Serological evidence of hantavirus infections in Malaysia.

Hantaviruses are primarily rodent-borne and transmission is by inhalation of virus-contaminated aerosols of rodent excreta, especially urine and saliva. The genus Hantavirus, family Bunyaviridae, comprises at least 14 serotypes and the symptoms of clinical illness range from mild fever to severe hemorrhagic manifestations with renal complications. Many countries in Southeast Asia are unaware of the importance of hantavirus infections and give them low priority. Malaysia, like other countries in the region, has conducted very few studies on the epidemiology of hantaviruses - and even these were conducted in the 1980s. Using a more extensive range of hantavirus antigens, we conducted a seroprevalence study of rodents and humans and found further evidence of hantavirus infections. Moreover, the data from the antibody profiles strongly suggest the presence of different hantaviruses at the study sites.

Comparison of Brugia-Elisa and thick blood smear examination in a prevalence study of brugian filariasis in Setiu, Terengganu, Malaysia.

A total of 1,134 finger-pricked blood samples were collected from residents of Setiu, Terengganu. A drop of blood was used to make thick blood smear and about four drops were used for obtaining serum. The smears were stained and examined by the State Vector Control Unit in Kuala Terengganu, while the serum samples were tested for specific IgG4 antibodies to a novel recombinant antigen using Brugia-Elisa. Prevalence of filariasis in these areas were found to be 0.26% (3/1,134) using thick blood smear examination and 2.47% (28/1,134) using Brugia-Elisa, thus demonstrating the greater sensitivity of the latter test. In addtion, Brugia-Elisa showed a high level of specificity (97.8%, 1,106/1,131) when compared to thick blood smear examination.

Cryptosporidiosis among children with acute gastroenteritis in the pediatric ward in the General Hospital, Penang.

Stool samples from 836 cases with diarrhea and acute gastroenteritis from the Pediatric ward, Penang General Hospital, were examined for Cryptosporidium oocysts. A dimethyl sulfoxide modified acid fast technique was used for the identification of the parasites. 36 samples or 4.3% were found to be positive for Cryptosporidium. The prevalence of infection was higher (2.39%) in children with diarrhea and vomiting than in children with acute gastroenteritis alone (0.8%). Stool examination and cultures from the Cryptosporidium positive samples revealed no other parasites, rotavirus or enteropathogenic bacteria. This suggests that Cryptosporidium may be an important agent in the causation of diarrhea in young children. A routine laboratory examination for the detection of Cryptosporidium in the search for causal agents of childhood diarrhea in our environment may, therefore, be significant.

Gamma-irradiation and storage effects on some chemical aspects of carrots.

Studies on chemical changes induced by gamma-irradiation at optimum dose of 75 krad in carrots were undertaken. Sugars, nitrogen, free amino acids, amino acids of alcohol insoluble solids, and pectin fractions were determined. The results indicate that the postharvest irradiation of carrots does not dramatically affect their chemical composition during storage. However, it was observed that storage time affected significantly the biochemical changes occurring in the constituents of carrots exposed to gamma-irradiation.

Control of postharvest decay in fruits and vegetables by irradiation.

This paper deals with the effect of postharvest gamma-irradiation of strawberries and carrots on their organoleptic quality, storage capacity and chemical composition. Radiation doses of 25 krad for strawberries and 75 krad for carrots were chosen as optimum doses not causing significant changes in the organoleptic quality. We found that strawberries and carrots irradiated at a doseof 25 and 75 krad respectively, retained its microbiological stability even during storage at 12 degrees C (strawberries) and at 25-30 degrees C (carrots), respectively. It was also found that changes in chemical composition depend on storage temperature and time and are not affected substantially by irradiation.

[Fluorescence bacterioscopy, a direct method for bacteriological food analysis]. / Fluoreszenz-Bakterioskopie, eine direkte Methode zur bakteriologischen Lebensmitteluntersuchung

The present bacteriological method which is intended for the simultaneous direct detection of live and dead germs in foods, offers certain difficulties in differentiating between bacterial cells and food consituents of similar forms. Furthermore, gram-negative germs are not disclosed. To overcome these difficulties, the authors performed comparative model experiments with Gram's stain and the fluorescence method, including pure cultures and foods of animal and vegetable origin. Among the fluorochromes tested (primuline, auramine, acridine orange and acridine yellow), acridine yellow has proved to be specially suited and superior to Gram's stain. A method is described which is termed fluorescence bacterioscopy. Its advantages and disadvantages are discussed.