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Biomedical subjects

L Mendis

Publications and source records attributed to L Mendis.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

Bacteria, viruses, yeasts and protozoans associated with diarrheal disease in Singapore.

Labile toxin producing enterotoxic E. coli (ETEC) were the commonest pathogen isolated from diarrheal stools of hospitalized children (21%) and adults (26%) in Singapore. Salmonellas ranked a close second in children (19%). Other bacterial pathogens were isolated from less than 5% of subjects. Blastocystis hominis was detected in 4.3% of diarrheal stools when a simple sedimentation technique was used. Cryptosporidium was not detected at all. An analysis of yeast counts in smears of diarrheal and non-diarrheal stools suggested they were etiologically associated with at least 6% of diarrhea in children and 19% in adults. Testing for rotaviruses by Latex agglutination and for adenovirus by electronmicroscopy showed an association with 6 per cent and 3 per cent diarrhea respectively. The study highlighted a need for: case control studies on ETEC and B. hominis; studies on the epidemiology of diarrhea by yeasts; establishing the true incidence of adenovirus diarrhea; studies on the prevalence and seasonality of rotavirus infection in Singapore.

Adenovirus Infections, Human↗

Emergence of penicillin resistant pneumococci in Sri Lanka.

Two strains of penicillin resistant (PR) pneumococci were isolated recently from cerebrospinal fluid of two children with meningitis. Penicillin resistance was detected by using a lug disc of oxacillin in the Stokes disc diffusion method. The strains were tested quantitatively for sensitivity to penicillin by an agar dilution technique. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) to penicillin of these strains were 2 micrograms/ml and 0.12 microgram/ml, indicating that respectively they were of frank and intermediate resistance to penicillin. However these strains were sensitive to other antibiotics tested, namely, erythromycin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, amoxycillin, cephalexin and cefotaxime. Penicillin resistant pneumococci are here in Sri Lanka. Though one strain was of intermediate resistance, therapeutic failure during treatment with penicillin was evident in this case.

Humans↗

Serum and coproantibody responses to rotavirus infection in children during the first two years of life.

The serum and coproantibody response (IgG and IgA) to naturally acquired rotavirus infections and reinfections in the first two years of life were studied in 13 cases and 12 control children using enzyme-immunoassay. A 100% IgG seroconversion and coproconversion occurred after tertiary and quaternary infections respectively. Unlike the IgA coproantibody response, serum IgG was detected more frequently after symptomatic (89%) than asymptomatic (50%) infections, and its duration and titre were boosted by reinfections. The durations of both responses was prolonged when reinfection occurred at 15 months versus 8 months. Both responses were observed after primary infection in the first two months of life. Higher instances of virus reinfections were detected serologically (72.5%) than virologically (27%). The results suggest that at least 3 doses of a rotavirus vaccine will be required before 4 months plus boosters around the 10th and 15th months. Further, during vaccine trials, virus infections should be monitored virologically and serologically.

Antibodies, Viral↗

Rotavirus infection in children hospitalised with diarrhoea in Sri Lanka.

Seasonal and clinical aspects of rotavirus-associated diarrhoea in 98 of the 326 children hospitalised for diarrhoea are described. Rotavirus infection was detected (30% overall) throughout the year from May 1980 to April 1981, but the prevalence was higher during the rainy season (40-50%). The age group in which rotavirus was detected most frequently was from 4 months to 2 years (34.6%). Watery diarrhoea and vomiting were significantly commoner in children with rotavirus diarrhoea (75% and 71% respectively) than those with non-rotavirus diarrhoea (54.2% and 60.8% respectively; p less than 0.05). Although about 15% of the children with rotavirus-associated diarrhoea showed blood or mucus in stools, the invasive nature of rotavirus infection cannot be drawn since the study did not include tests to detect other diarrhoeal pathogens.

Age Factors↗

Susceptibility to rubella virus among Sri Lankan women.

Immunity to the rubella virus was tested in 534 women in the childbearing age by the haemolysis-in-gel test, and 228 (43%) were found to be susceptible. This level of susceptibility is higher than that found in most temperate countries and mainland populations, and similar to descriptions in a few island and rural populations in the tropics. Although rubella epidemics do not occur in Sri Lanka, cases of congenital rubella and rubella complicating pregnancy are diagnosed. But the risk of congenital deformity in the foetus is not sufficient cause for a legal abortion in Sri Lanka. Under the circumstances it appears appropriate to use the measles--mumps--rubella vaccine rather than the measles vaccine for vaccination of infants or to introduce rubella vaccination of teen-age girls or female school leavers. Furthermore wherever possible, primipara could be screened by inexpensive methods such as the haemolysis-in-gel test and offered rubella vaccination after partus.

Adolescent↗

Comparative evaluation of the WHO and DAKOPATTS enzyme-linked immunoassay kits for rotavirus detection.

Faeces obtained from 1,163 children (including 66 newborn babies) were analysed in parallel for the presence of rotavirus particles using two enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. The kits had been formulated by the WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Rotavirus (WHO-ELISA kit) and by DAKOPATTS (DAKO-ELISA kit) to be suitable for use in laboratories in developing countries. The kits were evaluated in laboratories in Burma, Chile, India, Mexico, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom. Comparison of the results obtained with the two kits indicated that the DAKO-ELISA had an overall sensitivity of 97% and a specificity of 97% relative to the WHO-ELISA. In individual laboratories the DAKO-ELISA (K349) kit had a sensitivity in the range 90-100%, and a specificity of 85-100%. The kit showed a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 98% in assays on faeces obtained from newborn babies. We conclude that the DAKO-ELISA is as sensitive and specific as the WHO-ELISA for the detection of rotavirus antigen in faeces.

Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay↗

Neonatal herpes.

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Herpes Simplex↗