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1.
J Hosp Infect ; 58(3): 180-6, 2004 Nov.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-15501331

ABSTRACT

This population-based, retrospective, cohort study describes a large methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) epidemic caused by one strain (E1) in the greater Helsinki region. The epidemic comprised 210 cases at several hospitals, but was finally controlled. The study period ranged from June 1991 to December 2000. The epidemic peaked in 1993-1995 with 143 cases (68% of total cases). From August 1993, all MRSA-positive cases at the eight municipal hospitals were isolated and barrier nursed. Contacts were cohorted and screened for MRSA colonization. Decolonization treatment was administered to some chronic carriers. MRSA cases and contacts were identified in the joint patient register of the municipal hospitals from August 1993. The annual incidence of MRSA E1 in Helsinki City area per 100,000 inhabitants rose from 0.2 in 1991 to 13.6 in 1994. It decreased from 1995, reaching 0.7 per 100,000 in 2000. A jointly agreed policy on MRSA and timely co-operation between all units were essential for control of this epidemic.


Subject(s)
Cross Infection/prevention & control , Disease Outbreaks , Infection Control/methods , Methicillin Resistance , Staphylococcal Infections/prevention & control , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Cohort Studies , Cross Infection/epidemiology , Cross Infection/etiology , Female , Finland/epidemiology , Humans , Incidence , Male , Medical Records , Medical Staff , Middle Aged , Registries , Retrospective Studies , Staphylococcal Infections/epidemiology , Staphylococcal Infections/etiology , Staphylococcus aureus/isolation & purification
2.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab ; 85(12): 4434-40, 2000 Dec.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-11134089

ABSTRACT

Autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy (APECED) is caused by lack of functional products of the autoimmune regulator gene located on chromosome 21q22.3. The patients are at high risk of developing insulin-dependent (type 1) diabetes, but the positive predictive value of GAD65 or islet cell antibodies for type 1 diabetes is only 27%. Autoantibodies against the IA-2 tyrosine phosphatase-like protein (IA-2 ab) or insulin (IAA) have been suggested to be better markers for active ss-cell destruction. We studied these antibodies in sera from 60 Finnish patients with APECED, 12 of whom subsequently developed type 1 diabetes. Four (36%) of the 11 patients for whom we had prediabetic samples had IA-2 ab, and 4 (36%) had IAA. None of the 48 nondiabetics had IAA, and only 2 (4%) had IA-2 ab. Both had the antibodies for years without diabetes. Thus, IA-2 ab or IAA have a low sensitivity (36%), but high specificity (96% or 100%), with a positive predictive value of 67% for type 1 diabetes in patients with APECED. Data for human leukocyte antigen haplotypes were available for 59 of the patients, including 11 diabetics, and for 8 additional nondiabetic Finnish patients. No association between type 1 diabetes and high risk genotypes was seen. None of the 11 patients with type 1 diabetes, but 15 of the 56 (27%; P: < 0.05) nondiabetic patients and 24 of 93 (26%; P: < 0.05) of the control subjects had the DQB1*0602 allele, which is considered protective for type 1 diabetes. This is remarkable, as previously no positive or negative associations have been reported for any disease components of APECED with human leukocyte II antigens.


Subject(s)
Alleles , Autoantibodies/immunology , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/genetics , Genes, MHC Class II/genetics , Islets of Langerhans/immunology , Polyendocrinopathies, Autoimmune/genetics , Adolescent , Adult , Child , Child, Preschool , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/immunology , Female , Glucose Tolerance Test , Glutamate Decarboxylase/immunology , Haplotypes/genetics , Humans , Insulin/immunology , Isoenzymes/immunology , Male , Middle Aged , Polyendocrinopathies, Autoimmune/immunology
3.
Hum Pathol ; 30(12): 1427-30, 1999 Dec.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-10667419

ABSTRACT

Without adequate protection, the cells of the human body would be susceptible to destruction by the complement system. The main defense against complement lysis is a molecule called protectin (CD59) that is widely distributed in human tissues. Because the complement system has been suggested to be involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases, we examined the expression of protectin in the colonic epithelium of patients with ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease and controls. Colorectal specimens from 6 patients with ulcerative colitis, 8 patients with Crohn's disease, and 4 controls were obtained from surgical resections. Frozen sections of the specimens were immunostained for protectin using the Bric 229 monoclonal antibody. The expression of protectin was found to be decreased in the epithelium of patients with ulcerative colitis. In patients with Crohn's disease, the epithelial expression of protectin was decreased in diseased areas of gut while the expression did not significantly differ from that in controls in macroscopically normal areas. There was no difference in the expression of protectin on vascular endothelium, mononuclear cells, or smooth muscle. The reduction in epithelial expression of protectin in patients with ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease may render epithelial cells vulnerable to complement lysis and lead to the destruction of gut epithelium as seen typically in these diseases.


Subject(s)
CD59 Antigens/analysis , Colitis, Ulcerative/immunology , Colon/chemistry , Complement Inactivator Proteins/analysis , Crohn Disease/immunology , Intestinal Mucosa/chemistry , Adult , Aged , Antibodies, Monoclonal , Colon/immunology , Endothelium, Vascular/chemistry , Female , Humans , Immunohistochemistry , Intestinal Mucosa/immunology , Male , Middle Aged , Muscle, Smooth/chemistry
5.
Acta Paediatr ; 85(5): 614-5, 1996 May.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-8827109

ABSTRACT

Sera from children (n = 173) were tested for antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) using an enzyme immunoassay detecting IgG anti-cardiolipin antibodies (GPL). Sera from adults (n = 100) were also tested. GPL were detected more frequently and at higher levels in children than in adults. Eighty-two per cent of the children and 27% of the adults tested positive (> or = 10 GPL Uml-1) for aPL (p < 0.001). Values of 45 GPLUml-1 or higher were detected in about 5% of the children, and 25 GPLUml-1 or higher in about 5% of the adults. Normal values should be adjusted accordingly.


Subject(s)
Antibodies, Antiphospholipid/analysis , Adult , Antibodies, Antiphospholipid/blood , Child , Humans , Immunoenzyme Techniques , Immunoglobulin G/immunology
6.
APMIS ; 104(5): 355-61, 1996 May.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-8703441

ABSTRACT

Monoclonal antibodies and flow cytometry were used to analyse the proportions of T-cell subsets and NK cells in blood of patients (n = 45) with Crohn's disease. In patients with severe activity disease decreased numbers of activated (CD25+CD4+) T-helper cells and NK (CD16+CD56+) cells were found, while in patients with low activity disease the numbers of activated T-helper cells were increased and the numbers of NK cells were similar to those in normal controls. Thus, 8% of T cells were CD25+CD4+ and 16% of mononuclear cells were CD16+CD56+ in patients with severe disease. In patients with quiescent disease, 11% of T cells were CD25+CD4+ and 26% of mononuclear cells were CD16+CD56+. The results suggest that disease activity may be reflected in the proportions of blood circulating mononuclear cells, perhaps because of accumulation of CD25+CD4+ T-helper cells and NK cells in the affected tissue during exacerbation of the disease.


Subject(s)
Crohn Disease/immunology , Killer Cells, Natural/immunology , Lymphocyte Activation , Lymphocyte Count , T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer/immunology , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , CD4 Antigens , CD4 Lymphocyte Count , Female , Humans , Immunophenotyping , Male , Middle Aged , Receptors, Interleukin-2 , T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer/classification
7.
Gastroenterology ; 110(4): 1061-7, 1996 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-8612994

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Recirculation of mucosal lymphocytes has been established in animals but not in humans. Specific antibody-secreting cells in the blood of patients with diarrhea, initially activated in gut mucosa, are potential recirculating cells. The aim of this study was to determine whether these cells circulate back to gut by analyzing their homing receptors. METHODS: Blood mononuclear cells, separated with immunomagnetic cell sorting into receptor-positive and receptor-negative populations, were assayed for pathogen-specific antibody-secreting cells and all immunoglobulin-secreting cells using enzyme-linked immunospot assay. RESULTS: The gut mucosa homing receptor alpha4beta7 was expressed more frequently on pathogen-specific antibody-secreting cells than on immunoglobulin-secreting cells of healthy controls (P<0.001). Conversely, L-selectin, a homing receptor for peripheral lymph nodes, was found on remarkably fewer antibody-secreting cells of the patients compared with immunoglobulin-secreting cells of controls (32.9% and 70.3%, respectively; P<0.001). Three to 6 months after the disease, specific antibody-secreting cells had disappeared and frequency of L-selectin-and alpha4beta7-expressing cells had returned to control levels. CONCLUSIONS: Circulating mucosally activated antibody-secreting cells express a set of homing receptors guiding them back to the gut. This provides evidence for recirculation of mucosal lymphocytes in humans.


Subject(s)
B-Lymphocytes/immunology , Diarrhea/immunology , Intestinal Mucosa/immunology , Lymphocyte Activation , Receptors, Lymphocyte Homing/metabolism , Adult , Antibodies, Bacterial/biosynthesis , CD28 Antigens/metabolism , Cell Separation , Female , Flow Cytometry , HLA-DR Antigens/metabolism , Humans , Hyaluronan Receptors/metabolism , Immunoglobulins/biosynthesis , L-Selectin/metabolism , Lymph Nodes/immunology , Male , Middle Aged
9.
Immunol Lett ; 49(1-2): 123-6, 1996 Jan.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-8964599

ABSTRACT

Islet cell antibodies (ICA) were detected in 66% and glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) antibodies in 64% of children (n = 47) with newly diagnosed insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). Fifteen percent of the patients had neither GAD nor ICA antibodies. Responses to mycobacterial heat-shock protein 65 (Hsp65) were detected in all patients. There was a significant correlation between anti-GAD antibodies and proliferation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells to Hsp65, and between ICA and antibodies to Hsp65.


Subject(s)
Antibodies, Bacterial/biosynthesis , Autoantibodies/immunology , Bacterial Proteins , Chaperonins/immunology , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/immunology , Glutamate Decarboxylase/immunology , Isoantibodies/biosynthesis , Adolescent , Chaperonin 60 , Child , Child, Preschool , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/diagnosis , Humans , Infant , Lymphocyte Activation
10.
Clin Infect Dis ; 21(5): 1193-6, 1995 Nov.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-8589142

ABSTRACT

The frequency of beta-lactamase production was analyzed in a study of 1,452 strains of Moraxella catarrhalis and 2,738 strains of Haemophilus influenzae isolated from middle-ear fluid of children < 6 years of age at Tampere University Hospital in Tampere, Finland, between 1978 and 1993. In addition, 401 isolates of M. catarrhalis from similar samples collected in different parts of Finland in 1988-1990 were tested for beta-lactamase production; minimal inhibitory concentrations of ampicillin, cefaclor, cephalothin, erythromycin, tetracycline, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole for these strains were determined. These data were compared with figures for the annual consumption of beta-lactam antimicrobials in the community in 1978-1993. A bimodal increase in the proportion of strains of M. catarrhalis producing beta-lactamase was detected: from 0 to 60% in 1978-1983 and from 60% to 80% in 1988-1990. Concurrently with the second increase, the consumption of cephalosporins increased substantially in the community. The frequency of beta-lactamase-producing strains of H. influenzae did not increase between 1978 and 1993.


Subject(s)
Moraxella catarrhalis/drug effects , Moraxella catarrhalis/enzymology , Neisseriaceae Infections/drug therapy , Neisseriaceae Infections/microbiology , Otitis Media/drug therapy , Otitis Media/microbiology , Penicillin Resistance , beta-Lactamases/metabolism , Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use , Child, Preschool , Finland/epidemiology , Haemophilus Infections/drug therapy , Haemophilus Infections/epidemiology , Haemophilus Infections/microbiology , Haemophilus influenzae/drug effects , Haemophilus influenzae/enzymology , Haemophilus influenzae/isolation & purification , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Moraxella catarrhalis/isolation & purification , Neisseriaceae Infections/epidemiology , Otitis Media/epidemiology , Time Factors , beta-Lactams
11.
Clin Infect Dis ; 20(5): 1275-80, 1995 May.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-7620010

ABSTRACT

A nationwide survey of the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance among Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates from the middle ear fluid of children with acute otitis media (639 strains) and from throat-swab samples of healthy children (149 strains) was conducted in Finland during 1987-1990. The MICs of penicillin, cephalothin, cefaclor, erythromycin, trimethoprim, and co-trimoxazole were determined by the agar dilution method. Low-level resistance to penicillin (MIC, 0.1-1 microgram/mL) was found in 1.7% of the otitis-related and 1.3% of the healthy-carrier strains. No highly penicillin-resistant strains (MIC, > or = 2 micrograms/mL) were found. Six multiresistant strains were detected, three of them possibly belonging to a previously identified clone present in Finland since 1985. Eighty-five percent of the resistant otitis-related strains, including 9 of the 11 moderately penicillin-resistant strains (4 of which were multiresistant), belonged to the three most common serogroups (6, 19, and 23).


Subject(s)
Streptococcus pneumoniae/drug effects , Acute Disease , Child, Preschool , Drug Resistance, Microbial , Finland , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Microbial Sensitivity Tests , Otitis Media/drug therapy , Otitis Media/microbiology , Serotyping , Time Factors
12.
Zentralbl Bakteriol ; 282(3): 232-6, 1995 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-7549154

ABSTRACT

A commercially available biochemical test panel, commercially available diagnostic tablets and gas-liquid chromatography (GLC) of cellular fatty acids were used to find out whether Arcanobacterium haemolyticum and Actinomyces pyogenes could be further differentiated from each other. Xylitol and alpha-methyl-D-glucoside fermentation, Voges-Proskauer reaction and tributyrate hydrolysis were found to be useful additional tests which differentiated Arc. haemolyticum and A. pyogenes. GLC analysis revealed major differences in the cellular 16:0, 18:2(9,12) and 18:1(9) fatty acid composition of the two species. Especially the Voges-Proskauer test available as diagnostic tablets can be easily performed in clinical microbiology laboratories, in addition to the tests now used to differentiate Arc. haemolyticum from A. pyogenes.


Subject(s)
Actinomycetaceae/classification , Gram-Positive Asporogenous Rods/classification , Acetoin/analysis , Actinomycetaceae/chemistry , Chromatography, Gas , Fatty Acids/analysis , Fermentation , Gram-Positive Asporogenous Rods/chemistry , Gram-Positive Asporogenous Rods/metabolism , Methylglucosides/metabolism , Reagent Kits, Diagnostic , Xylitol/analysis
13.
Scand J Infect Dis ; 27(1): 57-61, 1995.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-7784815

ABSTRACT

A nation-wide survey of the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in Haemophilus influenzae was conducted on isolates collected in 1988-90 from middle ear fluid (MEF), blood, or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in infected children or throat samples of healthy children. Altogether 885 strains were examined regarding capsular type b, beta-lactamase production and the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of ampicillin, cefaclor, erythromycin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, trimethoprim and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole for these strains was determined by the agar dilution method. 99% (578/585) of MEF isolates, 93% (112/121) of throat isolates, but only 6% (10/179) of blood/CSF isolates were not of type b (Hib). The rate of beta-lactamase production was 11.4% among Hib strains, 8.0% among non-type b MEF isolates, and 4.5% among non-type b throat isolates. No increase in the prevalence of beta-lactamase production in H. influenzae has taken place in Finland since the early 1980s. Resistance to ampicillin among strains that lacked beta-lactamase activity was rare (0.2%). Of the non-type b MEF and throat isolates, 5.9% and 2.7%, respectively, were resistant to trimethoprim and 3.6% and 2.7%, respectively, to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Resistance to other drugs was rare (< 2%) in all isolate groups.


Subject(s)
Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology , Haemophilus influenzae/drug effects , Ampicillin/pharmacology , Ampicillin Resistance/physiology , Bacterial Capsules/analysis , Blood/microbiology , Case-Control Studies , Cerebrospinal Fluid/microbiology , Child, Preschool , Ear, Middle/microbiology , Finland/epidemiology , Haemophilus Infections/drug therapy , Haemophilus Infections/epidemiology , Haemophilus Infections/microbiology , Haemophilus influenzae/classification , Haemophilus influenzae/isolation & purification , Humans , Microbial Sensitivity Tests , Pharynx/microbiology , beta-Lactamases/biosynthesis
14.
Acta Paediatr ; 83(11): 1137-42, 1994 Nov.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-7841725

ABSTRACT

The prevalence of bacterial antibodies was determined in 173 children aged 0-15 years. The prevalence of IgG Borrelia burgdorferi antibodies in titres > 500 in children less than 8 years of age was 6% while none of the older children had these antibodies in titres > 400. IgG Helicobacter pylori antibodies were detected only in children older than 6 years of age, with a prevalence of 6.5%, as were IgA H. pylori antibodies, with a prevalence of 3.7%. The prevalence of high-titre IgG Campylobacter jejuni antibodies was 1.2%, that of IgA 1.8% and IgM 1.2%. The prevalence of high-titre (> 500 IU/ml) antistreptolysin O was 3%, that of antistaphylolysin-alpha (> or = 4 IU/ml) 2% and that of anti-teichoic acid antibodies (titre 2) 2%. Low-titre Yersinia antibodies were detected in 2%. High-titre Bordetella pertussis antibodies were detected in 6% of recently vaccinated children and in 8% of children in their first years of school. In the latter, high-titre antibodies were mainly of the IgM and IgA classes. Altogether 35 children tested positive for bacterial antibodies other than Bordetella pertussis antibodies. Clinical evaluation revealed a possible infection, suggested by the antibody, in 5 (3%) of the children. Two (vaccinated) children had evidence of whooping cough. Eight of the 35 children with high-titre bacterial antibodies (23%) also had elevated levels of autoantibodies (but not autoimmune diseases).


Subject(s)
Antibodies, Bacterial/blood , Bacterial Infections/immunology , Adolescent , Age Factors , Bacterial Infections/epidemiology , Bacterial Infections/microbiology , Child , Child, Preschool , Finland/epidemiology , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Population Surveillance , Prevalence , Seroepidemiologic Studies
15.
APMIS ; 102(9): 716-20, 1994 Sep.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-7946276

ABSTRACT

Serum samples with normal and abnormal levels of thyrotropin (TSH) were tested for thyroid autoantibodies. Thyroid peroxidase (TPO) antibodies were detected by a radioimmunoassay (RIA) and by an agglutination method, and thyroglobulin (Tg) antibodies by an agglutination method. Elevated levels of TPO antibodies were detected in 47% of samples with abnormal and in 12% of samples with normal levels of TSH (p < 0.001). Sixty-one percent of the biochemically hypothyroid and 26% of the biochemically hyperthyroid samples contained these antibodies (p < 0.001). Tg antibodies were only detected together with TPO antibodies. Testing of TPO antibodies from samples with abnormal TSH levels is discussed.


Subject(s)
Autoantibodies/blood , Thyroid Gland/immunology , Thyrotropin/blood , Adult , Age Factors , Agglutination Tests , Female , Humans , Hyperthyroidism/immunology , Hypothyroidism/immunology , Iodide Peroxidase/antagonists & inhibitors , Male , Middle Aged , Radioimmunoassay , Thyroglobulin/antagonists & inhibitors
16.
J Clin Microbiol ; 32(7): 1654-7, 1994 Jul.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-7929753

ABSTRACT

Colony morphology, beta hemolysis on horse blood agar, beta-glucuronidase activity, and ability to ferment sucrose and/or trehalose defined two biotypes of Arcanobacterium haemolyticum. One, the smooth type, grew as smooth, beta-hemolytic colonies and was beta-glucuronidase negative but often fermented sucrose and/or trehalose, while the other, the rough type, grew as rough colonies and was nonhemolytic, beta-glucuronidase positive, and negative for sucrose and trehalose fermentation. About 75% of the A. haemolyticum strains studied (n = 138) were of the smooth type. The smooth type predominated in wound infections, while the rough type was isolated almost exclusively from respiratory tract specimens; thus, 84% of the smooth-type strains were derived from wounds and 91% of the rough-type strains were isolated from respiratory tracts.


Subject(s)
Actinomycetaceae/classification , Actinomycetaceae/cytology , Actinomycetaceae/metabolism , Adult , Bacterial Typing Techniques , Humans , Male , Microscopy, Electron , Middle Aged , Respiratory Tract Infections/microbiology , Species Specificity , Wounds and Injuries/microbiology
17.
Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis ; 13(6): 507-9, 1994 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-7957274

ABSTRACT

Listeria-Zym is a commercial kit designed to identify Listeria spp. within 4 h. Its ability to identify two clinically important aerobic catalase-negative, gram-positive rods, Arcanobacterium haemolyticum and Actinomyces pyogenes, was evaluated. Xylose fermentation and alpha-mannosidase tests differentiated Arcanobacterium haemolyticum (n = 49) from Actinomyces pyogenes (n = 24) strains.


Subject(s)
Actinomyces/classification , Actinomycetaceae/classification , Actinomycetales Infections/microbiology , Bacterial Typing Techniques , Actinomyces/isolation & purification , Actinomyces/metabolism , Actinomycetaceae/isolation & purification , Actinomycetaceae/metabolism , Actinomycetales Infections/diagnosis , Actinomycosis/microbiology , Fermentation , Humans , Mannosidases/metabolism , Reagent Kits, Diagnostic , Xylose/metabolism , alpha-Mannosidase
18.
J Clin Microbiol ; 32(3): 854-5, 1994 Mar.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-7710479

ABSTRACT

A 4-h alpha-mannosidase test for identification of Arcanobacterium haemolyticum strains (n = 139) and differentiation of A. haemolyticum from Actinomyces pyogenes strains (n = 30) and other gram-positive rods was evaluated. Practically all A. haemolyticum strains (138 of 139) and the Listeria monocytogenes type strain were alpha-mannosidase positive, while all A. pyogenes strains and Corynebacterium (n = .25) strains as well as the Rhodococcus equi and Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae type strains were negative. The rapid alpha-mannosidase test, in conjunction with a Gram stain and catalase and reverse CAMP tests, was useful in identification of A. haemolyticum and in differentiation of A. haemolyticum from A. pyogenes and Corynebacterium spp.


Subject(s)
Actinomycetaceae/enzymology , Actinomycetaceae/isolation & purification , Bacteriological Techniques , Mannosidases/metabolism , Actinomyces/enzymology , Actinomyces/isolation & purification , Actinomycetaceae/classification , Actinomycetales Infections/diagnosis , Actinomycetales Infections/microbiology , Bacterial Typing Techniques , Evaluation Studies as Topic , Gram-Positive Rods/enzymology , Gram-Positive Rods/isolation & purification , Humans , Species Specificity , alpha-Mannosidase
20.
Scand J Infect Dis ; 26(6): 685-91, 1994.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-7747091

ABSTRACT

Yersinia strains recovered from routine stool cultures (n = 13,534) as well as clinical symptoms in the patients were analysed in order to establish whether enteric Yersinia enterocolitica strains recovered only after cold enrichment cultures shared the same pathogenicity markers and caused the same symptoms as strains from primary cultures. 93% of the 201 Yersinia isolates were Y. enterocolitica strains and 71% of these were of serotype O3. Nearly 40% of all Y. enterocolitica strains and 21% of serotype O3 strains were isolated only after 1 week's cold enrichment of stool specimens. Practically all Y. enterocolitica O3 strains, whether from primary or cold enrichment cultures, were pathogenic not only on the basis of the serotype but also on the basis of Congo-red uptake and calcium-dependent growth at 35 degrees C (CR-MOX test). The symptoms in patients with Y. enterocolitica O3 from primary and cold enrichment cultures were similar except that abdominal pains were more frequent (p < 0.05) in the former. Arthropathia, mesenteric lymphadenitis and erythema nodosum were detected in 15% of the patients with Yersinia isolates and were more frequent in patients with isolates from cold enrichment or without diarrhea.


Subject(s)
Cold Temperature , Yersinia enterocolitica/growth & development , Abdominal Pain/microbiology , Adolescent , Adult , Child , Child, Preschool , Diarrhea/microbiology , Feces/microbiology , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Microbial Sensitivity Tests , Middle Aged , Serotyping , Species Specificity , Yersinia enterocolitica/classification , Yersinia enterocolitica/pathogenicity
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