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Biomedical subjects

K L Herrmann

Publications and source records attributed to K L Herrmann.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1975

Herpes simplex virus microneutralization: a simplification of the test.

The herpes simplex virus (HSV) microneutralization test has been simplified; its use has been demonstrated for the identification of HSV isolates as type 1 (HSV-1) or type 2 (HSV-2) and for the measurement of antibodies to HSV-1 and HSV-2. In this test, the relation between the neutralization titer and virus input is linear, and thus test results can be expressed as corrected neutralization titers, rather than as the more complex neutralizing potency values previously proposed. By means of this test, 45 of 46 clinical isolates of HSV were unequivocally identified as either HSV-1 or HSV-2. Evaluation of neutralizing antibody to HSV infection was more difficult because some neutralizing antibody to the heterotypic HSV is produced after primary infection with HSV-1 or HSV-2, because patients previously infected with one HSV type may show a variety of serological responses to subsequent heterotypic infection, and because human sera obtained early after primary HSV infection may not yet exhibit a type-specific response.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed1975

Evaluation of a measles-smallpox vaccination campaign by a sero-epidemiologic method.

An assessment technique has been devised whereby children from 30 randomly chosen sampling sites are visited within three days of measles-smallpox vaccination and one month later. Vaccination coverage is measured at house visits and immunologic status is determined by collection of early and late blood samples on filter papers from substratified children in priority age-groups, and by looking at vaccination scars. The methodology was employed in a rural area of the Ivory Coast during the maintenance phase of a measles-smallpox vaccination program; 1762 children from 0--72 months old were inspected. Children in the target age groups, 6--24 months, had a vaccination coverage of 53.6% whereas children outside of the target group had a 10.5% coverage. Of 571 target age children, 94.6% had a measles hemagglutination-inhibition antibody titer of less than 1:10 dilution at the first visit, and were presumed susceptible to measles or vaccine. Of 247 substratified children 6--8 months, 98.3% were susceptible to measles before vaccination; 84.3% of 127 vaccinated children in this age-group sero-converted when re-tested. Of 324 children 9--24 months, 91.7% were susceptible before the campaign; 94.7% of 170 vaccinated children in this age-group converted. A positive history of prior measles or prior measles-vaccination was not a good indicator of measles serologic status. The smallpox vaccination major reaction rate was 93.2%; 91.4% of children with a recent vaccination scar sero-converted to measles vaccine. Thus, the smallpox scar read at the second visit proved the best clinical marker for determining both coverage and immunologic effectiveness of the campaign.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1972

Human infection with monkeypox virus: laboratory investigation of six cases in West Africa.

Between September 1970 and May 1971 six cases of human infection with monkeypox virus were identified in three West African countries-Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria. Four of the cases were confirmed by viral isolation, and two were diagnosed on epidemiological and serological evidence. Poxvirus strains isolated from the four cases were indistinguishable from reference monkeypox strains (Copenhagen and Utrecht), and all were easily differentiated from variola and vaccinia viruses. The isolated strains produced small necrotic haemorrhagic pocks on CAM, grew well at 39.0 degrees C, formed large plaques in Vero cell cultures, showed markedly more virulence for chick embryos and mice than do variola strains, and produced large necrotic haemorrhagic local lesions with generalized illness and florid secondary exanthem when inoculated into rabbit skin.The finding of smallpox-like illness in humans resulting from infection with a poxvirus of lower animal origin serves to emphasize the importance of thorough epidemiological and laboratory evaluation of all suspect smallpox cases occurring in areas where smallpox has been or is about to be eradicated.

Africa, Western↗
PubMed1970

Experience with electron microscopy in the differential diagnosis of smallpox.

The usefulness of negative-contrast electron microscopy in the rapid differential diagnosis of poxvirus and herpesvirus exanthems is described in this study of 301 specimens from patients with vesicular exanthematous diseases. Specimens from patients with smallpox, various forms of vaccination complications, varicella, zoster (shingles), and herpes simplex are included in this evaluation. Electron microscopy, when applied to the study of lesion material, was found to be more sensitive than the classical techniques of virus isolation in the diagnosis of both poxvirus and herpes/varicella virus infections. However, since specific identification of a virus within a group cannot be made morphologically by electron microscopy, it is recommended that both electron microscopy and virus isolation methods be employed for the routine differential diagnosis of vesicular exanthematous diseases in the reference diagnostic laboratory.

Animals↗