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Biomedical subjects

D Carrington

Publications and source records attributed to D Carrington.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Evaluation of a microdot immunofluorescent antigen detection test for Chlamydia trachomatis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a centrifuge enhanced direct immunofluorescent antigen test (MD test), compared with conventional culture and ELISA testing in the diagnosis of Chlamydia trachomatis infection. SETTING: A District General Hospital situated 30 miles from a University Department of Medical Microbiology. SUBJECT AND METHOD: A prospective study on specimens from 638 patients. Culture was performed on 348 specimens from genitourinary medicine patients and ELISA testing was carried out on 272 specimens from Gynaecology patients. RESULTS: When compared with culture the MD test had a sensitivity of 90.6%, specificity of 96.8%, positive predictive value of 74.3% and a negative predictive value of 99%. When compared with confirmed ELISA results the MD test had a sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 98.8%, positive predictive value of 78.5% and negative predictive value of 100%. CONCLUSION: The MD test compares favourably with other chlamydial diagnostic techniques and in our setting is preferable to sending specimens for chlamydial culture. It is not suitable as the sole diagnostic method for screening large numbers of specimens but is a cost effective confirmatory test for positive ELISA results.

Antigens, Bacterial↗
PubMed1993

Concern about immunity to poliomyelitis following an outbreak of hepatitis A in Glasgow.

We report a major outbreak of hepatitis A enteroviral infection in an area of deprived urban housing in Glasgow. The epidemic was associated with contamination of the environment by refuse and sewage. This prompted us to investigate immunity to polioviruses. We examined samples of serum in 24 of 47 cases of hepatitis A for antibodies against polioviruses types 1, 2 and 3. Titres were satisfactory in 82%, 100% and 35% respectively. These results highlight a need for further seroepidemiological studies of immunity to polioviruses in the U.K. Recommendations are made to restrict enteroviral contamination of the environment.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed1993

Detection of seven species of pathogenic leptospires by PCR using two sets of primers.

Two sets of primers derived from genomic DNA libraries of Leptospira serovars icterohaemorrhagiae (strain RGA) and bim (strain 1051) enabled the amplification by PCR of target DNA fragments from leptospiral reference strains belonging to all presently described pathogenic Leptospira species. The icterohaemorrhagiae-derived primers (G1/G2) enabled amplification of DNA from L. interrogans, L. borgpetersenii, L. weilii, L. noguchii, L. santarosai and L. meyeri, whereas the bim-derived primers (B64-I/B64-II) enabled the amplification of L. kirschneri. Southern blot and DNA sequence analysis revealed inter-species DNA polymorphism within the region spanned by primers G1 and G2 between L. interrogans and various other Leptospira species. Using a mixture of primer sets G1/G2 and B64-I/B64-II, leptospires of serovars icterohaemorrhagiae, copenhageni, hardjo, pomona, grippotyphosa and bim were detected in serum samples collected from patients during the first 10 days after the onset of illness.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Serum alpha interferon in children with right iliac fossa pain.

Serum alpha-interferon levels were analysed in 50 consecutive children admitted with right iliac fossa pain. Serum alpha-interferon levels were significantly raised in 33% of children without acute appendicitis when compared to 5.7% of children with histologically proven acute appendicitis and 9% of normal controls. This interesting phenomenon needs further investigation. A larger series may show it to be of clinical use in non-specific abdominal pain in childhood.

Abdominal Pain↗
PubMed1992

A comparison of the seroepidemiology of chlamydial infection in pigeon fanciers and farmers in the U.K.

A detailed comparative seroepidemiological study of antibody responses was performed in 271 pigeon fanciers and 100 farmers. Overall 73% of pigeon fanciers had IgG antibodies at a titre greater than or equal to 16 to Chlamydia pneumoniae, 39% to Chlamydia psittaci, and 6.6% to Chlamydia trachomatis. The prevalence of chlamydial antibodies was significantly lower in the farmers at 47% for C. pneumoniae, 6% for C. psittaci, and 2% for C. trachomatis. Both populations were exposed to complex microbiological and antigenic environments: 50.5% of the pigeon fanciers had antibodies to pigeon antigens, 34% to egg membrane, and 0.73% to yolk sac antigen, and 59% of the farmers had antibodies to Micropolyspora faeni, but the high prevalence of chlamydial antibodies could not be attributed to interaction with these antigens. There was considerable overlap of chlamydial antibody responses in the pigeon fanciers but not in the farmers: 36% of the pigeon fanciers had antibodies to C. pneumoniae alone, 5% to C. psittaci alone, and 31% to both agents, whereas only 3% of farmers had antibodies to both C. pneumoniae and C. psittaci. The high prevalence of antibodies to C. psittaci in the pigeon fanciers is compatible with the known avian reservoir for this infection. The particularly high prevalence of antibodies to C. pneumoniae suggests that complex interactions may be occurring in a population exposed to two chlamydial organisms, whereby infection with one species may provoke an anamnestic response against other chlamydial organisms with which the subject has previously been infected.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

A family outbreak of Chlamydia pneumoniae infection.

Chlamydia pneumoniae, a newly described Chlamydia species, has been shown to be a cause of acute respiratory tract infection in both adults and children, but its role in human infection is still under investigation. Here we present a family outbreak of C. pneumoniae infection where three members of a family presented with a 'flu-like illness' and acute upper respiratory tract infection which did not improve despite penicillin or septrin therapy. No history of exposure to birds, pets or animals was obtained. As C. pneumoniae isolation from respiratory secretions is not without difficulty, diagnosis usually relies currently on serum-based tests. In this study C. pneumoniae specific IgM determined by the micro-immunofluorescence test was detected in the three clinical cases. All three cases had an elevated complement-fixing antibody titre to Psittacosis-LGV antigen, which may have suggested psittacosis, if type-specific tests had not been performed. In addition, three other members of the family had C. pneumoniae-specific IgG antibody although specific IgM was absent. These three younger members of the family had been symptomatic in the month preceding symptoms in their older sibling and their parents. All the symptomatic members of the family made a complete recovery on tetracycline therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Ovine chlamydiosis in an abattoir worker.

The strain of Chlamydia psittaci causing enzootic abortion in ewes (the EAE strain) may cause serious infection in pregnant women, often resulting in hepatic and renal dysfunction, disseminated intravascular coagulation and fetal loss. The first case of such an infection in an abattoir worker is described and the possibility of human-to-human transmission considered. Direct handling of sheep or their products of conception can usually be established but this is not always so. There is much still to be learned about this uncommon but severe zoonosis.

Abattoirs↗
PubMed1991

Prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis infection in women having cervical smear tests.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases in patients with normal and abnormal cervical smears. DESIGN: A prospective study of asymptomatic women with normal cervical smears attending their general practitioner and newly referred patients with abnormal smears attending a colposcopy clinic. SETTING: A hospital based colposcopy clinic and an urban general practice (list size 5500) in north west Glasgow. SUBJECTS: 197 asymptomatic women attending their general practitioner for cervical smear tests and 101 randomly selected patients attending the colposcopy clinic for investigation of abnormal smears. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Presence of various sexually transmitted infections as determined by culture and serological tests. RESULTS: Of the 101 women with cytological abnormalities, six had current chlamydial infection proved by culture and none had gonococcal infection; of the 197 women with normal smears, 24 (12%) had a chlamydial infection and two had gonorrhoea. Serological studies for Chlamydia trachomatis specific antibody also indicated that a large proportion of patients had been exposed to this agent in both groups. There was no significant difference between the groups in the prevalence of any sexually transmitted disease studied. CONCLUSION: A high prevalence of chlamydial infection is present in women in north west Glasgow irrespective of their cervical cytological state.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Leptospires isolated from toads and frogs on the Island of Barbados.

Four pathogenic strains of leptospires were isolated from the kidneys of toads (Bufo marinus) and seven from frogs (Eleutherodactylus johnstonei). Isolates from two toads and one frog belonged to serovar bim, the causative agent of most cases of severe leptospirosis on Barbados. The other eight strains belonged to a new serovar within the Australis serogroup. The name bajan is proposed for this new serovar of Leptospira interrogans.

Agglutination Tests↗
PubMed1989

Serological cross-reactivity among chlamydial strains in a family outbreak of psittacosis.

Three members of a family of nine persons contracted psittacosis with severe pneumonia, respiratory failure, delirium, hepatitis and renal involvement. A newly purchased cockatiel was probably the primary source of infection but person-to-person transmission is likely to have taken place between twin brothers who shared a bedroom, one of whom had no direct contact with birds. Type-specific chlamydial serological tests identified the infecting agent as Chlamydia psittaci. The highest titres in the initial samples of serum from the patients, however, were to C. psittaci TWAR (Taiwan Acute Respiratory) and serological cross-reactivity among chlamydial strains was demonstrated. This study of a clearly defined outbreak of psittacosis provides useful information for those undertaking larger population surveys of chlamydial disease and emphasises the need for detailed serological investigation of cases.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Eight year study of viral isolates from cot deaths in Glasgow.

Over an eight year period 21 different viral strains excluding polioviruses were isolated in 44 (19%) of 237 cot deaths. The percentage of viral positive cases was significantly greater in over 16 week age groups and in cultures obtained less than 24 hours after death.

Age Factors↗