1. Electrophoretic variations of 9 erythrocyte proteins, coded by a separate gene locus each, were analysed in and among the 5 Malayan species of Rattus belonging to the subgenus Lenothrix. 2. The average proportion of loci heterozygous per individual for the taxa analysed is 0.037. 3. The results obtained confirm the specific status of the 5 taxa studied. With respect to the relative affinities among the species studied, the present results could resolve the discrepancies between conclusions based on morphological evidence and those based on cytological evidence. 4. The 5 species of Rattus studied may be assigned to 4 groups and comparative data suggest that these groups are relatively distantly related to one another.
1. Nine erythrocyte proteins coded by a separate locus each were analysed in and among seven Malayan species of Rattus belonging to three subgenera. 2. Electrophoretic data obtained confirm the specific status of the seven taxa and divide the seven species into three groups which correspond with Ellerman's (1949) subgenera Stenomys, Maxomys and Leopoldamys. 3. A comparative study together with 11 other species of Malayan Rattus previously analysed show that, with few exceptions, the overall relationships among the 18 species based on electrophoretic data correspond well with conclusions based on morphological evidence. 4. Malayan species of Rattus are relatively very diverse genetically (S = 0.27, range 0.01-0.94).
The presence, in the fruit of Averrhoa carambola (star fruit), of a depressant agent with properties similar to those of tranquilizers was demonstrated.
The genetics of glucosephosphate isomerase (E.C. 5.3.1.9) in two strains (Malaysian and Taiwan) of Aedes togoi is reported. Three electrophoretic phenotypes were presented in both sexes. The zymogram patterns were identical in both strains of A. togoi. The phenotypes were governed by a pair of codominant alleles. The allele frequency of the slow-moving band was 0.63 in the Malaysian strain adn was 0,86 and 0.82 in F161 and F169 generations, respectively, of the Taiwan strain. The sample studied was in good accord with Hardy-Weinberg expectation.
Glucose phosphate isomerase (E.C. 5.3.1.9) and phosphoglucomutase (E.C. 2.7.5.1) were found to be polymorphic in a laboratory colony of Aedes albopictus. The glucose phosphate isomerase locus is represented by two alleles resulting in three genotypes, while the phosphoglucomutase locus is represented by at least five alleles giving rise to a total of 15 genotypes. The inheritance of these two enzymes is of the Mendelian type with codominant alleles. Present data indicate that these genes are not linked.Of 105 mosquitoes analysed for these two gene-enzyme systems, the frequencies for glucose phosphate isomerase alleles are Gpi (S)=0.68 and Gpi (F)=0.32, while the frequencies for phosphoglucomutase alleles are Pgm (A)=0.16, Pgm (B)=0.11, Pgm (C)=0.19, Pgm (D)=0.30 and Pgm (F)= 0.24. The frequencies of the three glucose phosphate isomerase genotypes are in accord with Hardy-Weinberg expectations (X 1 (2) =2.74). Similarly, the frequencies of the 15 phosphoglucomutase genotypes probably do not differ significantly from Hardy-Weinberg expectations (X 10 (2) = 18.45).
The measurement of the ultimate effects of the microbial insecticides on mosquito density is best obtained by assessment of adult populations. The main aims of this study are: (1) to assess the effect of Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) FC Skeetal and Bactimos briquettes on the emergence rate of Mansonia bonneae developed from the introduced first-instar stage larvae and (2) to measure the effect of these two formulations of insecticides on Mansonia adult populations emerging from the natural breeding plots. Bti Skeetal and Bactimos briquettes at the lower applied dosages of 2.3 kg/ha and 1 briquette case/20 m2 respectively achieved 39-40% pupation rates and 31.5-34.2% adult emergence rates. At these low applied dosages, there was little or no direct effect on pupation from the surviving larvae and thereafter on the emergence of adults from the pupae. A two-fold increase in dosage, however, produced a drastic decline in the pupation rate and adult emergence rate. The rates dropped to 6.5% (pupation) and 4.3% (adult emergence) of the total larvae for Bactimos briquettes and to merely 1.5% (pupation) and 1.3% (adult emergence) of the total larvae for Skeetal. In studying the effect of Bti on the field populations of Mansonia mosquitos, two plots each were treated with Bactimos at 1 briquette case/10 m2 and Skeetal at 4.6 kg/ha. A wooden pyramid-shaped screened cage was placed on a cluster of host plants for a period of 2 weeks to trap the emerging adult mosquitoes. There were a total of 24 clusters of host plants in each plot.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Successful colonization of Mansonia dives, the principal vector of subperiodic Brugia malayi was established in a field insectary. Mean egg clusters laid on Eichhornia crassipes, Pistia stratiotes, Homalomena cordata and polystyrofoam strips were 12.0, 10.4, 9.5 and 13.7 respectively. However, the mean number of first instar larvae hatched from each egg cluster laid by females on the three plant substrates (range 51.1 to 58.6) was higher than that laid on the polystyrofoam strips (41.8). There were no significant differences in the success pupation and adult emergence rates among the three host plants used as attachment substrates. Adult emergence occurred at a mean of 10.8 days. The first adult emergence was observed at the 25th day after hatching and continued till the 50th day. The 50% mortality rates for the adults were estimated as 8 days for the males and 14 days for the females. The mean gonotrophic cycle ranged from 3.8 to 4.3 days with a mean of 4.04 days. 63.6% of Ma. dives females oviposited in a medium of rat dung and water. The mean incubation period of eggs ranged from 5.2 to 6.5 days with a mean of 5.7 days. The biology of Ma. dives and Ma. bonneae is briefly compared.
A control programme against subperiodic brugian filariasis was implemented in three villages, (Kg. Ampungan, Kg. Sebangkoi and Kg. Sebamban) in Sarawak, Malaysia. In Kampong Ampungan, the mass administration of diethylcarbamazine (DEC-citrate) combined with residual house spraying of pirimiphos-methyl reduced microfilarial rate to 8% of the pre-treatment level and microfilarial density (MfD50) to 44% of the pre-treatment level over a period of four years. In Kampong Sebangkoi and Kampong Sebamban, where only mass DEC therapy was applied, the microfilarial rate and MfD50 declined distinctly in the second blood survey but increased gradually in two subsequent follow-up blood surveys. In Kg, Ampungan, we observed a significant reduction of infective biting rate (88.3%), infection rate (62.5%) and transmission potential (88.1%) of Mansonia bonneae at the fourth spray round. The corresponding reduction rates in Kg. Sebangkoi and Kg. Sebamban were 35.3%, 26.7%, 42.2% and 24%, 30.8% and 15.4% respectively. The biting density of the vector was reduced by 79.8% indoors and 31.8% outdoors at the sprayed village, while only a slight decrease in densities (17.9% indoors and 12.4% outdoors) was observed at the unsprayed village. Bioassay tests revealed that pirimiphos-methyl had a substantial fumigant effect on the vector. The integrated control measure in controlling subperiodic brugian filariasis is discussed.
A biochemical genetic study of the enzyme malate dehydrogenase (MDH) was conducted in the grasshopper Oxya j. japonica. Analysis of MDH electrophoretic variation in this species of grasshopper shows that one of the two autosomal loci for MDH in grasshoppers, the Mdh-2 locus, controlling the anodal set of MDH isozymes, is duplicated. Results of breeding studies confirm this and the observed polymorphism at the Mdh-2 locus in the two populations of Oxya j. japonica studied can be attributed to three forms of linked alleles at the duplicated locus in equilibrium in both populations. In this respect, all individuals of this species possess heterozygous allelic combinations at the duplicated Mdh-2 locus, which may account for the spread of the duplicated locus in the populations of this species of grasshopper.
Two field trials in the control of subperiodic brugian filariasis vectors, mainly Mansonia bonneae and Mansonia dives were carried out in Sarawak, East Malaysia. In the first trial, malathion ultra-low volume (ULV) spray was used to control the Mansonia mosquitos in two filariasis endemic villages. Six spray rounds were applied at biweekly intervals at Kampung Rasau and two spray rounds were applied at monthly intervals in Kampung Triboh. ULV malathion spray reduced biting Ma. bonneae population for 3 days after spraying. The biting density decreased to 50% of the pre-treatment level by the 12th - 13th day and reached the pre-treatment level by the 24th - 25th day. Contact bioassay tests on caged Mansonia mosquitos revealed considerable penetration of the malathion aerosol indoors and relatively adequate coverage outdoors. The estimated number of bites per case per day was 1.09 to 4 times less in the sprayed kampung than in an unsprayed control kampung. The parous and daily survival rates of Mansonia mosquitos were not significantly affected by the spraying. In a second trial, chemotherapy with diethylcarbamazine citrate (DEC) was combined with vector control through indoor residual spraying in Kampung Ampungan. The results were compared with the use of only DEC mass treatment in Kampung Sebangkoi and Kampung Sebamban. The combined control measures in Kampung Ampungan reduced the MfD-50 to 44% of the pre-treatment level over a period of 4 years. In the other two kampungs where only mass DEC therapy was applied, the microfilarial rate and MfD-50 declined significantly in the second blood survey but increased gradually in two subsequent follow-up blood surveys. The total insecticidal impact for Ma. bonneae was 3.9 to 1 indoors and 2.7 to 1 outdoors. These results indicated that quarterly pirimiphos-methyl indoor spraying used in integrated control could reduce indoor transmission by 3.9 times. The infective rate from the Ma. bonneae dissected in all three kampungs after the interventions, irrespective of DEC treatment alone or in combination with pirimiphos-methyl residual spraying were reduced by two fold. However the infection rate of brugian filarial larvae in Kampung Ampungan was significantly reduced after the use of DEC and insecticide. Annual Transmission Potential (ATP) showed a high significant reduction in Kampung Ampungan (p > 0.001) compared with Kampungs Sebangkoi and Schambam. In Ampungan, the ATP was reduced by 8.5 times indoors after the MDA and insecticidal application and 3 times outdoors. The reduction rate for Sebangkoi and Sebamban both indoors and outdoors were less than 2 fold.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
The kapurimycin A3-guanine adduct was formed by alkylation of the antitumour antibiotic with d(CGCG)2. The site of alkylation of the guanine was confirmed by comparative NMR studies with N-7-methyl-guanine in DMSO-d6.
Six Malaysian chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum isolates were cultured in vitro following the candle-jar method. Antimalarial evaluations of daily replacement of culture medium containing chloroquine and a semi-purified extract of Eurycoma longifolia Jack (containing 13 beta, 18-dihydroeurycomanol (1), eurycomanol-2-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (2), eurycomanol (3) and eurycomanone (4)) were performed on 6-well plates at 37 degrees C for a week. Presence or absence of the parasites was determined microscopically on thin-film Giemsa-stained preparations. Results showed that the antimalarial activity of Eurycoma longifolia Jack was dose-dependent and reached a maximum of < 50% at 0.07-5.00 micrograms ml-1 after 1 day post-treatment. However, complete inhibitions were observed at 1.25-5.00 micrograms ml-1 extract after 3 days post-treatment and 0.62 and 0.31 micrograms ml-1 after 4 and 6 days post-treatment, respectively. Further results indicated that chloroquine exhibited total inhibition at concentrations > 2.50 and 0.62 micrograms ml-1 after 1 and 2 days post-treatment, respectively and at all concentrations after 3 days post-treatment.
Malaysian, African and Thai Plasmodium falciparum isolates were cultured in vitro by the Trager and Jensen method (1976; 1977) and were later cloned by the limiting dilution method (Rosario, 1981). Forty-eight clones were obtained and were characterized by electrophoretic variations of GDH (NADP-dependent glutamate dehydrogenase)(EC. 1.4.1.4). It was found that they were pure clones because they possessed either GDH-1 or GDH-2 unlike their parent isolates which exhibited both GDH-1 and GDH-2.
Six clones were derived from each Malaysian Plasmodium falciparum isolate and characterized for their susceptibilities against type II antifolate drugs, cycloguanil and pyrimethamine. Results showed that these isolates were of a heterogeneous population, with average IC50 values of Gombak C clones at 0.012-0.084 microM and 0.027-0.066 microM, ST 9 clones at 0.019-0.258 microM and 0.027-0.241 microM, ST 12 clones at 0.015-0.342 microM and 0.012-0.107 microM, ST 85 clones at 0.022-0.087 microM and 0.024-0.426 microM, and ST 148 clones at 0.027-0312 microM and 0.029-0.690 microM against cycloguanil and pyrimethamine, respectively. Generally, most of these clones displayed susceptibility patterns similar to their parent isolates except ST 9/A4, ST 9/A7, ST 9/B5, ST 9/D9, ST 9/D10, ST 148/A4, ST 148/A5, ST 148/A7, ST 148/F7, ST 148/F8 clones, which were sensitive at 0.027 microM, 0.019 microM, 0.022 microM, 0.063 microM, 0.037 microM, 0.031 microM, 0.042, microM, 0.042 microM, 0.062 microM, and 0.027 microM, whereas, ST 12/D7 clone was resistant at 0.342 microM, against cycloguanil respectively. However, ST 9/A4, ST 9/D8, ST 12/D5, ST 85/A5, ST 85/B3, ST 85/B4, ST 85/D3, ST 85/D7, ST 148/A6, and ST 148/A7 clones were resistant to pyrimethamine at 0.158 microM, 0.241 microM, 0.107 microM, 0.223 microM, 0.393 microM, 0.402 microM, 0.426 microM, 0.115 microM, 0.690 microM, and 0.520 microM, respectively.
Six clones were derived from each of five isolates of Malaysian Plasmodium falciparum and characterized with regard to susceptibility to schizontocidal drugs, chloroquine, mefloquine, and quinine. The 5 isolates were found to be resistant to chloroquine and sensitive to mefloquine and quinine. Most of the clones displayed susceptibility patterns similar to those of their parent isolate, except ST9/D8 clone which became sensitive to chloroquine, C/C10 and ST148/A5 clones which became resistant to mefloquine and to quinine respectively. This diversity in susceptibility to schizontocidal drugs would likely have been overlooked by assessment of natural uncloned isolates against antimalarial drugs.
A high-performance liquid chromatography assay equipped with a glassy carbon electrode for electrochemical detection (HPLC-ECD) was developed at reductive mode for the analysis of artemisinin, the antimalarial drug from Artemisia annua (Asteraceae) in human plasma. This method was selective, sensitive, and produced satisfactory recovery, precision, and accuracy. Analysis of plasma samples from 8 male volunteers given 10 mg kg-1 of artemisinin orally as an aqueous suspension showed a mean peak plasma concentration (Cmax) of 580.89 ng ml-1 +/- 88.64 SD at 2.5 h +/- 0.5 SD after dosing, and the mean area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC0-infinity) was 2227.57 ng h ml-1 +/- 677.22 SD. In addition, the elimination rate constant (Ke), elimination half-life (t1/2), and apparent volume of distribution (Vd) were calculated to be 0.2971 h-1 +/- 0.0644 SD, 2.42 h +/- 0.46 SD, and 16.26 l kg-1 +/- 3.44 SD, respectively.