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Biomedical subjects

A Aseffa

Publications and source records attributed to A Aseffa.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Leishmania (Kinetoplastida): species typing with isoenzyme and PCR-RFLP from cutaneous leishmaniasis patients in Ethiopia.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is an increasing public health problem in Ethiopia. There is a concern that it is spreading with increased incidence. In this study, we used isoenzyme electrophoresis and internal transcribed spacer one (ITS1) PCR-RFLP techniques to identify Leishmania species from CL patients in Ethiopia. We obtained isolates from 55 localized cutaneous leishmaniasis (LCL), 3 diffused cutaneous leishmaniasis (DCL) and 36 biopsy samples from 34 LCL and 2 DCL cases from All Africa Leprosy and Tuberculosis Rehabilitation and Training Center (ALERT) and clinically diagnosed CL cases from Ochollo village. Both isoenzyme and ITS1 PCR-RFLP techniques showed that Leishmania aethiopica (L. aethiopica) was the aetiologic agent in all cases. Our study also showed that ITS1 PCR-RFLP could identify Leishmania species from biopsy samples and suggests the method could be used for epidemiological surveillance of leishmaniasis in Ethiopia and for species-specific diagnosis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Knowledge and practice of private practitioners in TB control in Addis Ababa.

SETTING: Private clinics and hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. OBJECTIVES: To assess the knowledge of private practitioners (PPs) with regard to tuberculosis (TB) control and their practice of TB diagnosis, treatment and monitoring. DESIGN: A descriptive survey was conducted among PPs. A total of 120 responded to a self-administered questionnaire. RESULTS: According to 81.5% of the PPs, at least two to five TB cases were diagnosed in their clinic per week. The correct anti-tuberculosis treatment regimens recommended by the National Tuberculosis Programme (NTP) were mentioned by only 9.7% of the doctors, while 63% listed 68 regimens. The majority (41.0%) monitored treatment using chest X-ray (CXR) alone, while 21.0% use CXR in combination with another diagnostic tool. Eighty per cent of the PPs did not keep a TB register, and case holding was non-existent. CONCLUSIONS: PPs in Addis Ababa diagnose a high number of TB cases. However, there is a huge lack of information on anti-tuberculosis treatment. This shows the likely irrational use of the few available anti-tuberculosis drugs, which may favour the emergence and spread of drug resistance.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Pregnancy impairs resistance of C57BL/6 mice to Leishmania major infection.

To determine if gestational factors affect the severity of L. major infection, this study assessed the levels of IL-4 mRNA and IFN-gamma mRNA in popliteal lymph node cells of pregnant C57BL/6 mice mated at 5 hours, 16 hours and 15 days post L. major infection using PCR. Infected pregnant C57BL/6 mice developed larger cutaneous footpad lesions compared with non-pregnant infected C57BL/6 mice. The resolution of footpad lesions commenced after 8th week in C57BL/6 mice mated at 16 hrs post L. major infection but 12 weeks in C57BL/6 mice mated at 5 hrs and 15 days post L. major infection. C57BL/6 mice that were infected 20 days post partum resolved L. major infection effectively. But, the lesions in infected pregnant C57BL/6 mice and infected non-pregnant C57BL/6 mice were not as large as in susceptible BALB/c mice. The mean litter weights were similar in pregnant infected C57BL/6 mice mated at different stages of L. major infection but were slightly lower than weights of litters from pregnant uninfected C57BL/6 mice. In 5 days infected pregnant C57BL/6 mice, the levels of IFN-gamma were raised compared with the levels of IL-4 but those mated at 15 days post L. major infection had highest level of IFN-gamma mRNA. In 10 days pregnant infected C57BL/6 mice, levels of IL-4 were raised compared with IFN-gamma but mice mated at 16 hrs post L. major infection had highest level of IL-4. In 15 days pregnant infected mice, the levels of IL-4 were higher than IFN-gamma irrespective of the stage of L. major infection when the mice were mated. Mice infected with L. major 20 days post-partum produced more IFN-gamma than IL-4 from 16 hrs post L. major infection onwards. It may be concluded that increased IL-4 in pregnant infected C57BL/6 mice impairs the resistance of C57BL/6 mice to L. major infection especially in mice that were pregnant before effective immunity (5 hours post L. major infection) is mounted against L. major infection.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Nasal carriage of Mycobacterium leprae DNA in healthy individuals in Lega Robi village, Ethiopia.

The number of registered leprosy patients world-wide has decreased dramatically after extensive application of WHO recommended Multiple Drug Therapy (MDT). The annual number of new cases has, however, been almost unchanged in several populations, indicating that the infection is still present at community level. Nasal carriage of Mycobacterium leprae DNA was studied in Lega Robi village in Ethiopia. MDT had been applied for more than ten years, and 718 residents over 5 years old were eligible for the study. During the first survey nasal swab samples were collected from 664 (92.5%) individuals. The results of a Peptide Nucleic Acid-ELISA test for M. leprae DNA interpreted by stringent statistical criteria were available for 589 (88.7%) subjects. Thirty-five (5.9%) individuals without clinical signs of leprosy were positive for M. leprae DNA. Seven PCR positive individuals lived in a household where one or two other members were also positive for M. leprae DNA. During a second survey 8 (46%) of 175 interpretable PNA-ELISA tests were positive. Of 137 individuals tested twice, only two were positive on both occasions whereas 10 were PCR positive only once. The study confirms the widespread distribution of M. leprae DNA in healthy individuals. The feasibility of curbing possible transmission of subclinical infection needs further consideration.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Prevalence of Chlamydia specific antibodies among obstetric and gynecological outpatients in Gondar, north-west Ethiopia.

A total of 533 obstetric and gynecological outpatients who visited the dedicated clinics in Gondar, Ethiopia, between April and August 1995 were investigated for Chlamydia-specific antibodies. Relevant epidemiological and clinical data were collected using a pretested questionnaire, clinical examinations and laboratory tests. Earlier, using an antigen specific ELISA technique, we had reported that only 33 (6%) of these women were positive for C. trachomatis in cervical swabs. In this study, we evaluated the prevalence of C. trachomatis-specific antibodies in serum samples of the same patients collected at the time the cervical swabs were taken. Employing a genus-specific ELISA for the detection of chlamydial LPS antibodies, 90% of the sera were found to be positive for IgG, while 49% of the sera contained IgA and 28% IgM antibodies. For 436 of the positive sera, species specificity of the antibodies was determined by means of a micro-immunofluorescence assay. Antibodies against C. trachomatics were present in 75% and antibodies against C. pneumoniae in 69% of these sera. Forty-nine percent of the patients carried antibodies against both species. The antibody based assay estimated that 13.9% of the patients had acute genital chlamydial infection (antigen specific IgM and the simultaneous presence of C. trachomatis specific IgG, IgM and IgA). C. trachomatis antigen detection in cervical swabs apparently underestimated the real frequency of acute infections. Seroprevalence of C. pneumoniae antibodies in the Ethiopian patients was similar to that in industrialized countries.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Thalidomide's ability to augment the synthesis of IL-2 in vitro in HIV-infected patients is associated with the percentage of CD4+ cells in their blood.

Thalidomide is used for treating erythema nodosum leprosum. It is also used to treat aphthous ulcers in HIV-infected patients. The mechanism of action of this drug is yet to be fully understood, but modulation of inflammatory cytokines like IL-2 and TNF-alpha may play a role. We investigated the effect of thalidomide on the production of IL-2 and TNF-alpha by staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from HIV-infected patients. The PBMC from 20 patients was incubated in the presence of 4.0 microg/ml of thalidomide and 50 ng/ml of SEA. After 18 h, the culture supernatant was assayed for IL-2 and TNF-alpha. The PBMC incubated with thalidomide and SEA produced significantly more IL-2 than those incubated with SEA alone. The TNF-alpha secreted by the same cells incubated with thalidomide and SEA was not significantly different from that secreted by the cells incubated with SEA alone. The amount of IL-2 produced in the thalidomide and SEA treated cultures was directly correlated with the percentage of CD4+ cells in blood, and inversely correlated with the percentage of CD8+ cells in blood. No statistically significant correlations were found when comparing the amount of TNF-alpha produced in the thalidomide and SEA treated cultures with the percentage of CD4+ or CD8+ cells in the blood. Thalidomide can act, in vitro, as an additional stimulant to augment the synthesis of IL-2 in HIV-infected patients. Increased production of IL-2 by activated T-cells may be a mechanism through which it exerts its immunomodulatory effects.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1999

Laboratory services in health centres within Amhara region, north Ethiopia.

OBJECTIVE: To identify current problems in laboratory services and elicit suggestions from the technicians aimed at improving the services in health centres within Amhara region, north Ethiopia. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study using a pre-tested questionnaire. SETTINGS: Twenty seven health centres in Amhara region, north Ethiopia. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty seven laboratory technicians. RESULTS: Physical facilities were seriously lacking, consisting of only one room in 85.2% of the health centres. Supply of electricity was never continuous. Whereas virtually all the health centres had up to five medical doctors each, laboratory manpower was grossly below the ideal requirement. Over half of the health centres had only one technician each, resulting into heavy workload. Laboratory reagents were insufficient, equipment lacking, and maintenance and repair were not accorded adequate attention. Eighty different tests were offered by the health centres in various combinations. Twenty categories of suggestions were advanced by the respondents. CONCLUSION: There is a great shortage of manpower, equipment, chemicals and other supplies to provide adequate laboratory services in the health centres within the region. Consequently, the laboratories are functioning below capacity.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Prevalence of HIV, syphilis and genital chlamydial infection among women in north-west Ethiopia.

The prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases (STD) among women visiting antenatal (ANC) and gynaecological clinics in Gondar, north-west Ethiopia, was investigated. Between April and August 1995, 728 women consented to enter the study. Prevalence rates were 5.9% (41/693) for chlamydial antigen in cervix, 18.8% (113/600) for syphilis (Treponema pallidum haemagglutination assay [TPHA]) and 25.3% (150/593) for HIV. Active syphilis (RPR)+, TPHA+ was detected in 74% (44/597). HIV infection rate was higher among women with higher age of first marriage and low gravidity. It was significantly associated with young age, urban residence, and presence of genital ulcer (odds ratio [OR] = 6.3), and lymphadenopathy (OR = 2.8) on examination. Women seropositive for syphilis had married at an earlier age, were significantly older and had changed husbands. Low gravidity and age < 30 were independently significant risk factors for cervical chlamydial antigen positivity which was predominantly asymptomatic. Significant association was observed between HIV infection and syphilis (OR = 2.6). Active syphilis was associated with chlamydial (OR = 3.4) and HIV infection (OR = 4.1). The rate of 23.4% and 15.1% of HIV seropositivity among ANC attenders and rural women respectively is an indicator of the rapid progression of the HIV epidemic in the area.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Surgical wound infection in a teaching hospital in Ethiopia.

The magnitude and pattern of surgical wound infection in a teaching hospital in Gondar, northwest Ethiopia, was studied prospectively over a one year period. Out of 129 abdominal surgical wounds from 129 patients, fifty (38.7%) yielded pathogenic organisms on culture. The wound infection rate was 21% on clinical grounds alone. Wound infection was significantly associated with class of wound; with the highest rate being 61.4% for contaminated or dirty wound. There was no difference in infection rate between emergency and elective operations. Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were the leading aetiologic agents with rates of 28.8% and 27.1% of pathogenic isolates respectively. Surgical wound infection accounted for delay in the discharge of 14.7% of patients. This study has shown that the surgical wound infection rate in this teaching and tertiary level care hospital is high and control measures should be re-evaluated.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Effect of thalidomide on apoptosis of lymphocytes and neutrophils.

Thalidomide causes congenital anomalies and it is immunomodulatory. These properties could be explained by an ability to alter the orderly process of programmed cell death during embryogenesis and modulation of apoptosis of lymphoid and/or myeloid cells in the immune response. Apoptosis of lymphoid and myeloid cells was studied by measuring the percentage of cells capable of excluding propidium iodide and expressing phosphatidylserine on their outer membrane. In addition, expression of Fc gamma RIII (CD16) was used to assess neutrophil apoptosis. Thalidomide did not affect the rate of apoptosis of CTLL-2 cells deprived of, or supplemented with, IL-2; of T-cells (mitogen-stimulated or resting) or of neutrophils. However, neutrophils obtained from HIV-infected patients treated with thalidomide showed reduced expression of CD16, a surrogate marker for apoptosis of neutrophils. Thalidomide's effect on neutrophil apoptosis in vivo warrants further investigation.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗
PubMed1997

Antibiotic resistance of prevalent Salmonella and Shigella strains in northwest Ethiopia.

Salmonella and Shigella strains were isolated prospectively from in- and outpatient specimens of the Gondar College teaching hospital over a two year period, from June 1994 to May 1996. Of 7993 miscellaneous specimens cultured, 80 yielded Salmonella and 147 Shigella. Serogroup B dominated among the salmonella, accounting for 61% of isolates, followed by S. typhi (21%). S. flexneri (58.5%) and S. dysenteriae (36.7%) were the most frequently isolated species among the Shigella. Results of sensitivity testing to five commonly used antibiotics in the area: ampicillin, chloramphenicol, gentamicin, tetracycline and cotrimoxazole, showed multiple drug resistance among the isolates of both salmonella and shigella. Only 4% of shigella were sensitive to all five antibiotics screened for in the study. Overall sensitive of shigella isolates to individual antibiotics was 8.8% to tetracycline, 10% to ampicillin, 28% to co-trimoxazole and 98% to gentamicin. No resistance was observed to nalidixic acid among 108 shigella strains tested for this antibiotic. The continued sensitivity of S. typhi to chloramphenicol, cotrimoxazole, ampicillin and the other commonly used antibiotics is noted. It is recommended that nalidixic acid be introduced into the area under strict regulation for treatment of severe cases of shigella dysentery, an illness which is highly endemic in the region and the cause of occasional epidemics with high mortality.

Drug Resistance, Microbial↗
PubMed1996

Campylobacter enteritis among children in north-west Ethiopia: a 1-year prospective study.

The incidence of campylobacter enteritis among children visiting the outpatient department of a teaching hospital in north-west Ethiopia was prospectively studied over a period of 12 months from June 1994 to May 1995. Campylobacter spp. were isolated from the stools of 60 children out of 434 investigated by culture (13.8%). The highest isolation rate was found in children aged from 6 to 24 months. The period of peak isolation was September to November. Among children aged 1-5 years, campylobacter was more frequently isolated from those presenting with persistent diarrhoea than from among those with acute illness (OR 2.53; 95% CI: 1.02-6.18). Culture positivity was higher among malnourished children. Our findings demonstrate the important role played by this pathogen in childhood diarrhoeal illness in the area.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Antibiotic sensitivity pattern of prevalent bacterial pathogens in Gondar, Ethiopia.

The prevalence and sensitivity pattern of common bacterial isolates from clinical specimens processed over one year in the bacteriology laboratory of a teaching hospital in north-west Ethiopia was investigated. Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and other enteric Gram-negative rods were the predominant pathogens cultured. Klebsiella species were responsible for a nosocomial outbreak among children in the year. The majority of the strains, irrespective of genera, were resistant to tetracycline (> 60%), co-trimoxazole (> 55%) and chloramphenicol (> 45%). Resistance to ampicillin was seen in > 60% of isolates other than S. aureus. Sensitivity to gentamicin was high (> 89%) among S. aureus, E. coli and Pseudomonas strains. Isolates of Klebsiella, Enterobacter and Proteus were the least sensitive to the aminoglycoside. A multiplicity of antibiograms and predominance of certain multiresistant strains was observed for the prevalent species. Comparison made with reports from elsewhere in Ethiopia indicates that resistance to the commonly available (and cheaper) broad-spectrum antibiotics is a nationwide problem. A suggestion is made to enforce rational drug use before potent antibiotics are introduced under prescriber pressure.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1996

Pattern of outpatient laboratory service consumption in a teaching hospital in Gondar, Ethiopia.

A one year laboratory service analysis for outpatient service consumers of Gondar College of Medical Sciences Hospital was done. Data were gathered through a daily registry prospectively. 17,471 patients visited the laboratory between October 1994 and September 1995. 47.9% were from Gondar town. 72.5% paid for the services. Children under 15 made up only 11.8% of service consumers. In the year, a total of 27,982 laboratory tests were requested, 48% of which were in urinalysis and parasitology. Most of the requests could be handled by upgraded peripheral laboratories leaving room for the unit to act as a training and back-up centre.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Prescribing pattern of antibacterial drugs in a teaching hospital in Gondar, Ethiopia.

The prescribing pattern of antibacterial agents was analyzed by reviewing case notes of 407 patients discharged between October and November 1992 from a teaching hospital in Gondar, North-West Ethiopia. Seventy percent had received one or more antibacterials. Most exposure was in surgical ward (84%) followed by paediatric (82%), orthopaedic (78%), medical (72%), gynaecologic (58%) and obstetric (20%) wards. The antibacterials most frequently prescribed were penicillin G (25%), chloramphenical (24%), and ampicillin (20%). The total list numbered 13 and included no cephalosporines or quinoline derivatives. The preliminary survey indicated an inappropriate use of antibacterials and suggested the need to develop a policy on hospital antibacterial use.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1994

Salmonella newport: outbreak of food poisoning among college students due to contaminated undercooked eggs.

A sudden outbreak of food poisoning occurred between December 31, 1991 and January 4, 1992 among students of the Gondar College of Medical Sciences. Out of 344 students, 79 (23%) had manifest disease. Salmonella newport was isolated from the stool of six students and three food handlers. The mean incubation period for the excretors was 48 hours. Main symptoms of those evaluated by physician were mild diarrhoea (86%) and abdominal cramps (71.4%). The only meal shared by all was a breakfast of unpeeled undercooked eggs served after 14 hours of storage at room temperature.

Cooking↗