Intestinal parasites in a rural sub-population in Loikaw Township,Burma

92 Kayah, Taungthu, Shan, Danu, Pa-oh and Kaypar children and adults of both sexes in the 5 to 25-year age group of Chike, Thaysoele, Frusoe, Ywadanshe, Pankan, Mineloneyat and Sintaung villages of Loikaw Township were surveyed for intestinal parasites in May 1969. Stool samples were collected in screwcapped plastics containers of 50 ml capacity, preserved in 5 per cent formol-saline and then transported to Rangoon for microscopic examination. Coverglass preparation of faeces were examined directly in normal saline, 1 per cent eosin and lugol's iodine respectively. Each specimen was also examined after concentration by Ritchie's (1948) formol-ether method as modified by Ridley and Hawgood (1956). The prevalence rates for Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, hookworm, Entcrohius vermicularis (corrected prevalence), Hymenolepis nana and Entamocba coli were 46.73 , 25.00, 13.00, 22.00, 1.09 and 1.09 per cent respectively.

Histoplasma antibodies in subpopulations of Rangoon and Hmawbi (1971) 4,355-359

A survey for Histoplasma antibodies was carried out in June/July 1970 in random subsamples of both sexes of a rural group in Hmawbi Township and an urban group in Rangoon City respectively in the 1 to 45-yr age group. The subsamples numbered 76 and 74 respectively. Sera separated from whole blood were tested by slide agglutination. The antigen used was COLAB Histoplasmosis Latex Antigen; known positive anti-Histoplasma sera were used as controls. 44.6 per cent and 35.1 per cent gave positive reactions in the rural and urban groups respectively. The differences were not significant. 23.5 per cent of positives in the rural group and 34.6 per cent of positives in the urban group agglutinated at 1: 256. The difference was not significant. The highest number of positives occurred in the 11- to 20-yr age group in both areas, viz. 60.0 and 56.25 per cent respectively. The difference was not significant. 69.69 per cent of 33 males and 25..58 per cent of 43 females in the rural group and 43.33 per cent of 44 males and 29.34 per cent of 30 females in the urban group were positive. There was a significant difference between the numbers of positives in the males and females in the rural group.

Intestinal parasitisms in Mandalay towndwellers

A survey for intestinal parasitisms in a random sub-sample of 304 Mandalay towndwellers in the 5-25 yr age group was carried out in June 1968. Four quarters were selected for the survey viz., Mahanwezin,Yanmyolon and Dawnabwa Quarters and the University Campus. The total parasite rate was 62.2 per cent, the total helminthic rate 61.5 per cent, and the total protozoan rate 1 per cent. The prevalence rates for the helminths Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, Enterobius vermicularis (corrected) and Hymenolepis nana were 47.7, 23.3, 13.2 and 3.6 per cent respectively. The rates for the protozoa Entamoeba Coli and E. histolytica were 1.1 and 0.3 per cent respectively.

Bacteriological findings in lake, river and well water supplies of Rangoon

Water samples, both unchlorinated and chlorinated, from 20 natural water sources in Rangoon town comprising lakes, river and wells were examined during the period July 1966 to July 1968 for the Presumptive Coliform Count, the Presumptive Enterococcus Count and the presence of presumptive Clostridium perfringens. Bacteria isolated from MacConkey bile salt lactose peptone water (Cruickshank, 1965) and sodium azide medium (Hannay and Norton, 1947) primary cultures were identified. Using as criteria the Presumptive Coliform Count, the Presumptive Enterococcus Count and the isolation of Escherichia coli and/or Klebsiella aerogenes and/or Streptococcus faecalis, 18 out of 20 samples were found unsatisfactory for drinking purposes. The bacteria isolated were E. coli, K. aerogenes, Citrobacter freundii, Enterobacter aerogenes, Alcaligenes faecalis, a Bacillus sp., Proteus mirabilis, P. morganii, P. vulgaris, a Providencia Etrain, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, P. fluorescent and s. faecalis.

Leptospiral antibodies in farmers at Myaung-dagar village in Hmawbi Township

A survey for leptospiral sero-antibodies was carried out in June 1969 in a random sub-sample of 122 adult farmers of both sexes of Myaungdagar Village in Hmawbi Township using a slide agglutination technique with Leptospira ballum, L. canicola, L. icterohaemorrhagiae, L. bataviae, L. grippotyphosa, L. pyrogenes, L. autumnalis, L. pomona, L. sejroe, L. australis, L. hyos and L. kremastos antigens. 69 (56.6 per cent) sera were positive for L. icterohaemorrhagiae, 53 (43.4 per cent) for L. ballum, 29 (23.7 per cent) for L. grippotyphosa, 10 (8.2 per cent) for L. pyrogenes, 10 (8.2 per cent) for L. pomona, 8 (6.6 per cent) for L. australis, 7 (5.74 per cent) for L. kremastos, 4 (3.3 per cent) for L. canicola, 2 (1.6 per cent) for L. autumnalis and I (0.82 per cent) for L. sejroe, 54 (91.5 per cent) of 59 L. icterohaemorrhagiae- positive sera, 24 (92.2 per cent) of 27 L. ballum-positive sera, 2 (13.3 per cent) out of 15 L. grippotyphosa-positive sera, 5 (60.0 per cent) out of 10 L. pomona-positive sera, 4 (57.1 per cent) out of 7 L. kremastos-positive sera and 4 (100.0 per cent) out of 4 L. canicola-positive sera agglutinated at titres of 1/512.

The bacteriology of the water supplies of Rangoon.II.Cool dry and hot dry seasons

Water samples from 19 piped and natural sources in Rangoon were examined bacteriologically during the cool dry season of 1966-67 and the hot dry season of 1967 for the Presumptive Coliform Count, the Presumptive Enterococcus Count and the presence of Presumptive Clostridium perfringens. Bacteria isolated from Mac Conkey bile salt lactose peptone water (Cruickshank, 1965) and sodium azide medium (Hannay and Norton, 1947) primary cultures were identified. Using as criteria the Presumptive Coliform Count and the isolation of Escherichia coli and/or Klebsiella aerogenes and for Streptococcusfaeca.zis, for the cool dry season, all of the 15 samples tested were found unsatisfactory for drinking purposes. Again, for tile cool dry season, all of the 16 samples tested were found unsatisfactory.

The bacteriology of the water supplies of Rangoon.1.Monsoon and post-monsoon seasons

38 water samples taken from piped and natural sources in Rangoon during the monsoon and post-monsoon seasons of 1966 were examined bacteriologically using Mac Conkey broth as a primary culture medium. 31 of the 38 samples were found unsatisfactory for drinking purposes. The species isolated included Escherichia coli, Klebsiella aerogenes, an Entero-bacter sp., Alcaligenes faecalis, Chromobacterium janthinum, Proteur, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, P. fluorescens and Serratia marcescens. Viabilities at 4C of E. coli, the Enterobacter strain, A. faecalis and P.fluorescens varied from 7-56 days, that of C. janthinum and s. marcescens was a minimum of 7 days. At room temperature (22.8C to 31.1C) E. coli and P. fluorescens were viable for 28, and K. aerogenes for less than 7 days.

The bacteriology of diarrhoea in children

75 samples of stools from children under 5 years at the Children's Hospital Rangoon were examined bacterilogically using Mac Conkey agar and desoxycholate citrate agar as primary plating media and selenite F broth and tetrathionate broth as primary enrichment media. 25 non-diarrhoeic stools from children from an urban quarter in the same age group served as a control. Salmonella typhi was the only well-defined bacterial enteropathogen isolated (1.3 percent). The parasites Ascaris Lumbricoides, Trichurus trichiura and Giardia lamblia were found in respectively 13.5, 5 and 5 percent. It is concluded that in the group studied, bacteria did not play a mojor role in the aetiology of diarrhea, but that the parasites found may have been involved. It is recommended that a survey for enteroviruses in diarrhoeic stools from Burmese children be made. It is also suggested that the role played by other possible aetiological agents in diarrhea be investigated.

The bacteriology of the water supplies os Mandalay town

30 samples of water taken from various sources in Mandalay Town were collected in the months of June and October 1968. These were examined for the Presumptive Coliform Count, the Presumptive Enteroeoccus Count and the presence of presumptive Clostridium perfringens. Bacteria isolated from macConkey bile-salt lactose peptone water ( Cruickshank, 1965) and sodium azide medium (Hannay & Norton, 1947) primary cultures were also identified. In the June pilot survey, all 6 samples collected were unsatisfactory for drinking purposes using as criteria the Presumptive Coliform Count, the Presumptive Enterococcus Count, and the isolation of Escherichia coli and/ or Streptococcus feacalis. In the October Survey, the Yenimyaung, Moat, artesian well, shallow well, canal and Irrawaddy river samples were all unsatisfactory. Only 1 sample, viz, a rain water sample, was satisfactory. The bacterial species isolated included E. coli, Klebsiella aerogenes, Alcaligenes faecalis and S. faecalis.

Intestinal parasitic infections in Bassein Township

A survey of intestinal parasitic infections was made at Bassein Town and Kozu Village, South-West Division, Burma in April-May, 1967. Out of a total of 393 individuals examined, ranging in age from 5-25 years, 215 were from Bassein Town and 178 individuals from Kozu Village.90.3 percent of all the individuals examined carried one or more parasites. Of the 10 species found, A. lumbricoides was the most prevalent (68.4 percent), with T. trichiura second (51.4 percent). There was no significant difference between the over all prevalence of parasites at Bassein Town and Kozu Village. The prevalence of helminth infections was found to be significantly higher in the urban group, while protozoan infections were significantly more prevalent in the rulal group. Among the helminths, A. lumbricoides and T. trichiura infections were higher in the urban group, while the hookworm infection was higher in the rural group significantly. Younger age groups have a higher helminth infection rate in Bassein Town as well as in Bassein Township. Polyparasitism was common both in urban and rural groups. The findings of the survey was compared with those of other studies in Burma and discussed.

Intestinal parasitisms in the Inthas

Stool samples of 107 adult Inthas were examined first at the place of collection and then at the Burma Medical Research Institute Laboratory. Entamoeba coli cysts were found in 10.29 per cent, Ascaris eggs in 3.63 per cent, hookworm eggs in 2.71 per cent and Taenia eggs in 2.71 per cent. The incidence of intestinal parasitisms in the Inthas is compared with the incidence in Tarons and Htalus (Tu, 1967) and in the case of hookworm, also with the incidence in a Burmese village group. It is concluded that the intestinal parasitisms of the Inthas should not constitute a health problem because of their low incidence.

Effect of Desmodium Triquetrum extract on some pathogenic bacteria

An aqueous extract of Desmodium triquetrum was tested against Salmonella typhi, s. paratyphi A, s. paratyphi B, Shigella boydii, s. flexneri, S. shigae, Vibrio eltor, V. cholerae (Inaba serotype), V. cholerae (Ogawa serotype) and Escherichia coli by the serial dilution tube technique. The extract was found to have bactericidal action on the ten bacteria tested. The range of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values was also determined compared with values for streptomycin, chloramphenicol and tetracycline. Large-scale growing of D. triquetrum is suggested to facilitate analysis and identification of the anti-bacterial principle.

Nasal carriage of staphylococcus aureus in Burmese with a note on antibiotic sensitivities

134 Burmese children and adults from urban and hospital areas in Rangoon were examined for nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus. 77.4 per cent of 62 individuals in an urban group, 78.33 per cent of 60 nurses, doctors and medical students, 73.43 per cent of 64 Lady Health Visitor trainees, and 10 of 12 surgical patients carried S. aureus in the nares. There was no significant difference in the over-all carriage rates of urban, hospital and Lady Health Visitor trainee groups. 14 infants in a maternity hospital were examined for nasal carriage of S. avreus from the day of birth until until the day of discharge from hospital. All 14 infants carried S. aureus in the nares by the 4th day of life. Antibiotic sensivitities to benzyl penicillin, phenethicillin, cloxacillin, methicillin, streptomycin, chloramphenicol, and tetracycline were determined in 106 strains of S. aureus of both urban and hospital origin. 79.5 per cent of 44 urban strains were sensitive to benzyl penicillin, 15.9 per cent moderately resistant and 4.6 per cent resistant. All 44 strains were sensitive to the other antibiotics used. 73.9 per cent of 46 hospital strains were sensitive to benzyl penicillin, 17.4 per cent moderately resistant and 8.7 per cent resistant. 91.3 per cent were sensitive to streptomycin and 8.7 per cent resistant to this antibiotic. All 46 strains were sensitive to the other antibiotics used. There was no significant difference in the benzyl penicillin resistance rates in hospital and urban strains of S. aureus. Neomycin and chlorhexidine ("Naseptin") nasal cream therapy ws attempted in 4 carriers of S. aureus. Therapy appeared effective in 3 of the 4.