ISOLATION STUDIES ON THE PREVALENCE OF SALMONELLAE IN CHICKEN ORGANS, EGGS AND FEED COMPONENTS.

BACKGROUND: Salmonella is an important zoonotic pathogen and its prevalence in the chicken meat and eggs acts as a continuous threat to human population. The current studies covering a time period of three years, was carried out to report the isolation of salmonellae from the chicken tissues, eggs and feed ingredient. METHODS: A total of 1747 random samples from twelve different sources and 56 locations in Islamabad and Northern Punjab area of Pakistan, were screened for isolation studies according to the already published established protocols. RESULTS: The analysis of 1747 random samples comprising of 1069 (61.19%) chicken organs and 678 (38.81%) allied sources including eggs and feed ingredients, showed that a total of 162 (9.27%) were positive for salmonellae. Isolation prevalence in various chicken organs and allied sources was 86 (8.04%) and 76 (11.20%) respectively. The maximum isolation prevalence was recorded in meat meal (19.35%), followed by fish meal (17.54%), hatchery fluff (14.63%), livers (13.17%), poultry litter (10.89%), and eggs (9.64%). The range of Salmonella isolated varied from 19.35% to 4.72% in various organs and allied sources. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlighted a potential public health hazard and emphasized the significance of continuous surveillance system in the country to understand the ever changing epidemiological pattern of Salmonella serovers. The endemic prevalence of various serovars can cause outbreaks of human salmonellosis due to the consumption of contaminated meat and eggs as has already been reported worldwide.

Drug utilization patterns in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Pakistan.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the prevalence of self medication among Pakistanis in rural and urban settings. METHODS: A door-to-door survey was carried out during June and July 2008 and 2009 after due verbal consent taken from the residents. The houses were randomly selected from ultra posh area, quarters of government employees, residents of Barani Training Institute, low socio-economic population in the surrounding of Adiallah road near Rawalpindi, and a remote village Raye Chak, (population 5000) some 50 kilometers away from the city. RESULTS: There were 2042 dosage forms of drugs from 430 houses; allopathic medicine 89.3%; traditional medicines 6.7%; and homeopathic drugs 4% representation. The top 10 companies had more than 57% market share among 147 firms whose products were reported. The availability of paediatric drugs mixtures/syrups was 24%, and injectiables, 5.5%. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) had 38% representation; antimicrobials 25%, multivitamins and haematinics were 1.6% that was contrary to the general perception of the irrational use of this group of medicines. CONCLUSION: Alternative medicine is gaining ground. Overuse of anti-inflammatory drugs suggest higher prevalence of pain, inflammation and infections than systemic disorders in society.

Gastric carcinoma: 5 years survival after gastric surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To study the five years survival rate after resection for gastric carcinoma. METHODS: Fifty six patients with gastric carcinoma in different stages were followed up for 5 years after gastric surgery to see recurrence, complications and survival rate. RESULTS: Of the 56 patients, 6 underwent total gastrectomy, 50 partial gastrectomy, 7 Billroth I and 43 modified DI resection with Billroth II reconstruction. Six patients were alive at the end of 5th year, 3 with early gastric carcinoma and 3 with locally advanced carcinoma. Mortality was 17 patients in the first year, 10 in second year, 8 in third year, 3 in fourth year and 1 in the fifth year. CONCLUSION: Gastric carcinoma carries a bad prognosis. The 5-year survival rate in our series was 13.3% [corrected] Efforts should be made to diagnose and treat these patients at an early stage.