Tov Omland

Salmonella Enteritidis Infections in Infancy with Special Reference to a Small Nosocomial Epidemic

Salmonella infections in infancy and especially in the newborn often present a very serious clinical picture, in many cases entirely different from the one observed in older individuals. Salmonella types which ordinarily cause only acute gastroenteritis in older children and adults, may in infants cause septicemic infections with a very high mortality. In this connection Salmonella meningitis ought to be emphasized. According to Watson (15) more than 80 per cent of the cases are found in infants, notably in the newborn. Salmonella meningitis was first described by Ghon in 1908 (4). The infection was caused by Salmonella paratyphi B. Later numerous reports have appeared in the literature and a variety of Salmonella types have been demonstrated as causative agents, the most frequent ones being S. enteritidis, S. paratyphi B, 8. havana, S. panama and S. typhi-murium (15).

Legionella antibodies in human and animal populations in Kenya

Using a microagglutination method, domestic and wild animal sera, together with human patient and healthy blood donor sera, have been analysed for titres against various Legionella species, comprising fourteen different serogroups. Generally, the level of moderately elevated titres, i.e. ≥ 64, was low for all the aforementioned serum groups. Within the domesticated animals, cattle, pigs and dogs presented a much lower prevalence in Kenya than found elsewhere, whereas it was the other way round for goats. Human sera, either from patients or from healthy donors, did not react against L. pneumophila serogroups 1, 6, or 3, which in that sequence are the most common L. pneumophila serogroups in Europe, and in other geographic areas where legionellosis is common. High titres of ≥ 256 against L. pneumophila serogroup 6 (two cattle) or against L. bozemanii strain Mi‐15 (two cattle, one dog) indicate that although the epidemiological picture may be different from other parts of the world, Legionella infections exist in Kenya as well.