Microbial quality of oysters sold in Western Trinidad and potential health risk to consumers

The prevalence and characteristics of Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. as well as counts of E. coli in raw oysters, condiments/spices, and raw oyster cocktails sampled from 72 vendors across Western Trinidad were determined. The microbial quality of the water used in the preparation of raw oysters was also investigated. Of 200 samples each of raw oysters, condiments/spices and oyster cocktails tested, 154 (77.0 percent), 89 (44.5 percent) and 154 (77.0 percent) respectively yielded E. coli. The differences were statistically significant (P= <0.001; chi square = 62.91). The mean E. coli count per g in the ready-to-eat oyster cocktail ranged from 1.5 x 10(3) +/- 2.7 x 10(3) in Couva to 8.7 x 10(6) +/- 4.9 x 10(7) in San Fernando. One hundred and forty six (73.0 percent) oyster cocktails contaminated with E. coli had counts that exceeded the recommended standard of 16 per g. Of a total of 590 E. coli isolates from various sources tested, 24 (4.1 percent0, 20 (3.4 percent) and 69 (11.7 percent) were mucoid, haemolytic and non-sorbitol fermenters respectively. Twelve (2.0 percent) isolates of E. coli were O157 strains, while 92 (46.0 percent) of 200 E.coli isolates tested belonged to enteropathogenic serogroups. Ninety (45.0 percent) and 73 (36.5 percent) of 200 water samples contained total coliforms and faecal coliforms respectively, with counts that exceeded 2.2 coliforms per 100 ml. Salmonella spp. were isolated from 7 (3.5 percent), 1 (0.5 percent) and 2 (1.0 percent) of 200 samples each, of raw oysters, condiments/spices and oyster cocktails respectively. Oysters pose a health risk to consumers in Trinidad, particularly from colibacillosis and salmonellosis, and the need for increased public awareness of this hazard cannot be over-emphasized. (AU)

Demons or dopamine? perceptions of mental illness and implications for treatment in a developing country - abstract

A preliminary study involving a cross-section of 288 persons showed that a majority believed in demons and that mental illness could be caused by demoniacal possession. 71 percent believed in the existence of demons and 65 percent thought that demons could possess people. Those employed at the hospital were particularly strong in their beliefs of demoniacal existence (82.4 percent) and demoniacal possession (75.7 percent) respectively. Females were significantly higher in their beliefs of demoniacal states than males (p<0.05) and teenagers had a significantly lower score than adults. Such beliefs often delay contact with primary health care givers and can have negative impact on on treatment and outcome. Current medical practice tends to reject such beliefs and treatment by local healers. The local psychiatrist is aware that the belief in demoniacal possession is widespread and many perceive mental illness to result from such possession. The psychiatrist in the developing country must devise ways of intervention which are acceptable to the beliefs of the population. A treatment paradigm of culture therapy is proposed which attempts to incorporate religo-magical healing and empirical-scientific treatment. (Au)

The hostage crisis: psychological reactions to the trauma

This paper describes some of the psychological reactions common to victims in a hostage crisis. It focusses basically on hostage coping behaviours and post-traumatic stress disorders, that seem more characteristic of the members of the armed forces. A very brief reference to treatment modalities has been included for the interested clinician. The responses exhibited by an individual confronted with a life threatening situation which generates severe anxiety, is determined by personality of the victim, duration and to a greater extent, intensity of the stress. Understandably, victims of prolonged captivity will utilize different adaptive behaviours to victims who were confronted by a terrifying but relatively brief threat. Unless adaptive behaviours is adjusted to the duration and intensity of the threat, some individuals will be unable to withstand the physical and emotional stress. Initial coping response usually induces sustained and directed activity, increased vigilance and greater alertness to outside events as the body prepares for strenous activity. According to Selye (1956), individuals cannot maintain this response over a prolonged period of time. Unless other adaptive behaviours are utilized, a persistent threat will result in physical exhaustion, thinking and judgement will deteriorate, with erratic and impulsive behaviour manifesting soon after, the victims may become indiscriminating and emotionally and behaviourally labile; they may even panic - not the kind of response that makes for survival (White 1956). (AU)

Quantitative estimation of free and bound serum aldehyde

On heating human serum with As2O3 in the presence of methanol, the level of aldehyde is increased. The increase, expressed as a percentage of the total aldehyde content, is referred to as the bound aldehyde. In the sera of patients with early malignancy, the value of bound aldehyde is found to be significantly lower than that of normal sera, but as metastases occur, it rises above the normal value. In the sera of patients with malignancy, but who responded to treatment, the value for bound aldehyde is similar to that found in the sera of patients with non-malignant disease (AU)