bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Shedding of oocysts by immunocompetent individuals with cryptosporidiosis
Authors: Baxby Derrick , Hart C. A. , Blundell N. 
Published: October 2009

SUMMARYStudies were made on 33 immunocompetent patients with cryptosporidiosis (31 of them children) to determine how long oocyst shedding continued after the cessation of diarrhoea. The majority (20/33) ceased to shed oocysts in the week following the cessation of diarrhoea. However 5 patients (15%) continued to shed oocysts for 2 weeks or more, and 1 patient was still shedding oocysts when lost to follow-up 3 weeks after the diarrhoea ceased.There was considerable variation among patients, and some eliminated oocysts more efficiently and quickly than others. The sucrose flotation technique was more useful than direct smear for detecting the low numbers present at the end of the shedding period. Limited information suggested that a carrier state or relapse is probably rare.
Binding to and antibacterial effect of ampicillin, neomycin and polymyxin B on human faeces
Authors: Hazenberg M. P. , Pennock-Schröder A. M. , Van Den Boom M. , Van De Merwe J. P. 
Published: October 2009

SUMMARYNeomycin and polymyxin B, used during selective decontamination of the gastrointestinal tract, were studied for their effect on the human faecal florain vitro. The selective effect was found to be associated with a relative insusceptibility of the obligate anaerobic flora as compared with the facultatively anaerobic Gram-negative rods (Escherichia coli). Both neomycin and polymyxin B were bound by human faeces, in contrast to ampicillin. The results may explain the selective effect of neomycin and polymyxin B on the human florain vivo.
The effect of the use of different selective media on the ability to recover salmonellae from seagull faeces
Authors: Fricker C. R. , Girdwood R. W. A. 
Published: October 2009

SUMMARYSolid media were compared for their ability to recover salmonellae from seagull faecal material after pro-enrichment in buffered peptone water and enrichment in Rappaport's broth. Of the 847 specimens examined 96 were found to be positive for salmonellae. Use of Brilliant Green agar containing sulphamandelate supplement resulted in the detection of salmonellae from each of the 96 samples found to be positive and was the most efficient medium tested. Brilliant Green agar lacking the supplement was the least effective medium, salmonellae being isolated from only 80 samples using this medium.All of the media tested were shown to support the growth of a wide range of salmonella serotypes, althoughSalmonella typhiandS. dublindid not form colonies on those media which contained Brilliant Green. Hynes' modification of deoxycholate citrate agar was shown to be considerably less inhibitory to salmonellae after ageing for four days. Ageing of other media had no significant affect on their ability to support the growth of salmonellae.
Stability of aminoglycoside resistancein vitroin gentamicin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus
Authors: Dixson Shirley , Brumfitt W. , Hamilton-Miller J. M. T. 
Published: October 2009

SUMMARYStability of aminoglycoside resistance has been investigated in 20 strains ofStaphylococcus aureusresistant to gentamicin (16 strains were also resistant to methicillin). In view of previous reports that incubation at elevated temperatures can hasten the loss of unstable antibiotic resistance, we passaged strains daily in a liquid medium for 24 days at 43 °C. The nine strains which were resistant to neomycin kept their aminoglycoside resistance virtually intact, whereas most of the other 11 strains (sensitive to neomycin) lost almost all their resistance to gentamicin and kanamycin after 5 days. It thus appears that the stability of aminoglycoside resistances inStaph. aureusis closely linked to the resistance of the strains to neomycin. This finding has important possible consequences in terms of the advisability of the clinical usage of preparations containing neomycin or framycetin for topical application and bowel sterilization.
The effect of vaccination regimen on the transfer of foot and mouth disease antibodies from the sow to her piglets
Authors: Francis M. J. , Black L. 
Published: October 2009

SUMMARYFour groups of pregnant sows were inoculated with type O1foot and mouth disease (FMD) oil emulsion vaccine at various times before farrowing and samples of the sow's serum, colostrum and milk, and piglet's serum, collected during the first week after farrowing, were analysed for FMD virus neutralizing activity.No FMD neutralizing antibodies were detectable in the piglets serum at birth but they were present 1·5 h after suckling and peak titres were reached 1–3 days later. There was no significant difference between the antibody titres of colostrum samples collected from different teats at farrowing. However, similar samples collected 3 days later showed significant (P< 0·005) fore to hind variation. The principal FMD virus neutralizing antibody class present in the sow's serum at farrowing and in their 3-day-old piglets was governed by the inoculation schedule employed. When the last vaccinations were given ≃ 30 days before farrowing (dbf) the predominant FMD virus neutralizing class was IgG. However, when the sows were vaccinated only ≃ 12 dbf the predominant class was IgM. A significant correlation was observed between the sow's serum titres and colostrum titres at farrowing (r= 0·90), and also between sows colostrum titres at farrowing and their 3-day-old piglets serum titres (r= 0·99).
Nephropathia epidemica in Norway: antigen and antibodies in rodent reservoirs and antibodies in selected human populations
Authors: Traavik T. , Sommer Ann-Inger , Mehl R. , Berdal B. P. , Stavem K. , Hunderi O. H. , Dalrymple J. M. 
Published: October 2009

SUMMARYNephropathia epidemica (NE) antigen was detected by IFAT (indirect fluorescent antibody technique) in the lungs of 14 of 97 bank voles (Clethrionomys glareolus) collected in three endemic areas. The distribution of antigen positive voles within an endemic location was scattered. Antibodies to Korean hemorrhagic fever (KHF) virus antigens were detected by IFAT in 12 of 14 NE antigen positive bank voles and in 15 of 83 that were antigen negative. NE antigen positive voles exhibited higher antibody titres. Antibodies to KHF were demonstrated in sera from C. rutilus and C. rufocanus collected more than 200 km north of the distribution area for C. glareolus. It appears likely that these vole species can serve as virus vectors for NE cases occurring north of the bank vole area. NE antibodies cross-reacting with KHF virus seem to diminish with time after infection in some NE patients, while for others such cross-reacting antibodies were detected up to 12 years after the disease. Antibodies to KHF were detected in eight of 106 healthy forestry workers with no clinical history of NE. No serological cross-reactions were detected between NE/KHF antigens and representative Bunyaviridae present in Norway. NE/KHF-like viruses appear widespread in Norway, both within and outside of the distribution area of the bank vole.
Inactivation of human rotavirus, SA11 and other enteric viruses in effluent by disinfectants
Authors: Harakeh M. , Butler M. 
Published: October 2009

SUMMARYA preparation of infectious human rotavirus, isolated from faeces and resuspended in wastewater effluent, was shown to be inactivated by chlorine, chlorine dioxide, ozone and peracetic acid. Infectivity was assayed in MA 104 cells by the detection of cell-associated viral antigen by immunofluorescence. The inactivation curves were similar to those reported for other enteric viruses. Human rotavirus was at least as resistant as poliovirus, coxsackievirus, echovirus and f2coliphage and was strikingly less sensitive to inactivation than the simian rotavirus, SA11. The latter was generally the most sensitive of the six tested viruses yet is often taken as being representative of the human rotaviruses.
Subdivision ofMycobacterium tuberculosisfor epidemiological purposes: a seven year study of the ‘Classical’ and ‘Asian’ types of the human tubercle bacillus in South-East England
Authors: Grange J. M. , Yates M. D. , Collins C. H. 
Published: October 2009

SUMMARYHuman strains ofMycobacterium tuberculosiswere divided into the ‘Classical’ and ‘Asian’ types according to their sensitivity to thiophen-2-carboxylic acid hydrazide. The isolation of these two types in South-East England was studied during a seven-year period (1977–1983). The ‘Asian’ type was more prevalent among ethnic Asian patients than among ethnic Europeans. Among Europeans there was a decline in the isolation rate of ‘Classical’ strains and a small but significant increase in ‘Asian’ strains during the study period, so that the proportion of the latter type in this group is increasing. The type of bacillus was unrelated to the site of isolation except that the incidence of lymphadenitis due to the ‘Asian’ type among European females was significantly higher than expected. In general, European patients tended to be older than Asian patients, and the differences in age distribution according to site of isolation and type of bacillus in each ethnic group were small. A notable exception occurred with European females infected with the ‘Asian’ type, whose age distribution was similar to the Asians.In view of the differences in behaviour of the two types of human tubercle bacilli in this country there is a need to cintinue a bacteriological surveillance and also to determine whether the nature of the host–pathogen interaction varies according to the type of bacillus.
Studies on staphylococci from toxic shock syndrome in France, 1981–1983
Authors: Melconian A. K. , Fleurette J. , Brun Y. 
Published: October 2009

SUMMARYStaphylococci from 22 cases of toxic shock syndrome with onsets between 1981 and March 1983 have been studied. Another four cases were detected by abstract surveillance. Three of these patients died. The case histories show that the syndrome occurs in women during menstruation as well as in males and in children, and is associated withStaphylococcus aureusinfections.The production of enterotoxins (A, B, C) and toxic shock toxin byS. aureusisolates from toxic shock syndrome was investigated. Twenty-two of the 23 isolates were found to be toxigenie: 7 produced enterotoxin A, 8 produced enterotoxin B, 3 produced enterotoxin C and 13 produced toxic shock toxin. The latter was found with enterotoxin A in five cases, and with enterotoxins A and B in only one case.Sixty-three percent of 40S. aureusstrains isolated from the vagina of patients with diseases other than toxic shock syndrome produced toxin; eight of these strains produced toxic shock toxin.
Escherichia coli 0142.H6; a drug-resistant enteropathogenic clone?
Authors: Gross R. J. , Rowe B. , Threlfall E. J. 
Published: October 2009

SUMMARYFor many years strains of Escherichia coli belonging to particular serotypes (EPEC) were a common cause of outbreaks of infantile enteritis in Europe and North America. E. coli 0142. H6 was first isolated from infants with diarrhoea in Indonesia in 1960 and a further outbreak occurred in Mexico in 1965. Between 1967 and 1972 outbreaks of infantile enteritis caused by E. coli 0142 were reported in hospitals in Scotland, England, Northern Ireland and Eire. Sporadic cases occurred in Canada in 1972 and a further outbreak occurred in Arizona, U.S.A. in 1975. Strains from all these incidents were examined by biochemical and serological methods. Their resistance to antimicrobial drugs was determined and their resistance plasmids characterized; their plasmid profiles were visualized by agarose gel electrophoresis. The cumulative evidence suggests that strains isolated in the British Isles all belonged to a single clone and were related to those isolated in Indonesia, the U.S.A. and Canada. However, the strains from Mexico appeared to be unrelated. This study demonstrates that single clones of enteropathogenic E. coli may spread throughout the world, causing outbreaks of diarrhoeal disease and acquiring resistance to antimicrobial drugs.
Implications of coliform variability in the assessment of the sanitary quality of recreational waters
Authors: Fleisher Jay M. 
Published: October 2009

SUMMARYThe most widely used indicator of the sanitary quality of recreational waters is the coliform group of bacteria. Present techniques of coliform enumeration are imprecise, and this fact is too often overlooked in routine water quality surveys as well as in research efforts seeking quantitative relationships between coliform density and the health effects of recreational waters. To illustrate this point, three years of data gathered by the New York City Department of Health as part of their routine beach water sampling programme were re-analysed, taking the limited precision of each coliform estimate into account. Re-analysis showed 56·6% of the data were not significantly different (P > 0·05) from the standard being used. This large percentage of the data was of little value in determining the acceptability of the waters being sampled relative to the standard being used and thus represented a substantial waste of time and expense. Of the remaining data, half indicated acceptable water quality and half indicated unacceptable water quality relative to the standard. These three years of data, therefore, gave little information on the acceptability of the water quality at this location with respect to the standard being used. The data further suggest significant differences in coliform density within sample dates. It is recommended that in future water quality surveys, or in studies of the health effects of recreational waters as related to coliform density, emphasis should shift from maximizing the number of sample dates to maximizing the number of replicate determinations made per sample date.
A μ-capture ELISA for detecting Mycoplasma pneumoniae IgM: comparison with indirect immunofluorescence and indirect ELISA
Authors: Wreghitt T. G. , Sillis Margaret 
Published: October 2009

SUMMARYA μ-capture ELISA was developed for detecting Mycoplasma pneumoniae specific IgM, and compared with an indirect immunofluorescent antibody (IFA) technique and an indirect ELISA. μ-capture ELISA and IFA compared well and were found to be the most sensitive assays. The IFA test can be completed in 2 h whilst the results of the μ-capture ELISA can be available in 24 h. Both tests are amenable to routine diagnostic use and have similar sensitivity. Indirect ELISA was found to be less sensitive and less specific, giving high assay values with several sera having undetectable M. pneumoniae CF antibody or CF antibody in low titre. Serum samples obtained from 11 patients at various times after M. pneumoniae infection showed maximum antibody levels within the first month by all assays, with a gradual fall in amount of IgM with time when assayed by μ-capture ELISA, a more gradual decline by IFA and hardly any decline with indirect ELISA. It was concluded that the indirect ELISA is unsuitable for the investigation of possible M. pneumoniae infection because the sustained high assay values with serum samples taken many months after infection, make interpretation of the test results very difficult.
Rapid and automated detection of salmonella by electrical measurements
Authors: Easter M. C. , Gibson D. M. 
Published: October 2009

SUMMARYA rapid method for determining the presence of salmonella in food is described. It consists of pre-enrichment in buffered peptone water modified by the addition of dulcitol. and trimethylamine oxide, followed by selective enrichment in a selenite—cystine broth with similar modifications. Changes in the conductance of the selective enrichment broth are monitored continuously using a suitable impediometric instrument. Most of theSalmonellaspp. tested gave a fast (˜100 μS/h) and large (> 600 μS) change in conductance, other enteric bacteria much less or no change. The assay is usually complete within 24 h. Samples of foodstuffs, naturally and artificially contaminated withSalmonellaspp., were all correctly classified. Some strains ofCitrobacter freundiiproduced a false positive conductance response, and they could not be selectively eliminated using antibiotics or cyanide. The conductance method is simple and easy to use, gives rapid results and involves less media and subculturing than is required for traditional methods.
A study of enterotoxigenicEscherichia coli, serogroup 0126, by bacterial restriction endonuclease DNA analysis (BRENDA)
Authors: Marshall R. B. , Winter P. J. , Robinson A. J. , Bettelheim K. A. 
Published: October 2009

SUMMARYSixteen isolates ofEscherichia coliwere subjected to bacterial restriction endonuclease DNA analysis (BRENDA). Nine of these isolates were from an outbreak of human diarrhoea and produced stable toxin, the remaining seven were non-toxigenic strains from animal and human sources. The isolates from the outbreak produced indistinguishable DNA electrophoretic patterns in spite of their assignment to seven different H serotypes. Their BRENDA patterns were markedly different from the other isolates examined. These results support the epidemiological evidence that a single-strain outbreak had occurred, and they cast doubt on the value of H typing for this particular investigation.
Evaluation of coumatetralyl against two predominant murid species
Authors: Chopra Girish , Parshad V. R. 
Published: October 2009

SUMMARYCoumatetralyl was evaluated in the laboratory against Bandicota bengalensis and Rattus rattus. Feeding tests with 0·0375 % coumatetralyl baits produced 100 % mortality after a single day feeding period in B. bengalensis and after a 10–day period in R. rattus. The anticoagulant bait is less palatable in comparison to plain bait. In the case of R. rattus, LFP50 and LFP98 and their 95 % confidence limits were 3·89 (2·62–5·77) days and 11·22 (6·1–20·65) days respectively. Median period of survival and its 95% confidence limits of B. bengalensis and R. rattus were 4·7 (3·85–5·7) days and 11·2 (9·33–13·44) days respectively.
Age-related changes in the rate of disease transmission: implications for the design of vaccination programmes
Authors: Anderson R. M. , May R. M. 
Published: October 2009

SUMMARYMathematical models are developed to aid in the investigation of the implications of heterogeneity in contact with infection within a community, on the design of mass vaccination programmes for the control of childhood viral and bacterial infections in developed countries. Analyses are focused on age-dependency in the rate at which individuals acquire infection, the question of ‘who acquires infection from whom’, and the implications of genetic variability in susceptibility to infection. Throughout, theoretical predictions are based on parameter estimates obtained from epidemiological studies and are compared with observed temporal trends in disease incidence and age-stratified serological profiles.Analysis of case notification records and serological data suggest that the rate at which individuals acquire many common infections changes from medium to high and then to low levels in the infant, child and teenage plus adult age groups respectively. Such apparent age-dependency in attack rate acts to reduce slightly the predicted levels of herd immunity required for the eradication of infections such as measles, when compared with the predictions of models based on age-independent transmission. The action of maternally derived immunity in prohibiting vaccination in infants, and the broad span of age classes over which vaccination currently takes place in the U.K., however, argue that levels of herd immunity of between 90 and 94 % would be required to eliminate measles.Problems surrounding the interpretation of apparent age-related trends in the acquisition of infection and their relevance to the design of vaccination programmes, are discussed in relation to the possible role of genetically based variation in susceptibility to infection and observations on epidemics in “virgin” populations. Heterogeneous mixing models provide predictions of changes in serology and disease incidence under the impact of mass vaccination which well mirror observed trends in England and Wales.
Biotypes and serotypes of thermophilic campylobacters isolated from cattle, sheep and pig offal and other red meats
Authors: Bolton F. J. , Dawkins H. C. , Hutchinson D. N. 
Published: October 2009

SUMMARYIn this study we examined 730 faecal samples of offal (mainly liver), mince-meat and sausage meat collected from abattoirs and retail butchers' shops for campylobacters.Campylobacter jejuniorC. coliwere isolated from 30·6, 10·5 and 6% of sheep, cattle and pig offal samples respectively. Specimens collected from abattoirs were, in general, more often contaminated than material obtained from retail butchers' shops. Only 1·4% of minced meats and sausage meats contained campylobacters. Most isolates (89·5%) wereC. jejunibiotype 1 (Skirrow & Benjamin, 1980) of serotypes 1 and 2 (Penner & Hennessy, 1980). This study shows that animal offal is frequently contaminated withC. jejuniof biotypes and scrotypes commonly isolated from human beings with campylobacter enteritis.
A comparison of virulence of two strains ofLegionella pneumophilabased on experimental aerosol infection of guinea-pigs
Authors: Jepras R. I. , Fitzgeorge R. B. , Baskerville A. 
Published: October 2009

SUMMARYTwo strains ofLegionella pneumophila(LP) serogroup I, of differing virulence, were examined in terms of numbers of viable organisms in tissues, pyrexia and mortality following aerosol infection. The Corby strain was the more virulent, with Pyrexia and deaths of guinea-pigs 3 to 6 days after infection. This strain multiplied very rapidly in the lungs to reach a peak of 5 × 1011viable organisms/lung. Organisms were present in the blood, liver, spleen and kidney. The Philadelphia-1 strain (NCTC 11192) was unable to replicate in the lung and was cleared between 14 and 21 days after infection. Pyrexia was not observed. No guinea-pigs died and viable LP was not found in any organ other than the lung.Lung lavages on aerosol infected animals were performed and the virulent Corby strain was found to be mainly intracellular. The avirulent Philadelphia-1 strain was found predominantly in the extracellular location. There were approximately 10 times the number of viable virulent LP in the lung macrophage fraction than in the lung PMNL fraction. In comparison, there were approximately equal numbers of the viable avirulent strain in the macrophages and the PMNL. Experimental evidence suggests that the macrophage preferentially supports the growth of the virulent Corby strain compared with the PMNL. The avirulent strain on the other hand appears to be destroyed by both the macrophages and the PMNL.
The weak immunogenicity of Fusobacterium necrophorum
Authors: Smith G. R. , Turner Ann , Murray L. G. , Oliphant Janet C. 
Published: October 2009

SUMMARYThree of four extreme methods of immunization completely failed to protect mice against challenge with the homologous strain of Fusobacterium necrophorum. Unsuccessful vaccines included (1) broth culture killed by mild heat and emulsified with Freund's complete adjuvant, and (2) a homogenate of heavily infected mouse brains, inactivated by mild heat and given in two doses. Also unsuccessful as a method of immunization was the production of a severe subcutaneous infection with F. necrophorum, followed by curative treatment with metronidazole. Slight but significant protection against subcutaneous challenge resulted, however, from two such infections given in rapid succession. It would appear that the main virulence factors of F. necrophorum are onty weakty immunogenic, and the experiments give little encouragement to the prospect of an effective necrobacillosis vaccine.