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Biomedical subjects

I D Gust

Publications and source records attributed to I D Gust.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1980

Detection of hepatitis A virus in the feces of patients with naturally acquired infections.

A prospective study was carried out on 200 patients admitted to Fairfield Hospital, Melbourne, Australia, with acute hepatitis A to determine the frequency with which virus could be detected in their feces. Evidence of infection with hepatitis A virus (HAV) was obtained by detecting IgM specific for HAV in a single serum sample or by demonstrating a rising titer of antibody in paired sera by solid-phase radioimmunoassay. HAV was detected in the feces of 59 of the 200 patients by solid-phase radioimmunoassay and immune electron microscopy. When patients were admitted within one week of the onset of dark urine, 45% were found to be shedding HAV, whereas only 11% of specimens obtained from patients admitted during the second week contained virus. HAV was not detected in fecal specimens collected more than 14 days after the onset of dark urine. These findings suggest that patients admitted to hospital with hepatitis A may still be infectious and that appropriate precautions against fecal contamination should be maintained.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1980

Changing patterns in the distribution of hepatitis B subtypes.

From July 1, 1969, to June 30, 1977, 4,413 patients with acute viral hepatitis were admitted to Fairfield Hospital, Melbourne, of whom 1,128 (25.6%) had hepatitis type B. Only two of the four major subtypes of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) were detected, HBsAg/ayw and HBsAg/adw, and of these HBsAg/ayw was present in 80.4% of cases. Over the 8-year period, hepatitis B became more common in Melbourne and the proportion of patients infected with the ayw subtype increased from 75 to 91%. Approximately 50% of the patients with hepatitis B were intravenous drug abusers. In most of the others the source of infection was unknown.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1980

Coproantibodies in hepatitis A: detection by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immune electron microscopy.

A collection of 104-fecal specimens from 45 patients with hepatitis A, 14 patients with hepatitis B, 10 patients with non-A, non-B hepatitis, 6 patients with diseases other than hepatitis, and 18 healthy adults were studied for the presence of secretory immunoglobulin A and immunoglobulin M to hepatitis A virus by solid-phase enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immune electron microsopy. Specific fecal antibody was found only in patients with hepatitis A. Of 54 specimens from patients with hepatitis A, only 10 (18.5%) possessed detectable levels of fecal antibody, and each of these was collected within 10 days from the onset of dark urine. All 10 fecal specimens contained hepatitis A-specific secretory immunoglobulin A, and 4 were also positive for hepatitis A-specific immunoblobulin M. Four of the 10 antibody-positive specimens also contained hepatitis A virus particles which could be shown by immune electron microscopy to be coated with specific secretory immunoglobulin A. Since specific fecal antibody was not detected in all the patients with hepatitis A that were studied, it would appear to have limited diagnostic value, although its detection is evidence of recent infection.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed1980

Iodination of hepatitis A virus reveals a fourth structural polypeptide.

Hepatitis A virus present in the feces of two patients with naturally acquired hepatitis A was purified, radiolabeled with 125I, and analyzed by discontinuous sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. In addition to the three structural polypeptides previously reported, a fourth polypeptide with a molecular weight of 14,000 was detected and shown to be a component of hepatitis A virus by immune precipitation techniques. Intact virions were also shown to sediment at 160S on sucrose gradients. These findings are consistent with hepatitis A virus being an enterovirus within the family Picornaviridae.

Centrifugation, Density Gradient↗
PubMed1979

Seroepidemiology of infection with hepatitis A and B viruses in an isolated Pacific population.

To determine the prevalence of infection with hepatitis A virus and hepatitis B virus in an isolated population, samples of serum were collected from 574 healthy subjects living on the remote Pacific Island of Funafuti. Each specimen was tested for antibody to hepatitis A virus, hepatitis B surface antigen, and antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen by solid-phase radioimmunoassay. Overall, 79.8% of the population showed evidence of previous infection with hepatitis A virus, and 72.5% with hepatitis B virus; the high prevalence of antibody to both viruses in young adults suggested that the majority of infections were acquired in the first decade of life. Although it is known that hepatitis B virus maintains itself in isolated populations through a reservoir of chronic carriers, the reason for the persistently high rate of infection with hepatitis A virus is unknown.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

A seroepidemiologic study of infection with HAV and HBV in five Pacific Islands.

A batch of 1025 serum samples, obtained from healthy subjects and hospital patients from five Pacific islands (Viti Levu, Funafuti, Niue, Rarotonga and Upolu) were tested for antibody to hepatitis A virus (anti-HAV), hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAG) and antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) by solid phase radioimmunoassay (SPRIA). High frequencies of anti-HAV were observed in each population (Funafuti, 79.9%; Upolu, 81.6%; Viti Levu, 84.3%; Rarotonga, 95.0%; and Niue, 95.2%), and the age-specific prevalence suggested that the majority of infections with this virus had occurred in the first decade of life. Hepatitis B was endemic in each population, although the total infection rates (as measured by the sum of HBsAG and anti-Hbs frequencies) were lower than for hepatitis A. While infections with each virus tended to run in parallel, peak prevalence of anti-HAV was usually reached in the second decade of life and peak prevalence of HBsAg and anti-HBs was not attained until a decade later. The pattern of infection with HBV was similar in each of the groups studied with the exception of Indians living in Viti Levu, among whom unusually low levels of antigen and antibody were demonstrated.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Solid-phase enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of hepatitis A-specific immunoglobulin M.

A solid-phase enzyme linked immunosorbent assay was developed for the detection of immunoglobulin M antibody to hepatitis A virus. The system was capable of detecting hepatitis A-specific immunoglobulin M in a single dilution of serum and appears to be a reliable and rapid means of establishing a diagnosis of hepatitis A infection. Specific immunoglobulin M was only detected in patients with serologically confirmed hepatitis A and not in patients with other forms of hepatitis, chronic liver disease, or autoimmune disease. In patients with hepatitis A, specific immunoglobulin M was usually detectable for 6 weeks after the onset of dark urine, and the longest period for which it was present in any patient was 115 days. This enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay is rapid, simple to perform, and does not require complicated equipment. Provided adequate supplies of purified reagents can be obtained, this enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay procedure is likely to simplify hepatitis A serology, because the same antibody-coated plates can be utilized to detect hepatitis A virus, anti-hepatitis A virus, and hepatitis A-specific immunoglobulin M.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed1979

Comparison of passive haemagglutination and haemagglutination-inhibition techniques for detection of antibodies to rubella virus.

Because of the technical problems and length of time involved in the satisfactory performance of the haemagglutination-inhibition test for detection of rubella-specific antibodies, a commercially available passive haemagglutination (PHA) kit utilising rubella antigen-sensitised human erythrocytes was tested for its suitability for use in diagnostic laboratories. The immune response to acute rubella infections as measured by PHA was considerably delayed compared to the response measured by haemagglutination-inhitition. Titres of rubella-specific antibody only became comparable six months after the infection. The commercially available PHA kits is a useful addition to diagnostic laboratories for the determination of immune status and, in conjunction with the haemagglutination-inhibition test, can be an indicator of recent rubella infection.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed1979

Comparison of electron microscopy, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, solid-phase radioimmunoassay, and indirect immunofluorescence for detection of human rotavirus antigen in faeces.

Four techniques were compared for their practicability, speed, and sensitivity for the detection of human rotavirus. Radioimmunoassay (RIA) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were found to be the most sensitive means of identifying rotavirus, and, once processed, up to 40 specimens could be examined daily. Electron microscopy, although less sensitive than these techniques, had the advantage of being able to detect other viral agents present in faecal extracts. Indirect immunofluorescence failed to detect rotavirus as often as the other three methods. In laboratories where routine examination of faecal specimens from patients with gastroenteritis is required, ELISA and RIA are useful alternatives to electron microscopy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

A solid-phase enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detection of antibody to rubella virus.

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was established for detection of antibodies to rubella virus. In this system commercially available rubella antigen was attached to the wells of polystyrene microtitre plates after which sera were added and incubated to allow the formation of antigen-antibody complexes. The presence of bound antibody was detected by adding anti-human globulin coupled to horseradish peroxidase and visually observing the colour change produced after addition of an appropriate substrate. The test was reproducible and simple to perform and had a similar sensitivity to the widely used haemagglutination inhibition system.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed1978

The 1976 influenza epidemic in Melbourne.

Some aspects of the 1976 influenza epidemic are described and compared with findings in previous years. Rapid diagnostic techniques gave encouraging results, but were less sensitive than conventional techniques. A higher rate of virus isolation was obtained from nasopharyngeal aspirates than from pooled nose and throat swabs.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

Prevalence of antibody to the hepatitis A virus in a large institution for the mentally retarded.

The prevalence of antibody to hepatitis A virus (anti-HAV) was determined in 854 people living in a large institution for the mentally retarded in Melbourne. Altogether 638 (74.4%) of the subjects were found to have specific antibody detectable by solid-phase radioimmunoassay (SPRIA). No difference in antibody prevalence was observed between males and females; however, the prevalence was higher among subjects with Down syndrome (84.1%) than those of other forms of mental retardation (72.8%). In both groups there was an increase in prevalence of antibody with increasing age and duration of institutionalization. When compared with the open community, patients in this institution have a higher prevalence of antibody and appear to acquire their infections at an earlier age.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

Prevalence of antibody to hepatitis A and polioviruses in an unimmunized urban population.

A large group of sera collected in 1954-1955 from people living in the metropolitan area of Melbourne, Australia, was tested for neutralizing antibody to polioviruses 1,2 and 3 and for antibody to hepatitis A virus by solid phase radioimmunoassay. The age-specific prevalence of antibody to each virus was remarkable similar, being highest in the elderly and in persons of low socioeconomic status. Antibody to each virus was acquired early in life, with more than half the population showing evidence of infection by the age of 15 years.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

The prevalence of HBeAg and anti-HBe in an institution for the mentally retarded.

The age specific prevalence of HBsAg and anti-HBs was studied in 855 mentally retarded children and adults living in a large institution. The sera of every HBsAg positive patient was re-tested for the presence of HBeAg and anti-HBe. Overall, 78.2% of subjects showed serological evidence of current or past infection with HBV. The carrier rate was highest in children and young adults and higher amongst subjects with Down's syndrome than with other forms of retardation. HBeAg was detected in 33.9% of carriers and its prevalence also decreased with increasing age and was highest amongst subjects with Down's syndrome.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

Human rotavirus and its antibody: their coexistence in feces of infants.

Rotavirus and its antibody were detected by paper disk solid-phase radioimmunoassay or electron microscopy in feces of infants and young children with acute diarrhea. The fecal specimens in which rotavirus was detectable often contained a high titer of antibodies, which were shown by radioimmunoassay to belong mainly to the immunoglobulin G class. Rotavirus was rarely detected in the specimens containing immunoglobulin A antibodies. By dissociation tests carried out by radioimmunoassay, it was shown that the rotavirus particles in some specimens had the same antibody-binding capacity as did cultured simian rotavirus (SA-11), but antibodies in feces usually had low avidity, probably resulting from enzymatic digestion.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed1978

Solid-phase enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of hepatitis A virus.

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed for the detection of hepatitis A virus in human fecal specimens. Investigations with 88 fecal specimens from 77 patients with suspected viral hepatitis and 8 of their household contacts showed that ELISA was as specific and sensitive as radioimmunoassay and almost as sensitive as immune electron microscopy. The ELISA is quick and simple to perform, does not require sophisticated technical equipment, and can be read with the naked eye, making it suitable for field work and rapid diagnosis.

Antigen-Antibody Reactions↗