Isolation of Yersinia spp. from cases of diarrhoea in Iraqi infants and children

All 250 children presenting with diarrhoea at 2 teaching hospitals in Mosul, Iraq over a 9-month period were studied for the presence of Yersinia spp. in stools by cold-enrichment culture at 4 [0]C for 21 days. Pathogenicity of the isolated Yersinia was determined. Antibodies to Y. enterocolitica were raised for rapid Yersinia detection in the stool. Yersinia spp. were isolated from the stools of only 4 patients; 3 isolates were identified as Y. enterocolitica and 1 was Y. pseudotuberculosis. The blood culture was also positive for Y. enterocolitica in 1 case. The antibiogram test for the isolated Yersinia was determined. Cross-reaction between Y. pseudotuberculosis and Salmonella typhi or S. paratyphi B, and between Y. enterocolitica and Brucella was detected serologically

Detection of helicobacter pylori infection in dyspeptic patients by different sero-bacteriological methods

To evaluate invasive [biopsy related] tests and non-invasive [serological] tests in the diagnosis of H. pylori ninety-two adults [54 male, 38 female] presenting with dyspepsia were studied after classification into two groups on the basis of endoscopical diagnosis; 46 patients with erosive diseases [gastroduodenal ulcers or gastroduodenal erosions] and 46 patients with non-erosive diseases [gastritis or gastroduodenitis]. Sera were tested for anti -H .pylori IgG and IgM by an immunochromatography card test and ELISA respectively. Three antral biopsies were taken for biopsy urease test [BUT], bacterial culture and histological examination. Stool samples were obtained from only 30 dyspeptic cases for H. pylori antigen detection [HpSA] by an ELISA method. H. pylori was detected in 81 of 92 cases; these were positive by one or more of the gold standard tests [culture, histology and biopsy-urease test]. Histological examination yielded the highest frequency of microorganism detection [71.7%], followed by BUT [68.5%] and then bacterial culture [26.1%]. In erosive disorders the BUT gave the highest frequency of positivity [78.3%], followed by histological examination [67.4%], and then bacterial culture [41.3%] but in non-erosive disorders histological examination gave the highest positive results [76.1%] followed by BUT [58.7%] and bacterial culture [10.9%]. The overall sensitivities of BUT, histology and bacterial culture of H. pylori were 77.8%, 81.5% and 29.6% respectively. Serologically the anti -H .pylori IgG test yielded the highest frequency of positive results [80.4%], followed by HpSA test [66.7%] and the least positive was anti -H. pylori IgM test [65.2%]. In the light of the gold standard tests used [biopsy-related tests], the validity of anti -H. pylori IgG test, anti-H .pylori 1gM test and HpSA test were determined; the sensitivities being 79%, 65.4% and 75% respectively and their specificities were 9.1%, 36.4% and 66.7% respectively. The positive and negative predictive values, the positive and negative likelihood ratios of serological tests were also evaluated. The most sensitive invasive test [biopsy related] and noninvasive [serological] tests were histological examination and IgG immunochromatography card tests respectively

panel of eight tests in the serodiagnosis and immunological evaluation of acute brucellosis

A panel of eight tests was used to study 200 cases of acute brucellosis, 200 patients negative for brucella as a control group and 200 apparently healthy individuals as a second control group. The best diagnostic test was the rose Bengal test using an imported reagent [BioM‚rieux, France] and 2 local reagents. This test was improved from being a screening test to be a titrable one. The best two tests used together were the tube agglutination test with Coomb-like test. The indirect fluorescent antibody test had no advantages over the use of other tests. The 2-mercaptoethanol test and C-reactive protein test were useful in checking the brucellosis activity. Normal numbers of E-rosette forming cells and inefficient neutrophils in phagocytosis were found in peripheral blood during acute brucellosis