The incidence of brucellosis in the human population of England and Wales is still not accurately known, although estimates have been made (Wilson, 1932; Dalrymple-Champneys, 1950). Few persons who acquire Br. abortus develop any obvious clinical disease, but the existence of Br. abortus agglutinins in blood sera indicates past exposure to the organism. A survey of human and animal brucellosis ...

The observation that individuals who acquire rheumatic fever following a streptococcal infection usually respond with higher streptococcal antibody titres than those who have streptococcal infections uncomplicated by rheumatic fever has been reported repeatedly (1-7). There are exceptions, but, if rheumatics are considered as a group, this observation seems to hold true and it has led to an ass...

The data accumulated from 1969 to 1979 in the Diagnostic Immunology portion of the Center for Disease Control Proficiency Testing Program were evaluated for evidence of change in performance among the participating laboratories. Evidence of improved performance was found for the rubella, rheumatoid factor, tularemia, quantitative immunoglobulin (immunoglobulin G, A, and M), and hepatitis B test...

Immune sera were prepared in rabbits by the injection of living and acetone-killed cells of Brucella ovis and smooth and rough B. melitensis. The use of whole-cell antigens in agglutination and agglutinin-absorption tests revealed little relationship between B. ovis and smooth B. melitensis, although there was extensive cross-agglutination between B. ovis and rough B. melitensis. The use of wat...

was reported in the United States of America, the number increasing to 1,545 in 1933: the disease appeared in epidemic form in Greece, in 1927 (Livierato, 1932); it first appeared in Scotland in 1930 (Beattie, Smith and Tulloch, 1935) and many cases have been reported all over the British Isles and in other countries, at intervals during the past few years. There is evidence that the infection,...

The relative efficacy of the card test in the diagnosis of human brucellosis was evaluated by comparison with four other tests: the standard tube agglutination test, centrifugation agglutination test, 2-mercaptoethanol degradation technique, and 2-mercaptoethanol centrifugation agglutination test. A total of 1,701 serum specimens from persons with various degrees of potential exposure to brucel...