ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The high prevalence of leptospirosis in humans is of great public health concern, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of leptospiral antibodies and distribution of serovars, and to assess the usefulness of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) as a screening method for leptospiral antibodies in a high-risk healthy community. METHODS: Cross-sectional study of 231 market workers and food handlers in wet markets and food premises from two localities in central Malaysia. Respondents' background information was obtained using a questionnaire. Serum samples were tested for leptospiral antibodies using ELISA and microscopic agglutination test (MAT). RESULTS: Seroprevalence of leptospirosis among healthy workers was 46.3%. Detection of seropositivity was higher by MAT (46%) than ELISA (15%). We observed high seropositivity among local workers (49%), food handlers (49.5%), females (60.8%) and those aged 34 years and older (46.3%). Local strain LEP175 was the predominant serovar, followed by WHO strain Patoc. CONCLUSION: Overall seroprevalence among healthy food handlers and market workers was high in this study. The workplace places susceptible individuals at risk of leptospirosis.
Subject(s)
Food Handling , Leptospira/isolation & purification , Leptospirosis/microbiology , Occupational Diseases/microbiology , Adult , Antibodies, Bacterial/blood , Cross-Sectional Studies , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Female , Humans , Leptospirosis/epidemiology , Malaysia , Male , Middle Aged , Occupational Diseases/epidemiology , Occupational Exposure/statistics & numerical data , Seroepidemiologic StudiesABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: This prospective, randomised in vitro study was to investigate the pH and titratable acidity of fruit smoothie drinks and to assess the effect of these drinks on enamel erosion. METHOD: Fifty enamel slabs were divided into five groups which were allocated to the sample solutions groups: Innocent(®) smoothie strawberries and bananas (SB), Innocent(®) smoothie mangoes and passion fruit (MP) and Diet Coke. Distilled deionised water (DD) was used as negative control and citric acid 0.3% as positive control. All the slabs were subjected to a 21-day pH cycling regime involving 2 min of immersions, five times a day with appropriate remineralization periods in between. Measurement of surface loss was assessed using profilometry. Independent sample t tests were used to compare mean. RESULTS: The titratable acidity for both test smoothies were 3.5-4 times more than that needed to neutralise Diet Coke and citric acid 0.3%. The pH of SB, MP smoothie and Diet Coke was found to be 3.73, 3.59 and 2.95, respectively. MP smoothie caused the greatest amount of surface loss followed by Diet Coke. Both smoothies were found to cause significant surface loss. MP smoothie resulted in significantly higher surface loss compared with MB smoothie and citric acid 3 %. CONCLUSION: The smoothies tested were acidic and had high titratable acidity. They produced a significant erosion of enamel in vitro. The results of this study suggest that there should be increased awareness of the erosive effects of smoothies especially as their consumption seems to be on the increase.
Subject(s)
Beverages , Dental Enamel/pathology , Fruit , Tooth Erosion/etiology , Acids , Beverages/adverse effects , Carbonated Beverages/adverse effects , Citric Acid/adverse effects , Fragaria , Hardness , Humans , Hydrogen-Ion Concentration , In Vitro Techniques , Mangifera , Musa , Passiflora , Pilot Projects , Prospective Studies , Random Allocation , Saliva, Artificial/chemistry , Time Factors , TitrimetryABSTRACT
A survey for Angiostrongylus cantonensis in possible definitive and intermediate hosts was conducted in Ancol, Jakarta. Adult worms were found in 43% of bandicoot rats, Bandicota indica setifera, in 14% of Rattus rattus diardii and 36% of the Achatina fulica were infected with larval forms of the parasite. The finding of the parasite in the bandicoot rat constitutes a new host record for Indonesia.
