bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Intracellular growth ofLegionella pneumophilaserogroup 1 monoclonal antibody type 2 positive and negative bacteria
Authors: Edelstein P. H. , Edelstein M. A. C. 
Published: May 2009

SummaryEpidemiological evidence suggests that monoclonal antibody type 2 positive (MAB 2+)Legionella pneumophilaserogroup 1 (LP1) more often causes disease than do MAB 2−isolates, and there is evidence that MAB 2−LP1 grow less well in cells than do MAB 2+bacteria. We tested the intracellular growth rates of ten randomly selected MAB 2−LP1 isolates, by using guinea-pig alveolar macrophages, and human monocyte-derived macrophages. Save a low virulence control, all ten MAB 2−isolates grew as well in cells as a virulent MAB 2+isolate. Heterogeneity of MAB 2−LP1 growth in cells exists, making poor intracellular growth an unlikely explanation for why MAB 2+LP1 appear to cause disease more often.
Genetic relationships between foot–and–mouth disease type Asia 1 viruses
Authors: Ansell D. M. , Samuel A. R. , Carpenter W. C. , Knowles N. J. 
Published: May 2009

SummaryThe sequence of 165 nucleotides at the 3´ end of the 1D (VP1) gene of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) virus was determined for 44 type Asia 1 strains isolated from throughout Asia between 1954–92. Analysis of the relationships between the virus genomes showed epidemiological links not previously evident. The possible origin of the only outbreak of FMD Asia 1 to have occurred in Europe, in Greece in 1984, was identified because the nucleotide sequence of this virus was closely-related to the sequences of those present in the Middle East between 1983–5.Variation in the region sequenced was not as great as that seen in the other FMDV serotypes and all viruses shared greater than 85% nucleotide identity. Thus all the virus isolates examined were considered to belong to a single genotype.A database of Asia 1 virus sequences has been established which will facilitate the rapid analysis of new outbreaks strains.
The detection of antibodies against peste des petits ruminants virus in cattle, sheep and goats and the possible implications to rinderpest control programmes
Authors: Anderson J. , Mckay J. A. 
Published: May 2009

SummaryMonoclonal antibody–based competitive ELISA (C–ELISA) have been used for the specific measurement of antibodies to both rinderpest and peste des petits ruminants (PPR) viruses in cattle, sheep and goats. Examination of serum samples from sheep and goats in Gambia, before and after vaccination with rinderpest vaccine, suggested that antibodies to PPR virus could prevent an immune response to the rinderpest vaccine. Cattle sera from Nigeria and Ghana showed a high prevalence of antibody against PPR virus which may explain the difficulty experienced in some countries in achieving high post-vaccination immunity levels against rinderpest. Because antibodies against PPR virus are both cross–neutralizing and cross-protective against rinderpest virus further vaccination in the presence of antibodies against PPR virus may be a waste of national resources. This paper presents serological evidence for the transmission of PPR virus from sheep and goats to cattle and highlights the need to include PPR serology in the sero-monitoring programme to give a better indication of national herd immunity.
Cell surface hydrophobicity and adherence to extra–cellular matrix proteins in two collections of methicillin–resistantStaphylococcus aureus
Authors: Cree R. G. A. , Aleljung P. , Paulsson M. , Witte W. , Noble W. C. , Ljungh A. , Wadström T. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYNon-specific and specific mechanisms of adherence have been examined in two collections of methicillin–resistantStaphylococcus aureus(MRSA). Determination of hydrophobicity by salt aggregation, hydrophobicity indices and of adherence to the extra–cellular matrix proteins fibronectin, vitronectin, laminin and collagen type 1 have failed to reveal any correlation with phage-type, plasmid profile or antibiogram. Further, the strain collections, made over a period of years in two countries, differ markedly in their adherence characteristics; MRSA are heterogeneous in this respect. Such heterogeneity may explain the polarization of views on the epidemicity or ‘virulence’ of MRSA. With the exception of adherence to collagen a small group of methicillin sensitiveS. aureushad characteristics intermediate between the two groups of MRSA.
Antigenicity and immunogenicity of equine influenza vaccines containing a Carbomer adjuvant
Authors: Mumford J. A. , Wilson H. , Hannant D. , Jessett D. M. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYEquine influenza vaccines containing inactivated whole virus and Carbomer adjuvant stimulated higher levels and longer lasting antibody to haemagglutinin in ponies than vaccines of equivalent antigenic content containing aluminium phosphate adjuvants. Five months after the third dose of vaccine containing Carbomer adjuvant, ponies were protected against clinical disease induced by an aerosol of virulent influenza virus (A/equine/Newmarket/79, H3N8). In contrast ponies which received vaccine containing aluminium phosphate adjuvant were susceptible to infection and disease. There was an inverse correlation between prechallenge levels of antibody detected by single radial haemolysis (SRH) and duration of virus excretion, pyrexia and coughing. All ponies with antibody levels equivalent to SRH zones of ≥ 154 mm2were protected against infection and all those with levels ≤ 85 mm2were protected from disease.
Cutaneous leishmaniasis in the Peruvian Andes: an epidemiological study of infection and immunity
Authors: Davies C. R. , Llanos-Cuentas E. A. , Pyke S. D. M. , Dye C. 
Published: May 2009

SummaryA prospective longitudinal survey of cutaneous leishmaniasis (Leishmania peruviana) was carried out in Peru on a study population of 4716 persons living in 38 villages (Departments of Lima, Ancash and Piura). Demographic and clinical data were collected from all individuals, and a Montenegro skin test (MST) was carried out on 72% (3418) of the study population. Each household was revisited at 3-monthly intervals for up to 2 years to detect new leishmaniasis cases; 497 people received a second MST at the end of the study. Analysis of the epidemiological data indicated that (i) 17% (16/94) of all infections were subclinical, (ii) this percentage increased significantly with age, (iii) clinical infections led to 73·9 % protective immunity (95 % C.I. 53·0–85·5 %) and relatively permanent MST responsiveness (recovery rate = 0·0098/year; 95% C.I. 0·000–0·020/year), (iv) sub-clinical infections led to protective immunity, which was positively correlated with their MST induration size (increasing by 17·9% per mm; P < 0·0001), and a mean MST recovery rate of 0·114/year (4/421 man-months), and (v) recurrent leishmaniasis was dominated by reactivations, not by reinfections.
Predicting the impact of measles vaccination in England and Wales: model validation and analysis of policy options
Authors: Babad H. R. , Nokes D. J. , Gay N. J. , Miller E. , Morgan-Capner P. , Anderson R. M. 
Published: May 2009

SummaryMeasles incidence in England and Wales has fallen to an all-time low. Attention is now focused on preventing local outbreaks, and, in the long run, on the elimination of indigenous measles. A realistic age-structured (RAS) mathematical model of measles transmission is used to reconstruct the impact of measles vaccination in England and Wales from 1968 to the present and to evaluate the merits of future policy options. In general, the predictions of the model show good agreement with long-term age stratified case reports and seroprevalence surveys. The model underestimates the proportion of cases that are notified in 0–2-year-old children. However, recent work suggests a high degree of misdiagnosis in this age group. Projections on the basis of the existing vaccination strategy in the UK suggest that the present level of measles vaccine coverage will be insufficient to eliminate small seasonal outbreaks of measles. This result is, however, sensitive to the assumed level of vaccine efficacy. Explorations of a variety of changes to current vaccination strategy favour a 2-dose schedule with the second dose administered at age 4 years irrespective of vaccination history. A vaccination campaign in school-age children, to reduce deficits in herd immunity, would accelerate progress towards measles elimination.
Cryptosporidiosis reservoir in wild brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) in the UK
Authors: Webster J. P. , MacDonald D. W. 
Published: May 2009

SummaryRats (n= 73) were trapped from nine rural farms around Oxfordshire and faeces were examined using the auramine-phenol and the Modified Ziehl-Neelsen techniques.Cryptosporidium parvumoocysts were detected in the faeces from 46 (63%) rats. This suggests that wild rats represent a risk to human and livestock health through the carriage and transmission of this zoonotic protozoan.
Comparison of PFGE, ribotyping and phage-typing in the epidemiological analysis ofCampylobacter jejuniserotype HS2 infections
Authors: Gibson J. R. , Fitzgerald C. , Owen R. J. 
Published: May 2009

SummaryIn this study we have evaluated the ability of three typing methods, pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), phage-typing and ribotyping, to discriminate not only between strains of differing serotypes but also between strains within a single serotype, heat stable serotype 2 (HS2). Forty-five isolates derived from cases of campylobacter enteritis occurring in the Cardiff area were examined. These included 18, mostly HS2, strains associated with an outbreak. The typing results for these and a further 39 epidemiologically unrelated strains of serotype HS2 were compared. This is the first report documenting the use of PFGE in an epidemiological investigation ofCampylobacter jejuniin the UK. The results presented suggest that this technique is the most discriminatory of the three subtvping methods examined.
PCR-based characterization ofYersinia enterocolitica: comparison with biotyping and serotyping
Authors: Odinot P. T. , Meis J. F. G. M. , Van Den Hurk P. J. J. C. , Hoogkamp-Korstanje J. A. A. , Melchers W. J. G. 
Published: May 2009

SummaryPCR-based DNA fingerprinting was used to characterize 48 clinical isolates ofYersinia enterocolitica. The samples were examined by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD-PCR) and inter-repeat PCR (IR-PCR). IR-PCR with two enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus primers resulted in patterns which were poorly discriminated; 2 of 11 arbitrary primers (RAPD-PCR) provided sufficient discriminatory power. In comparisons with serotyping and biotyping, RAPD-fingerprinting was the most discriminatory technique and may therefore be a valuable epidemiological tool for the study ofY. enterocoliticainfections.
Analysis of methicillin-resistant and methicillin-susceptibleStaphylococcus aureusby a molecular typing method based on coagulase gene polymorphisms
Authors: Kobayashi N. , Taniguchi K. , Kojima K. , Urasawa S. , Uehara N. , Omizu Y. , Kishi Y. , Yagihashi A. , Kurokawa I. 
Published: May 2009

SummaryA molecular typing method forStaphylococcus aureusbased on coagulase gene polymorphisms (coagulase gene typing) was evaluated by examining a total of 240 isolates which comprised 210 methicillin-resistantS. aureus(MRSA) and 30 methicillin-susceptibleS. aureus(MSSA) collected from a single hospital. ByAlulrestriction enzyme digestion of the PCR-amplified 3′-end region of the coagulase gene including 81-bp repeated units, the MRSA and MSSA isolates examined were divided into 6 and 12 restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) patterns, respectively, whereas five patterns were commonly detected in MRSA and MSSA. MRSA isolates that showed a particular RFLP pattern were considered to be predominant in the hospital. Coagulase typing with type-specific antisera was also performed for allS. aureusisolates for comparison. Coagulase types II and VII were most frequently detected and included isolates with four and five differentAluIRFLP patterns, respectively, whereas each of the other coagulase types corresponded to a single RFLP pattern. These results indicated that RFLP typing was more discriminatory than serological typing, for typingS. aureusand demonstrated its utility in epidemiologic investigation ofS. aureusinfection in hospitals.
The speciation and subtyping of campylobacter isolates from sewage plants and waste water from a connected poultry abattoir using molecular techniques
Authors: Koenraad P. M. F. J. , Ayling R. , Hazeleger W. C. , Rombouts F. M. , Newell D. G. 
Published: May 2009

SummaryIn this study the distribution of phenotypes of campylobacter strains in sewage and surface waters was investigated by subtyping and by speciation of isolates from various aquatic environments. These environments included two municipal sewage plants (SPA and SPB) and waste water from a poultry abattoir (WWA). Both the sewage plants SPA and SPB collected domestic and industrial waste, and SPA received drain water from WWA. SPB received no waste water from any meat-processing plant. The isolates were speciated by PCR and subtyped by PCR/RFLP based on the flagellin PCR products.From all three reservoirs, noCampylobacter lariwas isolated, and approximately 80% of the isolates could be identified asC. jejuniand the rest belonged to theC. colispecies. The PCR/RFLP typing technique has a high discrimination level and was reproducible between two separate laboratories. The 182 isolates tested yielded 22 distinctDdeI profiles. The results indicate that strains with profiles found in poultry are also detectable in waste water presumed to be solely from domestic and human sources. In addition some strains were unique to the known poultry-related sources, suggesting that avian-specific strains, non-pathogenic to man, may exist in the environment. In contrast some strains were unique to human waste indicating the potential importance of non-poultry sources of infection. No seasonality was observed in the profile distribution. So, at least in the Netherlands, it is unlikely that infections caused by contaminated surface waters contribute to the seasonality of human campylobacteriosis.
Study of the effectiveness of influenza vaccination in the elderly in the epidemic of 1989–90 using a general practice database
Authors: Fleming D. M. , Watson J. M. , Nicholas S. , Smith G. E. , Swan A. V. 
Published: May 2009

SummaryThe effectiveness of influenza vaccination in preventing serious illness and death was determined in an elderly population during the influenza epidemic of 1989–90. A retrospective cohort study was carried out using computerized general practitioner records on nearly 10000 patients aged 55 years and over. After adjustment for potential confounding factors, recent immunization was found to have a protective effect of 75% (95% confidence intervals: 21–92%) against death. Protection did not appear to vary with either age or the presence of underlying chronic disease. As the complications of influenza are most common in those with underlying chronic disease, the study findings are consistent with the recommended policy for the use of influenza vaccine in the UK. Further work is necessary to determine the cost-effectiveness of extending immunization to other groups.
An outbreak of cholera from food served on an international aircraft
Authors: Eberhart-Phillips J. , Bessser R. E. , Tormey M. P. , Feikin D. , Araneta M. R. , Wells J. , Kilman L. , Rutherford G. W. , Griffin P. M. , Baron R. , Mascola L. 
Published: May 2009

SummaryIn February 1992, an outbreak of cholera occurred among persons who had flown on a commercial airline flight from South America to Los Angeles. This study was conducted to determine the magnitude and the cause of the outbreak. Passengers were interviewed and laboratory specimens were collected to determine the magnitude of the outbreak. A case-control study was performed to determine the vehicle of infection. Seventy-five of the 336 passengers in the United States had cholera; 10 were hospitalized and one died. Cold seafood salad, served between Lima, Peru and Los Angeles, California, was the vehicle of infection (odds ratio, 11·6; 95% confidence interval, 3·3–44·5). This was the largest airline-associated outbreak of cholera ever reported and demonstrates the potential for airline-associated spread of cholera from epidemic areas to other parts of the world. Physicians should obtain a travel history and consider cholera in patients with diarrhoea who have travelled from cholera-affected countries. This outbreak also highlights the risks associated with eating cold foods prepared in cholera-affected countries.
Differing antibody responses toHaemophilus influenzaetype b after meningitis or epiglottitis
Authors: Johnson P. D. R. , Hanlon M. , Isaacs D. , Gilbert G. L. 
Published: May 2009

SummaryTwo common forms of invasive disease due toHaemophilus influenzaetype b (Hib) are epiglottitis and meningitis. It is not known why some children develop epiglottitis and others meningitis. To examine the hypothesis that epiglottitis occurs in children who may have been previously exposed to Hib, and who would therefore exhibit a more vigorous antibody response in convalescence, we measured levels of antibody to Hib capsule in 92 children. Geometric mean convalescent-phase IgG, IgA, IgM and total antibody levels were significantly higher in 45 children with epiglottitis than in 47 with meningitis, even after adjustment for age differences (mean total antibody, 95% confidence intervals: meningitis 0·38, 0·34–0·43; epiglottitis: 2·25, 2·0–2·54 μg/ml). However, contrary to previous reports, a poor antibody response was only observed in a minority of children with meningitis; the antibody response of the majority was indistinguishable from that observed in children with epiglottitis.
Impact of influenza and respiratory syncytial virus on mortality in England and Wales from January 1975 to December 1990
Authors: Nicholson K. G. 
Published: May 2009

SummaryThe effects of influenza A and B and RSV on mortality in England and Wales were assessed by regression analysis for the period 1975–90. Morbidity data from sentinel practices were used to calculate 4-weekly rates of aggregated upper respiratory tract infections (URTI); PHLS laboratory reports were used as indices of infection, and 4-weekly death rates from all causes, excluding childbirths, were used to study relationships with mortality. Deaths correlated strongly with influenza A and B reports, temperature, and interactions between aggregated URTI and temperature, and RSV outbreaks and temperature. Estimates of ‘seasonal’ 4-weekly mortality associated with URTI were made by substituting into primary regression models the mean of annual trough consultation rates for aggregated URTI and baseline values for RSV and influenza. Peak 4-weekly mortality associated with URTIs was estimated at c. 24000 and c. 28000 during combined influenza and RSV epidemics of 1975–6 and 1989–90 respectively. Secondary regression analysis was carried out with the estimated ‘seasonal’ 4-weekly deaths associated with URTI as dependant variable and laboratory data as regressors. Estimated excess mortality associated with influenza was considerable even during years without major epidemics. Overall during the 15 winters the estimated mortality associated with RSV was 60–80 % more than that associated with influenza. The modelling permits only a crude estimate of RSV associated mortality. None the less it suggests that RSV is an important cause of winter mortality.
An 18 year clinical review of septic arthritis from tropical Australia
Authors: Morgan D. S. , Fisher D. , Merianos A. , Currie B. J. 
Published: May 2009

SummaryA retrospective study of 191 cases of septic arthritis was undertaken at Royal Darwin Hospital in the tropical north of Australia. Incidence was 9·2 per 100000 overall and 29·1 per 100000 in Aboriginal Australians (RR 6·6; 95% CI 5·0–8·9). Males were affected more than females (RR 1·6; 95% CI 1·2–2·1). There was no previous joint disease or medical illness in 54%. The commonest joints involved were the knee (54%) and hip (13%). Significant age associations were infected hips in those under 15 years and infected knees in those over 45 years. Seventy-two percent of infections were haematogenous. Causative organisms included Staphylococcus aureus (37%),Streptococcus pyogenes(16%) andNeisseria gonorrhoeae(12%). Unusual infections included three melioidosis cases. Polyarthritis occurred in 17%, withN. gonorrhoeae(11/23) more likely to present as polyarthritis than other organisms (22/168) (OR 6·0; 95% CI 2·1–16·7). Univariate and multivariate analysis showed the hip to be at greater risk forS. aureusthan other joints. Open arthrotomy was a more successful treatment procedure than arthroscopic washout or needle aspiration.
A foodborne outbreak of gastroenteritis involvingListeria monocytogenes
Authors: Salamina G. , Donne E. Dalle , Niccolini A. , Poda G. , Cesaroni D. , Bucci M. , Fini R. , Maldini M. , Schuchat A. , Swaminathan B. , Bibb W. , Rocourt J. , Binkin N. 
Published: May 2009

SummaryAn outbreak of gastroenteritis occurred in Italy among 39 persons who had attended a private supper. All guests were previously healthy, young, non-pregnant adults; 18 (46%) had symptoms, mostly gastrointestinal (78%), with a short incubation period. Four were hospitalized with acute febrile gastroenteritis, two of whom had blood cultures positive forListeria monocytogenes. No other microorganisms were recovered from the hospitalized patients' specimens. Epidemiological investigation identified rice salad as the most likely vehicle of the food-borne outbreak.L. monocytogeneswas isolated from three leftover foods, the kitchen freezer and blender. Isolates from the patients, the foods and the freezer were indistinguishable: serotype l/2b, same phage type and multilocus enzyme electrophoretic type. Eight (36%) of 22 guests tested were found to have antibodies againstL. monocytogenes, compared with none of 11 controls from the general population. This point source outbreak was probably caused by infection withL. monocytogenes. Unusual features included the high attack rate among immunocompetent adults and the predominance of gastrointestinal symptoms.
Experimental studies on the infectivity of non-culturable forms ofCampylobacterspp. in chicks and mice
Authors: Van De Giessen A. W. , Heuvelman C. J. , Abee T. , Hazeleger W. C. 
Published: May 2009

SummaryThe significance of non-culturable forms ofCampylobacterspp., especially with regard to the epidemiology of this organism in poultry flocks, was explored. Two different experiments were conducted to produce non-culturableCampylobacterspp. and test their ability to colonize the animal gut. In the first experiment a mixture of 28 different strains ofCampylobacterspp. from various sources was inoculated in both sterilized surface water and potassium phosphate buffer and stored at 4 °C. AfterCampylobacterspp. were no longer detectable by culture in the microcosms, the mixtures of non-culturable cells were used to challenge both chicks and mice. Recovery of non-culturableCampylobacterspp. from the animals was not successful at 4 weeks after administration. In the second experiment the survival of six individual strains ofCampylobacterspp. in sterilized surface water at 4 °C was studied and the resulting non-culturable cells were used to challenge chicks. None of the Campylobacter strains could be recovered from the chicks at 2 weeks after administration. We conclude that occurrence of non-culturable forms ofCampylobacterspp. capable of colonizing chicks is not a common phenomenon and that non-culturable forms ofCampylobacterspp. are likely to be insignificant for importantly to the epidemiology of the organism in Dutch broiler flocks.