Can hydrographic data provide evidence that the rate of oceanic uptake of anthropogenic CO2 is increasing?

Predictions of the rate of accumulation of anthropogenic carbon dioxide in the Pacific Ocean near 32°S and 150°W based on the P16 surveys of 1991 and 2005 and on the P06 surveys of 1992 and 2003 underestimate the amount found in the P06 survey of 2009-2010, suggesting an increasing uptake rate. Assuming the accumulation rate to be constant over the two decades, analyses using all five surveys lead to upward revision of the rates based only on the first four. On the other hand, accumulation rates estimated for 2003-2010 are significantly greater than those for 1991-2003, again suggesting an increasing uptake rate.

Legionella nagasakiensis sp. nov., isolated from water samples and from a patient with pneumonia.

A novel Legionella species was identified based on analysis of 16S rRNA and mip (macrophage infectivity potentiator) gene sequences, cellular fatty acids, isoprenoid quinones, biochemical reactions, antigens and quantitative DNA-DNA hybridization. Strain CDC-1796-JAP-E(T) was isolated from well water at the Nagasaki Municipal Medical Center, Japan. Two strains, CDC-3041-AUS-E and CDC-3558-AUS-E, were isolated from water samples during an outbreak of legionellosis in South Australia.

Genotyping of Chlamydophila psittaci by real-time PCR and high-resolution melt analysis.

Human infection with Chlamydophila (Chlamydia) psittaci can lead to psittacosis, a disease that occasionally results in severe pneumonia and other medical complications. C. psittaci is currently grouped into seven avian genotypes: A through F and E/B.

Detection of macrolide resistance in Mycoplasma pneumoniae by real-time PCR and high-resolution melt analysis.

Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a significant cause of community-acquired pneumonia, which is often empirically treated with macrolides or azalides such as erythromycin or azithromycin. Recent studies have discovered the existence of macrolide-resistant strains within the population that have been mapped to mutations within the domain V region of the 23S rRNA gene. Currently, identification of these resistant strains relies on time-consuming and labor-intensive procedures such as restriction fragment length polymorphism, MIC studies, and sequence analysis.

Evaluation of three real-time PCR assays for detection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae in an outbreak investigation.

We compared the performances of three recently optimized real-time PCR assays derived from distinct genomic regions of Mycoplasma pneumoniae during an outbreak. Comprehensive evaluation established that a newly described toxin gene represents a superior target for detecting M. pneumoniae DNA in clinical specimens, although use of multiple targets may increase testing confidence.

Epidemiology of severe pneumonia caused by Legionella longbeachae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and Chlamydia pneumoniae: 1-year, population-based surveillance for severe pneumonia in Thailand.

Background: Legionella species, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and Chlamydia pneumoniae are recognized as important causes of pneumonia in high-income countries, but their significance in middle-income countries, such as Thailand, is unknown.

Methods: Population-based surveillance identified inpatient 3489 cases of clinically-defined pneumonia in a rural Thai province for 1 year. Patients who had a chest radiograph performed (for 2059 cases of pneumonia) were enrolled in an etiology study (which included 755 cases of pneumonia among 738 patients).

Two outbreaks of severe respiratory disease in nursing homes associated with rhinovirus.

Objectives: To characterize illness and identify the etiology for two nursing home outbreaks of respiratory illness.

Design: Multisite outbreak investigations; cohort.

Setting: Two nursing homes in Pennsylvania.

Analysis of eight commercial enzyme immunoassay tests for detection of antibodies to Mycoplasma pneumoniae in human serum.

Mycoplasma pneumoniae is an important etiologic agent of primary atypical pneumonia in children and adults. The diagnosis of M. pneumoniae infection is commonly confirmed through serologic testing.

SARS surveillance during emergency public health response, United States, March-July 2003.

In response to the emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), the United States established national surveillance using a sensitive case definition incorporating clinical, epidemiologic, and laboratory criteria. Of 1,460 unexplained respiratory illnesses reported by state and local health departments to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from March 17 to July 30, 2003, a total of 398 (27%) met clinical and epidemiologic SARS case criteria. Of these, 72 (18%) were probable cases with radiographic evidence of pneumonia.

Etiology of pulmonary infections in predominantly HIV-infected adults with suspected tuberculosis, Botswana.

Setting: In countries with high HIV rates, diagnosis of lower respiratory disease etiology is both challenging and clinically important.

Objective: To determine the etiology of lower respiratory tract disease among persons with suspected tuberculosis (TB) and abnormal chest X-rays in a setting with very high HIV seroprevalence.

Design: Cross-sectional prevalence data from a prospective cohort of predominantly hospitalized adults with suspected TB in Botswana, January-December 1997.

Specific, sensitive, and quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for human immunoglobulin G antibodies to anthrax toxin protective antigen.

The bioterrorism-associated human anthrax epidemic in the fall of 2001 highlighted the need for a sensitive, reproducible, and specific laboratory test for the confirmatory diagnosis of human anthrax. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention developed, optimized, and rapidly qualified an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies to Bacillus anthracis protective antigen (PA) in human serum. The qualified ELISA had a minimum detection limit of 0.

Mycoplasma microti sp. nov., isolated from the respiratory tract of prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster).

Mycoplasmas were isolated from the respiratory tracts of prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster). This paper presents biochemical, serological and molecular genetic characterizations of those organisms and proposes a new species, Mycoplasma microti sp. nov.

Azithromycin prophylaxis during a hospital outbreak of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia.

Outbreaks of Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) in closed communities can have a high attack rate and can last several months. Azithromycin chemoprophylaxis has not been evaluated as a means of limiting transmission. This randomized, double-blinded placebo-controlled trial of azithromycin was conducted among asymptomatic hospital employees during an MP outbreak.

Analysis of complement fixation and commercial enzyme immunoassays for detection of antibodies to Mycoplasma pneumoniae in human serum.

The Meridian ImmunoCard (IC), GenBio ImmunoWELL-IgM, and Remel EIA commercial antibody tests are qualitative enzyme immunoassays that detect antibodies to Mycoplasma pneumoniae in serum. These tests were compared to an M. pneumoniae complement fixation (CF) assay, which uses a commercially available antigen component.

An outbreak of acute respiratory disease caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae and adenovirus at a federal service training academy: new implications from an old scenario.

Outbreaks of Mycoplasma pneumoniae and adenovirus have been reported in military institutions for several decades. During a recent outbreak in a federal service training academy, we performed an epidemiological and laboratory investigation to better characterize and control the outbreak. Of 586 students responding to a questionnaire, 317 (54%) reported having a respiratory illness during the outbreak period.

Diagnosis of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection in autopsy and open-lung biopsy tissues by nested PCR.

A nested PCR specific for the Mycoplasma pneumoniae P1 gene was used to diagnose mycoplasma infection in two cohort patients with severe pneumonia within 24 h of tissue receipt. A postmortem diagnosis of M. pneumoniae infection was obtained for the first patient, who died without the collection of appropriate paired samples for serodiagnosis.

Pathogenicity of Mycoplasma volis in mice and rats.

A new species of Mycoplasma, M. volis, was isolated from the respiratory tract of clinically normal field-trapped prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) that were to be housed in close proximity to other rodents. To determine the pathogenic potential of the new mycoplasmal isolate, three groups of rodents (Sprague Dawley rats, BALB/c mice, and severe combined immunodeficient [SCID] mice) were intranasally inoculated with 2 x 10(8) color-changing units (CCU) of M.

Enhanced control of an outbreak of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia with azithromycin prophylaxis.

There are currently no recommended epidemic-control measures for Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia outbreaks in closed communities. Previous studies have suggested the usefulness of chemoprophylaxis administered to close contacts of case-patients. To evaluate the effectiveness of various epidemic-control measures during an institutional outbreak, an observational study was undertaken during a very large outbreak of M.

Legionella waltersii sp. nov. and an unnamed Legionella genomospecies isolated from water in Australia.

Two Legionella-like organisms were isolated from water samples obtained in Adelaide, Australia. One organisms was isolated from a drinking water distribution system, and the other was isolated from a cooling tower at a sewage treatment plant. Both strains required L-cysteine for growth and contained cellular branched-chain fatty acids and ubiquinones typical of the genus Legionella.

Isolation of mycoplasmas from prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster).

A new species of mycoplasmas was isolated from the lungs and nasopharyngeal washings of prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster). Clinical signs of disease and microscopic lesions were not observed at the time of this isolation. The organism was cultured in SP4 medium; it grew aerobically, anaerobically, and in 5% CO2 in 5 to 7 days, and fermented glucose.

Comparison of two rapid commercial tests with complement fixation for serologic diagnosis of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections.

The complement fixation (CF) test is the current reference serologic test for the diagnosis of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection. However, it is reported to be insensitive and nonspecific, and it is labor intensive. To determine if a faster and more sensitive diagnosis of M.

Concurrent outbreaks of pertussis and Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection: clinical and epidemiological characteristics of illnesses manifested by cough.

Concurrent outbreaks of illnesses that were manifested by cough and that were suspected to be due to Bordetella pertussis and Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection were investigated in a midwestern town in Illinois. Three studies were conducted: questionnaires on the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of illness were administered to patients; serological tests were performed to confirm the presence of each pathogen and to develop case definitions for each illness; and case definitions were applied to responses to a mail-in questionnaire for estimating the magnitude of both outbreaks. In 135 cases of suspected pertussis and 42 cases of suspected mycoplasmal infection, subjects had a cough for > or = 14 days (the pertussis outbreak case definition).

Mycoplasma contamination of chlamydiae isolated from clinical specimens.

Ten Chlamydia pneumoniae strains were screened for Mycoplasma contamination using two differently designed Mycoplasma-specific polymerase chain reactions (PCR). The primers of the Mycoplasma-specific PCR designed by Spaepen et al. (9) cross-reacted with all of the C.

Five new Legionella species isolated from water.

Fourteen Legionella-like strains isolated from aquatic sources have been characterized serologically, biochemically, and in terms of DNA relatedness. The strains grew on buffered charcoal-yeast extract agar but not on blood agar and displayed phenotypic characteristics typical of the family Legionellaceae, including a requirement for cysteine, cellular fatty acid compositions in which branched-chain acids predominate, and the possession of isoprenoid quinones of the ubiquinone series with more than 10 isoprene units in their side chains. All were nonfermentative, lacked urease, were incapable of nitrate reduction, and reacted positively with a DNA probe specific for the Legionellaceae.