Heavy metal concentrations in fishes from Juru River, estimation of the health risk.

This study examined the concentration of heavy metals in 13 fish species. The results indicated that shellfish species (clams) have the highest metal concentrations, followed by demersal and pelagic fishes. The mean concentration of metals in clams are Zn 88.74 ± 11.98 µg/g, Cu 4.96 ± 1.06 µg/g, Pb 1.22 ± 0.19 µg/g, Cd 0.34 ± 0.04 µg/g dry wt. basis, whereas the same measure in fish tissues was 58.04 ± 18.51, 2.47 ± 1.21, 0.58 ± 0.27 and 0.17 ± 0.08 µg/g dry wt. basis. The concentrations of heavy metals in clams and fish tissues were still lower than the maximum allowable concentrations as suggested by the Malaysian Food Act (1983) and are considered safe for local human consumption.

Severe ocular sequelae of congenital toxoplasmosis: huge macular scar.

Retinochoroiditis is the most common ocular manifestation of congenital toxoplasmosis, but other associated ophthalmological pathologies can also occur. Ophthalmologists are rarely able to distinguish between toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis due to infection acquired before or after birth, unless other clinical or serological indications are present. This article reports a case of a 3-year-old boy with abnormalities suggestive of congenital toxoplasmosis. The clinical and complementary examinations are discussed. The education of pregnant women is crucial for the prevention of congenital toxoplasmosis. Awareness of antenatal and postnatal presenting signs and symptoms is important for clinicians, because early diagnosis and treatment may minimize sequelae. Untreated, the majority of affected infants will develop chorioretinitis, deafness and/or neurological symptoms.

[Network for epidemiologic surveillance of animal diseases in Chad]. / Le réseau d'épidémiosurveillance des maladies animales au Tchad.

An epidemiosurveillance network for diseases of animals was introduced in Chad to ensure early reporting to animal husbandry organisations should the incidence of an existing disease increase, or should an exotic disease reappear. The network also serves for the collection of information on the principal diseases of livestock. A list of eight priority diseases was drawn up with specific surveillance objectives for each disease. Information (from surveys and sampling) from all new outbreaks of the diseases under surveillance is gathered by participants in the field (officials in public service and private veterinarians) and sent to the diagnostic laboratory, which examines the findings before disseminating them to the field. The first year of operation in the field has made it possible to evaluate the feasibility of the method and to collect fundamental epidemiological information on the diseases under surveillance. The advantage of the network is the provision of a means of communication between the field and the laboratory. The network enables collection of information in a standard form, the training of field agents and the organisation of the structure of the laboratory. Persistent problems are the motivation of some participants in the field and difficulties in communication which have to be overcome in order to obtain reliable data rapidly.

[Note on goat pox in Chad: study of the foci]. / Note sur la variole caprine au Tchad: étude des foyers.

Several outbreaks of goat-pox were observed from 1985 to 1989 in different villages of the N'Djamena area. The virus strain circulating in this region seemed to be host-specific for goats since sheep kept in contact with goats did not suffer from the disease. Nevertheless, it has to be studied further on whether the virus isolated from sick goats could be pathogenic for sheep.

Sudan: national health programme and primary health care, 1977/78-1983/84.

As a follow-up to the national health programming process developed in 1975 in Sudan, a primary health care programme for the whole country was formulated with assistance from WHO. In this article the methods used in the programming and formulation are described and discussed. These methods ensured an intersectoral approach on which technical, cultural, socioeconomic, financial, and political considerations were based. Areas in the field of health and rural development requiring government and community action during the period 1977/78-1983/84 are identified. Details on the strategies for population coverage of rural and nomadic communities with primary health care are given. Fundamental to these strategies is community participation in the development of primary health care within community development as a whole.The guiding principles of these strategies are their technical, political, social and financial feasibility. The social relevance of the primary health care programme for the community and the developmental sectors is emphasized.