Sero-epidemiological survey of malaria by immunofluorescence in Pakistan [district Gujranwala-Punjab]

Indirect Immunofluorescence Antibody [IFA] Technique was employed, for field detection of malarial parasite.The technique involved application of homologous antigen slides of Plasmodium falciparum and P vivax prepared in the field conditions. Serological study, simultaneously using P. falciparum and P. vivax antigens, brought out a clearer picture of distribution and role of the parasite species in the epidemiology of the disease in the area studied. The survey supported the contention of persistence of transmission of malaria in Gujranwala District

Cutaneous leishmaniasis in Baluchistan: reservoir host and sandfly vector in Uthal, Lasbella

The incidence and prevalence of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis, sandfly vector and rodent reservoir species, were studied in Uthal, South Baluchistan. Four hundred and eighteen school children [5-16 years of age] were examined. Five [1.1%] had active lesions and III [26.5%] had scars resulting from past infection of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis. A total of 432 sand flies were collected from the rodent burrows by placing 157 sticky traps at six different places. Two species of Phlebotomus and four species of Sergentomyia group of sandflies were identified. Ten of the eleven rodents trapped alive belonged to the Meriones Spp. and the remaining identified as Tatera indica. Smears prepared from the ears of the animals were positive for amastigotes in one [Tatera indica]. Sections of liver and spleen from all eleven rodents failed to reveal amastigotes