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G Mengistu

Publications and source records attributed to G Mengistu.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Serum IgE levels of tuberculosis patients in a tropical setup with high prevalence of HIV and intestinal parasitoses.

Tuberculosis remains a major health problem worldwide in the era of HIV/AIDS. Co-infection with intestinal parasites has been suggested to worsen the outcome of infection by polarizing the immune response towards Th2. This study investigated serum IgE levels of 241 tuberculosis patients and compared the IgE profiles in the tuberculosis patients either with or without intestinal helminthic infection and/or HIV infection. The serum levels of IgE in tuberculosis patients before initiation of antimycobacterial chemotherapy were found to be 1722 +/- 1290 IU/ml (Mean +/- SD) in HIV seronegatives and 2366 +/- 1849 IU/ml in HIV seropositives. Further, the IgE level was significantly higher in patients coinfected with intestinal helminthes and HIV compared to those infected with helminthes or without coinfection (P < 0.05). Anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy significantly reduced serum IgE levels in HIV seronegative tuberculosis patients (P < 0.05). These findings might indicate an active role of therapy in shifting the immune response towards Th1 which is crucial for prognosis in tuberculosis patients.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Relapsing fever in Gondar, Ethiopia.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the magnitude of relapsing fever, the rate of Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction (JHR) and its outcome and compare these parameters between adults and children in the same setting, time period and more or less similar management. DESIGN: A retrospective descriptive record analysis. SETTING: Gondar College of Medical Sciences (GCMS) hospital, paediatric ward and medical wards, northwest Ethiopia. SUBJECTS: Clinical records of 262 patients discharged with confirmed diagnosis of primary relapsing fever admitted between September 1995 and August 2000. RESULTS: Of the 13,177 patients admitted during the study period, 262 (1.99%) had a primary diagnosis of relapsing fever of which 70.6% were males. Children below 14 years of age comprised 41.2%. Of the total admissions, 83.6% were from Gondar town and the rest from outside. JHR was observed in 31.7% of the patients. The overall case fatality rate was 4.6%. Bad outcome was observed more frequently in adult patients. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: Relapsing fever is still a public health problem. Because of the potential danger of the epidemic and its outcome it should not be neglected. Preventive programmes must be integrated with other services. Though the JHR is the most feared part of the management of relapsing fever, if health personnel are trained and competent, the management of relapsing fever can be delegated to the peripheral health workers, especially when it occurs in children. Moreover, the reason for bad outcome in adult patients than in children needs to be established.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Antibiotic sensitivities of common bacterial pathogens in urinary tract infections at Gondar Hospital, Ethiopia.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence and sensitivity trends of urinary bacterial isolates. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. SETTING: Gondar College of Medical Sciences (GCMS) Teaching and Referral Hospital, north west Ethiopia. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Four hundred and twenty urine specimens from 70 in-patient and 350 out-patient cases were studied by quantitative culture method and anti-microbial sensitivity test was done by disc diffusion technique. RESULTS: One hundred and seventy two pathogenic organisms were isolated from 166 patients; the isolation rate was 39.5 %. Among the isolates E. coli, S. aureus, Klebsiella species, coagulase negative Staphylococcus species and Citrobacter species were common accounting for 46.0%, 18.0%, 10.0%, 8.0% and 6.0%, respectively. Of the total isolates 71.5% were Gram negatives. Sensitivity tested against ten antibiotics showed that resistance was common, and the effectiveness of tetracycline, ampicillin, co-trimoxazole, chloramphenicol and penicillin was under 50.0%. The resistance rate was 71.5%, 62.2%, and 62.2%, 54.7% and 40.8%, respectively. Polymixin B, cefoxitin, gentamycin and erythromycin controlled over 76.0% of the common infective agents. Ciprofloxacin did control 98.3% of the organisms. CONCLUSION: Resistance was found to be very high to the commonly used antibiotics. The sensitivity rate for the recently introduced ciprofloxacin was above 98%. Therefore, this antibiotic may be used for empirical therapy of urinary tract infection (UTI) when culture and sensitivity testing is impossible. Strict control on the use of antibiotics and appropriate measures against over the counter availability and self-medication is recommended.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Multiple drug resistance in urinary pathogens at Gondar College of Medical Sciences Hospital, Ethiopia.

OBJECTIVE: To determine multiple drug resistance and its associated factors of urinary pathogens. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Gondar College of Medical Sciences teaching and Referral Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia, between January and October 2000. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Mid stream urine samples from 420 subjects were studied by quantitative culture method. Designed Questionnaires were used for data collection on the previous use of antimicrobials, catheterisation and hospitalisation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Rates of multiple drug resistance and the associated factors. RESULTS: Multiple drug resistance was common in the isolates tested against ten antibiotics showing more than 68% of the isolates being resistant to two or more antimicrobials. Significant variables associated with this were found to be urinary catheterisation, hospitalisation and previous use of antibiotics for urinary tract infection. CONCLUSION: The rate of multiple drug resistance was very high in this study. Probable contributing factors were found to be previous antibiotic exposure, urinary catheterisation and hospitalisation. Reduction of hospital stays and catheterisation, aseptic care of catheterised patients and selective use of antibiotics and strict follow up of hospital disease controls are recommended.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Electrocardiographic findings in Ethiopians on pentavalent antimony therapy for visceral leishmaniasis.

BACKGROUND: The old short course regimens of pentavalent antimonial (sb(v)) therapy of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) have largely been abandoned worldwide as they are associated with increasing problems of relapse and unresponsiveness. In Ethiopia, some hospitals still use the old interrupted and short course regimen partly because of fear of drug toxicity. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety of the WHO recommended uninterrupted therapy at a dose of 20 mg sb(v)/kg for up to thirty days. DESIGN: A prospective study. SETTING: Patients were recruited from Addis Ababa hospitals and from Konso VL endemic area in southern Ethiopia. SUBJECTS: Forty nine patients who included, ten HIV-positive and 39 HIV-negative, were enrolled for the study. RESULTS: Twenty three HIV-negative patients got treatment for 20 days and the rest, 16 HIV-negative and 10 HIV-positive, were treated for 28 to 30 days. Among HIV-seronegatives, the mean QT interval corrected for heart rate (QTc) at the end of therapy in patients treated for 20 days and 28-30 days was comparable (0.419 +/- 0.031 seconds versus 0.424 +/- 0.027 seconds, respectively). Among patients treated for 28-30 days, the mean QTc in HIV co-infected patients was comparable to that of HIV-negatives (0.416 +/- 0.018 seconds versus 0.424 +/- 0.027). Comparable rates of new ECG changes involving the T waves were observed in two HIV-positive (20%) and two HIV-negative (12.5%) patients treated for 28-30 days, and in seven (30.4%) HIV-negative patients treated for 20 days. Overall, only two (4.1%) patients (all HIV-negative males) had QTc interval > or = 0.50 seconds at the end of therapy. In one patient, the prolonged QTc was noted on the twentieth day with bradycardia of 44/minute. CONCLUSIONS: In Ethiopian VL patients with normal renal function, sb(v) therapy at a daily dose of 20 mg/kg for up to 30 days is safe and only rarely associated with clinically significant bradycardia which resolves after temporary cessation of therapy. Furthermore, in areas with limited facilities, monitoring the pulse rate during antimonial therapy may help detect impending cardiotoxicity.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Clinical presentation of onchocerciasis among indigenous and migrant farmers in southwest Ethiopia.

OBJECTIVE: To show the magnitude of the problem and give a systematic account of the clinical manifestations of onchocerciasis in a rain forest ecology in southwest Ethiopia. DESIGN: A cross sectional clinico-epidemiological study. SETTING: Teppi Health Centre and Endris-Goji Clinic, Ethiopia. SUBJECTS: Four hundred and twenty one individuals aged ten years and above. RESULTS: Eighty four per cent of the examined people had a macrofilarial load ranging from one to 855 microfilariae per mg of skin snip. If the presence of any of skin microfilaria, nodule and/or leopard skin were taken as diagnostic criteria, the overall prevalence rate of onchocerciasis would be 88%. However, if we strictly followed stringent diagnostic criteria such as presence of unprompted itching, nodule(s), microfilaraedermia and skin dermatitis, the prevalence rate of onchocerciasis would be 23% (98/421). Hanging or pendular scrotum, which has been rarely reported in Africa but not until now in Ethiopia, was found in 19% (46/246) of the male patients. There was neither negative nor positive correlation between microfilarial load and severity of clinical manifestations of the disease. CONCLUSION: Onchocerciasis has been found to be one of the major health problems in this community and its diagnosis should not be based on selected signs and symptoms such as nodules and leopard skin alone that could undermine the magnitude of the problem.

Adolescent↗
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↗
PubMed1993

Podoconiosis in the Ethiopian Rift Valley. Role of beryllium and zirconium.

A geogenic origin has been proposed in the aetiology of non-filarial elephantiasis of the feet and legs, recently renamed podoconiosis. Soil collected in an area of the Ethiopian Rift Valley, the borough of Ocholo, known for its high prevalence of podoconiosis (5.06%), has been submitted to mineral analysis. High values of sulphur (S), cerium (Ce), lanthanum (La) and neodymium (Nd), typical for basaltic bedrocks, were found. Of special interest were the values for zirconium (Zr) and beryllium (Be), 618 +/- 87 ppm and 4.6 +/- 0.5 ppm respectively, twice as high as those recorded for soils sampled in neighbouring areas where the prevalence of podoconiosis is low. To be noted also, a high content in vanadium, above 250 ppm, in half of the soil samples collected in this region. Year-long exposure of unprotected feet to Zr and Be, known for their ability to induce granuloma formation in the lymphoid tissue of man, and present in a clay rich in colloidal silica particle, highly abrasive to skin, is doubtlessly a factor involved in the development of lymph node sclerosis leading to elephantiasis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Immunoblot analysis of sera from Ethiopian cutaneous leishmaniasis by antibody class.

We have determined the specificity of the classes of anti-leishmanial antibodies which are detectable in serum from patients with active cutaneous leishmaniasis. On immunoblots, differences exist in the patterns of antigen recognition by IgG, IgM, IgA and IgE antibodies present in localized cutaneous leishmaniasis (LCL) and diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis (DCL) patient serum. Each class of antibody showed differing patterns of banding to the various molecular species of parasite antigens. There was significant variation in the specificities of the IgG antibody reactivities between individual patients. The patterns of IgM binding were generally homogeneous and restricted to antigens with M(r) greater than 40 kDa. The only class of anti-Leishmania antibodies which showed shared patterns of common antigen recognition by all of the patients studied were IgA antibodies. The reactivities of IgE antibodies encompassed two antigens of M(r) 36 and 46-48 kDa which were not recognized by any of the other isotypes. Such antibody class associated reactivity may be useful in the design of serodiagnostic assays for the detection of Leishmania infection or other infectious agents.

Antibodies, Protozoan↗
PubMed1990

Changes in the antigenic profile of Leishmania parasites following shifts in temperature.

We have examined by immunoblotting the antigen profiles of Leishmania parasites which have undergone upward shifts in ambient temperature during culture. Parasites in the promastigote insect vector stage were grown to stationary growth phase at 25 degrees C, and then further cultured at the 37 degrees C temperature experienced in the mammalian host. Changes in the immunoblot profiles of the parasites occurred within one day of culture at mammalian ambient temperature. Serum antibodies from patients with active Leishmania infections showed reactivity with antigenic determinants of greater than Mr 38,000 that were expressed by parasites at 37 degrees C, and which were not comparably observed on immunoblots of 25 degrees C cultured organisms. The promastigotes of Leishmania species which cause either cutaneous or visceral leishmaniasis express differing forms of the 37 degrees C induced high molecular weight determinants, however, these molecules express cross-reactive epitopes. Previous studies have suggested that temperature may play a role in the differentiation process between the insect and host life cycle stages of Leishmania. Our results suggest that the antigenic profile of Leishmania parasites may also be affected by the expression of products from temperature sensitive biosynthetic pathways.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Serum antibody specificities to Leishmania aethiopica antigens in patients with localized and diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis.

In order to characterize the antigenic determinants of Leishmania aethiopica, we have analysed by immunoblotting the antibody reactivity of leishmaniasis patients with either the localized (LCL) or diffuse (DCL) clinical forms of disease. In this study we have compared the reactivity of antibodies from eight LCL and DCL patients to parasites isolated from each individual, or the parasite isolates of the other LCL and DCL patients studied. The immunoblot profiles of antibodies from LCL patients differed from the antibody profiles of DCL patients. Serum antibodies from LCL patients showed limited recognition of somatic antigens of less than Mr 50,000 which were recognized by antibodies present in DCL patients. A direct comparison of individual LCL and DCL patient derived promastigotes determined that the lack of antibody to these antigens in LCL patients was not due to the differential expression of these determinants by the LCL and DCL derived promastigotes. The results of this study suggest that although either LCL or DCL derived promastigotes express a wide variety of antigenic moieties which are potentially reactive with antibodies, only a subset of antibodies against these specificities develop in any individual patient, during active infection.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Fertility and child mortality in rural Ethiopia: Gondar and Hararge regions.

This paper presents fertility and child mortality estimates for agricultural households of the Gondar and Hararge regions, based on the 1981 Rural Demographic Survey. The study shows that fertility and child mortality are quite high in both regions as in the rest of the country. However, Hararge has significantly higher mean parity and child mortality than Gondar.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

The role of nerve biopsies in the diagnosis and management of leprosy.

Skin and nerve biopsies from 81 patients clinically suspected to have leprosy were studied. Histologically 54% of the patients showed leprosy. Both nerve and skin biopsies were histologically diagnostic of leprosy in 64% of these cases while 32% were diagnostic in the nerve but not skin biopsy. In the 11 patients with multibacillary leprosy (BI greater than or equal to 2) a multibacillary picture was seen in all nerve biopsies while 8 patients exhibited a paucibacillary leprosy of the skin and a multibacillary leprosy in the nerve. The present results emphasize that leprosy is a disease of peripheral nerves and that diagnostic criteria other than skin parameters is important to reach a proper diagnosis. The evident possibility of having patients with a multibacillary leprosy in peripheral nerves and paucibacillary in skin emphasize the need of clinical studies to clarify the criteria for the diagnosis of paucibacillary leprosy and the drug regimen for this group of patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Relapse rate and incidence of dapsone resistance in lepromatous leprosy patients in Addis Ababa: risk factors and effect of short-term supplementary treatment.

A clinical trial was initiated at ALERT, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to study the effect of one-year supplementary treatment on the incidence of dapsone-resistant leprosy in lepromatous patients already on dapsone monotherapy. A total of 806 patients on dapsone therapy were assigned to one of four groups. The first group served as a control group, the second received a combination tablet of thiacetazone and INH (Thiazina) daily for 12 months, the third group received Thiazina daily for 12 months plus rifampin daily during months 1 and 7, and the fourth group received rifampin daily during months 1 and 7 but no Thiazina. Eighty-three percent of the patients were followed for five years after discontinuation of the supplementary treatment. The annual incidence of relapses and dapsone-resistant leprosy in the control group appeared to be 2.3% and 0.7%, respectively. The Thiazina treatment had no significant effect on either the overall relapse rate or the incidence of dapsone-resistant leprosy. The rifampin treatment, on the other hand, did significantly lower the relapse rate and only a single case of dapsone resistance was detected. A high incidence of relapse was found in young female patients. Nineteen of the 45 relapsed patients were bacteriologically negative at the start of the supplementary treatment and six had already been negative for over five years.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The value of a direct agglutination test in the diagnosis of cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis in Ethiopia.

The usefulness and sensitivity of a direct agglutination test (DAT) in the diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis due to Leishmania aethiopica infection has been investigated. Formalin-fixed, trypsin-treated and Coomassie blue-stained Leishmania promastigotes of various origins were used as antigens. L. major, L. donovani, L. aethiopica but not L. tropica antigen preparations were able to distinguish sera from individuals infected with Leishmania from sera of uninfected controls, although the titres of sera from patients with localized cutaneous leishmaniasis were low. Comparable results were obtained when the same sera were tested using freshly prepared antigen or antigen stored for 10 months at 4 degrees C. The assay was also used to monitor improvement of disease status following treatment of diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis patients, and it was found to correlate well with the changing clinical status of the patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cutaneous leishmaniasis in south-western Ethiopia: Ocholo revisited.

The borough of Ocholo, on the western side of the Ethiopian Rift Valley, is an endemic focus for Leishmania aethiopica infection and has been surveyed thrice between 1987 and 1990. In 1989, 3022 inhabitants (> 95% of the population) were interviewed and examined. The overall prevalence of localized cutaneous leishmaniasis (LCL) was 3.6-4.0%, with a peak value of 8.5% in the 0-10 years old age group. In half of the patients the active disease was estimated to last for 9.6 +/- 6 months; in 10%, it exceeded 3 years. Scars of LCL were present in 34.3% of the residents. Leishmanin skin tests were positive in 54% of 120 school-children without signs of the disease. Therefore, in Ocholo a minimum of 71.6% of the population has been exposed to L. aethiopica infection. Two cases of the diffuse form of cutaneous leishmaniasis were observed. In this highland biotope, Phlebotomus pedifer was found to be the major, and possibly the only, vector for L. aethiopica.

Adolescent↗