THE INCIDENCE OF SCHSTOSOMIASIS IN BAHIR-DAR, ETHIOPIA

ABSTRACT: A study was made in Bahir Dar, north-western Ethiopia, for a period of twelve months, to determine the incidence of schistosomiasis mansoni. All children aged 10 year:. and younger in Dil Chibo and Teyima Elementary Schools were stool-examined by the formal-ether concentration technique at the beginning of the study to select schistosomiasis mansoni negative children for a later incidence study. Accordingly, 139 children in Dil Chibo and 104 children in Teyima were found negative and used for an incidence study. In the incidence surveys, the stool specimens were examined by the Kato method. The overall annual1ncidence rates for Dil Chibo and Teyima school children were 194/1000 and 382/1000, respectively. The rates obtained at the second survey were higher than the rates obtained at the first survey, 164/1000 and 36/1000, respectively, for Dil Chibo and 292/1000 and 77/1000, respectively, for Teyima schools, Males had a higher schistosomiasis incidence than females (P<0.01), The incidence also appeared to vary with age. The value of incidence as a measure of transmission is discussed. [Ethiop.J. Health Dev. 1993; 7 (1):17-20

INTESTINAL HELMINTH INFECTIONS AT ZEGIHE, ETIHIOPIA, WITH EMPHASIS ON SCHSTOSOMIASIS MANSONI

ABSTRACT: A total of 400 stool specimens were examined by Kato thick smear technique to determine the prevalence of schistosomiasis mansoni and other helminth infections among people living in Zeghie town, Northwest Ethiopia. The most prevalent infections were schistosomiasis, ascariasis, and trichuriasis. The infection rates among school children for Schistosoma mansoni. Ascaris lumbricoides and 1richuris trichiura were 69.7 % , 77.7 % and 64.7% , respectively. The respective infection rates of these helminths among the residents were 53.1%, 60.6%, and 50%. The prevalence of schistosomiasis appeared to be higher for males than for females. The high prevalence of infection observed for these helminths in the present study clearly indicates the need for timely control measures.[Ethiop. I. Health Dev. 1993;7(1):21-26

SCHSTOSOMIASIS IN THE FINCHAA RIVER VALLEY, WELLEGA REGION, WESTERN ETIHIOPIA

ABSTRACT: Parasitological and malacological surveys were carried out in the Finchaa Valley, Wellega Region, western Ethiopia. Stool examination of 960 persons in the 10 communities surveyed showed an average human prevalence of 12.4% for Schistosoma mansoni. Infected individuals were present in 6 communities, but prevalence was greater than 10% in only three of them, reaching 40% among school children in one community. In endemic localities, the intensity of infection in terms of eggs per gram of faeces were 200 and 199 among school children and farm labours respectively. The age specific prevalence and intensity of infection were highest among the 5-14 year age group. The intermediate host of S. mansoni, Biomphalaria pfeifferi were collected from three sites, but transmission was identified at only one site located in the lower portion of the valley. Bulinus truncatus, the potential intermediate host of S. haematobium in Ethiopia, was also present in the area. The occurrence of infected human subjects and snail intermediate host confirm that Schistosoma mansoni is well established in the valley, particularly in the lower portion where a large irrigation development is under way. In this report, the threat posed by both S. Mansoni and S. haematobium is discussed and the preventive/control measures to be taken are suggested. [Ethiop. J. Health Dev. 1993; 7(1):9-15

Micropropagation of banana varieties (Musa spp.) using shoot-tip culture

A study was carried out at the Tissue Culture Laboratory of Melkassa Agricultural Research Centre, Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR) to investigate the effects of different types and concentrations of cytokinins and auxins on shoot initiation and multiplication, and in vitro shoot rooting of three banana varieties using shoot-tip explants. Shoot initiation was greater on Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium supplemented with 3 mg/l N6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) for Dwarf and Giant Cavendish while 2 mg/l for Poyo varieties. Among the different concentrations of plant growth regulators (PGR) tested, MS medium supplemented with combinations of BAP and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) at 3+0.4, 4+0.4 and 3+0.2 mg/l for Dwarf, Giant and Poyo respectively, were best combinations for high rates of shoot proliferation and elongation. Further multiplication of shoots required up to 5 times subculturing of 1 month each on the same media combination. In this study, about 3-fold multiplication rate was achieved during every subculture. Better rooting was obtained when the shoots were cultured on MS medium with 2.12 mg/l α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) for Dwarf and Giant while 1.74 mg/l indol-3-butyric acid (IBA) for Poyo. In vitro rooted plantlets were transferred to the lathouse for acclimatization and hardening. The best growth was recorded for plantlets transplanted on potting media containing a 3:1 ratio (v/v) of sugarcane filter cake and sand. The hardened plants were transferred and well established to the field.Keywords: Bananas, Musa spp., micropropagation, shoot-tip, plant growth regulator

Treatment of Epilepsy in Rural Ethiopia: 2 Year Follow-up

Background: Epilepsy is the commonest cause of neurological disability in rural Ethiopia. Untreated epileptic seizures read to physical injury and psychosocial morbidity. Frequent seizures have a determining effect on education, employment and marital life. Objective: To review outcomes of a two years follow-up study. Methods: The study was conducted in December 2001 at the epilepsy clinics at five health centers in the region around Gondar in northern Ethiopia. The case records of patients who had been followed up for two or more years were reviewed. Patients who missed 3 or more consecutive clinic visits were not included and were classified as defaulters. Result: Forty nine percent of patients were still under follow-up after 1 year and this fell to 38% at 2 years. There was marked variation between HCs with 73% still under follow-up at 2 years at two HCs. Of those still under follow-up at 2 years 48% had been seizure free for 1 year or more and another 34% experienced a >90% reduction in seizure frequency. 87% were treated with phenobarbitone monotherapy (median dose: 150mg/day). Age of onset of epilepsy before age 15 years and seizure frequency of one or more seizures per week prior to treatment were associated with failure to achieve one year remission. Duration of epilepsy and seizure type did not affect seizure control. Review of the records of 318 patients who had defaulted from follow-up at one HC showed that seizure control at the time of default was similar to that achieved by the patients still attending with only 5% poorly controlled compared with 3.9%. The mean travelling time to the HC was 4.1hrs for the defaulters and 5.4hrs for those still attending. Conclusion: Good follow-up rates can be achieved even after two years and that response to treatment in those who remain under follow-up is very good falling little short of what is seen in more developed countries. [Ethiop.J.Health Dev. 2004;18(1):31-34

Primary care treatment of epilepsy in Rural Ethiopia

Background: Chronic non-communicable diseases, such as epilepsy, are increasingly recognised as important health care problems in developing countries. Despite cheap effective treatment, the majority of people with epilepsy remain untreated. In northern Gondar, Ethiopia, we have established a treatment program for epilepsy at a primary care level. Method: Nurse-led clinics were set up at five rural health centers. Nurses from each health center received training in the management of epilepsy at Gondar College of Medical Sciences (GCMS). Result: Over an 18 month period from April 1998, 813 patients, aged 1-75 years (median age 20) with active epilepsy were registered and started on Phenobarbitone. The duration of epilepsy ranged from 1 month to 50 years (median 4 years) and 87% had not previously been treated with antiepileptic drugs. In only 4% due to an inability to pay for the drugs and more than 90% were unaware that medical treatment existed. Conclusion: It is possible to provide effective epilepsy treatment using existing health care infrastructure in the country with few additional resources. [Ethiop.J.Health Dev. 2002;16(3):235-240