bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Investigation of the source of haemolytic Escherichia coli infecting weaned pigs
Authors: Hampson D. J. , Fu Z. F. , Robertson I. D. 
Published: October 2009

SUMMARYAttempts were made to discover the source of strains of haemolytic Escherichia coli infecting weaned pigs on a piggery. The organisms were not detected in the faeces of sows in the farrowing house, or in the in the faeces or intestinal tracts of slaughtered bacon pigs or sows. Sows held in a quarantine unit, and their offspring born in the unit, did not excrete haemolytic E. coli until after they were returned to the piggery.The environment of the piggery was the most likely source of infection for weaned pigs, and routine cleaning and disinfection of the accommodation did not prevent infection. Unweaned pigs were however able to transfer haemolytic E. coli to a newly built, previously unused weaning house, and establish a cycle of infection.
Plasmid content and protein I serovar of non-pencillinase-producing gonococci isolated in Munich
Authors: Abeck D. , Johnson A. P. , Alexander F. E. , Korting H. C. , Taylor-Robinson D. 
Published: October 2009

SummaryOne hundred and twenty-four strains of non-penicillinase-producing gonococci isolated in Munich in 1986 were characterized in terms of their plasmid content and protein I serovar. Eighty-two per cent of the strains belonged to serogroup 1-B with over half belonging to either serovar 1B-2 or 1B-3. Half of the 22 serogroup 1A strains belonged to serovar 1A-2. Nineteen strains (15·3%) were found to lack the 2·6 Md cryptic plasmid although seven of these strains contained the 24·4 Md conjugative plasmid. Nine of the 105 strains which harboured the cryptic plasmid also contained the conjugative plasmid. The 19 strains which lacked the cryptic plasmid comprised 10 different serovars, indicating the heterogeneous nature of this group of organisms.
The relationship between intestinalCampylobacterspecies isolated from animals and humans as determined by BRENDA
Authors: Kakoyiannis C. K. , Winter P. J. , Marshall R. B. 
Published: October 2009

SummaryIntestinal thermophilicCampylobacterspecies produce stable patterns when subjected to bacterial restriction endonuclease DNA analysis (BRENDA); this technique is therefore of considerable value in epidemiological studies. BRENDA was used to examine thermophilicCampylobacterspecies from humans, wild and domestic animals. One hundred and ninety-four (61%) of 316 isolates ofCampylobacter jejunifrom humans had BRENDA patterns which could be matched to those of animal isolates. Poultry appear to be a major source of nfection forC. jejuniin humans with nearly half (49·7%) of the human isolates giving patterns which were indistinguishable from those isolated from poultry. A total of GO BRENDA types were identified from 316 human isolates and 11 of these had the same pattern as those isolated from poultry. One of the threeCampylobacter coliBRENDA types recovered from poultry was indistinguishable from a human isolate type. Pigs appear to be only a minor source ofC. coliinfection for humans in New Zealand. Rats were found to be infected with strains ofC. jejuniwith BRENDA patterns indistinguishable from those infecting numans, poultry and a horse. None of the 102 isolates ofCampylobacterspecies from wild birds gave BRENDA patterns similar to those of isolates from humans.
Assessment of Brucellosis Card test in screening patients for brucellosis
Authors: Araj G. F. , Brown G. M. , Haj M. M. , Madhvan N. V. 
Published: October 2009

SummaryThe Brucellosis Card test (Brewers' Diagnostic Kits, Hynson, Westcott and Dunning, Inc., Baltimore, Md.) was evaluated in relation to the Brucelloslide test (bioMérieux, France), the microagglutination test (MAT) and the demonstration of brucella-specific IgG, IgM and IgA in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). A total of 573 serum specimens was tested. These included sera from patients with acute brucellosis (159), chronic brucellosis (23) and patients who had been diagnosed previously as having had brucella infection (155). Control groups consisted of patients with diseases other than brucellosis (52), others with noninfectious diseases (20), and healthy individuals (164). The Card test detected 100% of the patients with acute and 61% of the patients with chronic brucellosis. The sera from the control groups were all negative. Similar results were obtained with the Brucelloslide test and the MAT. The ELISA test detected brucellaspecific Ig of all classes in the serum of patients with acute brucellosis, and IgG and IgA in the serum of patients with chronic brucellosis. In the latter group, IgM was also detected in 32% of the sera. Twenty-three per cent of sera with titres of 20 by the MAT were positive on the Card test and had ELISA titres for IgM, IgG and IgA of 400. Characterization of the antibodies involved in the Card test showed that sera with IgM ELISA titres of 1600, or an IgM titres of 800 together with IgG and IgA titres ≥ 200 were Card test positive. Higher IgG (≥ 1600) plus IgA (≥ 400) titres were required to produce a positive Card test in the absence of IgM or when the IgM titre was ≤ 200. The Card test has a potential value as a rapid screening test for humans with acute brucellosis and shows similar results to Brucelloslide and MAT tests. ELISA, however, remains the most reliable test for diagnosis of brucellosis especially in patients with chronic and complicated stages of the disease.
Factors affecting the toxicity of rotting carcasses containing Clostridium botulinum type E
Authors: Smith G. R. , Turner Ann , Till Diane 
Published: October 2009

SummaryMice killed shortly after receiving c. 2000 spores of a type E strain of Clostridium botulinum per os were incubated at one of five chosen temperatures together with bottles of cooked meat medium seeded with a similar inoculum. After incubation the rotting carcasses were homogenized. Sterile membrane filtrates of the homogenates (10%, w/v) and pure cultures were then titrated for toxicity. Some of the main findings were confirmed with two further type E strains.Toxicity produced at 37 °C was poor in both carcasses and cultures (200–20000 mouse intraperitoneal LD/g or ml). It was good in both systems at 30 and 23 °C, usually reaching 20000–200000 LD/g or ml, and in carcasses occasionally more; at 30 °C maximal toxicity was reached more quickly in carcasses than in cultures. Prolonged incubation (36–118 days) at 30 or 23 °C resulted in complete loss of toxicity in virtually all carcasses but not in cultures. At 16 °C the development of toxicity in carcasses was strikingly greater than in cultures. At 9 °C neither system produced more than slight toxicity after prolonged incubation. Trypsinization increased the toxicity of cultures but not usually of carcasses. Unfiltered carcass homogenate (10%, w/v) with maximal intraperitoneal toxicity was harmless for mice by mouth in doses of 0·25 ml. These findings differed in important respects from those made earlier with a type C strain.
Class-specific herpes simplex virus antibodies in sera and cervical secretions from patients with cervical neoplasia: a multi-group comparison
Authors: Dale G. E. , Coleman R. M. , Best J. M. , Benetato B. B. B. , Drew N. C. , Chinn S. , Papacosta A. O. , Nahmias A. J. 
Published: October 2009

SummarySerum and cervical secretions were collected from patients with cervical dysplasia, carcinoma-in-situ (CIS), squamous cell carcinoma (cervical SCC), and controls with normal cervices, attending clinics within the West Lambeth Health District, London. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were used to examine cervical secretory IgA (sIgA) and serum IgG and IgA antibodies to herpes simplex virus (HSV). Sexual and demographic factors were considered during data analysis, which involved fitting multiple linear or multiple logistic regressions to HSV antibody levels. Prevalence of sIgA-HSV and levels of serum antibodies to HSV in all groups were compared with those of gynaecology controls. Caucasian women with mild dysplasia had a significantly higher prevalence of sIgA-HSV. Serum IgG levels to HSV (IgG-HSV) were significantly elevated in women with mild dysplasia and severe dysplasia/ClS. Serum IgA levels to HSV1 (IgG-HSV1) were significantly higher in women with cervical SCC (after adjusting for smoking habits) and other genital tumours. Significantly higher levels of serum IgA to HSV2 (IgA-HSV2) were also found among Caucasian women with cervical SCC. The possible role of HSV as a co-factor in cervical carcinogenesis is discussed.
Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for the measurement of specific antibodies in experimentally induced ovine toxoplasmosis
Authors: Payne R. A. , Joynson D. H. M. , Wilsmore A. J. 
Published: October 2009

SUMMARYTachyzoitcs of the RH strain of Toxoplasma gondii were inoculated intravenously into sheep following which serum samples were collected at approximately weekly intervals for 9 months. The sera were examined by the toxoplasma dye test and two enzymc-linkcd immunosorbent assays (ELISA) specifically developed for investigations of ovine toxoplasmosis. One was an antibody class capture assay for the detection of anti-toxoplasma specific IgM, the other an indirect assay which detected anti-toxoplasma IgG.Some of the sheep had antibodies to toxoplasma prior to inoculation but none had specific IgM. Sera collected 17 days after inoculation showed that all had raised specific antibody levels but the only sheep that produced specific antitoxoplasma IgM were those that were initially without any antibody. Specific IgM could be detected in all these particular sheep for at least 1 month after infection and up to 3 months in some. Specific IgG persisted at high levels for at least 3 months and could still be detected at moderate levels for at least 9 months. The ELISA methods described are simple to perform and could clearly distinguish between previous infection and this experimental infection with Toxoplasma gondii.
A microbial culture system for use in remote field environments
Authors: Grimmond T. R. 
Published: October 2009

SUMMARYField studies of human flora carried out in remote environments are often compromised by problems associated with media, equipment or cargo limitations. For the International Biomedical Expedition to Antarctica an anaerobic culture system was developed based on sealed vials, pre-reduccd anaerobically sterilized media, antibiotic selective media and compact processing equipment. The system proved simple to use in a harsh environment and gave results comparable with standard plate and roll-tube techniques. No problems with dehydration, contamination or oxidation were encountered. Furthermore, the system preserved viability of primary isolates for up to 6 months of storage.
Serological examination of IgE- and IgG-specific antibodies to egg protein during influenza virus immunization
Authors: Yamane N. , Uemura H. 
Published: October 2009

SUMMARYThe concentrations of serum IgE (PRIST) and IgE- and IgG-specific antibodies to egg protein were determined in paired sera taken from students who had received influenza virus vaccine. Although persons who gave a history of allergy to egg or to chicken feathers were excluded, 10–16% of vaccinees possessed higher titres of serum IgE and IgE-specific antibody (RAST) to egg white (Fl) allergen before vaccination. The titres of IgG-specific antibody to egg protein (ovalbumin and ovomucoid antigens) were negligible, and did not show any significant response after vaccination. In contrast, IgE-specific antibody to Fl allergen rose significantly in a considerable number of the vaccinccs. The results obtained indicate possible contamination of vaccine products with allergens of egg origin and a potential risk of allergic manifestation after influenza vaccination.
Location on the evolutionary tree of influenza H3 haemagglutinin genes of Japanese strains isolated during 1985–6 season
Authors: Nakajima S. , Takeuchi Y. , Nakajima K. 
Published: October 2009

SUMMARYThe nucleotide sequences of the haemagglutinin (HA) genes of influenza A (H3N2) isolates from the 1985–6 season in Japan along with those of several viruses isolated between 1982–5 from other countries were analyzed to determine the origin of the 1985–6 Japanese strains. The HA genes of these viruses consisted of 1762 nucleotides and had a three-nucleotide deletion downstream from the stop codon when compared to the sequences of earlier Hong Kong H3N2 viruses. An evolutionary tree of the HA genes of these viruses was drawn using the A/Bangkok/1/79 sequence as the starting point. Eight strains isolated from Asian and Pacific regions including Japan in the 1985–6 season (one in May) had the HA genes located closely on the evolutionary tree but away from those of the isolates in North America and Europe during the 1984–5 season, and a common ancestry for these viruses was suggested.
Salmonella serovars (others than Typhi and Paratyphi) from extra-intestinal sources. Israel, 1984–9
Authors: Sechter I. , Katzenelson E. , Reisfeld A. 
Published: October 2009

SUMMARYThe purpose of this study was to examine whether certain salmonella serovars, other than Typhi and Paratyphi, may have an increased ability to enter the human body fluids. The data are based on over 20000 salmonella isolated from humans during 1984–9, among them 436 from extra-intestinal (EI) sources. The mean percentage of EI salmonella isolated in Israel (excluding Typhi and Paratyphi), was 2·1 %. In three serovars: S. 9, 12:1, v:-, Virchow and Saintpaul, the percentage of blood isolations and of EI isolations in general, was high. Among the frequent serovars, ser. Infantis and Hadar had a much lower percentage of EI isolations.
Numbers of Salmonella enteritidis in the contents of naturally contaminated hens' eggs
Authors: Humphrey T. J. , Whitehead A. , Gawler A. H. L. , Henley A. , Rowe B. 
Published: October 2009

SUMMARYOver 5700 hens eggs from 15 flocks naturally infected with Salmonella enteritidis were examined individually for the presence of the organism in either egg contents or on shells. Thirty-two eggs (0·6%) were positive in the contents. In the majority, levels of contamination were low. Three eggs, however, were found to contain many thousands of cells. In eggs where it was possible to identify the site of contamination, the albumen was more frequently positive than the yolk. Storage at room temperature had no significant effect on the prevalence of salmonella-positive eggs but those held for more than 21 days were more likely (P < 0·01) to be heavily contaminated. In batches of eggs where both shells and contents were examined, 1·1% were positive on the former site and 0·9% in the latter.
Haemolytic anaemia after childhoodEscherichia coliO 157.H7 infection: are females at increased risk?
Authors: Rowe P. C. , Walop W. , Lior H. , Mackenzie A. M. 
Published: October 2009

SUMMARYWe conducted a 4-year retrospective cohort study to better define the risk of haemolytic anaemia and haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) in children following sporadic gastrointestinal infection with the O 157.H7 serotype ofEscherichia coli. Of the 72 children infected with this organism, 9 (12·5%) developed haemolytic anaemia, 6 of whom had HUS. No child in a cohort of 72 age-matched controls withCampylobacter jejunigastroenteritis developed haemolytic anaemia (P= 0·003). Females had a significantly greater risk of developing haemolytic anaemia afterE. coliO 157.H7 infection than did males (8/29 femalesv.1/43 males;P= 0·003). In a logistic regression model, female gender emerged as the only statistically significant risk factor for haemolytic anaemia (odds ratio 3·85; 95% confidence interval 1·24–12). These results are consistent with recent reports of a moderate increase in the risk of HUS for females.
Complexity ofPseudomonas aeruginosainfection in cystic fibrosis: combined results from esterase electrophoresis and rDNA restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis
Authors: Denamur E. , Picard B. , Goullet Ph. , Bingen E. , Lambert N. , Elion J. 
Published: October 2009

SUMMARYEsterase electrophoretic typing and restriction fragment length polymorphism of ribosomal DNA regions (ribotyping) were used to differentiate 102Pseudomonas aeruginosaclinical isolates obtained from chronic lung infection in 23 patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and two reference strains (including the type strain ATCC 10145). Twenty-five zymotypes were obtained with the former method and 16 ribotypes with the latter. Combination of the two typing systems led to the finding of 30 different types. Our data highlights the physiopathological complexity ofP. aeruginosainfection in CF as, in six individual cases, several types were found among isolates from a given patient. On the other hand, two unique types were found in two and three patients respectively, raising the possibility of crossinfections.
Seasonal and spatial trends in the detectability of leprosy in wild armadillos
Authors: Truman R. W. , Kumaresan J. A. , McDonough C. M. , Job C. K. , Hastings R. C. 
Published: October 2009

Summary:A survey for leprosy among 565 armadillos from Louisiana and Texas found IgM antibodies to the phenolic glycolipid-l antigen ofMycobacterium lepraein 16% of the animals. There were no geographic trends in the distribution of prevalence rates between the sites and the disease probably has a much greater range. Repeat observations in one location showed significant seasonal variations in the observable antibody prevalence rate, but the yearly average remained similar. Infected armadillos tended to be heavier, and the females usually had plasma progesterone concentrations indicative of sexual maturity. Using these characteristics to stratify the populations into adult and sub-adult cohorts, variations in the observable leprosy prevalence rate were seen to be proportional to changes in the age structure of the populations. Leprosy appears to be maintained in steady state within some regions, and nearly a third of the adult armadillos in Louisiana and Texas harbourM. leprae.
Legionella pneumophila: monoclonal antibody typing of clinical and environmental isolates
Authors: Brindle R. J. , Stannett P. J. , Tobin J. O'H. 
Published: October 2009

SUMMARYForty-one clinical isolates ofLegionella pneumophilafrom sporadic cases of legionella pneumonia were collected from laboratories throughout the United Kingdom and were compared with 300 routine environmental isolates using two panels of monoclonal antibodies, covering serogroups 1–10. Eighty-five per cent of the clinical isolates belonged to the subgroup Pontiac of serogroup 1, whilst only 13% of the environmental isolates did. Approximately half of the clinical isolates tested came from patients with a recent history of foreign travel, mainly to southern Europe.
Food-borne outbreak of group G streptococcal sore throat in an Israeli military base
Authors: Cohen D. , Ferne M. , Rouach T. , Bergner-Rabinowitz S. 
Published: October 2009

SUMMARYA food-borne outbreak of sore throat caused by Lancefield group G β-haemolytic streptococci and involving 50 persons occurred in May 1983 in an Israeli military camp. All of the patients available for clinical examination had sore throat and difficulty in swallowing. Exudative tonsillitis occurred in 46% of the patients and the body temperature was above 37·5 °C in 81%. The pattern of attack was uniform over the base and 37 became ill during the night and morning of the 5 May. Thirty-two (84%) of the throat cultures taken from 37 patients grew group G β-haemolytic streptococci. Eight of 29 contacts were positive for group G β-haemolytic streptococci and 6 of the 28 foodhandlers examined had positive cultures of the same group. The organism was also isolated from one food sample. The epidemiological and laboratory investigations indicated that a food handler, a convalescent carrier of group G streptococci, might have been the source of infection. Assumptions on the potential of non-group A streptococci to cause epidemics are discussed.
An estimate for the source of coagulase-negative staphylococci in blood cultures
Authors: Haverkorn M. J. , Staal M. J. 
Published: October 2009

SUMMARYAn estimate for the source of coagulase-negative staphylococci in blood cultures is presented and its use illustrated in two populations. The method estimates the probability that a positive blood culture is positive due to contamination and the probability of it being positive due to bacteraemia. The effect of changes in efficiency of the blood culture technique on these estimates is demonstrated. One of the illustrative populations consists of 537 sample pairs from 273 patients, taken after open-heart surgery in 1978–80. The other consists of 500 consecutive sample pairs taken in one of two hospitals in 1983–4.
Comparison of alcohol shock enrichment and selective enrichment for the isolation ofClostridium difficile
Authors: Riley T. V. , Brazier J. S. , Hassan Hamimah , Williams Kathleen , Phillips K. D. 
Published: October 2009

SUMMARYTwo enrichment methods were compared for their ability to recoverClostridium difficilefrom stool samples. One method used selective enrichment in an antibiotic-containing broth followed by detection with a latex particle agglutination (LPA) reagent. The other used enrichment in a non-selective broth following treatment of the specimen with alcohol. With clinical specimens enrichment culture was significantly more successful at detectingC. difficilethan direct plating. Alcohol shock enrichment was twice as effective as direct culture, while selective broth enrichment was three times more effective. The use of LPA for screening selective enrichment broths forC. difficileshould prove a cost-effective measure as only positive broths (about 20%) require subculture for confirmation.
A new serovarmogdeniof serogroup Tarassovi ofLeptospira interrogansisolated from a sewage plant in England
Authors: Coghlan J. D. , Kmety E. 
Published: October 2009

SUMMARYAmong 30 strains of leptospires isolated from samples of sewage taken before and during treatment at two sewage plants in England, only one appeared to belong toLeptospira interrogans, the species that comprises the leptospires that are pathogenic to man and animals. That strain, Compton 746, was isolated from settled sewage, before treatment at a treatment plant that deals mainly with human sewage. It was shown serologically to belong to serogroup Tarassovi and appears to represent a new serovar that has been namedmogdeniafter the name of the sewage plant, Mogden, from which it was isolated.