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Biomedical subjects

R J Fallon

Publications and source records attributed to R J Fallon.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

Illness associated with a package holiday in Romania.

A study of 370 holidaymakers returning from Romania revealed that 279 (75%) reported illness. Alimentary symptoms predominated and were recorded either alone or along with other symptoms by 71 per cent of the tourists. The highest illness rate (82%) occurred in those under 39 years of age and those over 60 years had least illness (38%). Most of the tourists attributed their illnesses to the supply, handling or preparation of food and drink. Twenty-six (21%) tourists had serological evidence of typhoid immunisation out of 121 from whom blood samples were obtained. Most of the tourists studied (85%) were immune to poliomyelitis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Meningococcal infections in Scotland 1972-82.

Strains of Neisseria meningitidis isolated from patients with meningitis or septicaemia without meningitis in Scotland during the years 1972-82 have been reviewed together with details of the age, sex, disease and outcome of the patients from whom they were isolated. A total of 1185 strains were isolated, of which 927 were examined at the Meningococcal Reference Laboratory (Scotland): 19.3% were of serogroup A, 63% of group B, 9.6% of group C, 6% of W135 and 1.6% of other groups. Non-groupable strains were rare. Disease was most common in the first years of life but there was a difference in the age distribution of disease due to the different serogroups, the proportion of disease due to group B being smaller in adults than that due to other serogroups. The overall mortality in meningitis was 7.5% and in septicaemia was 20.6%, although there were differences between the rates for the various serogroups. The serogroup distribution differed in disease as opposed to meningococci isolated from carriers although group B strains were predominant in both series. Overall, approximately 15% of strains were resistant to sulphadiazine, the proportion of resistant group A strains being higher than that of other serogroups.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Ano-genital gonorrhoea and pharyngeal colonisation with meningococci: a serogroup analysis.

Among patients attending a clinic for sexually transmitted diseases, women without gonorrhoea were significantly less likely to be colonised with meningococci than were women with gonorrhoea, men with gonorrhoea and men without gonorrhoea: the respective carriage rates (per cent) for groupable plus non-groupable meningococci were 16, 26, 23 and 31. Considering groupable and non-groupable meningococci separately it was found that women without gonorrhoea were also significantly less likely to be colonised with groupable meningococci but there were no significant differences in the carriage rates of non-groupable meningococci. The association between ano-genital gonorrhoea and meningococcal colonisation of the pharynx observed previously with certain groups of patients most likely results from increased mouth-to-mouth contact in 'high-risk' patients rather than individual susceptibility to neisserial infection. The possibility that there is a difference in the predominant means of spread of groupable and non-groupable meningococci is discussed.

Anus Diseases↗
PubMed1983

Experience with heat-killed antigens of L. longbeachae serogroups 1 and 2, and L. jordanis in the indirect fluorescence antibody test.

Sera from 1384 individuals were examined with a trivalent antigen composed of Legionella longbeachae serogroups 1 and 2 and L. jordanis. One hundred and twenty nine (9.3%) showed a reaction on screening. Thirty-six (2.6%) had a titre of greater than or equal to 64 with monovalent antigens. Ten (0.7%) had a high (greater than or equal to 256) or greater than or equal to fourfold rising titre of antibody to one or more antigens and six of these patients had a severe chest infection. No correlation was apparent between the presence of low level antibodies and disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

The occurrence of diarrhoea in calves under different management systems.

A total of 3200 Friesian male calves were purchased into our experimental station at Grange in the period January 1976 to June 1982. The study examined the effect of calf source, serum immunoglobulin level and purchase weight on the occurrence of diarrhoea and death in two systems of calf management. Occurrence of diarrhoea was significantly (P less than 0.001) influenced by calf source, serum immunoglobulin level and purchase weight under both management systems. Deaths were significantly influenced by serum immunoglobulin levels and purchase weight under both systems. Calf liveweight among calves which had diarrhoea was lower. The occurrence of diarrhoea and death was lower among calves group fed acidified milk replacer ad libitum warm compared with calves fed normal milk replacer under similar circumstances.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1982

Legionella infections in Scotland.

Four thousand two hundred and thirty-five sera from 2794 patients and 740 sera from 735 tourists domiciled in Scotland recently returned from abroad were examined between 1977 and 1981 for antibodies to Legionella pneumophila and related organisms. In addition, specimens were examined from some patients for cultural or serological demonstration of these organisms in lung or sputum. One hundred and ten cases were diagnosed, 104 serologically, five by immunofluorescence demonstration of legionellas in lung biopsy or autopsy specimens and L. pneumophila serogroup 1 was isolated from a further case. Of patients with pneumonia 6.7% showed evidence of legionella infection. Only 0.4% of healthy tourists had antibodies at a level of greater than or equal to 256. The majority of cases occurred in patients aged 50-69 and in 36 patients the infection was acquired outside the United Kingdom. Males predominated, the male: female ratio being 2: 1. Cases were less frequent in the first quarter of the year but those originating in Scotland were equally common in the remaining three quarters. Cases with disease acquired abroad added to indigenous cases resulted in a summer peak occurring in July, August and September. There were no outbreaks of legionellosis in Scotland.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Polyvalent heat-killed antigen for the diagnosis of infection with Legionella pneumophila.

A polyvalent antigen composed of heat-killed agar-grown Legionella pneumophila serogroups 1-4 suspended in a suspension of yolk-sac from embryonated hens' eggs has been examined for use in the indirect fluorescent antibody test for Legionella infection. The serological response detected by monovalent antigen correlated well with that detected by polyvalent antigen. The use of polyvalent antigen forms a useful screening test for the detection of antibody to L pneumophila, but positive results must be confirmed by test using monovalent antigen.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗