Mycoplasma Pneumoniae infections in the Maltese Islands

Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a free living micro-organism which is classified in the family Mycoplasmataceae. It is primarily a human respiratory pathogen and the infection may vary from a mild pharyngitis to a pneumonia. M. pneumoniae infections are usually endemic in the community but periodic epidemics can also occur. These micro-organisms are sensitive to specific antibiotics such as tetracycline and erythromycin and a laboratory diagnosis using rapid methods is therefore important. Studies were carried out at the Virology Laboratory, St. Luke’s Hospital involving 1,022 cases during the period 1995 to 1998. These were examined for specific anti-mycoplasmal IgM antibodies using an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) technique. One hundred and forty samples or 13.7% were found to be reactive. Compared to the traditional cultural methods, EIA techniques are very rapid laboratory diagnostic methods, the result being communicated to the clinician within a few hours. The differential diagnosis of the particular case can thus be resolved quickly and appropriate antibiotic therapy instituted without much delay for the maximum benefit to the patient.peer-reviewe

Seroprevalence of Hepatitis A in Maltese adults

The objective of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of hepatitis A virus (HAV) within the adult population of Malta. Serum from blood coincidentally taken for non-acute investigations in patients aged 20 - 85 visiting St. Luke’s Hospital over a three month period in 1996 (n = 320) was retrieved and tested for anti-HAV antibodies by Enzyme Immunoassay. The results obtained from these tests showed seroprevalence levels of anti-HAV antibody. Maltese adults fall into a pattern normally associated with low to intermediate prevalence countries.peer-reviewe

Hepatitis B prevalence in two Maltese sub-populations

Hepatitis B surface antigen was measured by enzyme immunoassay in a random sample of 1258 healthy pregnant women attending the ante-natal clinics of St. Luke’s Hospital, Malta and Gozo General Hospital, Gozo, and 364 intravenous drug users attending the detoxification centre, SLH. Eight of the pregnant women and ten of the drug addicts were positive for the surface antigen, accounting for a prevalence of 6/1000 and 30/1000 for each cohort, respectively. This would be consistent with low/intermediate prevalence rate in accordance with WHO criteria.peer-reviewe

Studies on the role of complement in the neutralization of herpes simplex virus

This is an abridged version from a report on the results of researches, undertaken during studies for the degree of Master of Science in the Department of Virology of the University of Birmingham, September 1972. The experiments described in this thesis show that the neutralization of herpes simplex virus is enhanced by the presence of complement. Furthermore, this study examines the role of complement in the neutralization of herpes simplex virus by early and late antisera raised in rabbits by an immunization scheme, which differs from that employed by several authors. In the case of human infections with herpes simplex virus, the results suggest that antibodies present early in infection are dependent on complement for neutralization (CRN antibodies) while late sera contain non-CRN antibodies.peer-reviewe

A study of seroprevalence of rubella IgG in Maltese adolescents

The objective of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of rubella IgG antibodies in Maltese adolescents, through a cross-sectional study, with mailed questionnaire and blood sampling. The subjects tested were 172 individuals, aged 14-15 years from Malta and Gozo for the prevalence of vaccination and seropositivity (IgG) for rubella. The results of the 85% individuals vaccinated seropositivity was detected in 168 youths (97.7%). The study showed a high level of detectable humoral immunity to rubella but this could not be definitively attributed to vaccination alone.peer-reviewe

Hepatitis C : an emerging concern

Hepatitis C has surfaced worldwide as a formidable concern to public health. Recent developments have sharpened methods of serological detectability, epidemiological study and patient treatment. In the light of the global situation, this article briefly presents known local epidemiology about hepatitis C derived from routine data and personal communication from some key workers. The occurrence of a serious, potentially progressive, transmissible condition in a young population will incur high-costs to patients, contacts and care services. The article concludes by highlighting the areas offering greatest scope to check this condition through prevention and patient management.peer-reviewe

Screening of internationally adopted children

Currently, we have no local generally agreed guidelines for the examination of children adopted overseas. Out of 163 adopted children, who were brought into Malta between January 1991 and June 1992, 140 (86%) were seen at the children’s Outpatient Department, St. Luke’s Hospital. They were clinically examined and screened for hepatitis, H.I.V. infection, syphilis and tuberculosis. The results obtained showed that screening revealed important illness in a considerable number of these children. Standardised mandatory screening tests should be introduced for all internationally adopted children.peer-reviewe

A flavobacterium cultured from the blood of a patient with meningitis

Meningitis may be caused by several distinct species of bacteria, viruses and protozoa. The initial clinical diagnosis is usually confirmed by chemical and cytological examination of the C.S.F. and the causal pathogen identified by bacteriological and virological techniques. A case report of a 5-year old boy who was admitted to St. Luke's Hospital Malta with a history of mild frontal headaches for the previous two days is presented. A diagnosis of meningitis was made and a lumbar puncture performed. The fluid was clear and the C.S.F. pressure was found to be within normal limits. In the case under discussion, one can argue that the cause of the meningitis may have been the Flavobacterium which was cultured from the blood but for some reason not from the C.S.F. As an additional note it may be mentioned that this child comes from a family of 4 children, including himself. One brother died soon after birth. The other two siblings were both admitted to hospital in with meningeal signs. Although a definite correlation between these three cases of 'meningeal involvement' cannot be proved, it is peculiar that 3 siblings in the same family should be affected by a common disease within a span of 6 months.peer-reviewe

The Pion-Photon Transition Form Factor and New Physics in the Tau Sector

Recent measurement of the $\gamma\gamma^\ast$ form factor of the neutral pion in the high $Q^2$ region disagrees with {\em a priori} predictions of QCD-based calculations. We comment on existing explanations, and analyze a possibility that this discrepancy is not due to poorly understood QCD effects, but is a result of some new physics beyond the standard model (SM). We show that such physics would necessarily involve a new neutral light state with mass close to the mass of $\pi^0$, and with stronger than $\pi^0$ couplings to heavier SM flavors such as $c$, $\tau$, and $b$. It is found that only the coupling to the $\tau$ lepton can survive the existing constraints and lead to the observed rise of the pion form factor relative to $Q^{-2}$ at high $Q^2$. We perform numerical fits to data and determine the allowed range of masses and couplings for such new particles. This range of masses and couplings could also reduce or eliminate the tension between the $e^+e^-$ and $\tau$ decay determinations of the hadronic vacuum polarization. Dedicated experimental analysis of $\tau$ pair production in association with such new states should provide a conclusive test of the new physics hypothesis as an explanation to the pion form factor rise. We also comment on the calculations of the pion form factor in the chiral quark model, and point out a possible dynamical origin of the quark mass scale inferred from the form factor measurement.Comment: 13 pages, 6 figures, revtex4-1; v2: additional references, improved discussion of pion mixing case, published versio

Antibodies to rubella virus in Maltese women of child bearing age

Circulating antibody to Rubella virus is present in about 85% of women of child bearing age in England (PHLS, 1970) and in most large developed countries (Rawls et al., 1967). However, the population of Jamaica and Trinidad show much lower protection rates. This may be inherent in island populations or may be a chance finding. With this in mind sera from women in Malta were examined for evidence of previous exposure to Rubella virus. Four hundred and six sera were tested and the results show that antibody to rubella was present in 369 (91%). With a total population of about 300,000 the degree of protection demonstrated in this study can be accepted within the range plus or minus 3%.peer-reviewe