High frequency of multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates in Georgetown, Guyana.

Emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates constitutes a threat to public health worldwide. This study aimed at acquiring first epidemiological data for Guyana. Thirty-six M. tuberculosis isolates from patients of the Georgetown Chest Clinic were subjected to susceptibility testing on solid agar and in broth media. Resistance to at least one first-line drug was observed in 8 (22.2%, 95% confidence interval 8.3-36.1%) and simultaneous resistance to rifampicin and isoniazid (MDR) in 4 (11.1%, 95% confidence interval 0.6-21.6%) of the 36 isolates. The risk of infection with resistant isolates was significantly related to earlier antituberculosis therapy (P=0.040). These data indicate a high proportion of resistant M. tuberculosis isolates in Guyana and call for the implementation of control strategies based on an improved laboratory diagnosis of TB.

High frequency of multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates in Georgetown, Guyana

Emergence of multi-drug resistance (MDR) Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates constitutes a threat to public health worldwide. This study aimed at acquiring first epidemiological data for Guyana. Thirty-six M. tuberculosis isolates from patients of the Georgetown Chest Clinic were subjected to susceptibility testing on solid agar and in broth media. Resistance to at least one first-line drug was observed in 8 (22.2 percent, 95 percent confidence interval 8.3 -36.1 percent) and simultaneous resistance to rifampicin and isoniazid (MDR) in 4 (11.1 percent, 95 percent confidence interval 0.6-21.6 percent) of the 36 isolates. The risk of infection with resistant isolates was significantly related to earlier antituberculosis therapy (P=0.040). These data indicate a high proportion of resistant M.tuberculosis isolates in Guyana and call for the implementation of control strategies based on an improved laboratory diagnosis of TB(AU)

Reappearance of indigenous vivax malaria on the coastlands of Guyana after 33 years

Indigenous transmission of malaria is confirmed on the Coastlands of Guyana for the first time since 1963. A small but most significant outbreak of vivax malaria is reported from Cane Grove, Mahaica , East Coast Demerara in March, 1996 and incriminates Anopheles aquasalis Curry as the vector: To Mrach, 1999, no further outbreak was noted from this locality confirming the outburst of sporadic cases possile by this minor vector in the presence of a gametocyte parasite pool. This situation has become evident throughout Anopheles aquasalis distrubution along the Coastlands of Guyana. Therefore the present situation demands careful and continuous monitoring and evaluation. Also, it is suggested that a significant check on the number of imported cases from the interior endemic areas to the Coastlands will minimize the presence of these sporadic outbursts of malaria cases.....(AU)

Observations on Anopheles aquasalis curry and its transmission in Guyana, South-America

Review of the vector status and investigations on An.aquasalis in Guyana was undertaken. The data revealed that the incrimination of aquasalis in malaria transmission was largely circumstancial and that the actual possiblity for such transmission, even within optimal conditions, may be very low.....(AU)

Highly prevalent falciparum malaria in north west Guyana: its development history and control problems

After being absent from North West Guyana for over decades, falciparum malaria returned in force in 1986 and soon developed a high prevalence affecting a large share of the region's inhabitants. This falciparum upsurge was accompanied by a significant rise in the number of vivax cases that helped bring the annual parasite index to figures ranging from 260 positive smears per 1 000 inhabitants in 1986 to 973 in 1988 and 776 in 1991. The chloroquine-resistant P. falciparum strain responsible apparently travelled from the area of the Rupununi River in Southern Guyana to the more northern Cuyuni/Mazaruni/Potaro area in 1985, and from there was brought into the North West Region, probably by itinerant miners. Circumstances leading to the present endemic demonstrate how transient populations, resistant parasites, and economic restraints can interfere with malaria control, and how rapidly high malaria prevalences can establish themselves in receptive tropical areas vulnerable to attack

Highly prevalent falciparum malaria in North West Guyana: Its development history and control problems

After being absent from North West Guyana for over two decades, falciparum malaria returned in force in 1986 and soon developed a high prevalence affecting a large share of the region's inhabitants. This falciparum upsurge was accompanied by a significant rise in the number of vivax cases that helped bring the annual parasite index to figures ranging from 260 positive smears per 1000 inhabitants in 1986 to 973 in 1988 and 776 in 1991. The chloroquine-resistant P. falciparum strain responsible, apparently travelled from the area of the Rupununi River in Southern Guyana to the more northern Cuyuni/Mazaruni Potaro area in 1985, and from there was brought into the North West Region, probably by itinerant miners. Circumstances leading to the present endemic demonstrate how transient populations, resistant parasites, and economic restraints can interfere with malaria control, and how rapidly high malaria prevalences can establish themselves in receptive tropical areas vulnerable to attack (AU)

Highly prevalent falciparum malaria in north west Guyana: its development history and control problems

After being absent from North West Guyana for over decades, falciparum malaria returned in force in 1986 and soon developed a high prevalence affecting a large share of the region's inhabitants. This falciparum upsurge was accompanied by a significant rise in the number of vivax cases that helped bring the annual parasite index to figures ranging from 260 positive smears per 1 000 inhabitants in 1986 to 973 in 1988 and 776 in 1991. The chloroquine-resistant P. falciparum strain responsible apparently travelled from the area of the Rupununi River in Southern Guyana to the more northern Cuyuni/Mazaruni/Potaro area in 1985, and from there was brought into the North West Region, probably by itinerant miners. Circumstances leading to the present endemic demonstrate how transient populations, resistant parasites, and economic restraints can interfere with malaria control, and how rapidly high malaria prevalences can establish themselves in receptive tropical areas vulnerable to attack

Reappearance of unprecedented Falciparum malaria: 28 years after the last case in the Cuyuni/Mazaruni/Potaro, Guyana, South America

An outbreak of unprecedented Falciparum malaria was reported after 28 years absence from the Cuyuni/Mazaruni/Potaro among miners. The introduced cases were locally imported from the South Rupununi, Guyana following the gold-rush. Anophales darlingi was found exclusively. (AU)

The first autochthonous case of Chagas' disease with notes on possible vectors in Guyana

In Guyana, the first autochthonous case of Chagas' disease was discovered in the North West Region. A vector survey showed the presence of two important genera of triatomid bugs widely distributed in various habitats throughout the area (AU)

The first case of congenital/connatal malaria from Guyana, South America

The first case of congenital/connatal malaria from Guyana, South America was discovered in the capital city of Georgetown. The infection of the mother was acquired during a visit to the North West, an area of exclusive vivax malaria and of increasing endemicity (AU)

Some observations on the biting habits of S. incrustatum and S. Amazonicum complex in the Lethem area, Rupununi district, Guyana, South America

Two species complexes: S. incrustatum and S. amazonicum form the Lethem area, Rupununi district, Guyana have been observed to show simmilar biting habits to African species mainly the damnosum complex but unlike those in the Americas. The observations are significant since it indicated that these potential vectors of onchocerciasis, "River Blindness", have the capacity for optimum trasmission of microfilariae of Onchocerca volvulus in the Rupununi,Guyana (AU)

Abate for the control of blackfly larvae in the river Burru, Lethem area, Rupununi, Guyana

Abate (emulsifiable concentrate) for the control of Blackfly larvae was used in the river Burru, Lethem, Rupununi, Guyana. The results showed that it was not effective at 0.5 p.p.m. against larvae of S. incrustatum (AU)