Genome Sequences of Hemolytic and Nonhemolytic Listeria innocua Strains from Human, Food, and Environmental Sources.

This report describes genome sequences for nine Listeria innocua strains that varied in hemolytic phenotypes on sheep blood agar. All strains were sequenced using Pacific Biosciences (PacBio) single-molecule real-time (SMRT) chemistry; overall, the average read length of these sequences was 2,869,880 bp, with an average GC content of 37%.

Whole-Genome Sequencing Reveals Multiple Subpopulations of Dominant and Persistent Lineage I Isolates of in Two Meat Processing Facilities during 2011-2015.

is a foodborne pathogen with a highly clonal population structure comprising multiple phylogenetic sub-groups that can persist within food processing environments and contaminate food. The epidemiology of is well-described in some developed countries; however, little is known about the prevalence and population structure of this pathogen in food and food processing environments located in less developed regions. The aim of this study was to determine the genetic characteristics and clonal relatedness of that were isolated from two Jamaican meat processing facilities.

Morbidity, mortality and antimicrobial resistance of pneumococcal infections in the Jamaican paediatric and adult populations.

Background: Pneumococcal infections are a leading global cause of morbidity and mortality, complicated by the increasing antimicrobial resistance of pneumococcal isolates.

Objective: To evaluate morbidity and mortality associated with both invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) and non-IPD in Jamaica in both the paediatric and adult population. Pneumococcal isolates (n= 94) were collected over a 2-year period (2008-2009).

Performance Evaluation and Clinical Associations of Immunoassays That Detect Antibodies to Negatively Charged Phospholipids Other Than Cardiolipin.

Objectives: We evaluate the performance characteristics of antiphosphatidylserine (anti-PS), antiphosphatidylinositol (anti-PI), and antiphospholipid mixture (APhL) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) compared with anticardiolipin (aCL) and anti-β2 glycoprotein I (anti-β2GPI) in a large group of patients with antiphospholipid (aPL)-related diseases.

Methods: Serum samples from 548 patients from the Hopkins and Jamaican systemic lupus erythematosus cohorts, the PROMISSE cohort, and the Antiphospholipid Standardization Laboratory were examined for immunoglobulin G (IgG)/immunoglobulin M (IgM) positivity in aCL, anti-β2GPI, anti-PS, anti-PI, and APhL ELISA assays.

Results: All IgG assays were associated with one or more thrombotic and/or obstetric manifestations, with an increased risk associated with higher antibody titers.

Population Reference Values and Prevalence Rates following Universal Screening for Subclinical Hypothyroidism during Pregnancy of an Afro-Caribbean Cohort.

Background: Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) has been reported to be associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, however universal screening and treatment is controversial.

Objectives: Our objectives were to determine population-specific pregnancy reference values (R1) for serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxine (FT4) at 14 weeks' gestation, along with the prevalence of SCH and thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb).

Methods: This was a prospective hospital-based cohort study.

Autoimmune hepatitis in a Jamaican cohort spanning 40 years.

Background: The prevalence and characteristics of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) in black populations are not well documented.

Objectives: To describe the clinical and laboratory features of AIH in patients presenting at a Jamaican hospital, 1969-2009.

Methods: A retrospective review of hospital records was done and patients were classified by the revised international scoring system.

Leptospirosis in suspected cases of dengue in Jamaica, 2002-2007.

Due to overlapping clinical features with other febrile illnesses, the diagnosis of leptospirosis is often overlooked, resulting in delay in treatment and increased mortality. In this study the prevalence of leptospirosis was determined in 590 patients with dengue-like illnesses using the Leptospira IgM dipstick and dengue enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Leptospira IgM antibodies were found in 27 (5.

Molecular epidemiology of multidrug resistant extended spectrum beta-lactamase producing Klebsiella pneumoniae at a Jamaican hospital, 2000-2004.

Background: The accurate identification of a pathogen beyond the species level is critical in epidemiological studies and investigations of nosocomial outbreaks of infection. The clonal relatedness of 66 multidrug resistant (MDR) strains of extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing K. pneumoniae isolated from clinical specimens from hospitalized patients at a Jamaican hospital during a 5 year period were determined by pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE).

Seroprevalence of dengue virus antibodies in healthy Jamaicans.

Dengue fever, a mosquito borne viral infection, is endemic to Jamaica. The seroprevalence of dengue IgG and IgM antibodies were determined in 277 healthy Jamaicans by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The seroprevalence of dengue IgG antibodies was 100% (277/277) while dengue IgM antibodies were found in 3.

Patterns of dengue virus IgM and IgG antibodies in suspected cases of dengue in Jamaica, 2003-2006.

The patterns of dengue immunoglobulin (Ig) M and IgG antibodies in patients presenting with dengue-like illnesses during 2003-2006 were investigated using enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). The seroprevalence of dengue antibodies, dengue IgM and dengue IgG antibodies were 59.4% (979/1647), 15.

High-risk and multiple human papillomavirus (HPV) infections in cancer-free Jamaican women.

Background: Vaccines, that target human papillomavirus (HPV) high risk genotypes 16 and 18, have recently been developed. This study was aimed at determining genotypes commonly found in high-risk and multiple-HPV infections in Jamaican women. Two hundred and fifty three (253) women were enrolled in the study.

Deficiency of HIV-Gag-specific T cells in early childhood correlates with poor viral containment.

Perinatal HIV infection is characterized by a sustained high-level viremia and a high risk of rapid progression to AIDS, indicating a failure of immunologic containment of the virus. We hypothesized that age-related differences in the specificity or function of HIV-specific T cells may influence HIV RNA levels and clinical outcome following perinatal infection. In this study, we defined the HIV epitopes targeted by 76 pediatric subjects (47 HIV infected and 29 HIV exposed, but uninfected), and assessed the ability of HIV-specific CD8 and CD4 T cells to degranulate and produce IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, and IL-2.

Cervical dysplasia and cancer and the use of hormonal contraceptives in Jamaican women.

Background: This study was conducted to determine whether use of hormonal contraceptives is associated with cervical dysplasia and cancer in a population where there is widespread use of hormonal contraception and the rates of cervical cancer remain high at 27.5/100,000.

Methods: A case-control study was conducted among women visiting the colposcopy and gynaelogical clinics at a tertiary referral hospital.

The outcome of lupus nephritis in Jamaican patients.

We investigated the outcome of a cohort of black Jamaican patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with nephritis. In 66 patients, 0 (0%), 15 (23%), 4 (6%), 32 (48%), 6 (9%), and 3 (5%) had classes 1, II, III, IV, V, and VI, respectively. Six (9%) had interstitial nephritis.

Prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus infection in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis at the National Chest Hospital in Jamaica.

Objective: This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus-type 1 (HIV-1) infection in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis at the National Chest Hospital in Jamaica.

Methods: This retrospective study reviewed the hospital records of 537 patients admitted over a seven-year period from 1995 to 2001. We used a standardized data collection form to obtain data for sociodemographic characteristics, clinical features, signs and symptoms, laboratory diagnosis, treatment and outcome.

Does a choice of condoms impact sexually transmitted infection incidence? A randomized, controlled trial.

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess whether providing a choice of condoms would increase condom acceptability, increase self-reported use, and decrease incident sexually transmitted infection.

Study: We randomized 414 men presenting with urethral discharge in Jamaica to receive either the "standard" clinic condom or a choice of 4 different types of condoms. Men were treated presumptively at enrollment and followed up at 1, 2, 4, and 6 months.

Anticardiolipin, other antiphospholipid antibody tests and diagnosis of the antiphospholipid syndrome.

The frequent occurrence of false positive results in the anticardiolipin (aCL) enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) hampers its application in identifying the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), a condition characterized by a myriad of clinical presentations. This study highlights some of the pitfalls in the use of assays for antiphospholipid (aPL) antibody in clinical practice. The aCL ELISA, commercially prepared anti-beta2-gylcoprotein 1 (beta2-GP1) and antiphospholipid (APhL) assays were evaluated in the diagnosis of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) in 94 pregnant women who had spontaneous abortion and a group of 177 healthy blood donors.

Seroprevalence of hepatitis C virus in haemophiliacs in Jamaica.

Haemophilic patients (n = 90) and household contacts (n = 40) were tested for serological markers of hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and elevated serum aminotransferases using commercially prepared reagents. Of the haemophiliacs 41% (37/90) tested positive for antibodies to HCV (anti-HCV); 36% (32/90) antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc); 54% (49/90) antibodies to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) and 2% (2/90) hepatitis B surface antigen. On the other hand, 29% (26/90) of the patients and 90% (36/40) of the household contacts tested negative for all of the viral markers.

HLA-DRB alleles and systemic lupus erythematosus in Jamaicans.

Background: The human leukocyte antigens (HLA) are associated with susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and manifestations of SLE in different ethnic groups.

Methods: A DNA-based HLA-typing method was used to determine alleles of HLA-DRB1, DRB3, DRB4 and DRB5 in Jamaican patients. A total of 70 patients and 100 control subjects were studied.