Entamoeba histolytica and E. dispar infections in captive macaques (Macaca fascicularis) in the Philippines.

Entamoeba histolytica is a protozoan parasite that infects man and animals. This parasite has a global distribution and the disease it causes is usually characterized by diarrhea. In order to detect the parasite, it is necessary to differentiate it from Entamoeba dispar. E. dispar appears morphologically similar to E. histolytica but does not cause disease and tissue invasion. This study reports on the prevalence of E. histolytica and E. dispar among captive macaques in a primate facility in the Philippines. PCR was used to correctly identify both Entamoeba species. Indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) was also performed to determine the seroprevalence of amebiasis in the captive macaques. Based on PCR targeting of the peroxiredoxin gene, of the 96 stool samples collected, 23 (24%) contained E. histolytica while 32 (33%) contained E. dispar. IFAT revealed 26 (27%) serum samples positive for antibodies against E. histolytica. Sequence analysis of the 18S rRNA gene showed that the 23 E. histolytica isolates were identical to human E. histolytica isolates deposited in the GenBank and not Entamoeba nuttalli as found in macaques in other recent reports. The Philippines is a major exporter of monkeys for biomedical research purposes, so screening animals before transporting them to other locations lessens the risk of spreading zoonoses to a wider area. This is the first report of the molecular detection of E. histolytica and E. dispar among macaques in the Philippines. This study complements the limited information available on the animal hosts of E. histolytica in the Philippines.

Genotyping of Giardia duodenalis isolates among residents of slum area in Manila, Philippines.

Giardia duodenalis is a flagellated protist that causes gastrointestinal disease throughout the world. In the Philippines, study on G. duodenalis is limited. It is also believed that prevalence rates of this organism in the country are underestimated. In this study, stool samples from residents living in a slum area in Manila were collected. These were examined under microscopy for identification of common helminthic and protistan parasites. Results showed that 22.05% of 2,354 stool samples collected contained Giardia cysts. A fraction of samples (n = 133) positive for Giardia cysts were set aside. Genomic DNA was extracted from these samples and a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism procedure based on the organism's triose phosphate isomerase gene was utilized. This particular procedure is capable of distinguishing assemblages or genotypes within G. duodenalis. The highest identified assemblage was Assemblage B (86.47%). The two genotypes of Assemblage A were also detected. This is the first report on the identification of genotypes of G. duodenalis in the Philippines. The results of this study can serve as basis for future control and prevention of giardiasis and parasitism in the country.

Serological detection of cryptosporidiosis among Filipino cancer patients.

Information on cryptosporidiosis in the Philippines is limited. To date, the disease is not routinely diagnosed in the country's medical institutions. To this end, a total of 53 Filipino cancer patients were surveyed for cryptosporidiosis using an indirect immunofluorescent antibody test. Fifteen patients (28.3%) were found to be positive for antibodies against Cryptosporidium. This study contributes to a better understanding of the incidence of cryptosporidiosis in the country.

Harnessing peer networks as an instrument for AIDS prevention: results from a peer-driven intervention.

OBJECTIVE: Since 1985, community outreach efforts to combat acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) among injecting drug users (IDUs) in the United States have overwhelmingly depended on a provider-client model that relies on staffs of professional outreach workers. We report on a comparison of this traditional outreach model with an innovative social network model, termed "a peer-driven intervention" (PDI). The latter provides IDUs with guidance and structured incentives that permit them to play a much more active role in the outreach process, thereby harnessing peer pressure on behalf of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention efforts. METHODS: We compare the performance of a traditional outreach intervention (TOI) and a PDI that were implemented in medium-sized towns in eastern and central Connecticut. Comparisons are based on the number and representativeness of IDUs recruited at each site, the effectiveness of HIV prevention education, compliance rates with AIDS risk reduction recommendations, and relative cost. The analyses are based on 522 initial interviews and 190 six-month follow-up interviews conducted during the first two years of each intervention's operation. RESULTS: Both interventions produced significant reductions in HIV risk behaviors, as measured using self-reports. The PDI outperformed the traditional intervention with respect to the number of IDUs recruited, the ethnic and geographic representativeness of the recruits, and the effectiveness of HIV prevention education. In addition, the costs of recruiting IDUs into the intervention and educating them about HIV in the community was only one-thirtieth as much in the PDI as in the traditional intervention. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that given guidance and nominal incentives, IDUs can play a more extensive role in community outreach efforts than the traditional model allows. The findings also suggest that both interventions reduce HIV-associated risk behaviors, but the PDI reaches a larger and more diverse set of IDUs, and does so at much less expense.

Estimation of sodium requirement of growing chukar partridge (Alectoris graeca).

Two experiments were conducted with growing chukar partridges to estimate their sodium requirement for growth. Birds fed the basal diet (0.025% Na) had poor growth and high mortality. A total of about 0.095% dietary sodium was adequate for maximum growth and minimal mortality.