Seiji Kaneko

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans in commercial diphenyl ether herbicides, and in freshwater fish collected from the application area

Abstract This paper describes the analyses of polychlorinated dibenzodioxins, dibenzofurans, and related compounds in diphenyl ether herbicides, CNP, NIP, and X-52. The levels of tetra-, penta-CDDs, and tetra-CDFs were about 150, 30, and 15 ppm, respectively in CNP formulations. NIP and X-52 contained lower chlorine alalogs. Isomer distribution of PCDDs in CNP agreed with an estimate from the reaction of chlorophenols. Freshwater fish samples heavily contaminated with CNP in the application season also contained 0.2 ppb of 1,3,6,8-tetra-CDD.

Rapid Method for Detection of Pathogenic Yersinia Enterocolitica and Yersinia Pseudotuberculosis Using Enzyme Immunoassay

In this paper we describe a convenient method for the detection of virulent Yersinia strains using an enzyme - immunoassay (EIA). An antiserum was prepared against virulent plasmid-coded specific proteins of Y. enterocolitica serotype 03. Then, EIA was performed with the antiserum and proteins of various Yersinia strains of different origin. Positive reaction in EIA was observed when the proteins of virulent plasmid-bearing strains were tested. These strains were Y. enterocolitica serotypes 05:27, 08 and 09, and Y. pseudotuberculosis serotypes lb, 2a, 2b, 2c, 3, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6, 7 and 8. On the other hand, the reaction was negative when plasmid- cured strains of the pathogenic Y. enterocolitica and Y. pseudotuberculosis were tested, as well as non-pathogenic Y. enterocolitica, Y. frederiksenii, Y. intermedia and Y. kristensenii. The results clearly indicate the usefulness of the EIA method for the rapid detection of virulent Yersinia strains.