Presence of Schistomiasis in Genital Biopsies from Patients at the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka; Zambia

Background: Ectopic localizations of the adult Schistosomes and ova in the genital tract of individuals living in schistosoma endemic areas are common. The infection can affect both male and female reproductive organs; and although it is predominant in adult women; case reports in girls younger than 15 years of age have been documented. Objective: The objective of this review was to determine and document the presence of genital schistosomiasis from biopsy specimens. Methods: Patients' laboratory records at the University Teaching Hospital histopathology laboratory for the period 2001 to 2007 were retrieved and reviewed for reports on the presence of schistosomiasis. Data were analysed by age; sex and biopsy site. Results: Thirty eight (65.5) of the 58 specimens with schistosomiasis were from the genital organs. Female genital tract schistosomiasis was more prevalent (84.2) than male genital schistosomiasis (15.8); p0.001. Schistosomiasis was high in biopsy specimens collected from the cervix

Multiply antibiotic-resistant Vibrio cholerae O1 biotype El Tor strains emerge during cholera outbreaks in Zambia.

Antibiotic resistance data, made available from laboratory records during eight cholera outbreaks between 1990 and 2004 showed Vibrio cholerae serogroup O1 to have a low level of resistance (2-3%) to tetracycline during 1990-1991. Resistance increased for tetracycline (95%), chloramphenicol (78%), doxycycline (70%) and trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole (97%) in subsequent outbreaks. A significant drop in resistance to tetracycline and chloramphenicol followed the adoption of a national policy to replace tetracycline with erythromycin for treating cholera. Sixty-nine strains from cholera outbreaks in Zambia between 1996 and 2004, were examined for antibiotic resistance and basic molecular traits. A 140 MDa conjugative, multidrug-resistant plasmid was found to encode tetracycline resistance in strains from 1996/1997 whereas strains from 2003/2004 were resistant to furazolidone, but susceptible to tetracycline, and lacked this plasmid. PCR revealed 25 of 27 strains from 1996/1997 harboured the intl1 class 1 integron but lacked SXT, a conjugative transposon element. Similar screening of 42 strains from 2003/2004 revealed all carried SXT but not the intl1 class 1 integron. All 69 strains, except two, one lacking ctxA and the other rstR and thus presumably truncated in the CTX prophage region, were positive for important epidemic markers namely rfbO1, ctxA, rstR2, and tcpA of El Tor biotype. Effective cholera management is dependent on updated reports on culture and sensitivity to inform the choice of antibiotic. Since the emergence of antibiotic resistance may significantly influence strategies for controlling cholera, continuous monitoring of epidemic strains is crucial.

Antibiotic sensitivities of cholera strains in Zambia

The article shows that most strains of V. cholera serotyped as ogawa as shown in table 1 were sensitive to gentamicin; cefotaxime; augmentin and tetracycline. Ampicillin was the least sensitive while resistance to chloramphenicol showed an increase between the first and second outbreaks. Twelve percent(12) were resistant to chloromphenicol in the first outbreak; which increased to 39 in the second outbreak