Residential locations of cases are often used as proxy measures for the likely place of exposure and this assumption may result in biases affecting both surveillance and epidemiological studies. This study aimed to describe the importance of domestic travel in cases of human campylobacteriosis reported during routine surveillance in Iceland from 2001 to 2005. Various measures of disease frequency were calculated based upon the cases' region of residence, adjusting location of domestic travel cases to their travel region, as well as separate estimations for travellers and non-travellers. Of the 376 cases included in the analysis, 37% had travelled domestically during their incubation period. Five of the eight regions were identified as high-risk when considering domestic travel whereas there were no high-risk regions when considering only region of residence. The change in regional representation of disease occurrence indicates the importance of collecting domestic travel information in ongoing surveillance activities.

The yield of contact investigation on relapsed tuberculosis (TB) cases can guide strategies and resource allocation in the TB control programme. We conducted a retrospective cohort study to review the yield of contact investigation in relapsed TB cases and identify factors associated with TB infection (TBI) among close contacts of relapsed TB cases notified between 2018 and 2022 in Singapore. TB infection positivity was higher among contacts of relapsed cases which were culture-positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex compared to those who were only polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-positive (14.8% vs. 12.3%). On multivariate analysis, after adjusting for age and gender of the index, gender, and existing comorbidities of contacts, factors independently associated with TBI were culture and smear positivity of the index (AOR 1.41, 95%CI 1.02–1.94), higher odds with every 10 years of increase in age compared to contacts below aged 30, contacts who were not Singapore residents (AOR 2.09, 95%CI 1.46–2.97), and household contacts (AOR 2.19, 95%CI 1.44–3.34). Although the yield of screening was higher for those who were culture-positive compared to only PCR-positive relapsed cases, contact tracing for only PCR-positive cases may still be important in a country with moderate TB incidence, should resources allow.

In a previous paper (Stewart, 1926), we have seen that the mutabile form of B. neapolitanus Emmerich is a heterozygote with a Mendelian formula IiFF, in. which F represents a unit character for the fermentation of a particular sugar, e.g. lactose, I represents a factor for the inhibition of F, and i represents the absence of I in a pair of allelomorphs. Similarly paracolon has a formula IIFF.

Mice were immunized against Salmonella typhimurium with graded doses of heat-killed (HK) and acetone-killed (AK) vaccines and then challenged by the oral or intraperitoneal routes with two doses of S. typhimurium. HK and AK vaccines gave good protection against an intraperitoneal challenge, but failed to protect against an oral challenge which is presumably the natural mode of infection. HK vaccine was as potent as AK vaccine in reducing the mortality rate among mice challenged by the intraperitoneal route but, unlike HK vaccine, AK vaccine was also able to reduce the infectivity rate. With a small intraperitoneal challenge dose it was observed that a gradual increase in vaccine dose is associated with a corresponding fall in mortality rate, but with a larger challenge dose an increase in vaccine dose was associated with a corresponding increase in mortality rates. It was concluded that the protective potency of this type of vaccine may partly depend upon the total amount of antigen in the animal, i.e. including both the vaccine and the challenge organisms, at a critical time after challenge.

This investigation was to determine whether monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) could be used to differentiate coagulase-negative staphylococci (C-NS) at species and strain level. Mabs were produced to four Staphylococcus epidermidis strains, two S. haemolyticus strains, one S. saprophyticus strain and one S. warneri strain. A panel of nine antibodies was tested for species and strain specificity against five type strains and 65 clinical isolates of C-NS by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Species specificity was found with Mab D150 produced to one S. haemolyticus strain. Using Mab D150 and Mab D198 in conjunction, identification of 90% of S. haemolyticus isolates to species level was achieved. S. saprophyticus Mab K84 reacted with most other strains of C-NS tested but only three S. haemolyticus strains (16%). This finding provides further evidence that S. haemolyticus possesses different surface determinants to other C-NS which could form the basis of a typing scheme for S. haemolyticus using Mabs D150, D198 and K84.

Strain characteristics of 51 Shigella sonnei isolates obtained from children seeking medical care (MC) and 48 isolates recovered during a prospective diarrhoea birth cohort (BC) study were compared. Biochemical characterization and antibiotic susceptibility testing determined that all S. sonnei isolates were biotype g and multidrug-resistant. Plasmid profiling identified 15 closely related patterns and XbaI pulsed-field gel electrophoresis confirmed the high degree of genetic similarity between isolates. All S. sonnei isolates harboured ipaH and class II integrase genes and 84·3 and 80% of the MC and BC isolates, respectively carried the sen gene. Neither the class I integrase nor the set gene was detected. Our results indicate that S. sonnei isolates associated with severe diarrhoea were indistinguishable from those associated with mild diarrhoea. Additional genetic tests with greater discrimination might offer an opportunity to determine genetic differences within the globally disseminating biotype g clone.

The potency in man of eight different commercial vaccines and an experimental vaccine, as judged by the antibody response after the primary course of two injections and after a booster dose 9–12 months later, was compared. All the vaccines produced good responses to Types 2 and 3 but some were less satisfactory for Type 1. The relation of potency to protection in man is discussed and the use of one of the vaccines as a minimum standard for this country is suggested.

Group-reactive ether soluble psittacosis and boiled mouse pneumonitis antigens were tested in parallel, with 85 serum specimens. The results indicate that the group-specific C.F. antigens of these organisms are indistinguishable when tested against sera of trachoma patients, monkeys infected with trachoma or against sera of other individuals.

Sera of rabbits immunized with viable trachoma-inclusion conjunctivitis (TRIC) organisms, grown in tissue culture, were absorbed with boiled elementary body suspension of mouse pneumonitis agent, which removed the group reactive antibodies, and resulted in a species-specific anti-TRIC serum.

The absorbed and unabsorbed TRIC sera were titrated against purified E.B. suspensions, which were prepared both from yolk and from tissue culture grown organisms, of homologous TRIC strains and from other heterologous Bedsonia organisms.

Results of absorption experiments indicate that group reactive antigens prepared from mouse pneumonitis and psittacosis are indistinguishable by C.F. test from the group-specific component of the TRIC antigens. The species-specific antigen of the TRIC agents was well distinguished from the species-specific antigen of the psittacosis agent. However, the C.F. test did not distinguish the strains isolated from trachoma from those isolated from cases of inclusion conjunctivitis.

The stabilizing effect of sucrose and albumin upon the species-specific C.F. antigen of purified elementary bodies of TRIC organisms was found to be pronounced.

Our attempts to produce a species-specific antigen preparation, free from group component, failed.

We have pleasure in thanking Dr F. B. Gordon for suggestions; Dr B. V. Birtašević, Mr H. R. Dressler, Dr E. S. Murray and Dr A. J. Vargosko for procuring sera of patients or organisms grown in tissue culture; Dr T. A. Strike for the help with statistical computations; HMC P. R. Hill, HM3 C.O. Wiese and Mr B. L. Ward for invaluable technical assistance.

In an attempt to determine the frequency of virus infections of the gastrointestinal tract, the duration of virus shedding in faeces and its relation to outbreaks of illness of any kind, faecal samples were collected from children attending a day nursery at a Lisbon institution.

In this study, ten children were surveyed from their enrolment at the nursery, weekly specimens of faeces being collected over a period of 1 year. A total of 459 samples were obtained. In addition four of these children were also followed-up from their first week of life to their enrolment at the nursery, 79 samples being collected during this period.

Viruses were detected in a high percentage (44·4%) of these stools, including strains of oral vaccine polioviruses together with viruses isolated in routine cell cultures and by electron microscopy (EM). These viruses were detected in both healthy and ill babies.

The possible association between viruses isolated in cell cultures or detected by EM and illness was examined and the results show that the asymptomatic excretion of viruses is frequent, particularly in children within this age group.

Two hundred and fifty clinical strains of Candida albicans and six isolates from a cross-infection outbreak were studied for their ability to assimilate 19 carbohydrates in the API-20C system (API Laboratory Products Ltd., Basingstoke, UK). The assimilation profiles were stable on repeat testing; at intervals in the 72 h duration of the test; and when incubated at different temperatures.

Although not a complete system of biotyping, the API-20C system shows high typability, and fair reproducibility and discrimination, having a limited role in indicating which isolates should be typed by more elaborate methods.

A subclinical infection of Salmonella typhimurium in a broiler flock was investigated and attempts were made to eradicate the infection by treatment with furazolidone. One-quarter of the chickens were still infected after they had been through the processing plant. Washing in heavily chlorinated water reduced the number of contaminated carcasses. Infected chickens were also found in four other companion flocks on the same farm.

The purpose of the study was to describe the results of follow up of human contacts of bovine tuberculosis. The bovine tuberculosis cases occurred on farms in North Staffordshire between 1993 and 1997. A total of 162 people were identified as having close contact with cattle diagnosed as having bovine tuberculosis, or who had drunk unpasteurized milk from a herd with bovine tuberculosis. A retrospective review of chest clinic notes was performed. One hundred and thirty-eight people attended for follow up, and Heaf test results, necessity for chest X-ray and further clinical follow-up are described. No case of human Mycobacterium bovis infection was identified. It is suggested that follow-up of human contacts is limited to those with close contact with herds who have bovine tuberculosis and cattle with visible pulmonary lesions or evidence of udder infection. Children on the farms with affected cattle should also be offered BCG in advance of the routine school's programme.

This study describes epidemiological trends for acute rotavirus gastroenteritis (RVGE) in Belgium in children aged ⩽5 years during the period June 2007 to May 2014 after the introduction of routine rotavirus (RV) vaccination. This period encompassed the switch from lyophilized to the liquid formulation of Rotarix™ (GlaxoSmithKline, Belgium) in August 2011. Uptake of RV vaccine remained consistently high throughout the study period with Rotarix the brand most often used. RV was present in 9% (1139/12 511) of hospitalized cases with acute gastroenteritis included in the study. Epidemiological trends for hospital admissions for RVGE remained consistent throughout the study period, with no evidence of any change associated with the switch from lyophilized to liquid formulation of Rotarix. This suggests both formulations perform similarly, with the liquid formulation not inferior regarding ability to reduce hospital admissions for acute RVGE in children aged ⩽5 years. A strong seasonal effect was observed with most RVGE occurring in the winter months but with some variability in intensity, with highest incidence found in those aged 6–24 months. The main observation was the decreased number of hospital admissions for RVGE in Belgium that occurred during winter 2013/2014.

1. The use of compound cubed diets for monkeys is discussed.

2. Experiments are described which seem to show that a cubed diet, supplemented only by greenfood and water, can be completely adequate for growth and reproduction.

The result of bacteriological research indicates that the material infected is probably not large compared to the total amount used, and that in suspected samples of both hair and bristles anthrax bacilli can be isolated either by inoculation of animals or by plate cultivation.

Difficulties are met with in the inoculation of animals owing to the presence of the bacillus of malignant oedema, which, unless special methods are used as shown by Duncan, will often mask the presence of the anthrax bacillus altogether.

In separation by means of agar plates the presence of bacilli very closely resembling anthrax again leads to error. Three types of these bacilli have been met with in hair and bristles; viz.: Bac. A2 or Bac. anthracoides of Bainbridge, possibly the same as Bac. subtilis, the Bac. A1, and Bac. A. The last two do not exactly correspond with any known bacilli, and so far as we know at present are of little importance, but in view of the experiments of Gilruth showing that guinea-pigs, rabbits, and sheep can resist the inoculation of large doses of virulent anthrax bacilli completely, provided these organisms are mixed with a larger quantity of some other organisms which are non-pathogenic to these animals, and that a small amount of immunity to pure anthrax is conferred, it is certain that the presence of these anthrax-like bacilli, evidently closely related to the anthrax bacillus, cannot but be of benefit; and it is possible that further experiments may show that injections of them mixed with cultures of anthrax bacilli of varied virulence may confer a higher degree of immunity than do mixtures of anthrax with other non-pathogenic bacilli, as shown by Gilruth (1904).

The chemical changes which occur in the dissolved solids of sewage on discharge into sea-water have been investigated by several workers (see references 1–11). Some observation on the difference of these changes to those occurring in polluted fresh water have been made by Letts and Richards (6,11). In regard to waters whose saline composition is not such as to preclude their admissibility for potable purposes on this account, Liversidge(12) has made a brief communication on the variation in the free and albuminoid ammonia.