Relative performance of surveys for the Old World screwworm fly, Chrysomya bezziana, in Iraq based on fly trapping and myiasis monitoring.

Fly traps are being used to monitor populations of Old World screwworm (OWS) flies in Iraq. We evaluated trapping systems for seasonality and trap type and compared the results with monitoring of OWS flies using myiases on animals. Fly catches increased during spring and autumn with low catches during the hot, dry summer and the cold winter. The effectiveness of the sticky trap/Swormlure and LuciTrap/Bezzilure for OWS flies could not be determined because no OWS were caught during the comparison period in 2009. The LuciTrap caught more flies of all other species than the sticky trap during this comparison. The numbers of myiases detected on animals in Iraqi provinces from 1996 to 2013 are provided. The high numbers of myiases in most provinces in the late 1990s were followed by lower numbers and subsequent apparent elimination in about half of the provinces. Myiases were detected mainly in sheep (77.0%) and goats (16.7%). A temporal comparison of OWS fly detection with traps and animal myiases in Babil province demonstrated a similar sensitivity and a weak correlation between the two methods. We recommend that both fly trapping and inspection of animals for myiases are used for the detection or monitoring OWS fly populations and that Iraq and the international organisations initiate an area-wide integrated OWS fly program, including the sterile insect technique, with the aim of eradicating the OWS fly from Iraq.

Hypertension among attendants of primary health care centers in Al-Qassim region, Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVE: The aims of the present work were to determine the prevalence of hypertension among attendants of primary health care centers in Al-Qassim region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Also to investigate sociodemographic associates, and assess awareness among hypertensives. METHODS: Through cluster sampling 30 primary health care centers were selected. Forty attendants were chosen randomly from each center. A questionnaire inquiring sociodemographic characteristics and awareness was completed by interview with each participant. Using standardized methods the blood pressure, height and weight were measured. RESULTS: The study sample amounted to 1114 persons, 338 (30%) were hypertensives (blood pressure >140/90), 24% stage 1, 4% stage 2 and 2.5% stage 3. The prevalence increased with age. It was higher in males (33%), single persons (44%), illiterate (33%), merchants (45%) and obese persons (35%). Age above 40 years, illiteracy, overweight and obesity were independently associated with hypertension with statistically significant value. Less than one 4th (23%) of hypertensives were aware of their hypertension. CONCLUSION: Hypertension is a major public health problem. A routine measurement of blood pressure of all attendants of primary health care centers with periodic examination of those aged more than 40 years particularly overweight and obese persons should be implemented.

Pattern of intestinal parasitic infection among food handlers in riyadh, saudi arabia.

OBJECTIVE: Identify the types and prevalence of intestinal parasites among food handlers, and test the effectiveness of the current pre-employment screening policy. METHODS: A cross sectional survey was carried out in the catchment areas of seven primary health care centres (PHCCs) to represent various sections of Riyadh city. A total of 700 food handlers working in restaurants were randomly selected from the study area. All study subjects were asked to complete a data collection form and to bring a fresh stool specimen on the specified day to the designated PHCC. RESULTS: About 66% of the selected subjects complied in bringing fresh stool specimens. Fifty nine (12.8%) of the specimens were positive for parasites. There was a significant association between the food handler's nationality and the likelihood of a positive specimen result, being highest among the Bangladeshis (20.2%) and Indians (18.5%) and the lowest among the Arabs (3.4%) and the Turks (10%). The commonest intestinal parasites isolated were Giardia lamblia (33.8%), followed by Enterobius vermicularis (27.4%). The current screening policy does not seem effective, as there was an absence of significant association between holding a valid PEHC and the test result, with 81% of the positive results from persons holding valid pre-employment health certificates (PEHCs). CONCLUSIONS: Though it is obligatory for food handlers to hold a PEHC in Saudi Arabia, the prevalence of intestinal parasites remains high. Possible solutions include health education on hygiene, more frequent stool tests, and assessment of the current annual screening procedure.

Peak expiratory flow rate in a sample of normal saudi males at riyadh, saudi arabia.

OBJECTIVE: To find out the normal peak expiratory flow rate for adult Saudi males and to compare our standards with British standards. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out in five primary health care centers representing Riyadh city in the period between 15(th) November through December 1993. Six hundred and eighty Saudi men who satisfied stringent criteria of normality were included in the study. RESULTS: The mean and standard deviation of the subjects' age and height were 28.4 ± 13 and 167.6 ± 6.4 respectively. Linear regression analysis was performed through step-wise procedure to determine the form of regression of peak expiratory flow on age and height. Regression curves were obtained and it was found that peak expiratory flow rate did not begin to decline until about the age of 25 years; and as height increased the peak expiratory flow rate increased in a linear relationship. CONCLUSION: It was demonstrated that our study group had lower peak expiratory flow rate compared with British people. These findings will serve as a basis for preparing flow rate values for our population.

Gamma-rays kill grasshopper primary spermatocytes in groups.

Primary spermatocyte killing by gamma-rays was studied in the grasshopper Heteracris littoralis in which spermatogenic development occurs in cysts containing a maximum of 64 cells during the first meiotic division. Cell killing at this stage is not random and mainly involves the death of whole cysts. The dose-response curve for cell killing has complex kinetics with at least two components but lacks any shoulder at low doses, thus indicating no repair of the lethal damage. Cell loss is apparent from surviving cysts as early as 45 min post irradiation but loss of greater than 24 cells is incompatible with cyst survival. Loss of fewer than 24 cells also is not random since certain values for cell loss are frequently observed while other, interspersed values are not seen at all.

Enzyme polymorphism in Drosophila melanogaster populations in Iraq.

Electrophoretic studies of the degree and pattern of polymorphism at two third-chromosome loci, esterase-6 (Est-6) and phosphoglucomutase (PGM), were carried out in three Drosophila melanogaster populations collected from different localities in Iraq: Mosul, Tuwaitha, and Basrah. The results show that only the Tuwaitha population was polymorphic for both loci; the other two populations were polymorphic for Est-6 and monomorphic for PGM. The allele frequency changes at both loci were followed for 20 generations in an experimental cage derived from the Tuwaitha population; it was found that there is a deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium at both loci toward the homozygote.