An investigation was made into the habitat of commensal strains of Streptococcus milleri. These showed distinctive patterns of cultural features, dependent on their sites of origin, which were compared with those prevalent in strains grown from the appendix, 'anal' lesions, and Bartholin's abscesses. A biotype, which showed a marked affinity for the vagina and produced acid from raffinose and melibiose, was identified.

One hundred and thirty-one strains of minute-colony-forming beta-haemolytic streptococci were isolated during the course of routine investigations in clinical bacteriology. Each strain was examined for the presence of polysaccharide antigens of Lancefield's groups A, C, G, and F and characterized in detail as to biochemical and cultural features. On the results of these tests it is concluded that the strains should be placed in the species Streptococcus milleri. The clinical details relevant to the various strains are summarized according to the site of isolation, and their pathological significance is discussed.

SUMMARY The appendix was investigated as a possible habitat of Streptococcus milleri. Both normal and inflamed appendices were examined and the isolation rates compared. S. milleri was present in a quarter of the normal appendices and more than half of those associated with appendicitis-a difference that was statistically highly significant. The isolation rates throughout were independent of age. There was a pronounced connection between the presence of S. milleri in the appendix and the purulent manifestations of appendicitis. S. milleri was isolated from other abdominal sites associated with appendicitis. The frequency of isolation was increased by culture in an enrichment broth containing nalidixic acid and sulphadimidine.

Summary: In tracing the source of an outbreak of foodpoisoning with Salmonella virchow a chicken-packing station and associated rearing farms were investigated. The serotype was found in chickens in 9 of the 14 rearing farms investigated and in the hatchery, but not in the breeding flocks supplying the hatchery. Several personnel on the farms were affected. The infection was most likely to have been introduced by contaminated feedingstuffs.

SummaryThe results found and the laboratory methods used for the isolation of viruses and P haemolytic streptococci in two MRC/PHLS surveys of respiratory disease in patients in hospital and general practice are described. 717 viruses and 82 P haemolytic streptococci were isolated from 2418 children in hospital and 835 viuses and 435 srains of p haemolytic streptococci from patients seen in general practice. Virus isolation rates in the two surveys were 28-9% and 21 0% respectively. Rates by age, sex, time and by clinical categories are given and discussed in relation to isolations from control subjects, the cause of deaths in twenty-two of the children tested, and the incidence of convulsions and meningism found in those examined in these surveys.In this paper are presented the results of attempted isolations of viruses and P haemolytic streptococci from swabs taken from sample patients. Isolation rates are given for both the general practice and hospital surveys by age groups and seasons of the year, and in relation to diagnosis. Over 85% of all specimens were examined by standard methods and all the expected agents were isolated from patients at some time during the survey in most laboratories. After allowing for the variation in respiratory syncytial (RS) virus isolation rate in the hospital survey and for the low rates in three areas in the general practitioner survey, where only a small number of specimens were examined, the total virus isolation rate was similar in most areas. These facts would suggest that whatever the limitations of the methods employed the deficiencies were likely to have operated equally in different groups.Laboratory methods for the isolation of viruses and P haemolytic streptococci VirusesThe standard culture systems used were secondary rhesus monkey kidney (MK) cells (Mair & Tobin, 1960), 'Bristol' HeLa (Peacock & Clarke, 1961; Report, 1964) (Tyrrell & Parsons, 1960). Where available, suckling mice less than 48 hr old were used to show the presence of Coxsackie viruses which failed to produce a cytopathic effect in cell cultures. Such a combination of systems permitted the isolation of myxoviruses, RS virus, adenoviruses, picomaviruses and Herpesvirus hominis (HVH). A few specimens were also tested in primary human amnion cells. Viruses were identified by standard methods.All virus specimens were cultured in MK cells and almost all in either HeLa or HEp 2 cells. In general practice 51 % were examined in W138 cells in the first year and 98 % in the second year. In the hospital survey 56 % were examined in HEp 2 in the first year and 73% in the second year. HEL7 was used less frequently in the second year in both surveys and HEK in the hospital one. A much higher percentage of specimens were inoculated into mice from the general practice survey than from hospitals. BacteriaThroat swabs taken into Stuart's medium were examined for P haemolytic streptococci of groups A, C or G. Standard methods used in the hospital survey were inoculation on to blood agar incubated aerobically and ...