The chemoprophylactic use of diethylcarbamazine citrate at total oral doses of 15--180 mg/kg body weight was tested against subperiodic Brugia malayi infection in the leaf monkey (Presbytis melalophos). A total dose of 45 mg/kg body weight given over 9 days killed all developing infective larvae. Similarly, a total dose of 35 mg/kg body weight given over 7 days killed all fourth stage larvae. The minimum effective dose that prevents infection would be 5 mg/kg body weight daily for 7 days every month.
Two children with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (JRA) and severe growth suppression from corticosteroid therapy are described. Prolonged 'tailing-off' of steroids occurred during outpatients follow-up and this may be related to the high turnover of doctors involved. Suggestions for improving such follow-ups and caution against the continuous use of steroids are made.
Study site: Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
Field surveillance of Cq. crassipes was conducted in an open housing estate near Kuala Lumpur using IMR traps baited with chicken and gerbils. Chicken bait attracted more Cq. crassipes. There was significant difference between chicken and gerbil as bait. The mosquitoes preferred to feed at canopy level. The parous rate was 20.41% and the infection rate for Cardiofilaria nilesi was 2.04%. None of the 120 chicken and 5 ducks, in a village close to the open housing estate, examined for microfilariae were positive. Ar. durhami and Ar. subalbatus did not support development of C. nilesi. However, Cq. crassipes is an extremely efficient vector of C. nilesi.
Matched MeSH terms: Dirofilaria/growth & development
Studies on the bionomics and host-parasite relationship of Robertsiella kaporensis and Malaysian Schistosoma were investigated. The study was divided into 4 parts: cultivation of snails, R. kaporensis, and maintenance of Malaysian Schistosoma life cycle, daily cercarial shedding cycle in R. kaporensis, miracidial load and cercarial shedding pattern and the infectivity of Malaysian Schistosoma cercariae. R. kaporensis were cultured in the laboratory with the use of plastic container provided with fine sand. The snails were fed with diatoms and Saraca leaves. The development period for the snail eggs was about 20-30 days, the young grew to maturity in 14-15 weeks, and the average growth rate of snails was 0.23 mm per week. The daily cercarial shedding cycle of snails had shown that the peak emergence of cercariae of Malaysian Schistosoma occurred at night, between 6-10 pm. The miracidial load which yielded the best results in terms of percentage infection rates of snails and cercarial output was the miracidial concentration of 8 miracidia per snail. The study on infectivity of Malaysian Schistosoma cercariae has shown that there was a decrease in infectivity of the cercariae to mammalian hosts as the cercariae increased in age. The percentage infection rate of mice and numbers of worms recovered were highest in mice infected with cercariae of 0-1/2 hr. old. Infection of cercariae fell rapidly after the cercariae were 16 hr. old.
Matched MeSH terms: Schistosoma/growth & development; Snails/growth & development
Ehrlichia sennetsu, the causative agent of human sennetsu rickettsiosis, was successfully propagated in primary canine blood monocyte cultures. The growth cycle of this organism appears to be similar to that of Ehrlichia canis. The antigen derived from our E. sennetsu cultures was used to develop an indirect fluorescent antibody test for detection and titration of serum antibodies to the organism. Using this test system, we found that five human serum samples obtained from patients clinically diagnosed as having sennetsu rickettsiosis were positive for anti-E. sennetsu antibodies. In addition, 29% of the serum samples obtained from 200 patients having a fever of unknown origin and residing in various regions of Malaysia were also serologically positive. All sera from apparently healthy individuals were negative in the test. Dogs inoculated with cell culture-adapted E. sennetsu developed a significant specific antibody titer to E. sennetsu, and the organism was subsequently isolated from their blood. These animals showed no clinical evidence of disease. The possibility of a higher prevalence of human sennetsu rickettsiosis in Southeast Asia and the potential usefulness of the canine model for studies of human sennetsu rickettsiosis are discussed.
Percentile head circumference charts, from six to eleven years of age, for boys and girls are presented. These can be used to monitor the head circumference of Malaysian children.
Percentile growth charts of weight, length and head circumference, from birth to six years of age, for boys and girls, are presented. These can be used to monitor the growth of Malaysian children.
Methods are described for the laboratory colonization of Mansonia uniformis, Ma. indiana and Ma. bonneae in Malaysia. Gravid females oviposited in 500 ml beakers with a layer of water covered with small leaves of Salvinia. Newly hatched larvae were set up in a basal medium of guinea pig dung and water or liver powder, yeast powder and water. Larvae attached to aquatic plants or 'Keaykolour' ruffia snow white paper. The cultures with paper gave better yields than those with plants. Production of Ma. uniformis was higher than the other two species. Twelve generations of Ma. uniformis and 11 generations of Ma. indiana and Ma. bonneae were monitored in the laboratory.