Dual intradermal testing of Barbadian children with tuberculin and battey bacillus antigen

Nine hundred and eight Barbadian children aged 4 to 8 years were tested simultaneously by intradermal injection of 0.05 g standard tuberculin (PPD-S) and an extract of Mycobacterium intracellulare (Battey bacillus) (PPD-B). Of the total number of children tested, 21.8 percent reacted to both antigens. The reaction to PPD-S was significant in 2.6 percent and to PPD-B in 13.4 percent. In 5.9 percent of the children who reacted to one or both antigens the reactions were of equal size; the reaction to PPD-S was larger in 17.4 percent and to PPD-B in 76 percent. It is concluded that the infection atypical mycobateria is not uncommon in Barbados and that a large number of moderate and reactions to tuberculin are the result of atypical infection. There is evidence that atypical mycobaterial infection protects againsts infection with M. tuberculosis and vice versa. No tuberculous infection was found in the children under four years of age. In the 4 to 5, to 6 to 7 and 7 to 8-year age groups, the age specific infection rates were respectively 1.8 percent, 4.7 percent and 4.6 percent. It is concluded that the policy of administering BCG vaccine to children of 5 years of age should be continued. There is some indication that a number of cases of tuberculosis in Barbados are either not being diagnosed or not being reported (AU)

A family outbreak of tuberculosis in Barbados, 1977

An outbreak of tuberculosis affecting three young children in a family is described. The source of infection was their father (O.S.) who had advanced bilateral pulmonary lesions. Before taking up residence with M.I., the mother of the affected children, O.S. had lived for some years with his wife T.S.) who about a year prior to their marriage, had herself suffered from pulmonary tuberculosis. Her case had not been notified and she had been inadequately treated. Of the three affected children, the youngest was to have tuberculous lymphadenitis whereas the other two had relatively milder forms of the disease. The younger a child becomes infected the more likely is the source of infection to be a member of the family circle. The importance of early notification and the dangers of inadequate investigation and treatment are stressed, and significant epidemiological factors are highlighted (AU)

Lead absorption in a community of potters in Barbados

In a community of potters in Barbados where lead glazes traditionally have been used, a survey of 12 potters, 19 of their family members, and 24 controls revealed elevated blood lead levels in the potters, their family members, and the neighbours who used pottery for culinary purposes. Dust from the potters' homes and work areas contained lead in concentrations up tp 320,000 ppm. Pottery was found to have lead release levels up to 3,125 microgram/ml. Six people had upper extremity tremor associated with elevated blood lead levels. This survey demonstrates the risk of using lead glazes in pottery production to family members of potters as well as the potters themselves and emphasizes the need for surveillance of occupational hazards in developing countries. (AU)

Study of birthweights of babies in Barbados, West Indies

A study of the birthweights of 6,394 infants born in Barbados during the period 1953-1962 is presented. The average birthweight of the 3,235 male was 6.64 lb ñ 1.13 and of the 3,159 females 6.44lb ñ 1.11. The birthweights of both male and female infants in the lower socio-economic groups were found to have increased during the 10 years covered by the study. This increase was statistically significant. As most other factors affecting birthweight can be assumed to have remained more or less constant during the period, it is not reasonable to conclude that the nutritional status of the mothers has improved during the period. Average birthweights of both male and female infants in the higher socio-economic groups was found to be significantly higher than those of infants in the lower socio-economic groups (AU)

Malaria eradication in St. Lucia West Indies

A brief description has been given of a Malaria Eradication Campaign in the Island of St Lucia, West Indies. The essential eradication features were the residual spraying with DDT of all houses at intervals of six months, and the parasitological examination of blood films from, and the administration of single dose anti-malarial therapy to, all persons with a fever or a fever history. The insecticide was applied in a dose first of 1.5 gm and later of 2.0 gm per square meter of treated surface. Anti-malarial drugs used were chloroquine, pyremethamine, and primaquine, the last only in hospitalized patients infected with P.malariae or P.vivax. The campaign was started in 1953 with the object of controlling the disease, but in 1956, the objective was altered to its complete eradication. Spraying operations were suspended in 1959, by which time no evidence of insecticide resistance had been observed in the only vector, A aquasalis. Before the start of the campaign parasites encountered were P.falciparum, P.malariae and P.vivax, in that order of prevalence. During the course of the campaign the parasites disappeared in the reverse order to their initial prevalence; a theory is put forward to account for this. Morbidity rates per 1,000 population dropped from 75.2 in 1952 to 0.0 in 1960, while mortality rates for the same period, per 10,000 fell from 13.2 to 0.0. (AU)

Antibodies to poliomyelitis viruses in St. Lucia

An investigation into antibodies to the poliomyelitis viruses in St. Lucia is described. This investigation was combined with one into antibodies to indigenous arbor viruses so that sera were taken only from persons who had never been out of the island. Of 227 sera tested 226 (99.6 percent) contained antibodies to one or more virus types, and 198 (87.3 percent) were positive for the three known types. The one negative serum was from a child of 1 year and 10 months of age, so that all specimens taken from persons aged 2 years and upward contained antibodies to one or more types of polio virus. Of the 227 sera tested157 (69.2 percent) were positive in a dilution of 1/4, but positive dilutions up to 1/20 were obtained. (AU)

Some notes on malaria in St. Lucia (abstract only)

The results of blood films examined in St. Lucia for malaria parasites between the years 1936 and 1956 is reviewed. In clinical malaria the predominant species of parasite is P. falciparum. During the last three years when D.D.T. residual spraying has been island-wide, no vivax malaria has been encountered in St. Lucia. In malaria surveys conducted after D.D.T. residual spraying was initiated the predominant parasite has been P. malariae. Tentative suggestions are put forward for the disappearance of vivax malaria and for the predominace of P. malariae in surveys. (AU)