The control of a Type 1 poliomyelitis epidemic in British Guiana, 1962-1963, with trivalent oral poliovirus vaccine

A total of 485 paralytic cases occured over a ten week period, 90 percent under age 5. Vaccine was administered to 85 per cent of the children age 5 or less over a 4 week period. A definite beneficial effect was noted: the effectiveness rate was calculated to be 86 per cent (AU)

An outbreak of rabies in man in British Guiana

The second outbreak of rabies in man occurred in British Guiana in 1960-1961 on the Aruka River, a tributary of the Barima River. Eight persons were involved and all died. The duration of the disease was fron 4 to 14 days. Roosts of vampire bats were not found in the district (Summary)

Immunization against poliomyelitis during the epidemic in British Guiana 1962-1963

In British Guiana, from November 1962 to February 1964, there was an outbreak of poliomylites (Type 1) with 485 cases. Ninty per cent of the cases were children five years and under. A sabin trivalent poliomyelitis vaccine was given during the epidemic to 83 per cent of children aged three months to six years in three-and-a-half weeks. Fifty per cent of the children received the second dose of the trivalent live vaccine within the period February 2nd to the end of April 1964. No furthur cases occurred after February. In August and September, twelve clinical cases were reported, but poliovirus was not isolated. Complete recovery followed (Summary)

Infantile diarrhoea in British Guiana: bacteriological findings

In a study of the findings on bacteriological investigation of infantile diarrhoea in British Guiana during a period of 14 months in 1858-1959, the agents were as follows: Shigella sonnei 38 percent, Shigella flexneri types 16 percent, Salmonella coeln 16 percent, Escherichia coli types 24 percent of 76 positive results. Death from diarrhoea represent some 22 percent of all deaths in infants aged one year and under (Summary)

Serum protein levels in a group of East Indians in a hospital

The paper is based on the results obtained in the examination of blood from a group of "East Indian patients at the Georgetown Hospital". The object of this study is to ascertain the serum protein level as well as that of albumin and globulin and to determine whether the group as a whole showed any characteristic features. This study indicates that the mean total protein of 6.6 g per 100 ml is lower than the generally accepted normal for Europeans, and that the albumin level of 3.2 g per 100 is also lower. The level of globulin is higher than the European normal. The interpretation of the findings is difficult without further work. This study shows the need for the investigations of samples from the general population in order to obtain "normal" figures for the various races living in the Caribbean area. (Summary)

Plasma protein levels of a group of East Indians in a hospital (abstract only)

This paper is based on the results obtained from the examination of blood from a group of East Indian patients at the Georgetown Hospital. The object of this study is to ascertain the plasma protein level as well as that of albumin and globulin and to determine whether the group as a whole showed any characteristic features. This study indicates that the mean total protein (of 6.6 g per 100 ml) is lower than the generally accepted normal for Europeans, and that the level of albumin (3.2 g per 100 ml.) is also lower. The level of globulin (3.2 g per 100 ml.) is higher than the normal. The interpretation of the findings is difficult without further work. This study shows the need for the investigation of samples from the general population in order to obtain "normal" figures for the various races living in the Caribbean area (AU)

Salmonella and shigella in British Guiana: preliminary report (abstract only)

Cultures of organisms belonging to the groups - Salmonella and Shigella were studied at the Central Medical Laboratory, Georgetown, British Guiana, in 1956. Of the Salmonella group, S. typhi was the commonest encountered. S. saint-paul was responsible for an outbreak of diarrhoea in a children's ward of a hospital. The other types were S. arechaveleta, S. typhi-murium, S. coeln, S. cholera-suit, S. maleagridis, S. rubislaw, S. panama and S. oranienburg. S. thompson was isolated from the trachea of a chicken. At various times in the past, S. paratyphi A, S. parathypi B and S. parathypi C have been isolated on rare occasions. Of the Shigella group, Sh. sonnei and Sh. flexneri W were the organisms most commonly found in cases of dysentery. The others were Sh. dysenteriae, Sh. schmitz, Sh. flexneri V, Sh. flexneri (newcastle), Sh. flexneri VZ, Sh. flexneri A and Sh. flexneri 103. (AU)

Filariasis in British Guiana: clinical manifestations of filariasis due to wuchereria bancrofti

In this paper, certain clinical manifestations of filariasis have been reported. Brief reference has been made to studies in pathology and parasitology. In a total period of six years, 628 patients suffering from filariasis were examined. Seventy five percent of them had suffered from fever and ague, and 74 percent had elephantiasis of a limb or limbs. Only 1 percent suffered from chyluria. 8 percent had symtoms or signs in the breast. The night blood was examined in 278 patients and microfilariae were found in 54 persons or 19 percent of those examined. 43 percent of the patients reported the presence of filariasis in relatives at home, and 24 percent in neighbours. 38 percent of the male patients and 23 percent of the female patients were under the age of 15. (AU)

Filariasis in British Guiana: some clinical manifestations - abstract

At the Filariasis Clinic, 628 persons suffering from filariasis were studied. There were 257 males and 371 females. The manifestations of filariasis were:-(1) Fever and ague - 75 percent(2) Lymphangitis - 53 percent(3) Adenitis - 53 percent(4) Funciculitis or thickening of the spermatic cord - 29 percent(5) Epididymitis - 1 percent (6) Pain in or swelling of the testis - 5 percent(7) Swelling of the scrotum - 7 percent (8) Elephantiasis - 74 percent (9) Hydrocele - 19 percent(10) Chyluria - 1 percent (11) Involvement of the breast - 8 percent (12) Abdominal filariasis - 1 percent (13) Abscesses - 18 percent. In the series, 38 percent of the males and 23 percent of the females were children under fifteen years of age. In 278 patients, the night blood was examined for microfilariae and these were found in 19 percent. Of all the patients, 43 reported filariasis in a member of the family and 24 percent reported filariasis in their neighbours(AU)

Rabies transmitted by bats in British Guiana

The occurrence of the first outbreak of paralytic rabies in man of bat origin in British Guiana is reported. Nine persons were involved in the Mazaruni area, all of whom died in 2 to 12 days after onset (Summary)

Datura poisoning in British Guiana

Four cases of poisoning from datura are reported: from one a history of the incident was obtained. The use of datura seeds to induce unconsciousness prior to robbery is thought to have been introduced from India. (AU)