Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 28 in total

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  1. Bahaman AR, Ibrahim AL, Adam H
    Epidemiol Infect, 1987 Oct;99(2):379-92.
    PMID: 3678399
    A cross-sectional serological survey of domestic animals in West Malaysia revealed that 25.5% of the animals examined had agglutinating antibodies to one or more antigens belonging to Leptospira interrogans. Significant prevalence of infection was observed in cattle (40.5%), buffaloes (31%) and pigs (16%). The Sejroe serogroup was shown to be the principal one involved in cattle and buffaloes, and to a lesser extent the Tarassovi and Pomona serogroups. Evidence of infection in domestic animals by strains bearing the other seven antigens appeared insignificant and was indicative of sporadic infection. A majority of the large (semi-intensive) cattle and buffalo farms demonstrated a high prevalence of leptospiral infection. In both species of domestic animals mentioned above, the prevalence of infection was significantly higher (P = 0.01) in the semi-intensive farms than in the smallholdings. Amongst cattle, the droughtmasters had the highest prevalence whilst the Kedah-Kelantan (an indigenous breed) had the lowest prevalence of leptospiral infection. In general, the temperate breeds of cattle had a significantly (P = 0.01) higher prevalence of infection than local breeds. Leptospiral infection in goats and sheep was shown to be sporadic, and the Pomona serogroup was the principal leptospiral serogroup involved in these small ruminants. The prevalence of infection in pigs was observed to decline during the study period, and it is suspected that pigs in West Malaysia are the maintenance host for serovar pomona whilst cattle are the maintenance host for serovar hardjo. Overall, it appears that domestic animals in Malaysia will play a bigger role in the epidemiology of leptospiral infection with the advent of sophisticated farming.
  2. Bahaman AR, Ibrahim AL, Stallman ND, Tinniswood RD
    Epidemiol Infect, 1988 Apr;100(2):239-46.
    PMID: 3356222
    A cross-sectional bacteriological survey of cattle in West Malaysia revealed 14.4% (32/222) had leptospiral infection. Isolates were obtained from all except one herd with prevalence of infection in herds ranging from 0-44.8%. A small number of buffalo urine samples were examined and all of them were found to be negative. A leptospiral isolate obtained from a bovine kidney proved to be a new serovar of Leptospira interrogans and the name unipertama was assigned to it. Six other leptospiral serovars were isolated, namely canicola, australis, javanica, ballum, pomona and hardjo. All six serovars were isolated for the first time in cattle in Malaysia. Cattle in Malaysia appear to be the maintenance host for serovar hardjo. The presence of the other serovars in cattle was probably due to contact with the maintenance hosts, pigs for serovar pomona and rodents for the other three serovars. It appears that the epidemiology of leptospiral infection in cattle in Malaysia is similar to that reported overseas.
  3. Joseph PG, Sivanandan SP, Yee HT
    Epidemiol Infect, 1988 Jun;100(3):351-9.
    PMID: 3378581
    During the 5-year (1981-5) surveillance period, 2322 salmonella isolations were recorded from animals and other non-human sources in Peninsular Malaysia. This was an increase of 356% over the preceding 5-year period. The 83 serotypes isolated were recovered from 41 sources. Of these 34 were new serotypes bringing the total number of serotypes isolated from non-human sources to date up 97. Food animals and edible animal products accounted for 92.2% of the total isolations, with cattle and beef accounting for 70% of the total. Salmonella dublin was the most frequently isolated serotype, whereas S. typhimurium had the widest zoological distribution. More than 80% of the non-human salmonella serotypes have also been reported in man in this country.
  4. Vadivelu J, Feachem RG, Drasar BS, Harrison TJ, Parasakthi N, Thambypillai V, et al.
    Epidemiol Infect, 1989 Dec;103(3):497-511.
    PMID: 2691267
    The membrane-filter assay, GM1-ELISA, and DNA-DNA hybridization assay, were used to detect enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) in samples of water, weaning food, food preparation surface swabs, fingerprints of mothers, and the fingerprints and stools of children under 5 years of age, in 20 households in a Malaysian village. Weaning food and environmental samples were frequently contaminated by faecal coliforms, including ETEC. The membrane-filter assay detected and enumerated faecal coliforms and LT-ETEC in all types of water and weaning food samples. Highest concentrations of faecal coliforms and LT-ETEC were found in weaning food, followed by well-water, stored water and stored drinking water. The GM1-ELISA detected LT-ETEC in weaning food, food preparation surfaces, fingerprints and stool samples. The DNA-DNA hybridization assay detected a larger proportion of STa2-ETEC than the other toxotypes, either singly or in combination. All the assays in combination detected the presence of ETEC in all types of samples on at least one occasion in each household. It was not possible to classify households as consistently more or less contaminated with ETEC. On individual occasions it was possible to show a significant association of the presence of LT-ETEC between the fingerprints of children and their stools, fingerprints of mothers and children, and weaning food and the stools of the child consuming the food.
  5. Wong NA, Linton CJ, Jalal H, Millar MR
    Epidemiol Infect, 1994 Dec;113(3):445-54.
    PMID: 7995354
    Discriminatory typing methods are invaluable in the investigation of outbreaks of infectious diseases. Single primers were used to generate randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) profiles from Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates of various serotype and K. pneumoniae isolates from cases of sepsis at a Malaysian hospital and two English hospitals. RAPD profiles of acceptable reproducibility, a maximum of three minor band variations, were produced using a rapid DNA extraction method. RAPD typing of K. pneumoniae was shown to be as discriminatory as restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis using pulsed field gel electrophoresis yet quicker and less costly. The findings suggest that RAPD typing may be a useful tool for the epidemiological typing of K. pneumoniae.
  6. Wang LC
    Epidemiol Infect, 1998 Feb;120(1):81-6.
    PMID: 9528821
    Parasitic infections have been reported to be relatively common among the Southeast Asian labourers in Taiwan. This study, conducted in 1992-6, was designed to determine the temporal changes of the prevalence. Faecal specimens were examined by the formalin-ethyl acetate sedimentation technique and blood samples screened using the quantitative buffy coat technique and confirmed by Giemsa stained blood smear. The overall prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections was 10.3%. The annual prevalence decreased from 33.3% in 1992-3 to 4.6% in 1995-6. The Thai (12.0%) and Indonesian (11.1%) had a higher prevalence than the Malaysian (6.7%) and Filipinos (5.9%). Opisthorchis viverrini was the most important parasite in the Thai and Trichuris trichiura in the remaining groups. Moreover, no blood parasites were found in the labourers. The dramatic temporal decline in the intestinal parasitic infections suggests that limiting the entry of infected persons, periodic follow-ups, and immediate treatment of sporadic cases are necessary in preventing transmission of non-indigenous parasites through large population change.
  7. Rohani MY, Raudzah A, Ng AJ, Ng PP, Zaidatul AA, Asmah I, et al.
    Epidemiol Infect, 1999 Feb;122(1):77-82.
    PMID: 10098788
    During a 1-year period from October 1995 to September 1996, 273 isolations of Streptococcus pneumoniae were made from various types of clinical specimens. The majority of the isolates (39.2%) were from sputum whilst 27.5% were from blood, CSF and other body fluids. The organism was isolated from patients of all age groups, 31.1% from children aged 10 years and below, 64.7% of which come from children aged 2 years or below. The majority of the isolates belong to serotypes 1, 6B, 19B, 19F and 23F. Serotypes 1 and 19B were the most common serotypes associated with invasive infection. About 71.9% of the invasive infections were due to serotypes included in the available 23 valent polysaccharide vaccine. The rates of resistance to penicillin and erythromycin were 7.0 and 1.1% respectively. Our findings show that the serotypes of S. pneumoniae causing most invasive infections in Malaysia are similar to those in other parts of the world and the available vaccine may have a useful role in this population.
  8. Radu S, Ho YK, Lihan S, Yuherman, Rusul G, Yasin RM, et al.
    Epidemiol Infect, 1999 Oct;123(2):225-32.
    PMID: 10579441
    A total of 31 strains of Vibrio cholerae O1 (10 from outbreak cases and 7 from surface water) and non-O1 (4 from clinical and 10 from surface water sources) isolated between 1993 and 1997 were examined with respect to presence of cholera enterotoxin (CT) gene by PCR-based assays, resistance to antibiotics, plasmid profiles and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis. All were resistant to 9 or more of the 17 antibiotics tested. Identical antibiotic resistance patterns of the isolates may indicate that they share a common mode of developing antibiotic resistance. Furthermore, the multiple antibiotic resistance indexing showed that all strains tested originated from high risk contamination. Plasmid profile analysis by agarose gel electrophoresis showed the presence of small plasmids in 12 (7 non-O1 and 5 O1 serotypes) with sizes ranging 1.3-4.6 MDa. The CT gene was detected in all clinical isolates but was present in only 14 (6 O1 serotype and 8 non-O1 serotype) isolates from environmental waters. The genetic relatedness of the clinical and environmental Vibrio cholerae O1 and non-O1 strains was investigated by RAPD fingerprinting with four primers. The four primers generated polymorphisms in all 31 strains of Vibrio cholerae tested, producing bands ranging from < 250 to 4500 bp. The RAPD profiles revealed a wide variability and no correlation with the source of isolation. This study provides evidence that Vibrio cholerae O1 and non-O1 have significant public health implications.
  9. Vadivelu J, Iyer L, Kshatriya BM, Puthucheary SD
    Epidemiol Infect, 2000 Feb;124(1):25-30.
    PMID: 10722126
    Forty-three clinical strains of V. cholerae O1 biotype E1 Tor were isolated between 3 May and 10 June 1998 during an outbreak in the metropolitan area of Kuala Lumpur and its suburbs. With the exception of three Inaba strains that were restricted to three members of a family, all the others belonged to the Ogawa serotype. The strains were analysed for clonality using ribotyping and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Two ribotypes, V/B21a and B27, were identified among 40 Ogawa isolates using BglI restriction endonuclease. Ribotype V/B21a has been described previously from Taiwan and Colombia and several Asian countries while B27 has been reported among isolates from Senegal. The three Inaba strains belonged to one ribotype, designated type A, not previously reported. PFGE analysis using NotI revealed that all isolates within a ribotype had identical profiles demonstrating clonality amongst the strains. Dice coefficient analysis of the two Ogawa genotypes revealed 89% similarity on ribotype patterns and 91.3% on PFGE profiles. Ribotype V/B21a isolates were associated with cases from dispersed areas of Kuala Lumpur and its suburbs while ribotype B27 was restricted to cases from one particular area suggesting a common-source outbreak.
  10. Iyer L, Vadivelu J, Puthucheary SD
    Epidemiol Infect, 2000 Aug;125(1):27-34.
    PMID: 11057956
    Eighty-four strains of Vibrio cholerae O1, O139 and non-O1/non-O139 from clinical and environmental sources were investigated for the presence of the toxin co-regulated pilus gene, tcpA, the virulence cassette genes ctxA, zot, ace and cep and also for their ability to elaborate haemolysin and protease. The ctxA and zot genes were detected using DNA-DNA hybridization while the ace, cep and tcpA genes were detected using PCR. Production of haemolysin and protease was detected using mammalian erythrocytes and an agar diffusion assay respectively. Analysis of their virulence profiles showed six different groups designated Type I to Type VI and the major distinguishing factor among these profiles was in the in vitro production of haemolysin and/or protease. Clinical O1, O139 and environmental O1 strains were similar with regard to presence of the virulence cassette genes. All environmental O1 strains with the exception of one were found to possess ctxA, zot and ace giving rise to the probability that these strains may actually be of clinical origin. One strain which had only cep but none of the toxin genes may be a true environmental isolate. The virulence cassette and colonization factor genes were absent in all non-O1/non-O139 environmental strains but production of both the haemolysin and protease was present, indicating that these may be putative virulence factors. These findings suggest that with regard to its pathogenic potential, only strains of the O1 and O139 serogroup that possess the tcpA gene which encodes the phage receptor, have the potential to acquire the CTX genetic element and become choleragenic.
  11. Norazah A, Lim VK, Rohani MY, Alfizah H, Koh YT, Kamel AG
    Epidemiol Infect, 2003 Jun;130(3):407-11.
    PMID: 12825724
    This study was conducted to determine the molecular epidemiology of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in Malaysian hospitals. A total of 264 MRSA isolates from eight hospitals were subjected to typing by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) of SmaI restricted DNA. Antibiotic disk susceptibility testing was also carried out to determine their resistance patterns. Thirty-one PFGE pattern types were identified. Three major pattern types A, ZC and K were found with type A the predominant profile in c. 80% of strains and present in all hospitals. Unlike type A, other DNA pattern types were unique to the hospitals in which they were isolated. PFGE type A also consisted of strains that were multiply antibiotic resistant. The presence of a single predominant PFGE type in Malaysian hospitals is an important finding which suggests that inter-hospital spread of MRSA had occurred frequently and regularly.
  12. Desa MN, Sekaran SD, Vadivelu J, Parasakthi N
    Epidemiol Infect, 2008 Jul;136(7):940-2.
    PMID: 17678563
    Choline-binding proteins (CBP) have been associated with the pathogenesis of Streptococcus pneumoniae. We screened, using PCR, for the presence of genes (cbpA, D, E, G) encoding these proteins in 34 isolates of pneumococci of known serotypes and penicillin susceptibility from invasive and non-invasive disease. All isolates harboured cbpD and cbpE whereas cbpA and cbpG were found in 47% and 59% respectively; the latter were more frequent in vaccine-associated types and together accounted for 77% of these isolates. No association was observed with penicillin susceptibility but 85% of non-invasive isolates were positive for these genes.
  13. Dhanoa A, Karunakaran R, Puthucheary SD
    Epidemiol Infect, 2010 Jul;138(7):979-81.
    PMID: 19889253 DOI: 10.1017/S0950268809991105
    Group B streptococcus (GBS) is a leading cause of neonatal sepsis and is usually acquired via the woman's birth canal. GBS serotypes isolated from 200 pregnant women were determined. Serotypes V (19%) and VI (17%) were the most frequent followed by serotypes III (12%), Ia (11.5%) and IV (10%); 17% of the strains were non-typable. All isolates were susceptible to penicillin, 96% to erythromycin and 97.5% to clindamycin. The emergence of new GBS serotypes has important implications for vaccine prevention strategies.
  14. Sohayati AR, Hassan L, Sharifah SH, Lazarus K, Zaini CM, Epstein JH, et al.
    Epidemiol Infect, 2011 Oct;139(10):1570-9.
    PMID: 21524339 DOI: 10.1017/S0950268811000550
    This study aimed to describe the transmission dynamics, the serological and virus excretion patterns of Nipah virus (NiV) in Pteropus vampyrus bats. Bats in captivity were sampled every 7-21 days over a 1-year period. The data revealed five NiV serological patterns categorized as high and low positives, waning, decreasing and increasing, and negative in these individuals. The findings strongly suggest that NiV circulates in wild bat populations and that antibody could be maintained for long periods. The study also found that pup and juvenile bats from seropositive dams tested seropositive, indicating that maternal antibodies against NiV are transmitted passively, and in this study population may last up to 14 months. NiV was isolated from the urine of one bat, and within a few weeks, two other seronegative bats seroconverted. Based on the temporal cluster of seroconversion, we strongly believe that the NiV isolated was recrudesced and then transmitted horizontally between bats during the study period.
  15. Ong BL, Ngeow YF, Razak MF, Yakubu Y, Zakaria Z, Mutalib AR, et al.
    Epidemiol Infect, 2013 Jul;141(7):1481-7.
    PMID: 23414617 DOI: 10.1017/S0950268813000265
    A cross-sectional study was conducted from 10 January to 9 April 2012, to determine the seroprevalence of tuberculosis (TB) of all captive Asian elephants and their handlers in six locations in Peninsular Malaysia. In addition, trunk-wash samples were examined for tubercle bacillus by culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). For 63 elephants and 149 elephant handlers, TB seroprevalence was estimated at 20.4% and 24.8%, respectively. From 151 trunkwash samples, 24 acid-fast isolates were obtained, 23 of which were identified by hsp65-based sequencing as non-tuberculous mycobacteria. The Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific PCR was positive in the trunk-wash samples from three elephants which were also seropositive. Conversely, the trunk wash from seven seropositive elephants were PCR negative. Hence, there was evidence of active and latent TB in the elephants and the high seroprevalence in the elephants and their handlers suggests frequent, close contact, two-way transmission between animals and humans within confined workplaces.
  16. Yang F, Guo GZ, Chen JQ, Ma HW, Liu T, Huang DN, et al.
    Epidemiol Infect, 2014 Feb;142(2):225-33.
    PMID: 23587429 DOI: 10.1017/S0950268813000897
    A suspected dengue fever outbreak occurred in 2010 at a solitary construction site in Shenzhen city, China. To investigate this epidemic, we used serological, molecular biological, and bioinformatics techniques. Of nine serum samples from suspected patients, we detected seven positive for dengue virus (DENV) antibodies, eight for DENV-1 RNA, and three containing live viruses. The isolated virus, SZ1029 strain, was sequenced and confirmed as DENV-1, showing the highest E-gene homology to D1/Malaysia/36000/05 and SG(EHI)DED142808 strains recently reported in Southeast Asia. Further phylogenetic tree analysis confirmed their close relationship. At the epidemic site, we also detected 14 asymptomatic co-workers (out of 291) positive for DENV antibody, and DENV-1-positive mosquitoes. Thus, we concluded that DENV-1 caused the first local dengue fever outbreak in Shenzhen. Because no imported case was identified, the molecular fingerprints of the SZ1029 strain suggest this outbreak may be due to vertical transmission imported from Southeast Asia.
  17. Ang LW, Cutter J, James L, Goh KT
    Epidemiol Infect, 2015 Jun;143(8):1585-93.
    PMID: 25245094 DOI: 10.1017/S0950268814002507
    To assess the impact of past dengue epidemics in Singapore, we undertook a national seroepidemiological study to determine the prevalence of past dengue virus (DENV) infection in the adult population in 2010 and make comparisons with the seroprevalence in 2004. The study involved residual sera from 3293 adults aged 18-79 years who participated in a national health survey in 2010. The overall prevalence of anti-DENV IgG antibodies was 56·8% (95% confidence interval 55·1-58·5) in 2010. The seroprevalence increased significantly with age. Males had significantly higher seroprevalence than females (61·5% vs. 53·2%). Among the three major ethnic groups, Malays had the lowest seroprevalence (50·2%) compared to Chinese (57·0%) and Indians (62·0%). The age-standardized seroprevalence in adults was significantly lower in 2010 (54·4%) compared to 2004 (63·1%). Older age, male gender, Indian ethnicity, permanent residency and being home-bound were independent risk factors significantly associated with seropositivity. About 43% of the Singapore adult resident population remain susceptible to DENV infection as a result of the successful implementation of a comprehensive nationwide Aedes surveillance and control programme since the 1970s. Vector suppression and concerted efforts of all stakeholders in the community remain the key strategy in the prevention and control of dengue.
  18. Williams CR, Gill BS, Mincham G, Mohd Zaki AH, Abdullah N, Mahiyuddin WR, et al.
    Epidemiol Infect, 2015 Oct;143(13):2856-64.
    PMID: 25591942 DOI: 10.1017/S095026881400380X
    We aimed to reparameterize and validate an existing dengue model, comprising an entomological component (CIMSiM) and a disease component (DENSiM) for application in Malaysia. With the model we aimed to measure the effect of importation rate on dengue incidence, and to determine the potential impact of moderate climate change (a 1 °C temperature increase) on dengue activity. Dengue models (comprising CIMSiM and DENSiM) were reparameterized for a simulated Malaysian village of 10 000 people, and validated against monthly dengue case data from the district of Petaling Jaya in the state of Selangor. Simulations were also performed for 2008-2012 for variable virus importation rates (ranging from 1 to 25 per week) and dengue incidence determined. Dengue incidence in the period 2010-2012 was modelled, twice, with observed daily weather and with a 1 °C increase, the latter to simulate moderate climate change. Strong concordance between simulated and observed monthly dengue cases was observed (up to r = 0·72). There was a linear relationship between importation and incidence. However, a doubling of dengue importation did not equate to a doubling of dengue activity. The largest individual dengue outbreak was observed with the lowest dengue importation rate. Moderate climate change resulted in an overall decrease in dengue activity over a 3-year period, linked to high human seroprevalence early on in the simulation. Our results suggest that moderate reductions in importation with control programmes may not reduce the frequency of large outbreaks. Moderate increases in temperature do not necessarily lead to greater dengue incidence.
  19. Koh MT, Liu CS, Chiu CH, Boonsawat W, Watanaveeradej V, Abdullah N, et al.
    Epidemiol Infect, 2016 Apr;144(6):1192-200.
    PMID: 26468043 DOI: 10.1017/S0950268815002393
    Surveillance data on the burden of pertussis in Asian adults are limited. This cross-sectional study evaluated the prevalence of serologically confirmed pertussis in adults with prolonged cough in Malaysia, Taiwan and Thailand. Adults (⩾19 years) with cough lasting for ⩾14 days without other known underlying cause were enrolled from outpatient clinics of seven public and/or private hospitals. Single blood samples for anti-pertussis toxin antibodies (anti-PT IgG) were analysed and economic impact and health-related quality of life (EQ-5D) questionnaires assessed. Sixteen (5·13%) of the 312 chronically coughing adults had serological evidence of pertussis infection within the previous 12 months (anti-PT IgG titre ⩾62·5 IU/ml). Three of them were teachers. Longer duration of cough, paroxysms (75% seroconfirmed, 48% non-seroconfirmed) and breathlessness/chest pain (63% seroconfirmed, 36% non-seroconfirmed) were associated with pertussis (P < 0·04). Of the seroconfirmed patients, the median total direct medical cost per pertussis episode in public hospitals (including physician consultations and/or emergency room visits) was US$13 in Malaysia, US$83 in Taiwan (n = 1) and US$26 in Thailand. The overall median EQ-5D index score of cases was 0·72 (range 0·42-1·00). Pertussis should be considered in the aetiology of adults with a prolonged or paroxysmal cough, and vaccination programmes considered.
    Study site in Malaysia: Klinik Kesihatan Seremban, Negeri Sembilan; Primary Care Clinic, University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  20. Shobugawa Y, Takeuchi T, Hibino A, Hassan MR, Yagami R, Kondo H, et al.
    Epidemiol Infect, 2017 Jan;145(2):272-284.
    PMID: 27682641
    In temperate zones, human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) outbreaks typically occur in cold weather, i.e. in late autumn and winter. However, recent outbreaks in Japan have tended to start during summer and autumn. This study examined associations of meteorological conditions with the numbers of HRSV cases reported in summer in Japan. Using data from the HRSV national surveillance system and national meteorological data for summer during the period 2007-2014, we utilized negative binomial logistic regression analysis to identify associations between meteorological conditions and reported cases of HRSV. HRSV cases increased when summer temperatures rose and when relative humidity increased. Consideration of the interaction term temperature × relative humidity enabled us to show synergistic effects of high temperature with HRSV occurrence. In particular, HRSV cases synergistically increased when relative humidity increased while the temperature was ⩾28·2 °C. Seasonal-trend decomposition analysis using the HRSV national surveillance data divided by 11 climate divisions showed that summer HRSV cases occurred in South Japan (Okinawa Island), Kyushu, and Nankai climate divisions, which are located in southwest Japan. Higher temperature and higher relative humidity were necessary conditions for HRSV occurrence in summer in Japan. Paediatricians in temperate zones should be mindful of possible HRSV cases in summer, when suitable conditions are present.
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