Identification of snails within the Bulinus africanus group from East Africa by multiplex SNaPshot trade mark analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms within the cytochrome oxidase subunit I.

Identification of populations of Bulinus nasutus and B. globosus from East Africa is unreliable using characters of the shell. In this paper, a molecular method of identification is presented for each species based on DNA sequence variation within the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) as detected by a novel multiplexed SNaPshotTM assay. In total, snails from 7 localities from coastal Kenya were typed using this assay and variation within shell morphology was compared to reference material from Zanzibar. Four locations were found to contain B. nasutus and 2 locations were found to contain B. globosus. A mixed population containing both B. nasutus and B. globosus was found at Kinango. Morphometric variation between samples was considerable and UPGMA cluster analysis failed to differentiate species. The multiplex SNaPshotTM assay is an important development for more precise methods of identification of B. africanus group snails. The assay could be further broadened for identification of other snail intermediate host species.

Identification of snails within the Bulinus africanus group from East Africa by multiplex SNaPshotTManalysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms within the cytochrome oxidase subunit I

Identification of populations of Bulinus nasutus and B. globosus from East Africa is unreliable using characters of the shell. In this paper, a molecular method of identification is presented for each species based on DNA sequence variation within the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) as detected by a novel multiplexed SNaPshotTM assay. In total, snails from 7 localities from coastal Kenya were typed using this assay and variation within shell morphology was compared to reference material from Zanzibar. Four locations were found to contain B. nasutus and 2 locations were found to contain B. globosus. A mixed population containing both B. nasutus and B. globosus was found at Kinango. Morphometric variation between samples was considerable and UPGMA cluster analysis failed to differentiate species. The multiplex SNaPshotTM assay is an important development for more precise methods of identification of B. africanus group snails. The assay could be further broadened for identification of other snail intermediate host species

Knowledge, attitudes and practices of professionals who investigate child sexual abuse cases in Kingston and St. Andrew, Jamaica

OBJECTIVE: To determine the influence of personal childhood experiences, such as sexual experience, onthe knowledge, attitudes and practices of professionals investigating paediatric sexual abuse cases. DESIGN AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was done in February, 1999. All members of three separate professionals employed as child sexual abuse investigators in three public institutions within the Corporate area of Kingston and St Andrew were included. The data wee collected using a self-administered questionnaire. RESULTS: The results established that there were significant relationships between sexual experiences in childhood of the investigators and their knowledge of child sexual abuse issues. The most significant findings were related to experiences as victims and knowledge of close friends or family who suffered sexual abuse as children. Victims of childhood sexual abuse who admitted their experiences had statistically significant differences in knowledge score compared with the other investigators who denied any such experience (p=0.0041). Furthermore, the ackowledgers (8/26) had significantly higher knowledge scores than the minimizers (18/26) (p<0.0003). The professionals who knew of a family or close childhood friend who suffered sexual abuse had statistically significant differences in knowledge scores than their colleagues who did not (p=0.015. The high prevalence (68 percent) childhood sexual abuse among this group of professionals futher supports the social importance of this problem. CONCLUSIONS: A significant number (68 percent) of investigators are survivor of childhood sexual abuse and are positively attracted to their current position. Their superior knowledge of the issue of child sexual abuse represents a positive out-come from an extremely negative situation. (Au)

Knowledge, attitude and practice of professionals who investigate child sexual abuse Kingston and St. Andrew

Child sexual abuse is a significant public health problem. Health care and social welfare professionals play a crucial role in the care and protection of children who have been abused. However several factors influence their duty. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of personal experiences of childhood, training and job experiences of childhood, training and job experiences and demographic factors on the knowledge, attitude and practice of professionals who investigate cases of child sexual abuse. It consisted of a cross-sectional comparative study , designed to describe and to compare three groups of professionals within the Corporate Area of Kingston and St. Andrew who are attached to public institutions that offer immediate and long-term services to sexually abused children. The results showed that there were significant relationships between personal experiences of childhood, training and job experience and the knowledge level of the professionals. The professionals who were victims of childhood sexual abuse themselves demonstrated superior behaviour in all three parameters of knowledge, attitude and practice. Furthermore, those who acknowledged these experiences had superior scores compared to those who minimized their experiences. Although the medical doctors demonstrated superior knowledge scores the social workers had better attitude scores and the police officers the best practice scores. The high prevalence (68 percent) of childhood sexual abuse among this group of professionals further supports the social importance of this problem. These findings are interesting as they represent a positive outcome from an extremely negative situation. It allows public health authorities an opportunity to develop and implement services that not only attempt to treat acute situations but recognize and promote optimum health in care-givers. This study sheds light on the need for an integrated approach encompassing not only knowledge but also attitude and practice in the training of health care and social welfare professionals. It can be concluded also that further interaction among the various groups of professionals should have a positive influence on behaviour.(Au)

Neurologic complications in oral polio vaccine recipients.

Between April 1982 and June 1983 four children 3 to 24 months of age were referred for evaluation of neurologic abnormalities found to be compatible with vaccine-related poliovirus infection, which had not been suspected by referring physicians. Patients were epidemiologically unrelated residents of Indiana, and none had prior symptoms suggestive of immunodeficiency. All had received poliovirus vaccine orally (first dose in three, fourth dose in one) and a diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis injection in the left anterior thigh within 30 days of symptoms. A vaccine-like strain of poliovirus was isolated from each patient, and each had symptoms (left leg paralysis in three; developmental regression, spasticity, and progressive fatal cerebral atrophy in one) persisting for at least 6 months. Immune function was normal in two with poliovirus type 3 infection, and abnormal (hypogammaglobulinemia, combined immunodeficiency) in two with type 1 and type 2 infection, respectively. The incidence of observed vaccine-related poliovirus infection in Indiana recipients of orally administered poliovirus vaccine was 0.058 per 100,000 per year, significantly greater (P less than 0.001) than predicted.