Diagnosis of human filariasis by passive-hemagglutination and soluble antigen fluorescent antibody technic (SAFA)

In the Philippines, passive haemagglutination and soluble antigen fluorescent antibody tests using Dirofilaria immitis antigens were carried out on the sera of 33 patients infected with Wuchereria bancrofti and on the sera of 24 uninfected persons. False positives were as high as 70.8% indicating that in areas where the incidence of D. immitis in dogs is high, W. bancrofti antigens must be used. D.A.Cz.

Treatment of ascariasis with tetramisole

Tetramisole is effective against ascariasis in single dose treatment of 2.5 mgm/kilo of body weight. Of 357 cases treated, 86.86% were cured. It is comparatively non-toxic and its administration does not require any dietary or activity restriction of the patient.(Summary)

Intradermal test for schistosomiasis japonica (preliminary report)

The results of our preliminary study on intradermal test on 532 subjects, using antigens prepared by us, are here presented and discussed. Thre principle of the test, preparation of the antigens (adult and cercaria), and technique of testing are explainedThis study seems to indicate that intradermal test may augment our methods of diagnosis of schistosomiasis, especially in mass-screening campaigns or mass stool surveys. To be of real significance, however, a potent antigen, freshly prepared, and whose dosage has been standardized with known positive and known negative controls should be used. For routine purposes, a dose of 0.01 to 0.02 of the 1:1000 or 1:2000 dilution of the adult antigen solution may be recommended. In the case of the cercarial antigen, we obtained a fairly good result, with 0.1 cc of the 1:600 dilutionAmong our negative controls, the presence of other parasites, such as ascaris, trichuris, and hookworm, filaria, and paragonimiasis, did not provoke false positive reactions. No false positive reaction was observed in one case of malaria and in one case of infectious hepatitis. (Conclusions)

Evaluation of fuadin therapy in schistosomiasis japonica

Treatment with Fuadin was tried in 2,407 patients who were found positive for Schistosoma japonicum ova on stool examination. These patients represented both sexes of all ages ranging from 5 to 50 years. Only 1,135 were able to complete one course of 40 cc. given intramuscularly in nine injections. Of this number, 1,083 were followed-up during and after treatmentAt the end of one course, 847 or 78.21% ceased to pass viable ova; 236 or 21.79% were still positive on stool examination . Of these 236 patients, 62 continued to receive additional injections until all became negative. Taken together, 909 or 83.91% no longer passed ova in the stool at the end of treatmentOnly 334 out of 909 were followed-up one month after completing treatment, and 34 or 9.28% were again positive for eggs. These cases were considered relapses or treatment failures rather than re-infectionsToxic reactions appeared in 63.3% (718) of the 1,135 patients, the most common of which were nausea, vomiting, and anorexia, general body weakness, headache, joint pains, and fever. Despite these reactions, the whole course of nine injections was continued in the 1,135 patients by simply prolonging the interval of injection as long as the toxic reactions were still present. (Summary)

Field studies on the treatment of schistosomiasis japonica with nilodin

Nilodin was tried in 238 cases of Schistosomiasis japonica, most of whom were early cases; but only in 233 was the treatment completedThe total dosage given per treatment was 60 mgm. per kilo body weight, administered by mouth in divided doses for a period of three to six days, proportionately reduced in children according to weight. That an adult of 50 kg. received a total of three Gm. or one Gm. a day for period of three days or 0.5 Gm. a day to six daysThe results showed that, of the 233 who completed the treatment 218 or 93.24% were still positive for viable eggs from one to four weeks after the treatment; only 13 or 5.40% became negativeToxic reactions, which were usually too mild and insufficient stop treatment, occurred in 229, or 96.6%, of the casesJudging from the results of this study, it would seem that Nilodin is not effective in the treatment of Schistosoma japonicum, with the same dosage used against S. mansoni and S. baematobium infections. It is hoped, however, that further studies on this treatment, with increased dosage, will be made. (Summary)

Diagnosis of amoebiasis by passive-hemagglutination test

Passive hemagglutination test (HA) was done on serum obtained from humans infected with E. histolytica and uninfected normal individuals. Of 34 infected individuals, 29 or 85.29 were positive by the test while 3 of 30 uninfected controls or 9.99 were positive indicating the test to be adequately sensitive and specific for the diagnosis of amoebiasis. It is probably of greater value in establishing diagnosis of extra-intestinal amoebiasis like hepatic abscesses. Limited observations made in this study support the current opinion that E. histolytica complex is composed of strains that vary from non-pathogenic commensals to highly invasive or pathogenic strains which further indicate the need for serologic tests. (Author)

Reinfection rates of successfully treated cases of ascariasis

A total of 373 successfully treated cases of ascariasis among school children with ages ranging from 9-14 years were periodically examined for reinfection rates. At the first follow-up which was 4 1/2 months after treatment, 68.63 per cent were found positive for ascaris ova while at the end of the period of observation which was approximately nine months after treatment, 89.54 per cent were reinfectedThis study indicates that children involved in mass treatment, where only a minimum amount of preventive measures and control have been undertaken, became reinfected at a fast rate thus wasting the efforts and medicines expended. (Summary and Conclusions)

Diagnosis of intestinal infections by cultivation

An evaluation of the efficiency of fecal cultivation in modified Boeck and Drbohlav diphasic medium for the diagnosis of intestinal protozoan infections in comparison with 4 coverslip preparations of direct fecal smears and formalin-ether concentration technic was undertaken Of the three technics, cultivation has the highest percentage recovery efficiency for E. histolytica and T. hominis. Of 24 specimens positive for E. histolytica, cultivation detected 23 or 95.8 in contrast to 9 or 69.2 positive by combination of direct fecal smear and formalin-ether concentration. Forty-four specimens were positive by cultivation for T. hominis while only 16 of these or 37.2 were positive by direct fecal smear. Formalin-ether concentration is not suitable for the detection of T. hominis since the organisms are caught in the ether-debris layer In view of our experience, cultivation is recommended to be used routinely in the diagnosis of intestinal amoebiasis. (Summary)