Hepatitis B virus infection in prostitutes and homosexuals

A total of one hundred sera [fifty from prostitutes and fifty from homosexuals] were tested for the presence of HBsAg [Hepatitis B surface antigen], anti-HBs [antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen] and anti-HBc [antibody to hepatitis B core antigen] by ELISA technique. Twenty three [46%] prostitutes were found to be seropositive [14% HBsAg positive, 24% anti-HBs positive and 8% positive for anti-HBcAg alone]. In homosexual group, 38 [76%] were seropositive for various markers [26% HBsAg positive, 44% anti-HBs positive and 6% positive for anti-HBc alone]. Comparison between prostitutes and homosexuals revealed significantly higher hepatitis B virus infection in homosexuals as shown by higher seropositivity in them

seroepidemiological study on human immunodeficiency virus [HIV infection]

A total of 1601 serum samples including general population [1050] and high risk individuals for AIDS such as prostitutes [60] passive homosexuals eunuchs [30] blood donors [60] blood transfusion recipients [60] haemophiliacs [20] parenteral drug abusers [30] patients with persistent generalized lymphadenopathy [60] and expatriates/visitors of U.S.A. [200] Europe [30] and Bangkok [1] were tested for antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus. Three commercial ELISA kits namely Flow laboratories, Wellcome and Behring were used for HIV antibody detection for each serum sample. All ELISA positive sera by any of the above three kits were confirmed by the immunoblot assay [western blot]. No evidence of HIV infection was found in general population aned high risk individuals for AIDS. Only one case was positive by three ELISA kits and was confirmed by the western blot and that was a case of AIDS imported from Qatar. Out of 1601 serum samples tested Flow lab. Kit gave ten false positive results, Wellcome one and Behring kit gave no false positive Behring kit gave no false positive result. The predictive values of ELISA positive tests by the above three kits for the detection of HIV antibodies were calculated. It was found that the predictive values of positive ELISA tested by Flow Lab Wellcome and Behring kit were 9.09%, 50% and 100% respectively. The best kit in our study was the Behring kit

Carriage of enteropathogenic bacteria by different species of cockroaches

A total of 500 cockroaches of different species were collected from various sites of the Services Hospital, Lahore to study the pattern of infestation of the hospital premises and the carriage of the bacteria belonging to the family Enterobacteriaceae. Three species of cockroaches namely Periplaneta Americana [American cockroache] Blattella germanica [German cockroache] and Blatta orientalis [Oriental cockroach] were identified. The cockroaches were collected from five sites of the hospital viz. Gynaecology and Obstetrics ward, Medical ward I, Surgical ward I, Kitchen and Medical store. American cockroaches were the most common in all the sites accounting for 70.4%, German cockroaches were second with 24% and Oriental cockroaches third with 5.6% of the infestation. One thousand twenty seven bacteria belonging to family Enterobacteriaceae were isolated. These constituted 15 bacterial genera Salmonella, Shigella, Escherichia, Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Serratia, Proteus, Morganella, Providencia, Citrobacter, Edwardsieila, Alkaligenes, Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas and Bacillus. The Salmonella isolated were Salmonella typhi, Salmonella arizona and Salmonella enteritidis. Three serotypes of Salmonella enteritidis namely Salmonella paratyphi B, Salmonella typhimurium, Salmonella barielly were identified. The Shigella isolated were Shigella flexneri and Shigella sonnei. In addition, 20 organisms belonging to the genus Candida were isolated

pattern of vibrio El-Tor epidemics in Punjab, Pakistan

An epidemiological study of cholera in Pakistan from the year 1964 to 1979 with special focus on Punjab province was carried out. It was concluded that classic cholera was not endemic in Punjab Pakistan. On the other hand vibrio el-tor introduced into Karachi in July, 1964 spread to various towns connected with Karachi by the highway and rail road entering the Punjab in the same month. A detailed study of Punjab indicated that Lahore, Multan and Sialkot where repeated epidemics occurred during sixteen years constitute the endemic areas. In Lahore the Mohallah wise distribution pin pointed nine endemic areas. More work is required for determining the role of contact carriers in the maintenance of a reservoir of infection

study of cholera in the city of Lahore in 1980

The history of El-tor cholera epidemics in Pakistan since 1964 has been reviewed. The 1980 cholera epidemic in the city of Lahore has been studied in detail. In order to guage the extent of cholera infection in the community, two studies were carried out. The Bilal Ganj cholera contact study revealed that 45.5% house hold contacts of cholera cases were cholera carriers. 80.3% of these presented as mild cases and 19.6% as symptomless carriers. The Shahdara cholera study was performed in order to determine the load of El-tor cholera infection in a community where an outbreak of cholera had occurred. It was found that 40.2% of the general population were cholera carriers. Out of these 66.6% presented as mild cases and 33.3% as symptomless carriers. Factors contributing to the spread of cholera were studied. It was found that files infected with El-tor vibrios contributed to the spread of cholera and that professions involving close contact with faeces such as sweepers showed a high carrier rate