Distribution of yellow fever vectors in Northwestern and Western Provinces, Zambia

OBJECTIVE@#To determine the distribution of yellow fever (YF) vectors species in Northwestern and Western of Zambia, which sampled mosquitoes inside and outside houses in rural, urban, peri-urban and forest areas.@*METHODS@#Back-pack aspirators spray catches and CDC light traps collected adult mosquitoes including 405 Aedes, 518 Anopheles, 471 Culex and 71 Mansonia. Morphological vector identification and PCR viral determination were done at a WHO Regional Reference Centre (Institute Pasteur Dakar), Senegal.@*RESULTS@#The two main YF vectors were Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti (Ae. aegypti) and Aedes (Stegomyia) africanus. The first was collected in peri-urban areas and the later was in forest areas, both sparsely distributed in Northwestern Province, where the 0.43 Breteau and 1.92 container indexes, respectively implied low risk to YF. Aedes (Aedimorphus) mutilus; Aedes (Aedimorphus) minutus and Aedes (Finlaya) wellmani were also found in Northwestern, not in Western Province. No Aedes were collected from rural peri-domestic areas. Significantly more Aedes species (90.7%, n=398) than Anopheles (9.1%, n=40) were collected in forest areas (P<0.001) or Culex species (0.2%, n=2) (P<0.001). Ae. aegypti was found only in a discarded container but not in flower pots, old tyres, plant axils, discarded shallow wells, disused container bottles and canoes inspected.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Ae. aegypti and Aedes africanus YF vectors were found in the study sites in the Northwestern Province of Zambia, where densities were low and distribution was sparse. The low Breteau index suggests low risk of YF in the Northwestern Province. The presence of Aedes in Northwestern Province and its absence in the Western Province could be due to differing ecological factors in the sampled areas. Universal coverage of vector control interventions could help to reduce YF vector population and the risk to arthropod-borne virus infections.

Distribution of yellow fever vectors in Northwestern and Western Provinces, Zambia

Objective: To determine the distribution of yellow fever (YF) vectors species in Northwestern and Western of Zambia, which sampled mosquitoes inside and outside houses in rural, urban, peri-urban and forest areas. Methods: Back-pack aspirators spray catches and CDC light traps collected adult mosquitoes including 405 Aedes, 518 Anopheles, 471 Culex and 71 Mansonia. Morphological vector identification and PCR viral determination were done at a WHO Regional Reference Centre (Institute Pasteur Dakar), Senegal. Results: The two main YF vectors were Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti (Ae. aegypti) and Aedes (Stegomyia) africanus. The first was collected in peri-urban areas and the later was in forest areas, both sparsely distributed in Northwestern Province, where the 0.43 Breteau and 1.92 container indexes, respectively implied low risk to YF. Aedes (Aedimorphus) mutilus; Aedes (Aedimorphus) minutus and Aedes (Finlaya) wellmani were also found in Northwestern, not in Western Province. No Aedes were collected from rural peri-domestic areas. Significantly more Aedes species (90.7%, n=398) than Anopheles (9.1%, n=40) were collected in forest areas (P<0.001) or Culex species (0.2%, n=2) (P<0.001). Ae. aegypti was found only in a discarded container but not in flower pots, old tyres, plant axils, discarded shallow wells, disused container bottles and canoes inspected. Conclusions: Ae. aegypti and Aedes africanus YF vectors were found in the study sites in the Northwestern Province of Zambia, where densities were low and distribution was sparse. The low Breteau index suggests low risk of YF in the Northwestern Province. The presence of Aedes in Northwestern Province and its absence in the Western Province could be due to differing ecological factors in the sampled areas. Universal coverage of vector control interventions could help to reduce YF vector population and the risk to arthropod-borne virus infections.

Comparison of 1999 and 2003 current cigarette smoking behavior among jordanian adolescents: the global youth tobacco surveys

Adolescent cigarette smoking has received particular attention in the past two decades. Comparison of prevalence estimates trends is likely to inform public health intervention strategies. This study was conducted to compare the prevalence of current cigarette smoking among school going adolescents in Jordan between 1999 and 2003. Cross sectional, questionnaire-based study among school going adolescents in the Jordanian Global Youth Tobacco Survey 1999 and 2003. The overall prevalence of smoking in 1999 was 16.9% [95% CI 15.7%-18.1%] versus 15.5% [95% CI 14.5-16.5] in 2003. In terms of gender distribution 26.9% [95% CI 24.5%-29.3%] males were current smokers in 1999, while 20.0% [18.4%-21.6%] were smokers in 2003. 12.4% [95% CI 10.3%-14.5%] females were smokers in 1999 and 10.1% [95% CI 8.9%-11.2%] females were smokers in 2003. Thus comparing the 1999 estimates to the 2003 suggests that there has been an overall drop in prevalence of current smoking among school going adolescents in Jordan. Widespread antismoking public health interventions may have resulted in the observed reduction in current smoking prevalence in Jordan between 1999 and 2003. There is need to continue monitoring the trends in smoking among adolescents

Valvular heart disease in end-stage renal failure patients on maintenance hemodialysis.

To determine the presence of, and factors associated with, valvular heart disease in end-stage renal failure patients by M-mode, two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography. Case series of an unselected group of patients on maintenance haemodialysis. Haemodialysis unit and echocardiography laboratory of the King Fahd Central Hospital, Gizan, Saudi Arabia Sixty patients on haemodialysis for at least 6 months. Main outcome measures: Detection of functional and structural valve abnormalities and their relation to putative aetiological factors. The mean age was 34.4 [SD13.0], range 14-66 years; 31 [51.7%] were men and 29 women. The duratior of dialysis was 37 [SD 29] months with a range of 6-106 months. Mitral regurgitation was found in 20 [33.3%], mitral annular calcification in 3 [5.0%], aortic valve calcification in 5 [8.3%] and tricuspid regurgitation in 8 [13.3%] patients At least one of these lesions was present in 22 [36.7%] patients. No patient had mitral or aortic stenosis. There were significant associations found between left ventricular mass and mitral regurgitation; calcium-phosphate product and aortic valvular calcification; and right ventricular enlargement and tricuspid regurgitation. Mitral and tricuspid regurgitation were common in our dialysis patients. The calcium and phosphate product was found to be an important determinant of aortic valvular calcification. Further studies are needed to determine whether early control of calcium and phosphate levels would prevent the development of this complication