Simple mathematical deductions in the seroepidemiology of viral infections. II. (Para) myxoviruses (measles, mumps, influenza B), rubella, enteroviruses (polio, coxsackie B), adenoviruses, and mycoplasma pneumoniae.

Large samples of nonselected persons collected in South-West Germany were investigated for the prevalence of serum antibodies to Poliovirus 1-3 and Coxsackievirus B 1-5 (neutralisation test), to Measles, Rubella, and Mumps (hemagglutination inhibition test), Mumps, Influenza B, Adenovirus, and Mycoplasma pneumoniae (complement-fixation test). According to "catalytic models", which compare the infection spread to simple chemical reactions of molecules as self-limiting procedures, a mathematical approximation of the serum surveys was performed. By the use of only two parameters it became possible to calculate the annual attack rates (without regard of age group arrangement and test sensibility), to construct "true" epidemic curves, and to estimate the persistence of humoral immunity in the population investigated for NT and HIT antibodies.

Simple mathematical deductions in the seroepidemiology of viral infections. I. Herpesvirus group (herpesvirus hominis, varicella-zoster virus, cytomegalovris, Epstein-Barr-Virus).

Large samples of nonselected persons collected in South-West Germnay were investigated for the prevalence of serum antibodies to the human Herpesviruses HSV, VZV, CMV and EBV. According to "catalytic models", which compare the infection spread to simple chemical reactions of molecules, a mathematical approximation of the serum surveys was performed. Through a new deduction of the exponential function y = k (l - e-r+) a simple way was found to estimate the annual attack rates in percent of the susceptible, seronegative people.

Solid-phase enzyme immunoassay for immunoglobulin M antibodies to cytomegalovirus.

A sensitive, solid-phase enzyme immunoassay for the detection of immunoglobulin M antibodies to cytomegalovirus is described. The results of the enzyme immunoassay correlated well with those obtained by an indirect immunofluorescence method. Horseradish peroxidase proved to be a more sensitive label than alkaline phosphatase.

[New aspects on the treatment of pneumonia associated with acute mycoplasma infections (author's transl)].

Over a period of 16 months acute mycoplasma pneumonia was diagnosed in 20 patients. All were rapidly and completely cured by ampicillin and cephalosporins, which are ineffective against mycoplasma, indicating that acute mycoplasma infection in children does not require selective treatment, the pneumonia probably being caused by other micro-organisms. There is no prove that mycoplasma pneumonia heals spontaneously, without any therapy.

IgM antibodies to cytomegalovirus during pregnancy.

IgM antibodies to cytomegalovirus (CMV) could be detected in about 7 per cent of 629 pregnant women whereas in 225 nonpregnant control women of similar age distribution only 2.6 per cent showed CMV IgM antibodies. Intrauterine CMV infections were almost exclusively detected among the CMV IgM positive gravides.

Neutralizing serum IgM antibodies in infections with Herpes simplex virus hominis.

Forty-two patients with herpes simplex virus infections were tested for neutralizing serum IgM antibodies. A technique in which serum antibody fluorescein staining was combined with sucrose gradient centrifugation facilitated the isolation of the serum IgM fraction for the use in neutralization tests. In nearly all cases with primary infection, especially those presenting heavy clinical signs (encephalitis/meningitis) the IgM tests were positive.

[Use of nekal BX for pretreatment of clinical material before culture to diagnose tuberculosis (author's transl)].

Recently, also detergents have been proposed for use in the pretreatment of clinical material for cultural demonstration of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. One of such substances is the anionic detergent. Neckal BX (diisobutyl naphthaline sulphonate) which in combination with 0.

[Quantitative and virus specific serum IgM detection in newborns (author's transl)].

Serum IgM concentration was determined in umbilical cord blood samples from 1000 newborns. 34 cases presenting elevated IgM values (greater than or equal to 30 mg%) were tested for virus specific IgM antibodies. We could demonstrate such virus specific IgM antibodies against Cytomegalovirus (4), against Rubella, Influenza A and Influenza B (2 each) and against Coxsackie virus (1).

Envelope and nucleocapsid antigens of Cytomegalovirus (CMV).

A method for the purification and concentration of Cytomegalovirus nucleocapsids and particles complete with envelope is described. Antibody to either nucleocapsid or envelope antigens can be detected in human sera. In patients with CMV disease the antibodies to the envelope antigen could not be detected before the 3rd week after the beginning of disease whereas antibodies to the nucleocapsid were detected earlier.

Rapid method to detect rubella immunoglobulin M and immunoglobulin A antibodies.

Immunoglobulin (Ig) G was removed from serum specimens by precipitation with gamma chain-specific anti-human IgG of rabbit origin. The remaining rubella virus-specific IgM (and IgA) antibodies were then detected by the rubella hemagglutination-inhibition test. This procedure has proven to be as reliable as estimations carried out with IgM fractions separated on a sucrose density gradient.

[Investigations on immunity against poliomyelitis (author's transl)].

Six virus laboratories from various parts of the German Federal Republic and West Berlin undertook investigations into polio-myelitis immunity in 1972. A total of 267 persons aged up to 20 years were investigated for neutralizing antibodies against the three types of polio virus. The study showed that from the fourth year of life approximately 70% of the persons investigated had antibodies against all three types of polio virus.