RESUMEN
Lymphatic filariasis caused by Brugia malayi is highly prevalent in Narathiwat province of Thailand. The World Health Organization has aimed to eliminate the disease globally by the year 2020. To achieve the goal, assessment of the real disease situation should be integrated as part of the control program. The preliminary data for long-term study of the disease situation in this endemic area is necessary for the elimination program of lymphatic filariasis. By using the conventional microscopic method, the microfilarial rate of B. malayi in an endemic area of Narathiwat province was 1.38 per cent. The microfilarial densities ranged from 17 microfilariae/ml to 1,250 microfilariae/ml median = 50. The highest prevalence was found in the age group > 45-60 (4.69%). The lowest microfilarial rate was in the age group < or = 15 (0.37%). The infection in males was about three fold the number in females. A PCR-based method was employed to detect a B. malayi-specific Hha I repetitive DNA sequence with high specificity and sensitivity. The PCR assay will be useful in assisting the elimination program of lymphatic filariasis in control and monitoring the disease in Thailand.
Asunto(s)
Adolescente , Adulto , Distribución por Edad , Animales , Secuencia de Bases , Brugia Malayi/aislamiento & purificación , Niño , Enfermedades Endémicas , Femenino , Filariasis/diagnóstico , Humanos , Incidencia , Enfermedades Linfáticas/diagnóstico , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Datos de Secuencia Molecular , Reacción en Cadena de la Polimerasa/métodos , Vigilancia de la Población , Factores de Riesgo , Población Rural , Muestreo , Distribución por Sexo , Tailandia/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
Snake venom contains several toxins. Russell's viper (D. russellii, RV) is a venomous snake prevalent in northern and central Thailand. RV bites can cause disseminated coagulation, hemolysis, and edema of the bitten limbs. To identify protein components of RV venom, we made a cDNA library from RV venom glands, and randomly sequenced cloned cDNA. We were able to clone a cDNA encoding RV phospholipase A2 (PLA2). PLA2 is an active enzyme found in several species of snake venom worldwide. PLA2 is thought to be toxic to cell membrane, thereby, can cause local cell and tissue damage, as well as systemic effects in snake bite victims. This PLA2 cDNA clone would facilitate in vivo studies of the pathophysiology of RV bite.