bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
High incidence of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis in South India
Authors: Saha V. , Jacob John T. , Mukundan P. , Gnanamuthu C. , Prabhakar S. , Arjundas G. , Sayeed Z. A. , Kumaresan G. , Srinivas K. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYDuring 19837 a clinical diagnosis of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) was confirmed by the detection of measles virus haemagglutination inhibiting antibody in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in 81 subjects resident in Tamilnadu. The antibody titre (reciprocol of the endpoint dilution) in the CSF ranged from 2 to 32 and in the sera from 8 to 2048. The CSF: serum ratios of titres were 1:41:64 in 80 cases and 1:128 in one case. The median age at onset of SSPE was 10 years and 97% of cases were diagnosed at stage 2 and beyond. Based on the geographic distribution of 72 cases in an estimated population of 84 million, the annual incidence of SSPE was calculated to be 214 per million population, or 43 cases per million children below 20 years. Assuming that only 10% of all cases would have reached the level of laboratory diagnosis, the incidence may be as high as 21 cases per million population.
Antibiotic resistance among salmonella from human and other sources in New Zealand
Authors: Heffernan H. M. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYOf 2210 salmonella isolates referred to the New Zealand Communicable Disease Centre for epidemiological surveillance during 1987, 147 (6·7%) were resistant to one or more of 10 antibiotics. Resistance to streptomycin was most common (4·5%). followed by sulphamethoxazole (3·4%), tetracycline (3·3%), ampicillin (1·5%). and kanamycin (1·4%). Resistance to cephalothin, chloramphenicol, gentamicin and trimethoprim occurred in less than 1 % of isolates. There was no resistance to norfloxacin. Isolates from human sources were significantly (P < 0·001) more resistant (10%) than those from other sources (3·2%). The majority of resistant isolates were resistant to more than one antibiotic, but multiresistance to five or more antibiotics occurred only among human isolates. Comparison of these results with data from earlier years shows that there has been little change in the incidence of resistance among salmonella in this country over the last 10 years. The prevalence of antibiotic resistance among salmonella in New Zealand is low relative to many other countries.
Waterborne transmission and the evolution of virulence among gastrointestinal bacteria
Authors: Ewald P. W. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYDiarrhoeal diseases are primary contributors to millions of deaths annually. Yet, little is known about the evolutionary reasons for the differences in virulence among gastrointestinal pathogens. Applying the comparative, cost/benefit approach of evolutionary biology this paper proposes that waterborne transmission should favour evolution towards high virulence. This hypothesis is supported by a cross-specific test, which shows that waterborne transmission is strongly correlated with the virulence of bacterial gastrointestinal pathogens of humans. Alternative explanations of this correlation are not supported by available data. These findings bear on public health policy because they draw attention to a previously unrecognized long-range benefit gained from purification of water supplies: diarrhoeal pathogens may evolve to lower levels of virulence.
Genetic relationships among strains ofNeisseria meningitidiscausing disease in Italy, 1984–7
Authors: Mastrantonio P. , Congiu M. E. , Selander R. K. , Caugant D. A. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYSince 1984 a change in the epidemiological pattern of meningococcal disease in Italy has occurred with a predominance ofNeisseria meningitidisof serogroup C (76%), serotype 2a and a high proportion of strains resistant to sulphonamides (71%). In order to understand better the epidemiology of the groupC N. meningitidisstrains responsible for the disease over the last years in Italy, we studied the genetic features of phenotypically closely related strains, by enzyme electrophoresis. The results showed that the genetic and the phenotypic characteristics of the 57 strains studied were similar, suggesting the spread of a single clone during recent years in our country.This result is in agreement with the circulation of strains typical of epidemic situations, despite the decreasing incidence of meningoccal disease in Italy.
Epidemiology of bluetongue and related orbiviruses in the Sultanate of Oman
Authors: Al-Busaidy S. M. , Mellor P. S. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYSentinel herds at 34 farms were used to study the epidemiology of bluetongue and related orbiviruses in Oman. The results indicate that bluetongue virus (BTV) is widespread and is enzootic in Northern Oman. At least three BTV serotypes (3, 4 and 22) were present at the time of the study. Antibodies to epizootic haemorrhagic disease of deer virus (EHDV) type 2 and EHDV-318 were also detected but were less prevalent. Entomological investigations identified the presence of 16 species ofCulicoides. The peak seasonal incidence of the BTV vectorC. imicolaand the EHDV vectorsC. schultzei(group) midges at Rumais in Northern Oman correlated closely with the spring rains in that area. However, both species of midge were also present in lower numbers throughout the year. Four species of Omani midge,C. arabiensis, C. ibriensis, C. neoschultzeiandC. buettikeriare new to science.
Acquisition and invasiveness of different serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae in young children
Authors: Smith T. , Lehmann D. , Montgomery J. , Gratten M. , Riley I. D. , Alpers M. P. 
Published: May 2009

SummaryRates of acquisition and mean duration of nasal carriage of different serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae have been estimated by fitting a stochastic model to longitudinal carriage data in children from Papua New Guinea. Immunogenicity and two indices of relative invasiveness were determined for each serotype. Immunogenic serotypes were less frequently acquired and were carried for shorter periods, but no relationship between immunogenicity and invasiveness was apparent using either index of invasiveness. Frequent invasion was associated with a high acquisition rate and high frequency and prolonged duration of carriage. Carriage studies can provide a broad indication of which serotypes cause invasive disease but not the proportion of disease due to individual serotypes; some serotypes which cause invasive disease (e.g. serotype 46) are not found even in extensive carriage studies. The antibiotic resistance of carriage organisms, however, does approximate the resistance patterns of invasive organisms and thus may be used to monitor changing patterns of antimicrobial susceptibility in the community.
Comparison of multilocus enzyme electrophoresis (MEE), ribotyping, restriction enzyme analysis (REA) and phage typing for typing ofListeria monocytogenes
Authors: Nørrung B. , Gerner-Smith P. 
Published: May 2009

SummaryThe discriminatory power of four methods for typing ofListeria monocytogeneswas compared. The four methods were multilocus enzyme electrophoresis (MEE), ribotyping, restriction enzyme analysis (REA), and a newly developed Danish phage typing system. Ninety-nine human clinical, food and slaughterhouse isolates ofListeria monocytogeneswere typed by each method. The most discriminatory single typing method was phage typing with an overall discriminatory index (DI) of 0·88 followed by REA, MEE and ribotyping with DI-values at 0·87, 0·83 and 0·79 respectively. Considering strains from each of the two predominant O-serotypes alone, serotype 1 was best discriminated by the molecular typing methods, in particular REA, which showed a DI of 0·92. The serotype 4 strains were best discriminated by phage typing (DI = 0·78). If two or more typing methods were combined, the combination of REA and MEE were found to be the most discriminatory combination. The DI values were 0·96, 0·74 and 0·90 for serotype 1, 4, and both combined, respectively. Phage typing is a rapid and inexpensive typing method but not as reproducible as the molecular typing methods. It is the most suitable method for mass screening. In situations where results are required to be highly reliable, i.e. when studying the relationships between only a few strains, a single or a combination of molecular typing methods should be used, preferable MEE and REA.
Comparison of serotype, biotype and bacteriocin type with rDNA RFLP patterns for the type identification ofSerratia marcescens
Authors: Alonso R. , Aucken H. M. , Perez-Diaz J. C. , Cookson B. D. , Baquero F. , Pitt T. L. 
Published: May 2009

SummaryVariations in rDNA gene loci in DNA digests of 209 clinical isolates ofSerratia marcescenswere determined with anEscherichia colirRNA probe. Forty-one restriction fragment length polymorphism patterns (ribotypes) were identified, based on the size of 4–14 (mean 7·5) hybridization bands. The patterns differed by more than a single band in 98% of pair-wise comparisons. On a subset of 76 isolates, ribotyping proved to be marginally more discriminating than biotyping (discrimination index 0·92v. 0·89) followed by serotyping (0·87) and bacteriocin typing (0·74). About one-third of isolates belonged to unique ribotypes and only two ribotypes exceeded 5% in frequency (23·0 and 6·4% respectively). A combination of serotype or biotype with ribotyping defined a similar number of strains, although none of the methods alone was sufficiently discriminatory to identify strains. We conclude that due to the accessibility of biotyping and the lack of commercially available antisera forS. marcescens, the biotype and ribotype together provide reliable markers of strain identity.
A comparison of multiple drug resistance in salmonellas from humans and food animals in England and Wales, 1981 and 1990
Authors: Threlfall E. J. , Rowe B. , Ward L. R. 
Published: May 2009

SummaryFor Salmonella typhimurium from humans in England and Wales, the incidence of multiple resistance more than doubled over the 8-year period 1981–8 and, over the next 2 years, increased by a further 7%. From 1981 to 1988 both resistance and multiple resistance also increased significantly in S. virchow and although multiple resistance did not increase over the next 2 years, the overall incidence of resistance has continued to rise. In 1990 the majority of S. typhimurium from cattle were multiply-resistant and the occurrence of such resistance has quadrupled since 1981. Multiple resistance has also increased in S. typhimurium from pigs and, to a lesser extent, from poultry. In contrast, multiple resistance has remained uncommon in the poultry-associated serotype S. enteritidis. For S. virchow, multiple resistance was common in a phage type frequently associated with poultry meat imported from France.The continuing use of a range of different antimicrobials in calf husbandry has been an important factor in promoting the emergence of multiply-resistant strains of S. typhimurium in cattle. In contrast, multiple resistance has remained rare in those serotypes associated with poultry, where the use of such antimicrobials has been less intensive.It is hoped that recent recommendations discouraging, in veterinary medicine, the prophylactic use of antibiotics with cross resistances to those used in human medicine will result in a reduction in the occurrence of multiresistant strains in food animals and subsequently in humans.
Variations in biochemical phenotypes and phage types ofSalmonella enteritidisin Germany 1980–92
Authors: Katouli M. , Seuffer R. H. , Wollin R. , Kühn I. , Möllby R. 
Published: May 2009

SummaryThe Phene Plate system for typingSalmonellaserotypes (PhP-S) is a simple automated typing method based on biochemical fingerprinting. It gives a quantitative value of the metabolism of various substrates by measuring the speed and intensity of each reaction. The ‘biochemical fingerprint’ of each isolate is used to calculate similarities among the tested strains with a personal computer program. We used this system to examine a collection of 86 strains ofSalmonella enteritidisisolated from human sporadic cases in Germany between 1980 and 1992. Twenty-three biochemical phenotypes (BPTs) consisting of 9 common (C) and 14 single (S) BPTs were identified. BPTs C2 and C4 containing 20 and 36 strains respectively accounted for 65% of the isolates. Strains of BPT C2 were found over a wide period of time whereas strains of BPT C4 were isolated during the period between 1988 and 1992. With phage typing, 11 discrete phage types (PTs) and 18 strains designated as non-specific type (NST) were identified. PTs 4 and 8 with 39 and 17 strains respectively were the dominant PTs. Strains of PT 8 were isolated over a wide period of time whereas all (except one) strains of PT 4 were isolated between 1988 and 1992. Combination of biochemical fingerprinting and phage typing divided the strains into 25 phenotypes (BPT:PTs). Whilst phenotype C2:8 was found over a number of different years, phenotype C4:4 was isolated only between 1988 and 1992. These findings indicate the presence of one persistent and one recently emerged phenotype amongS. enteritidisstrains in Germany. Although both methods identified the presence of both major and less common types, biochemical fingerprinting with the PhP-S system also provided information about relationships between the strains.
The prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in human faecal flora in South Africa
Authors: Shanahan P. M. A. , Wylie B. A. , Adrian P. V. , Koornhof H. J. , Thomson C. J. , Amyes S. G. B. 
Published: May 2009

SummaryBetween January and March 1992, 361 faecal specimens were collected from the healthy black population in the Transvaal Province of South Africa. Each specimen was examined for the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in commensal bacteria. Volunteers, from both rural and urban dwellings, were divided into four age groups. The overall carriage rate of resistance varied from 88.6% for ampicillin, 74.2% for trimethoprim, 52.6% for chloramphenicol, 10.2% for nalidixic acid to 7.5% for gentamicin. The carriage of resistance found to each individual antimicrobial agent was slightly higher in the rural population rather than the urban population but there was no correlation between the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance and the age group.
Healthy individuals possess circulating antibodies against their indigenous faecal microflora as well as against allogenous faecal microflora: an immunomorphometrical study
Authors: Apperloo-Renkema H. Z. , Jagt T. G. , Tonk R. H. J , van der Waaij D. 
Published: May 2009

SummaryHealthy persons were shown to possess circulating antibodies of both IgA, IgG and IgM isotype directed against the bacteria of their faecal microflora, assessed by immunomorphometry. After removal, by absorption, of the fraction of antibodies directed against the autochthonous faecal bacteria or cross-reacting with allogenous faecal bacteria, there were still antibodies left directed against allogenous faecal bacteria of both the IgA, IgG and IgM isotype. However, relatively more antibodies of the IgA isotype appeared to be directed against allogenous bacteria than against indigenous faecal bacteria. Persons who reacted with specific antibodies to many bacteria of their own flora also tended to react specifically to bacteria in the allogenous microflora of the other volunteers. The patterns of antibodies directed to faecal bacteria of different morphologies (morphotypes) were unique for each individual.
Impact of respiratory virus infection in patients with chronic chest disease
Authors: Wiselka M. J. , Kent J. , Cookson J. B. , Nicholson K. G. 
Published: May 2009

SummaryThis study investigated the morbidity associated with respiratory virus infections in patients with well-documented chest disease, and the risk of transmission between close contacts. Patients informed the study team if they were exposed to a family member or colleague with a cold. Patients and symptomatic index cases recorded respiratory symptoms during the study period. Acute nasopharyngeal swabs and paired sera were obtained for viral diagnosis.Twenty-five (43%) of 58 recorded exposures resulted in a symptomatic illness and 16 (28%) patients developed lower respiratory tract symptoms. Sixteen (64%) of the 25 symptomatic patients contacted their general practitioner, 14 (56%) received antibiotics and 4 (16%) were hospitalized. Mean duration of illness was 10·6 days in symptomatic patients and 5·7 days in their corresponding index cases (P < 0·005). Mean symptom scores were 100·6 in symptomatic patients and 62.2 in index cases (P < 0·01). Respiratory viruses were identified in 19 (33%) episodes. Rhinovirus, coronavirus and respiratory syncytial virus infections were all associated with lower respiratory tract exacerbations.Respiratory tract symptoms following exposure to a cold were comparatively severe in these patients with chronic chest disease. This group of patients might gain particular benefit from the introduction of effective vaccines or antiviral therapy.
Laboratory surveillance of viral meningitis by examination of cerebrospinal fluid in Cape Town, 1981–9
Authors: McIntyre J. P. , Keen G. A. 
Published: May 2009

SummaryNine years accumulated laboratory data derived from the culture of the cerebrospinal fluid of 11 360 aseptic meningitis cases were retrospectively reviewed to establish the epidemiology of viral meningitis in Cape Town. Virus was isolated from 3406 of the cases (91% enteroviruses and 9% mumps).Five major summer viral meningitis episodes were documented: two of echovirus 4 (706 and 445 cases), echovirus 9 (223), coxsackie A9 (104) and one of unidentified enterovirus (324 cases – probably echo 9). Although coxsackie B was endemic, clusters of one or other type were dominant at any one time. Mumps was endemic. Sixty-two percent of all viral cases were <5 years old. The median ages of 4 and 5 years in echoviruses 9 and 4 (the epidemic strains) contrasted with that of 1 year in coxsackie B (with many cases <3 months old). Mumps peaked at 3–4 years of age. Males dominated overall, particularly in mumps.
Characterization of monoclonal antibodies against a type SAT 2 foot-and-mouth disease virus
Authors: Crowther J. R. , Rowe C. A. , Butcher R. 
Published: May 2009

SummaryThis paper is the first to describe characterization of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against a South African Territories 2 (SAT 2) foot-and-mouth disease virus (isolate Rho 1/48). Twelve MAbs which neutralized homologous virus were characterized in indirect and sandwich ELISA using purified Rho 1/48 virus particles, subunits, trypsin-treated, and chemically denatured virus. All the Mabs inhibited haemagglutination by parental virus. Binding of the MAbs to 73 SAT 2 field isolates was measured in a sandwich ELISA and defined four distinct antigenic regions. Preliminary characterization of escape mutants selected with some of the MAbs using virus neutralization tests, ELISA, and amino acid sequencing is included. MAbs 2, 25, 40, 48 and 64, reacted with a linear epitope on the VP1 loop region. An amino acid change at position 149 (valine to glutamic acid) was detected in mutants selected by MAb 2 and 40 and this eliminated binding and neutralization by all the other MAb. This epitope was conformation-dependent and was conserved in all 73 isolates of SAT 2 examined. Escape mutants isolated with MAb 41 and 44, had changes at positions 156 (glycine to aspartic acid), or 158 (serine to leucine) respectively. These MAbs bound with Rho 1/48 only out of 73 field strain viruses studies and the reactions of MAbs from the other groups was unaltered. MAb 27, 28 and 37 reacted with a conformation-dependent epitope on VP1 which was not conserved in field isolates. All mutants selected by these MAbs had a single amino acid substitution at position 149 (valine to alanine). The same change was always found in field isolates which did not bind MAbs from this group. MAb 11 reacted with a linear epitope associated with amino acids 147 or 148 on VP1 and showed similar binding characteristics to a conformation dependent MAb 7, no amino acid residue changes were found within VP1 for monoclonal antibody 7 mutants.
Distinct yearly change of serotype distribution of human rotavirus in Thailand as determined by ELISA and PCR
Authors: Pongsuwanna Y. , Taniguchi K. , Wakasugi F. , Sutivijit Y. , Chiwakul M. , Warachit P. , Jayavasu C. , Urasawa S. 
Published: May 2009

SummaryA total of 241 group A rotavirus-positive stool samples collected from diarrhoeic patients in Thailand between July 1988 and June 1991 were characterized for their serotypes by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using serotype-specific monoclonal antibodies and by a polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In July 1988–June 1989, serotype 1 was the most prevalent (63·4%), followed by serotype 4 (11·0%) and serotype 2 (8·5%). In July 1989–June 1990, 59·8% were serotype 1, 24·3% were serotype 2, and 6·1 % were serotype 3. In contrast, in July 1990–June 1991, serotype 3 was detected in the highest frequency (40·5%), 29·9% were serotype 1, and 27·3% were serotype 2. Thus, a distinct yearly change of serotype distribution of rotavirus in Thailand was observed in the three consecutive years. In particular, it was of note that the prevalence of serotype 3 greatly increased, in contrast to the previous studies in which almost no serotype 3 rotaviruses were detected in the years 1983–8 in Thailand.
Cattle as a possible source of verocytotoxin-producingEscherichia coliO157 infections in man
Authors: Chapman P. A. , Siddons C. A. , Wright D. J. , Norman P. , Fox J. , Crick E. 
Published: May 2009

SummaryIn May-June 1992 cases of infection with verocytotoxin-producing (VT+)Escherichia coliO157 in South Yorkshire could have been associated with prior consumption of beef from a local abattoir. During investigation of the abattoir, bovine rectal swabs and samples of meat and surface swabs from beef carcasses were examined forE. coliO157, isolates of which were tested for toxigenicity, plasmid content and phage type.E. coliO157 was isolated from 84 (4%) of 2103 bovine rectal swabs; of these 84, 78 (93%) were VT+, the most common phage types being 2 and 8, the types implicated in the cluster of human cases. Positive cattle were from diverse sources within England.E. coliO157 was isolated from 7 (30%) of 23 carcasses of rectal swab-positive cattle and from 2 (8%) of 25 carcasses of rectal swab-negative cattle. The study has shown that cattle may be a reservoir of VT+E. coliO157, and that contamination of carcasses during slaughter and processing may be how beef and beef products become contaminated and thereby transmit the organism to man.
An outbreak ofSalmonella mikawasimaassociated with doner kebabs
Authors: Synnott M. , Morse D. L. , Maguire H. , Majid F. , Plummer M. , Leicester M. , Threlfall E. J. , Cowden J. 
Published: May 2009

SummaryDuring October 1992 an increase in the number of isolates ofSalmonella mikawasima, a rare serotype, was noted including a cluster of nine cases in the South West Thames region. A case control study was conducted and univariate analysis showed a statistical association between illness and eating at takeaway A for cases compared with household controls (P= O003) and with neighbourhood controls (P= 0.0245). Cases were also more likely to have eaten kebabs than were controls or average takeaway A customers, implicating doner kebabs as the most likely vehicle of infection. Plasmid profile analysis of the nine cases' isolates showed them to be indistinguishable and to be characterized by a single plasmid of approximately 60 MDa.The original source of theSalmonella mikawasimacontamination was not determined, but food preparation practices for kebabs at takeaway A were insufficient to protect against illness if contaminated. This outbreak was only recognized because of the unusual serotype, but could be an indication of a more widespread problem with doner kebabs.