Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Disease

687-690

Authors: Zachary Clarke Rich , Chuncheng Liu, Qingyan Ma, Fengyu Hu, Weiping Cai, Xiaoping Tang, Joseph David Tucker

There are over 100 clinical trials worldwide focused on developing an HIV cure. Research participants will assume substantial individual risks while receiving little or no individual benefit. Physicians will have important dual roles of leading HIV cure research studies and guiding patient expectations. Many low and middle-income nations have started HIV cure trials, including China. The goal of this study was to better understand physician attitudes, behaviors, and perceptions of HIV cure research within the context of China. We conducted a quantitative and qualitative evidence review of published literature on physician perceptions of HIV cure in China. Quantitative survey data revealed that physicians rarely believed HIV was curable, but this perception may be more common compared to other countries. Qualitative data showed that inconsistent terminology used among physicians may contribute to the perception of HIV as curable. The belief that HIV is curable among some physicians in China may be related to the influence of traditional Chinese medicine beliefs. Rather than seeking elimination of pathogens, traditional Chinese medicine aims to achieve harmony between organs and a vital life force. In this context, HIV infection can be seen as a temporary state of imbalance rather than an irreversible change. There is a wide range of physician perceptions about HIV cure in China. Conflicting information about HIV cure from physicians and other sources could thwart the progress of HIV cure research. Enhancing patient-physician communication about ongoing HIV cure research trials will be important for developing an HIV cure.

695-699

Authors: Tawatchai Apidechkul

Objective: To study the prevalence and risk factors of intestinal parasitic infections among hill tribe schoolchildren who attended 10 border patrol police schools in 2012, Chiang Rai, Thailand. Methods: A total of 339 subjects were recruited into the study from 2 194 children. Questionnaire was tested for validity and reliability before use. About 5 g stool specimens were collected and investigated for intestinal parasite infections by using cellophane-covered thick smear technique. Logistic regression at α = 0.05 was used to test the associations between variables to find risk factors. Results: There were 339 subjects of whom 51.9% were males and 66.1% were Buddhist; racially 31.2% were Akha and 30.4% were Kmong; mean age was 10.3 years old (minimum = 6, maximum = 16). The prevalence of parasitic infection was 9.7%. After controlling for age, sex, religion, parents’ education levels and parents’ occupations, the only factor that showed a statistically significant association with intestinal parasitic infection was the source of drinking water. The group of drinking mountain piped water had a greater risk of 8.22 times (adjusted odds ratio = 8.22, 95%; confidence interval: 1.07–63.18) compared to the drinking commercially bottled water group, while the group of drinking underground water had a greater risk of 9.83 times (adjusted odds ratio = 9.83, 95%; confidence interval: 0.93–104.12) compared to the drinking commercially bottled water group. Conclusions: Drinking water contaminated by soil was shown to be an important risk factor for intestinal parasitic infection in hill tribe schoolchildren living in mountainous border areas in the northern part of Thailand. Safer alternative drinking water source should be provided along with health education for schools and villagers to be aware of the risk of intestinal parasites from drinking water sources such as mountain piped or underground wells. Such sources are likely to contain higher soil contents.

707-710

Authors: Alka Gupta, Hemanta Kumar Kar

Objective: To formulate and evaluate the antifungal activity of miconazole nitrate proniosomes against Trichophyton rubrum. Methods: Miconazole loaded proniosomal vesicles were prepared by coacervation phase separation method using surfactants, cholesterol and phosphatidylcholine as excipients. The in vitro antifungal activity of prepared vesicles was performed using agar disc diffusion technique. Results: The miconazole nitrate lipid vesicle preparation F5A and F5B showed good antifungal activity with high zones of inhibition i.e. (12.96 ± 0.63) mm and (14.06 ± 0.58) mm than nonvesicular plain drug gel i.e. (10.48 ± 0.79) mm after 3 days at 250 µg/mL concentration (For all comparisons P < 0.05 was considered as significant). Conclusions: Proniosomal preparation resulted in better permeation of the miconazole nitrate and there was a constant increase in zone of inhibition with increase in drug concentration. This study proves antifungal potential of novel proniosomal preparation of miconazole nitrate against Trichophyton rubrum in the treatment of tinea infections.

716-720

Authors: Gholamhossein Moravvej, Kordiyeh Hamidi, Leila Nourani , Hamed Bannazade

Objective: To determine distribution of rodents’ arthropods and estimate infestation parameters of fleas, mites, ticks, and lice associated with wild rodents in Mashhad and its vicinity, Iran. Methods: The rodents were captured using live trap from April 2013 to December 2014 in Mashhad and vicinity, Khorasan Razavi, Iran. The ectoparasites were collected from body surface of rodents using brushing, combing or forceps and preserved in 70% ethanol. The samples were examined by stereomicroscope and classified into four groups including fleas, mites, ticks, and lice. Dark specimens were made more transparent by soaking in potassium hydroxide or Nesbitt’s fluid (where appropriate). The specimens were mounted on glass slides using Hoyer’s medium. Ectoparasitic identification was done based on the available keys and confirmed by qualified taxonomists. Results: A total of 197 rodents were trapped representing 11 species which belong to the family Muridae (7 species), Cricetidae (3 species) and Sciuridae (1 species). The most common captured rodent species was Mus musculus (13.19%) and the least was Apodemus witherbeyi (6.59%). In total 783 ectoparasites related to 3 orders, 8 families, 10 genera and 15 species were collected. The infestation rates by fleas, mites, ticks, and lice on the rodents were 18.78%, 22.84%, 18.78% and 10.15 %, respectively. Conclusions: Overall infestation rate was 42.13 % (83 out of 197 rodents). The most and least frequency of ectoparasites belonged to mites (50.44%) and lice (14.04%), respectively. The results suggested that the prevalence of ectoparasites could be influenced by rodent host species. Monitoring the rodent population and their ectoparasites is recommended to facilitate arthropod-borne disease control programs.

726-731

Authors: Maha Aly Fahmy, Ayman Ali Farghaly, Nagwa Hassan Ali Hassan, Kawthar Abdelaziz Elsayed Diab

Objective: To assess the risk of hydrocortisone sodium succinate through different end points of genotoxicity. Methods: The study examined the induction of chromosomal aberrations in bone marrow cells, morphological sperm abnormalities, the effect on dominant lethal gene and protein synthesis. Hydrocortisone was given intraperitoneally at three dose levels 26, 39 and 52 mg/kg body weight which was equivalent to the therapeutic doses in man. Results: The results showed that single dose treatment with different doses had no effect on chromosomal aberrations. The dose of 52 mg/kg body weight induced significant percentage of chromosomal aberrations in bone marrow cells after repeated treatment for 7 and 14 days. Significant effect of morphological sperm abnormalities was demonstrated only after treatment with the dose of 52 mg/kg body weight. For examining the dominant lethal mutation, male mice were injected with dose of 39 mg/kg body weight for 5 consecutive days. Mating between treated males and virgin untreated females were performed at different time intervals. The results showed that the percentage of fertile mating at 1–7 and 8–14 days reduced to 50% and 60% respectively compared with control group while no effect was recorded at 15–21 days. The percentage of dominant lethal mutation reached 0.32%, 4.4% and 0% in mating intervals respectively indicating pronounced effect of hydrocortisone at the interval 8–14 days which represented by the late spermatids. The results also showed that the repeated treatment with the dose of 52 mg/kg body weight inhibited protein synthesis which contributed to the cytotoxic effect of the drug. Conclusions: It is concluded that long term treatment with large doses of hydrocortisone may have genotoxic effect.

737-742

Authors: Muhammad Hadiza Lami, Kabiru Adamu Yusuf2 , Saidu Abubakar Ndaman, Busari Musa Bola,Babatunde Olajumoke Damilola, Abdullah Abubakar Siddique

Objective: To evaluate the antidiabetic potential of Ceiba pentandra leaves used by some Nupe speaking community of Niger State, Nigeria in folkloric management of diabetes. Methods: Fifteen albino rats of both sexes weighing between 100 and 160 g were randomly allotted to five groups of four rats each. Alloxan monohydrate (110 mg/kg body weight) was intraperitoneally administered to rats in their respective groups, and rats with blood glucose (200 mg/kg body weight) were considered diabetic. Diabetic rats in their respective groups received 2.5 mg/kg body weight of standard drug (glibenclamide), 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight of extract once daily for 12 days. Normoglycemic group (reference group I) received 0.5 mL normal saline, while the last group was untreated diabetic (reference group II). The blood glucose was measured by using Accu-Chek Active glucometer every three days and the experiment was terminated at 17th day. Results: Blood glucose decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in all the treated groups during the period of treatment with highest hypoglycaemic activity observed in 200 mg/kg body weight group. The diabetic untreated group showed significant reduction (P < 0.05) in body weight as it was a clinical feature of diabetes in reference to normoglycemic, and other treatment groups. Platelets showed a significant decrease and increase respectively in the untreated and treated groups in reference to the normoglycemic group. Decreased packed cell volume, red blood cells and hemoglobin count, and an increase in white blood cell were also observed in the untreated group. Body weight of the treated groups remained stable as against the reference group II. Activities of the serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, chloride and potassium increased significantly (P < 0.05) in standard drug while carbonate and sodium showed the opposite. The urea, creatinine, total and conjugated bilirubin all increased significantly (P < 0.05) in the standard drug and untreated groups. Total cholesterol, triglyceride increased and high density lipoprotein increased in all groups against the untreated group. Conclusions: Both doses of ethyl acetate fraction of Ceiba pentandra were able to reduce the blood glucose and ameliorate the hematological abnormalities associated with diabetes mellitus.

747-753

Authors: Ogugua Akwoba Joseph, Akinseye Victor Oluwatoyin, Ayoola Modupe Comfort , Stack Judy, Cadmus Simeon Idowu Babalola

Objective: To investigate risk factors responsible for the epidemiology of brucellosis among cattle slaughtered in Nigeria in a bid to implement control strategies. Methods: This was a cross-sectional and sero-epidemiological survey of bovine brucellosis in two metropolitan abattoirs in Southwestern Nigeria. Between March and August 2013, cattle were screened for antibodies to Brucella spp. by using Rose Bengal test (RBT), and positive samples were subjected to competitive ELISA (cELISA). Parameters of individual animal were also obtained. Data were analyzed by using STATA version 12 and Chi-square; and logistic regression statistics were used to test association. Results: Overall, 2480 cattle (1241 in Oyo; 1239 in Lagos) were screened. Analysis using RBT revealed a total sero-prevalence of 4.9% (121/2480), with 7.8% and 1.9% from Oyo and Lagos States respectively. The cELISA result supported 77.7% (94/121) (90.7% in Oyo; 25.0% in Lagos) of the total RBT positive samples. Logistic regression analysis showed that only sex (P ≤ 0.001) and location (P = 0.001) of animal screened had statistically significant effects on seropositivity to Brucella abortus antibodies. Conclusions: Our findings reveal low sero-prevalence of brucellosis among slaughtered cattle in Southwestern Nigeria. Sex and location of abattoirs where animals are slaughtered are major risk factors to be considered in the epidemiology of the disease. Therefore, to promote public health, trade cattle meant for slaughter in Nigeria and African countries where brucellosis is endemic, should be monitored, and positive animals be excluded from the food chain.