Stool samples from healthy children mainly of the low income group aged 0 to 7 years of age from five Maternal and Child Health Centres in Kuala Lumpur were obtained for isolation of enteroviruses. The specimens were collected before and after the mass vaccination given in the face of polio type 1 epidemic which started in October, 1971. The prevelance rate of enteroviruses was 11.9% (3.0% polioviruses, 8.9% non-polio enteroviruses) before the vaccination and essentially the same after. Coxsackie A viruses predominated over the other enteroviruses in the pre- and post-vaccination phases. The highest isolation rate of enteroviruses was observed in children 0 to 2 years age. No significant differences in distribution by sex, race and month were noted. A sharp fall in the prevalence rates of total enteroviruses and polioviruses was noted shortly after the mass vaccination campaign However, the rates reverted to the pre-vaccination state during the next successive years.
Four strains of S. typhi isolated in Malaysia were found to show resistance to chloramphenicol and other antibiotics. In two of these strains it was possible to show that this resistance was transferable.
This problem which is widespread in neighbouring countries and undetected in Malaysia till recently has now been shown to exist in this country. Fears that the incidence of such strains will increase in the future are expressed and the need for vigilance is emphasised.
19,983 cases of diarrhoea throughout Sabah, Malaysia from January 1971 to December 1978 were bacteriologically examined for Shigella. A total of 241 Shigella isolates representing 9 serotypes were encountered. S. flexneri and S. sonnei accounted for 69.7% and 29.5% of the isolates respectively. S. flexneri type 2 was very common and comprised 47% of the flexneri strains. S. flexneri types 5.6 and Y were rarely found. Only two cases of S. boydii were isolated. S. dysenteriae was not encountered. Isolation rates ranged from 0.64% to 1.73% while the percentages or cases of diarrhoea bacteriologically examined in relation to the number notified range from 13.7 to 29.6. Kota Kinabalu. Tawau and Sandakan accounted for 50.6%. 21.2% and 8.2% of Shigella isolates respectively. However. no isolations were made from Lahad Datu, Semporna and Victoria [Labuan Island]. S. flexneri type 5 was only found in Sandakan while S. flexnert type Y was isolated from Kota Kinubulu. No S. Sonnel was found in Ranau and Tenom.
Enterotoxin production by strains of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from human, food and animal sources was investigated. Of the 130 isolates studied, 27 (20.8%) were found to be enterotoxigenic. The most common enterotoxin detected from human sources was enterotoxin C whereas enterotoxin B occurred more frequently in staphylococcal strains of food origin. The 2 enterotoxigenic strains, from animals isolated from a dog and a goat, produced enterotoxins A and C, respectively. Enterotoxin E was not detected alone from any of the enterotoxigenic strains studied, but occurred together with other enterotoxins. The need to detect enterotoxin in staphylococcal strains and in suspected foods for the confirmation of staphylococcal food poisoning is discussed.