Design and implementation of participatory hygiene and sanitation transformation (PHAST) as a strategy to control soil-transmitted helminth infections in Luweero, Uganda.

BACKGROUND: The study is a continuation of a research carried out in Luweero district in Uganda1. It investigated whether PHAST was a suitable tool for reducing transmission of soil transmitted helminths. PHAST means Participatory Hygiene and Sanitation Transformation; a participatory approach that uses visual tools to stimulate the participation of people in promotion of improved hygiene and sanitation. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of PHAST on intestinal helminth transmission in children under five years. METHODS: Three phases namely; (1) Baseline survey (2) PHAST intervention (3) Follow up were conducted. During Phase 1, the subjects' stool samples were examined for presence of helminthic ova and questionnaires administered. In Phase 2, PHAST was conducted only in experimental villages. All subjects in the experimental and control villages were treated thrice with Albendazole. During Phase 3, all steps of Phase 1 were repeated. RESULTS: There was an overall reduction in the prevalence of children infected with helminths after PHAST intervention. Also, comparison of pre-intervention and post-intervention multivariate results indicates that the likelihood of children getting infected with helminths reduced in most of the experimented variables. CONCLUSION: Health stakeholders should utilize PHAST approach to sensitize communities on the importance of hygiene to curb soil-transmitted helminth infections.

Children as Partners in the Struggle Against AIDS and Care for PWAS

In the majority of PWAs families; children give care and nursing to PWAs yet they lack adequate information on AIDS for prevention. Project: Through counselling; focus group discussions and interviews; a need for education about basic nursing care and HIV/AIDS prevention ofr children was identified. an outreach programme was initiated for HIV/AIDS awareness involving civic and opinion leaders; children and their relatives. Children are educated on basic nursing care and acceptance of parents' death. Cousnelling for PWAs and education for children are given according to need and age group respectively. Results: there is now a remarkable sense of responsibility put in children staying with PWAs evidenced by their curiosity to learn about care; nursing; prevention and IGAs through asking questions or participation with the community health workers. Lessons Learned: If children are empowered they play a vital role in society in the fight against AIDS and care for PWAs particularly as aides to health care workers. Source: Int-Cof-AIDS. 1996. July 7-12; 11(2):392 (abstract no. Th.D. 4896

Nutrient broth for the cultivation of Leishmania.

Nutrient broth containing fetal calf serum was used successfully in isolating Leishmania donovani from animals and cryopreserving Leishmania major, Leishmania donovani, and Leishmania adleri. It also supported heavy growth of promastigotes of laboratory strains of L. donovani, L. major, L. adleri, and uncharacterized reptilian Leishmania-like flagellates.

Biochemical characterization of Leishmania spp. isolated from man and wild animals in Kenya.

Isoelectrofocusing in agarose was used to characterize Leishmania spp. isolated from a kala-azar patient, a lizard, genet cat and elephant shrew. Isoenzyme profiles of 12 enzymes and general protein patterns were examined. Both methods were found to be useful for distinguishing between the isolates. The wild animal Leishmania spp. were shown to be indistinguishable from a reference strain of L. major, but the isolate from man was distinctly different from L. donovani sensu stricto. The unique finding that the lizard isolate was similar to L. major and its significance are discussed in some detail. The use of the isoelectrofocusing technique for separation of enzymes and general proteins for characterization purposes is emphasized.

Some concepts of the interaction of Trypanosoma (Nannomonas) congolense and Glossina pallidipes.

Light and electron microscope investigations were carried out on the infection with Trypanosoma (Nannomonas) congolense of laboratory-reared tsetse flies Glossina pallidipes. Trypanosomes became entombed in the peritrophic membrane (PM) to form intraperitrophic cavities which were more electron-translucent than the amorphous layer of the PM. A hypothesis is suggested that after migration anteriorly in the ectoperitrophic space, the trypanosomes become enmeshed in the PM during its formation in the proventriculus, and that the trypanosomes are extricated in the midgut as the PM advances towards the posterior end of the gut.

Vector--parasite relationships: the effect of Trypanosoma (Nannomonas) congolense on Glossina pallidipes.

An electron microscope study was made on the infection by Trypanosoma (Nannomonas) congolense of the tsetse fly Glossina pallidipes. Infected flies showed many clear abnormalities in their gut cells and peritrophic membrane. These features are described and illustrated.