[The need for revision of the bacteriological criteria of the etiological significance of diarrheogenic Escherichia strains in the diagnosis of acute intestinal infections]. / O neobkhodimosti peresmotra bakteriologicheskoi znachimosti diareegennykh shtammov ésherikhii pri diagnostike ostrykh kishechnykh infektsii.

Different E. coli of 0-groups, enteropathogenic (EPEC), enteroinvasive, enterotoxigenic (ETEC) and diarrheogenic in sporadic child diarrhea (DESCD), regarded as the causative agents of enteric infections, were detected in 70-80% of cases (1,146 E.coli carriers) in the feces of child and adult patients with acute enteric infections (AEI) irrespective of their age; in 35% of cases the same patient had a combination of two or more varieties of EPEC, ETEC or DESCD. Only EPE were excreted by 3.5-11.3% of patients, depending on their age; only ETEC were excreted by 1.7-3.4% of patients and only DESCD, by 23.1-32.8%. In 30-40% of cases diarrheogenic E.coli of the corresponding 0-groups were isolated as monocultures. The complex of bacteriological criteria, serving as the basis for the diagnostics of AEI (the necessity of the quantitative and qualitative characterization of the contamination of the seed material, E.coli serological labeling, the determination of E.coli pathogenicity factors) is discussed.

[The characteristics of the intestinal Escherichia microflora in patients with acute intestinal infections]. / Kharakteristika ésherikhioznoi mikroflory kishechnika bol'nykh ostrymi kishechnymi infektsiiami.

The content of enterobacteria in fecal samples obtained from 1,146 patients with acute enteric infections was studied. In the first days of the disease about 70% of the patients were found to have abundant and highly diversified intestinal microflora with Escherichia contamination of feces constituting 10(6)-10(7) microbial cells/g in children and 10(7)-10(8) microbial cells/g in adults. The number of patients excreting Escherichia and pathogenic enterobacteria increased from 8.8% (children under 6 months) to 28.6% (adults), the number of patients excreting Escherichia and opportunistic enterobacteria decreased from 69.1% (children under 6 months) to 36.8%. In 75% of cases the reverse relationship between the number of Escherichia and opportunistic enterobacteria was registered, the latter numbering two and more genera in 50% of cases. The serological picture of Escherichia was poorer when they were isolated simultaneously with shigellae (83 O-groups) than in those cases when Escherichia alone were isolated (108 O-groups), or when Escherichia were isolated simultaneously with opportunistic enterobacteria (119 O-groups).

[A field trial with the liquid multicomponent meningococcal vaccine ABC]. / Polevoi opyt s meningokokkovoi zhidkoi polikomponentnoi vaktsinoi ABC.

The morbidity rates of generalized forms of meningococcal infection in persons immunized with different doses of liquid meningococcal vaccine ABC were compared. The vaccine was introduced subcutaneously by means of a jet injector. Altogether 3,920 males aged 18 years and older were immunized. 1,966 vaccinees received this vaccine in a dose of 200 micrograms and 1,954 vaccinees, in a dose of 400 micrograms. Meningococcal multicomponent vaccine ABC used in these doses showed moderate reactogenicity and did not prevent the development of generalized forms of meningococcal infection.

[Enterotoxigenic Escherichia in patients with acute intestinal infection]. / Enterotoksigennye ésherikhii u bol'nykh ostrymi kishechnymi infektsiiami.

Out of 4,082 Escherichia strains isolated from 989 hospitalized patients with acute enteric infections 2,979 strains belonged to 139 O-groups and the remaining strains could not by typed with O-sera (O1-O164) or were in the serological R-form. 19.3% of the strains isolated from 354 patients showed a positive reaction for thermolabile enterotoxin (TLET) determined in the radioimmunoassay. Escherichia with pronounced reaction for TLET were isolated from 5.5% of the patients. The serological picture of Escherichia with a positive reaction for TLET comprised 78 O-groups, showed practically no variations in children of different age and adult patients and was related to the intensity of reaction for TLET. The number of enterotoxigenic Escherichia greatly varied within individual O-groups: from 3.1 +/- 3.63% (O11) to 100 +/- 9.81% (O114) of the total number of known strains in these O-groups. In most O-groups the number of enterotoxigenic strains varied from 10% to 50%. The most widely spread serovars of etiologically important enterotoxigenic Escherichia belonged to 24 O-groups and were often isolated as monocultures. The capacity for producing TLET (and, probably, some other antigenically related substances) in widely spread among Escherichia; still, the determination of enterotoxicity is a necessary, but not sufficient criterion of their etiological importance in acute enteric infections.

[Characteristics of the serological passage of Escherichia isolated from children and adults with acute intestinal infections]. / Kharakteristika serologicheskogo peizazha ésherikhii, vydelennykh ot detei i vzroslykh pri ostrykh kishechnykh infektsiiakh.

The serological picture of Escherichia (5,910 strains), isolated from 1,430 inpatients (486 adults and 944 children) with acute intestinal infections by means of new diagnostic preparations (Escherichia rapid agglutinating O- and H-systems), was studied. In 15% of the adults and 26-28% of the children no Escherichia were detected. The serological picture of Escherichia proved to comprise 143 O-groups and 334 serovars; about 50% of the strains belonged to 11 prevailing O-groups: O1, O2, O4, O6, O7, O8, O9, O16, O21, O75, O85. The serological picture in the adults was more variegated than that in the children: from most of the patients (77.2%) Escherichia were isolated as a mixture of 2-9 serovars. The isolation rate of Escherichia monocultures and the incidence of Escherichia belonging to different O-groups were the same in patients of different ages, with the exception of groups O4, O6, O26, O55 and O111 which were more frequent in young children.

[Use of factor-H sera for the differentiation of the flagellar antigens of Escherichia coli serological variants]. / Primenenie faktornykh H-syvorotok dlia differentsiatsii zhgutikovykh antigenov Escherichia coli nekotorykh serologicheskikh raznovidnostei.

The use of factor sera permitting the differentiation of the variants, described in earlier. works, among the flagellar antigens of E. coli, formally denoted as H2, H4, H7, H10 and H34 in accordance with their official nomenclature, has made it possible to reveal that each of these variants is widely spread among E. coli and occurs in bacteria of different O-groups. Besides, this study has shown the possibility of subdividing a number of formal H: O types into 2 or more serovars on the basis of differences in the factor composition of their antigens. The results obtained in this study suggest that in the process of the evolution of E. coli H-antigen variants differing in their factor composition have been formed as independent varieties; therefore, these variants do not reflect the features characteristic of individual strains, but constitute one of the diagnostic signs of serological classification, i. e. the differentiation of the species into various serovars.

[Partial antigenic structure of group H10 flagellins in Escherichia coli and its genetic determination]. / Partsial'naia antigennaia struktura flagellinov gruppy H10 u Escherichia coli i ee geneticheskoe determinirovanie.

The study of flagellar antigens classified with serotype H10 has been made in E. coli belonging to different OK-groups. These antigens have been shown to differ in their partial structure. Group H10 antigens have been found to comprise 7 variants, and their partial structure has been determined. The study has shown that antigenic variants of the same type occur in E. coli belonging to different OK-groups and different variants may occur in strains within the same OK-group. The data obtained in the study of the expression of genes, responsible for the synthesis of flagellin, in the system of isogenic strains suggest that differences in the partial structure between the variants of group H10 antigens are linked with differences between the corresponding alleles of the flagellin-specifying gene. The differentiation of these antigens by means of factor-specific antibodies may prove to be of practical importance for solving the problems of the epidemiology and etiology of diseases caused by E. coli having group H10 flagellar antigens.

[Evaluation of a complex method of identifying enteropathogenic Escherichia using O- and H-sera and a rational combination of biochemical tests]. / Aprobatsiia kompleksnoi metodiki identifikatsii énteropatogennykh ésherikhii s ispol'zovaniem O-, H-syvorotok i ratsional-nogo nabora biokhimicheskikh testov.

A complex method for the identification of enteropathogenic Escherichia by means of adsorbed monogroup and factor O-sera, H-sera and a rational combination of biochemical tests (using triple sugar iron agar or Kligler iron agar, Simmons citrate agar, phenylalanine-, urea-, sodium malonate-containing media, indole broth, medium for mobility determination) was evaluated. The use of adsorbed monogroup O-sera in the slide agglutination test reduced the time of the study and increased its accuracy by 20.0 +/- 2.5% (6.9 +/- 2.5% to 52.4 +/- 11.1% for Escherichia of different O-groups) in comparison with the generally accepted method. The use factor O-sera and H-sera and H-sera revealed the circulation of the same O-groups belonging to different serovars and differing in partial composition a O-antigen (of the type ab - ac) and in H-antigens, which should be taken into consideration for epidemiological purposes. The combination of biochemical tests ensured correct determination of the genus of the organisms under study. The tested method is recommended for practical use.

[Antigenic relations between enteropathogenic Escherichia O151:K, Citrobacter and Hafnia]. / Antigennye vzaimosviazi énteropatogennykh ésherikhii O151:K--s Citrobacter i Hafnia.

The strains isolated from acute dysentery patients and convalescents and identified as E. coli O151:K--were studied. Diagnostic errors due to inexact genus determination were revealed, and the isolated strains were found to belong to Citrobacter and Hafnia. The main biochemical differences allowing to differentiate E. coli O151:K--from these two genera were established. The study also showed the necessity of some tests, such as the tests for citrate assimilation in Simmons' medium and sodium malonate assimilation, the determination of indole production, the determination of differences in the methyl red and Voges--Proskauer reactions at different temperatures. The poor unilateral antigenic relationship of the strains under study, agglutinating with antiserum to E. coli O151, Citrobacter O1 and O14 and Hafnia C18 was revealed.

[Biochemical and serological characteristics of Escherichia belonging to the serological group 01]. / Biokhimicheskaia i serologicheskaia kharakteristika ésherikhii serogruppy 01.

A circulation at the territory of the country of various biochemical and serological variants of escherichia belonging to serological group O1, isolated in acute intestinal diseases of children and adults, was revealed. Nonhomogeneousness of the partial composition of the O-antigen was demonstrated; K-antigens were determined; new H-antigens were described. Of the 10 serological types of escherichia there proved to prevail O1 : K? : Hp and O1 : K1 : Hp; in group and sporadic acute intestinal diseases there were for the first time isolated O1 : K1 : H34, O1 : K1 : H20, O1 : K1 : Hp, O1 : K51 : H7, and O1 : K? : H20.

[Flagellar antigens of E. coli serologically interrlelated to H40, 41 and H41, 42, 43 flagellar antigens of Citrobacter. New H-antigeny E. coli i Citrobacter]. / Zhgutikovye antigeny E. coli, serologicheski vzaimosviazannye so zhgutikovymi antigenami Citrobacter H40, 41 i H41, 42, 43. Novye H-antigeny E. coli i Citrobacter.

The authors confirmed the reference of the test strains H13 (P6c) and H22 (A231a) of the international collection of E. coli to Citrobacter; their antigenic formula was established. As shown, strains P6c possessed a variety of the H-antigen which was not described in Citrobacter earlier, designated as H41a, 97. Three types of flagellar antigens characterized by the presence of an interrelationship with the partial factor H41 of the flagellar Citrobacter antigens were revealed in E. coli; the partial composition of H-antigenic components common for E. coli and Citrobacter was studied. Two of three new varieties of the E. coli H-antigen revealed was characterized by a cross correlation and a relation to the standard H19 E. coli antigen. The strain with the third variety of the H-antigen was capable of forming the H-antigenic mutants which acquired the antigenic component identical to the standard H16 E. coli antigen. E. coli strain is recommended for the replacement of the strain P6c in the International collection of E. coli.

[Temperature-dependent mutants of Hly plasmid and their use for the purpose of confirming the cytotoxic activity of E. coli hemolysin]. / Temperaturozavisimye mutanty plazmidy Hly i ikh ispol'zovanie s tsel'iu dokazatel'stva tsitotoksicheskoi aktivnosti gemolizina E. coli

Two different mutants of Hly 212 plasmide induced by diethyl sulfate were isolated; one of these was characterized by temperature-dependent synthesis, and the other--by temperature-sensitivity of hemolysin produced. In difference from bacteria possessing wild parental plasmide, E. coli K12 bacteria which contained the mutants produced no cytotoxic action on the MK2 cell culture. This correlated with the absence of the hemolytic activity in growing them even at permissible temperature on medium No 199. After crossing the mutant plasmides there were obtained clones with completely restored wild phenotype of the hemolysin production and the cytotoxic activity. The data obtained pointed to the relationship between the cytotoxicity and hemolysin.

[Data on the biological characteristics of serological group O4 Escherichia isolated in acute intestinal diseases]. / Materialy k biologicheskoikharakteristike ésherikhii serologicheskoi gruppy O4, vydelennykh pri ostrykh kishechnykh zabolevaniiakh

A study was made of 155 strains of E. coli of the O4 serological group isolated from sick children and adults during group and sporadic acute intestinal diseases), from persons who came in contact with them, and also from healthy persons during prophylactic examination; three standard cultures were examined as well. Along with strains with a typical enzymatic activity there were strains which produced retarded lactose fermentation and also gas-free, immobile and lysin-negative strains resembling Shigellae. Eight biochemical types were determined among E. coli 04. A study of the antigenic structure by cross agglutinin adsorption indicated identicity of the strains by O-antigen and their difference by the K- and H-antigens. Circulation of E. coli of serological types O4: K12(L): H1,O4: K3(L): H5,O4: K3(L): H12,04: K12(L): H40,04: K52(L): H4, and O4: K12(L) HII was revealed; the first two serological types prevailed. Serological types of O4: K3(L):H12, O4: K12(L): HI and O4: K12(L): H40, isolated in cases of group and sporadic acute intestinal diseases were described for the first time.

[Sensitivity of different strains of E. coli and Shigella to the inhibitory action of Ploskirev's bactoagar]. / Izuchenie chuvstvitel'nosti razlichnykh shtammov E. coli i Shigella k ingibiruiushchemu deistviiu baktoagara Ploskireva

A study was made of the sensitivity of 190 strains of E. coli and 107 strains of Shigellae of different serological types to the inhibitory action of Ploskirev's bactoagar on the capacity of these bacteria to form colonies. The strains under study proved to be nonhomogenous in this respect: between different strains of E. coli there were revealed 10-, 100- and even 1000-fold differences by this property; the differences between Shigellae strains were less marked--in over 90% of Shigellae strains the capacity to form colonies was depressed less than 4-fold. Only with the aid of some of E. coli and Shigellae strains was it possible to detect differences between the tested 20 commercial Ploskirev's bactoagar batches. Apparently, the use in practical bacteriological laboratories of accidental strains of local origin for control of Ploskirev's bactoagar could not aid in improving the quality of the medium, and consequently bacteriological diagnosis of infections.