Se Asian J Trop Med
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Se Asian J Trop Med · Dec 1997
Comparative StudyPrevalence of transfusion associated infections in multitransfused children in relation to mandatory screening of HIV in donated blood.
Any change in risk behavior related to acquisition of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is likely to reduce simultaneously the risk for other agents transmitted through identical routes. A study carried out in the city of Delhi, India on the load of transfusion associated infections among multitransfused (MT) children in relation to mandatory screening of HIV infection in donated blood indicated unchanged prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis D virus (HDV) infections among the group of MT children transfused after the implementation of mandatory screening of HIV infections in blood banks, i.e. post-implementation period (prevalence of HBV, HCV and HDV being 32.8%, 31.3% and 1.6% respectively) compared to a group of MT children transfused over a similar duration before the implementation of mandatory screening i.e. pre-implementation period (prevalence of HBV, HCV and HDV being 28.1%, 26.6% and 1.6% respectively). However, reduction could be recorded in the prevalence of IgM and IgG classes of antibodies to both CMV and HSV-2 infections among MT children receiving transfusion during the post-implementation period (prevalence of 3.1% and 37.1% for CMV IgM and CMV IgG respectively; prevalence of 3.1% and 25% for HSV-2 IgM and HSV-2 IgG, respectively) compared to the group of MT children transfused in the pre-implementation period (prevalence of 15.6% and 56.3% for CMV IgM and CMV IgG respectively; prevalence of 18.8% and 45.2% for HSV-2 IgM and HSV-2 IgG, respectively). ⋯ Study of epidemiological risk factors among blood donors showed a change in behavior towards safer sex practice with only 13.0% of donors in the post-implementation period having history of sex with one or more female commercial sex workers during their donation periods compared to 41.5% of donors in the pre-implementation period having similar history (p < 0.001). However no change could be recorded in the proportion of donors donating at frequency higher than the permissible guidelines among the two groups. The present study points out nosocomial transmission as well as limitations in the existing guidelines for screening of infectious agents in blood banks as possible incriminating factors towards acquisition of hepatitis virus infections in blood donors as well as in MT children.
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The first reported case of chikungunya virus diagnosed by serology in Thailand was in 1960 and the last one was in 1991. The disease surveillance system does not specifically include chikungunya cases and the signs and symptoms are similar to these of dengue fever/dengue hemorrhagic fever (DF/DHF), rubella, and fever of unknown origin (FUO); thus cases might often be reported under those diagnoses. During the rainy season of 1995 (Jun-Aug), there were at least 2 reported chikungunya outbreaks which might indicate that it is a re-emerging disease in Thailand. ⋯ In the Nong Khai outbreak, blood specimens were taken at the 3-5th day after onset and therefore the proportion of positive results was low. IgM antibody of follow-up cases declined within 3 months, villagers from all three areas with outbreaks mentioned that they had no previous experience of this disease. This suggests that chikungunya infection is a re-emerging disease.
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Se Asian J Trop Med · Jan 1997
Case ReportsCurrent status of gnathostomiasis dorolesi in Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan.
Gnathostomiasis is an important food-borne parasitic zoonosis caused mainly by ingesting uncooked or undercooked flesh of freshwater fishes. Although four distinct species of the genus Gnathostoma were identified as the causative agents for human gnathostomiasis, human infections with G. doloresi have been found only in Japan, concentrated in Miyazaki Prefecture. ⋯ Although most of these patients were of cutaneous gnathostomiasis, two patients presented to the hospital with unusual clinical manifestations; one case was a pulmonary gnathostomiasis diagnosed by immunoserological methods, and the other was an ileus caused by migration of the late 3rd stage larva in the colonic tissue, which was found by post-operative histopathological examination. Although cutaneous lesions such as creeping eruption or mobile erythema are the common clinical features of gnathostomiasis, caution should be paid to the presence of such unusual cases.
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Se Asian J Trop Med · Jan 1997
Application of hazard analysis critical control point (HACCP) as a possible control measure for Opisthorchis viverrini infection in cultured carp (Puntius gonionotus).
Opisthorchiasis due to Opisthorchis viverrini and transmitted through infected freshwater cyprinoid fish (carps) affects more than 8 million people in Thailand, People's Democratic Republic of Lao, and Vietnam. The Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP)-concept has been recommended by FAO and WHO to be included in programs to control foodborne trematode infections (FBT). HACCP is a multifactorial approach to control food hazards through surveillance of diseases, foods, and operations and education. ⋯ After the pond was filled with water, O. viverrini metacercaria-free fry were released into the pond. The preliminary results obtained indicate that HACCP-based principles applied to carp pond culture could be used as a strategy to prevent and control O. viverrini. Further studies should be undertaken aiming to confirm these preliminary results.