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During a minor rubella epidemic in a Swiss army recruit training camp (Spring 1978), recent rubella infection was proved in 20 out of 22 investigated cases. In 18 cases virus replication could be shown by means of indirect immunofluorescence (IIF). Due to its higher sensitivity and easier performance in comparison with conventional echo interference, we believe IIF should be the method of choice for rubella virus isolation. In 2 out of 22 cases, the possibility of a secondary infection was discussed. A chceklist is given showing the necessary steps for virological investigations we think should be carried out to define immunity status, confirm or rule out a rubella infection, particular weight being attached to the embryopathy question. This article is therefore intended to provide the clinician interested in virological problems with a total to enable him to take the necessary measures for detection of rubella infection and interpretation of laboratory findings.

In a retrospective study a total of 754 sera from 397 hepatitis patients were assayed for delta antigen and antibody by radioimmunoassay. The study included patients of all age groups (3 months up to 85 years) whose first serum sample, taken from 1978 until January 1984, was positive for HBsAg. Clinically the patients could be subdivided into three major groups: 311 sera were from 181 patients with acute hepatitis, 296 from 135 CPH/CAH patients, including a few cases of liver cirrhosis and 3 cases of HCC, and 147 sera were from 81 asymptomatic carriers. Delta markers were found in 30 patients (7.6%). 20 of these were under the age of 30, and 13 presented with acute, often fulminant hepatitis or (in a minority of cases) exacerbations of preexisting HBV infection. Only two symptomless carriers had anti-delta. It seems of particular interest that all 10 cases where delta antigen could be demonstrated in the first serum sample presented with acute, often fulminant hepatic disease and 9 had anti-HBc-IgM antibodies. Where a second sample could be tested (5 cases), seroconversion to anti-delta was always demonstrated. Delta superinfection could be shown in 2 cases where anti-delta antibodies appeared more than a year after HBsAg positivity was first detected.

During winter 1979/80 21 trainee nurses aged 18-22 years were vaccinated once with an intact influenza vaccine containing for the first time, two different virus-A subtypes as well as a B-strain. 22 trainee nurses from the same school served as controls. A greater than or equal to 4-fold seroconversion (2 dilution steps) was observed in 67% (A/Texas/77), 83% (A/USSR/77) and 57% (B/Hongkong/73) of the vaccinated, but only in 5% (A/Texas/77, one case) of the non-vaccinated. In the vaccinated group 36 reciprocal titers rose from < 80 to greater than or equal to 80 so that, with 3 exceptions (A/USSR/77, all vaccinees had a reciprocal titer of greater than or equal to 80 after 28 days. In the unvaccinated group only 3 reciprocal titers rose from < 80 to greater than or equal to 80 (A/Texas/77), so that 42 reciprocal titers were still below 80 after 28 days.

Following the occurrence of 3 cases of icteric hepatitis in the period August 1980 to January 1981 in a closed male ward for mentally retarded patients in a psychiatric institution, the present study was undertaken to determine the type, investigate the source and reconstruct the sequence of viral infection, and to make recommendations for its containment. For this purpose, serologic markers for HAV and HBV (including anti HBcIgM) were determined and serum transaminase (AST) measured in March 1981 in all 24 patients (mean age 40) and in the 39 members of the medical, nursing and housekeeping staff (mean age 39). Subsequently, HAV and HBV serologies were repeated after 6 and 9 months respectively. The propositus (B.F.) and the two subsequent cases with overt hepatitis (F.P. and K.E.) showed the serologic constellation of positive HBs, HBe and anti HBcIgM, together with elevated AST levels (600, 800 and 200 I.U. respectively) at the time of clinical illness, consistent with an acute HBV infection. Since 7 (18%) among the staff members were immune to HBV (positive anti HBs and anti HBc) and the remainder sero-negative; the remaining 6, however, showed evidence of active viral replication (S. P. and K. E.), viral infection (F. P. and J. L.) or incomplete immune response (B.F. and G.H.). During the 9 months' follow-up their serologic status did not change, with the exception of 2 (F.P. and B.F.), in whom HBs disappeared. The incidence of anti HAV in patients was 42% and in the staff 44%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

A solid phase radioimmunoassay for the detection of mumpsspecific IgM antibodies (MACRIA) is described. In 22 cases of clinically suspected mumps infections confirmed by conventional serological methods, IgM antibodies to mumps virus were detectable. On the other hand, no mumpsspecific IgM antibodies were present in 9 cases of suspected mumps that could not be confirmed by classical serology (seroconversion or significant titer rise in CFT or NT). Neither could IgM antibodies to mumps virus be detected in the sera of 19 rheumatoid factor positive patients nor in those of 20 healthy laboratory personnel. 20 patients from a rubella outbreak who had been found to be positive for antirubella IgM in a comparable MACRIA system showed no IgM response in mumps-MACRIA. In one case of mumps infection during pregnancy where mumps virus was isolated from the salivary glands by throat swab, IgM antibody response was delayed and markedly weaker than in all other patients with a positive IgM response. For this patient, who showed a significant titer rise in NT and seroconversion in CFT to mumps virus, the possibility of reinfection is discussed.

HBV markers were tested in sera of patients with various clinical and serological states of HBV infection, including patients with delta-infection, and were compared to the detection of HBV-DNA in the sera by hybridization. The results show that high levels of HBV-DNA (much greater than 100 pg/0.1 ml) are mainly found in sera of patients with chronic hepatitis or in early sera of HBs antigen carriers, while 17 of 20 patients with undetectable or trace amounts of DNA in early sera exhibited a self-limiting hepatitis infection. This test system could be prognostic value.

The majority of viral meningitis cases is known to be due to ECHO virus infections on one hand, and mumps on the other. While the latter can be diagnosed by IgM antibody detection from one serum sample in the acute stage, diagnosis of enterovirus infections is by virus isolation and typing. An IgM-antibody test for ECHO 9 and 11 viruses is presented to evaluate the possibility of rapid serological diagnosis of ECHO virus meningitis cases. 36 cases from five local outbreaks due to ECHO 6, 9, 11, and 30 viruses were characterized by virus isolation and serum neutralization tests. All sera (88 samples) were assayed by a MACRIA (M-antibody capturing radioimmunoassay) to ECHO 9 and 11 viruses. While sera from all ECHO 9 and 11 cases, when taken at appropriate times, had IgM antibodies to the infecting type, a varying degree of cross-reactivity could be observed. Specificity problems are discussed in comparison with isolated cases of enteroviral infections due to different types, including Coxsackie B viruses.