Laboratory diagnosis of smallpox: role of the Virus Reference Laboratory, Colindale, 1947-70.

The Virus Reference Laboratory, Colindale, first embarked on laboratory investigations for smallpox early in 1947. From then, in conjunction with the Department of Bacteriology, University of Liverpool, it provided a complete diagnostic service throughout England and Wales until 1962, after which the service became available regionally until eradication was effected. Up to 1970 it had investigated 2696 specimens from suspected cases of smallpox and had recovered 108 strains of variola and 248 of vaccinia virus.

Hospital study of adult community-acquired pneumonia.

The cause of primary pneumonia was diagnosed in 124 of 127 consecutive adult patients admitted to hospital with community-acquired illness. Pneumococcal infection was found in 96 (76%) patients and legionnaries' disease was the second commonest infection identified (15%). Other bacterial infections were uncommon.

Electron microscopic evidence of flagella and pili on Legionella pneumophila.

Twenty-one strains of Legionella pneumophila, representing the six known serotypes of the organism, cultured on various bacteriological media and in the yolk sacs of fertile hens' eggs were examined by negative stain electron microscopy for flagella and pili. These appendages were usually observed after cultivation on media capable of inducing an early profuse growth of the organisms.

The antibody response in Legionnaires' disease.

From 22 patients with Legionnaires' disease, 86 sera were examined for specific serotype 1 IgM and IgG antibodies by the indirect immunofluorescence technique. No antibody was detectable until 8 days or more from the onset of symptoms. When produced the amount was widely variable and remained detectable for periods from less than 34 days to more than 1 year.

Legionnaires' disease in Nottingham, England.

Legionnaires' disease bacterium was identified as the cause of severe pneumonia in some Nottingham, England, patients in 1977. Laboratory studies were not restricted to Nottingham but included several other areas in England. The 41 cases identified were evenly divided between areas; they also accounted for about one half of all cases for the entire country.

Epidemiology of poly-parasitism. IV. Combined effects on the state of health.

The assessment of morbidity caused by chronic parasitic infections in the populations of endemic areas has remained difficult and controversial. Contributing to this predicament is the frequent occurrence of multiple infections with agents that can cause a wide range of clinical manifestations, from the frequent symptomless carrier state to overt disease with more or less specific clinical manifestations. In the interpretation of the complex morbidity patterns found in rural populations of tropical countries, it is often difficult to make a clear determination of cause and effect.

Epidemiology of poly-parasitism. III. Effects on the diagnostic capacity of immunological tests.

The paper describes some effects of interaction between different types of parasitic infections on the diagnostic capacity of immunological tests for parasitic diseases. Examples shown include an analysis of association for anergy to tuberculin in skin tests of individuals with and without skin manifestations of onchocerciasis; skin tests with P. westermani and C.

Epidemiology of poly-parasitism. II. Types of combinations, relative frequency and associations of multiple infections.

Frequency distributions, including all of the observed types of combinations of multiple infections with different helminths and protozoa are presented for sample villages of the African Savannah and of the trans-Andean part of Peru. Measurements of correlation between these infections based on properties of the multivariate, multinomial distribution are calculated to show age and sex patterns of association in different population samples. A correlation matrix for combined infections with Dipetalonema perstans, D.

Comparison of radial haemolysis with haemagglutination inhibition in estimating rubella antibody.

Radial haemolysis (RH) for assaying rubella antibody was studied in parallel tests with haemagglutination-inhibition (HAI) on 1102 sera from adult women. Simple to perform and economical in reagents, the RH test is as sensitive as the HAI test and is a useful method of screening antenatal and other sera for rubella immunity. It detects IgG but not IgM antibody.