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E O Caul

Publications and source records attributed to E O Caul.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

The risk of acquiring Q fever on farms: a seroepidemiological study.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the occupational risk of Q fever. DESIGN: Cohort study. SETTING: Community: five English local authority districts. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Prevalence and incidence of immunoglobulin G (IgG) specific antibody to Coxiella burnetii phase II antigen was measured in a representative (study) cohort of farm workers in the United Kingdom, and detailed exposure data were collected. Also seroprevalence of Q fever in a (control) cohort of police and emergency service personnel was measured. RESULTS: Prevalence was significantly (P < 0.01) higher in the study cohort (105/385 v 43/395). During the first 12 month period after enrollment no seroconversions were found (upper 95% confidence limit: 1318/100,000/year). During the second 12 month period after enrollment two seroconversions were found, equalling an incidence of 813/100,000/year (95% confidence interval (95% CI) 98-2937/100,000/year). No association was found between seroprevalence and age. In the study cohort, extent of total contact with farm animals seemed more important than exposure to any specific animal: full time employees were more than four times more likely to be antibody positive than part time employees (P < 0.05). Exposure to cattle, but not sheep, goats, cats, raw milk, and hay (all reported sources of Q fever) was associated with being positive to Coxiella burnetii IgG by univariate analysis but this association was not independent of total farm animal contact. CONCLUSIONS: The risk of Q fever on livestock farms is related to contact with the farm environment rather than any specific animal exposure. The absence of an increasing prevalence with age suggests that exposure may occur as clusters in space and time (outbreaks).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Sequence conservation of the major outer capsid glycoprotein of human group C rotaviruses.

Several outbreaks of Group C rotavirus infection have occurred in the United Kingdom, in one instance infection was associated with the death of a 4-month-old infant in the Bristol area. The origin of human group C rotavirus is unknown although there has been some speculation that porcine species may be a possible source of human infection. Direct reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction sequencing of VP7 genes from two UK outbreaks (Bristol and Preston) and sequence analysis from a sporadic case of infection from Brazil (Belém) showed that each of these genes was identical in size (1,063 bp) and has revealed a surprising level (97.8-99.8%) of gene sequence conservation. Sequence comparisons with an isolate from Japan imply that the human group C rotaviruses so far characterised originate from a recent common ancestor with a worldwide distribution.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Molecular characterization of the outer capsid spike protein (VP4) gene from human group C rotavirus.

A cDNA copy of the third genomic RNA segment of a noncultivatable human group C rotavirus (Bristol) was generated by single primer amplification. Human group C rotavirus genome segment 3 contains 2283 bp and encodes the VP4 gene with an open reading frame of 2232 nucleotides (744 amino acids) starting at nucleotide 21 and terminating at nucleotide 2251. PCR primers designed from the 5' and 3' terminal sequences of the C/Bristol VP4 gene were used to amplify the corresponding VP4 gene of a human group C rotavirus from Belém, Brazil. Nucleotide sequence comparisons of the Bristol and Belém VP4 genes revealed 45 differences of which only 6 were predicted to give amino acid changes. Alignment of the two human VP4 sequences with the prototype porcine group C/Cowden rotavirus VP4 showed only 71.2% nucleotide sequence identity. Protein sequence alignments showed that the human group C rotavirus VP4 sequences were 8 amino acids longer than the porcine VP4 sequence with an insertion of 6 amino acids, 252NSKLGD257 adjacent to the proposed proteolytic cleavage region (amino acids 231-250). The large overall number of differences between the human and porcine VP4 sequences strongly suggested that the porcine C/Cowden isolate may belong to a different group C rotavirus P "serotype." In contrast the very close similarity of the VP4 sequences of the UK and Brazilian group C rotaviruses support the hypothesis that these human isolates originate from a recent common ancestor.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Human enteric Caliciviridae: a new prevalent small round-structured virus group defined by RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and capsid diversity.

Sequence comparison of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerases of small round-structured viruses (SRSVs) from 10 recent U.K. outbreaks of gastroenteritis revealed significant genetic variation. Computer analyses indicated that these viruses can be divided into two discrete groups. SRSV group I contains the previously characterized antigenic type 1 Norwalk and type 3 Southampton viruses. The amino acid sequences of the RNA polymerase, capsid and ORF3 of these two viruses are relatively similar (about 92%, 69% and 72% amino acid identity, respectively). A representative member of group II SRSVs, Bristol virus, was subjected to a detailed genetic analysis. Bristol virus is a recent antigenic type 2 isolate from a U.K. hospital outbreak of gastroenteritis. Using a single clinical sample the 3'-terminal 3881 nucleotide cDNA sequence [excluding the poly(A) tail] of this virus was determined. Analysis of the sequence revealed significant differences from those of group I viruses with the RNA polymerase region, capsid and ORF3 showing only about 62%, 43% and 30% amino acid identity respectively with the equivalent proteins of the Norwalk and Southampton viruses. These data suggest that the morphologically identical SRSVs belong to at least two genetically distinct groups.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Sequence and genome organization of a human small round-structured (Norwalk-like) virus.

Small round-structured viruses (SRSVs), also known as Norwalk or Norwalk-like viruses, are the major worldwide cause of acute, epidemic nonbacterial gastroenteritis in humans. These viruses, which contain a single-stranded RNA genome, have remained refractory to molecular characterization because of the small amounts of virus in clinical samples and the absence of an animal model and an in vitro culture system. The complete genomic nucleotide sequence of an SRSV, Southampton virus, was determined. The 7696-nucleotide RNA genome encodes three open reading frames whose sequences and organization strongly support proposals that SRVSs are members of the Caliciviridae.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Comparison of enhanced chemiluminescence and microparticle enzyme immunoassay for the measurement of hepatitis B surface antibody.

Two commercially available immunoassays for the quantitative measurement of antibodies to hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) were compared. The Amerlite enhanced chemiluminescence assay (ECL), which utilizes capture antigen obtained from HBsAg-positive donors bound to microtitre wells, was compared with the Abbott Laboratories microparticle enzyme immunoassay (IMx), which uses a recombinant antigen coated on to microparticle carriers. A total of 310 specimens, 116 from naturally infected patients (group A), 93 from patients vaccinated with a human plasma-derived vaccine (group B) and 101 patients vaccinated with a recombinant vaccine (group C), were tested in both assays undiluted and diluted 1:11. Samples that showed discordant results were also tested in a conventional quantitative enzyme immunoassay (Sorin). The results show significant differences in the level of anti-HBsAg in patient sera using the two technologies. In general, IMx gave significantly higher values than ECL for all three patient categories tested. These differences may lead to conflicting reports being issued by laboratories who change their assay system or when a sample from one patient is tested by different laboratories using different assays.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

A large Q fever outbreak in the West Midlands: clinical aspects.

In the spring of 1989 the largest outbreak of acute Q fever recorded in the United Kingdom occurred in Solihull and surrounding areas of the West Midlands. The diagnosis was confirmed in 147 people, mainly males of working age. Windborne spread from farmland to the south of the urban area was the most likely route of infection. Fever was the commonest symptom, seen in 101/102 (99%) cases, followed by weight loss reported by 83/101 (82%). Headache, often severe, was experienced by 69/101 (68%). The commonest respiratory symptom was breathlessness, 65/102 (64%), followed by cough, 52/102 (51%), and chest pain, 46/102 (45%). Neurological features, seen in 23% of cases, were more prominent in this outbreak than is commonly recognized. Persisting ill health 6 months following the acute episode not due to chronic Q fever was also a prominent feature of this largely urban outbreak.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Cytomegalovirus pneumonitis and bone marrow transplantation: identification of a specific high risk group.

AIMS: To study the association between cytomegalovirus (CMV) excretion and interstitial pneumonitis in allogeneic bone marrow transplant (BMT) recipients, with reference to donor and recipient CMV antibody response. METHODS: The incidence of CMV excretion was prospectively studied in 62 allogeneic bone marrow transplantations performed on adults and children. All recipients received CMV seronegative blood products. Prophylaxis with high dose acyclovir and CMV immune globulin was given to high risk patients (donor or recipient, or both, CMV seropositive). RESULTS: CMV excretion was detected in eight of 26 (31%) high risk patients but in only one of 36 low risk patients (donor and recipient both CMV seronegative). Five of the eight (63%) excretors in the high risk category developed CMV, of whom four (80%) belonged to the seropositive recipient/seronegative donor group, and included the three CMV seropositive recipients whose CMV complement fixation antibody titres were 64 or greater before transplantation. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that there is a subgroup of patients at especially high risk of developing CMV.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

An assessment of sputum induction as an aid to diagnosis of respiratory infections in the immunocompromised child.

Sputum induction using nebulised hypertonic saline was performed in two groups of immunocompromised children, one group with symptoms of respiratory infection and one group without. The asymptomatic group were bone marrow transplant (BMT) recipients, all seropositive for cytomegalovirus infection (CMV). Organisms were identified in three of 14 induced sputum specimens obtained from the symptomatic group (CMV N = 1, Haemophilus influenzae N = 2), but in none of 12 specimens from the asymptomatic group. Adverse effects encountered were minor. Four symptomatic patients with negative induced sputum samples underwent bronchoalveolar lavage, and no further organisms were identified. Sputum induction can be a useful adjunct to the diagnosis of respiratory pathogens in this group of patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

The laboratory diagnosis of male Chlamydia trachomatis infections--a time for change?

We carried out a two-phased study comparing the effectiveness of first-catch early morning urine (FCU) samples against urethral swabs for the detection of C. trachomatis in men. Four hundred and seventeen new and re-booked consecutive men, who attended the Department of Genito-Urinary Medicine, Bristol, having held their urine overnight, were recruited. Patients who had received antimicrobial chemotherapy in the preceding 2 months were excluded. Early morning FCU samples were obtained from 208 men followed by urethral swabs for the detection of C. trachomatis (phase I) and this order of collection was reversed for the remaining 209 patients (phase 2). A last-catch urine (LCU) was also obtained from all patients. All urethral and urine samples were examined by an amplified enzyme immunoassay (IDEIA, Dako Diagnostics Ltd). Initially, discordant samples were critically examined by direct immunofluorescence (Syva, 'Microtrak') which was used as the 'gold' standard in this study. We have shown that overall 42 and 4.7% of our symptomatic and asymptomatic male patients respectively were positive for C. trachomatis antigen by IDEIA. Furthermore 86.4 and 91.0% (phases 1 and 2) of the total C. trachomatis positive samples were detected by examination of an FCU sample. In contrast only 66.0 and 65.5% (phases 1 and 2) of the total positives were identified by examination of an urethral swab. These results show that an FCU sample not only has the advantage of being a non-invasive procedure but is also a very sensitive method, compared to swabbing the urethra for the detection of C. trachomatis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Antigens, Bacterial↗