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A 49 year old head porter developed meningitis shown to be caused by Streptococcus suis type II. The rare human infections with the organism, a pathogen of pigs, usually occur in those employed handling pig meat and are associated with auditory or vestibular dysfunction.

We have studied the papillomaviruses found in the hand warts of 60 butchers, most of them from 2 distant slaughterhouses. Warts differing in morphology and location were studied separately. The viruses were identified by molecular hybridization, restriction enzyme analysis and immunofluorescence. Four known human papillomaviruses (HPV-1, HPV-2, HPV-3, HPV-4) were detected and one hitherto unknown papillomavirus was identified in 9 butchers. The DNA of the latter virus did not anneal with any of the RNAs complementary to either HPV-1 to HPV-5 or bovine papillomavirus type 1 (BPV-1) DNAs, and showed a Hind II + III restriction enzyme cleavage pattern distinct from those of known HPVs and BPVs. This virus showed distinct antigenic properties, as shown by immunofluorescence, using HPV-1, -2, -3, -5, and BPV-1 antisera. It may represent a new type of human papillomavirus (HPV-7) or a yet unidentified animal papillomavirus. In addition, 6 butchers were found to be infected with a papillomavirus, distinct from the known skin HPVs and from BPV-1, which could not be characterized by restriction enzyme analysis. Eleven butchers were found to be infected by 2 viruses. A characteristic histological pattern was found to be associated with the different papillomaviruses.

41 forestry workers, who had a high occupational risk of tick-bites, were screened for antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi by ELISA and western blotting techniques, and questioned about possible symptoms of Lyme disease. Antibodies were detected in 10 of the 40 men who had been bitten by ticks. Definite symptoms of Lyme disease, in the form of erythema migrans, were reported by only 2 workers and none had a history of neurological illness.

A 51-year-old abattoir worker became ill with high fever and was admitted to hospital late in the evening, where he died 4 h later. Smears of peripheral blood taken 7 h after death showed numerous cocci. Cultures of the blood grew beta-hemolytic streptococci exhibiting the biochemical properties of Streptococcus suis II. A complete autopsy with extensive microscopical studies showed numerous bacteria in small vessels of several organs, but no bacterial colonisation of tissues, meningitis, or other relevant lesions were found. The group R antigen of the bacteria could be demonstrated by immunofluorescence in paraffin sections of the kidney and the adrenal gland. Two similar cases of fulminant fatal Streptococcus suis II septicemia have been reported from Denmark. This appears to be the first case observed in the Federal Republic of Germany.

Gardeners, florists, lawn laborers and agricultural workers are routinely exposed to Sporothrix schenckii, as are those working in building supplies and nurseries. The primary lesion is an ulcer or a chancre, which is followed by the development of a lymphangitic cord with nodules along its course. Biopsy is not necessary and can worsen the infection. The culture technique is simple and provides definitive diagnosis. Systemic potassium iodide therapy rarely fails. Disseminated disease is rare except in immunosuppressed patients.

It was shown that the seeding efficacy of diphtheria bacilli depended not only on the state of the epidemic process, but also on the correct methodical approach to the examination. A combination of the qualitative and epidemiological choice of the groups of population for bacteriological examination with the use of blood tellurite media permitted to increase the efficacy of investigations, with a considerable reduction of the number of analyses.

The distribution of T- and M-protein antigens was determined in 12,469 cultures of Streptococcus pyogenes sent to a reference laboratory. Of these 7232 (58%) were isolates from hospital patients, 249 (2%) from hospital staff and 4988 (40%) from the community. The survey extended from January 1980 to June 1987. During this time the numbers of isolates of M-types 6, 49 and 81 rose then fell, being replaced by types 1, 3 and 28. The proportion of isolates of M-types 4 and 12 remained constant. Few strains were received from cases of nephritis or rheumatic fever but there has been an increase in the number of strains from serious infections and deaths. Forty-four of the 55 (80%) strains received since 1985 from fatal infections have belonged to M-type 1. All other strains, bar two, received from fatal infections in those years belonged to M-type 3. Representatives of M-type 1 were also associated with erysipelas. Types 3 and 4 predominated among the isolates from scarlet fever, types 1, 4, 12 and 49 from nephritis, types 49 and 81 from skin infections in meat workers and type 28 in cases of puerperal sepsis. The M-typability rate was 97% but new M antigens await definition among strains causing pyoderma.

The infectious complications in 23 patients with mutilating wounds due to trauma during corn harvesting were compared with those in 41 patients with factory-related hand injuries of similar severity. Initial cultures revealed bacterial growth in 89% of the agricultural wounds and in 63% of the factory wounds. A mean of 3.8 initial bacterial species were isolated per corn-harvesting wound vs. 0.9 species per factory wound. Gram-negative rods were recovered from 81% of the agricultural wounds; the commonest of these organisms were Enterobacter species and Xanthomonas maltophilia. Only 7% of factory-wound cultures grew gram-negative rods. Osteomyelitis, all with gram-negative rods, developed in five (22%) of the patients with farm injuries but did not occur in patients with factory wounds. More gram-negative rods were recovered from environmental cultures of corn-harvesting machines and corn plants than from those of factory machinery.

A series of environmental and clinical isolates of Sporothrix schenckii being studied in our laboratories under standard conditions of temperature, humidity and media, displayed, in some of the isolates, large dematiaceous hyphae. The large hyphae could be seen to produce the fine hyphae associated with S. schenckii on which typical microconidia developed. Typical microconidia also developed occasionally on the large hyphae, and strands of the unusually large hyphae also were seen to form arthroconidia. Some strains formed large, thin-walled cells on thin and/or thick hyphae resembling the 'balloon cells' seen in mature colonies of Trichophyton tonsurans. All strains which have demonstrated these various and unusual structures histopathologically produced typical sporotrichosis in laboratory animals. When reisolated from these animals, the cultures again exhibited the unusual structures, as well as those typical of S. schenckii.

A total of 250 coal miners were screened for mycotic skin infections. Sixty-six (34.8%) miners had clinical lesions on their feet which proved to be of mycotic etiology by direct microscopy and culture. Hendersonula toruloidea, the commonest etiological agent, was the sole agent recovered from 23 (34.8%) of the positive cases and was also isolated from three (4.5%) cases of mixed infection with dermatophytes (two cases with Trichophyton rubrum and one with Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. mentagrophytes). Scytalidium hyalinum was recovered as the sole causal agent in four (6.1%) patients and from one case of mixed infection with T. mentagrophytes var. mentagrophytes. The dermatophytes isolated as sole etiological agents included T. mentagrophytes var. mentagrophytes (13 isolates) T. rubrum (10), Trichophyton tonsurans (5), Epidermophyton floccosum (4) and Microsporum gypseum (3). The toe web was invariably involved in all cases of H. toruloidea and S. hyalinum infection and was also the commonest site of infection by dermatophytes. Occasionally the sole, toe and finger nails were also involved. Other body sites were infrequently involved and then only in infections caused by dermatophytes. The epidemiology of H. toruloidea and S. hyalinum infections is reviewed.

A case of brucellosis due to Brucella abortus, biotype 5, occurred in a bulk milk-tanker driver who collected milk from refrigerated tanks on 23 farms. The organism was isolated from blood cultures by using a serum dextrose broth containing antibiotics. Serological investigations indicate that both abortus and melitensis antigen suspensions should be used in the investigation of cases of suspected brucellosis. As Brucella abortus is an intracellular parasite heavy, prolonged, antibiotic therapy is necessary in the treatment of the disease. The danger of inadequate treatment of the acute disease is that it may become chronic, and response to antibiotic therapy in chronic brucellosis is not good.

Of 109 cases in England and Wales in which mycobacteria of the avian-Battey group were isolated from man 89 were considered genuine infections (including 32 with Mycobacterium avium) and six were doubtful. Almost half the significant cases were lung infections in men in dusty occupations, mostly coal miners with pneumoconiosis, and just over a quarter were non-pulmonary, mostly cervical adenitis in children. The prognosis in lung infections was serious, especially in the presence of pneumoconiosis.