Branchial cleft anomalies--a study of 20 cases.

Preauricular sinus, branchial cyst, branchial sinus and branchial fistula are the result of incomplete obliteration of branchial clefts. Classically these lesions have particular sites and nature. The aim of this three years retrospective study was to see the prevalence of these conditions as well as the outcome of the conventional surgery. Twenty cases of branchial cleft anomalies were reported, of which 60% had with preauricular sinus. One case with preauricular sinus had recurrence during postoperative follow-up.

Incrimination of Anopheles aconitus Donitz as a vector of epidemic malaria in Bangladesh.

In 1989-91, post-monsoon epidemics of vivax malaria occurred in the central flood plain near Dhaka. Anopheles philippinensis, the usual vector in the paddy field habitat, was not present, but 1.4% of parous An. aconitus were infective. This is only the second time An. aconitus has been incriminated as a vector in Bangladesh. We speculate that the surprising increase in lowland malaria may have been caused by environmental change that favored the survival of An. aconitus.