The efficacy of Cary Blair medium was compared with that of Selenite 'F'in the isolation of enteropathogens from 805 cases of diarrhoea. It was shown that use of the Cary Blair medium resulted in a significantly higher rate of isolation. Not only were organisms found which were not isolated from the Selenite 'F' but there was a much higher isolation rate of Salmonella from Cary Blair medium althougn Selenite 'F' is generally considered as an enrichment medium for
Salmonella. The findings indicate that it would be advantageous to introduce Cary Blair medium as the sole transport medium for the isolation of enteropathogensfrom cases ofdiarrhoea.
Vibrio parahaemolyticus was isolated from 47 of 2,699 stools examined primarily for the exclusion of cholera. All strains grew well in alkaline peptone water containing 0.5% NaCl and in Monsur's medium. Serotyping showed them to be of various types. Adults were mainly affected. The importance of looking for V. parahaemolyticus in clinical specimens from cases of diarrhea is emphasized.
The first case report of Yersinia enterocolitica infection in Malaysia is presented. The patient was a 34-year-old Indian woman who had a four day history of fever, abdominal pain and cough and loose stools for 2 days. She was diagnosed and treated as a case, initially of bacillary dysentery, and then of urban typhus. She responded to tetracycline therapy. Bacteriological examination eventually resulted in the isolation and identification of Yersinia enterocolitica, serotype 0:3. This case indicates the presence of the infection in Malaysia although the incidence is probably very low. This appears to be the situation in 'warm' countries.