Brugia malayi in seven villages in South Kalimantan, Indonesia.

Seven villages in South Kalimantan were visited in 1971 and night peripheral blood smears from 2,764 people examined for microfilariae. Brugia malayi was found endemic in all villages with microfilarial rates of 12--46% (average 25%) and the median microfilarial density (MfD50) of 6 to 15 microfilariae per 20 microliter of blood. The microfilariae showed a typical subperiodic pattern. The disease was more common in males than females and the prevalence increased with age. Clinical manifestations of filariasis were found in 20% of 1,099 persons examined. Mansonia species are considered important vectors and cats important reservoir hosts. In addition to B. malayi, Dirofilaria repens and an unknown microfilaria were found in cats in the area and strains of the B. malayi and D. repens have been established in the laboratory.

Serologic study of toxoplasmosis in Taiwan.

Toxoplasma gondii antibody titers as determined by either the indirect hemagglutination test or the methylene blue dye test were determined for a group of aborigines and for Chinese as well as for swine, cats, rats, dogs and one bovine, all resident on the island of Taiwan. None of the 194 aborigines and only 3 (1.97%) of the 152 Chinese were found to be positive. Of 433 swine tested 132 (30.5%) were positive. Thirteen (27.7%) of 47 domestic pet cats were positive while none of 11 feral cats were positive. None of the 29 rats, 3 dogs or the one bovine were positive. Possible reasons for the lack of infection in Chinese is discussed.

Parasitology survey and seroepidemiology of amoebiasis in South Kalimantan (Borneo), Indonesia.

A parasitology surevy was conducted among inhabitants of 7 villages in 3 regencies in South Kalimantan Province, Indonesia. A total of 2,169 stool specimens, 2,756 blood smears and 1,027 serum specimens were obtained, representing samples from approximately 10%, 12% and 5% of the population, respectively. One to 8 different intestinal parasitic infections were detected in 97% of the people. Those parasites most frequently found were Trichuris trichiura (83%), Ascaris lumbricoides (79%), and hookworm (65%), followed by Entamoeba coli (37%), Endolimaxnana (12%), Entamoeba histolytica (12%), Iodamoeba bütschlii (11%), Giardia lamblia (5%), Entamoeba hartmanni (2%), Chilomastix mesnili (2%). Other parasites found were Enterobius vermicularis, Strongyloides stercoralis, Capillaria sp., Echinostoma sp., Hymenolepis diminuta, and Trichomonas hominis. Giardia lamblia was found more often in younger people and Entamoeba coli, Iodamoeba bütschlii and hookworm in the older age group. Ascaris lumbricoides occurred more frequently in females, and hookworm in males. Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum were found in the blood smears of 4.4% of the people, mostly in the younger age groups. Seroepidemiological studies on amoebiasis were done by use of the indirect hemagglutination test with antigens prepared from the HK9 strain of Entamoeba histolytica maintained in axenic cultures. The frequency distribution of the reciprocal antibody titers showed a bimodal distribution with 34% of the population demonstrating positive reactions at titers of 1:128 or greater.