ABSTRACT
In April 2004, increased numbers of hepatitis A were noted in six neighbouring districts in Germany. Exploratory interviews showed that patients had consumed bakery products from company X where two employees had been diagnosed with hepatitis A in February. A case-control study of consumption of products of company X was carried out through telephone interviews. Altogether, 64 cases were identified. Fifty-two cases and 112 controls aged >or=16 years were included in the case-control study. In total, 46/52 cases and 37/112 controls had consumed company X products [odds ratio (OR) 15.5, 95% confidence interval (CI) 6.1-39.7]. Of these, 36/46 cases and 16/37 controls had consumed pastries (OR 4.7, 95% CI 1.8-12.3), 25/46 cases and 12/37 controls had consumed filled doughnuts (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.0-6.1). Sequence analysis of the VP1-2A junction region indicated 100% strain homology between cases and an infected employee of company X. We recommended reinforcement of hygiene precautions, and consideration of a prolongation of compulsory work absence after post-exposure vaccination.
Subject(s)
Disease Outbreaks , Food Microbiology , Hepatitis A/epidemiology , Hepatovirus/genetics , Case-Control Studies , Data Collection , Foodborne Diseases , Germany/epidemiology , Hepatitis A/transmission , Hepatitis A/virology , Hepatovirus/isolation & purification , Humans , Hygiene , Interviews as TopicSubject(s)
25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 1-alpha-Hydroxylase/metabolism , Hypophosphatemia, Familial/veterinary , Kidney Cortex/enzymology , Steroid Hydroxylases/metabolism , Swine Diseases/enzymology , Animals , Calcitriol/metabolism , Hydroxylation , Hypophosphatemia, Familial/enzymology , In Vitro Techniques , SwineABSTRACT
A radioimmunoassay for porcine parathyroid hormone has been developed and applied to measure immunoreactive parathyroid hormone (PTH) in plasma of pigs with hereditary vitamin D dependency rickets (VDDR) (pseudovitamin D deficiency rickets). Levels of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25-(OH)-D3) in plasma were measured by a protein binding assay. Both plasma concentrations of PTH and 25-(OH)-D3 showed an approximately 4-fold increase compared to normal pigs. PTH levels increased with duration of the disease. Daily dosing of the animals with 1--4 micrograms of 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (1,25-(OH)2-D3) reduced PTH concentrations and resulted in clinical healing. Iv administration of 10 micrograms of 25-(OH)-D3/day did not alter PTH concentrations nor the clinical symptoms. The results suggest that these animals suffer from regulatory hyperparathyroidism. The metabolic defect could be due to a failure of the kidney to convert 25-(OH)-D3 to 1,25-(OH)2-D3.
