Household expenditure on malaria case management in Wad-Medani, Sudan.

This study was done in Wad-Medani town in the central Sudan. A household survey and a hospital survey were conducted using structured questionnaires to assess household expenditure on malaria case management. A total of 360 cases of malaria were reported in the household survey. They were assessed by a questionnaire focused on household income daily expenditure and resources), with special attention to treatment and cost incurred. Also, a random sample of malaria cases hospitalized in the medical, obstetrical and paediatric wards in Wad-Medani hospitals were interviewed, comprising 75 adult patients and 75 children. Cases in the house survey were treated in health centers, private clinics, health insurance facilities or by self-medication. The mean expenditure on diagnosis and treatment of an episode of malaria was US dollars 5.12 for home-treated cases and US dollars 17.2 for a hospitalized case, representing a significant economic burden to family income. This cost varied according to type of treatment, type of health care provider and in hospitalized versus home-treated cases.

In vitro control of Phthirus pubis with four pediculocides: Eurax, Elimite, Licid and Benzanil.

Phthirus pubis, Linnaeus 1758 that causes phthiriasis is a common infestation disease. However, it is commonly be acquired in jails, brothels, and other similar places. The efficacy of four insecticides commercially known as Eurax, Elimite, Licid, and Benzanil was evaluated for controlling pubic lice in vitro. The four test insecticides proved to be very effective. However, they differed in time needed for causing 100 percent mortality and they could be arranged descendingly as follows: Licid, Eurax, Elimite, and Benzanil.

Morphological and anatomical studies on larval trematode of genus Brachylaima (Brachylaimidae) from the land snail, Monacha obstructa.

The metacercariae of genus Brachylaima were collected from the kidney of the land snail Monacha obstructa. About thirteen to fifteen metacercariae were collected from each snail. The metacercariae observed were elongated rather than oval. The gonads were no so developed inspite of the great similarity between this larval stage and the adults. No larval stages rather than the metacercariae were observed. The specimens were examined in fresh status and then stained with carmine and fast green as counter stain. The excretory system was developed to very great extent. This seems to be the first record of this larval stage in Egypt since 1899 when Looss collected the adult of B. aequans from Gerbillus aegyptiacus. The heavy infection of snails reflects the higher incidence of this parasite among land snails as intermediate host. Since, the life cycle of this parasite is not yet confirmed experimentally in Egypt, the species has not been identified.

Serum levels of tumour necrosis factor- alpha in schistosomiasis mansoni and their analogous changes in collagen diseases and schistosomal arthropathy.

Serum levels of TNF-alpha was quantitatively estimated by the use of solid enzyme amplified sensitivity immunoassay (EASIA) in different stages of schistosomiasis mansoni, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and schistosomal arthropathy. Statistically, significant higher levels were detected in the different groups compared to the normal control group. The level was found highest in hepatosplenic schistosomiasis with ascites (group 1c). The difference was significantly higher compared to cases of early S. mansoni infection (group Ia) and insignificant compared to hepatosplenic schistosomiasis without ascites (group 1b). No significant difference was detected comparing groups 1a and 1b, or groups 2a (RA) and 2b (SLE). Cases of schistosomal arthropathy (group 3) showed significantly higher level compared to groups 1a and 1b, although the level in group 1c was still significantly higher compared to group 3, the level was also significantly higher in group 3 compared to cases of RA but not to cases of SLE.

Opportunistic parasitic infections in immunocompromised hosts.

Parasitological and serological examination was done for 111 cases with various types of malignancies under immunosuppressive therapy and another 20 apparently healthy individuals as a control group to determine the prevalence of opportunistic parasitic infections among immunocompromised patients. Single examination showed that 74 (66.7%) harboured infection with different parasites: Strongyloides stercoralis infection was found in 4 (3.64%) cases; 3 cases (2.7%) had Pneumocystis carinii infection. No Cryptosporidium oocysts were detected; IFAT for toxoplasmosis was positive in 40 cases (36%) with titres ranging from 1/16 - 1/256 but IFAT-IgM was negative. The control group did not show any parasitic infection except that IFAT was positive in 4 out of 20 (20%) with titres ranging from 1/16 to 1/128 but IFAT-IgM was also negative. Although Toxoplasma infection was higher among patients the difference was insignificant. Generally the percentages recorded for the different parasites were found to be within the expected prevalence. One case report of concomitant opportunistic Pneumonocytis and Toxoplasma infection is reviewed.

Sensitivity of crude and purified Fasciola antigens in immunological diagnosis of human fascioliasis.

A study has been done to find the effect of purification of crude antigens, extracted from adult Fasciola gigantica and Fasciola hepatica worms on the sensitivity of some serological techniques in diagnosis of fascioliasis. Using C.I.E.P. test, the partially purified antigens of both Fasciola species were less sensitive than their corresponding crude ones. Using I.H.A., the difference between results of crude and partially purified antigens for the two species were statistically insignificant, both (P greater than 0.05). So in applying this test, there is no need for the partially purification of antigen. On using E.L.I.S.A. the partially purified antigens showed higher sensitivities for detection of fascioliasis than their corresponding crude ones. Partially purified F. gigantica and F. hepatica antigens gave nearly the same results whether using C.I.E.P., I.H.A. or E.L.I.S.A. However, E.L.I.S.A. was the most sensitive technique followed by I.H.A. then C.I.E.P.

Isolation and transmission of Cowdria ruminantium (causal agent of heartwater disease) in Blue Nile Province, Sudan.

Heartwater was diagnosed in sheep at the Umm Banein Livestock Research Station, Blue Nile Province, Sudan. Cowdria ruminantium was isolated from sheep by subinoculation of blood into a goat. Adult Amblyomma lepidum ticks fed as nymphs on this goat transmitted heartwater to a Friesian (Bos taurus) calf. Brain stabilates from this calf, either snap-frozen into liquid nitrogen or frozen slowly in a deepfreezer at -70 degrees C, with DMSO as cryoprotectant, were infective to cattle when inoculated subcutaneously.

[Experimental studies on the therapeutic modification of intestinal adhesion formation]. / Experimentelle Untersuchungen zur therapeutischen Beeinflussbarkeit intestinaler Adhäsionsvorgänge.

One of the main problems encountered by the surgeon are visceral adhesions after abdominal surgery. This problem was studied in animal experiments by inducing peritoneal adhesions in 30 albino rats. The anti-inflammatory, resp. anti-adhesive effect of corticosteroids and antihistamines was tested by application of these drugs before, resp. after surgery. Anti-inflammatory proteolytic enzymes (Wobe-Mugos) were applied pre-, resp. postoperatively in two other groups. A fifth group served as controls. A modified cotton-pellet technique was used for the experiments. The best results were achieved when "Wobe-Mugos" was applied after surgery.