From 1979 to 1981, a total of 910 cardiac patients and 776 noncardiac patients were studied and compared for evidence of coxsackie B virus infections. Of 78 cardiac patients with coxsackie B infection, 30 had pleurodynia, 18 myocarditis, and 20 pericarditis. The age-adjusted rates of infection per 100 cases of defined category were 7.2, 13.3, and 7.0, respectively. Of 69 noncardiac patients with coxsackie B infection, 27 presented with pyrexia of unknown origin, 14 with upper respiratory tract infection, and 9 with meningitis. The age-adjusted rates of infection per 100 population were 10.6, 11.0, and 8.4, respectively. The sex-specific, age-adjusted rates for both cardiac and noncardiac patients were generally higher in male than female. For cardiac patients, the highest percentage with coxsackie B virus infection occurred in the 20-39-year age group, while in the noncardiac group, it was the 0-19-year age group. Coxsackie B2 and B4 were the two most prevalent serotypes found in both cardiac and noncardiac patients. Coxsackie B infections occurred mainly during summer and autumn. The level of coxsackie B immunity in 1,020 normal persons aged 1-60 years and from all 18 health districts of New Zealand was studied. The geometric mean titre of antibody from these normal persons was highest for serotypes B2 and B4. The least prevalent type antibody was B6 where 970(95.1%) of normal persons tested had no antibody to this serotype. The percentage of normal persons with antibody-type present were 30.4, 63.4, 54.1, 71.3, and 51.8 for B1-5, respectively.

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test using polyvalent antigens and antisera was used to detect Coxsackie B virus-specific IgM responses in 329 patients admitted to the Coronary Care Unit, Wellington Hospital, New Zealand over a 12-month period. The sera of 30 of 153 (19.6%) patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), 16 of 98 (18.4%) with chest pain, and 7 of 46 (15.2%) patients with arrhythmia were positive for Coxsackie B virus-specific IgM. Four of 12 (25%) patients with heart failure were also positive. Over the same period, 178 sex- and age-matched normal blood donors were also studied. Eleven of 178 (6.2%) matched blood donors were positive for Coxsackie B virus-specific IgM. The rates of occurrence of Coxsackie B virus-specific IgM in patients with AMI and in a group of matched controls showed a significant difference (chi 2 = 5.64, p = 0.02).

SUMMARYAn enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed to detect IgG antibodies to diphtheria toxin in human serum. Serum samples obtained from 557 normal persons aged 1-65 years from different areas in New Zealand showed maximum antibody levels in the 1-9 years age group (95 1 %) and the least in the 60-65 years age group (38-1 %). The indirect ELISA is suitable for seroepidemiological survey study as it is simple to perform, economical and precise.

SUMMARYAn enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) incorporating the sensitive biotin-streptavidin system was developed to detect IgG antibodies to tetanus toxoid in human serum. Serum samples obtained from 557 normal persons aged 1-65 years from different areas in New Zealand were tested. The proportion of those immune ranged from 60-93 % in males, and from 46-86 % in females. In the 1-9 years age group 85 % were immune. The indirect ELISA is suitable for serological surveys as it is simple to perform, economical and reproducible.

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