Immunofluorescence, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, particle agglutination and western blot for the detection of antibody to human immunodeficiency virus type 1.

Immunofluorescence assay (IFA) has been applied for detection of antibody to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). To compare the IFA with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and particle agglutination (PA), we examined the antibody response to HIV-1 in 475 sera from AIDS, PGL and ARC patients as well as several risk groups and healthy persons by three methods. The positive results by any methods were confirmed by western blot (WB). The results by all methods were well correlated on the sera from 45 asymptomatic male homosexuals and 70 female prostitutes. There were some false positive results by ELISA in the sera from prisoners and healthy persons. Four sera from drug abusers were positive only by PA and IFA and were negative by ELISA. All were WB-inconclusive. Particle agglutination and IFA results were compared with western blot analysis on 208 ELISA-positive sera. All IFA-strongly positive sera (84%) were positive by western blot. The sera with weakly positive, negative and inconclusive results by IFA (16%) were possibly any of positive, inconclusive or negative by western blot. By PA, 200 of 208 (97%) sera were PA-positive and 1% of these sera were WB-inconclusive while the PA-negative sera were either negative or inconclusive by western blot. These results suggested that PA is a simple and sensitive method for screening of HIV-1 antibody while IFA could be a primary confirmatory test and western blot would then be used for confirming any IFA-negative or inconclusive results.

Effects of cyromazin and methoprene on the developmental stages of Anopheles dirus, Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera : Culicidae).

The effects of two chemical compounds, cyromazin and methoprene, on the developmental stages of Anopheles dirus, Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus were investigated under laboratory conditions, with the mean temperature of 24 degrees +/- 1 degree C and the relative humidity at 65-75%. Both compounds were tested against the second, third and fourth instar larvae. The concentrations of cyromazin used for An. dirus and Cx. quinquefasciatus ranged from 0.0008 to 0.5 mg/l; and for Ae. aegypti from 0.004 to 2.5 mg/l. The concentrations of methoprene used for An. dirus, Ae. aegypti and Cx. quinquefasciatus ranged from 0.00016 to 0.1 mg/l. The mortality rates were found to be relatively high in larval and pupal stages when treated with cyromazin and methoprene. The primary toxic effects of cyromazin were on the second stage larvae. The LC50 values for cyromazin on the second, third and fourth stage larvae were, respectively, 0.0027, 0.0042 and 0.0114 mg/l for An. dirus, and 0.1662, 0.2307 and 0.3005 mg/l for Ae. aegypti. Cx. quinquefasciatus was the most sensitive species to cyromazin with LC50 values for second, third and fourth stage larvae of 0.0015, 0.0068 and 0.0130 mg/l, respectively. The primary toxic effects of methoprene were in the fourth stage larvae. The LC50 values for methoprene on the second, third and fourth stage larvae were, respectively, 0.0110, 0.0041 and 0.0022 mg/l for An. dirus, and 0.0077, 0.0034 and 0.0025 mg/l for Ae. aegypti. Cx. quinquefasciatus was the most sensitive species to methoprene, with LC50 values for second, third and fourth stage larvae of 0.0013, 0.0008 and 0.0006 mg/l, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Laboratory observations on Toxorhynchites splendens Wiedemann in Thailand.

The biology of Toxorhynchites splendens predaceous larvae which breed in domestic containers like Aedes aegypti was studied. Egg stage lasts 52.64 +/- 0.13 hours. There are four larval instars lasting 2.38 +/- 0.04, 1.24 +/- 0.26, 8.09 +/- 1.6 and 28.78 +/- 5.39 days respectively. Pupal development lasts 5.18 +/- 1.06 days. The adult life span is 29.55 +/- 8.06 days. Growth increment was by measuring the size of head capsule. Number of second instar prey larvae consumed by 1 to 4 instars predaceous larvae were 9.32 +/- 1.77, 5.94 +/- 1.11, 37.03 +/- 7.05 and 273.06 +/- 50.69 respectively. The fourth instar was very aggressive especially 2-3 days before pupation when it killed without eating them. The construction of biological life table indicated net reproductive of increase (R0) of 16.3, capacity for increase (rc) of 0.094, finite rate of increase (lambda) of 1.08 and mean duration of a generation (Tc) of 44.445 days. The mortality at the first and second larval instar was high and the calculated population index (I) was 14.81.

A study of commensal rodents and shrews with reference to the parasites of medical importance in Chanthaburi Province, Thailand.

A total of 622 and 110 commensal and forest rodents and shrews was examined in the urban and rural areas of Chanthaburi Province, Thailand. A higher density of commensal animals was found in urban than rural areas. Five enteropathogenic bacteria, and four helminth species of significant medical importance were collected. The Oriental rat-flea, X. cheopis was found prevalent among these animals. The findings of adult A. cantonensis worm in S. murinus the first reported case of the parasite developed into adult in an abnormal host.

Control of Culex pipiens fatigans(W) by the larvivorous fish Poecillia reticulata and by removal of debris from the breeding habitat.

Twice weekly removal of floating debris from two polluted ponds in Bangkok resulted in 75% reduction of immature populations of C.p. fatigans for seven weeks. Subsequent introduction of the guppy Poecilia reticulata at 10 fish per m2 further reduced the aquatic population to 2% of the pretreatment level during 12 weeks. When debris removal was discontinued, partial recovery of the larval density was observed. When fish were introduced in a plot without prior debris removal, there was no reduction of the mosquito population, and when only part of the debris was removed from one plot, the reduction was immediate.