Retrospective and longitudinal study of salmonellosis in captive wildlife in Trinidad

Morbidity and mortality of captive wildlife at the Emperor Valley Zoo, Trinidad from 1993 to 1996 were analysed to determine involvement of Salmonella spp. A 6 mo longitudinal study was conducted to determine the frequency of isolation of Salmonella spp. from apparently healthy, sick and dead wild mammals, birds, and reptiles. The antibiograms of Salmonella isolates were determined using the disc diffusion method. Fecal samples randomly selected from animal enclosures and cloacal swabs of snakes were cultured for Salmonella spp. following enrichment in tetrathionate and selenite cystine broths. For the 1993-96 period, Salmonella spp. was implicated in 17 (12%) of 141 sick or dead animals and the predominant serotype was S. typhimurium. During the 6 mo prospective study in a mean animal population of 1,186, there were 20 (2%) and 14 (1%) animals that were sick and died respectively; Salmonella spp. was implicated in only one mortality. Overall, of 1,012 samples from apparently healthy wildlife cultured, 66 (7%) yielded 24 serotypes of Salmonella. The predominant serotype were S. seigburg (16 isolates), S. gaminara (6 isolates), and S. thompson (6 isolates). None of the samples yielded S. typhimurium. The frequency of isolation of Salmonella spp. in reptiles (14%) was significantly higher than found in either mammals (7%) or birds (3%). Sixty-five (99%) of 66 Salmonella spp. isolates exhibited resistance to one or more of the nine antimicrobial agents tested. Resistance was high to cephalothin (92%), moderate to streptomycin (35%) and tetracycline (29%), but significantly low to gentamicin (2%), chloramphenicol (0%), and sulphamethoxazole/trimethoprim (0%). The prevalence of asymptomatic infections by Salmonella spp. in zoo animals was high and the very high prevalence of antimicrobial resistance could be a problem when treating salmonellosis.

Leptospires isolated from toads and frogs on the island of Barbados

Four pathogenic strains of leptospires were isolated from the kidneys of toads (Bufo marinus) and seven from frogs (Eleutherodactylus johnstonei). Isolates from two toads and one frog belonged to serovar bim, the causative agent of most cases of severe leptospirosis on Barbados. The other eight strains belonged to a new serovar within the Australis serogroup. The name bajan is proposed for this new serovar of Leptospira interrogans. (AU)

Auxotypes, plasmid contents, and serovars of gonococcal strains (PPNG and non-PPNG) from Jamaica.

The analysis of the auxotypes and plasmid profiles of 459 non-PPNG strains from Jamaica suggest that strains have been imported to the island. Unlike in many developing countries where strains are differentiated by only a few auxotypes, 13 different auxotypes were identified in the non-PPNG strains. In Jamaica over 10 percent of the strains were plasmid free and required proline, citrulline, and uracil (PCU-)for growth. These isolates predominate in Canada and are increasingly reported from areas of the United States of America and Europe. The serological analysis of 168 of the non-PPNG strains indicated that most (76 percent, 128) were from serogroup WII/III. Serogroup WII/III strains comprised 17 serovar combinations with GS and PH reagents, whereas serogroup WI strains included only four serovars. Unusually, most WI Aedgkih non-PPNG strains were wild type or proline requiring. Strains of serovar Aedg were especially noted (in 93 percent, 13/14) for carriage of the transfer plasmid. The first 20 PPNG strains isolated in Jamaica proved to have multiple origins as they had eight variations of auxotype, serovar, and plasmid content. Most (60 percent, 12/20) of those isolated were typed as serogroup WI, and 10 of these isolated were serovar Aedfkih. Although most (70 percent, 14/20) PPNG strains harboured African type plasmids with or without transfer plasmids, six also carried Asian type plasmids (with the transfer plasmid).(AU)

Genital herpes in Jamaica: a clinical and pathological study (1982-1984)

Five hundred and four patients with suspected genital herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection were investigated in Jamaica between 1982 and 1984. Of these, 100 (19.8 percent) were virologically confirmed. There were 12 patients with primary/first episode, 45 recurrent and 6 "provoked' type of genital herpes simplex virus infections. Genital herpes in women was more severe than in men. Eighty-eight per cent of genital herpes was confirmed by virus isolation. Forty HSV isolates were identified as HSV type 2. There was a sero-response in 75 percent primary, 18 percent recurrent and 17 percent provoked type of genital herpes. Virus isolation is the most sensitive and specific test for the diagnosis of genital herpes simplex virus infection. The measurement of serum anti herpes simplex complement-fixing antibodies was not useful in the diagnosis of suspected patients with genital ulcers and their contacts. The infectiousness of the virus, clinical manifestations, complications such as neonatal herpes infections, psychosocial problems and methods of prevention are issues that clinicians should discuss with patients with genital herpes (AU)

Influenza virus infections in Jamaica between 1977 and 1985

Data on influenza virus infections between 1977 and 1985 in Jamaica are presented. The occurrence of influenza varied each year. The peak incidence correlated generally with the peak occurrence of acute respiratory illness each year. The influenza-associated neurological (17 percent) and cardiac (9.7 percent) manifestations were seen during the period of study. Antigenic variants of influenza viruses circulating in Jamaica were similar to those recorded world-wide. Continuous virological and non-virological surveillance are vital in determining the impact of influenza on associated mortality and morbidity in a developing country like Jamaica. (AU)

Salmonellosis at the University Hospital of the West Indies

During 1982-83, there were 367 cases of salmonellosis at the University Hospital of the West Indies, caused by 50 different serotypes. Multiresistant strains of Salmonella ohio accounted for 19.3 percent of isolates, compared with 12 percent, 9.8 percent and 9.5 percent for Salmonella derby, Salmonella typhimurium and Salmonella typhi, respectively, Salmonella wre recovered from stool (303), blood (48), skin and soft tissue (7), urine (6), post-mortem material (2), sequestra (1), and sputum (1). Most infections occurred in younger age groups with 63 percent in children < 1 year if age. Twenty patients developed locallising infections. The 48 blood culture isolates included 25 S. tryphi and 23 other salmonella species. Fifteen patients with non-typhoid bloodstream infections developed septicaemia, and 13 of these had underlying disease, whereas only 1 of 8 bacteraemic patients had underlying disease. All S. ohio isolates were resistant to chloramphenicol, ampicillin, cotrimoxazole, neomycin and carbenicillin, and resistance determinants were transferred to E. coli K12J53-2. It was concluded that non-typhoid salmonellas were responsible for a significant degree of morbidity during the period of this study (AU)

Pathogenic leptospira isolates from the Caribbean Islands of Trinidad, Grenada and St. Vincent

All known isolates of Leptospira interrogans obtained in Trinidad, Grenada and St. Vincent up to the end of 1979 are listed. There were 80 from Trinidad, 20 from Grenada and 2 from St. Vincent, representing at least 20 serotypes from 11 or more serogroups. Six of the serotypes were first reported from Trinidad. The leptospires were isolated from man, domestic animals and wildlife species.(AU)

Human leptospirosis infective serogroups and serotypes in Jamaica

Of a total of 5,021 samples of sera tested in Jamaica between 1960-1978, 651 (12.9 percent) were positive in significant to microscopic agglutination for leptospirosis. There were 50 (5.9 percent) positive isolates of 845 cultures. Six serogroups and 13 serotypes of pathogenic leptospiral strains were identified. The serogroup icterohaemorrhagiac serovar icterohaemorrhagiac accounted for 57 percent of infection and the serogroup hebdomadis, serovar jules accounting for 31 percent of cases. Human leptospirosis is grossly under-reported in Jamaica and only systematic surveys and surveillance can define the true incidence of the public health problem of this disease.(AU)

Leptospirosis in patients from Grenada, West Indies

Evidence of leptospirosis in humans from Grenada, W.I., is reported here for the first time. Of 139 hospital patients with pyrexia of undetermined origin, 94 were jaundiced, and 16 (17 percent) of these were positive for hepatitis B antigen (HBsAg) and not examined further. 20 of the remaining 123 (16 percent) febrile patients were positive for leptospiral antibodies; 11 of them were current or recent cases. 25 of 182 (14 percent) afebrile out-patients showed evidence of previous exposure to leptospiral organisms. The most frequently encountered serogroups in the 45 seropositive in- and out- patients were Icterohaemorrhagiae (38 percent) Panama (24 percent) and Canicola (11 percent) (Summary)

Four new leptospira serotypes from Trinidad

This paper reports four new Leptospira serotypes from the West Indian island of Trinidad. They are princetown and navet from humans, caribe from Rattus, and mangus from the mongoose, herpestes auropunctatus (AU)

Immunization against leptospirosis: continued vaccine trials in hamsters using strains isolated from Barbados

Heated whole-cell suspensions of L. interrogans serotype copenhageni strains isolated from the field in Barbados have proved to be protective immunogens against experimental leptospirosis (AU)

Salmonella infection in market swine, Trinidad and Tobago

An unusual outbreak of gastroenteritis among children in Trinidad and Tobago led to the investigation of porcine carcasses at a local abattoir. Salmonella organisms were isolated from 18.4 per cent of the samples taken over a 12-month period (AU)

Salmonella serotypes, Salmonella typhi phage types, and anti-microbial resistance at the University Hospital of the West Indies, Jamaica

Bacteriologically proved cases of salmonellosis presenting at the University Hospital have increased nearly threefold since 1957. The most striking change has been a considerable increase in the incidence of Salmonella heidelberg and salmonella derby in the last 5 years, probably resulting from hospital acquired infection. About 80 cases of typhoid fever are reported each year in Jamaica. There has been little change in the prevalence of different phage types of Salmonella typhi since 1961. Paratyphoid fever is rare. Standardized antimicrobial disk-sensitivity testing was performed on selected surviving salmonella strains since 1964. S.typhi has remained fully sensitive to all the agents tested except streptomycin. Other salmonellas, however, have shown a significant increase in antimicrobial resistance since 1970. Most of this increase was due to multiple resistance in S.heidelberg and S.derby, and the survived andissemination of these strains in the hospital environment may be related to antibiotic usage (AU)

Typing of pseudomonas aeruginosa by production of pyocines

Pyocine typing of 310 isolates of Psuedomonas aeruginosa was carried out using 15 indicator strains. Type 1 was found to be the commonest type recovered from clinical environmental sources, the other main pyocine types being types 10, 6, 19, and VA 39. Further differentiation of isolates led to the identification of sub-types a, b, c, d, and f, of which sub-type a was the most frequent. Two additional indicator strains, IA and IB were found to be of limited value in further delineation of a qualitative nature of pyocines produced by the isolates. The relative constancy of pyocine types obtained in replicate isolates on different occasions from the same site in the same patient suggested the stability of pyocine production in vivo and reproducibility of the method in vitro. The usefulness of pyocine typing in epidemiological investigations is indicated by the detection of some cases of cross-infection due to rare pyocine types in the University Hospital during the period of this study (AU)

An outbreak of acute respiratory disease in Trinidad associated with para-influenza viruses

An outbreak of acute respiratory disease occurred among infants and pre-school-age children in nothern Trinidad during the last quater of 1967. There were 556 admissions to Port-of-Spain General Hospital during this period. Half of the children admitted were under 2 years of age, and 84 percent were under 5. A broad spectrum of clinical illness was observed, ranging from upper respiratory tract infection to bronchiolitis and pnuemonia. Para-influenza viruses were isolated from 12.3 percent of hospitalised children and were the only respiratory pathogens recovered in significant numbers. Para-influenza type 1, very rarely isolated during previous years, was the predominant serotype. Of 161 household contacts on whom paired sera were available, 14.3 percent had serologic evidence of recent para-influenza infection. Although age-specific prevalence rates among household contacts were similiar, respiratory illness more frequently ensued in younger individuals. Previous studies by the Trinidad Regional Virus Laboratory had shown para-influenza to be a cause of sparadic respiratory infections in Trinidadian children and respiratory syncytial virus to be associated with rainy season outbreaks of variable magnitude. This large-scale rainy season epidemic associated with para-influenza virus represents an epidemiologic pattern not previously recognized in Trinidad (Summary)