Salmonella Enteritidis is the main cause of foodborne salmonellosis worldwide. The limited effectiveness of current interventions against this pathogen has been the main incentive to develop new methods for the efficient control of this infection. To investigate the use of DNA vaccines against S. Enteritidis in humans, immune responses stimulated by two plasmids containing the genes designated SEN1002, located in the pathogenicity island SPI-19 and encoding a Hcp protein involved in transport mechanisms, and SEN1395, located in the genomic island ΦSE14 and encoding a protein of a new superfamily of lysozymes, were evaluated. Humoral and cellular responses following intranasal immunization of two groups of BALB/c mice with the plasmids pV1002 and pV1395 plus adjuvant were evaluated and it was observed that the IgG2a/IgG1 ratios were sixfold higher than control groups. Both plasmids stimulated specific secretory IgA production. Increased proliferation of lymphocytes and IFN-γ production were detected in both experimental groups. DNA-vaccinated mice developed protective immunity against a virulent strain of S. Enteritidis, with nearly 2 logs of protection level compared to the negative control values in the spleen. Therefore, DNA vaccines are efficient at stimulating cellular and humoral immune responses at systemic and mucosal levels.

That blood or serum and other body fluids, such as the natural or artificially excited exudations, possess bacteriolytic power is a familiar observation.

The objective of this study was to determine the distribution of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) virulence markers (stx1, stx2, eae, ehxA) in E. coli strains isolated from young calves aged fewer than 7 days (bobby calves). In total, 299 recto-anal mucosal swabs were collected from animals at two slaughter plants and inoculated onto tryptone bile X-glucuronide and sorbitol MacConkey agar supplemented with cefixime and potassium tellurite. Isolates were analysed using multiplex polymerase chain reaction to detect stx1, stx2, eae and ehxA genes. The most common combination of virulence markers were eae, ehxA (n = 35) followed by eae (n = 9). In total, STEC and atypical enteropathogenic E. coli (aEPEC) were isolated from 8/299 (2·6%) and 37/299 (12·3%) calves, respectively. All the isolates could be assigned to 15 genotype clusters with >70% similarity cut-off using XbaI pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. It may be concluded that healthy calves from the dairy industry are asymptomatic carriers of a diverse population of STEC and aEPEC in New Zealand.

1. A mixture of anhydrous lanolin with about equal parts of olive oil was the most efficacious ointment tested for protecting our animals from mineral-oil dermatitis and cancer.

2. Some commercial products consisting of mixtures of the alcohols and esters contained in lanolin were, on the whole, less efficacious: possibly the apparent benefit was mostly due to the olive oil with which they were diluted.

3. Olive oil, glycerine, commercial soaps, etc., gave varying degrees of protection, the last being particularly useful under some circumstances.

4. In experiments with gas tars, lanolin does not appear to afford protection when relatively small quantities of it are mixed with the tar or when relatively large doses of tar are applied to the animal, before or after lanolin treatment.

5. Where the experimental conditions appear to conform more to those prevailing among most tar workers, lanolin has a definite protective action.

6. Separate application of the carcinogenic agent and the prophylactic agent as a rule results in a lower yield of tumours than applications of an admixture of the two. In this respect it is to be noted that, where the animals were treated with lanolin separately, the quantity applied was several times greater than that of the tar itself (similarly in mineral oil experiments). This, of course, was not the case in our experiments with the lanolin blends.

7. Relatively more lanolin is required to protect against gas-tar dermatitis and cancer than is required to protect against toxic oils or synthetic tars. This is probably due to the presence in gas tars of special inhibitory substances. Note the analogy in the action of small quantities of acid on mineral oils, the potency being raised, whereas larger quantities may lower it.

Coxiella burnetii is a zoonotic agent responsible for human Q fever, a potentially severe disease that can lead to persistent infection. This cross-sectional study aimed to estimate the seroprevalence to C. burnetii antibodies and its association with potential risk factors in the human population of five regions of Québec, Canada. A serum bank comprising sera from 474 dog owners was screened by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay followed by confirmation of positive or equivocal sera by an indirect immunofluorescence assay. Observed seroprevalences of 1.2% (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.0–6.6), 2.6% (95% CI: 0.5–7.4) and 5.9% (95% CI: 3.4–9.6) were estimated in the regions of Montréal, Lanaudière and Montérégie, respectively, which all included at least 83 samples. Having lived or worked on a small ruminant farm (prevalence odds ratio (POR) = 5.4; 95% CI: 1.6–17.7) and being a veterinarian or veterinary student (POR = 6.1; 95% CI: 1.6–24.0) were significantly associated with C. burnetii seropositivity. Antibodies against C. burnetii were detected in the human population of Québec. Although seropositivity to this agent was associated with occupational contact with domestic animals, antibodies were also detected in people with no reported professional exposure. No associations with ruminant farm proximity were identified.

This study aimed to assess human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine effectiveness (VE) against both vaccine-type and nonvaccine-type high-risk HPV (hrHPV) infection, and duration of protection in United States. The study population was female participants aged 18–35 years with an HPV vaccination history and genital testing for HPV from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2007–2016. Participants vaccinated before sexual debut were assessed against 13 nonvaccine-type hrHPV infection including 31/33/35/39/45/51/52/56/58/59/68/73/82. Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate VE overall, by age at diagnosis, time since vaccination and lifetime sexual partners. A total of 3866 women were included in the analysis, with 23.3% (95% CI 21.3%–25.4%) having been vaccinated (≥1 dose). VE against vaccine-type HPV18/16/11/6 infection was 58% overall, which was mainly driven by those aged 18–22 years (VE = 64%) and 23–27 years (65%). Among participants aged 18–22 years vaccinated before sexual debut, the VE was 47% (23%–64%) against 13 nonvaccine-type hrHPV and 61% (95% CI 36%–77%) against 5 selected nonvaccine-type hrHPV35/39/52/58/59. Both direct effectiveness and cross-protection maintained effective for 5–10 years post vaccination. We also found the prevalence of ever diagnosed cervical cancer among vaccinated was significantly lower (0.46%, 4/874) than that among unvaccinated participants (1.27%, 38/2992). These findings highlight the potential of significant reduction of cervical cancer following the universal HPV vaccination programme.

In 2020, an outbreak of Salmonella Hadar illnesses was linked to contact with non-commercial, privately owned (backyard) poultry including live chickens, turkeys, and ducks, resulting in 848 illnesses. From late 2020 to 2021, this Salmonella Hadar strain caused an outbreak that was linked to ground turkey consumption. Core genome multilocus sequence typing (cgMLST) analysis determined that the Salmonella Hadar isolates detected during the outbreak linked to backyard poultry and the outbreak linked to ground turkey were closely related genetically (within 0–16 alleles). Epidemiological and traceback investigations were unable to determine how Salmonella Hadar detected in backyard poultry and ground turkey were linked, despite this genetic relatedness. Enhanced molecular characterization methods, such as analysis of the pangenome of Salmonella isolates, might be necessary to understand the relationship between these two outbreaks. Similarly, enhanced data collection during outbreak investigations and further research could potentially aid in determining whether these transmission vehicles are truly linked by a common source and what reservoirs exist across the poultry industries that allow Salmonella Hadar to persist. Further work combining epidemiological data collection, more detailed traceback information, and genomic analysis tools will be important for monitoring and investigating future enteric disease outbreaks.

1. The fat metabolism of three healthy European adult males has been followed for periods lasting from 7 to 22 consecutive weeks; a fourth subject was observed for a much shorter period. During this time the subjects consumed: A, their usual diet; B, a diet including 1 lb. of standard bread, made from 95 to 100% extraction flour; C, a diet including 1 lb. white bread, made from 70% extraction flour; and D, their usual diet. During the usual diet periods A and D, standard bread was also eaten. While each subject consumed the type and amount of fat he was accustomed to, his variations in intake, especially during the experimental diet periods B and C, were small. The intakes of the four subjects ranged from 55 to 115 g. daily.

2. The average absorption of fat during the usual diet periods was 94·0%; during the standard bread diet, it also averaged 94·0%; during the white bread diet, it averaged 94·9%.

3. It is concluded that with daily fat intakes of the order used in this investigation, a diet rich in whole-grain bread when compared with one rich in white bread does not lead to any appreciable diminution in the amount of fat absorbed.

Embryonated chicken eggs were used as a model for assessing the teratogenic potential of several Palyam serogroup orbiviruses. Infection of 4-day-old embryonated chicken eggs via the yolk sac with eight of the viruses resulted in deaths or congenital deformities which included retarded development, arthrogryposis and reduced feathering. Statistical analysis showed that the viruses could be divided into three groups: those that caused death (Gweru virus isolates 866/77 and 1726/7776 and Apies River virus), those that caused deaths only when large amounts of virus were inoculated (Gweru isolate AR11869 and Marondera virus) and those that caused death and deformities (Abadina, Kasba, Nyabira, Petevo and Vellore viruses). Differences in pathogenic potential were noted between isolates identified as the same serotype by serological tests.

Two pools of living influenza vaccine derived from the Russian A 2 strain Iksha had given discrepant results in clinical trials. The less effective pool showed an increased thermostability of haemagglutinin, an increased elution rate from red blood cells and a reduced ability to grow in chorioallantoic membranes at temperatures above 40° C. The relationship of these findings to the virulence of influenza viruses is discussed.

Airborne bacteria surveys in nuclear submarines show that the total microbial load was maintained at satisfactorily low levels during prolonged patrols despite factors which were expected to increase this form of pollution.

The isolation rates of Staphylococcus aureus and Neisseria meningitidis from nasal and nasopharyngeal swabs respectively, together with the serum antibody titres to Mycoplasma pneumoniae, before and after patrols suggested that the transmission of these organisms between individuals was not much increased by patrol conditions. The finding of higher numbers of airborne gram-negative rods and bodily contamination by enterobacteria is frequently reported in submersibles but does not appear to cause major outbreaks of illness in nuclear submarine crews.

The physical behaviour of aerosols atomized into stirred settling chambers, or into rotating drums, was examined by a radioactive tracer method and by a light scatter method. With suitable corrections, there was no difference between the two methods of measuring of physical decay. The tracer method is advantageous in that the data so obtained are on an absolute basis, whereas data from scattered light measurements are relative. The latter method, however, is less time consuming, provides an immediate notification of instrument performance and does not require that material be removed from the aerosol chamber for sampling purposes.

1. Preparations for petrographical examination were obtained by micro-incineration of sections from silicotic nodules from thirty-one cases of unequivocal silicosis.

2. Particle counts above and below 2 μ showed, in the majority of cases, a preponderance of quartz.

3. Jones' claim that sericite particles predominate in the lower size range of particles in silicotic lungs is not confirmed.

As part of the investigation of a putative bovine outbreak, 13 isolates of Salmonella typhimurium phage type 204c were subjected to plasmid analysis.Plasmid profiles suggested that several distinct strains were involved and these observations were supported by minor variations in antibiotic resistance pattern. Restriction enzyme fingerprinting and conjugational segregation of the plasmids confirmed these findings. Although 12 of the 13 isolates were resistant to gentamicin, resistance was conferred by 4 distinct plasmids; 3 of these belonged to Inc I and were distantly related on the basis of restriction fingerprints and the fourth was a resistant derivative of the 60 MDa S. typhimurium serotype-specific plasmid. The molecular evidence refuted the hypothesis that geographical and temporal clustering of these gentamicin-resistant isolates could be explained on the basis of a single epidmiological episode.

1. Elementary body suspensions of vaccinia and ectromelia were obtained from rabbit skin and chick embryo or mouse liver and chick embryo respectively and used to immunize rabbits.

2. Judged by the complement fixation and haemagglutination tests, the viruses from different hósts were very similar antigenically. Ectromelia and vaccinia appeared closely related, the heterologous virus titres being usually lower than the homologous.

3. Elementary body suspension agglutination tests did not reveal a similar relationship between the two viruses, but were not satisfactory on account of the low antibody content of the antiectromelia sera.

4. Highly active ectromelia antisera were not obtained and there was no evidence of multiplication of this virus in rabbits.

5. Only slight neutralizing activity was demonstrated in the antisera.

6. Elementary body suspensions of ectromelia virus prepared from mouse livers, as well as the crude liver extracts, were soon inactivated. Egg membrane preparations were relatively stable.

Enteric fevers are common in the Gold Coast, where their incidence is increasing owing to insanitary urbanization. Children and migrant labourers form the bulk of the patients. Typhoid fever accounts for three-quarters of the cases, but paratyphoid A and paratyphoid C also occur. The Widal test has attained renewed importance in early diagnosis since the introduction of chloramphenicol, and gave a presumptive diagnosis within 24 hr. in two-thirds of the cases. ‘Normal’ agglutinin levels were determined in 200 sera sent for the Kahn test, and provide data for interpreting the Widal test in the Gold Coast. Low titre H agglutinins in the sera of normal people are thought to indicate past vaccination or infection, but low titre O agglutinins are probably unrelated to either. Agglutination of a Salm. typhi H suspension by normal sera suggests that one adult African in eight in the Gold Coast has suffered from typhoid fever.

I have to thank Lt. Col. H. J. Bensted, O.B.E., M.C., for kindly providing Standard agglutinating sera.

My thanks are also due to Messrs D. Gellatly, A.I.M.L.T., K. C. Lisle, E. S. Martinson and A. T. Nartey for their technical assistance at various times during the past 2½ years.

I am indebted to Dr George Watt, M.B.E., acting Chief Medical Officer, Gold Coast, for permission to publish this paper.

(1) Dysentery strains from various sources have been examined with respect to their power of reducing nitrates to nitrites and of further destroying nitrites. All the strains with one exception (B. Neisser Ac.) reduced nitrates to nitrites. None of the strains which fail to ferment mannite (Shiga type) destroyed nitrites. Those dysentery strains which form acid from mannite differ amongst themselves in regard to their action on sugars and also in their effect on nitrites. Of the eight mannite-fermenting strains examined, two (B. dysenteriae Jürgens and B. Neisser Nc.) failed to destroy nitrites.

(2) B. dysenteriae Jürgens, although closely related to B. dysenteriae Flexner, differs from it both in its action on litmus-whey and in failing to destroy nitrite. It must therefore be considered a different strain. B. dysenteriae Jürgens is remarkable as being the only one of the strains examined which forms indol and at the same time fails to destory nitrites. It is consequently the only one which gives the cholera-red reaction.

(3) The addition of glucose (i.e. of a carbohydrate from which acid can be formed) enables Shiga strains to destroy nitrite.

(4) In the presence of an abundant supply of oxygen all the strains fail to destroy nitrites and nitrates.

(5) In glucose-containing media the inhibitory effect of oxygen is less marked.

(6) Under anaerobic conditions Shiga strains and B. dysenteriae Jiirgens still fail to destroy nitrites.

Scabies is a contagious skin infection commonly occurring in institutions such as care homes. However, a large proportion of vulnerable people in England receive domiciliary care in the community and their experience of scabies has not been described. We undertook a pragmatic cross-sectional survey of Health Protection Teams (HPTs) in England to determine the burden of scabies related to domiciliary care. Fifteen cases or outbreaks were notified to HPTs between January 2013 and December 2017. Although a relatively uncommon event for individual HPTs, they were complex to manage and required the co-ordination of multiple stakeholders. Diagnosis was often delayed and required several clinical consultations. A lack of guidance led to difficulties establishing stakeholder roles and responsibilities and sources of funding for treatment. The stigmatisation of scabies sometimes affected the quality of care provided to patients, such as use of excessive personal protective equipment. Our study demonstrates that scabies is an issue of public health importance for domiciliary care service providers and users, and research is required to better understand the impacts of the disease and to develop evidence-based guidance. More generally, there is a need for simpler treatment regimens and methods of diagnosing scabies.

Genital human papillomavirus (HPV) infections are caused by a broad diversity of genotypes. As available vaccines target a subgroup of these genotypes, monitoring transmission dynamics of nonvaccine genotypes is essential. After reviewing the epidemiological literature on study designs aiming to monitor those dynamics, we evaluated their abilities to detect HPV-prevalence changes following vaccine introduction. We developed an agent-based model to simulate HPV transmission in a heterosexual population under various scenarios of vaccine coverage and genotypic interaction, and reproduced two study designs: post-vs.-prevaccine and vaccinated-vs.-unvaccinated comparisons. We calculated the total sample size required to detect statistically significant prevalence differences at the 5% significance level and 80% power. Although a decrease in vaccine-genotype prevalence was detectable as early as 1 year after vaccine introduction, simulations indicated that the indirect impact on nonvaccine-genotype prevalence (a decrease under synergistic interaction or an increase under competitive interaction) would only be measurable after >10 years whatever the vaccine coverage. Sample sizes required for nonvaccine genotypes were >5 times greater than for vaccine genotypes and tended to be smaller in the post-vs.-prevaccine than in the vaccinated-vs.-unvaccinated design. These results highlight that previously published epidemiological studies were not powerful enough to efficiently detect changes in nonvaccine-genotype prevalence.