bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Laboratory diagnosis ofMycoplasma pneumoniaeinfection: 2. Comparison of methods for the direct detection of specific antigen or nucleic acid sequences in respiratory exudates
Authors: Harris R. , Marmion B. P. , Varkanis G. , Kok T. , Lunn B. , Martin J. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYThe efficiency of the direct detection ofMycoplasma pneumoniaein respiratory exudates by an antigen capture, indirect enzyme immunoassay (Ag-EIA), has been compared with its detection with a cDNA probe (‘Gen-Probe assay’) directed against the specific ribosomal RNA sequences of the organism (‘Mycoplasma pneumoniaeRapid Diagnostic System’, Gen-Probe, San Diego, California).Both assays showed excellent specificity against a range of mycoplasma species suspended in negative nasopharyngeal aspirates; onlyM. pneumoniaeandM. genitaliumreacted. In experiments with graded doses of viableM. pneumoniaecells suspended in negative nasopharyngeal aspirate, the Gen-Probe assay was more sensitive than Ag-EIA; detection limits were respectively 2 × 103 c.f.u./ml (3·2 × 105genomes) and 2·5 × 104c.f.u./ml (4 × 106genomes); detection levels 10–100 times less sensitive than culture.The two assays were also tested on nasopharyngeal aspirates or sputum specimens from 90 patients with respiratory infection; 67 of these were culture-or seronegative forM. pneumoniaeand 23 were culture-or seropositive. Ag-EIA detected 21 (91%) of the latter but the Gen-Probe assay detected only 5 (22%). Both assays were negative with the 67 culture-/sero-negatives; there were no Gen-Probe assay positive/Ag-EIA negatives.Overall, it is concluded that although Ag-EIA and the Gen-Probe assay are effective substitutes for culture as a diagnostic procedure, there is a significant problem with samples which are culture-negative and from patients who have good serological evidence of current infection. Possible reasons for the disparity between the two assays are advanced.
Pseudomonas aeruginosacross-colonization and persistence in patients with cystic fibrosis. Use of a DNA probe
Authors: Wolz Christiane , Kiosz Gerd , Ogle John W. , Vasil Michael L. , Schaad Urs , Botzenhart Konrad , Döring Gerd 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYTo investigate cross-colonization with and persistence ofPseudomonas aeruginosain cystic fibrosis (CF). 181 isolates from 76 CF patients were typed using aP. aeruginosa-specific DNA probe. Whereas sibling pairs predominantly harboured genotypically identicalP. aeruginosastrains, all of the other patients harboured different strains. Seventy-nine per cent (22/31) of the infected CF patients harboured the same strains at the beginning and the end of a summer camp. A change of strains was seen in 10% (3/31) of the patients at the end of the camp. Forty-six per cent (6/13) of the patients who were apparently initially uninfected, acquiredP. aeruginosaby the end of the period. Genotyping proved that strain change or acquisition was due to cross-colonization in four of nine cases. Very littleP. aeruginosawas isolated from the inanimate environment. Persistence ofP. aeruginosaafter a temporary loss due to antibiotic therapy was seen in 12/16 paired patient strains before and after antibiotic therapy. Thus, suppression followed a flare-up seemed to occur in these patients rather than eradication and a new infection. When 35 patients were followed over a period of 6 months, 7 (20%) changed the strain in their sputum. Only one of 43 patients harboured two differentP. aeruginosastrains simultaneously over a long period.
Recovery of campylobacter from human faeces stored at 4 °C
Authors: Ladrón de Guevara C. , Pérez-Pomata M. T. , Agulla A. , Merino F. J. , Villasante P. A. , Velasco A. C. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYSix hundred and thirteen fresh diarrhoeal faeces were inoculated on Skirrow blood agar (SK), on Preston blood free agar (PBF), and in Campy-thioglycolate broth (CT). After 24 h of storage at 4 °C, specimens were again inoculated on SK and PBF, and in Campylobacter enrichment broth (CEB). CT tubes were placed overnight at 4 °C. Plates and CEB tubes were incubated at 43 °C in microaerophilic conditions. A total of 68 specimens was positive for campylobacter on direct plating. Sixty-four of them were also recovered after subculturing from CT, and only 51 from CEB. Delayed inoculation of plates after storage of samples at 4 °C yielded 57 isolates. The storage of faeces at 4 °C for 24 h significantly reduces the number of campylobacter isolates. When samples are not plated immediately we recommend inoculating a CT tube maintained at 4 °C overnight as a holding medium.
Bacterial contamination of stored water and stored food: a potential source of diarrhoeal disease in West Africa
Authors: Mølbak Kåre , Højlyng Niels , Jepsen Søren , Gaarslev Knud 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYThe food and water hygiene in two Liberian communities was studied in a house-to-house diarrhoea survey. The level of contamination with enterobacteria of drinking water stored in the households was significantly higher than at the water sources. Food hygiene standards were low, particularly in the urban slum where storage of cooked food for long periods led to bacterial multiplication at high levels. Infant foods were particularly heavily contaminated. It is concluded that when water supply programmes are planned, the presence of other risk factors for water-related diseases should be investigated. To ensure maximum health benefits, water projects should as a rule be accompanied by other interventions.
A christening party outbreak of haemorrhagic colitis and haemolytic uraemic syndrome associated with Escherichia coli O 157. H7
Authors: Salmon R. L. , Farrell I. D. , Hutchison J. G. P. , Coleman D. J. , Gross R. J. , Fry N. K. , Rowe B. , Palmer S. R. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYA point source outbreak of haemorrhagic colitis due to Escherichia coli O 157. H7 producing verocytotoxin (VT), took place following a christening party in Birmingham in June 1987. Twenty-six people were affected, six were admitted to hospital and one developed haemolytic uraemic syndrome: there were no deaths. VT + E. coli O 157. H7 was isolated from 13 (57%) of 23 faecal specimens from affected people and from 3 (9%) of 33 specimens from asymptomatic people. Free VT was detected in the faeces of one further asymptomatic person. Illness was associated with eating turkey-roll sandwiches (P < 0·001) suggesting that cold meats might be an important source of infection.
EnterotoxigenicEscherichia coliin the domestic environment of a Malaysian village
Authors: Vadivelu J. , Feachem R. G. , Drasar B. S. , Harrison T. J. , Parasakthi N. , Thambypillai V. , Puthucheary S. D. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYThe membrane-filter assay, GM1-ELISA, and DNA-DNA hybridization assay, were used to detect enterotoxigenicEscherichia coli(ETEC) in samples of water, weaning food, food preparation surface swabs, fingerprints of mothers, and the fingerprints and stools of children under 5 years of age, in 20 households in a Malaysian village. Weaning food and environmental samples were frequently contaminated by faecal coliforms, including ETEC. The membrane-filter assay detected and enumerated faecal coliforms and LT-ETEC in all types of water and weaning food samples. Highest concentrations of faecal coliforms and LT-ETEC were found in weaning food, followed by well-water, stored water and stored drinking water. The GM1-ELISA detected LT-ETEC in weaning food, food preparation surfaces, fingerprints and stool samples. The DNA-DNA hybridization assay detected a larger proportion of STa2-ETEC than the other toxotypes, either singly or in combination. All the assays in combination detected the presence of ETEC in all types of samples on at least one occasion in each household. It was not possible to classify households as consistently more or less contaminated with ETEC. On individual occasions it was possible to show a significant association of the presence of LT-ETEC between the fingerprints of children and their stools, fingerprints of mothers and children, and weaning food and the stools of the child consuming the food.
Multiresistant serotype O 12Pseudomonas aeruginosa: evidence for a common strain in Europe
Authors: Pitt T.L. , Livermore D.M. , Pitcher D. , Vatopoulos A.C. , Legakis N.J. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYA survey was made of serotype association and multiple antibiotic resistance in strains ofPseudomonas aeruginosain Europe. Of 208 epidemiologically distinct strains from 16 laboratories in 10 countries, 48 were resistant to carbenicillin (MIC > 128 μg/ml) and gentamicin (MIC > 4 μ g/ml), and 12 of these strains were of serotvpe O 12. Representative O 12 strains from different countries were compared with two multiresistant O 12 strains isolated 5 years apart, from a British burns unit and the antibiotic sensitive serotype reference strain. All O 12 strains were similar by phage and pyocin typing but lysogenic phage profiles indicated that two strains (the later burns isolate and the serotype strain) were distinct from the others. Electrophoretic characterization of outer membrane proteins, lipopoly- saccharides and esterase enzymes corroborated the relationship of the strains and restriction fragment length polymorphism of DNA fragments hybridized with a cDNA probe copy of rRNA fromP. aeruginosaprovided further proof of their relatedness. We propose that the uniformity of characters of multiresistant O 12P. aeruginosain Europe is suggestive of a common origin for the strains.
Influenza mortality and excess deaths in the elderly, 1967–82
Authors: Sprenger M. J. W. , Van Naelten M. A. M. G. , Mulder P. G. H. , Masurel N 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYThis study assessed the influence of influenza on mortality from heart and lung diseases in people over 70 years of age. The data used were obtained from the Dutch Bureau of Statistics. With a regression model, the observed monthly mortality from heart and lung diseases (influenza not included) in people over 70 years is explained with a yearly variable, a monthly variable and the overall monthly number of influenza mortality cases, assuming that monthly mortality has a Poisson distribution. The monthly excess mortality from heart and lung diseases (influenza not included) due to influenza among elderly people (> 70 years) is estimated.
An outbreak of waterborne cryptosporidiosis caused by post-treatment contamination
Authors: Smith H. V. , Patterson W. J. , Hardie R. , Greene L. A. , Benton C. , Tulloch W. , Gilmour R. A. , Girdwood R. W. A. , Sharp J. C. M. , Forbes G. I. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYAn outbreak of waterborne cryptosporidiosis affecting 27 persons, diagnosed stool positive, occurred in Ayrshire in April 1988. Twenty-one of the 27 confirmed cases required some form of fluid replacement therapy. Local general practitioners indicated a two- to fivefold increase in diarrhoeal disease during the outbreak, and following enquiries made by Environmental Health Officers it became apparent that many hundreds of people had suffered a diarrhoeal illness at that time.Cryptosporidiumspp. oocysts were detected in the treated chlorinated water supply system, in the absence of faecal bacterial indicators. Oocyst contamination of a break-pressure tank containing final water for distribution was the cause of this waterborne outbreak. An irregular seepage of oocyst-containing water, which increased during heavy rains, was the cause of the break-pressure tank contamination, rather than a failure of the water-treatment processes. The waterborne route should be considered when clusters of cryptosporidiosis associated with potable water occur. Waterborne cryptosporidiosis can occur in the absence of other faecal indicators of contamination.
HBV-DNA, HBeAg/anti-HBe serological status in hepatitis B chronic individuals from central Italy
Authors: Rapicetta M. , Di Nardo V. , Rozera C. , Marinucci G. , Francisci D. , Sarrecchia B. , Ricci C. , Albertoni F. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYA population of 488 HBsAg carrier individuals, from central Italy, classified on the basis of biochemical, clinical and histological parameters, was analysed for the presence of HBV-DNA in serum and its relationship with HBeAg/anti-HBe markers. The prevalence of HBV-DNA was 32·8% in chronic patients with biopsy-proven liver disease, and 20 and 4·3% respectively in asymptomatic carriers with and without altered ALT levels. The values in chronic patients were correlated with the histological activity.Concordance of HBV-DNA presence and HBeAg positivity was observed in only 61·4% of cases. However HBV-DNA prevalence in sera of anti-HBe positive individuals was very low in asymptomatic carriers with normal ALT levels (2·5%). Higher values were observed in anti-HBe positive chronic patients (15·8%) and in carriers occasionally found with changes in ALT without any other clinical sign of illness (16·7%). These data would indicate that HBV-DNA is the serological marker which is most closely related to liver disease.
Epidemiology of shigellosis in Teknaf, a coastal area of Bangladesh: a 10-year survey
Authors: Hossain Md. Anowar , Albert M. John , Hasan Kh. Zahid 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYThe epidemiological data on shigellosis in Teknaf, a coastal area of Bangladesh, were reviewed for a 10-year period (1975–84). Certain similarities and differences were observed in the epidemiology of the disease in Teknaf when compared with urban Dhaka and rural Matlab. Similarities included: round-the-year infection with two peaks, one in the monsoon period and the other in the winter period; high male to female attendance ratio at the treatment centre: the predominance of infection in the under-15-year age group; high mortality rate in the under-5-year age group of both sexes and in females of all age groups; the multiple drug resistance of organisms. Differences included the higher isolation rate of organisms in Teknaf (42·1 % as against 11–12% in Dhaka and Matlab) and the preponderance of Shigella dysenteriae 1 infection in females in Teknaf. The unusually high isolation rate of shigella makes Teknaf the area with the highest incidence of shigellosis in Bangladesh.
The colonization resistance of the digestive tract in different animal species and in man; a comparative study
Authors: Van Der Waaij D. , Van Der Waaij B. D. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYThe present study has attempted to determine the colonization resistance (CR) of the digestive tract by biotyping Enterobacteriaceae in four faecal samples per subject of five different animal species as well as man. The results indicate that the degree of bacterial contamination with Enterobacteriaceae from the environment may strongly influence the outcome. Both conventionally living chicken and man, showed a much wider range of the ‘confidence limits of the mean’ of the mean number of biotypes per faecal sample between individual subjects, than was found between subjects maintained under laboratory circumstances. Yet there appeared a statistically significant difference in CR between some of the animal species as a group. Man did not differ from monkeys, however, both differed from the rodents species studied. Monkeys differed also from dogs and the latter from rodents. It is concluded that the CR measured by determining the mean number of biotypes of Enterobacteriaceae can only be used for accurate comparison of the CR between subjects, if the ‘bacteriological environment’ is known; i.e. the sources of contamination.
Cell surface hydrophobicity, adherence to HeLa cell cultures and haemagglutination pattern of pyelonephritogenicEscherichia colistrains
Authors: Brauner A. , Katouli M. , Tullus K. , Jacobson S. H. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYCell surface hydrophobicity, haemagglutination pattern and adherence to HeLa cells were examined in 230 strains ofEscherichia colicollected from women (n= 61 strains) and children (n= 65 strains) with non-obstructive acute pyelonephritis and in 104 faecal control strains ofE. colifrom healthy adults (n= 71 strains) and children (n= 33 strains). PyelonephritogenicE. colistrains showed a significantly increased incidence of hydrophobic properties (90%) and mannose resistant haemagglutination (MRHA) of human erythrocytes (83%) than faecal control strains (64 and 23% respectively,P< 0·001 in both cases). Mannose sensitive haemagglutination (MSHA) was observed in 48% of the pyelonephritogenicE. colistrains and in 50% of the faecal control strains (NS). The incidence of adherence to HeLa cells was low both in pyelonephritogenic and faecal control strains, 6 and 7% respectively (NS). The bacterial phenotypes MRHA + MSHA + and MRHA + MSHA− appeared significantly more often in pyelonephritogenicE. colistrains (35 and 48% respectively) than in faecal control strains (5 and 17% respectively,P< 0·001 in both cases). The phenotype MRHA − MSHA + occurred significantly more often in control strains (45%) than in pyelonephritogenic strains (13%,P< 0·001). Eighty-three per cent of the pyelonephritogenicE. colistrains expressing hydrophobic properties showed MRHA and 50% of the hydrophobic strains showed MSHA. There were no significant correlations between cell surface hydrophobic properties and haemagglutination pattern or adherence to HeLa cells in pyelonephritogenicE. colistrains nor in faecal control strains.
The epidemiology of salmonella infection of calves: the role of dealers
Authors: Wray C. , Todd N. , McLaren I. , Beedell Y. , Rowe B. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYSalmonellas were detected in the environment of 10 of the 12 calf dealers' premises studied. The cleaning and disinfection routines were often ineffective and salmonellas were isolated from 7·6 % and 5·3 % of the wall and floor samples before disinfection and 6·8% and 7·6% afterwards. Eight different salmonella serotypes were detected, of which the commonest wereSalmonella typhimurium, predominantly phage type DT204C, andS. dublin. Plasmid profiles were used to fingerprintS. typhimuriumDT204C and the results indicated that with the exception of one of the premises, prolonged salmonella-persistence in the environment was not occurring.Three separate epidemics of salmonellosis in calves were studied by use of plasmid profile analysis. The results illustrated the role of dealers, and their subcontractors, in the dissemination of salmonellas. The study concludes with suggestions for methods to reduce the spread of salmonellas in the calf marketing chain.
Phage type and DNA plasmid profile ofSalmonella typhimuriumisolates in the area of Isernia, Italy
Authors: Fantasia M. , Ricci N. , Manuppella A. , Martini A. , Filetici E. , Laurelli T. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYThirty-eightSalmonella typhimuriumstrains isolated from December 1987 to March 1988 in Isernia, Central Italy, were characterized on the basis of their phage type, resistance to antimicrobials and plasmid profiles. According to their phage types, the isolates could be assigned to one of six groups, the prevalent one being PT 195 which accounted for 73·6% of isolates.On the basis of their plasmid content, the isolates could be assigned to one of ten groups. The prevalent plasmid profile (60·0; 6·0; 4·3; 4·0; 3·2 megadaltons) was found in 60·4% of isolates.All the isolates from a particular food (salsicce), and as most of isolates from humans who had consumed this food belonged to phage type 195 and were of the same plasmid profile.The combined use of phage typing and DNA plasmid analysis proved to be a useful tool in identifying epidemiologically related isolates in this investigation.
Serological study of the prevalence of toxoplasmosis in asymptomatic patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus
Authors: Holliman R. E. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYAsymptomatic individuals seropositive for antibody to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) were investigated for the presence of toxoplasma specific antibody. Serological examination was performed using multiple assays. Of 500 patients studied 133 had serological evidence of previous exposure to Toxoplasma gondii. Specific IgM was detected in 7 patients using ISAGA and 2 patients by DS-ELISA. The immunoglobulin-G annual seroconversion rate was calculated to be 0·75 %. The results of this study indicate 27 % of HIV positive patients in the UK are at risk of developing life-threatening secondary reactivation of cerebral toxoplasmosis in association with AIDS. A further 0·5–1 % per year may suffer primary toxoplasmosis.
Human antibody response to fragments A and B of diphtheria toxin and a synthetic peptide of amino acid residues 141–157 of fragment A
Authors: Perera V. Y. , Corbel M. J. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYExamination of a selection of serum samples from adults from two regions of England showed that 50 % of men in the 16–24 years and over 55 years age groups had high titres of antibody to diphtheria toxin (DT). In contrast, only 11% of women aged 16 to over 55 years had high titres of antibody to DT. All human antisera with high anti-DT titres reacted with a synthetic peptide (SP) corresponding to the amino acids 141–157 of DT fragment A, with sera from men aged 35 to over 55 years showing the highest titres. High antibody titres to fragment A paralleled those to SP in both sexes. Titres of antibody to DT fragment B were highest in individuals with high titres to DT. In sera from both sexes immunoglobulin G1was the predominant subclass reactive with all three antigens. However, both IgG1and IgG4and to a lesser extent IgG2and IgG3were present in immunoglobulin concentrates.
Extended phage-typing scheme forEscherichia coli0157:H7
Authors: Khakhria R. , Duck D. , Lior H. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYIn Canada, the number of human isolates of verotoxigenic (VT +ve)Escherichia coli0157:H7 from diarrhoeal cases and haemolytic uraemic syndrome and haemorrhagic colitis has increased from 25 in 1982 to 2384 in 1989. A total of 3273 VT + veE. coli0157:H7 strains (3255 strains isolated in Canada and 18 isolates from other countries) were phage typed. The phage typing scheme has been extended from 14 to 62 phage types. Of these, five types occurred exclusively in other countries (type 47 in Japan; and types 49, 50, 51 and 52 in the U.K.). Thirty-five different phage types were identified in Canada; only nine of these (1, 2, 4, 8, 14, 21, 23, 31 and 32), each accounted for more than 1 % of the cases from human sources. The same nine types were the only ones observed among the isolates from non-human sources (meat and slaughter houses) suggesting a food-borne transmission in most of the human cases. Phage types 1 (30·5%); 4 (21%); 8 (13·5%); 31 (8·9%) and 14 (8%) were encountered in varying frequencies in most of the provinces; infrequently occurring phage types also showed regional variation. Thirteen different phage types were identified among 151 outbreaks representing 556 isolates ofE. coli0157:H7. More than one phage type were encountered in 12 outbreaks whereas in 141 outbreaks, all strains in each, had the same phage type.