ABSTRACT
Even though Lyme disease probably existed in Oklahoma prior to 1975 when the disease was first reported in Connecticut and even though ecological conditions favor a high prevalence, an unexpectedly low rate was evidenced in both a serological survey and the number of cases reported to the Oklahoma State Department of Health. Lyme disease does not appear to pose a significant public health threat in Oklahoma at the present time; however, the the presence of all the necessary factors for transmission and the rapidly increasing number of cases reported in nearby areas merits continued surveillance in this state. The need for consistent case definition is discussed.
Subject(s)
Lyme Disease/epidemiology , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Female , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Lyme Disease/immunology , Male , Oklahoma/epidemiology , PrevalenceABSTRACT
Prior studies by the authors suggested high levels of Legionella pneumophila in the recreational and water supply reservoirs in central Oklahoma. This high exposure potential was supported by a relatively high prevalence of seropositive, asymptomatic infections among healthy blood donors in the area. In contrast, the present 9-month laboratory-based study confirmed only one clinical Legionella infection among 117 unidentified pulmonary disease patients admitted to the Oklahoma City Veterans Administration Medical Center. Comparison with the reports of others and with reported legionellosis in Oklahoma indicates that differences in cohort definition and variations in utilization and interpretation of clinical analyses leads to wide variations in the reported incidence of legionellosis.
Subject(s)
Legionnaires' Disease/epidemiology , Lung Diseases/complications , Humans , Incidence , Legionnaires' Disease/complications , Oklahoma , Water Microbiology , Water Supply/standardsABSTRACT
Direct immunofluorescent monoclonal antibody stain testing for Legionella pneumophila in Oklahoma lake water yielded an unknown bacillus with fluorescence intensity equal to that of L. pneumophila stock strains. The organism in question was identified as Bacillus cereus, a ubiquitous bacterium. When B. cereus cultures were studied, fluorescence was seen in spores but not in vegetative cells. Since a positive immunofluorescent monoclonal antibody test (alone) might be considered by some individuals as unequivocal to very good evidence for the presence of L. pneumophila, this finding emphasizes the importance of confirming positive stain results with cultures whenever possible.
Subject(s)
Antibodies, Monoclonal , Bacillus cereus/isolation & purification , Fluorescent Antibody Technique , Legionella/isolation & purification , False Positive Reactions , Spores, Bacterial/isolation & purification , Water MicrobiologyABSTRACT
In order to determine the extent to which Legionella pneumophila antibodies are passively transferred transplacentally into the fetal circulation, 199 matched serums of mothers and their newborn infants were tested using the indirect fluorescent polyclonal antibody technique. Considering L. pneumophila antibody titers of greater than or equal to 1:64 as evidence of inapparent infection, the overall prevalence rate was 35.7% for the mothers and 14.1% for their newborns. Among the mothers who were seropositive at greater than or equal to 1:64, 36.6% of their matched infants acquired antibodies transplacentally. With only two exceptions there were no newborns with an antibody titer greater than or equal to 1:64 whose mothers did not also evidence at least the same titer.
