MyMedR

Fulltext Is there a risk of suburban transmission of malaria in Selangor, Malaysia?

Braima KA, Sum JS, Ghazali AR, Muslimin M, Jeffery J, Lee WC, et al.

PLoS One, 2013;8(10):e77924.

PMID: 24194901 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0077924

BACKGROUND: The suburban transmission of malaria in Selangor, Malaysia's most developed and populous state still remains a concern for public health in this region. Despite much successful control efforts directed at its reduction, sporadic cases, mostly brought in by foreigners have continued to occur. In addition, cases of simian malaria caused by Plasmodium knowlesi, some with fatal outcome have caused grave concern to health workers. The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of local malaria transmission in suburban regions of Selangor, which are adjacent to secondary rainforests.

FINDINGS: A malaria survey spanning 7 years (2006 - 2012) was conducted in Selangor. A total of 1623 laboratory confirmed malaria cases were reported from Selangor's nine districts. While 72.6% of these cases (1178/1623) were attributed to imported malaria (cases originating from other countries), 25.5% (414/1623) were local cases and 1.9% (31/1623) were considered as relapse and unclassified cases combined. In this study, the most prevalent infection was P. vivax (1239 cases, prevalence 76.3%) followed by P. falciparum (211, 13.0%), P. knowlesi (75, 4.6%), P. malariae (71, 4.4%) and P. ovale (1, 0.06%). Mixed infections comprising of P. vivax and P. falciparum were confirmed (26, 1.6%). Entomological surveys targeting the residences of malaria patients' showed that the most commonly trapped Anopheles species was An. maculatus. No oocysts or sporozoites were found in the An. maculatus collected. Nevertheless, the possibility of An. maculatus being the malaria vector in the investigated locations was high due to its persistent occurrence in these areas.

CONCLUSIONS: Malaria cases reported in this study were mostly imported cases. However the co-existence of local cases and potential Plasmodium spp. vectors should be cause for concern. The results of this survey reflect the need of maintaining closely monitored malaria control programs and continuous extensive malaria surveillance in Peninsula Malaysia.

Intestinal Myiasis in a Malaysian Patient Caused by Larvae of Clogmia albipunctatus (Diptera: Psychodidae)

Mokhtar AS, Braima KA, Peng Chin H, Jeffery J, Mohd Zain SN, Rohela M, et al.

J Med Entomol, 2016 Apr 25.

PMID: 27113101 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjw014

We report a case of human intestinal myiasis in a 41-yr-old female patient presented at a clinic in Seri Kembangan, Selangor, Malaysia. Larvae passed out in the patient's feces were sent to the Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. DNA barcoding confirmed the second case of intestinal myiasis in Malaysia involving the larvae of Clogmia albipunctatus (Duckhouse) (Diptera: Psychodidae). We review reported cases of myiasis and discuss the present case of intestinal myiasis in an urban patient.

Fulltext First Case Report of Canthariasis in an Infant Caused by the Larvae of Lasioderma serricorne (Coleoptera: Anobiidae)

Mokhtar AS, Sridhar GS, Mahmud R, Jeffery J, Lau YL, Wilson JJ, et al.

J Med Entomol, 2016 Sep 01;53(5):1234-1237.

PMID: 27208008 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjw071

We report an unusual cause of gastrointestinal infection occurring in a 1-year-old infant patient who was brought to a public hospital in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Larvae passed out in the patient's feces were confirmed by DNA barcoding as belonging to the species, Lasioderma serricorne (F.), known as the cigarette beetle. We postulate that the larvae were acquired from contaminated food and were responsible for gastrointestinal symptoms in the patient. To our knowledge, this the first report of human canthariasis caused by larvae of L. serricorne.

Fulltext First report of brown widow spider sightings in Peninsular Malaysia and notes on its global distribution

Muslimin M, Wilson JJ, Ghazali AR, Braima KA, Jeffery J, Wan-Nor F, et al.

J Venom Anim Toxins Incl Trop Dis, 2015;21:11.

PMID: 25995738 DOI: 10.1186/s40409-015-0010-2

The brown widow spider (Latrodectus geometricus Koch, 1841) has colonised many parts of the world from its continent of origin, Africa. By at least 1841, the species had successfully established populations in South America and has more recently expanded its range to the southern states of North America. This highly adaptable spider has been far more successful in finding its niche around the world than its famous cousins, the black widow, Latrodectus mactans, found in the south-eastern states of North America, and the red-back, Latrodectus hasselti, found mostly in Australia, New Zealand and Japan.

Fulltext Domiciliary cockroaches found in restaurants in five zones of Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory, peninsular Malaysia

Jeffery J, Sulaiman S, Oothuman P, Vellayan S, Zainol-Ariffin P, Paramaswaran S, et al.

Trop Biomed, 2012 Mar;29(1):180-6.

PMID: 22543619 MyJurnal

The following domiciliary cockroaches were collected from restaurants in five zones of Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory, Malaysia using 1L glass beaker traps baited with ground mouse-pellets: Periplaneta americana (Linnaeus) (n = 820), Periplaneta brunnea Burmeister (n = 46), Blattella germanica (Linnaeus) (n = 12504), Supella longipalpa (Fabricius) (n = 321), Symploce pallens Stephens (n = 29) and Neostylopyga rhombifolia (Stoll) (n = 5). The following bacteria were isolated from 10 cockroach specimens: Enterobacter cloacae, Klebsiella pneumoniae ssp. pneumoniae, Klebsiella pneumoniae ssp. rhinoscleromatis and Serratia liquefaciens from 5 B. germanica; Acinetobacter calcoaceticus var. anitratus, Citrobacter diversus/amalonaticus, Escherichia vulneris and K.p. pneumoniae from 3 P. brunnea; and Citrobacter freundii, Enterobacter agglomerans 4, Escherichia adecarboxylate, E. vulneris, K. p. pneumonia, K. p. rhinoscleromatis and Proteus vulgeris from 2 P. americana.

Fulltext Oxyspiruriasis in zoo birds

Vellayan S, Jeffery J, Oothuman P, Zahedi M, Krishnasamy M, Paramaswaran S, et al.

Trop Biomed, 2012 Jun;29(2):304-7.

PMID: 22735854 MyJurnal

Oxyspiruriasis caused by the bird eyeworm, Oxyspirura mansoni, a thelaziid nematode, in three species of pheasants, 3 Chrysolophus pictus (golden pheasant), 7 Lophura nycthemera (silver pheasant) and 9 Phasianus colchicus (common pheasant) in Zoo Negara Malaysia are reported. Birds with the disease were treated with a solution of 0.5% iodine or 0.5% lysol. Antistress powder for 4 days in water and non-strep vitamin powder in water was also provided. Control measures included removal of the cockroach intermediate host, Pycnoscelus surinamensis (Surinam cockroach) from the vicinity of the birds. The golden pheasant is a new host for O. mansoni in peninsular Malaysia.

Feeding behavior of Mimomyia (Etorleptiomyia) luzonensis (Ludlow, 1905) (Diptera, Culicidae) in Peninsular Malaysia

Braima KA, Muslimin M, M Ghazali AR, Wan-Nor F, Wilson JJ, Jeffery J, et al.

Acta Trop, 2017 Jul;171:138-140.

PMID: 28359829 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2017.03.025

Mosquitoes are vectors of various human diseases in the tropics including yellow fever, dengue, malaria and West Nile virus. Mosquitoes can act as vectors between wildlife and humans, which is particularly important for diseases where wild animals serve as reservoirs of parasites in the absence of human infections. Research has mainly focused on the medical impacts of Anopheles, Aedes, Mansonia and Culex, however, very little attention has been directed towards other mosquito genera, especially those which act as vectors of diseases of wildlife. We have observed adults of Mimomyia (Etorleptiomyia) luzonensis (Ludlow, 1905) feeding on a toad, Ingerophrynus parvus, near an oil palm plantation settlement in Setia Alam, Selangor state, Peninsular Malaysia. Mimomyia is known to feed on reptiles and amphibians, and is a documented vector of several arboviruses, including West Nile virus. The observation of Mimomyia feeding on a common toad near a human settlement highlights a need to understand the relationships between mosquitoes, toads and humans from an ecological perspective. We report on-site observations of the feeding habit of Mimomyia; the first records from Malaysia.

Fulltext A new record of Fannia pusio (Wiedemann) (Diptera:Fanniidae) from Malaysia

Omar B, Kurahashi H, Jeffery J, Yasohdha N, Lau SY, John MC, et al.

Trop Biomed, 2007 Dec;24(2):99-100.

PMID: 18209716

Fannia pusio (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Fanniidae) is newly recorded from Malaysia. This record is based on 1male symbol 1female symbol from Sarawak, east Malaysia and 1male symbol 2female symbol from Selangor, peninsular Malaysia. It is included in the pusio group of Fannia wherein are included Fannia femoralis (Stein), Fannia howardi Malloch, Fannia trimaculata (Stein), Fannia leucosticta (Meigen) and Fannia punctiventris Malloch. The male of Fannia pusio is differentiated from other members of the group by the following features: hind femur with a swelling bearing a number of setae that are usually curled at tip; squamae creamy; tergite 1+2 broadly grey dusted at sides.

Fulltext Bacterial pathogens from the intestinal tracts of various species of cockroaches

Rampal L, Oothuman P, Jeffery J, Daud MZ, Shekhar C, Senan P, et al.

Med J Malaysia, 1983 Jun;38(2):104-7.

PMID: 6353184

Bacterial isolates were made from the intestinal tracts ofcarious species of cockroaches (Periplaneta americana, Periplaneta brunnea, Periplaneta australasiae, Neostylopyga rhombifolia, Nauphoeta cinerea) trapped from kitchens and stores (houses and hospital), Shigello, flexneri, Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli and Salmonella sp. were some of the bacteria isolated and identified.

Fulltext A preliminary study of insect succession on a pig carcass in a palm oil plantation in Malaysia

Heo CC, Mohamad AM, Ahmad Firdaus MS, Jeffery J, Baharudin O

Trop Biomed, 2007 Dec;24(2):23-7.

PMID: 18209704 MyJurnal

This preliminary study was carried out in a palm oil plantation in Tanjung Sepat, Selangor in 17 May 2007 by using pig (Sus scrofa) as a carcass model in forensic entomological research. A 3 month old pig (8.5 kg) that died of pneumonio was placed in the field to observe the decomposition stages and the fauna succession of forensically important flies. Observation was made for two weeks; two visits per day and all climatological data were recorded. The first visitor to the pig carcass was a muscid fly, seen within a minute, and followed by ants and spiders. Within half an hour, calliphorid flies came over. On the second day (fresh), few calliphorid and sarcophagid flies were found on the carcass. Two different species of moths were trapped in the hanging net. The first larva mass occurred on the third day (bloated) around the mouthpart, with some L1 and L2 found in the eyes. Reduvid bugs and Staphylinidae beetles were recovered on the fourth day (active decay), and new maggot masses occurred in the eyes and anus. L3 larvae could be found beneath the pig carcass on the fourth day. On the fifth day (active decay), new maggot masses were found on neck, thorax, and hind legs. Advance decay occurred on the sixth day with abundant maggots covering all over the body. The main adult fly population was Chrysomya megacephala (day 2 to day 6), but the larvae population was mainly those of Chrysomya rufifacies (day 4 to day 14). The dry stage began on the eighth day. Hermetia illucens adult was caught on day-13, and a larvae mass of Chrysomya rufifacies was seen burrowing under the soil. This forensic entomological research using pig carcass model was the first record in this country.

Fulltext Four cases of pediculosis caused by Pthirus pubis Linnaeus, 1758 (Diptera: Anoplura) from peninsular Malaysia

Pakeer O, Jeffery J, Mohamed AM, Ahmad F, Baharudin O

Trop Biomed, 2007 Dec;24(2):101-3.

PMID: 18209717 MyJurnal

Four cases of pediculosis, two in adults and two in children, caused by the crab-louse, Pthirus pubis Linnaeus, 1758 (Diptera: Anoplura) is reported from peninsular Malaysia. This is the second report of the problem to be documented from the country. Although P. pubis is closely associated with genital hairs, it is, however, also found to occur on the eyelashes, eyebrows, hairs of the body, head and axilla. The few reported cases of pthiriasis probably do not reflect the true situation.

Survey of microhymenoptera (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) parasitizing filth flies (Diptera: Muscidae, Calliphoridae) breeding in refuse and poultry farms in peninsular Malaysia

Sulaiman S, Omar B, Omar S, Jeffery J, Ghauth I, Busparani V

J Med Entomol, 1990 Sep;27(5):851-5.

PMID: 2231622

Nine species of parasitoids were found parasitizing the pupae of filth flies breeding in refuse dumps and poultry farms throughout peninsular Malaysia. Spalangia were most common, consisting of Spalangia endius Walker, S. cameroni Perkins, S. gemina Boucek, S. nigroaenea Curtis, and two undescribed species. Other parasitoids collected were Pachycrepoideus vindemmiae Rondani, Dirhinus himalayanus Westwood, and an unidentified Hymenoptera. The parasitized fly hosts included Musca domestica L., Chrysomya megacephala (F.), Fannia sp., and Ophyra sp. S. endius was the most common parasitoid attacking M. domestica and C. megacephala at refuse dumps and poultry farms D. himalayanus were found to parasitize only M. domestica pupae collected at poultry farms.

Seasonal population patterns of Spalangia endius Walker (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) at a refuse dumping ground in Malaysia

Sulaiman S, Omar B, Omar S, Jeffery J, Ghauth I, Busparani V

J Med Entomol, 1991 Nov;28(6):757-9.

PMID: 1770508

A study on population patterns of the parasitoid Spalangia endius Walker at a dumping ground near Kuala Lumpur city showed that the percentage of S. endius adult emergence varied seasonally. During the relatively heavy rainfall months of August and November 1988, and January, March, and April 1989, the population of S. endius adult emergence were low (0-14.2%) compared to the less rainy months of July, September, and December 1988, and May 1989 (29.3-39.6%). This information could be useful in formulating strategies to reduce house fly population at the refuse dumping ground through integrated pest management programs.

Evaluation of pyrethroids lambda-cyhalothrin, deltamethrin and permethrin against Aedes albopictus in the laboratory

Sulaiman S, Omar B, Jeffery J, Busparani V

J Am Mosq Control Assoc, 1991 Jun;7(2):322-3.

PMID: 1895095

Three pyrethroids were evaluated in the laboratory against Aedes albopictus females by exposure to insecticide impregnated papers, and to 4th instar Ae. albopictus larvae as insecticide solutions. Lambda-cyhalothrin was found to be the most effective pyrethroid when tested against Aedes albopictus adult females and larvae compared with that of deltamethrin and permethrin.

Prevalence of Enterobius vermicularis amongst adults living in hostels by six successive day examination

Oothuman P, Noor Hayati MI, Mastura MH, Rampal L, Jeffery J, Rubiah M, et al.

Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 1992 Mar;23(1):82-6.

PMID: 1523484

The prevalence of Enterobius vermicularis in four groups of adults, all trainee public health inspectors or public health nurses, aged 18-35 years and all living in hostels on campus was studied. The modified scotch tape technique was used and the subjects were taught to do the examination on themselves to detect the presence of eggs over a period of 6 successive mornings. Each was given an elaborately illustrated diagram on how and when to take the samples and given demonstration in groups. The samples were examined by trained people. Most of the subjects took samples on 6 consecutive days. Of the 119 subjects who returned samples, the overall prevalence of E. vermicularis was 9.2% and this was thought to be high for this particular age group. This was due to the higher prevalence (19.4%) in one group, whereas in the others the range was 3.5-8.0%. Based on the samples returned on the first day none of the subjects were detected as having the infection. After examination on 3 successive days (109 subjects) 10.1% were found to be infected (chi 2 = 10.704; d. f. = 1) and after examination on 6 successive days (72 subjects) 13.9% were found to be infected (chi 2 = 3.026; d. f. = 1). There was no significance between examination over 3 successive days and 6 consecutive days (chi 2 = 0.296; d. f. = 1). There was no difference in the prevalence between males and females.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Sex inequality in kidney transplantation rates

Schaubel DE, Stewart DE, Morrison HI, Zimmerman DL, Cameron JI, Jeffery JJ, et al.

Arch. Intern. Med., 2000 8 6;160(15):2349-54.

PMID: 10927733 DOI: 10.1001/archinte.160.15.2349

BACKGROUND: Men in the United States undergoing renal replacement therapy are more likely than women to receive a kidney transplant. However, the ability to pay may, in part, be responsible for this finding.

OBJECTIVE: To compare adult male and female transplantation rates in a setting in which equal access to medical treatment is assumed.

METHODS: Using data from the Canadian Organ Replacement Register, the rate of first transplantations was computed for the 20, 131 men and the 13,458 women aged 20 years or older who initiated renal replacement therapy between January 1, 1981, and December 31, 1996. Poisson regression analysis was used to estimate the male-female transplantation rate ratio, adjusting for age, race, province, calendar period, underlying disease leading to renal failure, and dialytic modality. Actuarial survival methods were used to compare transplantation probability for covariable-matched cohorts of men and women.

RESULTS: Men experienced 20% greater covariable-adjusted kidney transplantation rates relative to women (rate ratio, 1.20; 95% confidence interval, 1.13-1.27). The sex disparity was stronger for cadaveric transplants (rate ratio, 1.23) compared with those from living donors (rate ratio, 1.10). The 5-year probability of receiving a transplant was 47% for men and 39% for women within covariable-matched cohorts (P

Fulltext The prevalence of Enterobius vermicularis amongst primary school children in Pulau Ketam, Selangor--1988

Oothuman P, Rampal L, Omar B, Marwsi MA, Mohammod CG, Jeffery J, et al.

Med J Malaysia, 1989 Dec;44(4):312-6.

PMID: 2520040

A survey was conducted to investigate the prevalence of Enterobius vermicularis in 1352 Chinese children between the ages of 6-12 years from the three National Type Chinese Primary Schools in Pulau Ketam in 1988, using the scotch-tape technique on three successive days. The overall prevalence was high (56.88%). The prevalence in Sin Bin School was significantly lower (50.86%) compared to the other two schools (56.60% and 61.04%). Prevalence was significantly higher amongst the 6-7 years age group (61.61%-70.18%) compared to other age groups (47.9%-59.29%). There was no difference in the prevalence between the boys and girls being 56.15% and 57.55% respectively.

Fulltext Ectoparasites of murids in peninsular Malaysia and their associated diseases

Mohd Zain SN, Amdan SA, Braima KA, Abdul-Aziz NM, Wilson JJ, Sithambaran P, et al.

Parasit Vectors, 2015;8:254.

PMID: 25924677 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-015-0850-1

A considerable number of rat-borne ectoparasite studies have been conducted since the early 1930s in the Malayan Peninsula (now known as peninsular Malaysia). The majority of studies were field surveys and collections of specimens across the region, and were conducted primarily to catalogue the ectoparasite host distribution and discover novel species. This has generated a signification amount of information, particularly on the diversity and host distribution; other aspects such as morphology, host distribution and medical significance have also been investigated. Amongst the four main groups (mites, fleas, ticks, lice), rat-borne mites have received the most attention with a particular emphasis on chiggers, due to their medical importance. More recent studies have examined the distribution of ectoparasites in rats from different habitat type simplicating a high prevalence of zoonotic species infesting rat populations. Despite being capable of transmitting dangerous pathogens to human, the health risks of rat-borne ectoparasites appear to be small with no serious outbreaks of diseases recorded. Although an extensive number of works have been published, there remain gaps in knowledge that need to be addressed, such as, the distribution of under studied ectoparasite groups (listrophorids and myobiids), determining factors influencing infestation, and understanding changes to the population distribution over time.

Fulltext Host tissue reaction to Gnathostoma malaysiae (Nematoda: Gnathostomidae) in Rattus surifer Miller

Krishnasamy M, Palmieri JR, Oothuman P, Jeffery J

Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 1993 Sep;24(3):489-93.

PMID: 8160058

The occurrence of adult Gnathostoma malaysiae in Rattus surifer and R. tiomanicus in Malaysia has been reported but there are no known reports on the host tissue reactions. This paper reports on the gross pathology caused by G. malaysiae in a red spiny forest rat, R. surifer and the tissue reactions caused. A tumor-like growth was located on the mid-stomach wall in a female rat captured in Gunung Bachock, Kelantan, Malaysia. This growth consisted of four tunnel-like structures containing sanguinopurulent fluid and leukocytes and this structure led into a central canal. The tissue surrounding the tumor was greatly inflamed and there was localized gastritis. The tunnel-like structure was surrounded by dense fibrotic tissue. The stomach wall was devoid of superficial epithelium and smooth muscle but mucinous glands were present. The midregion of the fibrotic scar contained eggs of G. malaysiae which had evoked a strong tissue reaction and were surrounded by pus. Blood vessels were empty, dilated and had undergone vasculitis and thrombosis.

Exoristobia philippinensis, a common parasitoid of synantrophic flies (Hymenoptera, encyrtidae)

Kadarsan S, Jeffery J

Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 1981 Dec;12(4):615-6.

PMID: 7344118

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