Showing papers by "Japan International Cooperation Agency published in 1989"

Gametocytocidal effect of primaquine in a chemotherapeutic malaria control trial in North Sumatra, Indonesia.

Abstract: The effect of primaquine as a gametocytocidal drug was investigated in 218 P. falciparum (Pf) malaria cases detected during passive case detection (PCD) from August to December 1985 in two coastal villages of North Sumatra, where chloroquine-resistant and Fansidar-sensitive Pf was prevalent. Sulfonamide + pyrimethamine (SP) in combination with primaquine (Pr) was administered in Kuala Tanjung village and SP alone in Nana Siam village. Parasitologically confirmed Pf cases were followed up to observe the fluctuation of gametocytemia after the treatment. In 87 cases treated with SP alone, no significant change was observed in gametocyte positivity rate (GPR) and density on day 2 and day 7. In 131 cases treated with SP and Pr, no significant change was found on day 2 but significant reduction was observed in GPR and density on day 7. The gametocyte positive cases on day 7 were followed up weekly until gametocytes disappeared. SP alone did not reduce GPR from day 0 to week 2, then afterward GPR began to decline but was still 11.5% at week 5. On the other hand, SP with Pr reduced GPR from 77% on day 0 to 30% on day 7, after which GPR declined further to 7% at week 3. Reduction of parasite rate was observed in Kuala Tanjung after the PCD activities, reflecting a reduction in Pf prevalence rate from 18.6% in August 1985 to 2.9% in January 1986. These data indicate that a single dose of Pr 45 mg with SP was partially effective in reducing gametocytes and reducing malaria prevalence rate when administered through PCD activities.

Endemic onchocerciasis on the Jarawa valley area of Plateau state, Nigeria.

Abstract: Clinical and parasitological survey on onchocerciasis was carried out in the Jarawa Valley area of Nigeria. A total of 1, 821 inhabitants from six villages were examined and 908 (49.9%) were positive for microfilaria of Onchocerca volvulus. Onchocercal infection increased with age, reaching the highest level in adults over 40 years old. Pruritus was the most frequent lesion, followed by skin depigmentaion, visual impairment, nodule, hanging groin and elephantiasis. Leopard skin occurred in various parts of the body including areas not exposed to blackfly-bites. Lymphatic manifestation, hanging groin and elephantiasis, occurred mostly in old male subjects. The adult had the highest prevalence of nodules mainly in the pelvic regions. Skin biopsies taken from the iliac crest gave the highest frequency of positive skin snip.

Redescription of Synagrops spinosus (Percichthyidae) with its first record from the West Pacific.

Abstract: The percichthyid fishSynagrops spinosus Shultz is recorded for the first time from the West Pacific and is redescribed. Differences between the Pacific and Atlantic specimens are not significant, and they should be classified as the same species. This species is easily distinguished from the congeners by the combination of the following characters: second spine of first dorsal fin, second spine of anal fin and spine of pelvic fin with serration on their anterior margins; spine of second dorsal fin smooth; anal fin II, 7 (rarely II, 8); dorsal fin IX-I, 9; lateral line scales 29–31; lower jaw with two rows of teeth on its middle part, inner row consists of 4–7 large canine-like teeth, and outer row consists of very small teeth; vertebrae 10+15. This is a demersal fish mainly living on the outer parts of the continental shelves and the upper parts of their slopes at depths of 87–544 meters. The distribution in the two separate and greatly distant areas is discussed in relation to the continental drift and climatic changes since the late Cretaceous.