Twenty-one Uncommon Cases of Poisoning

Abstract

BRrmH__ 687 __ _M proteins, but also in the toxins produced by them (Van Loghem and de Moor, 1938;Felsenfeld, 1960).Further, Tanamal et al. (1958) have shown that animals immunized with routine cholera vaccines are not satisfactorily protected against El Tor vibrios.Mass immunization with routine cholera vaccine should there- fore be regarded of doubtful value as a measure against outbreaks of paracholera in epidemic form. SummaryAll the 130 strains of vibrios isolated in the 1961 cholera-like epidemic in Hong Kong have been found to belong to the El Tor type by haemolytic and phage- sensitivity tests.The importance of confirmatory tests like phage-susceptibility characteristics for the precise identification of the 0 group I vibrios has been discussed.The phage-susceptibility test is specially recommended in the case of strains isolated early in an outbreak.The pattern of change in the geographical distribution of choleraic disease due to El Tor vibrios has been discussed and the consequent importance of precise bacteriological characterization of fresh outbreaks emphasized.In view of the differences in chemical composition and toxigenicity of V. cholerae and El Tor vibrios mass immunization with routine cholera inocula- tions should be regarded as of doubtful value.