Slim disease: a new disease in Uganda and its association with HTLV-III infection.

A new disease has recently been recognised in rural Uganda. Because the major symptoms are weight loss and diarrhoea, it is known locally as slim disease. It is strongly associated with HTLV-III infection (63 out of 71 patients) and affects females nearly as frequently as males. The clinical features are similar to those of enteropathic acquired immunodeficiency syndrome as seen in neighbouring Zaire. However, the syndrome is rarely associated with Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), although KS is endemic in this area of Uganda. Slim disease occurs predominantly in the heterosexually promiscuous population and there is no clear evidence to implicate other possible means of transmission, such as by insect vectors or re-used injection needles. The site and timing of the first reported cases suggest that the disease arose in Tanzania.

Investigations into yellow fever virus and other arboviruses in the northern regions of Kenya.

Previous studies having shown an appreciable level of yellow fever immunity to exist in northern Kenya, further epidemiological and serological surveys were carried out there in 1968 in an attempt to define more clearly the distribution of yellow fever and to locate possible vector and reservoir hosts of the disease; these surveys also provided information on a number of other arboviruses.Altogether 436 sera from 5 areas in northern Kenya were screened by haemagglutination-inhibition tests with 8 antigens, and 107 of these sera by neutralization tests for Group-B arboviruses. Small numbers of yellow-fever-immune adults were found in Ileret, Garissa, Loglogo and Mikona. At Marsabit high proportions of immune adults and children were found among the Burgi tribe. As the Burgi are permanent agricultural workers on Marsabit Mountain, an entomological investigation was made, over 15 000 mosquitos being collected. From these, 13 strains of Pongola virus, 1 strain of Semliki Forest virus and an unidentified virus were isolated, but no yellow fever strains. Aedes africanus and Aedes simpsoni were not found at Marsabit; small numbers of Aedes aegypti were collected biting man. The vector potential of other mosquitos collected (particularly Mansonia africana, which is present throughout the year) is discussed.

Serological survey for arboviruses in Uganda, 1967-69.

In a serological survey for arboviruses carried out in 8 areas of Uganda between 1967 and 1969, altogether 1869 human sera were tested with 8 antigens by the haemagglutination-inhibition (HI) test. Mouse neutralization tests (NT) with Group-B viruses were also performed on selected sera.The prevalence of arbovirus antibodies was found to vary considerably between the different areas. Very few people in the highland area of Kigezi had antibody to any of the antigens used, whereas more than half of the sera from the Madi area near the Nile had antibody to several antigens. The chikungunya antibody prevalent in the West Nile, Madi and Bwamba areas is thought probably to represent previous infection with the cross-reacting o'nyong-nyong virus. Bunyamwera antibody was also highly prevalent in Madi (66.7% of children's sera and 81.5% of adult sera).The combined HI and NT results indicate that yellow fever continues to be infrequent in Uganda (only 31 sera had yellow fever neutralizing antibody); there is no evidence of recent yellow fever infection in Bwamba, an area in which this disease was previously considered endemic.