During the years 1986-89, a total of 5,686 Salmonella strains distributed over 77 serotypes were received at National Salmonella and Escherichia Centre from 62 places in India. Only 8 States and 2 Union Territories had contributed 94% of the strains. Other States and Union Territories were either poorly or not at all represented. During this period 12 new serotypes were encountered of which 7 were from man.

One thousand eight hundred and thirty three significant yeast strains, other than Cryptococcus species, were isolated over four years, from various clinical specimens. Of these, 907 isolates were recovered from patients with known compromised states. Candida albicans was the most frequent species at all sites of the body, in all different clinical conditions with or without compromised resistance, and showed an overall prevalence of 73.6 per cent. Candida tropicalis, the second commonest species, with an overall frequency of 18.7 per cent showed relatively higher association in patients with compromised resistance and was particularly more frequent in specimens from gastrointestinal tract. Other Candida species, Trichosporon and Geotrichum species accounted for less than 8 per cent of all isolates. Eight out of 10 Candida glabrata isolates were from compromised cases.

One hundred high vaginal swabs from women using intrauterine contraceptive devices (IUCD) and 100 each from each trimester of pregnancy were collected. All the swabs were cultured on selective broth medium (SBM), nalidixic acid- gentamicin (NAC) broth, nalidixic acid-Polymyxin-crystal violet (NPC) broth and NPC agar. Group B streptococci were isolated from 3 women each using IUCD and in third trismester and from 2 each in first and second trimesters of pregnancy. Of the 10 isolates

A total of 8201 strains identified as E. coli during the three year period (1985-1987) were serotyped. Out of these 6030 (73.5%) were typable, rest were either untypable (20.7%) or rough (5.7%). A total of 155 different ‘O’ serogroups were observed. The most frequently isolated serogroups were 061, 020, 068, 055, 017, and others. Serogroup 0157, recently recognized as a cause of haemorrhagic colitis in man was also identified (52 isolates). Serogroups 014, 050, 0110, 0140, 0141, 0142, 0159 and 0165 were not observed at all.

Forty two strains of Aeromonas were isolated from different clinical sources, over a period of one year and characterized. Faeces (64.2%) was the commonest source of isolation. A hydrophila was the commonest species isolated (50%) followed by A. caviae (19%) and A. sobria (14.2%). One strain of A. veronii was isolated from blood. The isolates, irrespective of their species and source were sensitive to most of the antimicrobials tested except the penicillin group of antibiotics.

High titres of species specific circulating antibodies to Chlamydia Trachomatis were detected in 22.22% of 81 infertile women with or without damaged fallopian tubes, 2% of 100 normal pregnant women and 18.5% of 162 fertile women who had various obstetrical problems like premature labour, intrauterine death or repeated abortions. Thus although the presence of antibody to C.trachomatis was correlated with tubal damage, It was not diagnostic of tubal disease, since a substantial number of fertile women also had serological evidence of Chlamydial infection.

Antibodies raised against SD2-4 fraction of Setaria digitata (whole worm) extract, fractionated by DEAE-A50 column chromatography and antibodies to unfractionated whole worm antigens were used in counterimmunoelectrophoresis for the detection of circulating antigens in sera of bancroftian filariasis. While using SD2-4 antibodies, antigen could be detected in 13 of the 20 (65%) microfilaraemic carriers, 11 of 20 (55%) chronic cases and 4 of 20 (20%) endemic normals. No antigen could be detected in non endemic normal cases. On, the other hand, while using antibodies to whole worm extract antigen could be detected in 17 of 20 (85%) microfilaraemic carriers 15 of 20 (75%) chronic cases and 7 of 20 (35%) endemic normals. No antigen could be detected in non-endemic normal cases. Antibodies to whole worm antigen could detect circulating antigens in more number of cases of bancroftian filariasis.

A total of 228 coliforms isolated from drinking water samples were typed and characterized. The most frequently isolated serotypes of E. Coli were 02 & 09 (19.8% each) followed by 043 (11.2%) and 0117 (9.8%) and the commonest R-pattern shown by them was ACST followed by AST.

Indirect haemagglutination test was used for the serodiagnosis of clinically diagnosed cases of amoebic liver abscess. It showed positivity in 69.23 percent pf patients of amoebic liver abscess. None of the controls or patients of intestinal amoebiasis were positive. Thus showing a high degree of specificity.

Eighty one sputum specimens from cases of pulmonary tuberculosis on anti-tuberculosis treatment were cultured. Two decontamination techniques viz. Petroff’s method and Nassau’s swab method were used for all specimens before the culture. Culture positivity was 58% by Petroff’s and 60.50% by Nassau’s method. The growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis after Nassau’s method was faster than that after Petroff’s method. Contamination of culture slopes was almost equal with both the decontamination techniques. Smear positive (direct smear of sputum by Z.N. Stain) but culture negative specimens were 21.1% All these results are discussed.