Trichinosis from wild boar meat in Gojjam, north-west Ethiopia.

An outbreak of trichinosis associated with ingestion of meat from a wild boar in Gojjam administrative region, Ethiopia, is reported. Of the 30 soldiers, 20 who ate the meat raw, became ill and 5 of them were admitted to the Armed Forces General Hospital (AFGH). Even though they presented with a typical history and clinical features the disease was not even suspected at the peripheral hospital. The diagnosis was confirmed, at the AFGH, by deltoid muscle biopsy in all the 5 cases. Trichinosis being increasingly recognized as a public health problem in Ethiopia, warrants public education and more awareness by health workers.

Immunogenicity of plasma derived vaccine in Ethiopian Hospital Personnel

Immunogenicity of plasma derived hepatitis B vaccine; serological markers (HBsAg; anti HBc and anti HBs) were determined in 432 hospital employees by the Hepanostika microenzyme linked immunoassay method (ELISA) using kits obtained from Organon Technika Laboratories (Holland). Three doses of Pasteur plasma derived vaccine (Hevac B); containing 4 mcg of HBsAg; were administered intramuscularly at one month intervals to 80 of the 102 marker negatives. A booster dose was given at one year. Hepatitis B markers (HBsAg; anti HBc and anti HBs) were determined at 4; 12; 13 and 24 months by ELISA method. Titration for anti HBs were performed at T4; T12 and T13 by the radio-immunoassay method. Of 80 vaccinees; 2 discontinued after the first injection. Sero-conversion to anti HBs occured at 4 months in 57 0f 80 (71.3 per cent); at 12 months in 64 of 73 tested (87.7 per cent) and at months 13 and 24 in 66 and 69 tested (95.6 per cent). Protective levels of anti HBs were achieved in titrated sera collected from sero-converters in 89 per cent; 88.5 per cent and 100 per cent at months; 4; 12 and 13 respectively. No vaccinee developed any evidence of hepatitis B infection during the two years of follow up. A female developed generalized skin rash and a pregnant woman aborted; both following the first injection. The authors conclude that derived hepatitis B vaccine administered to adult Ethiopian hospital personnel is highly immunogenic and protective with minimal side effects

Prevalence of HIV-1 antibodies in patients with sexually transmitted disease.

Sera from 500 (496 male and 4 female) consecutive patients with sexually transmitted diseases (STD) were examined for the presence of HIV1 antibodies. The serological tests were done using the ELISA (Wellcozyme) and confirmed by the western blot (Biorad). Sixty (12%) of the 500 patients were HIV-1 antibody positive. Seropositivity varied with the type of STD. A positivity rate of 16% seen with genital ulcer disease is significantly higher than the 7% prevalence rate seen in STD patients with urethral discharge. Infection with more than one kind of STD increases seropositivity significantly. Of the potential risk factors identified during the interview it seems that only shaving at barbers' shop is positively associated with seroprevalence. This study suggests that the presence of STDs is associated with an increased HIV-1 seroprevalence. Therefore, any effort to reduce HIV-1 infection should aim at the control of STDs.

Prevalence of hepatitis B infection among hospital personnel in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia).

Hepatitis B serological markers (HBsAG, anti-HBc and anti-HBs) were determined in 432 (60%) hospital employees by the Hepanostika microenzyme linked immunoassay method. The overall prevalence rate was 9.02% for HBsAg, 46.25% for anti-HBs, 73.6% for anti-HBc and 76.38% for "at least one marker positive". Marker positivity as well as HBsAg carrier rate is higher for males than for females. (82.0 Vs 69.9%; 11.4 Vs 6.75% respectively). The majority of the infections occur early in life, 75% being positive for "at least one marker" by age twenty. The distribution of markers is somewhat different from previous observations with non-hospital personnel. Departments most exposed to blood and certain job categories seem to be an increased risk of acquiring the infection. We conclude that hospital exposure is associated with an additional risk of hepatitis B infection.