[Effects of dietary supplementation of mannan-oligosaccharide on virus shedding in avian influenza [H[9]N[2]] challenged broilers]

Avian influenza [AI] is a highly contagious disease causing significant economic losses worldwide. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of mannan-oligosaccharide [MOS] on tracheal and cloacal virus shedding in AI challenged broilers and contamination of environment with H[9]N[2]. A total of 300 1-day-old-broiler chicks were randomly divided into 3 groups [A, B and C] and supplemented 0.2, 0.5 and 0.0% MOS, respectively in NRC recommended diet for 36 days. On day 21 the groups were further split into two sub groups A+ve, A-ve, B+ve, B-ve, C+ve and C-ve with 5 replicates each. The positive groups were shifted to remote sheds and were challenged intranasally with 0.1 ml of reference virus [AIV; Pk-UDL/01/08 H[9]N[2]] with EID[50] = 10[-6.66]. Treatment reduces [P<0.05] cloacal virus shedding from day 24 to 26 and 28 to 32. Tracheal virus shedding was lower [P<0.05] on days 25-26 and 28-30 in treatment groups. Day 27 showed highest [P>0.05] virus shedding in all groups. However the reduction of viral shedding is faster in treatment groups and showed no virus shedding on day 32. Maternal antibody titer against AI showed a declining pattern but MOS influenced [P<0.05] the titer in treated groups. Hence the use of MOS may constitute a novel and effective plausible alternative that reduces the spread of disease by decreasing virus shedding and contamination of environment from AIV [H[9]N[2]] infection in poultry

Community participation eludes Pakistan's maternal, newborn and child health programme

This study looked at the comprehensiveness of the primary health care approach being applied in Pakistan's National Maternal, Newborn and Child Health [MNCH] Programme launched in 2005. The methods included a review of the programme's guideline documents, in-depth interviews with managers/advisors and focus group discussions with community groups and service providers. The MNCH Programme is applying a selective primary care model. Programme advisors and managers were concerned about the quality of training, political interference and incomplete implementation. Service providers were not working together as envisioned. Community midwives complained about the community's perceptions of them. Community members were unaware of MNCH Programme implementation in their areas. Pakistan's primary health care programme needs to be reviewed and revised according current thinking on community participation and inter-sectoral collaboration to accelerate progress towards achievement of Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5

[Prevalence of snails and Schistosome cercariae and correlation with meteorological factors in Punjab, Pakistan]

Overall 10389 snails were collected from four study areas of Punjab from November 2005 to October 2006. The highest prevalence [38%] was found for Indoplanorbis followed by Physa [17%], Bellamaya [10.3%], Gyraulus [10%], Lymnaea[9.2%], Oncomelania [9%] and the lowest was found for Bulinus [6.7%]. Only Indoplanorbis snails were found to be positive for Schistosoma bovis cercaria. Correlation between snails' infection and meteorological factors like relative humidity [%] and rainfall [mm] were significant [P<0.05] while this correlation was not significant for temperature [°C] and pan evaporation [mm]

Seroprevalence of measles antibodies in school going children in Pakistan

To determine the Seroprevalence of measles IgG antibodies in school going children [age 4 to7.5 years] and assess the need for second dose of vaccination. Study type, settings and duration: National study in randomly selected primary school children for a duration of 12 months. Subjects and Methods: A national representative sample of 6000 school going children between 5-7 years of age was taken out. As 500 children were already studied an year before in Islamabad, therefore, 2500 children from Punjab, 2000 from Sindh and 500 each from Khyber Pakhtonkhaw and Balochistan making a total of 6000 children. These children were selected from major cities of Pakistan that included Peshawar, Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad, Karachi, Hyderabad, and Quetta. Consent was taken from the parents and principals of the schools for collection of blood samples. About 5 ml of whole blood was taken from which serum was separated and stored for testing. Measles antibody titres [serum IgG antibodies] were measured by enzyme-linked Immunosorbant assay [ELISA]. Antibodies concentration<200 m IU was considered negative [non-protective]; those having levels between 200-300 m IU were labeled as border line and>300 m IU as positive [protective]. For the purpose of analysis, ages of the children were divided into three groups

Epidemiology of Paramphistomiasis in buffaloes under different managemental conditions at four districts of Punjab province, Pakistan

Epidemioiogical studies were undertaken at slaughter-houses, livestock farms, veterinary hospitals and on household buffaloes under climatic conditions of four different districts of Punjab province. Infection rate was 22.29, 28.33, 17.08 and 12,75%, respectively in slaughter-house buffaloes, livestock farm buffaloes, veterinary hospital buffaloes and household buffaloes. Overall the season wise the highest prevalence [28.33%] was recorded in buffaloes at livestock farms followed by slaughtered [22.29%] and veterinary hospital buffaloes [17.08%]. While the lowest [12.75%] prevalence was recorded in household buffaloes during spring. It was also observed that the higher infection rate was recorded in younger buffaloes [below two years of age] than older [above two years of age] where as sex wise the prevalence indicated that male buffaloes were more commonly affected than females. Snails belonging to genera Bulinus, Lymnaea and Planorbis were also observed which are responsible for the transmission of paramphistomiasis

Impact assessment of salt iodization on the prevalence of goiter in district swat

Background: To eliminate Iodine Deficiency Disorders, [IDD] universal salt iodization is the widely practiced intervention. District Swat [a hilly area of NWFP, highly endemic for IDDs is selected as a first model district of the province for salt iodization program

Objectives: To find out the proportion of the families using iodized salt, iodine contents of the salts used by the families, urinary iodine levels in school children and the effect on goitre prevalence in Swat selected as a model district in 1998

Subject and Methods: The study was conducted in 960 children of both sexes, age 8-10 years in primary schools of district Swat in the year 2000. A replicate model used for base line study in 1998 was adopted. The students were clinically examined for goitre using palpation method. 960 edible salt samples for its iodine content and 240 urine samples for iodine level were analysed

Results: The overall goitre prevalence was found to be 52 and 45% in boys and girls respectively. 23% salt samples were found un-iodized, while in 25.6% the iodine content was less than 7ppm. The results revealed 18% decrease in total goitre rate and 35% increase in the use of iodized salt from the base line survey conducted in 1998, in school children of district Swat

Conclusions: The study revealed that since the area of Swat is still highly endemic for Iodine Deficiency Disorders, sustained efforts are required to ensure 100% salt iodization

Personology of breast and bottle fed children

Much work has been done on advantages and disadvantages of bottle feeding regarding medical point of view but the aspects of personality make up with respect to mode of feed have yet to be explored in detail Present study highlights some psychological aspects of personality of the children [aged 5 to 10 years] who were breastfed or bottlefed during their lactation period. After collecting the data of more or less matched groups of both breast and bottlefed it was seen that breastfed babies are more psychologically secure and show less emotional problems, as compared to bottlefed who are less secure and show more emotional conflicts

Prescribing patterns of medical practitioners

Five hundred and eleven prescriptions from Medical practitioners including 51 consultants, 67 general practitioners and 35 Junior hospital doctors were randomly collected and analysed. The study gives information regarding the quality and the trends in prescription writing. There was a high mean number of drugs per prescription and the mean cost of prescriptions was also high. Antibiotics, vitamins and sedative Tranquilizers were carried on a large number of prescriptions