Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-9pm4c Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-29T07:02:20.214Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Numerical analysis of the characteristics of Corynebacterium diphtheriae strains isolated in Victoria from 1962 to 1971

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 May 2009

L. F. Gibson
Affiliation:
Department of Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, The N.S. W. Institute of Technology, Westbourne Street, Gore Hill, N.S.W.2065, Australia
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

A study of the incidence of diphtheria in the State of Victoria, Australia, was carried out. Numerical analysis of the characteristics of 264 strains of Corynebacterium diphtheriae isolated between 1962 and 1971 placed them into 18 varieties plus six strains which were unique in their combination of reactions to the characteristics examined. During the 10-year period, some varieties appeared inter mittently and were recognized by certain defining characteristics but exhibited a gradual change in their antigenic structure. In contrast, when the outbreaks were examined over shorter periods of time, a number of varieties and single strains were found which differed greatly from each other yet possessed the same major serotype antigen. These findings are discussed in terms of a 'one-parent' concept in which the varieties and single strains represent phases of a common ancestor.

By inspection and analysis of the characteristics of the strains, certain associations were apparent. For instance, a correlation was found between the antigenic structure of the organism and the colonial appearance on tellurite blood agar. Similarly, correlation was observed between bacteriophage type, diphthericin type and biochemical activity in that a strain which was highly active in one of the properties was also very active in the other two.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1975

References

REFERENCES

Anderson, J. S., Cooper, K. E., Happold, F. C. & MoLeod, J. W. (1933). Incidence and correlation with clinical severity of gravis, mitis and intermediate types of diphtheria bacillus in a series of 500 cases at Leeds. Journal of Pathology and Bacteriology 36, 169.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Anderson, P. M., Goldsworthy, N. E. & Ward, H. K. (1936). Some observations on the relation between clinical types of diphtheria and cultural types of Corynebacterium diphtheriae. Medical Journal of Australia ii, 350.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Barber, C., Meitert, E., Sargea, A. & Podhorski, E. (1966). Modifications immunochimiques de quelques souches de C. diphteriae sournises à la lysogènisation par des phages homologues. Zentralblatt für Bakteriologie, Parasitenkunde, Infecktionskrankheiten und Hygiene, Abt. 1, Orig. 201, 240.Google Scholar
Barksdale, L. (1970). Corynebacterium diphtheriae and its relatives. Bacteriological Reviews 34, 378.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Barksdale, L., Garmise, L. & Riera, R. (1961). Toxinogeny in Corynebacterium diphtheriae. Journal of Bacteriology 81, 527CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bezjak, V. & Farsey, S. J. (1970). Corynebacterium diphtheriae in skin lesions in Ugandan children. Bulletin of the World Health Organization 43, 643.Google ScholarPubMed
Christison, M. H., Wright, H. A., Shearer, B. J. & Pearson, R. C. M. (1936). Corynebacterium diphtheriae in Edinburgh: incidence of types among cases and carriers from 1932–1936. Edinburgh Medical Journal 43, 747.Google ScholarPubMed
Dudley, S. F., May, P. M. & O'Flynn, J. A. (1934). Active immunization against diphtheria. Its effect on the distribution of antitoxic immunity and case and carrier infection. Special Report Series. Medical Research Council, no. 195.Google Scholar
Ferris, A. A. (1950). Serological types of Corynebacterium diphtheriae in Australia. Journal of Pathology and Bacteriology 62, 165.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gibson, L. F. (1971). An epidemiological and bacteriological study of the various strains of Corynebacterium diphtheriae encountered in the Victorian community. Ph.D. thesis, University of Melbourne.Google Scholar
Gibson, L. F. (1973). Variation among strains of Corynebacterium diphtheriae during an outbreak in a restricted environment. Journal of Hygiene 71, 691.Google Scholar
Gibson, L. F. & Colman, G. (1973). Diphthericin types, bacteriophage types and serotypes of Corynebacterium diphtheriae strains isolated in Australia. Journal of Hygiene 71, 679.Google ScholarPubMed
Gibson, L. F., Cooper, G. N., Saragea, A. & Maximescu, P. (1970). A bacteriological study of strains of Corynebacterium diphtheriae isolated in Victoria and New South Wales. Medical Journal of Australia i, 412.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gunatillake, P. D. P. & Taylor, G. (1968). The role of cutaneous diphtheria in the acquisition of immunity. Journal of Hygiene 66, 83.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gundersen, W. B. & Henriksen, S. D. (1959). Conversion in Corynebacterium belfanti by means of a temperate bacteriophage originating from a toxigonic strain of Corynebacterium diphtheriae, type mitis. Acta pathologica et microbiologica scandinavica 47, 173.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hewitt, L. F. (1947). Serological typing of C. diphtheriae. British Journal of Experimental Pathology 28, 338.Google ScholarPubMed
Liebow, A. A., MacLean, P. D., Bumstead, J. H. & Welt, L. G. (1946). Tropical ulcers and cutaneous diphtheria. Archives of Internal Medicine 78, 255.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Meitert, E., Saragea, A. & Bica-Popii, V. (1969). Rapports Phage-bactérie chez corynébactéries d'origine animale. Relations antigéthques entre los phages libérés par des corynébactéries d'origino animale et les phages antidiphtériques. Annales de l'Institut Pasteur 116, 181.Google Scholar
Oeding, P. (1950). Type transformation in the diphtheria bacillus. Acta pathologica at microbiologica Scandinavica 27, 16.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wilson, G. S. & Miles, A. A. (1964 a). Topley and Wilson's Principles of Bacteriology and Immunity, 5th ed., p. 597. London: Edward Arnold Ltd.Google Scholar
Wilson, C. S. & Miles, A. A. (1964 b). Topley and Wilson's Principles of Bacteriology and Immunity, 5th ed., p. 1675. London: Edward Arnold Ltd.Google Scholar