The Sporozoite Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay : Application in Malaria Epidemiology

Recent biotechnological breakthroughs have led to the development of various methods for detection and identification of human pathogens in their vectors. Monoclonal antibodies produced against malaria sporozoite antigens have permitted the development of several sensitive, species specific immunological tests (IFA, IRMA, ELIS A). One of these, a two-site enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELIS A) has been developed as a useful epidemiological tool in the identification of malaria-infected mosquitoes. This method employs highly species specific monoclonal antibodies that recognize the repetitive immunodominant epitope of the circumsporozoite (CS) protein. Monoclonal antibodies have been developed for all four species of human malaria The key feature of the ELISA technique is the use of an enzyme indicator for an immunological reaction. The antigen capture or "sandwich" ELISA configuration uses the purified monoclonal both as the solid phase and, conjugated to enzyme, as a marker for the presence of CS protein in a mosquito homogenate incubated in the wells of a microtitration plate. This technology has shown advantages over other methods for epidemiological data collection. Mosquitoes can be caught, dried and stored until a time convenient for examination. The sporozoite rate by Plasmodium species can be identified easily, and when combined with the man-biting rate provides the sporozoite inoculation rate, an important entomologic estimate of the number of potential infective bites a person could expect over a given period of time. Presently, mosquitoes can be tested individually or pooled up to 20 anophe lines. The assay is sensitive enough to detect 1 infected mosquito per pool or as few as 25 sporozoites per 50 pi of mosquito extract. Basic principles and procedures are covered concerning solid substrate, adsorption to solid substrate, buffers and wash solutions, conjugates and enzyme substrates. The advantages and limitations of this technique in present malaria studies is discussed

The Use of Species Sanitation and Insecticides for Malaria Control in Coastal Areas of Java

Aktivitas pengendalian penyakit malaria dimulai sejak awal abad ke-20. Beberapa peneliti malaria terkemuka memulai karimya di pulau Jawa, dan banyak pakar lain memperoleh keuntungan dari berbagai pengalaman dalam aktivitas pengendalian malaria di Indonesia. Salah satu peristiwa terpenting yang telah terjadi adalah suksesnya pengendalian di sebagian besar daerah di pulau Jawa, yang merupakan salah satu daerah terpadat penduduknya di dunia. Alasan-alasan yang sebenarnya dari keberhasilan dan kegagalan dalam pengendalian malaria di Jawa sering dikemukakan dalam literatur dan jarang mendapat perhatian sepenuhnya. Informasi yang disajikan di sini mengulas tentang faktor-faktor penting ekologi malaria di sepanjang pantai pulau Jawa, dan terutama menyangkut USAha-USAha pengendalian terhadap vektor utama, yaitu nyamuk Anopheles sundaicus. Penggunaan insektisida secara tepat dan bijaksana, perbaikan lingkungan untuk mengurangi habitat perkembangan larva, dan kebiasaan masyarakat yang menyangkut pengaturan/ pengolahan tanah dan tambak mempakan faktor-faktor penting untuk mencapai keberhasilan yang cukup tinggi. Usaha-USAha pemberantasan terhadap An. sundaicus dapat berhasil dengan adanya pemahaman biologi vektor dan ekologi pantai muara yang dipadukan dengan Perubahan cara hidup dan pengendalian populasi dalam masyarakat. Meskipun pengendalian vektor sepanjang pantai utara pulau Jawa telah tercapai, akan tetapi ketidakmampuan untuk mengatasi kendala-kendala teknis dan lingkungan telah menghalangi keberhasilan USAha-USAha pengendalian An. sundaicus di sepanjang pantai selatan pulau Jawa

HIV treatment outcomes following antiretroviral therapy initiation and monitoring: A workplace program in Papua, Indonesia

Background Papua Province, Indonesia is experiencing an on-going epidemic of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection, with an estimated 9-fold greater prevalence than the overall national rate. This study reviewed the treatment outcomes of an HIV-infected cohort on Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) and the predictors in terms of immunological recovery and virological response. Methods ART-naive individuals in a workplace HIV program in southern Papua were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were assessed at 6, 12 and 36 months after ART initiation for treatment outcomes, and risk factors for virological suppression (viral load (VL) = 1 log decrease in VL at 6 months (OR 19.25, p<0.001). Higher baseline CD4 was significantly correlated with better immunological outcomes, and lower likelihood of experiencing immunological failure (p <0.001). Conclusion Virological response at six months after beginning ART is the strongest predictor of viral suppression at 12 and 36 months, and may help in identifying patients needing additional adherence therapy support. Higher baseline CD4 positively affects the immunological outcomes of patients. The findings indicate HIV control programs should prioritize the availability of VL testing and begin ART regardless of CD4 counts in infected patients

Gray Wolves, Canis lupus, Killed by Cougars, Puma concolor, and a Grizzly Bear, Ursus arctos, in Montana, Alberta, and Wyoming

Four cases where large predators caused Grey Wolf (Canis lupus) mortality are recorded. We describe two incidents of Cougars (Puma concolar) killing Wolves in Montana and one incident of a Cougar killing a Wolf in Alberta. We report the first recorded incident of a Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos) killing a Wolf in the western United States

20 Years of Progress in Malaria Research

U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No. 2 Detachment (NAMRU), in collaboration with National Institute of Health Research and Development (NIHRD) and many other Indonesian government agencies and universities, has conducted studies of malaria throughout Java, Sumatra, Sulawesi, Kalimantan, Flores, Timor, and Irian Jaya. Most studies have characterized the disease epidemiologically by defining the parasitologic distribution of the disease in the population, and by defining the entomologic parameters of local transmission. Studies of patterns of resistance to antimalarials have also been done at many field sites. Several studies on the clinical management of malaria occurred in Rumah Sakit Umum Propinsi in Jayapura. In addition to these studies which impact upon local public health planning policy, immunologic studies routinely occurred in support of the global effort to develop a vaccine against malaria. This report summarizes the progress made in these areas of research during the first 20 years of NAMRU in Indonesia

A Focus of Human Infection by \u3ci\u3eHaplorchis taichui\u3c/i\u3e (Trematoda: Heterophyidae) in the Southern Philippines

We report an exceptionally high rate of infection by Haplorchis taichui (Nishigori, 1924) in human populations on Mindanao Island, southern Philippines. This intestinal fluke is seldom encountered, and this is the first report of high prevalence of infection (36%) in humans by H. taichui in the Philippines. The likely source of haplorchine infection has been linked to consumption of raw or undercooked freshwater fish containing infective metacercariae. The most common clinical symptoms appeared as upper abdominal discomfort or pain and borborygmi. Praziquantel (75 mg/kg divided in 3 doses in 1 day) was a well-tolerated and effective treatment for infection by H. taichui

The Role of the Private Sector in Supporting Malaria Control in Resource Development Settings.

Industrial operations of the private sector, such as extraction, agriculture, and construction, can bring large numbers of people into new settlement areas and cause environmental change that promotes the transmission of vector-borne diseases. Industry-related workers and communities unduly exposed to infection risk typically lack the knowledge and means to protect themselves. However, there is a strong business rationale for protecting local resident employees through integrated vector control programs, as well as an ethical responsibility to care for these individuals and the affected communities. We discuss the role and challenges of the private sector in developing malaria control programs, which can include extensive collaborations with the public sector that go on to form the basis of national vector control programs or more broadly support local healthcare systems

Ecology And Infection Rates Of Natural Vectors Of Filariasis In Tanah Intan, South Kalimantan (Borneo), Indonesia

Data ekologi nyamuk vektor dan tingkat infeksi filaría secara alami dan secara buatan telah diperoleh dari perkebunan karet di Kalimantan Selatan, Indonesia. Berbagai macam cara penangkapan dalam kondisi ekologi yang berbeda telah dipakai dalam pengumpulan 51 jenis nyamuk (N = 95.735). Pembedahan nyamuk, infeksi buatan dan identifikasi larva filaría mengikuti prosedur dan kunci yang sudah baku. Infeksi filaría Brugia, Breinlia dan Cardiofílaria secara alami ditemukan pada nyamuk Coquillettidia crassipes. Dari penelitian ini dapat dijelaskan hasil infeksi buatan, kepadatan populasi nyamuk secara musiman dan perbandingan cara penangkapan nyamuk