The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene
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Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. · Mar 1995
A serotypic study of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome in rural China.
Apodemus agrarius was trapped in the fields and Rattus norvegicus was trapped within the houses in the villages of Jiande County, a region in the Zhejiang Province of China endemic for hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). Antibodies to hantaviruses were detected in three (16.7%) of 18 A. agrarius and 12 (13.5%) of 89 R. norvegicus, whereas hantavirus antigens were detected in the lung tissues of four (22.2%) of 18 and nine (10.1%) of 89 of these rodents, respectively. Three hantaviruses, one from A. agrarius and two from R. norvegicus, were isolated and found to be antigenically similar to Hantaan and Seoul serotype viruses, respectively. ⋯ Two epidemic seasons were found, with a major peak in November and a minor peak in June, and both were associated with Hantaan serotype virus infections that coincided with two seasonal peaks of the A. agrarius population and local agricultural activities in the fields. Seoul serotype virus infections occurred with a small peak during the months of December through May, in which in-house activities were dominant. All data suggested that Jiande County was an area endemic for HFRS, predominantly of the Hantaan virus serotype, combined with Seoul serotype virus infections.
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Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. · Dec 1994
Endemic kala-azar in eastern Sudan: a longitudinal study on the incidence of clinical and subclinical infection and post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis.
Between April 1991 and April 1993, a longitudinal study was performed in the village of Um-Salala (1,430 inhabitants) in the endemic area of kala-azar (visceral leishmaniasis) in eastern Sudan. During the two years, a total of 92 kala-azar cases were diagnosed (male:female ratio = 1.8:1, mean age 6.6 years). The annual incidence rates were 38.4/1,000 and 38.5/1,000 person-years, respectively. ⋯ Kala-azar occurred only in previously leishmanin-negative individuals. The majority of the population had a positive leishmanin skin test result, probably due to previous exposure to Leishmania major causing cutaneous leishmaniasis in their homeland in western Sudan from which they had migrated in the 1980s. It was thus postulated that previous cutaneous leishmaniasis might protect against kala-azar but this could not be proved.
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Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. · Aug 1994
Case ReportsBrain abscess due to infection with Entamoeba histolytica.
We successfully treated a serious case of Entamoeba histolytica infection showing brain abscess, meningitis, and liver abscess by oral administration of metronidazole, intramuscular injection of dehydroemetine, and drainage of the brain abscess. The diagnosis of amebic brain abscess was based on a combination of clinical symptoms and signs, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging findings, a positive serologic test result for E. histolytica, a dramatic response to anti-amebic drugs after an ineffective therapeutic history with antibacterial drugs, and application of the polymerase chain reaction method.
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Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. · Jan 1994
ReviewCommunity-based integrated control of Aedes aegypti: a brief overview of current programs.
Dengue viruses are maintained in endemic transmission cycles in tropical urban areas where epidemics periodically occur. Until about 30 years ago, there were long intervals (10-40 years) between epidemics but they are now occurring in many areas at 3-5-year intervals. These epidemics are most likely caused by virus strains with different epidemic potential. ⋯ The occurrence of these factors and the expanding geographic distribution of dengue hemorrhagic fever in the past 15 years have made it necessary to re-evaluate currently recommended methods for prevention and control. The result has been increasing emphasis on the development of effective sustainable Aedes aegypti control programs based on source reduction using community participation. A brief overview of global programs using this approach is presented with emphasis on the Puerto Rican program, one of the earliest developed.