Measurement of Rubella Antibody in Immunoglobulin: its Disappearance from the Blood after Injection: Report of the Public Health Laboratory Service Working Party on Rubella

Rubella antibody titrations were done on samples of human immunoglobulin by neutralization and haemagglutination-inhibition methods. No significant variation was found in the antibody content of different batches. The specificity of the methods was confirmed by tests on a batch of human globulin specially prepared from plasma samples lacking rubella antibody.Divided doses of immunoglobulin were given to volunteers who had no rubella antibody. Low titres were then detected in the blood for a limited period and the disappearance of this antibody was followed.     

Efficacy of Whooping-cough Vaccines used in the United Kingdom before 1968: Final Report to the Director of the Public Health Laboratory Service by the Public Health Laboratory Service Whooping-Cough Committee and Working Party

The efficacy of pertussis vaccines was investigated in 33 areas in the United Kingdom from November 1966 until April 1968 inclusive. Bordetella pertussis was isolated from 1,293 persons, but there were only six isolations of B. papapertussis. Among vaccinated contacts under 5 years in homes in which B. pertussis was isolated 52% developed paroxysmal cough. The corresponding attack rate among unvaccinated contacts was 69%. These findings suggest that much of the pertussis vaccine in use for five or six years before 1968 was not very effective. However, vaccine from one producer was more effective than vaccine from another. Of the cultures of B. pertussis identified 89% were serotype 1, 3 and only about 9% were serotype 1, 2, 3. Serotype 1, 2, 3 was isolated much more frequently from unvaccinated than from vaccinated children, but some cultures identified as type 1, 2, 3 were found on re-examination to contain colonies of type 1, 3. Virological investigations were made in some areas during the first year of the study. Of the wide variety of viruses identified adenovirus and parainfluenza virus were the most common groups. Virus isolation rates were similar in patients and symptomless contacts, but B. pertussis was isolated far more often from patients than from symptomless contacts. The evidence suggests that B. pertussis remained the major cause of whooping cough in the U.K.     

Prospective study of human parvovirus (B19) infection in pregnancy. Public Health Laboratory Service Working Party on Fifth Disease.

OBJECTIVE--To determine the fetal infection rate and outcome of pregnancy among women who acquire infection with human parvovirus (B19) in the antenatal period. DESIGN--Prospective study of infected pregnancies till time of delivery or abortion with virological investigation of fetuses, neonates, and 1 year old infants. SETTING--England and Wales during 1985-8. PATIENTS--190 Pregnant women with serologically confirmed B19 infection in pregnancy, their fetuses, neonates, and 1 year old infants. RESULTS--Of 186 mothers who elected to go to term, 156 (84%) delivered a normal baby. Follow up of 114 of these infants to the age of 1 year disclosed no appreciable abnormalities, although 27 had serological evidence of intrauterine infection. The overall fetal loss rate (30 cases; 16%) was similar to that in an uninfected antenatal sample (unmatched), but there was a pronounced excess of fetal loss in the second trimester in the B19 infected mothers (11.8%; 95% confidence interval 6.8% to 17.8%). Based on virological findings in the aborted fetuses the risk of fetal death due to B19 in an infected pregnancy was estimated to be 9%. The transplacental transmission rate was estimated to be 33%. CONCLUSIONS--Most women with B19 infection in pregnancy had a satisfactory outcome, but there was nevertheless a substantial risk of fetal loss in the second trimester. In view of the absence to date of any evidence of damage to babies who survive maternal infection therapeutic termination of pregnancy is not indicated.     

Prevalence of HIV antibody in high and low risk groups in England. Public Health Laboratory Service Working Group.

Most studies of the spread of HIV infection have centred on homosexuals and intravenous drug users. To estimate the extent of infection in different groups, including heterosexuals, the prevalence of HIV antibody was studied in 34,222 subjects tested with consent between October 1986 and December 1987 in England. These included subjects in high risk groups for HIV infection, heterosexuals with partners in the high risk groups and heterosexuals with multiple partners or with no identifiable risk factors. The prevalence was highest in homosexual or bisexual men in London (15.1%; 213/1412), being 4.0% (146/3607) outside London. The yearly incidence of infection in 632 homosexual or bisexual men without HIV antibody when retested during the study period was 3%. Among intravenous drug users the prevalence of HIV antibody was 5.7% (36/633) in London and 1.5% (39/2562) outside. Of 3272 heterosexual subjects tested, whose partner was in a risk group, eight of 515 (1.6%) in London and six of 2757 (0.2%) outside were positive for the antibody. Among 20,455 heterosexuals with a history of multiple partners or with no declared risk, only six subjects with HIV antibody were identified, two of whom had been infected abroad. Heterosexual spread of infection in England is evidently still largely confined to subjects whose partner has an identifiable risk.     

Clinical and Laboratory Studies with Rubella Vaccines in Adults

Three live attenuated rubella vaccines were tested in adult volunteers. Clinical reactions were mild, but were more noticeable in vaccinated non-immune subjects than in control subjects. With the exception of two individuals, all of the remaining 54 subjects developed an immune response; the level of antibodies found was somewhat lower than that resulting from natural infection. Though virus could be isolated from some of the seronegative volunteers after vaccination, no evidence was found of transmission of infection.     

Report of the Working Group on Animal Distress in the Laboratory

Finding ways to minimize pain and distress in research animals is a continuing goal in the laboratory animal research field. Pain and distress, however, are not synonymous, and measures that alleviate one may not affect the other. Here, the authors provide a summary of a meeting held in February 2004 that focused on distress in laboratory animals. They discuss the difficulties associated with defining 'distress,' propose methods to aid in recognizing and alleviating distressful conditions, and provide recommendations for animal research conduct and oversight that would minimize distress experienced by laboratory animals.