Microbial quality of oysters sold in Western Trinidad and potential health risk to consumers.

The prevalence and characteristics of Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. as well as counts of E. coli in raw oysters, condiments/spices, and raw oyster cocktails sampled from 72 vendors across Western Trinidad were determined. The microbial quality of the water used in the preparation of raw oysters was also investigated. Of 200 samples each of raw oysters, condiments/spices and oyster cocktails tested, 154 (77.0%), 89 (44.5%) and 154 (77.0%) respectively yielded E. coli. The differences were statistically significant (P = < 0.001; chi square = 62.91). The mean E. coli count per g in the ready-to-eat oyster cocktail ranged from 1.5 x 10(3) +/- 2.7 x 10(3) in Couva to 8.7x10(6) +/- 4.9x10(7) in San Fernando. One hundred and forty-six (73.0%) oyster cocktails contaminated with E. coli had counts that exceeded the recommended standard of 16 per g. Of a total of 590 E. coli isolates from various sources tested, 24 (4.1%), 20 (3.4%) and 69 (11.7%) were mucoid, haemolytic and non-sorbitol fermenters respectively. Twelve (2.0%) isolates of E. coli were O157 strains, while 92 (46.0%) of 200 E. coli isolates tested belonged to enteropathogenic serogroups. Ninety (45.0%) and 73 (36.5%) of 200 water samples contained total coliforms and faecal coliforms respectively, with counts that exceeded 2.2 coliforms per 100 ml. Salmonella spp. were isolated from 7 (3.5%), 1 (0.5%) and 2 (1.0%) of 200 samples each, of raw oysters, condiments/spices and oyster cocktails respectively. Oysters pose a health risk to consumers in Trinidad, particularly from colibacillosis and salmonellosis, and the need for increased public awareness of this hazard cannot be over-emphasized.

Microbial quality of oysters sold in Western Trinidad and potential health risk to consumers

The prevalence and characteristics of Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. as well as counts of E. coli in raw oysters, condiments/spices, and raw oyster cocktails sampled from 72 vendors across Western Trinidad were determined. The microbial quality of the water used in the preparation of raw oysters was also investigated. Of 200 samples each of raw oysters, condiments/spices and oyster cocktails tested, 154 (77.0 percent), 89 (44.5 percent) and 154 (77.0 percent) respectively yielded E. coli. The differences were statistically significant (P= <0.001; chi square = 62.91). The mean E. coli count per g in the ready-to-eat oyster cocktail ranged from 1.5 x 10(3) +/- 2.7 x 10(3) in Couva to 8.7 x 10(6) +/- 4.9 x 10(7) in San Fernando. One hundred and forty six (73.0 percent) oyster cocktails contaminated with E. coli had counts that exceeded the recommended standard of 16 per g. Of a total of 590 E. coli isolates from various sources tested, 24 (4.1 percent0, 20 (3.4 percent) and 69 (11.7 percent) were mucoid, haemolytic and non-sorbitol fermenters respectively. Twelve (2.0 percent) isolates of E. coli were O157 strains, while 92 (46.0 percent) of 200 E.coli isolates tested belonged to enteropathogenic serogroups. Ninety (45.0 percent) and 73 (36.5 percent) of 200 water samples contained total coliforms and faecal coliforms respectively, with counts that exceeded 2.2 coliforms per 100 ml. Salmonella spp. were isolated from 7 (3.5 percent), 1 (0.5 percent) and 2 (1.0 percent) of 200 samples each, of raw oysters, condiments/spices and oyster cocktails respectively. Oysters pose a health risk to consumers in Trinidad, particularly from colibacillosis and salmonellosis, and the need for increased public awareness of this hazard cannot be over-emphasized. (AU)

Prevalence and natural history of diabetes in Trinidad

A stratified random sample of the entire population of Trinidad was screened for diabetes between July, 1961, and July, 1962, and the diabetics have now been followed up for 5 years. The population sample consisted of 24,069 persons of all races and age-groups, and 23,900 (98.5 percent) took part in the survey. 521 (2.20 percent) had postprandial glycosuria, and 448 (1.89 percent) satisfied the criteria for diabetes. 267 (1.13 percent) were known diabetics, and 181 (0.76 percent) were unknown. Diabetes is extremely rare under 20 years of age (0.02 percent) but the prevalence-rate is 3.45 percent over the age of 20. Females show a higher prevalence (2.10 percent) than males (1.53 percent). Diabetes is more common among East Indians (2.37 percent) than Negroes (1.44 percent), and it is common in all socioeconomic groups. The urban areas show the highest prevalence of diabetes (2.67 percent), and the sugar-cane districts are almost as high (2.56 percent). Of the 448 diabetics, 133 (33.7 percent) gave a family history of diabetes. Overweight was more common among the female diabetics (52.90 percent) than the males (35.2 percent). 44.2 percent of the female diabetics had more than five live births compared with 25.2 percent of the non-diabetic females. There is an excess of females diabetics over the age of 40, and both overweight and multiparity of eight or more are responsible for it. The consumption of refined sugar cannot account for the high prevalence of diabetes in Trinidad nor for the racial differences between East Indians and Negroes (AU)

Diabetes mellitus in Trinidad

A random sample of the entire population of Trinidad was screened for diabetes from July 1961-1962. The response rate was 98 percent and 24,069 persons were tested. Of these 2.16 percent had gloycosuria and 1.88 percent had diabetes (1.05 percent known, 0.83 percent unknown). Diabetes was exceedingly rare under the age of 20 years, females were affected more than males and Indians more than Negroes. The highest incidence was in the urban areas and the lowest in the `Sugar'areas. In 1961-62 there was an estimated 125,200 diabetics in Trinidad and only 8,490 were known cases under treatment (AU)

The 1961 diabetic survey in Trinidad

During the first 6 months of survey 12,602 persons were screened for diabetes and an incidence of 2.1 percent found - of these 0.9 percent were known diabetics and 1.2 percent were newly uncovered. Racial and sex differences are discussed. It is suggested that the incidence of diabetes is higher in Trinidad than in U.S.A., Canada or Britain (AU)