J. H. Connolly

MEASLES-VIRUS ANTIBODY AND ANTIGEN IN SUBACUTE SCLEROSING PANENCEPHALITIS

Abstract Measles-virus antibody was found in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid of three patients with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis. The measles antibody was at high titre in the serum of two patients and in one of them the titre increased sixteen-fold during the course of the illness. Measles-virus antigen was shown to be present in the brain.

A study of immunoglobulin M antibody to measles, canine distemper, and rinderpest viruses in sera of patients with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis.

Seven boys were studied who had the clinical features of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) and whose brain histology was consistent with SSPE. Measles antigen was detected in the seven brains by the direct fluorescent antibody method. Three out of the seven boys had in their sera measles specific immunoglobulin M (IgM) which was detected by the indirect fluorescent antibody method, and the cell receptors for it were acetone stable. A prozone effect was noted in the sera of two patients. The absorption of one patients serum with Staphylococcus aureus to reduce the titre of immunoglobulin G (IgG) removed the prozone effect. Two of the boys who had high titres of measles specific IgM also had serum IgM which reacted with canine distemper virus antigen but the titres were eightfold lower. None of the boys had detectable rinderpest specific IgM in their sera.

Antibodies to Epstein-Barr virus in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma in Northern Ireland.

SummaryPatients in Northern Ireland with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) were investigated for evidence of Epstein-Barr virus infection. Eight out of 9 patients with NPC, plus one additional patient with a hypopharyngeal carcinoma, demonstrated serological evidence of EBV infection.Antibodies to viral capsid antigen (VCA) both immunoglobulin G (lgG)(8 patients) and immunoglobulin A (IgA) (7 patients) were markedly raised compared with patients with other head and neck tumours, infectious mononucleosis (IM) and the control group. All NPC patients had IgG antibody against early antigen (EA). Only 57% of patients with other head and neck tumours, 38% of IM patients and 39% of the control group had anti-EA IgG antibody. Six NPC patients had anti-EA IgA antibody.In IM the most useful marker of infection was anti-VCA IgM which was present in all cases and was absent in all other groups apart from one NPC patient.EBV antibody responses can be used to aid diagnosis in head and neck neoplasms.

A study of immunoglobulin M antibody to measles, canine distemper and rinderpest viruses in sera of patients with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis

Seven boys were studied who had the clinical features of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) and whose brain histology was consistent with SSPE. Measles antigen was detected in the 7 brains by the direct fluorescent antibody method. Three out of the 7 boys had in their sera measles specific immunoglobulin M (IgM) which was detected by the indirect fluorescent antibody method and in 2 of these sera a prozone effect was noted. Two of the boys who had high titres of measles specific IgM also had serum IgM which reacted with canine distemper virus antigen, but the titres were 8 fold lower. None of the boys had detectable rinderpest specific IgM in their sera.

Incidence and treatment of Chlamydia trachomatis genital infection in Belfast

SummaryChlamydia trachomatis was isolated from 35% of urethral swabs taken from 100 men with non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU). Eleven out of 53 female contacts of NGU (20.7%) were alsoC. trachomatis positive. In 21 female contacts ofC. trachomatis positive men, 9 (42.9%) wereC. trachomatis positive. All patients becameC. trachomatis negative folowing oxytetracycline therapy but 50% ofC. trachomatis positive and 47.6% ofC. trachomatis negative men required further treatment for symptoms and signs of urethritis.