydial infections have been studied in Cambridge-shire for many years, but until recently we have been unable to distinguish between infection withChlamydia psittaciOrChlamydia pneumoniae(TWAR). In this study, we have employed the micro-immunofluorescence (micro-IF) test for this purpose and to look for the relative incidence ofC. psittaciandC. pneumoniaeinfections in Cambridgeshire. Among 50 patients with community-acquired respiratory tract symptoms whose serum samples had Chlamydia complement fixation test titres ≥ 64, 25 had evidence of recentC. psittaciorC. pneumoniaeinfection. Nineteen (76%) of the 25 patients had evidence of recentC. psittaciinfection and of these 16 (84%) had recently had contact with birds. Six patients (24%) had evidence of recentC. pneumoniaeinfection, and of these, only two (33% had recently had contact with birds). WhileC. psittaciwas grown from several of the birds associated with humanC. psittaciinfection, it was not cultured from any of the birds in contact with the two humanC. pnemoniaecases.
The avidity of specific IgM detected in primary rubella and reinfection
Authors: Thomas H. I. J. , Morgan-Capner P. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYAn IgM capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for rubella-specific IgM was used to assess the avidity of specific IgM by comparing the results obtained with and without a mild protein denaturant in the washing fluid used after incubation of IgM with rubella haemagglutinating antigen. An avidity index (AI) was calculated with AIs < 50% considered to indicate low avidity. Sera from recent primary rubella, rubella reinfection and from patients persistently reactive for specific IgM were tested. Urea and diethylamine (DEA) were compared as the protein denaturants. Twenty-six of 28 sera from cases of primary rubella gave an AI < 50% with DEA, compared with 25 of 28 with urea. Seventeen of 20 sera from cases of reinfection gave an AI > 50% with DEA whereas only 14 of 20 had a similarly high avidity with urea. Eight of 10 sera from 4 cases of persistent specific IgM reactivity gave AIs > 50% with DEA, although this was reduced to 5 when urea was used. Thus a difference has been demonstrated between the avidity of specific IgM in primary infection from that demonstrated after a secondary antigenic challenge (reinfection). This may help in serologically distinguishing primary infection from reinfection.
Plasmid profile analysis and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of shigella isolates from Nigeria
Authors: Olukoya D. K. , Oni O. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYIn an epidemiological survey, plasmid profiles and antimicrobial susceptibility testing of 100 shigella isolates in Lagos, Nigeria was done. All the isolates were sensitive to nalidixic acid, nitrofurantoin and ciprofloxacin. The commonest antimicrobial susceptibility pattern was resistance to ampicillin, colistin sulphate, co-trimoxazole, streptomycin and tetracycline. All but 4 of 100 isolates screened contained one or more plasmids. Plasmid profile analysis distinguished more strains than did antimicrobial susceptibility patterns. A total of 36 isolates was able to transfer resistance plasmids toEscherichia coliK-12 by conjugation. Usingin vitrotransformation, seven isolates transferred resistance. These plasmids specified resistance to tetracycline, streptomycin, sulphonamide, trimethoprim and ampicillin.
Numerical analysis of SDS–PAGE protein patterns ofSerratia marcescens: a comparison with other typing methods
Authors: Holmes B. , Costas M. , Sloss L. L. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYTwenty-five cultures comprising 18 clinical isolates ofSerratia marcescensfrom two hospitals, the type strain ofS. marcescens, two reference strains ofS. marinorubra, the type or a reference strain of three other Serratia species and a reference strain of undetermined species, were characterized by one-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulphate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS–PAGE) of whole-cell proteins. The protein patterns were highly reproducible and were used as the basis of a numerical analysis which divided the clinical isolates into eight protein types. Comparison with O-serotyping indicated that the level of discrimination by SDS–PAGE was similar. As with O-serotyping, a secondary scheme, such as phage typing, is necessary to differentiate strains of the same protein type. We conclude that high-resolution SDS–PAGE of proteins provides an effective adjunct to other methods for typing isolates ofS. marcescens.
Health effects of beach water pollution in Hong Kong
Authors: Cheung W. H. S. , Chang K. C. K. , Hung R. P. S. , Kleevens J. W. L. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYProspective epidemiological studies of beach water pollution were conducted in Hong Kong in the summers of 1986 and 1987. For the main study in 1987, a total of 18741 usable responses were obtained from beachgoers on nine beaches at weekends. The study indicated the overall perceived symptom rates for gastrointestinal, ear, eye, skin, respiratory, fever and total illness were significantly higher for swimmers than non-swimmers; and the swimming-associated symptom rates for gastrointestinal, skin, respiratory and total illness were higher at ‘barely acceptable’ beaches than at ‘relatively unpolluted’ ones.Escherichia coliwas found to be the best indicator of the health effects associated with swimming in the beaches of Hong Kong. It showed the highest correlation with combined swimming-associated gastroenteritis and skin symptom rates when compared with other microbial indicators. A linear relationship betweenE. coliand the combined symptom rates was established. Staphylococci were correlated with ear, respiratory and total illness, but could not be used for predicting swimming-associated health risks. They should be used to complementE. coli. The setting of health-related bathing-water quality standards based on such a study is discussed.
Serological study of the epidemiology of mumps virus infection in north-west England
Authors: Nokes D. J. , Wright J. , Morgan-Capner P. , Anderson R. M. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYSerum samples from individuals of a wide age range, collected in northwest England in 1984 and 1986, provide the basis for an analysis of the epidemiology of mumps virus infection. A radial haemolysis test yielding quantitative antibody measurements was used to screen samples for mumps-specific IgG. Analyses of resultant age-seroprevalence profiles, using statistical models, revealed an age-related pattern in the rate of infection per susceptible similar to that observed for other childhood infections. This rate, or force of infection, was low in young children, high in older children, and low in adults. In addition, the serological surveys provide evidence for time-dependent changes (both epidemic and longer-term) in the rate of mumps virus transmission. The longer-term changes, reflected in the pattern of the age-acquisition of specific antibodies, are supported by evidence from case notification data. The implications of temporal changes in incidence to the interpretation and design of serological surveys are considered.
Similarities in nucleotide sequence between serum and faecal human parvovirus DNA
Authors: Turton J. , Appleton H. , Clewley J. P. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYTwo DNA clones were obtained from faecal specimens containing a parvovirus-like small round virus from a 1977 outbreak of gastroenteritis, and their nucleotide sequences were determined and found to be essentially identical with parts of the published sequence of serum parvovirus B19 and with a B19 isolate (JB) partially sequenced in this study. The clones corresponded mainly to genome regions coding for non-structural proteins, but also include a sequence of some 160 bp coding for structural proteins. Southern blotting experiments with a full-length B19 probe revealed a virion-sized 5·5 kbp DNA band in specimens from gastroenteritis cases in both 1977 and 1986. Thus the nucleotide sequence and hybridization results suggest that the virus seen in these studies is very similar to B19. Further work is necessary to clarify the antigenic relationship of these viruses.
Characterization of the antibody response inCorynebacterium jeikeiumsepticaemias
Authors: Clark I. , Burnie J. P. , Coke A. P. , Matthews R. C. , Oppenheim B. A. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYCorynebacterium jeikeiumcauses septicaemia in neutropenic patients usually after colonizing intravenous lines. This paper reports the results of immunoblotting sera from 14 patients with aC. jeikeiumsepticaemia. Recovery from the septicaemia was associated with production of both IgM and IgG against antigenic bands of 50, 52 and 110 kDa. Antibody against the 110 kDa band was present in controls but the antibody against the 50 and 52 kDa was specific to those patients who had on-going or previousC. jeikeiuminfection. A case ofC. jeikeiumendocarditis is also presented and here recovery was associated with seroconversion to the 50 and 52 kDa bands.
Q fever in Plymouth, 1972–88: A review with particular reference to neurological manifestations
Authors: Reilly S. , Northwood J. L. , Caul E. O. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYBetween 1972 and 1988 we have serologically confirmed 103Coxiella burnetiiinfections: 46 were acute, 5 were chronic, 52 represented past infections. Details of 61 cases are presented.Of acute cases 80 % had respiratory involvement; at least 63 % had pneumonias. The incidence (22%) of neurological complications was of particular interest; 40% of these patients had prolonged sequelae. One acutely ill patient died of fulminating hepatitis. Patients with pre-existing pathology or immunosuppression were especially susceptible toC. burnetii.In the absence of acute sera, the complement fixation test alone provided inadequate differentiation between recent and past Q fever: phase II titres persisted at ⋝ 80 for more than 1 year after the acute infection in 15 cases; maximum duration of persistence was 14 years. Three patients acquired high phase I titres.Only 5% of cases had chronic Q fever, but in view of the diverse sequelae observed in this series, we suggest that long-term serological and clinical follow-up of all cases of Q fever is fully justified.
Further studies on bluetongue and bluetongue-related Orbiviruses in the Sudan
Authors: Mohammed M. E. H. , Mellor P. S. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYThe seasonal incidence of bluetongue virus (BTV) in Central Sudan is related primarily to fluctuations in the prevalence of the vector, Culicoides imicola. Population densities of this midge begin to rise with the onset of precipitation and peak during October, before falling sharply at the end of the rainy season in November. These are also the months of BTV transmission. Populations of C. schultzei, the commonest midge in Central Sudan, are also related to the rainy season but this species does not seem to be involved with BTV transmission.BTV serotype 2 was isolated from C. imicola confirming the status of this midge as a known vector but a second isolate of the same serotype was made from a mixed pool of Culicoides not including C. imicola. This suggests that BTV transmission in the Sudan may involve more than one species of Culicoides. Epizootic haemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV) serotype 4 and a palyam virus were isolated from C. schultzei which indicates that this species may be involved in the transmission of BT-related viruses. Seven further virus isolates from sentinel calves at Shambat (Khartoum) confirmed the presence of BTV serotypes 1, 4 and 16, and an untyped EHDV (designated 318) in the Sudan. All of the viruses isolated and identified during the course of this work are recorded from the Sudan for the first time.
Insights into neutralization of animal viruses gained from study of influenza virus
Authors: Outlaw M. C. , Dimmock N. J. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYIt has long been known that the binding of antibodies to viruses can result in a loss of infectivity, or neutralization, but little is understood of the mechanism or mechanisms of this process. This is probably because neutralization is a multifactorial phenomenon depending upon the nature of the virus itself, the particular antigenic site involved, the isotype of immunoglobulin and the ratio of virus to immunoglobulin (see below). Thus not only is it likely that neutralization of one virus will differ from another but that changing the circumstances of neutralization can change the mechanism itself. To give coherence to the topic we are concentrating this review on one virus, influenza type A which is itself well studied and reasonably well understood [1–3]. Reviews of the older literature can be found in references 4 to 7.
A sentinel network of microbiological laboratories as a tool for surveillance of infectious diseases in Belgium
Authors: Walckiers D. , Stroobant A. , Yourassowsky E. , Lion J. , Cornelis R. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYIn the development of a surveillance programme for infectious diseases in Belgium, a national network of microbiological laboratories has been responsible, since February 1983, for the weekly registration of certain pathogenic agents. Thus, the main epidemiological features of a selected number of infections in Belgium can be characterized.
A sensitive method for isolating Fusobacterium necrophorum from faeces
Authors: Smith G. R. , Barton S. A. , Wallace L. M. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYThe isolation of Fusobacterium necrophorum present in small numbers in heavily contaminated material such as faeces or soil is hampered by the lack of an efficient selective medium and by the high minimum infective dose of the organism. A sensitive method for the detection and isolation of faecal strains of F. necrophorum type A was based on the subcutaneous injection of faeces, suspended (5% w/v) in broth culture of Actinomyces (Corynebacterium) pyogenes or Staphylococcus aureus to increase fusobacterial infectivity, into mice pretreated with clostridial antitoxins. When necrobacillosis developed F. necrophorum was identified microscopically in tissue from the advancing edge of the lesion and isolated on a partly selective medium.The enhancement of fusobacterial infectivity produced by A. pyogenes and by S. aureus was high, but the latter was slightly the more efficient, enabling as few as 80 F. necrophorum organisms/g of faeces to be detected.Use of the method showed that 3 of 16 wallabies had F. necrophorum in their faeces at the time of examination. Numerous epidemiological applications are suggested.
An assessment of cleaning and sampling methods for food-contact surfaces in premises preparing and selling high-risk foods
Authors: Tebbutt G. M. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYThe performance of agar-contact plates and an alginate-swab method for sampling food surfaces before and after cleaning was compared. Contact plates were more convenient, and were at least as sensitive as the swabbing method. To assess cleaning efficiency repeated sampling was carried out in selected premises, and several cleaning methods were introduced for trial periods. Some surfaces, notably wood and polypropylene, were particularly difficult to clean. For these scrubbing with a nylon brush was the best method. Other surfaces were more easily cleaned, and generally the methods introduced as part of this study were better than the original method used in the premises. Paper proved to be unpopular, and cleaning solutions applied with it did no better than those cleaned with a multiuse cloth kept soaking in a detergent and hypochlorite solution.
Phage typing of Staphylococcus saprophyticus
Authors: Pereira A. Torres , Cristino J. A. G. Melo 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYThis study included 502 staphylococcus strains;Staphylococcus saprophyticus(297 strains)S. cohnii(47),S. xylosus(10),S. epidermidis(67) andS. aureus(81). Mitomycin C induction was performed on 100 isolates ofS. saprophyticusand all induced strains were reacted with each other. Twenty-six strains proved to be lysogenic. Phages were propagated and titrated. With 12 of the phages there were three frequent associations, named lytic groups A, B and C, which included 75% of all typable strains. Typability of the system was 45% and reproducibility was between 94.2% and 100%. Phages did not lyseS. aureusandS. epidermidisstrains, but they lysedS. saprophyticusand only rare strains of other novobiocin resistant species. EffectiveS. saprophyticustyping serves ecological purposes and tracing the origin of urinary strains from the skin or mucous membranes. Phage typing in association with plasmid profiling previously described, are anticipated as complementary methods with strong discriminatory power for differentiating amongS. saprophyticusstrains.
Characterization of a protective protein antigen ofErysipelothrix rhusiopathiae
Authors: Groschup M. H. , Cussler K. , Weiss R. , Timoney J. F. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYAlthough vaccination is widely practiced against infection byErysipelothrix rhusiopathiaein pigs and turkeys, the protective antigen(s) involved have not been fully characterized or purified to homogeneity. Antigens of E.rhusiopathiaestrain T28, serotype 2b, and of FRANKFURT XI, serotype N, in culture supernatant and in extracts made with hot acid, 10 mM NaOH, ultrasound or EDTA were compared by SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting and in a mouse protection test. EDTA and 10 mM NaOH yielded highly protective extracts; culture supernatant was less protective and ultrasonic or hot acid extracts stimulated little or no protection in mice. Protective antisera from swine, horses and mice recognized prominent bands of molecular mass (m.m.) of 66–64 and 40–39 kDa in EDTA and 10 mM NaOH extracts. Mice immunized with preparations of the 66–64 kDa band purified by preparative electrophoresis were protected. Both antigens were trypsin sensitive, contained no detectable polysaccharide, and showed a marked tendency to aggregate in the absence of SDS.
A serologically confirmed, case-control study, of a large outbreak of hepatitis a in China, associated with consumption of clams
Authors: Tang Y. W. , Wang J. X. , Xu Z. Y. , Guo Y. F. , Qian W. H. , Xu J. X. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYA matched and serologically confirmed case-control study was carried out to investigate the source of an outbreak of acute hepatitis involving 290000 cases in the suburbs of Shanghai, in January 1988. A total of 132 patients with acute hepatitis from six different hospitals were chosen as cases and the same number of control patients without hepatitis were matched for gender, age, admission date and area of residence. Serum specimens from both case and control patients were detected for specific anti-hepatitis A (HA) IgM antibody and a questionnaire was used to investigate probable risk factors related to the outbreak. The positive rate of anti-HA IgM was 98·48% in the case group and only 0·76% in the control, indicating that the infection was caused by HA virus. The results revealed that the source and mode of transmission were due to the consumption of contaminated and inadequately cooked clams (Anadara subcrenata lischke). There was a highly positive dose-response relationship between the odds ratio of contracting HA and the quantity or frequency of clam consumption. The odds ratios of acquiring HA from clams were up to 62·4–63·4 by both group stratification and multiple unconditional logistic regression analyses.
Gastrointestinal carriage ofClostridium difficilein cats and dogs attending veterinary clinics
Authors: Riley T. V. , Adams J. E. , O'Neill G. L. , Bowman R. A. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYCats and dogs being treated at two veterinary clinics were investigated for gastrointestinal carriage ofClostridium difficileusing selective solid and en-richment media. Thirty-two (39.5%) of 81 stool samples yieldedC. difficile. There were significant differences in isolation rates between clinics, 61.0% of animals being positive at one clinic compared to 17.5% at the other (Chi-square, P < 0.005). Of 29 animals receiving antibiotics, 15 (52.0%) harbouredC. difficilewhile 11 (23.9%) of 46 animals not receiving antibiotics were positive (Chi-square, P < 0.01). There was no difference in carriage rate between cats (38.1%) and dogs (40.0%). The environment at both veterinary clinics was surveyed for the presence ofC. difficile. Fifteen of 20 sites at one clinic were positive compared to 6 of 14 sites at the other clinic. Both cytotoxigenic and noncytotoxigenic isolates ofC. difficilewere recovered from animals and environmental sites. These findings suggest that household pets may be a potentially significant reservoir of infection withC. difficile.
Heterosexual and homosexual transmission of hepatitis C virus: relation with hepatitis B virus and human immunodeficiency virus type 1
Authors: Corona R. , Prignano G. , Mele A. , Gentili G. , Caprilli F. , Franco E. , Ferrigno L. , Giglio A. , Titti F. , Bruno C. , Verani P. , Pasquini P. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYA seroprevalence study was carried out on 1757 outpatients consecutively seen in a sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic in order to evaluate the sexual transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV). A total of 1442 consenting patients were tested for hepatitis C, hepatitis B and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HCV. HBV, HIV - 1) antibodies. The relations between anti-HCV, anti-HBc and anti-HIV - 1 were studied. Of 73 anti-HCV positive reactions, 45 (61.6%) were confirmed by the recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA). The proportion of individuals with anti-HCV was higher in outpatients with a history of sexually transmitted disease than without. It was 2.8% in non drug user heterosexuals and 2.9% in non drug user homosexuals. Intravenous drug users (IDU) had higher anti-HCV prevalence when a history of STD was taken into account (42.3% in subjects with STD versus 36.7% in subjects without STD). Among non drug user heterosexuals an association was found between anti-HCV and anti-HBc. These data suggest that sexual transmission of HCV occurs, although it seems to be less efficient than other parenteral modes of transmission. When a more sensitive and specific marker of HCV infection become available, a more accurate estimate of the frequency and efficiency of the sexual transmission will be possible.