Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 179 in total

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  1. Thomas V, Chit CW
    Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, 1980;74(1):73-6.
    PMID: 7001686
    Congenital malaria from Malaysia is reported here for the first time. It occurred in a baby boy born to a 16-year-old primigravida who contracted Plasmodium falciparum infection during pregnancy. She suffered malaria during the later stages of pregnancy and at parturition. The placenta was heavily infested with various asexual stages of P. falciparum. Gametocytes were not seen. Extensive search did not show other species. Cord blood showed very light infection with young trophozoites of P. falciparum. Serological studies using IFA technique showed specific IgG and IgM antibodies to P. falciparum in maternal cord and two early neonatal sera. These serum samples showed lower levels of IgG antibodies against P. vivax and P. malariae, but there were no specific IgM antibodies against these species. The value of specific IgM antibody in the diagnosis of congenital malaria is discussed.
  2. Kutty MK, Dissanaike AS
    Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, 1975;69(5-6):503-4.
    PMID: 820020
    The first case of Sarcocystis infection is reported from West Malaysia. A cyst was seen as an incidental finding in a biopsy specimen from the larynx of the patient. The cyst and the cystozoites were of the small size with no evidence of cytophaneres or compartments.
  3. Alharazi TH, Al-Mekhlafi HM
    Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, 2021 06 02;115(6):687-698.
    PMID: 33130880 DOI: 10.1093/trstmh/traa115
    BACKGROUND: This cross-sectional survey aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) towards schistosomiasis among rural schoolchildren in Taiz governorate, southwestern Yemen.

    METHODS: A total of 406 children were screened for urogenital and intestinal schistosomiasis. A pretested questionnaire was used to collect the children's demographic and socio-economic information and their KAP towards schistosomiasis.

    RESULTS: Overall, 73 children (18%) were found to be infected by Schistosoma mansoni. None of the children were positive for Schistosoma haematobium. The prevalence of intestinal schistosomiasis was significantly higher among boys than girls (22.1% vs 12%; p=0.010). Approximately two-thirds (63.3% [257/406]) of the children had heard about schistosomiasis, however, only 38.5%, 53.6%, 28.4% and 38.1% had correct knowledge concerning the causes, symptoms, transmission and prevention, respectively. A significantly higher level of knowledge was observed among boys and Schistosoma-infected children compared with girls and non-infected children (p<0.05). However, a better level of knowledge does not seem to translate directly into the performance of hygienic practices. Multivariate logistic regression showed that sex and infection status were the significant predictors of good knowledge.

    CONCLUSIONS: Intestinal schistosomiasis is prevalent among schoolchildren in rural Yemen. The findings reveal that children's knowledge about schistosomiasis is inadequate. Therefore, besides mass drug administration, integrated control programmes should also include health education and the provision of improved drinking water and proper sanitation.

  4. Al-Ashwal MA, Atroosh WM, Al-Adhroey AH, Al-Subbary AA, Yee-Ling L, Al-Mekhlafi HM
    Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, 2023 Dec 04;117(12):823-838.
    PMID: 37486252 DOI: 10.1093/trstmh/trad044
    BACKGROUND: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a major health problem in Yemen and is endemic in many rural areas across the country.

    METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional survey followed by unmatched case-control comparisons was conducted among 612 participants in Utmah district, western Yemen. A total of 223 participants were included in the case-control analysis to identify the significant risk factors. Skin scrapping samples were examined by microscopy and internal transcribed spacer 1 nested polymerase chain reaction.

    RESULTS: Overall, 33% (202/612) of the participants had active skin lesions and/or scars that met the clinical criteria for CL. A total of 90 (14.7%) participants had suspected active CL lesions; however, a prevalence of 8.7% (53/612) was obtained based on molecular and parasitological examination, with Leishmania tropica being the only causative agent identified. Multivariable logistic regression analyses showed that being ≤10 y old, being female, living in houses with cracked walls, living in the presence of other family members with typical ulcerating skin diseases and sleeping outside were factors significantly associated with an increased likelihood of having CL. Moreover, keeping livestock on the ground floor of the house was significantly associated with a decreased likelihood of having CL.

    CONCLUSION: The study reveals an alarmingly high prevalence of CL among the studied population. Therefore there is an urgent need for effective control measures and improved treatment efforts against this devastating disease.

  5. Norhayati M, Azlin M, Al-Mekhlafi MH, Anisah N, Nor Aini U, Fatmah MS, et al.
    Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, 2008 Dec;102(12):1274-8.
    PMID: 18602128 DOI: 10.1016/j.trstmh.2008.05.019
    An observational study was carried out to establish the existence of intestinal microsporidiosis among patients with and without gastrointestinal symptoms in Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Malaysia. A total of 893 faecal specimens from hospitalized patients were examined for microsporidia using a modification of the usual Gram-chromotrope stain technique. One hundred and sixteen (13.0%) patients were positive for microsporidia: 84 (72.4%), 27 (23.3%) and 5 (4.3%) were low, moderate and high excreters of microsporidia spores, respectively. Of the 91 patients with available medical records, microsporidiosis was commonly observed in children aged 0-6 years (26.4%) and adults aged >or=31 years (57.2%). About one-third of this infection was observed in immunocompetent individuals. Among the immunosuppressive group, microsporidia were observed to be more prevalent in patients with haematological malignancy or a combination of malignancy and diabetes mellitus. About 74% of the patients who had microsporidia in their faeces had gastrointestinal symptoms, which could be related to infections or induced by immunosuppressive therapy. The role of microsporidia in causing gastrointestinal symptoms in this population is as yet unclear.
  6. Rahmah N, Lim BH, Khairul Anuar A, Shenoy RK, Kumaraswami V, Lokman Hakim S, et al.
    Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, 2001 8 9;95(3):280-4.
    PMID: 11490997
    An IgG4 ELISA based on a novel recombinant antigen was evaluated for detection of Brugia malayi infection, using 2487 sera from various institutions: 2031 samples from Universiti Sains Malaysia, 276 blinded sera from 2 other institutions in Malaysia, 140 blinded sera from India and 40 blinded sera from Thailand. These sera were from various groups of individuals, i.e., microfilaraemics, chronic patients, endemic normals, non-endemic normals and individuals with other parasitic and bacterial infections. Based on a cut-off optical density reading of 0.300, the IgG4 ELISA demonstrated specificity rates of 95.6-100%, sensitivity rates of 96-100%, positive predictive values of 75-100% and negative predictive values of 98.9-100%. These evaluation studies demonstrated the high specificity and sensitivity of this test for the detection of active B. malayi infection. Thus, the IgG4 ELISA would be very useful as a tool in diagnosis and in elimination programmes for brugian filariasis.
  7. Preston PJ, Lightfoot N, Clarke P
    Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, 1976;70(4):335-7.
    PMID: 1006764
    Following the suggestion that it was possible that cases of melioidosis amongst those who had been exposed abroad in the past, might be escaping notice, 487 Royal Marines were examined by indirect haemagglutination studies. Four hundred and eleven of these subjects had served for variable times in areas where melioidosis has been known to occur in Indonesia and Malaya, between 1960 and 1974, occupied in activities in the jungle and paddy fields during which exposure to the disease was to be expected. No evidence of residual subclinical melioidosis was found and it seems unlikely that recrudescent disease will prove to be a problem in the future for English servicemen who have been in South East Asia.
  8. Chang MS, Lian S, Jute N
    Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, 1995 3 1;89(2):140-1.
    PMID: 7778135
    A field trial of the use of expanded polystyrene beads (EPSB) to control the breeding of mosquito larvae in household septic tanks was conducted in Sarawak. One week after treatment, the breeding of Culex quinquefasciatus and Aedes albopictus was reduced by 100% and 68.7% respectively. For both species combined, a 57.25% reduction in the adult emergence rate was achieved. No adult was caught in the emergence trap one month after treatment. A reduction in mosquito biting rates was reported by 87.3% of respondents. All households regarded the EPSB treatment as effective. This study has reduced the relatively high infestation rate of A. albopictus in the septic tanks to 16-20%. The EPSB treatment is feasible and practical. Post-treatment assessment using adult emergence traps and the implications for the vector control programme of the local authority are discussed.
  9. Ho KB, Mak JW, Ramadas M
    Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, 1987;81(2):257-9.
    PMID: 3303483
    Plasmodium falciparum drug sensitivities to chloroquine and mefloquine were assessed with WHO in vitro microtechnique test kits in 5 localities near the border with Thailand in Peninsular Malaysia. 105 of 113 (92.9%) parasite isolates were successfully tested and 103 (98.1%) showed resistance to chloroquine with parasite growth even at greater than or equal to 5.7 pmol of the drug. All these isolates were sensitive to mefloquine, parasite growth being inhibited at less than or equal to 11.3 pmol of the drug.
  10. Bundy DA, Kan SP, Rose R
    Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, 1988;82(2):289-94.
    PMID: 3188158
    The gastrointestinal helminth infection status of 1574 children living in a slum area of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia was assessed by quantitative coprology. Almost two-thirds were infected with Trichuris trichiura, 49.6% with Ascaris lumbricoides, and 5.3% with hookworm. Infection prevalence rose rapidly to a stable asymptote at 7 years of age, and the age-intensity profile was convex with maximal values in the 5-10 year age classes. This pattern was the same for males and females, but differed markedly between different ethnic groups. The frequency distributions of A. lumbricoides and T. trichiura were highly overdispersed (k values were 0.21 and 0.27, respectively), and age-dependent over the 0-8 year age classes. This suggests that the force of infection with these nematodes is lower in infants than in older children.
  11. Chan L, Bundy DA, Kan SP
    Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, 1994 1 1;88(1):46-8.
    PMID: 8153999 DOI: 10.1016/0035-9203(94)90492-8
    This study examines the persistence of familial aggregation and familial predisposition to Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura infection over 2 periods of treatment and reinfection, in an urban community in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Both parasite species were shown to be aggregated (assessed by the variance to mean ratio) within families at all 3 interventions, although no consistent trend in aggregation was observed over the period of the study. Associations between mean A. lumbricoides and T. trichiura infection levels of families, at all 3 interventions, were highly significant (P < 0.0001), suggesting persistent predisposition at the family level.
  12. Othman S, Rahman NA, Yusof R
    Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, 2010 Dec;104(12):806-8.
    PMID: 20800252 DOI: 10.1016/j.trstmh.2010.07.004
    In contrast to many viruses that escape the host's immune responses by suppressing the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I pathway, flaviviruses have been shown to up-regulate the cell surface expression of MHC class I complex. The mechanism by which dengue virus (DV) achieves this up-regulation remains unclear. Our investigation on the HLA-A2 gene in human liver cells demonstrated that all four serotypes of dengue virus, DV1 to DV4, resulted in variable degrees of promoter induction. This illustrates the importance of MHC class I transcription regulation in primary infections by different DV serotypes that may have even greater impact in secondary infections, associated with increased disease severity.
  13. Singh S, Khang TF, Andiappan H, Nissapatorn V, Subrayan V
    Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, 2012 May;106(5):322-6.
    PMID: 22480791 DOI: 10.1016/j.trstmh.2012.01.009
    Toxoplasma gondii is a public health risk in developing countries, especially those located in the tropics. Widespread infection may inflict a substantial burden on state resources, as patients can develop severe neurological defects and ocular diseases that result in lifelong loss of economic independence. We tested sera for IgG antibody from 493 eye patients in Malaysia. Overall age-adjusted seroprevalence was estimated to be 25% (95% CI: [21%, 29%]). We found approximately equal age-adjusted seroprevalence in Chinese (31%; 95% CI: [25%, 38%]) and Malays (29%; 95% CI: [21%, 36%]), followed by Indians (19%; 95% CI: [13%, 25%]). A logistic regression of the odds for T. gondii seroprevalence against age, gender, ethnicity and the occurrence of six types of ocular diseases showed that only age and ethnicity were significant predictors. The odds for T. gondii seroprevalence were 2.7 (95% CI for OR: [1.9, 4.0]) times higher for a patient twice as old as the other, with ethnicity held constant. In Malays, we estimated the odds for T. gondii seroprevalence to be 2.9 (95% CI for OR: [1.8, 4.5]) times higher compared to non-Malays, with age held constant. Previous studies of T. gondii seroprevalence in Malaysia did not explicitly adjust for age, rendering comparisons difficult. Our study highlights the need to adopt a more rigorous epidemiological approach in monitoring T. gondii seroprevalence in Malaysia.
  14. Desmarchelier P, Lew A, Caique W, Knight S, Toodayan W, Isa AR, et al.
    Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, 1992 7 1;86(4):448-50.
    PMID: 1440833
    The H2S water screening test and the membrane filtration faecal coliform count were compared with Escherichia coli counts for water samples collected from household water sources and domestic drinking water in rural Malaysia. Water samples were taken from 151 wells, 44 taps supplying water from the treated municipal supply and 192 domestic stored water supplies. E. coli were detected in 20% of the samples (42% of wells, 7% of tap water and 6% of drinking water). Excellent correlation (Spearman's rank correlation rs = 0.93) was found between the faecal coliform and E. coli counts for all sample types. The H2S method was poorly correlated whether read at 18 or 30 h. False positive rates were highest for well water, and false negative rates were highest for both well and drinking water samples, with low E. coli counts. The faecal coliform test was an excellent predictor of the presence of E. coli in these water samples, while the H2S test was very inadequate.
  15. Al-Mekhlafi MH, Surin J, Atiya AS, Ariffin WA, Mahdy AK, Abdullah HC
    Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, 2008 Oct;102(10):1046-52.
    PMID: 18617209 DOI: 10.1016/j.trstmh.2008.05.012
    A cross-sectional study to determine the current prevalence of anaemia and iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) and to investigate the possible risk factors for IDA was carried out on 241 aboriginal schoolchildren (120 boys, 121 girls) aged 7-12 years and living in remote areas in Pos Betau, Pahang, Malaysia. Haemoglobin (Hb) level was measured and serum iron status was assessed by serum ferritin (SF), serum iron (SI) and total iron binding capacity measurements. Socioeconomic data were collected using pre-tested questionnaires. All children were screened for intestinal parasitic infections. Overall, 48.5% (95% CI 42.3-54.8) of children were anaemic (Hb<12 g/dl). The prevalence of IDA was 34% (95% CI 28.3-40.2), which accounted for 70.1% of the anaemia cases. The prevalence of IDA was significantly higher in females than males. Low levels of mothers' education and low household income were identified as risk factors for IDA. Severe trichuriasis also found to be associated with low SF and SI. Logistic regression confirmed low levels of mothers' education and gender as significant risk factors for IDA. Improvement of socioeconomic status and health education together with periodic mass deworming should be included in public health strategies for the control and prevention of anaemia and IDA in this population.
  16. Hii JL, Kan S, Vun YS, Chin KF, Lye MS, Mak JW, et al.
    Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, 1985;79(5):677-80.
    PMID: 3913069
    Seven villages in Banggi Island, Sabah, Malaysia, were surveyed four times to evaluate the roles of local mosquitoes as vectors of malaria and Bancroftian filariasis. 11 species of Anopheles were found biting man. 53.9% of the anophelines caught were An. flavirostris, 27.1% An. balabacensis, 6% An. donaldi and 4.2% An. subpictus. Infective malaria sporozoites, probably of human origin, were found in two of 336 An. flavirostris and 12 of 308 An. balabacensis. Sporozoites, probably of a non-human Plasmodium, were found in An. umbrosus. Nine of 1001 An. flavirostris and four of 365 An. balabacensis harboured L2 or L3 filarial larvae identified as those of Wuchereria bancrofti. This is the first record of An. flavirostris as a natural vector of malaria and W. bancrofti in Sabah.
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