360
w. B. REDMOND et al.
tuberculosis. The phage type was identical to that of a strain obtained from
the patient’s close associate. This study was the first of several showing that
phage typing could be used to determine relationships in tuberculosis
epidemiology.
Kitahara (1973) studied the geographic distribution of phage types of
tubercle bacilli in Japan and Kenya, and found that in Japan about 20% of
strains were susceptible to lysis by BK1, but in Kenya only 5% were of this
type. Of considerable interest and importance was the observation that
32% of the Kenyan strains were susceptible to lysis by D34 whereas only a
very few such strains were found in Japan. The increased frequency of
D34-susceptible strains obtained from Kenyan patients coincides with unpublished data obtained by Bates and Rado (1970), who have found that
such strains are also frequent among Egyptian and Bolivian patients. I n
this same report Kitahara used phage typing to study the intrafamilial
spread of tuberculosis in Japan.
Additional geographic studies on the phage type of tubercle bacilli were
reported by Mizuguchi et al. (1973) who studied the phage susceptibility
of strains isolated in Japan, the Netherlands, and Ceylon. A number of
phages not used extensively prior to this report were included in the phage
testing. Phages DNA I11 8, Clark, Legendre, and Sedge isolated by Mankiewicz (1973) were included, as was phage p H isolated by Sushida and
Hirano (1971). The phage susceptibilities of the 54 Ceylonese strains were
notable in that 87% were susceptible to BK1,68% to pH, and 8% to D34.
The Japanese and Dutch strains were generally more resistant to these
phages than previously reported.
Among the several investigations on mycobacteriophages many variations
in technique were used. The designations for phages, phage types, and
mycobacterial host strains were diverse and confusing. T o correct this
problem, the World Health Organisation gave support to a working group
studying the development of phage typing for mycobacteria. The efforts
of this group have been directed towards formulating a more uniform
methodology and nomenclature. An important report from this group
appeared in 1973 which suggested that uniform techniques could be applied
world-wide and that the technology required to achieve uniform results
was within reach of investigators working in all developed countries (Sula
et al., 1973). A subsequent report described in detail standard methodology
for phage typing M. tuberculosis using techniques and media widely available
throughout the world (Rado et al., 1975). In addition, the phages used for
typing, together with their host strains, were given lettered and numbered
designations. This permitted the development of a systematic method for
assigning a phage type to a tubercle bacillus and allowed for expansion and
modification of the system as new information might require. The phage
w. B. REDMOND et al.
tuberculosis. The phage type was identical to that of a strain obtained from
the patient’s close associate. This study was the first of several showing that
phage typing could be used to determine relationships in tuberculosis
epidemiology.
Kitahara (1973) studied the geographic distribution of phage types of
tubercle bacilli in Japan and Kenya, and found that in Japan about 20% of
strains were susceptible to lysis by BK1, but in Kenya only 5% were of this
type. Of considerable interest and importance was the observation that
32% of the Kenyan strains were susceptible to lysis by D34 whereas only a
very few such strains were found in Japan. The increased frequency of
D34-susceptible strains obtained from Kenyan patients coincides with unpublished data obtained by Bates and Rado (1970), who have found that
such strains are also frequent among Egyptian and Bolivian patients. I n
this same report Kitahara used phage typing to study the intrafamilial
spread of tuberculosis in Japan.
Additional geographic studies on the phage type of tubercle bacilli were
reported by Mizuguchi et al. (1973) who studied the phage susceptibility
of strains isolated in Japan, the Netherlands, and Ceylon. A number of
phages not used extensively prior to this report were included in the phage
testing. Phages DNA I11 8, Clark, Legendre, and Sedge isolated by Mankiewicz (1973) were included, as was phage p H isolated by Sushida and
Hirano (1971). The phage susceptibilities of the 54 Ceylonese strains were
notable in that 87% were susceptible to BK1,68% to pH, and 8% to D34.
The Japanese and Dutch strains were generally more resistant to these
phages than previously reported.
Among the several investigations on mycobacteriophages many variations
in technique were used. The designations for phages, phage types, and
mycobacterial host strains were diverse and confusing. T o correct this
problem, the World Health Organisation gave support to a working group
studying the development of phage typing for mycobacteria. The efforts
of this group have been directed towards formulating a more uniform
methodology and nomenclature. An important report from this group
appeared in 1973 which suggested that uniform techniques could be applied
world-wide and that the technology required to achieve uniform results
was within reach of investigators working in all developed countries (Sula
et al., 1973). A subsequent report described in detail standard methodology
for phage typing M. tuberculosis using techniques and media widely available
throughout the world (Rado et al., 1975). In addition, the phages used for
typing, together with their host strains, were given lettered and numbered
designations. This permitted the development of a systematic method for
assigning a phage type to a tubercle bacillus and allowed for expansion and
modification of the system as new information might require. The phage