In order to estimate the risks of human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE) in an endemic area for Lyme disease in the North of Spain (La Rioja), we collected and investigated by PCR specific to the E. phagocytophila group DNA, a total of 6870 Ixodes ricinus ticks. We also used an indirect immunofluorescence (IFI) test to study the presence of antibodies to the HGE agent in 147 human serum samples including patients with Lyme disease (LD), forestry workers, and persons with history of previous tick bite. Fifty serum samples from healthy people resident in urban areas and with no history of tick-bite disorder and without tick exposure were used as controls. Four of 76 adults and 49 of 203 nymphs pools carried E. phagocytophila DNA. This result, and the finding of 1·4% of sera reacting in the IFI test confirms that this tick-borne agent is present in La Rioja, and that humans show evidence of contact with it. HGE should be considered in the differential diagnosis of flu-like syndromes in the study area in the north of Spain.

An outbreak of trichinellosis that occurred in the United Kingdom is described. Members of four households consumed pork salami from northern Serbia, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Eight cases of trichinellosis occurred. Clinical and laboratory features of the cases were typical with myalgia (7 cases), fever (6), headache (5), periorbital oedema (4), non-specific ST/T wave changes on electrocardiogram (3), Trichinella antibodies (6), eosinophilia (7) and raised serum creatine kinase (3). All recovered. Trichinella larvae were detected in the salami. During pre-travel counselling, travellers should be advised about possible risk from cured pork products which have been produced locally in Trichinella endemic areas.

We describe the prevalence of community-acquired M. pneumoniae pneumonia diagnosed by culture methods in a single institute in Japan from January 1979 to December 1999. Cultures were performed in 2971 pneumonia cases and yielded M. Pneumoniae in 508 cases. The epidemic peaks recurred regularly at 4-year intervals (1980, 84, 88 and 91–2). Although a large epidemic has not occurred since 1992, traces of epidemic periodicity have still persisted from 1992 to 1999 at 3-year intervals.

The purpose of this study was to investigate carriage of intestinal spirochaetes by selected population groups in Western Australia. Stool specimens from 293 rural patients with gastrointestinal disorders, and from 227 healthy migrants from developing countries were cultured. Spirochaete isolates were identified using PCR, and typed by pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Brachyspira aalborgi was not isolated. Brachyspira pilosicoli was recovered from 15 rural patients, all Aboriginal. Prevalence was 9·9% in 151 Aboriginals and 0% in 142 non-Aboriginals. Carriage of B. pilosicoli amongst migrants was 10·6% (24/227). Carriage was significantly increased in Aboriginal children aged 2–5 years (P = 0·0027) and in migrant individuals from the Middle East and Africa (P = 0·0034). Carriage was significantly associated with detection of faecal protozoa in both Aboriginals (P = 0·0021) and migrants (P = 0·012). PFGE results indicated that the B. pilosicoli strains were genetically diverse.

In order to clarify the failure to isolate Shigella spp. by direct plating, we compared frequencies of Shigella spp. isolation by direct plating and by plating after enrichment in selenite broth. A total 67 strains were isolated in this study. The strains of 38 (56·7%) were isolated only by direct plating, and 25 (37·3%) strains were isolated by both direct plating and after enrichment. Four strains (6·0%) were isolated after enrichment but not by direct plating. Since 6% of isolated Shigella spp. were not isolated by direct plating, we recommend that direct plating and additional isolations from selenite broth should be performed. The significance concerning reduction of concentration of sodium selenite in enrichment broth is discussed.