Capillaria hepatica infection in wild rodents collected from the States of Kelantan, Selangor and Johore in Peninsular Malaysia since 1973 is reported. A total of 1,258 rodents consisting of 20 species of house, field and forest rats, and 7 species of squirrels were examined for the parasite and 17 species consisting of 111 murids and 1 flying squirrel were found infected. The house rat, Rattus norvegicus had the highest prevalence rate, followed by 3 species of field rats, R. tiomanicus, R. argentiventer and Bandicota indica. The prevalence of infection was low among forest rats with the exception of Lenothrix canus. Only 1 flying squirrel, Hylopetes spadiceus was found with the parasite. The prevalence of infection in relation to the host behaviour and habitats was discussed. C. hepatica appears to be widespread throughout Malaysia with a wide range of hosts among rodent species. Some new host records are presented herein.
Local Thai and imported Malaysian beef in southern Thailand area carry several Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) serotypes. STEC O104 is an important pathogen capable of causing outbreaks with considerable morbidity and mortality. This study investigated the presence of E. coli O104 from local Thai and imported Malaysian beef obtained from markets in Hat Yai City, Songkhla Province during August 2015 - February 2016. Thirty-one E. coli O104 strains were isolated from 12 beef samples (16% and 23% Thai and imported Malaysian, respectively). Thirty strains possessed aggA (coding for a major component of AAF/I fimbriae), a gene associated with enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC) pathotype, and all strains carried fimH (encoding Type 1 fimbriae). Thirty strains belonged to phylogenetic group B1 and one strain (from Malaysian beef) to group A. Agglutination of yeast cells was observed among 29 E. coli O104 strains. Investigation of stx2 phage occupancy loci demonstrated that sbcB was occupied in 12 strains. Antimicrobial susceptibility assay revealed that 7 strains were resistant to at least one antimicrobial agent and two were multi-drug resistant. One strain carried extended spectrum β-lactamase gene blaCTX-M and three carried blaTEM. PFGE-generated DNA profiling showed identical DNA pattern between that of one EAEC O104 strain from Thai beef and another from Malaysian beef, indicating that these two strains originated from the same clone. This is the first report in Thailand describing the presence of EAEC O104 from both Thai and imported Malaysian beef and their transfer between both countries. Thorough surveillance of this pathogen in fresh meats and vegetables should help to prevent any possible outbreak of E. coli O104.
Dengue is endemic in all parts of Malaysia. However, there is limited data regarding the cost burden of this disease at household level. We aimed to
examine the cost of dengue infection at the household level in Seremban District,
Malaysia. This cost assessment can provide an insight to policy-makers about
economic impact of dengue infection in order to guide and prioritize control strategies.
The data were collected via interview. We evaluated120 previous dengue
infection patients registered at the Tuanku Ja’afar Hospital, Seremban District,
Malaysia. The average duration of dengue illness was 9.69 days. The average
household days lost was 18.7; students lost an average of 6.3 days of school and
patients and caregivers lost an average of 12.5 days of work. The mean total cost
per case of dengue infection was estimated to be USD365.16 with the indirect
cost being USD327.90 (89.8% of the total cost) and the direct cost being USD37.26
(10.2% of the total cost). Our findings suggest each episode of dengue infection
imposes a significant financial burden at the household level in Seremban District,
Malaysia; most of the burden being indirect cost. This cost needs to be factored
into the overall cost to society of dengue infection. This data can inform policy
makers when allocating resources to manage public health problems in Malaysia.
This study aimed to evaluate the association between dental students’ personality traits and stress levels in relation to dental education programs among senior dental students in University Malaya (UM) in Malaysia and National University of Singapore (NUS). A cross-sectional survey using a self-administered questionnaire was conducted on UM and NUS senior dental students. The questionnaire comprised items on demographic background, the Big Five Inventory Personality Traits (BFIPT) test and a modified Dental Environment Stress (DES) scale. Rasch analysis was used to convert raw data to interval scores. Analyses were done by t-test, Pearson correlation, and Hierarchical regression statistics. The response rate was 100% (UM=132, NUS=76). Personality trait Agreeableness (mean=0.30) was significantly more prevalent among UM than NUS students (mean=0.15, p=0.016). In NUS, Neuroticism (mean=0.36) was significantly more prevalent than in UM (mean=0.14, p=0.002). The DES mean score was higher among NUS (mean=0.23) than UM students (mean=0.07). In UM, Neuroticism was significantly correlated with stress levels (r=0.338, p<0.001). In NUS, these were Neuroticism (r=0.278, p=0.015), Agreeableness (r=0.250, p=0.029) and Conscientiousness (r=-0.242, p=0.035) personality traits. The correlation was strongest for personality trait Neuroticism in both schools. Hierarchical regression analysis showed that gender and Neuroticism were significant predictors for students’ stress levels (p<0.05) with the latter exerting a bigger effect size (R2=0.18) than gender (R2=004). This study showed that gender and Neuroticism personality trait were significant predictors for stress levels among selected groups of dental students in Southeast Asia. Information on students’ personality may be useful in new students’ intake, stress management counseling and future program reviews.
The horseshoe crab (Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda) is consumed by those residing near the coastal areas of Kota Marudu District in Malaysia, as it is considered a delicacy. During June to August, 2011 thirty cases of tetrodotoxin poisoning were reported from Kota Marudu District following ingestion of horseshoe crabs caught in Kota Marudu Bay. The purpose of this study is to describe this case series in order to determine risk factors to prevent further outbreaks. There were six confirmed and 24 probable cases of tetrodotoxin poisoning identified in the study area during the study period as diagnosed by clinical presentation and laboratory findings. Symptoms included dizziness (80%), circumoral and lingual numbness (80%), hand and feet numbness (63.3%), nausea and vomiting (30%) and weakness and difficulty in breathing (26.6%). Three cases (10%) died while 27 cases recovered. Forty-seven percent of the cases had onset of symptoms within 30 minutes of ingestion and 14% 31-60 minutes after ingestion of horseshoe crab meat. Urine samples were collected from the cases, while horseshoe crabs, cockles and sea water from the epidemic area were also taken for analysis. Tetrodotoxin was detected in the urine of six cases; the highest concentrations recorded were among the three cases who died. High tetrodotoxin concentrations were found in the hepatic cecum and eggs of the tested horseshoe crabs. Dinoflagellates were not detected in the sea water or cockle samples. Intensive health education was initiated quickly to stop other members of the Marudu Bay community from consuming the horseshoe crabs. This is the first documented epidemic of tetrodotoxin poisoning in Sabah.
Dentists can offer their patients who smoke tobacco assistance with smoking cessation. We conducted this study to assess dental patient knowledge about the effects of smoking and perceptions and attitudes regarding the role of dentists in smoking cessation counselling. We conducted this study to inform tobacco cessation programs that could potentially include dentists. We conducted a cross-sectional study using a self-administered questionnaire among 375 patients. The mean age of subjects was 33.4 years; females comprised 51.5%. Participants were divided into 3 groups: those who never smoked (n = 263, 70.7%), smokers (n = 92, 24.7%), and ex-smokers (n = 17, 4.5%). Significantly more participants (p = 0.046) who never smoked (92.9%) knew smoking can cause bad breath than smokers(86.9%). Significantly more participants (p = 0.002) who never smoked (74.8%) knew smoking can cause periodontal disease than smokers (57.6%). Significantly
more participants (p < 0.001) who never smoked (84.5%) knew smoking can cause
oral cancer than smokers (66.7%). Significantly more participants (p < 0.001) who never smoked (86.7%) knew smoking can cause lung cancer than smokers (69.7%). Significantly more participants who never smoked (85.5%) felt dentists should be interested in the smoking status of their patients (p = 0.004) than smokers (72.6%). Significantly more participants (p = 0.08) who never smoked (69.6%) stated dentists should give smoking cessation advice than smokers/ex-smokers (59.0%). Smoker/ex-smokers had less knowledge about the effects of smoking on oral and general health than non-smokers. Both smokers/ex-smokers and non-smokers felt dentists should provide smoking cessation advice.
Leptospirosis is endemic in Southeast Asia, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Oceania. Malaysia was categorized as a probable endemic country without any available data. Thus, this study was conducted to determine incidence, case fatality rate and mortality rate of leptospirosis. Leptospirosis is a notifiable disease in Malaysia since 2010 whereby probable or confirmed cases must be notified to relevant health district office. There were 3,665 and 4,457 probable and laboratory confirmed leptospirosis cases notified in 2012 and 2013, respectively. In the 2-year period, the most common age group of patients was 19 years old or less (23.3%) with male:female ratio of 2.61:1. Students consisted about 16.9% of patients, followed by agriculture-based or plantation workers (14.7%). Overall age-standardized incidence rate of leptospirosis in Malaysia for 2012 and 2013 was 29.02 per 100,000. Overall case fatality rate was 1.47% for 2-year period and overall age-standardized mortality rate was 0.45 per 100,000. Leptospirosis is an emerging public health concern in Malaysia and may pose a significant health impact and burden to the nation in the coming years if not well controlled.
Burkholderia pseudomallei is an important causative organism of fatal community bacteremia especially in Southeast Asia and northern Australia. Outbreaks of melioidosis have been reported post-floods and -typhoons. A cross sectional study was conducted in January 2015, following a major flood in Kelantan, Malaysia to detect presence of B. pseudomallei from soil. A total of 89 soil samples were cultured for B. pseudomallei on Ashdown agar. Putative colonies underwent further staining and biochemical testing prior to confirmation by PCR. Rate of detection was 1%, although low, it nevertheless indicated a risk for melioidosis among flood victims in Kelantan. Flood affected individuals should be made aware of symptoms of melioidosis and healthcare providers must have a high index of suspicion of patients presenting with fever. Such subjects should be screened for the possibility of melioidosis and given prompt treatment to avoid preventable death.