Seroprevalence of human toxocariasis, Jamaica

Seroprevalence of human toxocariasis was studied, based on 1544 samples selected from a total of 3524 submitted to the University of the West Indies in Kingston, Jamaica for diagnosis of dengue during an epidemic in 2010. The prevalence of anti-Toxocara IgG using the CELISA® (Cellabs) ELISA was 21.2% and males (24.4%) were significantly more likely to be exposed than females (17.5%) [χ2 =10.4; p=0.001]. No association was foundbetween exposure to Toxocara and area of residence (rural vs. urban) [χ2 =0.835; p = 0.409]. Prevalence of infection peaked in adolescents (10-19 years-old) and declined thereafter although a rise in prevalence was seen in older age classes. There was a high prevalence of toxocariasis in Jamaica with significant exposure among school age children with no predilection to either sex. The study will inform future work on elucidating the public health and clinical significance of toxocariasis in Jamaica.

Intestinal parasites among young children in the interior of Guyana

Intestinal parasites contribute greatly to morbidity in developing countries. While there have been several studies of the problem in the Caribbean, including the implementation of control programmes, this has not been done for Guyana. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites among young children in a town located in the interior of Guyana. Eighty-five children under the age of 12 years were studied prospectively for intestinal parasites in Mahdia, Guyana. Stool samples were transported in formalin to the Department of Microbiology, The University of the West Indies, Jamaica, for analysis using the formalin-ether concentration and Ziehl-Neelsen techniques. Data on age and gender of the children were recorded on field data sheets. At least one intestinal parasite was detected in 43.5 (37/85) of the children studied and multiple parasitic infections were recorded in 21.2 (18/85). The most common intestinal helminth parasite was hookworm (28.2; 24/85), followed by Ascaris lumbricoides (18.8; 16/85) and then Trichuris trichuria (14.1; 12/85). Among the protozoan infections Giardia lamblia was detected in 10.5 (9/85) of the study population while Entamoeba histolytica appeared rarely. All stool samples were negative for Cryptosporidium and other intestinal Coccidia. There was no predilection for gender with any of the parasites. The pattern of distribution of worms in this area of Guyana was unlike that seen in other studies. Hookworm infection was the most common among the children and a large proportion had multiple infections. The study established the occurrence and prevalence of a number of intestinal parasites in the population of Guyana. This sets the stage for the design and implementation of more detailed epidemiological studies.

Rubella susceptibility in Jamaican women, 1996

The 1995 rubella outbreak in Jamaica indicated a need to survey the susceptibility rate in Jamaican antenatal women at risk. In this 1996 study, 389 women in the reproductive age group were investigated for rubella antibodies. In the public sector urban group (A), rubella susceptibility was 20.2, while in a private sector urban clinic (B) practising routine rubella surveillance and recommending postpartum immunization in seronegatives, the susceptibility rate was 13.8. The latter rate was significantly lower than that in the rural group (C) (35.9; p < 0.001). The overall susceptibility rate was 21.3. Rubella susceptibility has improved overall in women of childbearing age compared with levels in the prevaccine year of 1968. A significant thrust in rubella prevention will still be required before the next rubella epidemic in order to reduce the risk of congenital rubella syndrome.

Inactivation of strongyloides stercoralis filariform larvae in vitro by six Jamaican plant extracts and three commercial antihelmintics

In vitro bioassay of (a) aqueous methanol extracts (AME) of the green leaves of mimosa (Mimosa pudica), love weed (Cuscuta americana), vervine (Stachytarpheta jamaicensis), chicken weed (Salvia serotina) and breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis); (b) methanol-water fraction (MWF) of breadfruit leaves, and (c) commercially available drugs albendazole, thiabendazole and levamisole were assayed for nematode inactivating potential, using filariform larvae of Strongyloides stercoralis. Test larvae were obtained from a 10-day-old charcoal coproculture. Bioassays were conducted in Locke's solution, using 100 larvae in each of three replicates. Inactivation was recorded microscopically at 1, 2, 6 and 12 hours, then every 24 hours up to 5 days' incubation. It(50) (time for inactivation of 50%of larvae) values read: levamisole and mimosa extract < 1 hour; love weed extract, approximately 2 hours; breadfruit (MWF), 9.5 hours; chicken weed, 20 hours; albendazole, 35 hours; breadfruit (AME), 49 hours; thiabendazole, 74 hours and vervine extract, 81.5 hours. It(95) values followed a similar trend, and were approximately double the It(50) measures. A potential role for locally available natural products in the treatment of strongyloidiasis is highlighted