Serovars and biovars of Campylobacter strains isolated from humans and slaughterhouse animals in northern Germany.

A total of 318 Campylobacter strains from sporadic cases of human enteritis (109 strains) and healthy slaughterhouse animals in northern Germany (209 strains) were bio- and serotyped according to the Lior typing schemes. Three hundred strains were typable (94.3%) and 38 serovars were identified. Among human strains 28 serovars were identified with 30% of them belonging to serovar 4. Strains from pigs were associated with 25 serovars, the most frequent being serovar 20 (21.2%). Fourteen serovars were identified in the ovine strains of which 31.1% were of serovar 49, and 22.2% of serovar 4. All of the strains from one chicken farm were of serovar 11, whereas in those from another serovar 1 was predominant (85.4%). Twenty-five of the 38 serovars identified were associated with at least two different biovars. Campylobacter jejuni biovar I was predominant in humans, sheep and chickens and Campylobacter coli biovar I in pigs. The results suggest that the combined use of bio- and serotyping according to the Lior typing schemes would be of use in studies on the epidemiology of human campylobacteriosis in Germany.

Seasonal distribution of facultatively enteropathogenic vibrios (Vibrio cholerae, Vibrio mimicus, Vibrio parahaemolyticus) in the freshwater of the Elbe River at Hamburg.

Between June 1981 and December 1982 the incidence of Vibrio cholerae, V. mimicus and V. parahaemolyticus was determined at two sampling sites on the Elbe River at Hamburg. A total of 183 strains was isolated from 147 water samples. Of these, 107 belonged to non-01 V. cholerae (ten strains producing a cholera-like enterotoxin); 33 were identified as V. mimicus, including two enterotoxin producers; 42 strains were Kanagawa-negative cultures of V. parahaemolyticus; and one was V. fluvialis. The highest incidence was observed from June to September with about 10(2) organisms/l. Halophilic vibrios, less than five organisms/l, were detectable during the period June/July to October. The vibrio incidence was not influenced by the numbers of aerobic heterotrophic bacteria, coliforms or faecal bacteria. In general water temperature correlated with the seasonal variation. Thus, a temperature rise over 10 degrees to 20 degrees C was followed by a distinct increase in vibrio numbers. Of 14 chemical parameters only chloride concentration might have had an influence on the seasonal variation. It is concluded that the three Vibrio species are indigenous organisms of the Elbe River.

Pathogenicity tests with strains of Edwardsiella tarda: detection of a heat-stable enterotoxin.

A total of 25 strains of Edwardsiella tarda isolated from various sources in different parts of the world between 1968 and 1982 was subjected to enteropathogenicity tests. A heat-stable enterotoxin was detected in three strains (12%). Whereas culture filtrates gave doubtful results, concentration of toxin by ultrafiltration led to net fluid accumulation in the suckling mouse test and the rabbit ligated ileal loop assay. The enterotoxin resisted heating to 60 degrees C (30 min) and 100 degrees C (15 min). Neither cell elongation nor cytotoxic effect were observed in the Chinese hamster ovary cell assay. No strain caused keratoconjunctivitis in the guinea pig eye model. There was no correlation of enterotoxigenic strains and a typical pathology. With regard to the usual clinical pattern of E. tarda enteritis, which primarily appears to be invasive, it is suggested that enterotoxin production might be of secondary pathogenetical importance, comparable to toxin production in salmonellosis, shigellosis, and Yersinia enterocolitica infection.

[Comparative study of different nutrient media used for the isolation of Salmonella in routine laboratories]. / Vergleichende Untersuchungen mit verschiedenen Nährmedien zur Isolierung von Salmonellen in der Routine-Diagnostik

For a comparative study on the merits of Selenit broth and Enterobacteriaceae-enrichment broth (EE-broth) by MOSSEL, the media were inoculated with 629 faecal cultures obtained from Salmonella carriers and contacts of a Salmonellosis sufferer. The Selenit broth incubated at 37 degrees C showed better results than the EE-broth incubated at 30 degrees C. After 24 hrs incubation plating was done on XLD-, SS-, and MACCONKEY-agarplates with the result that the XLD plate gave the highest yield of 21% isolations, followed by the SS-plate showing 17%, whilst the MACCONKEY-plate produced only 7%. In our routine laboratory the XLD-plate has now superseded the LEIFSON-plate and is used in parallel to the SS-plate after enrichment in Selenit-broth.