Ethnic differences in the occurrence of the M1(ala213) haplotype of alpha-1-antitrypsin in asthmatic and non-asthmatic black and white South Africans.

An ethnic study of 175 individuals, comprising 65 black and 110 white South Africans, has shown a conclusive difference in the frequency of the M1(ala213) haplotype of alpha 1-antitrypsin (P < 0.00001). The M1(ala213) haplotype occurred more frequently in the black group.

Molecular epidemiology of an outbreak of poliomyelitis in South Africa in 1987/1988.

An outbreak of paralytic poliomyelitis occurred in the Republic of South Africa in 1987/88. The epidemic took place in the Natal/KwaZulu region of South Africa and was due to type 1 poliovirus. Twenty-four isolates were characterised by 1- and 2-dimensional oligonucleotide mapping and a single strain of wild-type poliovirus was identified.

Molecular epidemiology of a coxsackievirus B3 outbreak.

An outbreak of coxsackievirus B3 infection occurred in South Africa in 1984 with a variety of clinical manifestations being observed. Fifty-one isolates from patients ranging in age from young babies to middle-aged adults were obtained. To define further the epidemiology of this outbreak all isolates were characterised by either 1- or 2-dimensional oligonucleotide mapping.

Outbreak of poliomyelitis in South Africa investigated by oligonucleotide mapping.

An outbreak of paralytic poliomyelitis, due to polio type 1 virus, occurred in the Gazankulu region of the Transvaal in the Republic of South Africa in 1982. Thirty-four different isolates from this epidemic were characterized by oligonucleotide mapping. None of the isolates were shown to be vaccine related.