Intestinal parasitisms in Mandalay towndwellers

A survey for intestinal parasitisms in a random sub-sample of 304 Mandalay towndwellers in the 5-25 yr age group was carried out in June 1968. Four quarters were selected for the survey viz., Mahanwezin,Yanmyolon and Dawnabwa Quarters and the University Campus. The total parasite rate was 62.2 per cent, the total helminthic rate 61.5 per cent, and the total protozoan rate 1 per cent. The prevalence rates for the helminths Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, Enterobius vermicularis (corrected) and Hymenolepis nana were 47.7, 23.3, 13.2 and 3.6 per cent respectively. The rates for the protozoa Entamoeba Coli and E. histolytica were 1.1 and 0.3 per cent respectively.

Leptospiral antibodies in farmers at Myaung-dagar village in Hmawbi Township

A survey for leptospiral sero-antibodies was carried out in June 1969 in a random sub-sample of 122 adult farmers of both sexes of Myaungdagar Village in Hmawbi Township using a slide agglutination technique with Leptospira ballum, L. canicola, L. icterohaemorrhagiae, L. bataviae, L. grippotyphosa, L. pyrogenes, L. autumnalis, L. pomona, L. sejroe, L. australis, L. hyos and L. kremastos antigens. 69 (56.6 per cent) sera were positive for L. icterohaemorrhagiae, 53 (43.4 per cent) for L. ballum, 29 (23.7 per cent) for L. grippotyphosa, 10 (8.2 per cent) for L. pyrogenes, 10 (8.2 per cent) for L. pomona, 8 (6.6 per cent) for L. australis, 7 (5.74 per cent) for L. kremastos, 4 (3.3 per cent) for L. canicola, 2 (1.6 per cent) for L. autumnalis and I (0.82 per cent) for L. sejroe, 54 (91.5 per cent) of 59 L. icterohaemorrhagiae- positive sera, 24 (92.2 per cent) of 27 L. ballum-positive sera, 2 (13.3 per cent) out of 15 L. grippotyphosa-positive sera, 5 (60.0 per cent) out of 10 L. pomona-positive sera, 4 (57.1 per cent) out of 7 L. kremastos-positive sera and 4 (100.0 per cent) out of 4 L. canicola-positive sera agglutinated at titres of 1/512.

The bacteriology of diarrhoea in children

75 samples of stools from children under 5 years at the Children's Hospital Rangoon were examined bacterilogically using Mac Conkey agar and desoxycholate citrate agar as primary plating media and selenite F broth and tetrathionate broth as primary enrichment media. 25 non-diarrhoeic stools from children from an urban quarter in the same age group served as a control. Salmonella typhi was the only well-defined bacterial enteropathogen isolated (1.3 percent). The parasites Ascaris Lumbricoides, Trichurus trichiura and Giardia lamblia were found in respectively 13.5, 5 and 5 percent. It is concluded that in the group studied, bacteria did not play a mojor role in the aetiology of diarrhea, but that the parasites found may have been involved. It is recommended that a survey for enteroviruses in diarrhoeic stools from Burmese children be made. It is also suggested that the role played by other possible aetiological agents in diarrhea be investigated.

The bacteriology of the water supplies os Mandalay town

30 samples of water taken from various sources in Mandalay Town were collected in the months of June and October 1968. These were examined for the Presumptive Coliform Count, the Presumptive Enteroeoccus Count and the presence of presumptive Clostridium perfringens. Bacteria isolated from macConkey bile-salt lactose peptone water ( Cruickshank, 1965) and sodium azide medium (Hannay & Norton, 1947) primary cultures were also identified. In the June pilot survey, all 6 samples collected were unsatisfactory for drinking purposes using as criteria the Presumptive Coliform Count, the Presumptive Enterococcus Count, and the isolation of Escherichia coli and/ or Streptococcus feacalis. In the October Survey, the Yenimyaung, Moat, artesian well, shallow well, canal and Irrawaddy river samples were all unsatisfactory. Only 1 sample, viz, a rain water sample, was satisfactory. The bacterial species isolated included E. coli, Klebsiella aerogenes, Alcaligenes faecalis and S. faecalis.