Serum antibodies to polioviruses in a Tuscan population, Italy.

In order to study the serological status of a population against poliomyelitis, neutralizing antibody for the three types of polioviruses were examined in 742 serum specimens from individuals aged from 1 to 70 years and over were collected during 1985. Sixty-two percent of the sera had antibodies (titre greater than or equal to 1:8) to all three polioviruses, while 5% had no poliovirus antibody at all. However the rates of seropositivity did vary with age: the 10-19 age group had the lowest frequency of antibody (38%) to the three viruses and the difference between the percentage of this group and the previous (1-10 years) and following ones (20-70 years and over) was highly significant. The results of this seroprevalence survey indicate a gap in immunity to poliomyelitis in the population examined.

Human rotavirus detection in stool specimens using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and latex agglutination test.

A total of 194 stool samples from sick and healthy children were tested by three commercial tests: two Rotavirus enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) and one latex agglutination test (LTX). The concordance, sensibility and specificity of these tests were calculated. The results suggest to consider as positive the samples reactive to two enzyme immunoassays at least. The latex test, although less sensitive than Enzygnost-Rotavirus and Rotazyme II, was found to be especially useful for the rapid diagnosis of rotavirus gastroenteritis when used to test the first available stool sample from acutely ill patients.

[Antitetanic immunity in a sample of the Tuscan population]. / Immunità antitetanica in un campione di popolazione Toscana.

In order to assess protection level against tetanus, the antitoxin titre was evaluated, by indirect haemagglutination test, in a sample, stratified by sex and age, of 805 subjects of three communes of Tuscany. On the whole the frequency of the serum protected is the 46.1% and it varies according to sex and age: under 20 years it is more than 90%, but it decreases in the successive ages, less in the male sex, probably owing to the vaccination made during the military service. The greatest percentage of immune subjects was observed in the most industrialized area. The less protected professional categories were pensioned people and housewives (25.8%). No differences of serum protection were found between those who practise or do not, recreative activities at the risk (sport, horticulture and gardening). No correlation was observed between the vaccinal anamnesis and the serological test.