SEROLOGIC STRAIN DIFFERENTIATION IN TRACHOMA

Serologic Strain Differentiation in Trachoma

An in vitro test for the differentiation of trachoma strain isolates was described. The method was based on absorption of trachoma antiserum followed by immunofluorescent staining of individual trachoma strains. Nineteen trachoma strains were studied; two main types were identified. Evidence for quantitative and qualitative antigenic variation between the two types was presented. The limitation...

Metabolic and serologic differentiation of Actinomyces bovis and anaerobic diphtheroids.

It is frequently a difficult task to differentiate Actinomyces bovis from "anaerobic diphtheroids" of questionable pathogenicity. Diphtheroids, isolated from normal and pathological tissues, resemble A. bovis morphologically and in some cultural characteristics. These similarities and lack of suitable criteria for their definitive identification have been responsible for the errors in separatin...

Trachoma

Trachoma.

Trachoma is the most common infectious cause of blindness. It is caused by ocular serovars of Chlamydia trachomatis. Transmission is favoured in poor communities, where crowding is common and access to water and sanitation inadequate. Repeated reinfection over many years causes dense scarring of the upper eyelid. The resultant inversion of the lashes abrades the eyeball, and the abrasion leads ...

Trachoma in the Pacific Islands: evidence from Trachoma Rapid Assessment.

AIMS To establish the presence or absence of trachoma in the Pacific Island region. METHODS Trachoma Rapid Assessment methodology was used in Kiribati, Nauru, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Fiji. Advised by key informants, high-risk communities were chosen from each country. All available children aged 1-9 years and adults > or = 40 years were examined. RESULTS A total of 903 adults > or = 40...