Detection and distribution of anti-leptospiral antibody among dogs and their handlers

@# The incidence of leptospirosis seems to be on the rise and could be an alarming indirect indication of a global re-emergence. It is a potential public health threat when dogs are speculated to be involved in the transmission of leptospirosis through possible subclinical harbouring of Leptospira spp. and subsequent shedding into the environment. This study aimed to detect anti-leptospiral antibodies among dogs and their handlers using the microscopic agglutination test (MAT). Blood samples from 266 apparently healthy dogs and 194 dog handlers were collected at four working dog organisations and four dog shelters. Serum samples were tested using MAT against 20 leptospiral serovars with a cut-off titre >1:100 (dog) and >1:50 (dog handlers). Seventy dogs (70/266; 26.3%) were seropositive mainly against serovars Icterohaemorrhagiae, Ballum, Bataviae and Javanica (titres ranged: 1:100–1:800). Sixty-seven dog handlers (67/194; 34.5%) were seropositive mainly against serovars Grippotyphosa, Icterohaemorrhagiae and Malaysia (titres ranged: 1:50–1:200). Dogs were seropositive due to exposure, vaccination or active infection. Seropositive dog handlers could indicate exposure or active infection. This shows the potential of dogs in maintaining and spreading the infection in Malaysia. Due to the occupational risk as a result of frequent contact with dogs and exposure to contaminated environments, dog handlers should be made aware of the presence of this zoonotic disease.

Aedes albopictus in urban and forested areas of Malaysia: A study of mitochondrial sequence variation using the CO1 marker

@#This study explores the use of a long fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (CO1) marker to elucidate the genetic diversity of Aedes albopictus sampled from urban and forested regions in Peninsular and East Malaysia. A total of 36 samples were collected from 5 localities from which its genetic variability was analysed. 33 distinct mtDNA haplotypes were identified following the amplification and sequencing of the concatenated CO1 gene. The analysed region of the CO1 gene identified substantial levels of genetic diversity among mosquitoes in urban populations and revealed unique genealogical relationships between local isolates as revealed in the haplotype network. This study highlights the reliability of the long CO1 fragment to identify genetic divergence of Aedes albopictus which can be utilized in forthcoming studies.

Ante partum depression and husband’s mental problem increased risk maternity blues.

Maternity blues disorder (MB) is common, and it is usually undiagnosed. This study to identify several risk factors related to MB. Subjects were pregnant women who had antenatal and delivery at the Persahabatan Hospital (RSP) Jakarta from 1 November 1999 to 15 August 2001. Consecutive sampling and was followed-up until two-week postpartum. Those who ever had psychiatric disorders (schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders) were excluded. MB and ante partum depression (APD) detected by using Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Husband’s mental status based on Symptom Check List-90 (SCL-90) respectively. Among 580 subjects, 25% suffering from MB. Compared with those who did not have APD, those who experienced it had more than three-fold increased risk to be MB [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 3.57; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.54;5.03]. Those who had not healthy baby on the first 5 days afterbirth than who had healthy baby had twice increased risk to be MB (aHR = 2.21; 95% CI = 1.34 ; 3.66). Who had husband with problem in mental health had 1.9 increased risk to be MB (aHR = 1.91; 95% CI = 1.36 ; 2.68). Stress during pregnancy had 1.6 increased risk to be MB (aHR = 1.59; 95% CI = 1.14 ; 2.25). To control MB, special attention should be paid to women who had APD history, who had unhealthy baby on 5 first days afterbirth, who had husbands’ mental health problems, and who had stress during pregnancy.

Stress before and during pregnancy increased risk antepartum depression.

This paper presents the risk of antepartum depression (APD) among pregnant women. In particular stress before pregnancy, stress during pregnancy, marital relationship, social support, husband’s mental status and monthly expenditure. The subjects consisted of 580 pregnant women in the third trimester, who attended antenatal care at the Department of Obstetrics of the Persahabatan Hospital Jakarta from November 1, 1999 to August 15, 2001. Antepartum depression was screened by a psychiatrist using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Information on demographic and personal characteristics were collected from fill-in form. Through this form, the respondent gave information on stress before and during pregnancy, and from questionnaires Kuestioner Dukungan Sosial (KDS), Kesesuaian Hubungan Suami Istri (KHSI) and the Symptom Check List-90 (SCL-90) information about social support, marital relationship, and husband’s mental status were collected respectively. The prevalence of APD was 18%. Antepartum depression and non-antepartum depression were similar in terms of age groups, level of education, occupations, monthly expenditures, number of pregnancies, number of children, number of deliveries, physical health condition, and history of premenstrual syndromes. Pregnant women with stress before pregnancy had a two-fold risk of APD [adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 2.04; 95% confidence intervals (CI): 1.12 – 3.74] compared to pregnant women without stress before pregnancy. In addition, when compared to pregnant women without stress during pregnancy, those with stress during pregnancy had 2.2-fold risk of developing APD (adjusted OR=2.13, 95% CI: 1,27-3,74). In conclusion, stress before and during pregnancy increased the risk antepartum depression. Therefore, attention should be paid to pregnant women with these risk factors.

Anti-P1, allohemagglutinins associated with Clonorchis sinensis and opisthorchis viverrini infections in patients from Southeast Asia.

An automated assay of anti-P1 allohemagglutinins has been carried out on sera of 61 individuals from Southeast Asia : 28 with clonorchiasis, 18 with opisthorchiasis and 15 control subjects. Anti-P1 activity was detected in 61% of the opisthorchiasis sera, 57% of the clonorchiasis sera and in 26.6% of the control subjects. Their concentration, in the sera, was low in control subjects and exceptionally high in clonorchiasis and opisthorchiasis (up to 13 and 22 times the maximum concentration of the control subjects, respectively). In all cases the anti-P1 antibodies were of IgM class. The results suggested that Clonorchis and Opisthorchis were responsible for immunization of the patients, with P1 alloantigen.

Blood group active substances in Paragonimus westermani.

Lyophilized crude extracts of Paragonimus westermani were investigated for the presence of human blood group active substances, using an automated haemagglutination inhibition technique. This sensitive method allowed the detection of A, B, H, Lewis (a), Lewis (b) and P1 blood group specificities, in the fluke's extracts. No inhibition was observed with C, c, D, E, e, K, Kpa, Kpb, Fya, Fyb, Jka and Jkb blood group antibodies.