Patterns of meningococcal infection in Sudan with emergence of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup W135.

This study was conducted during the 2004-2006 epidemic of meningitis in Sudan to follow-up the frequency of disease outbreak or endemic waves and to evaluate the new quadrivalent vaccine for actual application. Samples were collected from Darfur, El Gedaref, Kassala and Khartoum States and transported to the National Health Central Laboratory in Khartoum. Of 196 patients with clinical symptoms and signs of meningitis, conventional culture identified Neisseria meningitidis in 37 (189%), confirmed by polymerase chain reaction. N. meningitidis type A was identified in 29 (78.4%) patients, type C in 3 (8.1%) and N. meningitidis W135 in 5 (15.5%). The serotyping and molecular diagnosis patterns of N. meningitidis showed the emergence of the new strain, W135, in 5 (15.5%). The patients from the borders of Sudan, 3 from the West Darfur, and 1 each from El Gedaref and Kassala. These could be related to the movement of pilgrims through the borders to Saudi Arabia in the Hajj season. Serious consideration may be needed for quadrivalent vaccination to prevent seasonal and Hajj season outbreaks.

Patterns of meningococcal infection in Sudan with emergence of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup W135

This study was conducted during the 2004-2006 epidemic of meningitis in Sudan to follow-up the frequency of disease outbreak or endemic waves and to evaluate the new quadrivalent vaccine for actual application. Samples were collected from Darfur, El Gedaref, Kassala and Khartoum States and transported to the National Health Central Laboratory in Khartoum. Of 196 patients with clinical symptoms and signs of meningitis, conventional culture identified Neisseria meningitidis in 37 [18.9%], confirmed by polymerase chain reaction. N. meningitidis type A was identified in 29 [78.4%] patients, type C in 3 [8.1%] and N. meningitidis W135 in 5 [15.5%]. The serotyping and molecular diagnosis patterns of N. meningitidis showed the emergence of the new strain,W 135, in patients from the borders of Sudan, 3 from the West Darfur, and 1 each from El Gedaref and Kassala. These could be related to the movement of pilgrims through the borders to Saudi Arabia in the Hajj season. Serious consideration may be needed for quadrivalent vaccination to prevent seasonal and Hajj season outbreaks

High prevalence of Pseudomonas species in soil samples from Ternate Island-Indonesia.

In the present study, Ten soil samples were examined and the pH of the soil was recorded. For bacterial isolation, a sterile nutrient and blood agars were used. Gram stain and biochemical tests were done for identification. A total of 384 genus were isolated, 314 (81.8%) were identified as Pseudomonas species of which 245 (78.0%) were Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 42 (13.4%) were Pseudomonas fluorescens, 13 (4.2%) were Pseudomonas mallei, 10 (3.1%) were Pseudomonas putida and 4 (1.3%) were Pseudomonas syringe and are regarded as pathogenic and harmful to man, animal and plants. This study shows that Pseudomonas aeruginosa had a high adaptation capability to grow in soil samples from Ternate, Indonesia. The rest of the bacterial isolates (18.2%) were identified as follows: 24 samples (6.2%) were Micrococcus, 23 samples (6.0%) were E. coli, 12 samples (3.1%) were Pasteurella and 11 samples (2.9%) were Staphylococcus. Pencillium was also isolated.