[in Japanese]

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We evaluated the utility of a rapid detection kit for Mycoplasma pneumoniae (Mp)-specific IgM antibody, ImmunoCard (IC) Mycoplasma Test (Meridian Bioscience, USA), with regard to mycoplasmalinfection during childhood. For this purpose, 30 serum samples were obtained from 23 pediatricpatients with serologically proved mycoplasmal pneumonia at and younger than 16 years of age. Thediagnosis of mycoplasmal infection was made by means of a particle agglutination (PA) method, which was on the basis of 1) a four fold or greater rise with paired sera or 2) at and more than 1: 640with a single, acute phase serum. In addition to the IC test, Mp-specific IgM and IgG antibodies weremeasured by ELISA tests (Zeus, USA) for comparison. A final observation time for colorization in theIC test was prolonged to 10min in this study. The reason for this was because only 8 samples whichwere obtained 5 days or more after the onset of fever (37.5°C) were judged to be positive when theobservation time was confined to 5min as the manufacturer recommended. A judgment was alwaysmade by more than one persons. Since we intended to find out the diagnostic capability of the IC testusing an acute phase single serum, we focused on 18 cases for which samples were obtained within 5days of the onset of fever. As a result, 13 (72%) cases were judged to be positive for Mp by the IgMELISA test, 6 (33%) cases, including 5 cases in which the result was interpreted to be positive by a10-min observation, were judged to be positive by the IC test, and 4 (22%) cases were judged to bepositive by the PA test when titers of at and more than 1: 320 by an acute phase single serum wereinterpreted as significant. Through this study we felt that the sensitivity of the IC test was not sohigh as have been previously reported in the literatures (the IC test was occasionally positive even inthe range of<1: 40 by a PA test). On the other hand, we believe that the 10-min observation for finalcolorization did not significantly affect the specificity of the IC test as long as it was comparedwith the results by the ELISA IgM test. So far, the rapidity in obtaining results, and the simplicity ofhandling by which the test can be performed in an outpatient clinic, are thought to be the major advantagesof the IC test.

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Cytotoxic effect and guinea pig wound cure stage, pus fabrication presence in infected wound were compared with strong acidic electrolyzed water (AcEW) and povidone-iodine solution (PVPI), chlorhexidine (CHG) and benzalkonium chloride (BAC). It gave the following results:
In a cytotoxic test, the toxicity was recognized in 0.1%-0.01% PVP-I, in 0.0002-0.0004% CHG, in 10-0.1μg/ml BAC, but there was no toxicity in AcEW.
By a guinea pig wound cure process, no significance was recognized between each pharmaceutical agent in epidermal cell migration, but by an inflammation locus area, the significance was considerable in comparison with no-treatment.
The pyopoiesis of P. aeruginosa infected wound was recognized in a ratio of 38.2% physiological saline, 27.3% CHG, 20.6% PVP-I and 12.1% AcEW.
When pollution locus includes an infection image of bacteria, while draining AcEW instead of physiological saline, disinfection, indication was expected, and, as for the disorder in cure stage, I do not agree with that mentioned above. As for AcEW, availability by organism use was recognized for the cytotoxic effect of antiseptic instead of action of acceleration for wound cure.

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We conducted a survey on how much veterinary clinics staff, mostly veterinary technicians, know about zoonosis and how extensively they inform pet owners of ways to prevent zoonosis. Thenumber of people Who took part in the survey was 1, 057. The ratio of people Who Said their knowledgeon zoonosis is “neither sufficient nor insufficient” was 53.8%, which is larger than the ratio ofpeople who replied “sufficient” or “insufficient.” The percentage of those who said their way of givinginformation on zoonosis to pet owners is “neither sufficient nor insufficient” was 52.4%. The ratiosof people who knew about Spirometra erinacei, Dipylidium canium or Giardia lamblia were 64.7%, 73.6% and 57.6%, respectively. The longer they worked, the more they knew about Cryptosporidiumspp. (20.1%), Hymenolepis nana (31.8%), Echinococcus spp. (45.7%), Ancylostoma spp. (73.3%), Dirofilariaimmitis (80.5%), Toxoplasma gondii (82.4%), and Toxocara canis (86.5%). It seems that systematic continuingeducation and opportunities to acquire new knowledge are not sufficient for those working inveterinary clinics, and this needs to be corrected.

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Kinki Infection Working Group made an annual (1998-2000) comparative study of an epidemiological investigation for Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae in the Kinki district.
The number of S. aureus and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) isolated decreased for three years, but the isolation frequencies of MRSA has not changed which was approximately 60%. All strains of MRSA were not resistant to vancomysin (VCM) and teicoplanin (TEIC), and the frequencies of resistance to sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (ST) and arbekacin (ABK) were 0.1 to 0.7% and 1.9 to 3.1%, respetively. On the other hand, the number of S. aureus and penicillin-resistant S. pneumoniae (PRSP) isolated did not show a consistent tendency, but the isolation frequencies of PRSP has increased for three years. All strains of PRSP were sensitive to vancomycin (VCM), but the frequencies of resistance to cefaclor and other some antibiotics have increased.

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A case of Purulent meningitis caused by Streptococcus suis type 2 is reported here. It occurred in 58-year-old male pig breeder. A few days before presentation, the patient had experienced headache, systemic articular pain and fever (38.8°C).
On admission, he was stuporous and had neck stiffness and hemiparesis. Examination of cerebrospinal fluid showed purulent meningitis.
The cultures identified Streptococcus suis II by PCR and specific serum. 2 months later, the patient was discharged in good clinical condition except for hearing loss.
Streptococcus suis is known to be an important pathogen in the swine industry, this report is the first case of S. suis meningitis in man, in Japan.

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