An influenza outbreak due to A/USSR/77-like (H1N1) virus aboard a US Navy ship.

An explosive outbreak of influenza caused by an A/USSR/77-like (H1N1) virus occurred aboard a US Navy ship in December 1977 and January 1978. Two hundred volunteers aboard the ship were studied. Virus was isolated from 36 of 57 patients from whom isolation was attempted. Among virologically confirmed patients, headache (97%), chills (92%), malaise (86%), and cough (75%) were the most frequent symptoms. There were two virologically confirmed cases with complications: one with collapsed lung and the other with pneumonitis. The study subjects were 25 years of age or less, but there was little influenza-like disease in members of the crew greater than 25 years of age. Prior vaccination with bivalent vaccine, containing A/NJ/76 (Hsw1N1) virus, did not offer significant protection against disease caused by A/USSR/77-like virus. Serologic tests, either or both complement fixation and hemagglutination inhibition, were positive in only 14 of 22 virologically confirmed cases, indicating a poor serologic response to primary infection with this strain of virus. These findings prevented calculation of meaningful disease to infection ratios. However, inapparent infection occurred in 3 of 19 (16%) individuals who denied having illness during the outbreak yet had serologic evidence of recent influenza infection.

Biomedical survey in Irian Jaya (West Irian), Indonesia.

A biomedical survey was conducted in several areas of Irian Jaya, Indonesia in July 1972 in association with an investigation of reports of a cholera outbreak. Stool specimens, blood smears and sera were collected and examined for evidence of parasitic as well as other infectious diseases. A total of 114 stools were examined and the most commonly found intestinal parasites were Trichuris trichiura (94%), Ascaris lumbricoides (74%), hookworm (58%), Entamoeba coli (15%), Endolimax nana (8%), Entamoeba histolytica (7), Entamoeba hartmanni (4%), Giardia lamblia (3%) and Chilomastix mesnili (3%). A total of 513 blood smears were examined and Wucheria bancrofti microfilariae were detected in 4% and malaria in 4% (Plasmodium falciparum 3%, Plasmodium vivax 2%). The malaria and filarial positive individuals lived in Beeuw, Waigeo and Arar, Sorong. These parasitic infections were not detected in people from Biak City and Sburia, Biak. Sera were collected from 357 persons and significant antibody titers were found for Entamoeba histolytica (4%) Toxoplasma gondii (7%), Influenza A2 Hong Kong 68 (65%), Influenza B Taiwan 68 (78%), Japanese encephalitis virus (87%) and Dengue 1 virus (79%).

Brugia malayi in seven villages in South Kalimantan, Indonesia.

Seven villages in South Kalimantan were visited in 1971 and night peripheral blood smears from 2,764 people examined for microfilariae. Brugia malayi was found endemic in all villages with microfilarial rates of 12--46% (average 25%) and the median microfilarial density (MfD50) of 6 to 15 microfilariae per 20 microliter of blood. The microfilariae showed a typical subperiodic pattern. The disease was more common in males than females and the prevalence increased with age. Clinical manifestations of filariasis were found in 20% of 1,099 persons examined. Mansonia species are considered important vectors and cats important reservoir hosts. In addition to B. malayi, Dirofilaria repens and an unknown microfilaria were found in cats in the area and strains of the B. malayi and D. repens have been established in the laboratory.

A surveillance of human influenza virus in swine in southern Taiwan.

From September 1970 to December 1971, samples were taken monthly from farm pigs, piglets and abattoir pigs in Southern Taiwan for virus isolations and serologic studies. A total of 10 strains of hemagglutinating agent were isolated in January and July 1971, following 2 epidemics of human influenza occurring in December 1970 and June 1971, respectively. Three strains were antigenically confirmed as influenza A similar to A/Hong Kong/68 virus.

Antibodies against murine typhyus in sera from Indonesians.

A sero-epidemiological study of human CF and indirect immunofluorescence antibodies against murine typhus was conducted in Indonesia. Antibody prevalences ranged from 10% to 20% in sera of Indonesians from Java and Sumatra to less than 2% in sera from islands east of Java.

Seroepidemiological survey of hospital-associated populations in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Almost 1,500 sera from hospital-associated groups in Colombo, Sri Lanka were tested for antibodies against melioidosis, scrub typhus, influenza, and group B arboviruses. A low prevalence of antibodies was found against meliodosis and scrub typhus. Crude prevalence rates of more than 50% were encountered for antibodies against A influenza, and there was no apparent difference in rates when these were analysed according to age, sex, or ethnic background. Influenza B antibodies were more prevalent in older individuals. Antibodies against group B arboviruses were found in all groups tested, and were significantly more prevalent in older Tamils, who has estimated attack rates of more than 5% per year.

Febrile illnesses resulting in hospital admission: a bacteriological and serological study in Jakarta, Indonesia.

A study of 741 Indonesian patients with fever was carried out in order to determine what serious febrile illnesses are prevalent in Jakarta. All patients were hospitalized primarily because of fever and were studied by bacteriological and serological methods. Bacteremia due to Salmonella typhi (150 cases), S. enteritidis (36 cases), or both (2 cases) was common in both children and adults. One S. enteritidis isolate was chloramphenicol resistant. Serological evidence of Salmonella infection was found in 130 additional cases without bacteremia. Serological evidence of arbovirus infection (94 cases) was common in children. Malaria was found in 12 adults, most of whom were probably infected outside Jakarta. Little serological evidence was found for rickettsial, leptospiral, Brucella, Toxoplasma gondii or a number of other infections. Clinical signs and symptoms in the febrile patients studed were generally nonspecific, and laboratory results reported were very helpful in establishing more accurate diagnoses.

The prevalence of entamoeba histolytica and Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in Central Java, Indonesia.

Sera collected from people living along the slopes of Mt. Merapi and Mt. Merbabu (900-1900 m) in Boyolali Regency, Central Java, Indonesia were tested by indirect hemagglutination tests for antibodies to Entamoeba histolytica and Toxoplasma gondii. A total of 695 sera from 439 males and 256 females, 2 to 75 years of age were tested for amoebiasis and 17.6% had positive antibody titers of 1:128 or greater. The prevalence of antibodies was the same for males and females and increased with age. The seropositivity rate for Toxoplasma gondii antibodies among 438 males and 255 females was 2% at titers of 1:256 or greater. The prevalence was higher in females (2.7%) than in males (1.6%), and was highest in the oldest age groups.

Surveillance of some infectious diseases among aircrew personnel in Southeast Asia.

A 2-year analysis of specimens among aircrew personnel in Southeast Asia is reported. Stool specimens were examined for intestinal parasites and enteric bacteria, blood smears for blood parasites, and sera tested for transaminases (SGOT) and antibodies to Entamoeba histolytica, Toxoplasma gondii, Chikungunya and Japanese encephalitis viruses, Rickettsia tsutsugamushi, Leptospira sp. and Pseudomonas pseudomallei. One to four specimens each were obtained from 537 adult males and 20 females. There were 56 subjects with intestinal parasites as follows: Giardia lamblia (3.8%), Endolimax nana (2.6%), Entamoeba histolytica (1.4%), Entamoeba hartmanni (0.9%), Entamoeba coli (0.7%), Trichiuris trichiura (1.7%), Ascaris lumbricoides (1.4%), hookworm (0.9%), and Clonorchis sinensis (1.2%). Two individuals had malaria, Plasmodium vivax (0.6%). Pathogenic enteric bacteria were isolated from seven stool specimens; Shigella groups B and D (0.9%), Salmonella paratyphi (0.3%), and Arizona group (0.9%). Significantly elevated SGOT levels were found in 0.9% and antibodies to Japanese encephalitis virus in 1.5%, to Rickettsia tsutsugamushi in 1.2%, to Pseudomonas pseudomallei in 0.3%, to Entamoeba histolytica in 0.9% and to Toxoplasma gondii in 10.1%. No antibodies were found to Chikungunya virus or Leptospira sp.

Parasitology survey and seroepidemiology of amoebiasis in South Kalimantan (Borneo), Indonesia.

A parasitology surevy was conducted among inhabitants of 7 villages in 3 regencies in South Kalimantan Province, Indonesia. A total of 2,169 stool specimens, 2,756 blood smears and 1,027 serum specimens were obtained, representing samples from approximately 10%, 12% and 5% of the population, respectively. One to 8 different intestinal parasitic infections were detected in 97% of the people. Those parasites most frequently found were Trichuris trichiura (83%), Ascaris lumbricoides (79%), and hookworm (65%), followed by Entamoeba coli (37%), Endolimaxnana (12%), Entamoeba histolytica (12%), Iodamoeba bütschlii (11%), Giardia lamblia (5%), Entamoeba hartmanni (2%), Chilomastix mesnili (2%). Other parasites found were Enterobius vermicularis, Strongyloides stercoralis, Capillaria sp., Echinostoma sp., Hymenolepis diminuta, and Trichomonas hominis. Giardia lamblia was found more often in younger people and Entamoeba coli, Iodamoeba bütschlii and hookworm in the older age group. Ascaris lumbricoides occurred more frequently in females, and hookworm in males. Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum were found in the blood smears of 4.4% of the people, mostly in the younger age groups. Seroepidemiological studies on amoebiasis were done by use of the indirect hemagglutination test with antigens prepared from the HK9 strain of Entamoeba histolytica maintained in axenic cultures. The frequency distribution of the reciprocal antibody titers showed a bimodal distribution with 34% of the population demonstrating positive reactions at titers of 1:128 or greater.