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PubMed1995

Influence of vulvar hygiene on cytology of vaginal smears after sham artificial insemination in sows.

The description of vaginal cytology in the sow in relation to artificial insemination (AI) has never been reported. Poor vulvar hygiene is frequently imputed as a cause for the development of endometritis after AI and could thus enhance the inflammatory response of the genital tract. The goal of this study was to use cytology as an objective tool to evaluate the vulvar hygiene during sham AI. Sixty-eight sows were matched according to their parity and week of mating and divided into 2 groups: treatment sows (CVS) had their vulva cleaned with a 1:2000 Hibitane solution and control sows (SVS) had theirs soiled with feces. Both groups of sows were inseminated twice with saline following this vulvar treatment, once at detection of estrus and a 2nd time 24 hours later. Vestibular smears were taken before each AI, and vaginal smears were taken after each AI from the material present on the insemination spirette. Cytological smears were described by the predominant type of cells, namely epithelial, neutrophil, or no predominance. Results showed no significant differences between the 2 groups and no evolution in the predominance of neutrophils from the 1st to the 2nd AI (P > 0.05). The pooled results from the 2 groups showed an increase in cellularity from the 1st to the 2nd AI (P > 0.05). Neither the cellularity nor predominant cell type in vestibular or vaginal smears from estrus sows are predictors of vulvar hygiene during sham AI (P > 0.05).

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Survey of parasitic prevalence in school-aged children in Guinea (1995)].

UNLABELLED: A national survey was carried out to assess the prevalence of helminth infections in all four geographical zones of Guinea (the four official names should be used. Guinée forestière, Haute Guinée, Moyenne Guinée and Basse Guinée) to provide information on which a school-based intervention program could be developed. The program, financed by the World Bank, would consist of vitamin supplementation, antihelmintic treatment and hygiene education. METHODS: The survey was conducted between April and June, 1995. Two prefectures (administrative areas) were selected to represent each zone, in each prefecture, one child between the age of 10 and 14 years old from each of 100 households was included in the study. Thus 800 children were enrolled. One fresh stool and one urine specimen per child were examined for the presence of parasites using the Kato-Katz method and routine microscopy. RESULTS: The following overall prevalences were obtained: bookworm (43.9%); Schistosoma mansoni (25%); S. haematobium (19.9%) Trichuris trichiura (13.5%); Ascaris lumbricoides (9.5%); Strongyloides stercoralis (6.4%) and Taenia spp (3.8%). More than 70% of the children were infected by at least one helminth. The majority (63%) of the infections were infections with only one parasite. Only 8% had three or more helminths. More boys than girls were infected (74.3% vs. 65.2%). Helminth infection was significantly associated with region, gender and school attendance as assessed by logistic regression analysis. The prevalence of Ascaris, S. mansoni and bookworm infections were higher in Guinée forestière than any other zone, although hookworm infections were common in all zones (prevalences of between 26% and 71%). The distribution of the other helminth infections differed substantially between the regions. Trichuris was most common in Conakry, Strongyloides in Boké, Taenia in Labé, and Schistosoma infections in both Haute Guinée and Guinée forestière. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of helminth infection in Guinea is high, and there is a regional distribution. Both these factors should be taken into account when planning the school-based supplementation, treatment and education intervention program.

Adolescent↗