Somatic growth, otolith growth and RNNDNA ratios of larval plaice were studied in the southern North Sea during the years 1987 to 1989. Somatic growth rates were strongly correlated with seawater temperature. Both otolith growth and RNAIDNA ratios were correlated with somatic growth. Age at metamorphosis declined with increasing temperature, but there was no relationshp between size at metamorphosis and temperature. Development seemed to be more related to temperature than to size. Large between-year differences were observed in the relationship between body size and otolith diameter. Otolith growth indces were used to compare back-calculated otolith growth between years or periods. In general growth was positively related to temperature, but early otolith growth was fastest at intermediate temperatures. It is proposed that the high temperature in 1989 had a negative effect on growth during the early larval stages, but a positive effect on the later stages.

In May 1983, an estimated 865 cases of epidemic gastrointestinal disease occurred in Greenville, Florida. Surveillance of pharmacy sales of antidiarrheal medicines suggested that the outbreak was confined to Greenville and its immediate vicinity. Surveys demonstrated that the gastrointestinal illness attack rates inside and outside the city limits were 56 per cent (72/128) and 9 per cent (7/77), respectively (relative risk (RR) = 6.2); consumption of city water was associated with illness (RR = 12); and as water consumption increased, the attack rate also increased (p < 0.001). Four adults were hospitalized and one outbreak-related case of

The high cumulative incidence of AIDS and the large percentage of AIDS patients with no identified risks in Belle Glade, Florida, were evaluated through case interviews and neighborhood-based seroepidemiologic studies. It was found that of 93 AIDS patients reported between July 1982 and 1 August 1987, 34 could be directly linked to at least one other AIDS patient or to a person with AIDS-related complex by sexual contact, sharing of needles during intravenous drug abuse (or both), or perinatal exposure; of 877 randomly selected adults, 28 had antibodies to HIV; no person over age 60 and none of 138 children aged 2 to 10 years had antibodies to HIV; no clustering of infected persons within households occurred, except in sex partners; and HIV-seropositive adults were more likely than HIV-seronegative adults to be from Haiti, have a lower income, report sex with intravenous drug abusers, and have a history of previous treatment for sexually transmitted diseases. The presence of antibodies to five arboviruses prevalent in South Florida or the Caribbean did not correlate significantly with HIV infection. The high cumulative rate of AIDS in Belle Glade appears to be the result of HIV transmission through sexual contact and intravenous drug abuse; the evidence does not suggest transmission of HIV through insects.

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