International Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology

International Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology Vol. 1 (3), pp. 031-034, December, 2012. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Infectiousness of brain and salivary gland suspension from rabies suspected dogs

Faris Esayas¹, Adem Hiko¹*, Abraham Ali², Adem Kedir³ and Linda Kokorevica⁴

¹Departments of Veterinary Epidemiology, Microbiology and Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Haramaya University, P.O. Box. 289-Haramaya University-Ethiopia.

²Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute (EHNRI), P. O. Box. 1242, Addis Ababa-Ethiopia.

³Departments of Statistics, College of Information Communication, Haramaya University, P. O. Box. 138

Dire Dawa-Ethiopia. 

⁴Preclinical Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the Latvian University of Agriculture P.O. Box. 3004,

Jelgava – Latvia P.S. Latvia.

 *Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]. Tel: 00 251 910 10 13 68.

Received 16 October, 2012; Accepted 11 December, 2012

Abstract

Experimental study was conducted on rabies at Ethiopia Health and Nutrition Research Institute to assess the infectiousness of brain and salivary gland tissue suspensions from 13 rabies suspected cases of dog. Fluorescent antibody test (FAT) and mice inoculation test (MIT) were applied. Suspensions from each tissue of individual dog head was prepared and inoculated into intracranial in paired 10 mice pre head of dog. Rabies symptoms from these mice were considered over 30 days of observation and used as evaluation of infectiousness of the suspension. Among both suspensions prepared from 13 rabies suspected cases, 61.5% of each brain and salivary gland tissue were determined rabies positive using FAT. A 53.8% of the brains and 69.2% of salivary glands were found positive by MIT, having a significant difference in sensitivity (P<0.05). Out of the 260 mice inoculated, 55% showed clinical signs of rabies. Of which, 46% (60/130) were those mice inoculated with brain suspension and 63% (83/130) with salivary glands by proportion, showing significant difference (P < 0.05). From 260 inoculated mice, 74% found dead, of which 67% (88/130) and 80% (105/130) was inoculated with brain and salivary gland suspensions, respectively. The salivary glands suspensions were determined to be highly infectiousness than that of the brain (P<0.05). It was concluded that salivary glands suspensions is highly infectiousness than that of brain which could be from the higher virus titer in the salivary gland during symptoms and virus shading by infected cases.

Key words: Rabies virus, brain, salivary gland, infectiousness.

International Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology Vol. 1 (2), pp. 025-030, November, 2012. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Validity of self-reported height and weight and factors associated with errors in self-report

Anil Chankaramangalam Mathew¹*, Thazhuthekudiyil Sathyan Anithadevi², Rowther Shamna Safar², Singanallur Lakshmanan Ravi Shankar¹, Moosa Saira Banu¹ and Yunsheng Ma³

¹Department of Community Medicine, Peelamedu Samanaidu Govindaswamynaidu Institute of Medical Science and Research, Coimbatore-641004, Tamil Nadu, India

²Department of Statistics, St. Thomas College, Pala, Kottayam-686574, Kerala, India

³Department of Medicine, Division of Preventive and Behavioural Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01655, USA.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]   

Received 01 October, 2012; Accepted 05 November, 2012

Abstract

The aim of this investigation is to assess the validity of self-reported height and weight and to examine factors associated with errors in self-report. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, South India, from June 20 to August 20, 2011. The study involved 389 men and 355 women aged 20 years and above. We found that self-reported height and weight were significantly correlated with measured height and weight for men and women [Pearson’s correlation coefficient(r) for men and women: 0.61 and 0.44 in height, 0.91 and 0.85 in weight, 0.76 and 0.64 in body mass index (BMI), respectively]. The prevalence of obesity based on self-reported height and weight were 7.9 and 15.8% for men and women, respectively, which was slightly smaller than that based on measured data 7.7 and 19.7%, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity of obesity based on self-report for both men and women were 97, 62% in men and 89, 64% in women, respectively. Participants with higher measured BMI significantly underestimated their weight compared to those with smaller BMI. It is also observed that among both men and women with measured BMI above 18.5 kg/m² were likely to underestimate their weight and BMI below 18.5 kg/m² were likely to overestimate their weight. However, the presence of diabetes, hypertension and heart disease was not associated with the difference between measured and self-reported height and weight for both men and women. Our findings indicate that self-reported weight has an acceptable agreement with measured data, but self-reported height has only a moderate agreement with measured data. There were no significant differences by presence of chronic disease and educational level between the self-reported and measured height and weight in both men and women.

Key words: Validity, body weight, body height, self-report, obesity.

International Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology Vol. 1 (2), pp. 020-024, November , 2012. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Detection and management of a norovirus gastroenteritis outbreak, Special Olympics World Summer Games, Greece, June 2011

Kassiani Mellou¹*, Maria Potamiti-Komi¹, Theologia Sideroglou¹, Athina Kallimani¹, Agoritsa Baka¹, Dimitris Iliopoulos¹, Evaggelos Liapis¹, Georgios Rigakos¹, Aikaterini Karageorgou¹, Maria Tseroni¹, Anastasia Chatziefstratiou¹, Sophia Iliopoulou¹, Elisavet Kamolinou¹, Kostantinos Tsitlakidis², Dimitris Zarifis³ and Stefanos Bonovas¹

¹Hellenic Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (HCDCP), 3-5 Agrafon Str., Marousi, P.C. 15123, Athens, Greece.

¹Medical Services, Accommodation Venues, Special Olympics World Summer Games 2011, 3-5 Agrafon Str., Marousi, P.C. 15123, Athens, Greece.

²Public Health Department, Prefecture of Magnesia, 135 2as Noemvriou, Volos, P.C. 38333, Magnesia, Greece.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]

Received 18 October, 2012; Accepted 6 November, 2012

Abstract

The 2011 Special Olympics Summer Games were hosted in Greece, from 25 June to 4 July. A syndromic surveillance system was implemented for the needs of the Games. On 26 June a cluster of viral gastroenteritis cases among the members of the British delegation was detected. The delegation had arrived in Athens on 24 June from the island where they had been on holidays since 20 June. Control measures were implemented. Descriptive epidemiological data were gathered and a 1:1 case-control study was conducted. Controls were selected via simple random sampling, using a list of the British delegation members and a random number table. Data showed that this was a common point source outbreak. Cases were exposed on 24 June during their return to Athens. The only recognised statistically significant risk factor was a prior contact with a symptomatic case (OR=14.6, 95% CI 1.81-118.1). One specific case that reported vomiting during the trip was identified as the probable source of the outbreak. Two stool samples were positive for norovirus. Control measures resulted to the restriction of the outbreak and no cases were notified among the members of the other delegations. The syndromic surveillance system detected the outbreak on the first day of the Games. The investigation revealed the lack of laboratory capacity for virological testing of stool samples and the effectiveness of syndromic surveillance to identify the outbreak.

Key words: Norovirus, outbreak, olympic games, syndromic, control, mass-gathering.

International Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology Vol. 1 (2), pp. 014-019, November, 2012. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Characteristics of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) patients and predictors of common bile duct (CBD) stones in a Tertiary Hospital, Saudi Arabia

Wael. A. Shahin^1,2* and Hassan. A. Bokhary¹

¹Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Alnoor Specialist Hospital, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

²Department of Tropical Medicine, Benha Faculty of Medicine, Benha, Egypt.

Received 12 October, 2012; Accepted 7 November, 2012

Abstract

Biliary disorders vary in different parts of the world. Study of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) cases gives an idea about the biliary disorders in the community. The aim of the study is to determine the characteristics of ERCP patients and predictors of common bile duct (CBD) stone in a tertiary hospital in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. This[x1]  study was conducted on 135 patients admitted at Al Noor Specialist Hospital, Makkah, during the years 2009 and 2010. Patient demographics, presentation, liver function tests, comorbid conditions, ultrasound and ERCP findings were studied. The mean age of patients was 46.59 ± 17.6 yrs and female / male[x2]  ratio was 1.56/1. [x3] Female[x4]  patients were significantly younger, having more biliary colic (42.7 vs. 11.3%), biliary pancreatitis (11 vs. 3.8%), gall bladder stones (64.6 vs. 56.6%), history of cholecystectomy (12.2 vs. 5.7%) and less serum bilirubin (4.27± 3.95 vs. 9.73 ± 7.95), while male patients presented with obstructive jaundice more than female patients (84.9 vs. 46.3%). Pancreatico-biliary malignancy was found in jaundiced, diabetic patients older than 65 years. There was CBD stone in 56.3% of patients,[x5]  CBD stones was significantly less in biliary pancreatitis patients (4 vs. 13.6%). Predictors of CBD stones were history of cholecystectomy, high alanine transaminase (ALT) and high alkaline phosphatase (ALP) serum levels. The sensitivity and specificity of abdominal ultrasound in detecting CBD stones were 69.5 and 88.1%. ERCP patients in Makkah are similar to patients in other areas of Saudi Arabia. No significant difference between Saudi and Non Saudi [x6] patients. Malignancy should be suspected in old age, diabetic, jaundiced patients. Biliary pancreatitis is more common in female patients with low incidence of CBD stones. Predictors of CBD stones are previous cholecystectomy, high ALT and high ALP serum levels. Abdominal ultrasound is still a good screening tool for CBD stones detection. 

Key words: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), common bile duct (CBD) stone predictors, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

International Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology Vol. 1 (1), pp. 001-009, October, 2012. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

 Knowledge and attitude of male dental students toward HIV/AIDS in King Khalid University, Saudi Arabia

Awad S. Alsamghan

Department of Family and Community Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, KSA. E-mail: [email protected].

Tel: 00966503750084. Fax: 00966072417821.

Corresponding Author's E-mail: [email protected]

Received 28 September, 2012; Accepted 16 October, 2012

Abstract

In Saudi Arabia, according to recent epidemiological data from Ministry of Health 2009, number of HIV/AIDS cases are 15213.  One of the most serious threats that dental students face during their clinical training, is the possibility of exposure to blood-borne pathogens, with the attendant risk of infection with HIV. The objective of this study is to assess the level of knowledge and attitude toward. This was a cross sectional analytic study among all male students of the Dental College of King Khalid University, who agreed to participate in the study. A validated self-administered anonymous questionnaire was used for data collection. The questionnaire includes four major categories: demographic variables, eighteen closed questions about knowledge of HIV infection, fifteen questions about oral manifestations of Human immunodeficiency virus infection / acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) and seventeen questions addressed attitudes regarding treating HIV-positive patients, legal aspects, the right of HIV-positive health personnel to practice, and willingness to treat. Out of 400 male dental students invited to participate in the study, 363 returned filled questionnaire giving a response rate of 90.8%. Their age ranged between 20 and 29 years with a mean of 23.6 ± 1.6 years. The total mean knowledge score was 62.7% (good). Insufficient total knowledge score was reported among almost one-third of the dental students (34.7%). The overall mean attitude score was 66.4 ± 6.8%. The attitude in 9.1% was positive, 90.1% negative, and 0.8% passive. Pearson correlation coefficient showed students with higher knowledge scores had significantly more positive attitudes towards HIV/AIDS patients (r=0.223, p<0.001). The results of the present study revealed that king Khalid university (KKU) dental students have deficiencies with respect to their knowledge and amount of information received on HIV and AIDS related topics. The results indicate that dental students in KKU are less well prepared for their future task of treating patients with HIV infection and AIDS and highlight a need for improving the dental school curriculum regarding HIV and AIDS.

Key words: AIDS, HIV, knowledge, dental.

International Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology Vol. 1 (1), pp. 010-013, October, 2012. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Correlation of maternal albumin and birth weight of babies in a Nigerian Teaching Hospital

Baba Usman Ahmadu*, Adebayo Ayub-Eniola Ayodele, Haruna Ngadda, Usman Jungudu and Kyari Sandabe Mustapha 

Department of Paediatrics, Federal Medical Centre Yola, P. M. B. 2017, Yola bye-pass Adamawa state, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]

Received 5 October 2012; Accepted 29 October, 2012.

Abstract

Poor nutrition is high in population residing mostly in developing countries. Maternal albumin deficiency could have influence on birth weight of babies. This study looked at the correlation of maternal albumin and birth weight of babies at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital. Ninety eight mother-baby pairs were selected using systematic random sampling method. Maternal albumin was determined using the Bromocresol Green method and birth weight of baby’s was assessed using the bassinet weighing scale. The relationship between maternal albumin and birth weight was investigated by correlation analysis, and analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to test for significance of data. There were 52 (53.1 %) male and 46 (46.9 %) female babies. Most mothers 86 (87.8%) had acceptable albumin levels. Mean (SD) of birth weight of babies and maternal albumin were 3.01(0.60) and 38.92 (6.07) respectively. A positive correlation coefficient was found between maternal albumin and mean birth weight of babies, however, this was not significant (r = 0.483, p = 0.227). Maternal albumin varies directly with mean birth weight of babies; however, this relationship was not significant in this study. Further work in this regard is hereby recommended.

Key words: Maternal albumin, babies weights, mother-baby pairs, teaching hospital, Nigeria.