[Prevalence of anti-Yersinia enterocolitica antibodies in an open population of the city of Rome]. / Prevalenza di anticorpi anti yersinia enterocolitica in una popolazione aperta della città di Roma.

This work shows the results of a seroepidemiological study of a group of 691 apparently healthy individuals: 246 males and 445 females from a Rome out-patient consulting center. 72 individuals (10.42%) were found positive with an antibody titer from 1:20 to 1:40. The percentages regarding the sexes and also those regarding the age groups did not show significant differences. The results of the research demonstrate a limited diffusion of Yersinia enterocolitica infection in the area under scrutiny. The results are correlated with those of similar researches.

Prevalence in the Rome healthy population of antibodies to a human Polyoma - virus (BK - strain).

A serological study of determine the prevalence of infections caused by human Polyoma-virus (BK strain) among the healthy population of Rome has been performed. Such virus was originally isolated from a patient undergoing a kidney transplantation, and later found in patients undergoing immunosuppressive therapy. Previous serological studies showed high incidences of infections, caused by this virus, in human populations. Other viruses, antigenically related, were found in patients suffering from progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. Serum samples coming from 482 healthy subjects classified by age and 100 cord blood serum samples were analyzed for antibody titers using haemoagglutination-inhibition and complement fixation tests. High incidence of infection caused by BK virus in the Roman population was found: specifically the haeomagglutination-inhibition test resulted positive in 65.2% of the samples. A remarkable similar trend between the results obtained with both the techniques was observed, although differences in antibody serum levels were present. The infections, which are not transmitted during the intrauterine life, are first noted at about two years of age. The Authors finally briefly discuss the possible epidemiological meaning of the spreading of this infection.