There is limited knowledge about the effect of livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (LA-MRSA) carriage on health-related quality of life (QoL). With this study, we explored whether LA-MRSA causes infections or affects health-related QoL in pig farmers. This prospective cohort study surveyed persons working on 49 farrowing pig farms in The Netherlands for 1 year (2010–2011). On six sampling moments, nasal swabs, environmental samples and questionnaires on activities and infections were collected. At the end of the study year, persons were asked about their QoL using the validated SF-36 and EQ-5D questionnaires. Of 120 persons, 44 (37%) were persistent MRSA carriers. MRSA carriage was not associated with infections, use of antimicrobials, healthcare contact and health-related QoL items in univariate or multivariate analysis, most likely due to the ‘healthy worker effect’. Despite high carriage rates, the impact of LA-MRSA carriage in this population of relatively healthy pig farmers on health and health-related QoL appears limited; more research is needed for confirmation.

During the World Twin Congress held at Eindhoven (Netherlands) in 1957 we tested 70 pairs of identical twins for their ability to taste para-ethoxyphenylthiocarbamide (EPTC). In 2 pairs a clear intra-pair discrepancy of taste was encountered. The tests with these 2 pairs were continued weekly for about six months. The result was always the same. One member of the pair found a bitter taste even in a solution 1:320,000 of EPTC; the other member considered even a solution 1:5,000 of this compound, i.e. a solution of the «taste blindness threshold concentration», completely tasteless. The former is a «taster», the latter is a «non-taster».

A similar intra-pair discrepancy in taste with regard to phenylthiocarbamide (PTC) in pairs of identical twins has been found by Ardashnikov c.s. and by Rife.

The ability to taste certain thiocarbamides without doubt being a hereditary property, the discrepancy of taste found must have an exogenic cause, the nature of which is unknown.

The fact in question is discussed on the basis of the well-established bimodality of the taste threshold concentration/frequency curve for thiocarbamides. It is pointed out that the «non-tasters» of the pairs of identical twins under consideration must be regarded as «crypto tasters». Their taste threshold concentration lies on the «wrong» side of the (more or less arbitrarily adopted) «taste blindness threshold concentration» (1:5,000 for EPTC and PTC).

The consequences of the existence of «crypto tasters» and also «crypto non-tasters» for work in the field of genetics with the aid of appropriate thiocarbamides are briefly indicated.