bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Further observations on enhancement of the infectivity of Fusobacterium necrophorum by other bacteria
Authors: Smith G. R. , Barton S. A. , Wallace L. M. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYIt had already been shown with a single virulent strain (A42) of Fusobacterium necrophorum that suspension of the fusobacteria in sub-lethal doses of broth cultures of other bacteria reduced the minimum infective dose (> 106 organisms) for mice by subcutaneous inoculation, sometimes to < 10 organisms. The present study extended the known range of bacteria with strong infectivity-enhancing properties to include Bacillus cereus, Klebsiella oxytoca and Staphylococcus aureus; and of those with weaker effect to include Bacillus subtilis, ‘Bacteroides melaninogenicus’, Clostridium sporogenes, Pasteurella haemolytica, and Proteus mirabilis.The study also showed that five further virulent strains of F. necrophorum closely resembled A42 in respect of striking susceptibility to infectivity enhancement by Escherichia coli, Actinomyces (Corynebacterium) pyogenes and S. aureus. One further strain (A6) of F. necrophorum resembled A42 in respect of strong infectivity enhancement by A. pyogenes, S. aureus, B. cereus and K. oxytoca but differed from it and the other five strains in being only slightly affected by E. coli.This work was a necessary prelude to the development of a method, based on infectivity enhancement, for the detection and isolation of F. necrophorum present in small numbers in heavily contaminated material such as faeces.
Viraemic transmission of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus to ticks
Authors: Shepherd A. J. , Swanepoel R. , Shepherd S. P. , Leman P. A. , Mathee O. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYIn order to determine the way in which vertebrates infected with Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) virus and potential ixodid tick vectors interact in nature, immature and adult ticks of several species were fed on viraemic mammals and then assayed for virus content at varying times after feeding. CCHF virus was not isolated from ticks of six species tested after feeding as adults and immature forms on sheep with viraemia of 102·5−3·2LD 50/ml, nor from larval ticks fed on guinea-pigs and white-tailed rats with viraemia of 101·9−2·7LD 50/ml. In contrast, virus was isolated from 10 of 152 pools of engorged adult ticks of 5 species that fed on cattle with viraemia of 101·5−2·7LD 50/ml and from 3 of 137 female ticks after oviposition. Infection was transmitted to larval and nymphalHyalomma truncatumandH. marginatum rufipes, but not toRhipicephalus evertsi evertsi, from a scrub hare with viraemia of 104·250/ml but only nymphalH. truncatumandH. m. rufipesbecame infected from scrub hares with viraemia of 102·6−2·7LD 50/ml. Infection was transmitted trans-stadially inH. m. rufipesandH. truncatuminfected as nymphae, and adultH. m. rufipestransmitted infection to a sheep. No evidence of transovarial transmission was found in larval progeny of ticks exposed to CCHF virus as adults on sheep and cattle or as immatures on scrub hares.
Mannose-resistant adhesion of motileAeromonasto INT407 cells and the differences among isolates from humans, food and water
Authors: Nishikawa Y. , Kimura T. , Kishi T. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYAeromonashas been recognized as an important enteropathogen, but factors related to its virulence have not been clarified. For most enteric pathogens, attachment is a prerequisite for infection and for the effective delivery of toxins to the intestinal epithelial cells. We examined a total of 273 strains isolated from stool, food and environmental specimens by an assay for mannose-resistant adhesion to INT407 cellsin vitro. Seventeen of the 102 faecal isolates were adhesive strains with more than 10 bacteria adhering per cell, while only 2 of the 118 isolates from foods and river water adhered to the cells (P < 0·001). It is possible that the adhesion might serve as a marker for discrimination between the pathogenic and nonpathogenic isolates. The 8 highly adhesive strains with more than 20 adhering organisms per cell were scrutinized for the mechanism of adhesion. No correlation was apparent between the adhesion to INT407 cells and hydrophobicity. It was noted that fucose inhibited the adhesion of four strains as well as haemagglutination by them. Electronmicroscopic studies showed the presence of flexible and curvilinear fimbriae in only 2 of the 8 highly adhesive strains.
Ten and a half years seroepidemiology ofMycoplasma pneumoniaeinfection in Denmark
Authors: Lind K. , Bentzon M. W. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYThe study was based on a computerized card index of 9161 patients who had at least one positive blood specimen in theMycoplasma pneumoniaecomplement fixation test. A total of 12562 specimens from these patients had been sent to Statens Seruminstitut from hospitals and general practitioners during a 10·5-year period. The period encompassed a previously described endemic period in a 30-year study of the epidemiological pattern ofM. pneumoniaeinfection in Denmark [1], The serological data presented support the hypothesis advanced here that a more than sixfold increase of children in day care might have contributed to a change in the epidemiological pattern. The correlation between age and level of specific antibodies, as well as persistence of seropositivity, were also investigated.
Genetic diversity among toxigenic and nontoxigenicVibrio choleraeO1 isolated from the Western Hemisphere
Authors: Chen F. , Evins G. M. , Cook W. L. , Almeida R. , Hargrett-Bean N. , Wachsmuth K. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYMultilocus enzyme electrophoresis was used to examine genetic relationships among and between toxigenic and non-toxigenic isolates ofVibrio choleraeO1 obtained from patients and the environment in the US Gulf Coast and surrounding areas. A total of 23 toxigenic and 23 non-toxigenic strains were examined. All the toxigenic and 7 of the non-toxigenic strains had the same alleles at 16 enzyme loci, whereas the balance of the nontoxigenic strains had 9 distinct combinations of alleles. This study suggests that all of the toxigenic strains belong to a single clone, and that while some of the non-toxigenic isolates were related, most were of diverse origin.
Relationship between cytomegalovirus and colonization of the oropharynx by Gram-negative bacilli following renal transplantation
Authors: Mackowiak P. A. , Goggans M. , Torres W. , Dal Nogare A. , Luby J. P. , Helderman H. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYNumerous investigators have reported an increased incidence of pneumonia caused by Gram-negative bacilli and other secondary pathogens in transplant recipients infected by cytomegalovirus (CMV). To determine if CMV infections are related to colonization of the upper respiratory tract by Gram-negative bacilli, we examined prospectively 22 renal transplant recipients with sequential bacteriological, virological and biochemical examinations performed just prior to and at various times after transplantation. Only 11% of subjects had Gram-negative bacilli isolated from gargle specimens prior to transplantation, as compared to 54% after transplantation. More importantly, after transplantation, subjects with active CMV infections were more likely to have prolonged oropharyngeal carriage of Gram-negative bacilli than subjects without CMV infections (36%v.. 25%). During active CMV infections, the rate at which Gram-negative bacilli were isolated from gargle specimens rose from 28 to 47%. During culture-positive CMV infections, the isolation rate reached 57% and was significantly different from that of CMV-negative samples (P< 0·01). The increased rate of Gram-negative bacillary isolation from gargle specimens during CMV infections was not a function of type of immunosuppresive agents used, rejection episodes, antibiotic administration, concomitant hepatitis B, Epstein–Barr (EBV) virus, or herpes simplex virus infections, or alterations in salivary fibronectin concentrations.
The epidemiology of salmonella in calves: the role of markets and vehicles
Authors: Wray C. , Todd N. , McLaren I. M. , Beedell Y. E. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYEnvironmental contamination has been shown to be an important aspect of the epidemiology of salmonellosis in calves. Markets and transport vehicles are important links in the calf marketing chain and these were investigated to determine the level of salmonella contamination.Salmonellas were isolated from 7 of the 14 markets surveyed, with 31 of 838 samples (3.7%) being positive. Nine different salmonella serotypes, of which the commonest wasSalmonella typhimurium, were isolated. Four different phage types ofS. typhimuriumwere detected, the commonest being DT204C.Salmonellas were isolated from 22 of the 107 vehicles (20.6%) examined before washing and from 4 of the 62 vehicles (6.5%) examined after cleaning. Twelve different salmonella serotypes were isolated, of which the most frequent wasS. typhimurium. The commonest of the six differentS. typhimuriumphage types was DT204C.These results indicate that improved cleaning and disinfection routines both for vehicles and markets are necessary to control salmonellosis in calves.
The serological relationship betweenEscherichia coliO157 andYersinia enterocoliticaO9 using sera from patients with brucellosis
Authors: Chart H , Okubadejo O. A , Rowe B 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYSera from ten patients with positive brucella serology were used to investigate antibody cross-reactions between the O-antigens ofEscherichia coli0157 andYersinia enterocolitica09. SDS-PAGE profiles of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), purified from strains ofE. coli0157 andY. enterocolitica09, were reacted with sera by immunoblotting. All ten sera contained antibodies which bound to the LPS ofE. coli0157, and five of these sera also contained antibodies which bound to the LPS ofY. enterocolitica09. Absorption studies using these five cross–reacting sera indicated the existence of at least three epitopes exposed on the O–antigens ofE. coli0157 andY. enterocolitica09. One antigen binding site appeared to be exposed on the LPS of both organisms, while one epitope was exposed on the LPS of E. coli 0157 only, and another on the LPS ofY. enterocolitica09 only.
Removal of micro-organisms by filtration through unwoven cloth coated with a pyridinium-type polymer
Authors: Kawabata N. , Inoue T. , Tomita H. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYUnwoven cloth coated with 32 mg/g of a copolymer ofN-benzyl-4-vinyl-pyridinium chloride and styrene was found to be effective in removing micro-organisms from water. In experiments demonstrating removal of Escherichia coli by filtration through ten sheets of the unwoven cloth, the rate of removal was 99·99% at a filtration rate of 2·6 cm/h, and remained at 99% even at a high filtration rate of 300 cm/h and a low influent concentration of the bacterial cells such as 10 cells/ml. The rate of removal tended to increase with a decrease in the influent bacterial concentration. Seven other bacteria and two yeasts were effectively removed by filtration through the unwoven cloth. Filtration through the unwoven cloth was also effective in removing spores of fungi from water but was not very effective in removing bacteriophage T4 from aqueous solution.
Patterns of Rift Valley fever activity in Zambia
Authors: Davies F. G. , Kilelu E. , Linthicum K. J. , Pegram R. G. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYSummary An hypothesis that there was an annual emergence of Rift Valley fever virus in Zambia, during or after the seasonal rains, was examined with the aid of sentinel cattle. Serum samples taken during 1974 and 1978 showed evidence of epizootic Rift Valley fever in Zambia, with more than 80% positive. A sentinel herd exposed from 1982 to 1986 showed that some Rift Valley fever occurred each year. This was usually at a low level, with 3–8% of the susceptible cattle seroconverting. In 1985–6 more than 20% of the animals seroconverted, and this greater activity was associated with vegetational changes - which could be detected by remote-sensing satellite imagery-which have also been associated with greater virus activity in Kenya.
Persistence of contamination of hens' egg albumen in vitro with Salmonella serotypes
Authors: Lock J. L. , Board R. G. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYA study was made of the persistence of different Salmonella serotypes in hens' egg albumen in vitro at 4, 20 and 30 °C. The majority of serotypes remained viable but did not increase in numbers at 20 and 30 °C for 42 days. At 4 °C many of the serotypes died out.The addition of ferric ammonium citrate on the 42nd day of incubation induced multiplication of organisms incubated at 20 and 30 °C, but not at 4 °C. The pH and glucose concentration of the albumen diminished only when heavy growth occurred.Salmonella enteritidis remained viable on the air cell membrane in vitro for 17 days at 4, 20 and 30 °C. Thirty percent of the organisms also remained motile in albumen for 42 days at 25 °C and up to 5% of the cells remained motile for up to 20 days at 4 °C.
Antibiotic sensitivities ofNeisseria meningitidisisolates from patients and carriers in Greece
Authors: Tzanakaki G. , Blackwell C. C. , Kremastinou J. , Kallergi C. , Kouppari G. , Weir D. M. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYUsage of antibiotics in southern Europe is less well regulated than in northern countries. The proportion (48%) of meningococci in Spain insensitive to penicillin (MIC ≥ 0·1 mg/l) prompted this investigation of antibiotic sensitivities of isolates from Greek patients with meningitis (31) and carriers (47 school-children and 472 recruits). The agar dilution method was used to determine MIC to penicillin G (PN), sulphamethoxazole (SU), rifampicin (RF), cefaclor (CF) and ciprofloxacin (CP).The proportion of isolates insensitive to PN was 48% for isolates from patients, 19% from school-children and 36·6% from recruits. Resistance to SU (MIC ≥ 16 mg/l) was found in 16% of those from patients, 10·6% from children and 40% from recruits. None of the isolates from patients was resistant to RF (≥ 1 mg/l) but 6% of those from carriers were. Resistance to CF (≥ 4 mg/l) was found in 9·2% of patient isolates, 6·4% from children and 23·7% from recruits. All isolates except one were sensitive to CP (MIC range < 0·0015–0·125 mg/l).Resistances to PN, SU and RF were analysed by serogroup, serotype and subtype of the bacteria. The proportion of resistant isolates showed some variation between different areas of Greece, but it was not statistically significant.
Selective decontamination in bone marrow transplant recipients
Authors: Guiot H. F. L. , Furth R. Van 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYPatients undergoing bone marrow transplantation become immuno-compromised for various reasons. Deep granulocytopenia, induced by conditioning (chemotherapy and total body irradiation), renders the patient at risk for serious bacterial and fungal infections. Our strategy for prevention of these infections by selective decontamination (SD) is the result of more than 15 years of clinical experience and research. The combination of antibiotics, used as standard SD (neomycin, polymyxin B, pipemidic acid and amphotericin B), with the application of local antimicrobial agents eliminates aerobic Gram-negative rods, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida spp. from the mucosal surfaces of the digestive tract, while the majority of the anaerobic flora persist and support colonization resistance (CR). The antibiotics used either are not resorbed or do not yield therapeutic serum concentrations. Antibiotics which induce therapeutic serum concentrations, such as ciprofloxacin and cotrimoxazole, are only used for SD on a limited scale. When Gram-negative rods persist despite intake of the standard regimen, ciprofloxacin is given until these persisting rods are eliminated. If the patients cannot swallow the oral regimen, i.v. cotrimoxazole is given temporarily. Streptococcal infections are prevented by the i.v. adminstration of penicillin for 14 days starting on the first day after cytotoxic treatment (conditioning for bone marrow transplantation). The combination of SD and systemic prophylaxis has been shown to be adequate; the major problem then remaining is a relatively mild catheter-associated infection with coagulase-negative staphylococci.
Epidemiology of enteric adenovirus infection in prospectively monitored Argentine families
Authors: Mistchenko A. S. , Huberman K. H. , Gomez J. A. , Grinstein S. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYTo examine the role of enteric adenoviruses (EAV) in an urban area of Buenos Aires (Argentina), we prospectively studied faecal samples from 49 families of newborns. These were monitored weekly for diarrhoea for 2 years.A total of 180 samples from cases of diarrhoea and 766 samples obtained during diarrhoea-free periods were studied by dot-blot hybridization with an EAV-specific DNA probe. EAV were found in 6/180 (3·3%) cases of diarrhoea and 6/766 (0·8%) asymptomatic samples (P < 0·015). Incidence of EAV was 3·9 cases per 100 person-years in children < 60 months old. EAV-related diarrhoeas were slight and of short duration. In addition, 129 faeces from hospital out-patients, 1–30 months old, were also studied. EAV was identified in 7/129 cases (5·4%). These cases were 9·5 ±3·5 months old and the diarrhoea was mild or severe, of 3±1·5 days of duration.We suggest that EAV are low-risk causes of diarrhoea under natural conditions, although a few children may develop more severe diarrhoea. The diagnosis of EAV needs to be considered in these patients.
Genetic relationships between southern African SAT-2 isolates of foot-and-mouth-disease virus
Authors: Vosloo W. , Knowles N. J. , Thomson G. R. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYSequencing of part of the 1D gene of foot-and-mouth disease virus was used to determine the relationships between SAT-2 viruses isolated from outbreaks which occurred in cattle in Zimbabwe and Namibia and in impala in South Africa between 1979 and 1989. The results demonstrated that the outbreaks in different countries were unrelated. Surprisingly close relationships were shown between all SAT-2 viruses isolated from cattle in Zimbabwe since 1983 but the two major epizootics which occurred in 1989 were caused by viruses which were clearly different. Conversely, two apparently unrelated outbreaks in impala in South Africa were caused by viruses which could not be distinguished.
Diarrhoea in close contacts as a risk factor for childhood haemolytic uraemic syndrome
Authors: Rowe P. C. , Orrbine E. , Lior H. , Wells G. A. , McLaine P. N. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYTo determine whether the risk factors for childhood haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) are similar to risk factors previously reported forEscherichia coliO 157. H7 gastroenteritis, we conducted a case-control study at eight paediatric hospitals in the summer of 1990. Thirty-four consecutive children with HUS were prospectively enrolled; all had diarrhoea and 88% had laboratory evidence of exposure to verotoxin-producingE. coli(VTEC). The 102 controls were otherwise healthy children with minor acute injuries. Parents of all subjects responded to a questionnaire about each child's exposure to various foods, methods of food preparation, sources of water, travel, and individuals with diarrhoea.Children with HUS were significantly more likely than controls to have had close contact with an individual with diarrhoea in the 2 weeks before the onset of illness (74 υ. 29%, P < 0.00001; odds ratio 7·0. 95% CI 2.7–18.5). The onset of diarrhoea in the contacts occurred a median of 6 days (range, 1− > 14 days) before the onset of diarrhoea in the HUS patients. Exposure to undercooked ground meat was not significantly more common in the patients with HUS (15 υ. 8%; P=0.05). These data provide evidence consistent with person-to-person transmission of VTEC in a substantial proportion of episodes of childhood HUS.
Molecular epidemiology ofPseudomonas aeruginosain an intensive care unit
Authors: Döring G. , Hörz M. , Ortelt J. , Grupp H. , Wolz C. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYGenotyping was used to analysePseudomonas aeruginosaisolates from sink drains and 15 intubated patients as part of a 3-month prospective study of strain transmission in a medical-surgical intensive care unit. Ninety percent of all washbasin drains were persistently contaminated with severalP. aeruginosagenotypes. In 60% (9/15) of the patients,P. aeruginosacolonization or infection was hospital-acquired:P. aeruginosastrains isolated from these patients were present in hospital sinks or in other patients before their admission. Since all patients were immobile, personnel were the probable route of transmission ofP. aeruginosain the hospital. The mechanism of strain transmission from sinks to hands during hand washing was investigated in a children's hospital. WhenP. aeruginosawas present at densities of > 105/c.f.u. per ml in sink drains, hand washing resulted in hand contamination withP. aeruginosavia aerosol generation in the majority of experiments orP. aeruginosawas detected using an air sampler above the washing basin. HighP. aeruginosacfu were present at 4.30 h in the eight sinks (5.4 × 105−7.0 × 1010c.f.u./ml), whereas at 13.00 hP. aeruginosac.f.u. were significantly lower (3.1 × 102−8.0 × 105c.f.u. / ml). These data reveal that the danger of bacterial contamination of hands during hand washing is highest in the morning. The identified transmission routes demand more effective hygienic measures in hospital settings particularly concerning personnel hands and sink drains.
Staphylococcal food poisoning in the United Kingdom, 1969–90
Authors: Wieneke A. A. , Roberts D. , Gilbert R. J. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYBetween 1969 and 1990 strains ofStaphylococcus aureusfrom 359 outbreaks and sporadic cases of staphylococcal food poisoning in the United Kingdom were examined in the PHLS Food Hygiene Laboratory for the production of enterotoxin. In a number of instances the incriminated foods were also examined for the presence of enterotoxin. Strains from 79% of incidents produced enterotoxin A alone or together with another enterotoxin. The level ofS. aureuspresent in the foods ranged from no viableS. aureusdetected to 1.5 × 1010c.f.u./g with a median of 3.0 × 107c.f.u./g. Enterotoxin was detected in foods in the absence of viableS. aureusin only two outbreaks and in both cheese was the implicated food. Meat. poultry or their products were the vehicle in 75% of incidents with ham and chicken most frequently implicated. Other foods included fish and shellfish (7%) and milk and milk products (8%). Most contamination took place in the home followed by restaurants and shops. Seventy-one percent of the incident strains were lysed by phages of group III or I/III.
An investigation of colonization of the conjunctival sac of sheep by bacteria and mycoplasmas
Authors: Dagnall G. J. R. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYThe conjunctival sacs of 100 healthy adult ewes and 20 lambs and 76 adult ewes affected by ovine keratoconjunctivitis (OKC) were examined microbiologically.Branhamella oviswas the only organism regularly isolated from healthy ewes and lambs.Mycoplasma conjunctivaewas isolated from the conjunctival sac of nine ewes but its occurrence was not associated with clinical signs of ovine keratoconjunctivitis.Mycoplasma conjunctivaeandBranhamella oviswere isolated significantly more often from eyes affected by OKC than from unaffected eyes.