Serological diagnosis of parainfluenza virus infections: verification of the sensitivity and specificity of the haemagglutination-inhibition (HI), complement-fixation (CF), immunofluorescence (IFA) tests and enzyme immunoassay (ELISA).

Using four serological tests paired sera were examined of 117 patients with acute respiratory diseases, in whom parainfluenza viruses (PIV) infection was demonstrated by virus isolation, and of 41 patients with typical clinical mumps symptoms. Comparative analysis showed the high sensitivity of IFA and ELISA. A significant rise of antibodies in convalescent sera with homologous antigen of PIV was found in nearly 100 percent of cases.

Studies of natural population variability of parainfluenza viruses during their epidemic circulation.

The population of circulating serotype 3 parainfluenza virus strains isolated in different years proved to be sufficiently polymorphic concerning its antigenic and biological features as well as their virulence for newborn hamsters. The highly virulent strain population appeared to have an antigenic pattern different from that of the prototype strain. The epidemic caused by it in groups of school and preschool children was more intensive as compared to that induced by avirulent strains population.

[Clinical diagnosis and laboratory study of acute respiratory diseases of viral origin in children].

The authors analyzed retrospectively a group of 477 children aged two months to 16 years (mean age 6 years and 5 months), hospitalized on account of acute respiratory disease and subjected to virological examination. The aetiology was revealed in 53% of the sick children. In the elucidation of the aetiology participated a number of respiratory viruses, in particular the respiratory syncytial virus.

[Surveillance of acute respiratory diseases in the 1988/1989 season in Czechoslovakia].

The authors submit an analysis of results of surveillance of acute respiratory diseases during the 1988/1989 season in the CSSR. The influenza epidemic took place between the 4th and 11th calendar week with a peak in the 7th week. During the epidemic 19.

Epidemiological analysis of acute respiratory disease (ARD) and characteristics of the influenza epidemic in Bohemia during the season 1986/1987.

The authors analyze the findings of epidemiological and virological surveillance of ARD in Bohemia during the season 1986/1987. In all, 57.5% of the Czech population was affected by acute respiratory disease (ARD).

[Acute viral respiratory diseases as a cause of work disability in miners during an inter-epidemic period].

During the interepidemic period between October 1 and November 20 1987 96 miners from a coal mine were examined who suffered from diseases of the upper airways which caused their work incapacity. In paired sera the rise of antibodies against M. pneumoniae and respiratory viruses were examined (adeno, influenza virus A and B, Coxsackie A21, corona 229E and OC43, parainfluenza type 1, 2 and 3, rhino type 13 and 44, RS).

[A nosocomial epidemic caused by adenovirus type 3 at a clinic for children and adolescents].

The authors describe an epidemic of acute viral respiratory diseases with a nosocomial character at a clinic for children and adolescents, caused by adenovirus type 3. Of 80 exposed children 26 fell ill (attack rate 32.5%).

[Virologic and morphologic study in sudden and unexpected death in children].

The authors examined a group of 47 children who died at the age of 1-9 months, incl. 19 female and 28 male children. In 23 the death was described as sudden and in 24 as unexpected.

[Specific and nonspecific indicators of activation of influenza viruses before an epidemic caused by influenza viruses subtype A/H3N2 and type B in Czechoslovakia in 1986].

The authors submit an aetiological and epidemiological analysis of the influenza epidemic which occurred in the CSR between the 4th and 14th week of 1986 and was caused by the influenza virus subtype A/H3N2/ and type B. The epidemic affected a total of 27.1% of the population, in the age group of 0-5 years 63.

Occurrence and aetiology of acute respiratory diseases: results of a longterm surveillance programme.

Totals of 58,661,000 acute respiratory disease (ARD) cases, 1,376,651 bronchitis and pneumonia complications, and 93,042 deaths from influenza, bronchitis, pneumonia or chronic pulmonary affection were notified during 11 years of ARD surveillance from 1975 to 1986. All ARD seasons started with the first phase in September-December; this increase in morbidity was caused chiefly by adenoviruses, parainfluenza viruses, rhinoviruses and M. pneumoniae.

Detection of postvaccination mumps virus antibody by neutralization test, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and sensitive hemagglutination inhibition test.

A group of 251 children aged 2-3 years given live attenuated mumps virus vaccine PAVIVAC of Czechoslovak production were tested for antiparotitis antibody levels in pre- and postvaccination sera by neutralization test (NT), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and sensitive hemagglutination inhibition test, enhanced by heterologous antibody to human immunoglobulin G (E-HIT). The prevaccination findings were as follows: positive ELISA IgG titres, neutralization antibodies and hemagglutination inhibition antibodies were present in, respectively, 35%, 25.9% and 27.

Transplacental antibodies. Part III: Maternal antibodies against polioviruses, M. parotitidis and M. parainfluenzae.

In 1981 we examined 247 sera for the presence of antibodies against all three types of poliovirus and 253 sera for antibodies against M. parotitidis and three types of M. parainfluenzae viruses.

Antibody to parainfluenza virus types 1, 2 and 3 in sera and nasal secretions of persons of different age.

Serum and secretory antibody levels against 3 types of parainfluenza virus were determined in persons ranging in age from 1 month to 74 years. With a slight decline in the group of 7 months to 2 years of children, the number of positive findings increased with age, reaching maximum in the groups of 16-24 years [types 1 and 2] and 25-74 years [type 3] old persons. Nasal secretory antibodies against parainfluenza type 3 virus were detected in all age categories, the highest number of positive findings occurred in the group of 16-24 years old persons.

[Viral infection in acute otitis media in children (author's transl)].

One hundred and twenty-six children with purulent otitis media were examined virologically at the Children's Otorhinolaryngological Clinic in Prague. Viral infection was established in 60, i.e.

Haemagglutination inhibition antibodies in nasal secretions of persons after natural parainfluenza virus infection.

In 7 adults and 7 children with upper respiratory illness of parainfluenza aetiology, the virus was isolated in the acute phase from nasal washings or nasal smears in spite of high titres of haemagglutination inhibition (HI) antibodies in serum. By contrast, secretory HI antibodies were not demonstrated at the onset of illness in any of the patients, but their formation started early and the antibodies reached maximal levels about 10 days after onset of illness. The individual patients showed considerable differences in the dynamics of secretory antibody formation and especially in their persistence.

Influenza and other actue respiratory diseases in the Czech Socialist Republic, 1969-1974.

Since 1969, the incidence of acute respiratory diseases (ARD) in the Czech Socialist Republic of Czechoslovakia has been monitored by a special programme based on reports from 85 district epidemiological centres. In this paper, the incidence of ARD in three age groups, together with the incidence of complications and death rates, are presented for each season during the period 1969-1974. The significance of epidemiological observations and laboratory investigations relating to influenza and other ARD agents, such as parainfluenza viruses, adenoviruses, rhinoviruses, RS virus, coronaviruses, and Mycoplasma pneumoniae, is discussed.

Serological survey of parainfluenza and parotitis in the population of Czechoslovakia.

A serological survey was carried out to determine the prevalence and age distribution of HI antibodies against M. parainfluenzae type 1, 2, 3 and 4A and against M. parotitis in the population on from 7 regions of the Czech Socialist Republic.