Validation of Three Rapid Screening Methods for Detection of Verotoxin-Producing Escherichia coli in Foods: Interlaboratory Study

An interlaboratory study was conducted for the validation of 3 methods for the detection of all verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) in foods. The methods were a multi-analyte 1-step lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) for detection of E. coli O157 and verotoxin (VT); an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay targeted against VT1, VT2, and VT2c (VT-ELISA); and a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method for detection of VT genes (VT-PCR). Aliquots (25 g or 25 mL) of 4 food types (raw minced [ground] beef, unpasteurized milk, unpasteurized apple juice [cider], and salami) were individually inoculated with low numbers (<9 to 375 cells/25 g) of 6 test strains of E. coli (serogroups O26, O103, O111, O145, and O157) with differing VT-producing capabilities. Five replicates for each test strain and 5 uninoculated samples were prepared for each food type. Fourteen participating laboratories analyzed samples using the LFIA, 9 analyzed the samples by ELISA, and 9 by PCR. The LFIA for O157 and VT had a specificity (correct identification of negative samples) of 92 and 94%, respectively, and a sensitivity (correct identification of positive samples) of 94 and 55%, respectively. The VT-ELISA and VT-PCR

The occurrence of Salmonella spp. in duck eggs on sale at retail or from catering in England

Since 2010, human salmonellosis outbreaks in the UK have been detected as associated with the consumption of duck eggs. Little data are available on the rate of occurrence of Salmonella in duck eggs. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of Salmonella spp. in duck eggs on sale and from catering in England during 2011, particularly those from small-scale production. All samples were collected independently of human salmonellosis outbreak investigations. Composite samples of 6-10 eggs (shells and contents were examined separately) were examined for the presence of Salmonella spp. using the ISO 6579:2002 method. Salmonella spp. was recovered from two of 145 samples (1·4%). In one sample, Salmonella Typhimurium DT 8 was isolated from the shells while Salm. Typhimurium DT 8 and Salm. Typhimurium DT30 were isolated from the contents. Salmonella Typhimurium DT8 was isolated from the egg shells only in the second contaminated sample. This study provides baseline data for risk assessors, regulators and the food industry and may be helpful in communicating risks associated with the consumption of this product as well as evaluating risk management options to control food safety including vaccination of ducks.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

Human salmonellosis outbreaks in England and Northern Ireland due to Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium definitive phage type (DT) 8 have been identified as associated with the consumption of duck eggs since 2010. This study has shown that Salmonella spp. was detected in 1·4% of ducks egg samples providing baseline data for risk assessors, regulators and the food industry. This may be helpful in communicating risks associated with the consumption of this product as well as evaluating risk management options to control food safety including vaccination of ducks.

Habituation of Salmonella spp. at reduced water activity and its effect on heat tolerance

The effect of habituation at reduced water activity (a(w)) on heat tolerance of Salmonella spp. was investigated. Stationary-phase cells were exposed to a(w) 0.95 in broths containing glucose-fructose, sodium chloride, or glycerol at 21 degrees C for up to a week prior to heat challenge at 54 degrees C. In addition, the effects of different a(w)s and heat challenge temperatures were investigated. Habituation at a(w) 0.95 resulted in increased heat tolerance at 54 degrees C with all solutes tested. The extent of the increase and the optimal habituation time depended on the solute used. Exposure to broths containing glucose-fructose (a(w) 0.95) for 12 h resulted in maximal heat tolerance, with more than a fourfold increase in D(54) values. Cells held for more than 72 h in these conditions, however, became as heat sensitive as nonhabituated populations. Habituation in the presence of sodium chloride or glycerol gave rise to less pronounced but still significant increases in heat tolerance at 54 degrees C, and a shorter incubation time was required to maximize tolerance. The increase in heat tolerance following habituation in broths containing glucose-fructose (a(w) 0.95) was RpoS independent. The presence of chloramphenicol or rifampin during habituation and inactivation did not affect the extent of heat tolerance achieved, suggesting that de novo protein synthesis was probably not necessary. These data highlight the importance of cell prehistory prior to heat inactivation and may have implications for food manufacturers using low-a(w) ingredients.

Characterisation of a cell swelling-activated K+-selective conductance of ehrlich mouse ascites tumour cells

The K+ and Cl- currents activated by hypotonic cell swelling were studied in Ehrlich ascites tumour cells using the whole-cell recording mode of the patch-clamp technique. Currents were measured in the absence of added intracellular Ca2+ and with strong buffering of Ca2+. K+ current activated by cell swelling was measured as outward current at the Cl- equilibrium potential (ECl) under quasi-physiological gradients. It could be abolished by replacing extracellular Na+ with K+, thereby cancelling the driving force. Replacement with other cations suggested a selectivity sequence of K+ > Rb+ > NH4 approximately Na+ approximately Li+; Cs+ appeared to be inhibitory. The current-voltage relationship of the volume-sensitive K+ current was well fitted with the Goldman-Hodgkin-Katz current equation between -130 and +20 mV with a permeability coefficient of around 10(-6) cm s(-1) with both physiological and high-K+ extracellular solutions. The class III antiarrhythmic drug clofilium blocked the volume-sensitive K+ current in a voltage-independent manner with an IC50 of 32 microM. Clofilium was also found to be a strong inhibitor of the regulatory volume decrease response of Ehrlich cells. Cell swelling-activated K+ currents of Ehrlich cells are voltage and calcium insensitive and are resistant to a range of K+ channel inhibitors. These characteristics are similar to those of the so-called background K+ channels. Noise analysis of whole-cell current was consistent with a unitary conductance of 5.5 pS for the single channels underlying the K+ current evoked by cell swelling, measured at 0 mV under a quasi-physiological K+ gradient.

Histocompatibility determinants in Israeli Jewish patients with multiple sclerosis

The distribution of 24 HLA antigens of the A and B loci was investigated in 197 Israeli Jewish patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) from various Jewish ethnic origins including central and eastern Europe, countries bordering the Mediterranean, the Middle East and from native-born Israelis. The results were compared with the HLA antigen frequencies in a control sample of 455 unrelated individuals representing the general Jewish population. The frequency of HLA-Bw40 among all MS patients (15%) was significantly greater (P less than 0.001) than among the controls (7%). In contrast to the findings in MS patients from other populations, there was no increased frequency of A3 and B7 and Dw2 was present in only one out of 28 patients. The study showed a similar distribution of HLA-A and -B locus antigens, especially of Bw40, in Jews of diverse ethnic origins represented in the control group.

HLA-D typing by homozygous typing cells. A statistical analysis of experimental and biological variation

Several normalization procedures have been applied to single MLC-typing experiments in order to neutralize experimental variation and hence to secure assignment of HLA-D phenotypes. The present paper concerns a statistical description and isolation of experimental and biological factors in repeated MLC-typing experiments. The statistical model used gives a meaningful description of the variables in MLC as judged by its application to MLC-typing data of HLA-identical siblings. Subsequent testing of the model in an HLA-A, -B,-C and -D-genotyped family material provides evidence that the level of typing response to selected homozygous typing cells may be influenced by factors coded for by the homologous HLA-D region. It is, however, concluded that such evidence must be accepted with caution due to the (for the present statistical purpose) suboptimal design for the HLA-D typing experiments and hence the relative insensitivity of the method. A general method for locating erroneous triplicates is devised.

Osteosynthesis of medial fractures of the femoral neck by sliding nail-plate fixation

Sliding-nail-plate osteosynthesis of displaced medial fractures of the femoral neck was carried out in 65 consecutive cases. The appliance presented here differs from other sliding-nail plates as it has no fixed angle between the nail and the plate. Immediate postoperative weight-bearing was permitted. The average follow-up period was 2.2 years. Union of the fractures was seen in 74% and avascular necrosis in 21%. Complications were few, which we attribute to the early mobilization of the patients.

Cell mediated lympholysis in man: an attempt to type with cytotoxic lymphocytes

From approximately 3,000 CML combinations, originally established in order to evaluate the qualitative and quantitative influence of the serologically defined HLA-A, B, and C antigens on cellular, complement independent cytolysis, 12 combinations were selected yielding reproducible positive cytolysis on allogenic target cells, although no HLA-antigenic sharing could be demonstrated between stimulator and target lymphocytes. These 12 CytoToxic Lymphocytes (CTL's) have been tested in parallell as "CML typing combinations" against lymphocytes from a random population sample of 100 unrelated Danes. Based on a pairwise analysis 11 of these CTL's could be classified into two groups of significantly correlated CTL's. These two groups do not define monospecific traits of allelic genetic origin as judged by a mutually positive correlation and a poor fit to Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The traits defined by these groups may be either partially identical or governed by closely linked loci. The same groups were identified and the same conclusions reached after exclusion of those individuals in the population sample where HLA-A, B, C, or D antigens may be targets for destruction. Thus, this study gives direct evidence that known HLA antigens are not sole target determinants in CML or that cytotoxic lymphocytes recognize HLA molecules in a different way than lymphocytotoxic antibodies. The studies underline the immunogenetic complexity of CML although this reaction is most probably governed by genes in the HLA region. It is suggested that cytotoxic lymphocytes may recognize "backbone structures" of the HLA molecules.

The impact of HLA-A, B or HLA-D identity on the MIF production in MLC

The relative influence on MIF release in MLC of different parts of the HLA region was studied in 1) MLCs between cells from HLA-A and B identical (probably HLA-D unidentical) unrelated persons and 2) MLCs between cells from HLA-D identical, HLA-A and B unidentical unrelated persons. It was found that the HLA-D part of the region has the major effect on the MIF production. Studies of MIF activity in supernatants from mitomycin treated cultures lent some evidence to the hypothesis that there is an extreme linkage disequilibrium between the HLA-D alleles and hypothetical separate MIF alleles. Examination of families with crossover between the HLA-A, B and HLA-D part of the region is required for confirmation of these findings.

Frequency dependent changes in the amplitude of the cochlear microphonic potential of the pigeon ear during transient anoxia

The effect of transient anoxia on the cochlear microphonic potential at different sound frequencies was investigated. The microphonic potential was recorded with glass microelectrodes in the ductus cochlearis of the pigeon ear. Transient anoxia had different effects, related to frequency, on the amplitude and the relative phase angle of the microphonic potential recorded from one place in the ductus cochlearis. At frequencies equal to and higher than the best frequency the amplitude of the microphonic potential was more sensitive to anoxia than it was at lower frequencies. Microphonic potential at 1 kHz lower than the best frequency was often enlarged in amplitude during transient anoxia. The results suggest that this frequency-dependent effect is a positional one. Changes in the phase were largest around the best frequency. It is inferred that anoxia causes complex changes in the pattern of vibration in the cochlear partition. The observed changes in amplitude and also changes in phase are caused by the combined effects of reduction of the endolymphatic potential and changes in vibration pattern.

Fixed drug reaction provoked by small differences in chemical structure

A fixed drug reaction following the intake of sulfametomidinum NFN was activated by renewed intake of the drug but not by the ingestion of the almost identical sulfametorinum NFN.