bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Escherichia colipopulations from diabetic and non-diabetic patients with bacteraemia and faecal samples from healthy subjects – a comparative study
Authors: Brauner A. , Hylander B. , Wretlind B. , Östenson C.-G. , Kühn I. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYBiochemical reactions, using the PhP-EC system of biochemical fingerprinting, were evaluated in order to group strains into different clusters and to investigate whether a biochemical typing system may be used to distinguish between randomly selectedEscherichia colistrains obtained from bacteraemic patients and healthy controls. Fifty epidemiologically unrelated strains isolated from blood of non-diabetic patients and 46 faecal control strains were studied. Separately, 70E. colistrains from 64 diabetic patients with bacteraemia were investigated. Diversity index was 0·977, 0·969 and 0·941 respectively. The strains were clustered at a similarity level of 0·95. The bacteraemic and control strains were subdivided into 14 different clusters with 2–12 strains each and 40 ‘outliers’. The largest cluster was dominated by bacteraemic strains (9/12, 75%). Two other clusters were dominated by control strains. In the remaining groups blood and faecal isolates were evenly distributed. No biochemical test was able to distinguish between bacteraemic and faecal control strains. Strains from patients with diabetes mellitus were grouped in 11 clusters containing 2–14 strains and 22 ‘outliers’. The low diversity index of bacteraemic strains obtained from diabetic patients as compared to other strains indicated a greater homogenicity. However, no correlation was observed between the examined host factors and the clusters.
Differentiation ofAchromobacter-like strains from human blood by DNA restriction endonuclease digest and ribosomal RNA gene probe patterns
Authors: Holmes B. , Costas M. , Wood A. C. , Owen R. J. , Morgan D. D. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYVariation amongstAchromobacter-like strains was examined by DNA restriction endonuclease digestion and rDNA gene patterns generated using a non-radioactive probe. Chromosomal DNA was extracted from 12 cultures representingAchromobactergroups B, E and F, all from human blood cultures. DNA fingerprinting usingEcoRI,HaeIII orHindIII sub-divided the strains in a similar manner to that obtained by their protein patterns. TheHaeIII patterns, with their small number of bands, were the easiest to interpret. TheEcoRI patterns included a species-specific triplet of bands but minor band patterns allowed further differentiation. TheAchromobactergroup F strains comprised a separate taxon and were distinct from the group B and E strains by all techniques examined. The study demonstrates that, in addition to total DNA digest analysis, rDNA gene restriction patterns provide a simple but discriminatory electrophoretic method for distinguishing withinAchromobactergroups B and E.
Vaccination campaign against meningococcal disease in army recruits in Italy
Authors: Stroffolini T. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYA high attack rate (17·3/100 000) of meningococcal disease in army recruits in Italy, with 95% of the cases due to serogroup C, constituted the motivating factors to make bivalent serogroup A + C meningococcal vaccination compulsory by law for army recruits starting January 1987. Because the vaccine was given only to the new recruits entering the army, full coverage was not achieved until January 1988. Nearly 900 000 subjects (300 000 yearly) were vaccinated between January 1987 and December 1989. There were no reports of any untoward reactions to the vaccine. Of the 300 000 recruits in service each year, 52, 21, 15, 5 and 4 cases of the disease occurred in 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988 and 1989, respectively (P < 0·001).Of the 24 cases occurring since the start of the vaccination, only two (due to serogroup C) were attributable to vaccine failure. The remaining cases were in unvaccinated recruits (15 cases) or were due to serogroups other than A or C (7 cases). The cumulative incidence of meningococcal serogroup C in the 600 000 vaccinated recruits during the period 1988–89 was 0·2/100 000 (1 case amongst 600 000 recruits), while the corresponding figure in the 600 000 unvaccinatred recruits during the period 1985–6 was 11·3/100000 (68 cases amongst 600 000 recruits) (P < 0·001). The protective efficacy of the vaccine in 1987 was 91·2% (12 cases of meningococcal serogroup A and C disease from an average of 150 000 unvaccinated recruits observed for 1 year, and 1 case from the corresponding average of 150 000 vaccinated ones). In 1988 and in 1989 this figure could not be calculated because all recruits were vaccinated.The incidence of meningitis caused by other serogroups of meningococci remained low, both before and after the mass vaccination campaign.
Growth ofSalmonella enteritidisin artificially contaminated hens' shell eggs
Authors: Clay C. E. , Board R. G. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYThe effect of some factors on the growth ofSalmonella enteritidisphage type 4 in artificially contaminated shell eggs was investigated.Salmonella enteritidiswas found to be resistant to the antimicrobial properties of the albumen. Growth occurred on storage at 25 °C but not at 4 or 10 °C. The rate and extent of infection was influenced by the size of inoculum, the site of contamination relative to yolk movement, and the presence of iron in the inoculum.
Variations in microbial indicator densities in beach waters and health-related assessment of bathing water quality
Authors: Cheung W. H. S. , Chang K. C. K. , Hung R. P. S. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYDaily and hourly variations in microbial indicators densities in the beach-waters of Hong Kong have been described. The levels of Escherichia coli at a number of beaches was observed to be influenced by tide, and for staphylococci, by bather numbers. The tidal influence was most obvious during spring tides; and for the effect of bathers, during neap tides. Both organisms are present in high densities in external sources of faecal pollution of bathing beaches, with the average staphylococci to E. coli ratios being 0·04–3. Staphylococci may serve as an indicator of bather density and the risk of cross-infection amongst bathers (rather than as another indicator of faecal contamination) when the average staphylococci to E. coli ratio for a bathing beach is considerably higher than 3. The variability of microbial indicator densities means the routine sampling of bathing beaches should be carried out on weekend days with maximum numbers of swimmers exposed to the water, and spread throughout the bathing season.
Antibodies in horses, mules and donkeys following monovalent vaccination against African horse sickness
Authors: Hamblin C. , Mellor P. S. , Graham S. D. , Hooghuis H. , Montejano R. C. , Cubillo M. A. , Boned J. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYA total of 256 sera collected from three species of domesticated equidae in four different Spanish provinces were examined 1–4 months after the administration of attenuated monovalent African horse sickness virus (AHSV) serotype 4 vaccine. Approximately 10% of the sera were negative by ELISA, virus neutralization, agar gel immuno-diffusion and complement fixation tests. Similar negative reactions were recorded with sera from two ponies after experimental primary vaccination. The rapid rise in antibodies in sera from these two ponies, after a second dose of vaccine, suggested they would probably have been immune to challenge. It is therefore suggested that the apparent absence of antibodies against AHSV in some animals after primary vaccination may not necessarily indicate a total lack of protection.
Dissociation of alanine aminotransferase values in acute hepatitis A patients with and without past experience to the hepatitis B virus
Authors: Papachristou A. A. , Dumas A. S. , Katsouyannopoulos V. C. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYSerological markers and peak serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) values of 140 in-patients with acute hepatitis, either type A (n= 90), or type B (n= 50) were prospectively assessed. In 23 out of the 90 patients with acute hepatitis A, evidence of previous experience with hepatitis B virus (HBV) was found, whereas 35 out of the 50 patients with acute hepatitis B had past contact with hepatitis A virus (HAV). The mean peak ALT values [S.D.] were significantly higher in hepatitis A patients with previous experience with HBV (1413 [704] i.u./l), when compared to those without such experience (842 [464] i.u./l, P < 0·001). Such a difference was not evident between acute hepatitis B patients, whether or not they had previous contact with HAV. We conclude that when acute hepatitis A is superimposed on past HBV infection an augmented transaminaemia, indicative of enhanced liver cell necrosis, takes place although a definite explanation is lacking. We suggest that individuals with markers of HBV infection should be early candidates for HAV immunization.
Transmission ofHelicobacterspp. A challenge to the dogma of faecal-oral spread
Authors: Lee A. , Fox J. G. , Otto G. , Dick E. Hegedus , Krakowka S. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYFaecal oral spread is claimed by many to be the mode of transmission of the gastric pathogenHelicobacter pylori. This idea is based not on experimental data but because the epidemiology ofH. pyloriinfection resembles that of other pathogens known to be spread by the faecal-oral route. This is in spite of the observation that no-one has been successful in culturingH. pylorifrom human stool. In this study, a series of transmission experiments are reported on animals infected with the gastric spirilla,Helicobacter felisand ‘Gastrospirillum hominis’. Germfree mice and rats infected withH. felisdid not transmit their infection to uninoculated mice despite prolonged contact in the same cage nor could the bacterium be isolated from their intestinal contents. This was confirmed in specific pathogen free mice where infected dams did not pass the helicobacter to their progeny. Similarly, mice infected with a human isolate of ‘Gastrospirillum hominis’ did not transmit the infection while in close contact with uninoculated mice. In contrast, in a limited series of experiments, bothH. pyloriandH. feliswere transmitted from infected gnotobiotic Beagle puppies to uninfected animals in the same enclosure. In addition, the gastric mucus from a cat with indigenous ‘Gastrospirillum’-like organisms was infectious for mice, whereas faecal content from the same animal was not. It is suggested that the difference between the murine and canine experiments is that the dogs are more likely to have oral-oral contact than rodents. Unlike dogs, mice and rats do not vomit and are coprophagous. It is concluded that the case for faecal-oral spread ofHelicobacterspecies is ‘not proven’ and that the inter-oral route is more likely.
The prevalence of Salmonella enteritidis and other Salmonella spp. among Canadian registered commercial chicken broiler flocks
Authors: Poppe C. , Irwin R. J. , Messier S. , Finley G. G. , Oggel J. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYA nation-wide survey was conducted to estimate the prevalence of Salmonella enteritidis and other salmonellas among Canadian commercial broiler flocks. Environmental (litter and/or water) samples from 226 of 294 (76·9%) randomly selected flocks were contaminated with salmonellas. Litter samples were more often contaminated with salmonellas than water samples (47·4 ν 12·3%). Fifty different salmonella serovars were isolated. The most prevalent serovars were S. hadar, S. infantis, and S. schwarzengrund; they were isolated from samples of 98/294 (33·3%), 26/294 (8·8%), and 21/294 (7·1%) flocks, respectively. Feed samples of 39/290 (13·4%) flocks were contaminated with salmonellas. Salmonella enteritidis was isolated from the environmental samples of 9/294 (3·1%) flocks. Salmonella enteritidis phage type (PT) 8 was isolated from seven flocks, and PT 13a from two flocks.
The isolation ofListeriaspecies from fresh-water sites in Cheshire and North Wales
Authors: Frances N. , Hornby H. , Hunter P. R. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYWe report a study to determine the presence ofListeriaspecies in surface waters. One hundred ml volumes of 30 water samples taken from 21 different sites were analysed. Most of the samples examined were from ponds and lakes.Listeriaspecies were isolated on eight (27%) occasions, six of these isolates wereL. seeligeri, one wasL. innocuaand oneL. welshimeri. Although not statistically significant, coliform andEscherichia colicounts were higher in waters that were positive than were negative forListeriaspp. It is suggested that the low isolation rate of listeria in this study reflects the fact that most waters examined did not receive sewage outfalls. Water sports activities are unlikely to be a risk factor for listeriosis.
HSP 90, yeasts andCorynebacterium jeikeium
Authors: Matthews R. C. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYRecovery from disseminated candidosis is associated with seroconversion to a 47 kDa breakdown product of the Heat Shock Protein (HSP) 90 ofCandida albicans.Cloning, sequencing and epitope mapping has allowed the delineation of the immunodominant epitopes LKVIRKNIVKKMIE and STDEPAGESA. Monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies specific to these epitopes are used to show that all strains ofC. albicanstested produce HSP 90 in both the yeast and mycelial phases. Homologous proteins are demonstrated inSaccharomyces cerevisiae, Candida parapsilosisandCorynebacterium jeikeiumbut not inTorulopsis glabrata.Evidence is presented for the existence of two distinct HSP 90s inC. albicans.The first of these is expressed constitutively whilst the second is produced on heat shocking the yeast from 23 to 37 °C.
The use of the PhP-KE biochemical fingerprinting system in epidemiological studies of faecalEnterobacter cloacaestrains from infants in Swedish neonatal wards
Authors: Kühn I. , Tullus K. , Burman L. G. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYThe PhenePlate (PhP) biochemical fingerprinting system is an automated method for typing of bacteria, based on the evaluation of the kinetics of biochemical reactions, performed in microtitre plates. In the present study the PhP-Klebsiella/Enterobacter (KE) system was evaluated for typing ofEnterobacter cloacaeand employed to study the epidemiology of faecalE. cloacaestrains isolated from infants in 22 Swedish neonatal wards. The PhP-KE system showed a high reproducibility and discrimination forE. cloacaeisolates. Among 64 epidemiologically unrelatedE. cloacaestrains, 49 distinct phenotypes were found, and the diversity index was 0·985.E. cloacaewas found as a part of the dominating Gram-negative aerobic bacterial flora in 83 out of 953 infants studied. The incidences ofE. cloacaecolonization varied between 0 and 35% in different wards, but in contrast to previous data forKlebsiellaspp. andEscherichia coli,there was little evidence of spread of particular strains in the wards. We also discuss two different measures of nosocomial transmission of bacterial strains: transmissible strains and epidemic index.
Cockroaches (BlattaandPeriplanetaspecies) as reservoirs of drug-resistant salmonellas
Authors: Devi S. J. N. , Murray C. J. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYA total of 221 cockroaches (BlattaandPeriplanetaspp.), collected in hospitals, houses, animal sheds, grocery stores and restaurants, in yarious parts of South Kanara District, a south-west coastal region of India, were studied bacteriologically for the presence of various salmonellas. Salmonellas were isolated from 4·1% of these cockroaches. Nine strains of salmonellas were recovered, belonging to five serotypes –Salmonella bovismorbificans, S. oslo, S. typhimurium, S. mbandakaandS. braenderup, the former two being the commonest serotypes. All salmonellas were resistant to one or other of 11 antibacterial drugs used in the susceptibility test. Isolation of salmonellas from cockroaches collected from the livestock premises and human dwellings suggested that they may act as significant reservoirs of salmonella in nature. Recovery of serotypes, phage types and R- types that were commonly isolated from humans and animals of this locality, suggested a transmission role for cockroaches. By harbouring potentially pathogenic, drug-resistant salmonellas, these wandering arthropods may pose dangerous infective hazards to humans and animals.
A serosurvey for HTLV-I among high-risk populations and normal adults in Egypt
Authors: Constantine N. T. , Sheba M. Fathi , Corwin A. L. , Danahy R. S. , Callahan J. D. , Watts D. M. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYThe prevalence of antibodies to human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-1) was determined in high-risk groups and normal adults in Egypt. Among 647 individuals tested, 6 (0·9%) were confirmed positive by western blot analysis. These included 2 (0·7%) of 279 drug addicts, 1 (3·3%) of 30 patients with sexually transmitted diseases, and 3 (2·2%) of 133 healthy individuals. Antibody was not detected in 47 blood recipients or 158 prostitutes. There was no correlation between sex or geographical location and HTLV-I infection. Fifty-three of the 647 sera (8%) were initially reactive by ELISA, but only 12 sera were repeatedly reactive. Since only 4 of these repeatedly reactive sera were confirmed by the western blot, the frequency of false positives using the DuPont screening ELISA was 1·2% (8/643). Two additional sera, confirmed positive by western blot, had been reactive, but not repeatedly, by ELISA. In comparison to the prevalence of HTLV-I antibody among risk groups in many parts of the world, the prevalence in Egypt was low.
Seroepidemiology of arboviruses among seabirds and island residents of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea
Authors: Humphery-Smith I. , Cybinski D. H. , Byrnes K. A. , St George T. D. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYDuplicate neutralization tests were done on 401 avian and 101 human sera from island residents collected in the Coral Sea and on Australia's Great Barrier Reef against 19 known arboviruses. Antibodies to a potentially harmful flavivirus, Gadget's Gully virus, were equally present (4%) in both avian and human sera. Antibodies to another flavivirus, Murray Valley Encephalitis, and an ungrouped isolate, CSIRO 1499, were also present in both populations with non-significantly different incidences. Antibodies to Upolu, Johnston Atoll, Lake Clarendon, Taggert, Saumarez Reef and CSIRO 264 viruses were restricted to seabirds. Island residents with antibodies to Ross River and Barmah Forest viruses are thought to have been exposed to these viruses on the mainland as antibody to both viruses was absent among seabirds. These results indicate that consideration should be given to tick-associated arboviruses as potential public health hazards on islands where both seabird and human activities interact.
A mathematical model of rinderpest infection in cattle populations
Authors: Tillé A. , Lefèvre CL. , Pastoret P.-P. , Thiry E. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYA mathematical model for the epidemiology of rinderpest was developed, starting from a simplified descriptive analysis of the disease. A formula for the calculation of the probability of infection of a susceptible animal was first established. A deterministic failure threshold of the infection was then deduced. Deterministic and stochastic approaches were adopted using iterative methods on a computer. These allowed a description of the spread and the variability of an infection process in a population to be made. An illustration of the use of this model showed that, in some cases, variability effects due to stochastic factors were very important. In these particular conditions, the use of the deterministic model alone was not adequate for a good description of the infection. Consequently, improvements of the model were proposed in order to make it more realistic and to allow its use for the evaluation of the efficiency of field operations.
Cryptosporidiosis in the Isle of Thanet; an outbreak associated with local drinking water
Authors: Joseph C. , Hamilton G. , O'Connors M. , Nicholas S. , Marshall R. , Stanwell-Smith R. , Sims R. , Ndawula E. , Casemore U. , Gallagher P. , Harnett P. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYAn outbreak of cryptosporidiosis occurred in the Isle of Thanet during December 1990 and January 1991. A total of 47 cases ranging in age from 2 months to 85 years were identified in residents from the Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate areas, with dates of onset of illness from 3 December to 14 January. A case-control study demonstrated a strong statistical association between illness and the consumption of unboiled tap water from a particular source, with evidence of a dose–response relationship. Although no cryptosporidial oocysts were identified in samples of untreated or treated water taken during the investigation, the results were consistent with the view that the source of infection was treated river water which was used to supplement borehole water.
Sudden unexplained death syndrome – a new manifestation in melioidosis?
Authors: Yap E. H. , Chan Y. C. , Goh K. T. , Chao T. C. , Heng B. H. , Thong T. W. , Tan H. C. , Thong K. T. , Jacob E. , Singh M. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYThe indirect haemagglutination (IHA) test using sensitized turkey erythrocytes and the indirect immunofluorescence assay (IgM-IFA) was confirmed to be sensitive in the detection of a recent or currentPseudomonas pseudomalleiinfection in 19 culture-confirmed Singapore melioidosis patients. All were found to have antibody titres from 4 to 32 768 in the IHA test and 10 to 320 in the IgM-IFA test. When these tests were employed on sera from 16 immigrant Thai construction workers who died of sudden unexplained death syndrome (SUDS) and 73 healthy Thai fellow workers, 93·8% and 68·8% of SUDS cases had IHA titre of ≥ 4 and IgM-IFA titre of ≥ 10 respectively, in contrast to 39·7% and 12·3% found among healthy Thai workers. These data indicate that at the time of death, most of the SUDS patients had an active infection withP. pseudomallei, possibly resulting from reactivation of a latent infection. The aetiological role ofP. pseudomalleias the major cause of SUDS is discussed.
Evaluation of enzyme immunoassay (EIA) as a screening method for hepatitis B markers in an open population
Authors: McCready J. A. , Morens D. , Fields H. A. , Coleman P. J. , Kane M. , Schatz G. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYCommercially available kits for detection of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs) by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) were evaluated in American Samoa during a public health programme to eliminate the transmission of hepatitis B. The first 19184 serum specimens obtained, representing 68% of the total cooperating population, were initially tested for anti-HBs, and those without detectable antibody were tested for HBsAg. All the antigen-positive serum samples, and a selection of the antigen-and antibody-negative specimens were tested by radioimmunoassay (RIA) for detection of both markers. Compared with the standard tests, the EIA kits for anti-HBs and HBsAg performed well; sensitivity and specificity were 90·3 and 96·0%, respectively, for antibody, and 97·8 and 97·9% respectively for antigen. Substantial disagreement between the EIA and RIA tests for HBsAg was found only for specimens considered weakly reactive by EIA. Few differences were found between three EIA method options for follow-up HBsAg testing of weakly reactive serum specimens; each option contributed about equally to improved test specificity for these ‘borderline’ specimens. Based on their demonstrated equivalence to the standard RIA tests, we conclude that the EIA kits for anti-HBs and HBsAg detection are suitable for use in hepatitis B control programmes in open populations.