During the period 1971–4, Torulopsis glabrata formed 42% of yeasts isolated from 5677 clinical specimens from patients with cancers, diabetes mellitus, chronic renal failure, pregnancy or major surgical operations complicated by mycotic infections. The significance of T. glabrata in these patients is discussed.

The effects of a commercial trichlorocarbanilide-containing deodorant soap and a commercial plain soap upon the cutaneous flora of individuals were compared. Using a cross-over design, 21 volunteers (10 women and 11 men) washed their forearms at least once a day with one soap for 3 weeks and then switched soaps for another 4 weeks use. By analysis of variance no significant difference in total colony counts was noted among individuals in their use of the two soaps. With the exception of individual variation, neither sequence of use, sex, nor any combination was influential. However, in 20 of 21 subjects an alteration in the composition of skin flora was observed. The deodorant soap, which in six cases increased total flora, tended to reduce or eliminate diphtheroids in 12 of 17 carriers (71%). Fewer kinds of bacteria were also noted. More Staphylococcus epidermidis was seen with the plain soap, but washing with the deodorant soap seemed to favour Acinetobacter calcoaceticus and Micrococcus luteus. The impact of this alteration and the use of total counts to measure effectiveness of deodorant soaps were brought into question.

Because of the paucity of quantitative data on numbers of other enteric pathogens in food, the reliability of the examination of processed foods for Enterobacteriaceae was estimated taking Salmonella as a model. For this purpose an assessment was carried out of the risk of accepting Salmonella contaminated consignments of foods, despite a negative outcome of (i) examination of 1·5 kg samples for Salmonella; (ii) examination of one or two 1 g samples for Enterobacteriaceae; (iii) simultaneous application of both tests. The computations were based on the results of the examination of 6830 samples of dried foods, processed for safety, out of a total of 18170 samples.

Only 69 samples permitted the exact calculation of the factor, defined as c.f.u./g of Enterobacteriaceae/c.f.u./g of Salmonella; 4642 were positive for the former group but ‘free’ from Salmonella, and the rest were negative in both tests. Numbers of c.f.u./g for both groups, and hence the factors, varied widely between commodities and also between different consignments of the same food product. The average for amounted to 5·8 × 103, far from the base-line value of 0·75 × 103 assessed earlier. In only 0·1% of samples did the Enterobacteriaceae test fail to achieve the required consumer protection.

This investigation therefore substantiates that testing foods processed for safety by examining accurately chosen quantities for ecologically well selected and taxonomically thoroughly defined index organisms is a most effective procedure in terms both of consumer protection and simplicity of examination without compelling the food industry to achieve hardly attainable microbiological quality standards.

Cold water (10° C) at ultra-high pressure (38·5–49 kg/cm2) was compared with (a) hot water (65·6–82·2° C) at low pressure (4·2–5·6 kg/cm2) and (b) hot water containing a detergent (2% (w/v) sodium silicate). Seven sites were examined in a beef abattoir and six in a bacon factory.

Three surfaces in the beef abattoir had lower residual colony counts (higher reductions) after hot water/low pressure than after cold water/high pressure. However, the differences were not significant (P > 0·05). The range of the mean log10 count/cm2 before cleaning was 4·02–5·15, and after cleaning 1·73–2·32 (hot water) and 1·9–2·85 (cold water).

On three of the remaining sites, the three methods were compared. The total differences between treatments were not significant (P > 0.05), although there was an effect of surface and an interaction between surface and treatment. The cold water produced lower residual counts on three sites in the bacon factory than the hot water (45–54°C). However, the differences were not significant on the remaining surfaces.

The method of path analysis is described in detail. Application of this analytical technique in the interpretation of causal relationships in complex biological systems is demonstrated using data from an epidemiological study of echinococcosis in New Zealand. The results identified the major causal pathways determining Echinococcus granulosus prevalence in dogs, based on multiple regression analysis of a linear causal model constructed from prior biological and epidemiological knowledge. Only ethnic and sheep husbandry variables had important direct effects on prevalence in the North Island of New Zealand, with some climatic factors (maximum temperature and relative humidity) and soil porosity acting indirectly through animal husbandry practices. It is suggested that path analysis, by permitting interaction between epidemiological theory and statistical analysis, provides a valuable additional tool to epidemiologists for the study of causal relationships among variables in multivariate systems.

Tuberculin testing of 176 personnel in a Liverpool hospital showed a total incidence of 68 % negative reactors. This remarkably high percentage was similar for each of the various groups of workers tested. We did not find the Tine test to be a satisfactory method of screening for tuberculin sensitivity because 30% were doubtful reactors. In these, further tuberculin testing by the Mantoux reagent was always positive.

The patient is identified as being of prime importance for comfort standards in hospital ward areas, other ward users being expected to adjust their dress to suit the conditions necessary for patient comfort. A study to identify the optimum steady state conditions for patient comfort is then described.

Although this study raises some doubts as to the applicability of the standard thermal comfort assessment techniques to ward areas, it is felt that its results give a good indication of the steady-state conditions preferred by the patients. These were an air temperature of between 21.5° and 22° C and a relative humidity of between 30% and 70%, where the air velocity was less than 0.1 m/s and the mean radiant temperature was close to air temperature.

The factors influencing the rate of progress in Echinococcus granulosus control in New Zealand were analysed by hydatid control area using stepwise multiple regression techniques. The results indicated that the rate of progress was related positively to initial E. granulosus prevalence in dogs and the efficiency with which local authorities implemented national control policy, and negatively to the Maori proportion in the local population and the number of dogs per owner. Problems in analysis of the New Zealand data are discussed and improved methods of monitoring progress in hydatid disease control programmes are described.

Four hundred and seventy tuberculosis patients were each skin tested with four of a range of 17 mycobacterial reagents in four countries in all of which tuberculosis and leprosy were endemic. Sixteen of the reagents were new tuberculins prepared from extracts of living mycobacteria disrupted by ultrasonic disintegration and the last was PPD, RT23.

The effect that tuberculosis exerted on the delayed-type skin test response to these antigens was assessed by comparing results for tuberculosis patients with those for Tuberculin positive and Tuberculin negative control populations. Tuberculosis patients on Rifampicin therapy showed no difference in their skin test responses to any of the antigens from those patients on other forms of anti-tuberculosis treatment.

Amongst the normal population it was found that possession of Tuberculin positivity was associated with an enhanced response to all the other mycobacterial antigens with the exception of A*-in which demonstrated a reciprocal relationship with Tuberculin in Burma. It was also noted, in Burma particularly, that sensitization to mycobacterial species other than Mycobacterium tuberculosis, especially to the slow growers, plays a role in determining responses to different mycobacterial species.

In tuberculosis patients enhanced skin test responses were also seen but only in those countries, e.g. Libya, where the prevalence of mycobacterial species was low. Where mycobacteria were common, as in Burma, the converse was true and tuberculosis was associated with a diminished skin test response to each antigen. The high prevalence of A*-in positivity in Burma, its reciprocal relationship with Tuberculin there and the results for all the antigens in the tuberculosis patients indicate that the cell mediated skin test response may have a threshold. If this is exceeded the skin test becomes negative so that non-reactors then include those who have been excessively sensitized as well as those who have not been sensitized. Despite this, a greater percentage of tuberculosis patients in each country responded to the specific reagent Tuberculin than did the control populations and their mean positive induration sizes were consistently larger. Nevertheless, amongst the tuberculosis patients in Burma 13% were complete non-reactors to Tuberculim and this apparent anergy also applied to the other reagents with which these individuals were tested.

This differs from lepromatous leprosy where the anergic state pertain exclusively to M. leprae and a few seemingly closely related species. The breadth of anergy in M. ulcerans infection has not been measured but it is known to effect both Burulin and the PPD, RT23.

Just as in leprosy and M. ulcerans infection, tuberculosis can be shown to have a disease spectrum here detected by multiple skin testing. The significance of this spectrum and its similarities with and differences from that of the other mycobacterioses is discussed.

A model activated sludge treatment plant was used which was functionally very similar to a full scale plant. It was inoculated with poliovirus either continuously or with a single dose and the amounts of virus in the influent, mixed liquor and effluent were monitored regularly. The distribution of the virus in the liquid and solid phases of the mixed liquor was very unequal with about 85% of the virus associated with the suspended solids fraction. Only small amounts of virus were recovered from the effluent and after inoculation was stopped virus rapidly became indetectable. The efficiency of the plant with regard to removal of virus was closely related to its capacity to remove suspended solids and the adsorption of virus to solids and its inactivation is briefly discussed.

A simple method of breeding large numbers of rabbit fleas in a rabbit house with minimal disruption to the general routine is described.

The decline of maternal antibodies to the fraction I antigen of Yersinia pestis was investigated in newly weaned Rattus norvegicus obtained from dams vaccinated with strain EV76(51f) of Y. pestis. IHA titre decreased by 50% each 7.3 days and CF titre declined 50% each 10.0 days in young rats. An analysis of available data indicated that maternal IHA and CF antibodies could persist to 3 months of age. Therefore, positive serologic reactions in young R. norvegicus, detected in the course of serological surveys, could be the result either of active immunization after exposure to the plague bacillus or of transient passive immunization (i.e. maternal antibody).

Group-A streptococci belonging to opacity-factor (OF)-positive M types were poorly haemolytic on horse-blood agar, but members of OF-negative M types, and M-negative variants of OF-positive strains gave good haemolysis. Horse-serum extracts of strains of OF-negative serotypes 6 and 12, and M-negative variant cultures of OF-positive serotypes 4 and 49, had higher titres of streptolysin S than did similar extracts of OF-positive, M-positive cultures of types 4 and 49. However, much larger amounts of streptolysin S could be extracted with ribonuclease (RNAase)-digested yeast ribonucleic acid (RNA) and M-positive OF-positive cultures treated in this way gave extracts at least as strong as did their M-negative variants or the OF-negative strains. Extraction of streptolysin S from OF-negative strains by serum could be inhibited by previous incubation of the serum with extracellular OF, suggesting that the production of diffusable OF by M-positive variants of OF-positive serotypes interferes with the extraction of streptolysin S by serum and leads to poor haemolysis on blood agar.

The haemolysis of all strains on blood agar was greatly improved by the incorporation of 0·1% (w/v) RNAase-digested yeast RNA into the medium, but the improvement was most marked in OF-positive serotypes.

Mud samples collected in June 1975 from the lakes, marshes and waterways of the Camargue were examined for Clostridium botulinum. The Grand Rhône and Petit Rhone were shown to contain types B and E, but of 44 samples taken from well distributed sites on the Ile de la Carmargue, only two (4·5%) were positive and these contained type E alone. The survey indicated a much lower prevalence of Cl. botulinum than any encountered in recent surveys of inland aquatic environments elsewhere.

Using the microthread technique the survival of Escherichia coli MRE 162 in open air was measured in different parts of The Netherlands.

The presence of bactericidal compounds (open air factor = OAF) could be demonstrated on several days and quantitated in relative units of OAF concentration.

In the absence of ozone the OAF concentration was always low. In the presence of ozone the OAF concentration was dependent on wind direction. At the selected microthread exposure sites air from areas with high traffic intensity contributed more to OAF production than air from industrial areas. OAF production is probably related to the nature of hydrocarbons in the air.

The effects of ozone and ozonized olefins on aerosol survival of bacteriophage øX174 were studied. The ozone concentrations used were between 0 and 110 parts/109, giving decay rates up to 0·03 min−1. The olefins used were trans-2-butene and cyclohexene in concentrations of 500 parts/109 and 2·4 parts/106, respectively. Olefins alone have no effect, whereas in combination with ozone, decay rates of 0·1 min−1 and higher were obtained. The results are discussed in relation to the viricidal effect of open air.

In 1975, 25 soil samples were collected from the London area. Of these, 20 were obtained 200–300 yards from 20 lakes that had been shown in 1974 to contain mud contaminated with one or more of types B, C, D and E of Clostridium botulinum. By means of a technique comparable with that used for the examination of mud, the 20 soil samples were found negative. The remaining 5 soil samples, obtained from sites that were not in close proximity to lakes, were also negative except for one that contained type B.

A controlled trial of influenza vaccines in a boys' public school from November 1970 to October 1975 provided an opportunity to study the response to vaccine and the effect on subsequent natural challenge in boys with differing natural experience of influenza A strains. The response to influenza A (H3N2) vaccines was assessed by estimating homotypic and heterotypic antibodies to the surface antigens. Previous natural experience of influenza A was found to influence vaccine response and the effect of natural challenge. The antibody response to revaccination with the same strain showed a progressively poorer response to second and third doses. The protective effect of naturally acquired and vaccine-induced antibodies was assessed during two outbreaks of influenza A which occurred in the trial period.

Of a total of 23,609 incidents of salmonella infection reported during the period 1968–74, 20,326 occurred in cattle, 1744 in poultry and other birds, 675 in sheep, 558 in pigs and 306 in other species of animals.

Despite the large number of serotypes isolated (153), 88% of incidents were due to only two serotypes: S. dublin (15,929 incidents of which 15,446 occurred in cattle) and S. typhimurium (4842 incidents of which 3785 occurred in cattle and 732 in birds).

S. choleraesuis was the third (314 incidents which with only 5 exceptions occurred in pigs) and S. abortusovis (243 incidents all in sheep) was the fourth most commonly isolated serotype. The following six serotypes were each recorded in more than 100 incidents: S. newport (177), S. agona (170), S. virchow (169), S. anatum (152), S. enteritidis (150) and S. montevideo (111). The other 143 serotypes accounted for only 5·8% of total incidents.

The trends of annual incidence of salmonella infection in cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry and other birds during the 17-year period 1958–74 and the distribution of the main serotypes in the individual species of animals from 1968 to 1974 are discussed.

A microbiological investigation of Black infants suffering from severe acute summer gastroenteritis revealed enteropathogenic agents in 30 out of 37 patients (81%). Enterotoxigenic bacteria were isolated from 15 patients (41%). A total of 16 enterotoxigenic strains were isolated, comprising 9 enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli strains secreting labile and stable toxin on their own and in combination, and labile-toxin secreting strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae (4), Enterobacter cloacae (2) and Proteus vulgaris (1). In the case of the latter three species, however, 6 out of the 7 strains were isolated from patients who were excreting other enteric pathogens, whereas only 2 out of 9 enterotoxigenic E. coli patients had concomitant infections with other pathogens. No invasive bacteria were isolated except for 2 shigella strains. Salmonella and shigella strains were found in four patients. No correlation was found between the enteropathogenicity of E. coli and its serotype. Rotavirus was observed by negative staining electron microscopy in only two patients (6%) but using a reverse complement fixation test rotavirus antigen was detected in the stool of 17 out of 35 patients (49%). The low EM detection rate may well be due to the patients being admitted for treatment late in the course of their illness when the degree of viral shedding has decreased below EM detectability. No significant difference in clinical presentation was noted between the various aetiological agents. Only one patient was being solely breast-fed compared to 16% of control non-diarrhoeic infants. Evidence of malnutrition was noted in over half of our patients.