bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A microbiological investigation of acute summer gastroenteritis in Black South African infants
Authors: Schoub Barry D. , Greeff A. S. , Lecatsas G. , Prozesky O. W. , Hay I. T. , Prinsloo J. G. , Ballard R. C. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYA microbiological investigation of Black infants suffering from severe acute summer gastroenteritis revealed enteropathogenic agents in 30 out of 37 patients (81%). Enterotoxigenic bacteria were isolated from 15 patients (41%). A total of 16 enterotoxigenic strains were isolated, comprising 9 enterotoxigenicEscherichia colistrains secreting labile and stable toxin on their own and in combination, and labile-toxin secreting strains ofKlebsiella pneumoniae(4),Enterobacter cloacae(2) andProteus vulgaris(1). In the case of the latter three species, however, 6 out of the 7 strains were isolated from patients who were excreting other enteric pathogens, whereas only 2 out of 9 enterotoxigenicE. colipatients had concomitant infections with other pathogens. No invasive bacteria were isolated except for 2 shigella strains. Salmonella and shigella strains were found in four patients. No correlation was found between the enteropathogenicity ofE. coliand its serotype. Rotavirus was observed by negative staining electron microscopy in only two patients (6%) but using a reverse complement fixation test rotavirus antigen was detected in the stool of 17 out of 35 patients (49%). The low EM detection rate may well be due to the patients being admitted for treatment late in the course of their illness when the degree of viral shedding has decreased below EM detectability. No significant difference in clinical presentation was noted between the various aetiological agents. Only one patient was being solely breast-fed compared to 16% of control non-diarrhoeic infants. Evidence of malnutrition was noted in over half of our patients.
Salmonella surveillance with reference to pigs – Cardiff abattoir, 1968–1975
Authors: Harvey R. W. S. , Price T. H. , Morgan J. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYBetween 1968 and 1975, well over 3000 samples of pig faeces and 407 samples of pig mesenteric glands were examined for salmonellas. A very wide range of serotypes was isolated. The material from this survey was used to evaluate certain aspects of salmonella isolations. The factors studied were: selective motility enrichment, size of inoculum of faeces, comparison of drain swab with animal sample and comparison of selenite F broth with Muller–Kauffmann tetrathionate broth. The conclusions drawn from these investigations allowed an efficient routine to be developed during the survey.
Dust–acoustic nonlinear periodic waves in a dusty plasma with charge fluctuation
Authors: YADAV L. L. , SINGH S. V. , BHARUTHRAM R. 
Published: May 2009

AbstractUsing the reductive perturbation method, we present a theory for dust–acoustic nonlinear periodic waves, namely dust–acoustic cnoidal waves, in a plasma containing hot electrons and ions, and warm dust grains with varying charge. It is found that the frequency of the cnoidal wave is a function of its amplitude. It is also found that the dust grain charge fluctuation and other plasma parameters modify the properties of the dust–acoustic cnoidal waves. In the limiting case, these dust–acoustic cnoidal waves reduce to the well-known dust–acoustic solitons.
EnteroaggregativeEscherichia coliassociated with an outbreak of diarrhoea in a neonatal nursery ward
Authors: Čobeljić M. , Miljković-Selimović B. , Paunović-Todosijević D. , Veličković Z. , Lepšanović Z. , Zec N. , Savić D. , Ilić R. , Konstantinović S. , Jovanović B. , Kostić V. 
Published: May 2009

SummaryOver a 9-day period in February 1995, 16 newborn babies (age range 2–11 days) and 3 infants (24, 47 and 180 days of age) in a neonatal nursery ward developed diarrhoea accompanied by pyrexia and weight loss. Known enteropathogens were not detected in their stools butEscherichia colidisplaying aggregative adherence to HEp-2 cells (enteroaggregativeE. coli) were found in 12 (63%) ill infants and in none of 5 well neonates (P= 0·02). The illness lasted 3–9 days (mean 5·2) in 16 babies, whereas in 3 neonates it showed a protracted course of 18–20 days. The source of infection and the mode of transmission remained unclear. The outbreak isolates manifested properties common in this new group of diarrhoeagenicE. coli: mannose-resistant haemagglutination, haemolysis on blood agar, and clump formation in liquid culture medium. They belonged to the O4E. coliserogroup and expressed multiple antibiotic resistance.
An epidemiological study of influenza viruses among Chinese farm families with household ducks and pigs
Authors: Shu L. L. , Zhou N. N. , Sharp G. B. , He S. Q. , Zhang T. J. , Zou W. W. , Webster R. G. 
Published: May 2009

SummaryTo examine the possibility of interspecies transmission and genetic reassortment of influenza viruses on farms in Southern China, we surveyed 20 farm families living outside the city of Nanchang who raised pigs and ducks in their homes. Weekly interviews of family members and virus isolation studies of throat swabs and faecal samples, collected from September 1992 to September 1993, established the seasonal pattern of respiratory tract infections in these families and identified 11 influenza viruses (6 in humans and 5 in ducks). Most of the human isolates were type A of H3N2 subtype. Serologic studies of farm pigs indicated infection by the same human viruses circulating in family members, but there was no evidence that either swine or avian viruses had been transmitted to pigs. Eight of 156 human serum samples inhibited the neuraminidase activity of two of the duck isolates, raising the possibility of interspecies transmission of these avian viruses. Genotype analysis of duck and human isolates provided no evidence for reassortment. Our findings support the concept that intermingling of humans, pigs and ducks on Chinese farms is favourable to the generation of new, potentially hazardous strains of influenza virus.
Epidemiological study on risk factors and risk reducing measures for Campylobacter infections in Dutch broiler flocks
Authors: van de Giessen A. W. , Bloemberg B. P. M. , Ritmeester W. S. , Tilburg J. J. H. C. 
Published: May 2009

SummaryFrom September 1991 until August 1993 an epidemiological study involving 20 Dutch broiler farms was conducted to identify risk factors and risk reducing measures forCampylobacterinfections in broiler flocks.Campylobacterspp. were detected in 64 (57%) of the 112 broiler flocks and in 25 (63%) of the 40 broiler cycles examined. Univariate analysis of farm management data was performed followed by logistic regression analysis of selected risk and risk reducing factors. The presence of other farm animals, including pigs, cattle, sheep and fowl, other than broilers, was found to be independently associated with an increased risk ofCampylobacterinfections in broiler flocks (odds ratio (OR) = 1181;P= 0041). Further, the results indicate that application of specific hygiene measures during the rearing period, such as washing hands before tending the broiler flocks, the use of separate boots for each broiler house and the use of footbath disinfection when entering a broiler house, may significantly reduce the risk of Campylobacter infections in broiler flocks.
Prevalence and characteristics ofEscherichia coilserotype O157:H7 and other verotoxin-producingE. coliin healthy cattle
Authors: Blanco M. , Blanco J. E. , Blanco J. , Gonzalez E. A. , Mora A. , Prado C. , Fernandez L. , Rio M. , Ramos J. , Alonso M. P. 
Published: May 2009

SummaryFrom February to July of 1994, 328 faecal samples from 32 herds were collected and verotoxin-producingEscherichia coli(VTEC) found on 84% of the farms. The proportion of animals infected varied from 0–63%. VTEC were recovered from 52 (20%) of 257 cows and from 16 (23%) of 71 calves. Although the VTEC belonged to 25 different serogroups, 7 (O8. O20, O22, O77, O113, O126 and O162) accounted for 46% of strains. Nearly 45% of the 83 bovine VTEC strains belonged to serogroups associated with haemorrhagic colitis and haemolytic uraernic syndrome in humans. However, only 2 (2%) of 83 VTEC strains isolated from cattle belonged to enterohaemorrhagicE. coli(EHEC) serotypes (O26:H11 and O157:H7), and only 8 (10%) were positive for the attaching and effacingE. coli (eae)gene sequence. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) showed that 17 (20%) of VTEC strains carried VT1 genes. 43 (52%) possessed VT2 genes, and 23 (28%) carried both VT1 and VT2 genes. Characterization of VTEC isolates revelated a heterogeneous population in terms of serogroup and toxin type in the positive herds. This study confirms that healthy cattle are a reservoir of VTEC, but, the absence ofeaegenes in most bovine VTEC strains suggests that they may be less virulent for humans thaneae-positive EHEC.
The UK Register of HIV Seroconverters: methods and analytical issues
Authors:   UK Register of HIV Seroconverters (UKRHS) Steering Committee
Published: May 2009

SummaryA Register of HIV-infected persons who have had a negative antibody test within 3 years of their first antibody positive test (seroconverters) is being set up in the UK to monitor the distribution of times from HIV seroconversion to AIDS (the incubation period) and to death. It will also provide a national resource for use by those designing studies in this group of individuals. Clinicians caring for HIV-positive persons in Genito-Urinary Medicine, Infectious Disease and other departments throughout the UK were asked to participate by providing information on eligible subjects. Most laboratories undertaking HIV antibody testing were also contacted and asked to provide the name of the attending clinician for all seroconverters identified through the HIV laboratory reporting systems of the PHLS Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre (CDSC) and the Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health (SCIEH) and for any other seroconverters known to them but not identified by CDSC or SCIEH. Data items sought for the Register include: sex, ethnic group, probable route of HIV transmission, annual CD4 counts, details of therapy and prophylaxis prescribed, AIDS-defining events and vital status. Follow up information is collected annually. Wherever possible, all seroconverters known to a clinic have been identified, whether currently alive or dead, either from clinic records or laboratory reporting or both. The objective is to establish and update a complete register of seroconverters on a long-term basis to provide reliable estimates of the incubation period on which future projections of AIDS cases in the UK can be made.
Cryptosporidiuminfections in humans with gastroenteritis in Zaria, Nigeria
Authors: Kwaga J. K. P. , Umoh J. U. , Odoba M. B. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYThe stool samples of 75 patients with gastroenteritis and/or loose and watery faeces at three hospitals and one clinic in Zaria were examined forCryptosporidium. The stool samples were concentrated by the formol–ether method and stained with safranin–methylene blue. Sixteen (21%) samples were positive. The rate of detection was higher among females (27%) than males (17%) and among adults (29%) than children (8%). The study confirmed the presence and possible significance ofCryptosporidium, which is a known zoonotic protozoan, in the aetiology of human gastroenteritis in Zaria, Nigeria.
Poultry-borne salmonellosis in Scotland
Authors: Reilly W. J. , Forbes G. I. , Sharp J. C. M. , Oboegbulem S. I. , Collier P. W. , Paterson G. M. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYBetween 1980–5, 224 outbreaks of salmonellosis associated with poultry-meat were reported in Scotland. In total 2245 persons were affected, 12 of whom died. Twenty-one salmonella serotypes were identified from those affected, while 33 serotypes were isolated from poultry during routine monitoring and disease investigation. Existing measures to prevent the spread of salmonellae within poultry flocks and processing plants are failing. It is suggested that irradiation of poultry-meat may be the only effective method of reducing the public health problem of poultry-borne salmonellosis.
Isolation of African swine fever virus from ticks of the Ornithodoros moubata complex (Ixodoidea: Argasidae) collected within the African swine fever enzootic area of Malawi
Authors: Haresnape J. M. , Wilkinson P. J. , Mellor P. S. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYTicks of the Ornithodoros moubata complex were collectedfrom domestic pig sties and dwelling houses, and from a warthog habitat, and tested for the presence of African swine fever (ASF) virus. Collections were made in 9 of the 24 districts of Malawi, these being primarily the districts in which O. moubata is most numerous. ASF virus was isolated from ticks collected in both domestic pig sties and houses in certain villages in Mchinji district where ASF outbreaks had recently occurred. Mchinji district is in the centre of a large ASF enzootic area which stretches into other districts of Malawi and also into Zambia and Mozambique. The high titre of virus in some of the ticks demonstrates that O. moubata can act as a virus reservoir and potential vector of disease in the field situation in Malawi.
Detection of specific IgM in varicella and herpes zoster by antibody-capture redioimmunoassay
Authors: Kangro H. O. , Ward A. , Argent S. , Heath R. B. , Cradock-Watson J. E. , Ridehalgh Margaret K. S. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYA simple and sensitive M antibody-capture radioimmunoassay (MACRIA) is described which utilizes crude commercial VZV antigen and a single monoclonal anti-VZV antibody. This was compared to the immunofluorescence (IF) test for IgM antibody and was used to study IgM responses in sera from 261 patients with varicella and 220 patients with herpes zoster.With MACRIA, IgM antibodies were detected in all patients with varicella. The IgM antibodies appeared shortly after onset of rash, reached peak levels between 1 and 4 weeks after onset and then declined to low or undetectable levels in most, though not all, patients after 3 months. IgM antibodies were also detected in 98·2% of patients with herpes zoster, but the levels of IgM were significantly lower than after varicella and there was wider individual variation both in magnitude and duration of the IgM responses, in some cases only lasting 2–3 weeks.Comparison between MACRIA and IF showed good agreement in the detection of IgM antibodies following varicella. Discordant results were obtained with 13% of sera. of which 81% were taken either early or late after onset of rash and contained very low IgM levels. In contrast, 62 (28%) of the 220 sera from patients with zoster gave discordant results in the two tests, all except five being MACRIA positive but IF-negative. The largest proportion of discordant results were obtained with sera taken more than 3 months after onset of rash, but 18 (29%) contained high IgM levels and were taken during the period of peak IgM responses. The diagnostic applications of the VZV MACRIA are discussed.
Persistent enteral infections with adenovirus types 1 and 2 in infants: no evidence of reinfection
Authors: Adrian T. , Schäfer G. , Cooney M. K. , Fox J. P. , Wigand R. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYIsolates of adenovirus types 1 and 2, obtained from 11 infants with prolonged faecal excretion (up to 515 days), were compared by DNA restriction analysis with seven standard endonucleases which recognize hexanucleotides and two additional endonucleases which recognize tetranucleotides. In all instances identical genome types were identified in isolates obtained early and late after infection. Our interpretation of these data is that a chronic persistent infection occurred in these children. and not a reinfection with the same serotype.
The distribution of African swine fever virus isolated fromOrnithodoros moubatain Zambia
Authors: Wilkinson P. J. , Pegram R. G. , Perry B. D. , Lemche J. , Schels H. F. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYAfrican swine fever (ASF) has been reported in the Eastern Province of Zambia since 1912 and is now considered to be enzootic there. A survey of the distribution of ASF virus in Zambia was carried out by virus isolation fromOrnithodoros moubataticks collected from animal burrows in National Parks and Game Management Areas in northern, eastern, central and southern Zambia. ASF virus was isolated from ticks in all areas examined. The prevalence of infection inO. moubatawas between 0·4% in South Luangwa National Park and 5·1% in Livingstone Game Park and mean infectious virus titres ranged from 103–4HAD50/tick in Kakumbe Game Management Area to 105·9HAD50/tick in Chunga and Nalusanga Game Management Areas. The prevalence of infection in adult ticks was between 4·7% and 5·3% in all areas examined except Sumbu National Park and Livingstone Game Park, where the prevalence was 15·1% and 13·2% respectively in adult ticks. The ratio of infected females to males for all the infected adult ticks in all areas of Zambia was 3·2:1.
Hospital-acquired infection with methicillin-resistant and methicillin-sensitive staphylococci
Authors: Law M. R. , Gill O. N. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYIn-patients at a London hospital over one year from whom the south-east England strain of ‘epidemic’ methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was isolated were compared with in-patients with strains of methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA). MRSA were virtually entirely hospital-acquired; isolates before 10'days were uncommon and related to recent previous admission. Thereafter first isolates occurred at a fairly constant daily rate of about 1·9 per 1000 in-patients. Acquisition of MSSA after more than 4 days in hospital occurred at a similar constant rate. Such strains were less likely to be penicillin-sensitive than strains isolated in the first 4 days after admission (11 vs. 22%) and were considered to be hospital-acquired. The single MRSA strain caused 40 infections in a year, about half of all hospital-acquired staphylococcal infections. Patients prescribed anti-staphylococcal antibiotics and patients with indwelling cannulae both had about a ninefold increased risk of acquiring MRSA. There was no reciprocal increase in MSSA infections after control measures had substantially reduced the number of MRSA infections.
Exposure to Legionellaceae at a hot spring spa: a prospective clinical and serological study
Authors: Bornstein N. , Marmet D. , Surgot M. , Nowicki M. , Arslan A. , Esteve J. , Fleurette J. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYFollowing the occurrence of five cases of Legionnaires' disease among patients and therapists at a French hot spring spa, a series of cleansing procedures and an epidemiological study were undertaken. During a 3-month period, the spring water was repeatedly sampled. Serum samples were taken from 689 randomly selected patients, 230 therapists, 134 administrative staff and a control group of 904 blood donors.Legionellaceae were present in the spring water at concentrations of 103–1055colony forming units/1. Fifteen different species or serogroups were isolated withLegionella pneumophilaserogroups 3 and 1 predominating. No clinical cases of Legionnaires disease were observed during the study. However, 11% of the therapists and 5% of the patients either had a high titre of antibody (≥256) to at least one species or serogroup or seroconverted during the study. Mean antibody titres in the three study groups were significantly higher than those in the blood donors against 11 of the 32 legionella antigens tested. Nine of these 11 antigens corresponded to species or serogroups isolated from the spring water. The highest mean antibody titres in all three study groups were againstL. pneumophilaserogroup 3, the most common legionella in the spring water.These findings have important implications for the maintenance of adequate standards of hygiene, bacteriological sampling and clinical surveillance in this and similar establishments.
Campylobacter jejuniisolations from Mexican and Swedish patients, with repeated symptomatic and/or asymptomatic diarrhoea episodes
Authors: Sjögren E. , Ruiz-Palacios G. , Kaijser B. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYThe presence of differentCampylobacter jejuniserotypes in Swedish patients with diarrhoea and in Mexican patients with or without diarrhoea was investigated with special reference to repeated isolations during the course of infection and to symptomatic and asymptomatic episodes. The study included 136C. jejuniisolates from 62 Mexican children and 173 isolates from 68 Swedish patients. The bacteria were serotyped for heat-stable (HS) and heat-labile (HL) antigen.
Campylobacter jejuniandCampylobacter colidiarrhoea in rural and urban populations in Yugoslavia
Authors: Popović-Uroić T. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYDuring a 4-month period during the summer of 1985, campylobacters were isolated from 338 (16·3%) of 2080 patients with acute diarrhoea attending the University Hospital of Infectious Diseases in Zagreb. Of these isolates 220 (64·1%) were Campylobacter jejuni and 118 (34·9%) wereC. coli. The patients were drawn from three residential zones in and around Zagreb: inner city, peripheral city and rural. Incidences of campylobacter diarrhoea ranged from 71 per 100 000 per year in inner city residents to 99 per 100 000 per year in the rural residents. Most infections were in young children; the incidence in infants ranged from 800 to 2500 per 100 000 per year in the inner city and rural zones respectively. The isolation rate from faecal specimens of infants from the rural zone was 61%. The ratio of isolation rates in males and females (all ages) was 1·1:1, but in infants it was 0·7:1 and in patients over the age of 65 years it was 0·4:1. The incidence ofC. coliin the rural zone was four times that in the inner city and twice that in the peripheral zone.This survey shows that campylobacter infection in Zagreb has distinctive epidemiological features. The transmission of infection appears to be midway between that found in industrialized and developing countries, and there is an unexplained excess ofC. coliinfection.
Longitudinal study of rotavirus infections among children from Belém, Brazil
Authors: Linhares A. C. , Gabbay Y. B. , Freitas R. B. , Travassos da Rosa E. S. , Mascarenhas J. D. P. , Loureiro E. C. B. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYFrom December 1982 to March 1986 a group of 80 children between 0 and 3 years old who lived in the peripheral area of Belém, Brazil, were followed up for episodes of diarrhoea. A total of 441 diarrhoeal episodes were recorded and 36 (8·2%) were associated with rotavirus. This agent was the only pathogen in 50% of rotavirus-related episodes of acute diarrhoea, and strains were characterized by analysis of RNA in polyacrylamide gels. Forty-one belonged to subgroup II (long pattern) and five to subgroup I. Reinfections by rotavirus were noted in 12 children involving either the same or different subgroups. Ten distinct electrophoretypes were detected in the study period and the predominant one had the ‘1N2L’ profile. The cumulative age-specific attack rate for diarrhoea reached 2–8 by the end of the first year of life; a frequency of 2–3 episodes of diarrhoea per child per year was observed throughout the complete investigation. In comparing the age-specific attack rates for diarrhoea between breast-fed and bottle-fed children, a peak at 6 months of age was noted in the former, and at 1 month in the latter. A comparison by Fischer's exact test (P = 0·21) provided no evidence for protection against clinical rotavirus disease by maternal milk. By the same test, however (P = 0·021), we found significant evidence that early rotavirus infections were more likely to be asymptomatic and that infections after 4 months were more likely to be symptomatic. The clinical picture in children with rotavirus-related diarrhoea was more severe than in those suffering from acute diarrhoea due to another agent.