6320 research outputs found
Sort by
Changements climatiques et propagation des maladies infectieuses: prévisions difficiles [entretien avec le Prof. Eric Lambin]
No full textBiology and natural history of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Expert consult premium edition
No full text
Costs of treating malaria according to test results; improving diagnostic tests can reduce costs if adherence to results is improved [editorial]
No full textGenetic diversity of Ehrlichia ruminantium in Amblyomma variegatum ticks and small ruminants in The Gambia determined by restriction fragment profile analysis
No full textUnderstanding genetic diversity of Ehrlichia ruminantium in host and vector populations is an important prerequisite to controlling heartwater by vaccination in traditional livestock systems in sub-Saharan Africa. We carried out a study in two phases: (i) evaluating the usefulness of the PCR-RFLP assay based on the map1 coding sequence of E. ruminantium as a discriminatory tool to characterise genetic diversity, (ii) applying the technique to field samples from Amblyomma variegatum ticks and small ruminants to characterise genotypic diversity of the organism in three main agroecological zones of The Gambia, Sudano-Guinean (SG), Western Sudano-Sahelian (WSS) and Eastern Sudano-Sahelian (ESS). Restriction fragment length polymorphisms were observed among different strains of E. ruminantium supporting the usefulness of the PCR-RFLP technique for studying genetic diversity of the organism. Restriction enzyme map1 profile analysis indicated the presence in The Gambia of multiple genotypes (at least 11) of E. ruminantium with sites in the WSS and SG zones showing comparatively high number of diverse genotypes. Profiles similar to the Kerr Seringe genotype (DQ333230) showed the highest distribution frequency, being present at sites in all three agroecological zones, thereby making the strain a suitable candidate for further characterisation in cross-protection studies. An additional three genotypes showed relatively high distribution frequency and were present in all three zones making them equally important for isolation and subsequent characterisation. The study demonstrated the occurrence of mixed infections with E. ruminantium genotypes in ruminants and ticks
Implementation research to support the initiative on the elimination of kala-azar from Bangladesh, India and Nepal - the challenges for diagnosis and treatment [editorial]
No full textThe definitive version is available at www3.interscience.wiley.co
The role of context: neighbourhood characteristics strongly influence HIV risk in young women in Ndola, Zambia
No full textThe definitive version is available at www3.interscience.wiley.comOBJECTIVES: To examine the effect of neighbourhood socioeconomic factors on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevalence in young women (aged 15-24 years) in Zambia. METHODS: Re-analysis of a cross-sectional, population-based sero-survey of nearly 2000 adults conducted in 1997/1998 in Ndola, Zambia. Neighbourhood-level socioeconomic status (SES) was defined using the availability of running water and electricity in addition to educational, employment and occupational characteristics of adults older than 24 years. Neighbourhood-level and individual-level risk factors were analysed with a multivariate multilevel logistic regression model using a hierarchical conceptual framework. RESULTS: Young women living in neighbourhoods of lower or middle SES had higher HIV prevalences than those from higher SES neighbourhoods [lower SES: adjusted odds ratio (OR) 2.4, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.3-4.5, middle SES: adjusted OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.3-4.7]. Young women living near a market were at increased risk of HIV infection (OR 2.9, 95% CI 1.4-5.9), while proximity to a health centre seemed protective (OR 0.4, 95% CI 0.2-1.0). When controlling for neighbourhood factors, better education was a risk factor for HIV infection (OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.0-2.1), although it was not significant in individual-level analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Community-level factors are as important as individual-level factors in determining HIV infection in young women. Confining analyses to individual-level factors ignores the underlying causes and the modifying effect of context on individual behaviour and may even lead to different conclusions concerning the role of individual-level factors
Mycobacterium ulcerans disease, Peru
No full textEight adult patients (ages 18-58, 5 women) with Buruli ulcer (BU) confirmed by at least 2 diagnostic methods were seen in a 10-year period. Attempts to culture Mycobacterium ulcerans failed. Five patients came from jungle areas, and 3 from the swampy northern coast of Peru. The patients had 1-5 lesions, most of which were on the lower extremities. One patient had 5 clustered gluteal lesions; another patient had 2 lesions on a finger. Three patients were lost to follow-up. All 5 remaining patients had moderate disease. Diverse treatments (antituberculous drugs, World Health Organization [WHO] recommended antimicrobial drug treatment for BU, and for 3 patients, excision surgery) were successful. Only 1 patient (patient 7) received the specific drug treatment recommended by WHO. BU is endemic in Peru, although apparently infrequent. Education of populations and training of health workers are first needed to evaluate and understand the full extent of BU in Peru
