Epidemiologic study of the association between human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 and Strongyloides stercoralis infection in female blood donors (Guadeloupe, French West Indies)

This case control study was conducted among female blood donors in Guadeloupe. A total of 85 HTLV-1 positive subjects were matched by age (+/- 5 years) in a 1:3 ratio to 255 HTLV-1 negative controls. The mean age was 48.5 and 48.9 years respectively. Ethnic, environmental and socio-economic risk factors were studied. Four risk factors were found independently associated with HTLV-1 seropositivity: Strongyloides stercoralis antibodies (OR = 3.6, CI 1.8, 7.3), low socio-economic status (OR = 2.0 CI 1.0, 4.0), low educational level (OR = 2.0 CI 1.0, 4.0) and agricultural activity (OR = 2.8 CI 1.4, 5.6). This logistic regression analysis demonstrates the reality of the association between HTLV-1 carriers and Strongyloides stercoralis, and its association with socio-economic and environmental risk factors

Malaria in Guadeloupe (French West Indies) 1991-2000

The only islands in the Caribbean that still have endemic malaria are Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Cases of imported malaria occur on the other islands, particularly Martinique and Guadeloupe, due to the movement of people to and from endemic regions that are geographically and/or culturally close. The re-emergence of transmission cannot be ruled out due to the local persistence of the potential vectors, the anopheles mosquitoes. This retrospective study, over a ten year-period (1991-2000), included all of the cases of malaria confirmed by blood tests at Pointe-à-Pitre University Hospital. This hospital is the main healthcare facility in Guadeloupe. Fifty-nine bouts of malaria occurred in 56 patients. The annual incidence was estimated at 2 to 2.5 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. Plasmodium falciparum largely predominated, accounting for over 80 of cases. The only pernicious case observed resulted in the death of the patient. In all cases the patient had recently travelled to an endemic region, except in one case, caused by P ovale which has never been endemic in the Caribbean. African countries accounted for 43 of cases. No Asian or Pacific strains were identified. In all cases, anti-malarial drugs were not taken, taken incorrectly or were inappropriate. All of the cases of malaria reported in Guadeloupe in the last decade were imported and this region cannot be considered to be at risk of malaria infection. However, long-term epidemiological monitoring is necessary, together with specific entomological monitoring

Blood group active substances in Paragonimus westermani.

Lyophilized crude extracts of Paragonimus westermani were investigated for the presence of human blood group active substances, using an automated haemagglutination inhibition technique. This sensitive method allowed the detection of A, B, H, Lewis (a), Lewis (b) and P1 blood group specificities, in the fluke's extracts. No inhibition was observed with C, c, D, E, e, K, Kpa, Kpb, Fya, Fyb, Jka and Jkb blood group antibodies.