bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
High prevalence of antibodies toChlamydia pneumoniae; determinants of IgG and IgA seropositivity among Jerusalem residents
Authors: Paltiel O. , Kark J. D. , Leinonen M. , Saikku P. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYThe prevalence of antibodies toChlamydia pneumoniaewas examined in a stratified random sample of 581 Jerusalem adult residents between August 1987 and March 1989. IgG and IgA titres were measured by microimmunofluorescence, and associations with smoking and socio-demographic variables were assessed. IgG antibodies were found in 84·5% (95% confidence interval (CI): 80·4–87·9) of men and 68·7% (95% CI: 61·6–75·0) of women (P < 0·0001 for sex difference), indicating a very high rate of exposure in this population. IgA antibodies, postulated to represent persistent infection, were present in 45·1% (95% CI: 40·1–50·2) of men and 23% (95% CI: 17·4–29·7) of women (P < 0.0001 for sex difference). Factors associated with IgG seropositivity included family size, education and social class. On the other hand, age (in men) and smoking were associated with IgA seropositivity. These findings support the hypothesis that low socioeconomic status and household crowding may be predictive of exposure to or infection with this organism (IgG seropositivity), whereas they do not explain persistence of the infection putatively expressed as IgA seropositivity.
Isolation of epidemic poliovirus from sewage during the 1992–3 type 3 outbreak in the Netherlands
Authors: van der Avoort H. G. A. M. , Reimerink J. H. J. , Ras A. , Mulders M. N. , van Loon A. M. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYTo examine the extent of wild poliovirus circulation during the 1992–3 epidemic in the Netherlands caused by poliovirus type 3, 269 samples from sewage pipelines at 120 locations were examined for the presence of poliovirus. The epidemic virus strain was found in 23 samples, all from locations inside the risk area which contained communities that refuse vaccination for religious reasons. By sewage investigation, the wildtype virus was shown to be present in the early phase of the epidemic at two locations, one week before patients were reported from that area. The wild type 3 poliovirus was also detected retrospectively in a river water sample collected for other reasons three weeks before notification of the first poliomyelitis case, at a site a few kilometres upstream the home village of this patient. Oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV) virus was found at 28 locations inside or at the border of the risk area. Trivalent OPV was offered to unvaccinated or incompletely-vaccinated persons living in this region as part of the measures to control the epidemic.
Epidemics of serogroup ANeisseria meningitidisof subgroup III in Africa, 1989–94
Authors: Guibourdenche M. , Høiby E. A. , Riou J.-Y. , Varaine F. , Joguet C. , Caugant D. A. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYA total of 125 strains ofNeisseria meningitidisrecovered in the course of outbreaks from patients with systemic disease in 11 African countries between 1989 and 1994 were analysed by serogrouping, serotyping and multilocus enzyme electrophoresis. Of the 125 patient strains 115 (92%) belonged to the clone-complex of serogroup A meningococci, designated subgroup III. Among the remaining strains, 4 were also serogroup A, but belonged to the clonal groups I and IV-1 (2 strains each), whilst 6 strains (4 serogroup C and 2 serogroup W135) represented clones of the ET-37 complex. Our results indicated that the second pandemic caused by clones of subgroup III is still spreading in Africa. Towards the West it has reached Niger, Mali, Guinea and The Gambia, and towards the South, the Central African Republic, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania and Zambia.
The development and use of a vaccinia-rabies recombinant oral vaccine for the control of wildlife rabies; a link between Jenner and Pasteur
Authors: Pastoret P.-P. , Brochier B. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYTo improve both safety and stability of the oral vaccines used in the field to vaccinate foxes against rabies, a recombinant vaccinia virus, which expresses the immunizing G protein of rabies virus has been developed by inserting the cDNA which codes for the immunogenic glycoprotein of rabies virus into the thymidine kinase (TK) gene of the Copenhagen strain of vaccinia virus. The efficacy of this vaccine was tested by the oral route, primarily in foxes. The immunity conferred, a minimum of 12 months in cubs and 18 months in adult animals, corresponds to the duration of the protection required for vaccination of foxes in the field. Innocuity was tested in foxes, domestic animals, and in numerous European wild animal species that could compete with the red fox for the vaccine bait. No clinical signs or lesions were observed in any of the vaccinated animals during a minimum of 28 days post vaccination. Moreover, no transmission of immunizing doses of the recombinant occurred between foxes or other species tested. To study the stability of the vaccine strain, baits containing the vaccine were placed in the field. Despite considerable variations of environmental temperatures, the vaccine remained stable for at least one month. Because bait is taken within one month, it can be assumed that most animals taking the baits are effectively vaccinated. To test the field efficacy of the recombinant vaccine, large-scale campaigns of fox vaccination were set up in a 2200 km2 region of southern Belgium, were rabies was prevalent. A dramatic decrease in the incidence of rabies was noted after the campaigns. The recombinant is presently used to control wildlife rabies in the field both in several European countries and in the United States.
Virulence and genotype stability ofSalmonella entericaserovar Berta during a natural outbreak
Authors: Olsen J. E. , Skov M. N. , Brown D. J. , Christensen J. P. , Bisgaard M. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYStrains ofSalmonella entericaserotype Berta, collected over a period of 6 years from a well documented natural outbreak in Denmark, have been characterized in order to assess the stability of chromosomal typing systems and virulence properties. Outbreak strains were identical inPvuII andPstI IS200profiles, all but two strains showed the sameSmaI ribotype, and all but one strain showed the sameNotI pulsed field gel electrophoretic pattern, indicating that these molecular markers remained almost constant during the outbreak. In general, strains ofS. Berta were found to be of moderate to low virulence; log VC10values were found to vary between 3·0 and 4·4 after i.p. challenge of mice, and maximum CFU in internal organs of day-old chicks varied between 2 and 4 log10units following oral challenge. The minor differences observed between strainsin vivodid not correlate with differences inin vitroinvasion into cultured MDCK cells, nor within vitrogrowth characteristics. A succession of different plasmid profile types was observed during the outbreak but a hierarchical selection of clones based on differences in virulence was unlikely to have caused the succession of types ofS. Berta during this outbreak.
Do intestinal parasites interfere with the seroepidemiologic surveillance ofSchistosoma mansoniinfection?
Authors: Alarcón De Noya B. , Colmenares C. , Losada S. , Fermin Z. , Masroua G. , Ruiz L. , Soto L. , Noya O. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYIn view of the known cross-reactivity of sera from patients with intestinal parasites to someSchistosoma mansoniantigens, field work was conducted in an area of Venezuela non-endemic for schistosomiasis using the routine immunoenzymatic assay (ELISA) with soluble egg antigen (SEA). False positive reactions represented 15·3% of the total population as determined by SEA–ELISA. SEA-immunoblotting of the false positive sera indicated that protein fractions of 91 and 80 kDa appear to be responsible for cross-reactivity. Sera from hookworm infected individuals produced a higher frequency and intensity of cross-reaction than other sera. SEA-fractions of 105, 54, 46, 42, 32, 25 and 15 kDa were the most specific.
Failure of vaccination to prevent outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease
Authors: Woolhouse M. E. J. , Haydon D. T. , Pearson A. , Kitching R. P. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYOutbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease persist in dairy cattle herds in Saudi Arabia despite revaccination at intervals of 4–6 months. Vaccine trials provide data on antibody responses following vaccination. Using this information we developed a mathematical model of the decay of protective antibodies with which we estimated the fraction of susceptible animals at a given time after vaccination. The model describes the data well, suggesting over 95% take with an antibody half-life of 43 days. Farm records provided data on the time course of five outbreaks. We applied a ‘SLIR’ epidemiological model to these data, fitting a single parameter representing disease transmission rate. The analysis provides estimates of the basic reproduction number,R0, which may exceed 70 in some cases. We conclude that the critical intervaccination interval which would provide herd immunity against FMDV is unrealistically short, especially for heterologous challenge. We suggest that it may not be possible to prevent foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks on these farms using currently available vaccines.
Restriction enzyme analysis of faecal adenoviruses in Newcastle upon Tyne
Authors: Willcocks M. M. , Carter M. J. , Laidler F. R. , Madeley C. R. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYAdenovirus DNA was isolated directly from virus-containing stools and digested with restriction endonucleases. The resulting fragments were separated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and visualized by silver staining. This enabled us to assign most of the viruses detected to subgenus, serotype and, sometimes, unique strains. Although less sensitive than electron microscopy, the method allowed more information about the infecting virus to be obtained and no cultivation was necessary. Comparison with culture also allowed dual infections to be recognized.A 2-year survey of faecal adenoviruses in Newcastle upon Tyne showed that type 41 (strain 41a) was the predominant type and strain 41p was not recorded. Heterogeneity in strain 41a was also noted as found elsewhere. Adenovirus type 40 was common prior to 1985 but was absent during the last 2 years.
Lack of association ofEscherichia coliexhibiting both mannose-resistant haemagglutination and diffuse adherence to Hep-2 cells with acute diarrhoea in children
Authors: Čobeljić M. , Stojiljković I. , Budišin A. , Lepšanović Z. , Lerš N 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYStool specimens from 631 children with acute diarrhoea and from 277 healthy controls were tested for the presence of non-enteropathogenic, non-enterotoxigenicEscherichia colistrains which mediated mannose-resistant haemagglutination of human erythrocytes (MRHA + ). Fifty-nine (34·9%) of 169 isolated MRHA + strains but none of 210 MRHA - strains exhibited diffuse adherence (DA+) to HEp–2 cells. DA+ strains were found in 37 (5·9%) children with diarrhoea and in 22 (7·9%) controls. MRHA + /DA + strains in comparison to MRHA + /DA - strains significantly less frequently expressed P fimbriae (10·7 vs. 73·6%), haemolysin production (12·5 vs. 63·2%), and MRHA of other species erythrocytes (21·4 vs. 84%).These data demonstrate that E. coli which exhibit the diffuse pattern of adherence to HEp–2 cells also cause MRHA of human erythrocytes. Since these strains were found with similar frequencies in children with and without diarrhoea it seems that DA is not a marker of enteropathogenicity of E. coli.
Prevention of hepatitis B in Italy: lessons from surveillance of type-specific acute viral hepatitis
Authors: Mele A. , Stazi M. A. , Gill O. N. , Pasquini P. ,   Seieva Collaborating Group
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYThe relative contribution of various risk factors to the incidence of acute hepatitis B in Italy was estimated using a special surveillance system (SEIEVA) for type-specific acute viral hepatitis. At present 146 health departments (USLs) which contain 21% of the Italian population participate in SEIEVA out of the total of 650. Data on 2460 hepatitis B cases and 708 hepatitis A cases were compared.Hospitalization, surgical intervention, dental therapy, other percutaneous exposures, barber shop shaving, i.v. drug abuse and household contact with HBsAg carriers were associated with acute hepatitis B and a large number of cases were attributable to these risk factors.Because the control programme based on vaccination will not be effective in the short term at reducing hepatitis B incidence, other additional interventions are recommended.
Cell-surface hydrophobicity ofStaphylococcus saprophyticus
Authors: Schneider P. F. , Riley T. V. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYThe cell-surface hydrophobicity of 100 urinary isolates ofStaphylococcus saprophyticus, cultured from symptomatic females in the general population, was assessed using a two-phase aqueous: hydrocarbon system. Relatively strong cell-surface hydrophobicity was exhibited by 79 isolates using the criteria employed, while only 2 of the remaining 21 isolates failed to demonstrate any detectable hydrophobicity. Cell-surface hydrophobicity may be a virulence factor ofS. saprophyticus. important in adherence of the organism to uroepithelia. Additionally, the data support the concept that cell-surface hydrophobicity may be a useful predictor of clinical significance of coagulase-negative staphylococci isoated from clinical sources.
The changing ecology of hospital bacteria and the selective role of cephalosporins
Authors: Mulgrave L. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYMore than 12800 clinical isolates from 115373 in-patient specimens obtained at the Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, were identified and analysed statistically for relationships with usage of three generations of cephalosporins over the 5-year period from July 1984 to June 1989. A positive relationship between cephalosporin usage and significantly increasing isolation rates for those species capable of producing chromosomal β-lactamases was observed. Simultaneously, a small increase in the isolation frequency of non-chromosomal β-lactamase-producing strains was noted and no correlation with cephalosporin usage was demonstrated. The trend toward predomination in the hospital environment of strains possessing substantial cephalosporin resistance has implications for future antimicrobial policy, choice of empiric therapy and the predictive value of standard antimicrobial susceptibility tests.
Hepatitis A outbreak involving bread.
Authors: Warburton A. R. E , Wreghitt T. G. , Rampling A. , Buttery R. , Ward K. N. , Perry K. R , Parry J. V 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYAn outbreak of hepatitis A involved more than 50 residents of a group of villages in the late spring and summer of 1989. The only food that was common to all the laboratory-confirmed cases was bread, purchased either unwrapped or as rolls, sandwiches or filled rolls, and supplied either directly from one shop or indirectly through its subsidiary outlets. It was concluded that this bread was the most likely vehicle of transmission of the hepatitis A virus and that the bread was contaminated by soiled hands which were inadequately washed because of painful skin lesions. Comprehensive control measures were successful in limiting further spread of the infection. This outbreak highlights the transmissibility of hepatitis A virus on food. The use of disposable gloves when handling food which is to be consumed without further cooking would prevent transmission of this or other infectious agents by this route.
The clinical spectrum of human hantavirus infection in Somerset, UK
Authors: Pether J. V. S. , Lloyd G. 
Published: May 2009

SummaryThe signs and symptoms exhibited by 29 patients with an acute illness in whom antibodies to hantavirus were detected are described. In the severe cases the most striking signs and symptoms were the persistence for 2 or 3 weeks of a severe sore throat with pyrexia that developed early in the illness, followed by swelling of the face, neck and extremities, with arthropathy and prolonged malaise that lasted for months. A macular erythematous rash, hepatomegaly with abnormal liver function tests, and a tendency to haemorrhage was a later feature of the severe cases. Mild cases presented with a variety of signs and symptoms that were very difficult to link together as a syndrome.
The influence of local antichlamydial antibody on the acquisition and persistence of human ocular chlamydial infection: IgG antibodies are not protective
Authors: Bailey R. L. , Kajbaf M. , Whittle H. C. , Ward M. E. , Mabey D. C. W. 
Published: May 2009

SummaryIn order to study the effect of antichlamydial antibodies in ocular secretions on resistance to ocular chlamydial infection and clearance of this infection, we have performed linked longitudinal studies in a Gambian village in which trachoma is endemic. We have measured IgG and IgA antibody levels to a local serotype B isolate ofChlamydia trachomatisby amplified enzyme immunoassay, and chlamydial antigen levels in conjunctival swabs using a commercially available immunoassay which detects chlamydial glycolipid. Having previously demonstrated that sharing a bedroom with a case of active trachoma is a risk factor for acquisition of the disease, we have analysed the effect of IgG and IgA antibody on the acquisition and persistance of clinical trachoma after controlling for age, sex, exposure to infection and for the presence of chlamydial antigen using a Poisson regression model. We have found that the presence of antichlamydial IgG in ocular secretions of disease-free subjects is associated with an increased incidence of trachoma. IgA antibody shows an opposite trend, but this is not statistically significant. One possible explanation of these findings is that antichlamydial IgG antibodies enhance the infectivity ofC. trachomatisfor the human eye; this could have major implications for the development of a chlamydial vaccine.
Weather factors in the prediction of western equine encephalitis epidemics in Manitoba
Authors: Sellers R. F. , Maarouf A. R. 
Published: May 2009

SummaryCases of western equine encephalitis in horses in 1987 in western USA and Manitoba, Canada were examined by backward trajectory analysis of winds.Culex tarsalismosquitoes infected with western equine encephalitis virus could have been carried on southerly winds from Texas and Oklahoma to northern LTSA and from there to Manitoba. The presence of the Polar front over North Dakota and Minnesota at the end of July would have led to the landing ofCx. tarsalisin Montana and Wisconsin and prevented further carriage into Manitoba. Temperatures in southern Texas during the winter months (average daily maximum temperatures 19.7 °C and higher) would have permitted continuous transmission of western equine encephalitis virus byCx. tarsalisin this area.Weather factors involved in outbreaks from 1975–88 were analysed to see if epidemics in Manitoba (23 or more cases in horses) could be predicted. The conditions for epidemics could be defined as follows: (a) the number of cases in horses in LTSA was 98 or more, (b) winds were southerly with speeds 45 kmh-1 or higher, and (c) counts ofCx. tarsalisfemales/light trap per day were 3·2 or higher. There were 3 or fewer cases in Manitoba, when the number of cases in USA was 27 or less, even when Cx. tarsalis counts were higher than 3·2. WithCx. tarsaliscounts below 3 and/or unsuitable winds, or the Polar front further south, the number of cases in Manitoba was between 0 and 17, even when the number of cases in USA was from 38–172. Without information on the extent of infection further south, the weather variables would probably be more useful in excluding the possibility of an epidemic in Manitoba than in predicting one.
Genetic diversity and clonal relationships ofAcinetobacter baumanniistrains isolated in a neonatal ward: epidemiological investigations by allozyme, whole-cell protein and antibiotic resistance analysis
Authors: Thurm V. , Ritter E. 
Published: May 2009

SummarySixty-five strains ofAcinetobacter baumanniiwhich had been isolated from patients and the indoor environment of a neonatal intensive care unit and, for comparative purposes, isolates from three other wards, were examined by means of electrotyping and analysis of whole-cell protein and antibiotic resistance patterns. Fourteen different electrotypes were determined. The predominant type, a multiply resistant acinetobacter clone, persisted in the neonatal ward over several months. The results underline the usefulness of electrophoretic subtyping, in particular by means of allozyme pattern and as a supplement to whole-cell protein pattern analysis, in epidemiological investigations into the routes of transmission of nosocomialA. baumanniiinfections.
Ribotyping ofStaphylococcus aureus: an assessment using well–defined strains
Authors: Richardson J. F. , Aparicio P. , Marples R. R. , Cookson B. D. 
Published: May 2009

SummaryRibotyping, with homologous or heterologous (Escherichia coli) r–RNA, of the propagating strains for phages of the international set for strains ofStaphylococcus aureusof human origin was undertaken to determine the discrimination of this typing method. Ribotyping could distinguish between strains of different phage groups, but could not distinguish between seven phage group III strains of different phage type. Ribotyping may be a useful adjunct to phage typing inS. aureusbut is unlikely to replace it as the primary method of epidemiological typing.
Aminoglycoside resistance patterns ofSerratia marcescensstrains of clinical origin
Authors: Coria-Jiménez R. , Ortiz-Torres C. 
Published: May 2009

SummaryAminoglycoside resistance patterns of 147Serratia marcescensstrains of clinical origin were studied. All strains analysed belonged to three different bacterial populations. The periods of study and the institutions the strains were isolated from correlated significantly with the resistance patterns shown by the strains. The most frequent resistance patterns found were the following: ACC (6')-I at the Hospital Infantil de México (Children's Hospital of México), and ANT (2″) +AAC(6′)-I at the Instituto Nacional de Pediatría (INPed or National Institute of Pediatrics) in Mexico City. Furthermore, the isolation frequency of aminoglycoside-sensitive strains decreased remarkably at the INPed over a 12-year period. These results suggest that there has been a selection ofSerratia marcescensstrains that are very resistant to aminoglycosides.
Sources of sporadicYersinia enterocoliticainfections in Norway: a prospective case–control study
Authors: Ostroff S. M. , Kapperud G. , Hutwagner L. C. , Nesbakken T. , Bean N. H. , Lassen J. , Tauxe R. V. 
Published: May 2009

SummaryYersinia enterocoliticais a recognized cause of gastroenteritis in northern Europe. During October 1988-January 1990, a prospective case-control study was performed to address risk factors associated with sporadic.Y. enterocoliticainfections in southeastern Norway. Sixty-seven case-patients (mean age 23.4 years, range 8 months-88 years) and 132, age-, sex- and geographically-matched controls were enrolled in the study. Multivariate analysis of the data showed that persons withY. enterocoliticainfection reported having eaten significantly more pork items(3.79v. 2.30 meals,P= 0.02) and sausage (2.84v. 2.20 meals,P= 0.03) in the 2 weeks before illness onset than their matched controls; only one patient had eaten raw pork. Patients were also more likely than controls to report a preference for eating meat prepared raw or rare (47v. 27%,P= 0.01), and to report drinking untreated water (39v. 25%,P= 0.01) in the 2 weeks before illness onset. Each of these factors was independently associated with disease, suggesting a link between yersiniosis and consumption of undercooked pork and sausage products and untreated water. Efforts should be directed towards developing techniques to reduceY. enterocoliticacontamination of pork and educating consumers about (1) proper handling and preparation of pork items and (2) the hazards of drinking untreated water.