bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The treatment of soil infested with the human whipworm, Trichuris trichiura
Authors: Burden D. J. , Whitehead A. , Green E. A. , McFadzean J. A. , Beer H. J. S. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYThe soil fumigants methyl bromide, chioropicrin and Basamid or mixtures of Basamid and chloropicrin proved to be of no use in killing T. trichiura ova in soil. However, on untreated plots the eggs died at a rate such that only 20 % of the ova remained viable after 18 months.
KlebsiellaandEnterobacterorganisms isolated from horses
Authors: Platt H. , Atherton J. G. , Øskov Ida 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYAn account is given ofK. pneumoniaecapsule types occurring in horses, with particular reference to strains originating from the genital tract in the mare and the external genitalia of the stallion.A survey of the prevalence ofK. pneumoniaeandE. aerogenesstrains in the preputial flora of healthy stallions is described. The majority of horses were found to be carriers of these organisms. The cultural characteristics of these preputial strains are described and compared with those ofK. pneumoniaestrains associated with epidemic metritis in mares. The epidemiological significance of certainK. pneumoniaecapsule types is discussed.
The effect of cigarette smoking on susceptibility to epidemic influenza and on serological responses to live attenuated and killed subunit influenza vaccines
Authors: MacKenzie J. S. , MacKenzie I. H. , Holt P. G. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYThe effects of cigarette smoking on the incidence of epidemic influenza and on the serological response to influenza vaccination with killed subunit and live attenuated vaccines have been investigated during comparative vaccine trials in Western Australia. It was found that cigarette smokers with no pre-epidemic haemagglutination-inhibiting (HI) antibody (titres of ≤ 12) were significantly more susceptible to epidemic influenza than non-smokers. Smokers were no more susceptible however, if they had possessed detectable pre-epidemic HI antibody. A significantly higher proportion of smokers sero-converted after receiving the live virus vaccine than their non-smoking counterparts, but this could not be correlated with pre-vaccination HI antibody titres. The longevity of the immune response to the subunit vaccine was severely depressed 50 weeks post-vaccination in smokers who had possessed little or no immunity before vaccination (titres of ≤ 12). This antibody deficit was not observed in live virus vaccinees or subunit vaccinees with pre-vaccination HI antibody (titres of ≥ 24). Post-vaccinal symptoms were similar regardless of vaccine group or smoking history.
Ecological effects of a deodorant and a plain soap upon human skin bacteria
Authors: Bibel David J. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYThe effects of a commercial trichlorocarbanilide-containing deodorant soap and a commercial plain soap upon the cutaneous flora of individuals were compared. Using a cross-over design, 21 volunteers (10 women and 11 men) washed their forearms at least once a day with one soap for 3 weeks and then switched soaps for another 4 weeks use. By analysis of variance no significant difference in total colony counts was noted among individuals in their use of the two soaps. With the exception of individual variation, neither sequence of use, sex, nor any combination was influential. However, in 20 of 21 subjects an alteration in the composition of skin flora was observed. The deodorant soap, which in six cases increased total flora, tended to reduce or eliminate diphtheroids in 12 of 17 carriers (71%). Fewer kinds of bacteria were also noted. MoreStaphylococcus epidermidiswas seen with the plain soap, but washing with the deodorant soap seemed to favourAcinetobacter calcoaceticusandMicrococcus luteus.The impact of this alteration and the use of total counts to measure effectiveness of deodorant soaps were brought into question.
Thermal comfort of patients in hospital ward areas
Authors: Smith R. M. , Rae A. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYThe patient is identified as being of prime importance for comfort standards in hospital ward areas, other ward users being expected to adjust their dress to suit the conditions necessary for patient comfort. A study to identify the optimum steady state conditions for patient comfort is then described.Although this study raises some doubts as to the applicability of the standard thermal comfort assessment techniques to ward areas, it is felt that its results give a good indication of the steady-state conditions preferred by the patients. These were an air temperature of between 21.5° and 22° C and a relative humidity of between 30% and 70%, where the air velocity was less than 0.1 m/s and the mean radiant temperature was close to air temperature.
Path analysis: application in an epidemiological study of echinococcosis in New Zealand
Authors: Burridge M. J. , Schwabe C. W. , Pullum T. W. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYThe method of path analysis is described in detail. Application of this analytical technique in the interpretation of causal relationships in complex biological systems is demonstrated using data from an epidemiological study of echinococcosis in New Zealand. The results identified the major causal pathways determining Echinococcus granulosus prevalence in dogs, based on multiple regression analysis of a linear causal model constructed from prior biological and epidemiological knowledge. Only ethnic and sheep husbandry variables had important direct effects on prevalence in the North Island of New Zealand, with some climatic factors (maximum temperature and relative humidity) and soil porosity acting indirectly through animal husbandry practices. It is suggested that path analysis, by permitting interaction between epidemiological theory and statistical analysis, provides a valuable additional tool to epidemiologists for the study of causal relationships among variables in multivariate systems.
Survival of aerosolized bacteriophage φX174 in air containing ozone–olefin mixtures
Authors: de Mik G. , de Groot Ida , Gerbrandy J. L. F. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYThe effects of ozone and ozonized olefins on aerosol survival of bacteriophage øX174 were studied. The ozone concentrations used were between 0 and 110 parts/109, giving decay rates up to 0·03 min−1. The olefins used were trans-2-butene and cyclohexene in concentrations of 500 parts/109and 2·4 parts/106, respectively. Olefins alone have no effect, whereas in combination with ozone, decay rates of 0·1 min−1and higher were obtained. The results are discussed in relation to the viricidal effect of open air.
Influenza A neuraminidase antibodies in children and young adults studied by serum absorption
Authors: Callow Kathleen A. , Beare A. S. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYA study is described of influenza A anti-neuraminidase antibodies in the sera of young people of three different age groups. Each serum was individually absorbed with viruses containing the N2 neuraminidases of 1957, 1968 and 1972. Rabbit antisera prepared against the viruses were similarly absorbed. Results obtained with the animal sera suggested that these neuraminidases were antigenically distinct, but the human sera had a broader range of anti-neuraminidase activity and gave indication of asymmetric antigenic relationships. Earlier workers who surveyed anti-haemagglutinin antibodies reported that the virus of primary infection absorbed all antibodies, and the virus of secondary infection only those directed against itself. We too found that the virus of secondary infection absorbed only homologous anti-neuraminidase antibody. However, although the primary infecting virus did absorb some secondary antibody, this absorption was incomplete and it lessened with the lengthening of the time interval between the primary and secondary infecting viruses. A similar pattern was seen with anti-haemagglutinin antibodies.Absorption of anti-neuraminidase antibodies from human sera proved much more difficult than absorption of anti-haemagglutinin antibodies particularly after repeated influenza virus infections. The relative rarity of antigenic shift in the neuraminidase subunit also creates problems in the interpretation of results of serum neuraminidase antibody surveys.
Complement fixation and neutralization RS antibodies in maternal and neonatal sera
Authors: Heijtink R. A. , Backx G. , Van Der Horst J. M. , Masurel N. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYRSV complement fixation antibodies were established in 200 paired maternal and cord blood sera. Geometric mean titres in cord sera were significantly higher than in maternal sera. The differences did not depend on the virus strain used. Half of the paired sera (taken at random) were also submitted to microneutralization tests. No differences were found between geometric mean titres in maternal and cord sera.
Growth ofLigia exotica(Isopoda: Oniscidea: Ligiidae) in two estuarine regions of Patos Lagoon, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Authors: Lopes-Leitzke Elis R. , Dumont Luiz F.C. , D'Incao Fernando 
Published: May 2009

The aim of this study was to estimate growth parameters of two populations ofLigia exoticainhabiting discrete estuarine areas of Patos Lagoon, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Sampling was performed fortnightly at two different estuarine zones, named Leonideo Island and West Breakwater, to detect different growth patterns for this species by using the von Bertalanffy growth model (VBGM). The VBGM estimated were as follows: TLmm = 34.57 (1−e−0.012(t−2.93)) (males in Leonideo Island), TLmm = 35.61(1−e−0.009(t−5.87)) (males in West Breakwater), TLmm = 30.11(1−e−0.009(t−5.84)) (females in Leonideo Island) and TLmm = 29.65(1−e−0.01(t−4.87)). Significant sexual dimorphism was observed, since males reach larger TL (mm) by higherkvalue (day) and consequently a faster growth pattern. Different growth patterns of males were also detected comparing both populations, in such a way that the West Breakwater individuals are larger than those from the Leonideo Island. One possible explanation is the higher food availability observed in the former site, as well as favourable environmental parameters, providing better conditions for individual growth. Briefly, two different populations ofL. exoticawere detected in the studied area, presenting discrete growth parameters highly influenced by environmental factors.
Aerobic and anaerobic enzymatic activity and allometric scaling of the deep benthic polychaeteHyalinoecia artifex(Polychaeta: Onuphidae)
Authors: Jessen Gerdhard L. , Quiñones Renato A. , González Rodrigo R. 
Published: May 2009

The enzymatic activity of aerobic and anaerobic metabolic pathways inHyalinoecia artifex, a polychaete inhabiting the deep ocean, is reported. In addition, the allometry of its anaerobic and aerobic enzymatic activity is analysed. The aerobic metabolism was measured using the electron transport system activity technique (ETS), whereas the anaerobic metabolism was estimated using the activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), octopine dehydrogenase (OPDH), alanopine dehydrogenase (ALPDH), strombine dehydrogenase (STRDH), and ethanol dehydrogenase (EtOHDH). The ETS activity was about 296.18 (µLO2h−1g−1), which is within the range described for polychaetes and other benthic metazoans. The anaerobic enzymatic activity expressed as µmol NADH min−1 g−1was: LDH = 0.35, OPDH = 0.11, ALPDH = 12.66, STRDH = 10.78 and SDH = 0.48. The slope of the allometric relationship between specific aerobic metabolism and body size was −0.35. In the case of the allometric scaling of the anaerobic metabolism, only LDH presented a significant relationship, with a slope ofb = 0.44. This positive scaling is consistent with the pattern emerging from the scarce literature on the allometry of anaerobic metabolism in marine biota.
Vero cytotoxin-producingEscherichia coli, particularly serogroup O157, associated with human infections in England and Wales: 1992–4
Authors: Thomas A. , Cheasty T. , Frost J. A. , Chart H. , Smith H. R. , Rowe B. 
Published: May 2009

SummaryInvestigations were performed by the Laboratory of Enteric Pathogens on Vero cytotoxin-producingEscherichia coli(VTEC) in England and Wales from 1992–4. Bacterial isolates, faeces and sera obtained from patients with diarrhoea, bloody diarrhoea and haemolytic uraemic syndrome were examined. Using serotyping, Vero cytotoxin gene probing and serodiagnostic tests forE. coliO157, evidence of infection was detected in 543, 434 and 491 individuals in 1992, 1993 and 1994 respectively; VTEC of serogroup O157 were isolated from 470, 385 and 411 cases. The O157 VTEC strains belonged to at least 19 different phage types (PT) although 84% belonged to PT2, PT49, PT8, PT1 or PT4. Antibodies toE. coliO157 lipopolysaccharide were detected in 13% of the cases. The average annual rate of infection with O157 VTEC was 0·83/100000 and 12% of the 1458 individuals with evidence of infection with VTEC orE. coliO157 developed haemolytic uraemic syndrome. There were at least 18 general outbreaks and many family outbreaks.
Recurrent outbreaks ofSalmonellaEnteritidis infections in a Texas restaurant: phage type 4 arrives in the United States
Authors: Boyce T. G. , Koo D. , Swerdlow D. L. , Gomez T. M. , Serrano B. , Nickey L. N. , Hickman-Brenner F. W. , Malcolm G. B. , Griffin P. M. 
Published: May 2009

SummaryIn recent years infection caused bySalmonellaserotype Enteritidis (SE) phage type 4 has spread through Europe but has been uncommon in the USA. The first recognized outbreak of this strain in the USA occurred in a Chinese restaurant in El Paso, Texas, in April 1993; no source was identified. In September 1993, a second outbreak caused by SE phage type 4 was associated with the same restaurant. To determine the cause of the second outbreak, we compared food exposures of the 19 patients with that of two control groups. Egg rolls were the only item significantly associated with illness in both analyses (first control group: oddsratio [OR] 8·2, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2·3–31·6; second control group: OR 13·1, 95% CI 2·1–97·0). Retrospective analysis of the April outbreak also implicated egg rolls (OR 32·4, 95% CI 9·1–126·6). Egg roll batter was made from pooled shell eggs and was left at room temperature throughout the day. These two outbreaks of SE phage type 4 likely could have been prevented by using pasteurized eggs and safe food preparation practices.
Outbreak of vertigo in Wyoming: possible role of an enterovirus infection
Authors: Simonsen L. , Khan A. S. , Gary H. E. , Hanson C. , Pallansch M.A. , Music S. , Holman R. C. , Stewart J. A. , Erdman D.D. , Arden N. H. , Arenberg I. K. , Schonberger L. B. 
Published: May 2009

SummaryAn epidemiologic investigation was conducted to characterize and evaluate the possibility of a viral aetiology of an outbreak of acute vertigo in Hot Springs Country, Wyoming, during autumn 1992. Case-finding identified Hot Springs County residents who sought medical attention for new onset vertigo during 1 August, 1992–31 January 1993. Thirty-five case-patients and 61 matched controls were interviewed and serum specimens were obtained during January 1993. Case-patients were more likely than controls to report symptoms (e.g. fatigue, sore throat, fever, diarrhoea) of antecedent acute illness. Case-patients did not have a significantly greater prevalence or mean titre of IgG antibodies to respiratory syncytial virus, parainfluenza viruses, Epstein–Barr virus, and cytomegalovirus than controls. Serologic evidence of recent enterovirus infection (IgM antibodies) was found for 74% of case-patients compared with 54% of controls (P< 0·05), suggesting a possible association between vertigo and enterovirus infection. Future studies are needed to define the role of enteroviruses in inner-ear diseases.
Past exposure and the dynamics of lymphatic filariasis infection in young children
Authors: Srividya A. , Das P. K. , Subramanian S. , Ramaiah K. D. , Grenfell B. T. , Michael E. , Bundy D. A. P. 
Published: May 2009

SummaryThis study utilizes parallel, longitudinal entomological and parasitological data collected during a 5-year vector control programme in Pondicherry, South India, to quantifyWuchereria bancroftitransmission from the vector to the human population. A simple mathematical model, derived from the standard catalytic model, is used to examine the hypothesis that current infection prevalence in young children is a dynamical function of their cumulative past exposure to infective bites. Maximum likelihood fits of the model to the observed data indicate a constant child infection rate with age, above a threshold representing the pre-patent period, or equivalently, the cumulative biting intensity required to produce patent infections. Extrapolation of the model allows the crude estimation of the equilibrium microfilaria age-prevalence curve due to control. The results suggest that vector control alone may have little impact on the overall age-prevalence of infection even when sustained for long periods. These observations are discussed in terms of the likely impact of density dependent mechanisms, such as acquired immunity, on model predictions.
Role of enteric pathogens in the aetiology of neonatal diarrhoea in lambs and goat kids in Spain
Authors: Muñoz M. , Álvarez M. , Lanza I. , Cármenes P. 
Published: May 2009

SummaryFaeces samples from diarrhoeic and non-diarrhoeic lambs and goat kids aged 1–45 days were examined for enteric pathogens.Cryptosporidium parvumwas detected in both diarrhoeic lambs (45%) and goat kids (42%) but not in non-diarrhoeic animals. F5+(K99+) and/or F41+Escherichia colistrains were isolated from 26% and 22% of the diarrhoeic lambs and goat kids, respectively, although these strains, which did not produce enterotoxins ST I or LT I, were found with similar frequencies in non-diarrhoeic animals. A F5−F41−ST I+E. colistrain was isolated from a diarrhoeic lamb (0·6%). VerotoxigenicE. coliwas isolated from both diarrhoeic and non-diarrhoeic lambs (4·1% and 8·2%, respectively) and there was no association between infection and diarrhoea. The prevalence of group A rotavirus infection in diarrhoeic lambs was very low (2·1%). Groups A and B rotaviruses were detected in three (8·1%) and five (13·5%) diarrhoeic goat kids from two single outbreaks. Group C rotaviruses were detected in four non-diarrhoeic goat kids. An association of diarrhoea and infection was demonstrated only for group B rotavirus.Clostridium perfringenswas isolated from 10·8% of the diarrhoeic goat kids but not from non-diarrhoeic goat kids or lambs.Salmonella arizonaewas isolated from a diarrhoeic goat kid (2·7%) and the clinical characteristics of the outbreaks where these two latter enteropathogens were found different from the rest. Picobirnaviruses were detected in a diarrhoeic lamb. No coronaviruses were detected using a bovine coronavirus ELISA. No evidence was found of synergistic effect between the agents studied. Enteric pathogens were not found in four (8·7%) and three (20%) outbreaks of diarrhoea in lambs and goat kids, respectively.
Genomic diversity ofmecregulator genes in methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureusandStaphylococcus epidermidis
Authors: Kobayashi N. , Taniguchi K. , Kojima K. , Urasawa S. , Uehara N. , Omizu Y. , Kishi Y. , Yagihashi A. , Kurokawa I. , Watanabe N. 
Published: May 2009

SummaryLow-affinity penicillin-binding protein PBP-2a encoded bymecAis closely related to methicillin resistance in staphylococci, and expression of PBP-2a is controlled by regulator elements encoded bymecRlandmecIwhich are located adjacent tomecAon the chromosome. Deletion or mutation which occurred inmecregulator gene is considered to be associated with constitutive production of PBP-2a. The distribution of themecregulator genes in 176 strains ofStaphylococcus aureusand 33 strains ofS. epidermidisisolated from a single hospital was studied by polymerase chain reaction amplification. Most clinical isolates of methicillin-resistantS. aureus(MRSA) (94.3 %) andS. epidermidis(MRSE) (83.9 %) possessed bothmecIandmecR1genes (type I), whereas nomecregulator genes were detected inmecA-negative isolates. In contrast, 7 MRSA and 5 MRSE isolates were found to have incomplete regulator genes, and they were classified into three groups; strains which lacked onlymecIgene (type II), strains which lackedmecIand 3'-end ofmecR1gene (type III), and strains which lacked both regulator genes (type IV). Analysis ofmecIgene from all the strains havingmecIby restriction fragment length polymorphism afterMseI digestion indicated that three MRSA strains possessed one of the known point mutations identified previously. These findings indicated the predominance of a single type of MRSA possessing bothmecIandmecR1in the study period and also suggested a high genomic diversity inmecregulator region of staphylococci.
Serological and biochemical analysis of some recent type a foot-and-mouth disease virus isolates from the Middle East
Authors: Samuel A. R. , Knowles N. J. , Kitching R. P. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYIn 1986 and 1987 foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) serotype A was isolated from outbreaks of disease in Saudi Arabia and Iran. Selected virus isolates were antigenically distinct from the prototype A22virus strain (A22/Iraq/64), but were serologically related to each other. However, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that whilst the respective Saudi Arabian structural polypeptides were homogeneous, those from an Iran isolate were distinct. Direct sequencing of part of the P-1D (VP1) gene demonstrated considerable difference in nucleotide homology between the two groups of viruses; the Saudi Arabian viruses were closely related to each other but only distantly related to both the A22prototype virus strain and the Iranian virus isolate. The latter viruses were only slightly more closely related to each other. Thus there appeared to be at least two distinct FMDV type A variants co-circulating in the Middle East, both of which differed considerably from the classical A22subtype.
Cardiac morbidity due to Chagas' disease in a rural community in Bolivia
Authors: Weinke Th. , Ueberrieiter K. , Alexander M. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYThe prevalence of cardiac morbidity due to Change' disease was assessed in a rural community in Central Bolivia. Sixty-nine of 104 persons (66%) were seropositive to Trypanosoma cruzi by two serological methods. Two of 35 (6%) seronegative individuals presented with modest ECG alterations (left anterior hemiblock), but 21 of 69 (30%) seropositives showed modest and severe abnormalities (6 complete right bundle branch block. 2 polyfocal or frequent extrasystoles, 9 ischaemic ST alterations). A high percentage (56%) of domiciliary Triatoma infestans was infected with T. cruzi. There was a significant association between seropositivity and substandard housing. Priority preventive measures should thus include house improvement (to reduce bug infestation) and health education.