bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Elimination of mycoplasmas from the murine genital tract by hormone treatment
Authors: Taylor-Robinson D. , Furr P. M. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYTwenty progesterone-treated TO mice were infected intravaginally with Mycoplasma pulmonis. One month later, ten of the mice were given oestradiol which changed the reproductive cycle to the oestrous phase and within a week resulted in eradication of the organisms from six of them; vaginal persistence in the other mice may have been due, at least in part, to reinoculation of organisms from the oropharynx, a site heavily infected in all the mice. The majority of the mice not treated with oestradiol continued to shed the organisms from the vagina for at least 91 days. In another experiment, 19 oestradiol-treated BALB/c mice were infected intravaginally with M. hominis. One month later, nine of the mice were given progesterone which changed the reproductive cycle to the dioestrous phase and eradicated the organisms from seven within 2 weeks and from all of them within about a month. This was in contrast to the mice not given progesterone, the majority of which continued to shed the organisms for at least 167 days.
Legionella pneumophilaserogroup 1 population in Italy by monoclonal subtyping
Authors: Pastoris M. Castellani , McIntyre M. , Goldoni P. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYThe Oxford panel of monoclonal antibodies was used to subtype 83 strains ofLegionella pneumophilaserogroup 1 of human and environmental origin. The International panel was also used to subtype 50 of them. All the 18 patients' isolates were of the Pontiac subgroup, and 40/43 of the environmental strains of the Pontiac subgroup were associated with human infection. The remaining environmental strains were subgroups Olda (15 strains), Camperdown (5 strains), and Bellingham (2 strains). The Philadelphia subgroup was the commonest among the environmental strains tested with the international MABs panel.This study confirms previous findings thatL. pneumophilaserogroup 1 isolates with the Pontiac (Oxford panel) or MAB-2 (international panel) reacting antigen marker seem to be more virulent than the other subgroups.
The incidence of virulence factors in mesophilicAeromonasspecies isolated from farm animals and their environment
Authors: Gray S. J. , Stickler D. J. , Bryant T. N. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYSixty-one isolates ofAeromonasspp. from the faeces of pigs, cows and a variety of associated environmental sources were examined for the characteristics that are reputed to have roles in pathogenicity. Most isolates ofAeromonas hydrophilawere cytotoxic (96·4%) and were capable of producing cell elongation factor (75%) and haemagglutinins (67·9%). In contrast few of theAeromonas caviaeisolates produced these three markers (13·6 %, 27·3% and 36·4% respectively). In general,Aeromonas sobriaoccupied an intermediate position (36·4%, 27·3% and 54·5%), but they did produce the highest mean invasion index for HEp-2 cells. Statistical analysis revealed significant associations between the carriage of these factors and it was clear that many isolates of aeromonads from water and animals possessed the full battery of putative virulence factors.
Salmonella colonization in commercial pet turtles (Pseudemys scripta elegans)
Authors: Shane S. M. , Gilbert R. , Harrington K. S. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYAn epidemiological survey was conducted on two commercial turtle farms in southern Louisiana to determine the reason for an apparent increase in the prevalence ofSalmonellaspp. in turtle hatchlings at the time of pre-export certification examination.Pond water was consistently found to be contaminated (6/36 samples) with eitherSalmonella newport, S. arizonae, orS. poona. Environmental specimens obtained from eggs and turtle hatcheries (204 specimens) failed to yieldSalmonellaspp. A sample comprising 197 hatchlings, derived from a batch previously demonstrated to be contaminated, showed a salmonella prevalence of 12%, withS. arizonaeandS. poonathe only serotypes isolated. Four serotypes ofSalmonellasp. isolated by a certifying laboratory in 1988, and 20 salmonella isolates obtained from hatchling turtles, were all resistant to gentamicin. The emergence of gentamicin resistance inSalmonellaspp. isolated from turtles will reduce the effectiveness of preventive measures in use in Louisiana since 1984.
Selective antenatal screening for toxoplasmosis and the latex agglutination test
Authors: Holliman R. E. , Barker K. F. , Johnson J. D. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYRecent publicity concerning congenital toxoplasmosis has generated a demand for serological assessment of pregnant women. Many laboratories are requested to undertake primary screening in these cases. We assessed the latex agglutination test (LAT) findings in 158 specimens with detectable toxoplasma specific IgM derived from pregnant women. The LAT titres ranged from 16 to ≥ 4000 reflecting the variable antibody response observed in acute toxoplasmosis. We recommend that non-reference laboratories test specimens from pregnant women using the LAT at a screening dilution of 1:16 and select all reactive samples for detailed investigation.
Isolations of African horse sickness virus from vector insects made during the 1988 epizootic in Spain
Authors: Mellor P. S. , Boned J. , Hamblin C. , Graham S. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYThis paper describes the first isolations of African horse sickness virus (AHSV) from insects in Spain. Seven isolations of AHSV serotype 4 were made; four from Culicoides imicola a known vector of the virus elsewhere, two from mixed pools of Culicoides species not including C. imicola and one from blood engorged mosquitoes. Three further isolations of AHSV serotype 4 were also made from horses kept adjacent to the insect collecting sites.This work presents the first definitive identification of the vectors of AHSV in Spain during the 1987, 88 and 89 epizootics. Suggestions are also made concerning the significance of these findings with regard to the epidemiology of African horse sickness in Spain.
Experimental studies on the comparative infectivity and pathogenicity ofStreptococcus suistype 2. II. Porcine and human isolates in laboratory animals
Authors: Robertson I. D. , Blackmore D. K. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYMice, rats, guinea-pigs and rabbits were inoculated with isolates ofStreptococcus suistype 2. An isolate cultured from the tonsils of a healthy pig, produced disease in rabbits after intravenous inoculation but not in mice, rats or guinea-pigs. An isolate ofS. suistype 2, that was pathogenic for pigs and had been cultured from a human patient with clinical disease, produced signs of neurological disease in mice, rats and rabbits following intravenous inoculation. There was an apparent dose response in mice with 31 % of mice receiving more than 106organisms developing clinical disease, whilst mice receiving less than this did not develop disease. There were no detectable histopathological lesions in the brains or meninges of mice with nervous signs. It is proposed that the disease in mice may mimic that reported in humans and that mice may be a useful indicator species for determining the virulence of isolates cultured from pigs.
Enhanced detection ofCandidain blood cultures with the BACTEC 460 system by use of the aerobic-hypertonic (8B) medium
Authors: Yagupsky P. , Nolte F. S. , Menegus M. A. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYThe blood culture records during the 6-year period 1984–9 were reviewed to compare the performance of the BACTEC aerobic (6B) and aerobic-hypertonic (8B) media for the recovery ofCandidaspp. andTorulopsis glabratafrom blood. There were 137 positive blood culture sets that contained both a 6B and an 8B bottle. Sixty-eight different yeasts were recovered from 65 patients including 35Candida albicans, 19C. tropicalis, 6C. parapsilosis, 4C. krusei, 1C. pseudotropicalisand 3Torulopsis glabrata. The 8B medium detected 120 of the positive cultures (87·6%) and was the only positive medium in 35 (25·6%) sets, while the 6B medium detected 102 positive cultures (74·4%) and was the only positive medium in 17 (12·4%) sets (P < 0·04). For those sets in which both bottles were positive, radiometric detection occurred first in the 8B bottle in 39 sets and first in the 6B bottle in 11 sets (P < 0·001). The superior performance of the 8B bottle was not related to the administration of amphotericin B. Cultures of stock strains ofC. albicans,C. tropicalis, andC. parapsilosisin 6B and 8B media with and without added blood confirmed the finding that 8B was substantially superior to 6B for the detection of candidaemia. It is concluded that an 8B bottle should be included in the blood culture set whenever candidaemia is suspected.
Scabies infestation: the effect of intervention by public health education
Authors: Reid H. F. M. , Thorne C. D. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYThe objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of scabies in an infested village; to educate the residents on self-treatment and prevention by the use of 5 % monosulfiram soap; to evaluate the short term effectiveness of this intervention by determining, 2 weeks later, the compliance to self-treatment and prevention; and to determine the prevalence rate on the second visit. In 59 households (96·7% of the village) containing 313 persons, an educational session was held and a leaflet distributed on the use and availability of the soap. Thirteen persons (4·2%) from eight households (13·6%) had scabies. After 2 weeks, 7 persons (2·2%) (2 persisting and 5 new cases) from 5 households (8·5%) were infested. Thus a cure rate of 85 % was obtained though the prevalence rate showed no statistically significant difference. Among the under 15 year olds, the numbers infected decreased from 10 to 3 while among the over 15 year olds, the numbers infected increased from 3 to 4, neither reading significance at the 5 % level.
The distribution of antibodies to HHV-6 compared with other herpesviruses in young children
Authors: Farr T. J. , Harnett G. B. , Pietroboni G. R. , Bucens M. R. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYSera from 141 infants aged 0–12 months were examined for IgG antibodies to HHV-6, HSV, CMV, VZV and EBV and for HHV-6 specific IgM. Following the decline in maternal antibody, antibody to HHV-6 was found to rise by 5–6 months and approached the level found in adults by 11–12 months. In contrast the antibody rates for the other herpesviruses were much slower to rise, especially in the case of CMV and EBV. HHV-6 IgM antibodies were detected mainly in age groups showing a rapid rise in antibody to HHV-6. HHV-6-IgM was not detected in 235 cord blood samples. The data suggest that HHV-6 infection is acquired horizontally, at a very early age in Western Australia.
Removal of pathogenic human viruses by insoluble pyridinium-type resin
Authors: Kawabata N. , Yamazaki K. , Otake T. , Oishi I. , Minekawa Y. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYCross-linked poly(N-benzyl-4-vinylpyridinium bromide) (BVP resin) was found to be very efficient in removing pathogenic human viruses from aqueous solution. In batch removal experiments using 50 g/1 of BVP resin at 35 °C. the level of infectivity in suspensions of enterovirus. herpes simplex virus, poliovirus, and human immunodeficiency virus was reduced 1000–100000 fold during a 2 h period. Those of coxsackievirus and echovirus were reduced 60–600 fold during 1 h contact. The haemagglutination titres of solutions of human rotavirus, influenza virus, human adenovirus. and Japanese encephalitis virus were reduced 16–256 fold during 30 min of contact. In removal experiments by a continuous flow column method for poliovirus. enterovirus. and coxsackievirus with initial infectivities of less than 105/ml, the infectivity of these viruses was no longer detectable in the effluent solution. For poliovirus, coxsackievirus, and echovirus with initial infectivities higher than 106, 99·8–99·9998% of the input viruses was removed as indicated by the reduction of infectivity.
Methods for enumeratingEscherichia coliin subtropical waters
Authors: Cheung W. H. S. , Ha D. K. K. , Yeung K. Y. , Hung R. P. S. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYThe standard membrane filtration method of the UK has been modified in order to improve its specificity for enumeratingEscherichia coliin the subtropical waters of Hong Kong. This involves incorporating into the membrane lauryl sulphate (mLS) method either anin situurease test (the mLS-UA method), or anin situβ-glucuronidase test (the mLS-GUD method). The false-positive errors of the mLS-UA and mLS-GUD methods are low, ranging from 3–5%. A comparison between the membrane filtration (mLS-UA) method and the multiple tube technique in testingE. coliin subtropical beach-waters has demonstrated that the former can give much more precise counts, and is the method of choice for such a purpose. The mLS-GUD method, for which automated counting ofE. colicolonies is possible, is a good alternative to mLS-UA in routine enumeration of this bacterial indicator in environmental waters.
Antibody to serotype 8 rotavirus in Ecuadorian and German children
Authors: Brüssow H. , Sidoti J. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYOnly 2 out of 71 German patients infected with rotavirus (3%) and 8 out of 147 German control patients (5%) showed serum antibody to the new serotype 8 rotavirus. Such antibody was detected in the sera of 232 of 870 Ecuadorian children (27%). Twelve Ecuadorian sera showed neutralizing activity only against serotype 8 and not to the other serotypes (1–4) tested, indicating that human serotype 8 rotavirus circulates in South America.
The occurrence ofListeriaspecies in pâté: the Cardiff experience 1989
Authors: Morris I. J. , Ribeiro C. D. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYSamples of 216 pâatés were examined for the presence ofListeriaspp. Between May and August 1989; 35% were contaminated withL. monocytogenes, 5% of samples having counts of > 104/g.L. innocuawas recovered from 2% of samples but no other species was isolated. Five serotypes ofL. monocytogeneswere represented (1/2, 4b, 4b(X), 4 not 4b or 4b(X), and NT). 4b was the predominant serotype and multiple serotypes were found in eight pâatés. The incidence of contamination withL. monocytogeneswas greater in stored pâté (46%) than display pâté (30%). Sampling over a 21-day period showed an apparent increase in numbers ofL. monocytogenesin 6 of 7 samples with multiple serotypes represented. There was no correlation between contamination of pâté byL.monocytogenesand the presence of coliforms. Comparisons are made between the contamination of soft cheese and pˇaté.
Antigens recognized by the human immune response to severe leptospirosis in Barbados
Authors: Chapman A. J. , Everard C. O. R. , Faine S. , Adler B. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYSerum samples obtained from patients hospitalized in Barbados with severe leptospirosis were tested by the microscopic agglutination test (MAT), enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and immunoblotting with leptospires that had been isolated from these patients. While serum samples taken a few days after onset of symptoms often showed no apparent correlation between MAT and EIA, later sequential serum samples produced similar profiles in both tests during the course of infection. Immunoblotting sonicate fromLeptospira interrogansserovars arborea,copenhageniandbimwith patients' sera, revealed reactions with a number of bands that corresponded with outer envelope components. These components included lipopolysaccharide (LPS), flagella and other outer membrane proteins, in addition to a low-molecular-weight (MW) carbohydrate cross-reactive with members of the Leptospiraceae. IgM antibodies elicited in the first to second week after infection reacted mainly with LPS and the low-MW cross-reactive carbohydrate. Comparative analysis of isolates of the same serovar by sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting showed that while two serovararboreaisolates were identical, serovarbimisolates differed significantly from each other. This difference was also observed in comparative MAT testing.
The serological relationship betweenYersinia enterocoliticaO9 andEscherichia coliO157 using sera from patients with yersiniosis and haemolytic uraemic syndrome
Authors: Chart H. , Cheasty T. , Cope D. , Gross R. J. , Rowe B. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYSera from patients with yersiniosis. shown to contain antibodies toYersinia enterocoliticaO9; and sera from patients with haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) caused byEscherichia coliO157, were used to investigate serological cross-reactions betweenY. enterocoliticaO9 andE. coliO157. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was isolated from strains ofY. enterocoliticaO9 andE. coliO157 and reacted with sera by immunoblotting and ELISA. Sera from patients with HUS contained antibodies to the LPS ofE. coliO157 only; 80% of sera from patients with yersiniosis contained antibodies to the LPS ofY. enterocoliticaO9 andE. coliO157. This one-way cross-reaction was also detected using hyperimmune rabbit antisera.
A dot-blot hybridization procedure for the detection of astrovirus in stool samples
Authors: Willcocks M. M. , Carter M. J. , Silcock J. G. , Madeley C. R. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYWe have developed a nucleic acid dot-blot hybridization test for the detection of astroviruses in stool samples. The test was not as sensitive as electron microscopy for the detection of low numbers of well preserved astrovirus particles, but was able to identify astroviruses in stools containing particles of indistinct morphology. In total, this procedure identified astroviruses in more samples than did electron microscopy, and the data indicate that the incidence of astroviruses may be substantially underestimated.
An outbreak of waterborne cryptosporidiosis in Swindon and Oxfordshire
Authors: Richardson A. J. , Frankenberg R. A , Buck A. C. , Selkon J. B. , Colbourne J. S. , Parsons J. W. , Mayon-White R. T. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYAn outbreak of cryptosporidiosis resulted in 516 cases in Wiltshire and Oxfordshire. The outbreak caused widespread interest and led to an official inquiry. The majority of cases were in children; 8% of cases were admitted to hospital and the median duration of illness was 3 weeks. The geographical distribution of cases matched the distribution of water supplies from three treatment works and eryptosporidium oocysts were found at these works and in the treated water. Attack rates in electoral wards supplied by the three treatment works were significantly higher than in other wards. The cause of the outbreak appeared to be the failure of normal treatment to remove oocysts. Measures at the treatment works reduced the number of oocysts detected in treated water, after which the outbreak came to an end. The conclusion of the investigations was that cryptosporidiosis is a risk of conventionally treated public water supplies.
rDNA fingerprinting as a tool in epidemiological analysis ofSalmonella typhiinfections
Authors: Nastasl A. , Mammina C. , Villafrate M. R. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYCharacterization of 169 strainsof Salmonella typhiof phage types C1, C4, D1and D9isolated in 1975–88 was carried out by rDNA gene restriction pattern analysis. Twenty-four isolates had been recovered during four large waterbone outbreaks in the last 20 years in Sicily; 145 strains, isolated from apparently sporadic cases of infection in Southern Italy in the same period of time, were also examined.Application of rRNA–DNA hybridization technique after digestion of chromosomal DNA withClaI showed the identity of patterns of the epidemic strains of phage types C1and D1, confirming attribution of the outbreaks to single bacterial clones. Patterns of the two available strains of lysotype D9were slightly different, whilst the 12 epidemic strains of phage type C4could be assigned to two distinct patterns scarcely related to each other and, consequently, to two different clones. A considerable heterogeneity was detected among all apparently sporadic isolates of the four phage types under study.This fingerprinting method appears a reliable tool to complement phage typing in characterizing isolates ofS. typhi.In particular, epidemiological features of spread of this salmonella serovar in areas, where simultaneous circulation of indigenous and imported strains occurs, can be elucidated.
Epidemiology and aetiology of acute bronchiolitis in Hong Kong infants
Authors: Sung R. Y. T. , Chan R. C. K. , Tam J. S. , Cheng A. F. B. , Murray H. G. S. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYThe epidemiological, clinical and virological features of 1220 children with acute bronchiolitis admitted to the Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong, from 1985 to 1988 are reported. They accounted for 6·6% of total paediatric admissions and provided a case incidence of bronchiolitis requiring admission to hospital of approximately 21 per 1000 children 0–24 months of age.The clinical course and outcome was in general benign. The average hospital stay was 5 days and there were no deaths. Ten per cent of patients were repeatedly admitted to hospital with recurrent wheezing after discharge. Two infants developed bronchiolitis obliterans.Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was shown by direct immunofluorescence, virus culture and serology to be the commonest cause of acute bronchiolitis in Hong Kong. Other aetiological agents included parainfluenza and influenza viruses, adenoviruses, andMycoplasma pneumoniae.In contrast to western countries, a seasonal variation of bronchiolitis was found with a peak incidence in the summer months. The significance of these observations is discussed.
A 2-year survey of the prevalence of enteric viral infections in children compared with contamination in locally-harvested oysters
Authors: Yamashita T. , Sakae K. , Ishihara Y. , Isomura S. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYWe studied, for two years, the prevalence of indigenous human enteric viruses in wild oysters gathered each month from the bottom of Mikawa Bay, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. Viruses were detected periodically in 9 out of 54 oyster pools prepared by the acid or polyethylene glycol precipitation method although all these 9 pools met current national bacteriological safety standards. Since most of the serotypes of the enteric viruses detected in the oysters were identical with those of viruses isolated from sick children living in the area, it is suggested that contamination of enteric viruses in the oysters would depend on the prevalence of enteric viral infections in the local inhabitants.
Each water outlet is a unique ecological niche forLegionella pneumophila
Authors: Marrie T. J. , Haldane D. , Bezanson G. , Peppard R. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYWe determined the natural history of the colonization of our hospital's potable water by culturing water approximately biweekly from 20 sites throughout the hospital for 4 years. Overall, 545 (24.7%) of the 2200 samples grewLegionella pneumophila. During hyperchlorination, 11·7% of the samples were positive while 41·6% were positive in the absence of chlorination. There was no seasonal trend towards positivity, but there was marked inter-site variation in the semi-quantitative culture results. However, a single strain of legionella (as defined by plasmid profiling) tended to persist at a site. Such a site was a unique ecological niche in that different sites in the same wing were populated by distinct strains.The two wings of our hospital had a significantly different distribution of strains of legionella – plasmid profile type III predominated in the Victoria Wing while types II and VI predominated in Centennial Wing. Twenty-four of our 28 cases of nosocomial Legionnaires' disease occurred in the Centennial Wing. Three of the four cases in the Victoria Wing were caused by plasmid profile type III while 18 of the 24 isolates from patients who acquired their infection in the Centennial Wing were type II. We conclude that each water outlet serves as its own ecological niche ofL. pneumophila.