AnneM. Field

New human papovavirus (B.K.) isolated from urine after renal transplantation.

Abstract The isolation of a new papovavirus Summary from the urine of a renal allograft recipient with ureteric obstruction is described. Virus particles were observed in the cells lining the ureter by electron microscopy, and high, rising antibody titres to the virus were demonstrated in the patients serum. This virus is not identical with any of the previously described members of the polyoma subgroup and has provisionally been named B.K. virus after the patient.

MATERNAL SERUM α-FETOPROTEIN—A MARKER OF FETAL APLASTIC CRISIS DURING INTRAUTERINE HUMAN PARVOVIRUS INFECTION

In 2 cases of hydrops fetalis and intrauterine death associated with human parvovirus B19 infection that produced very few symptoms during the second trimester of pregnancy, maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein levels were raised, before the ultrasonic detection of hydropic features. Fetal blood sampling in 1 case revealed the features of aplastic crisis. A retrospective study of 3 other affected and 11 unaffected cases of B19 infection during pregnancy showed a correlation between raised maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein level and poor prognosis for the affected pregnancies, with the subsequent development of hydrops fetalis.

BK virus specific IgM responses in cord sera, young children and healthy adults detected by RIA.

SummaryAn IgM capture solid-phase radioimmunoassay (MACRIA) for BK virus (BKV) specific IgM is described. This test was found to be more sensitive in detecting BKV specific IgM than both haemagglutination inhibition and immune electron microscopy with serum fractions from sucrose density gradients. The use of this specific assay allowed large numbers of sera to be examined with ease so that the distribution of BKV specific IgM in different populations could be studied more fully.BKV specific IgM was detected in 11/300 sera from London blood donors, in 24/114 sera from children aged between 2 and 11 years admitted to a paediatric unit and 14/79 sera taken from children aged between 2 and 5 years for the investigation of anti-streptolysin 0 titres. BKV specific IgM was not detected in 404 cord sera examined to investigate the transplacental transfmission of BK virus.

Evidence for oral excretion of E.B. virus in infectious mononucleosis.

Abstract Lymphocytes from a donor negative for Epstein-Barr (E.B.) virus have been transformed with throat-swab material taken from a case of infectious mononucleosis. These transformed cells, which have the characteristics of lymphoblasts, contain herpes-virus particles, seen both in thin sections and by negative staining. By exclusion of other herpes viruses it is most likely that this virus is E.B. virus which was present in the throat of the patient. This demonstration supports the suggestion that the virus probably passes from case to case in oral secretions.

LABORATORY DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS OF VESICULAR SKIN RASHES

Abstract Viral investigations, particularly to exclude smallpox, done over a period of a year on 88 patients with skin rashes, all being unrelated episodes, are reported. The methods included gel diffusion, electron microscopy, and virus cultivation. From material taken from the skin lesions 46 viruses were identified. These belonged to the poxvirus and herpesvirus groups and consisted of 32 varicella-zoster, 9 vaccinia, 3 orf, and 2 herpes simplex viruses. Smallpox was not identified during the period although outbreaks have occurred in preceding years.

A COMPARISON OF THE HÆMAGGLUTINATION-INHIBITION TEST AND THE NEUTRALISATION TEST FOR THE DETECTION OF RUBELLA ANTIBODY

Abstract Two serological tests, neutralisation and haemagglutination inhibition, were used to demonstrate rubella antibodies in human sera. Results with the two tests correlated extremely well. It was concluded that the haemagglutination-inhibition procedure was a useful preliminary test in the diagnosis of rubella and in survey work.