ABSTRACT
Death certificates were reviewed to observe trends in the number of persons on Guam reported to have chronic degenerative motor neuron diseases (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, parkinsonism-dementia or Parkinson's disease) at the time of death. Additional data, including age and race of the deceased and the name of the certifying physician were also collected. The number of persons having been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is apparently decreasing while their mean age is increasing suggesting that the etiologic agents or factors causing this disease are less prevalent on Guam today than they have been in the past. Trends with regard to parkinsonism-dementia and Parkinson's disease are less clear.
Subject(s)
Age Factors , Death Certificates , Dementia/diagnosis , Diagnosis, Differential , Female , Guam/epidemiology , Humans , Incidence , Male , Motor Neuron Disease/diagnosis , Parkinson Disease/diagnosisABSTRACT
A study was conducted in the hope of identifying risk factors associated with a 10-year epidemic of salmonellosis among infants on Guam. Salmonella bacteria were found in soil and vacuum cleaner samples suggesting that Salmonella infections may result from contamination introduced into homes from the outdoor environment by mechanical means rather than by the ingestion of contaminated animal-origin foods.
Subject(s)
Environmental Microbiology , Food Microbiology , Guam , Humans , Infant , Risk , Salmonella Infections/etiology , Soil MicrobiologyABSTRACT
A survey of imported shellfish available in public markets on the Island of Guam revealed the presence of NAG Vibrio cholerae contamination (10 of 38 sample lots positive) and high coliform counts (21 of 33 sample lots in excess of 2400 per 100 grams). NAG V. cholerae contamination was associated with high coliform counts and origin in fresh or brackish waters rather than saltwater. Further importation of fresh shellfish from other than approved sources was prohibited.
Subject(s)
Food Contamination , Guam , Shellfish , Vibrio cholerae/classificationABSTRACT
To determine if the unusually high incidence of salmonellosis reported on Guam for several years might be the result of more frequent bacteriologic examination of gastroenteritis/diarrhoea patient stool specimens, a survey of medical clinic and laboratory activities was undertaken among countries in the Pacific Basin Area. Survey results suggest that while Guam laboratories may be particularly proficient in isolating Salmonella organisms, the quantity of stool specimens examined could not account for the higher incidence of salmonellosis observed on the island.
Subject(s)
Brunei , Feces/microbiology , Gastroenteritis/microbiology , Guam , Humans , Malaysia , New Zealand , Pacific Islands , Salmonella/isolation & purification , SingaporeSubject(s)
Aged , Areca , Female , Feeding Behavior , Food Handling/methods , Guam , Humans , Lead Poisoning/diagnosis , Nuts , Plants, MedicinalABSTRACT
A high incidence of human Salmonella infections (66/100,000 population for 1978) is reported for the island of Guam in Micronesia. S. waycross, a relatively rare serotype in other areas of the world and first isolated on Guam in 1974, accounted for 39% of all serotyped isolates from human cases in 1978. The possibility of this organism being introduced in imported products is discussed.