Medical entomology problems of people working in Cairo's waste disposal sites.
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Animals↗
Biomedical subjects
M Köck
Publications and source records attributed to M Köck.
[Toxoplasmosis in dogs in Greece].
In Greece, not only raw meat feeding but also the possible faecal transmission of disease from the vast amount of strayed domestic cats play an important role in the incidence of toxoplasmosis among dogs. This must be concluded from the high contamination rate of 21.2% to 30.8% in all four presented investigations.
Animals↗
[Studies of dog sera using the microagglutination test for Q-fever in Greece].
In serological investigations of dog sera from Greece for Q-fever 4.2% to 53.9% of samples were positive in the highly specific microagglutination test.
Animals↗
[Leptospirosis in dogs in Greece].
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Animals↗
[Transmission of visceral leishmaniasis with studies of dogs in Greece].
According to our results the public fear in Greece of infection from dogs or the dog as a possible reservoir could not be confirmed. A total of 749 dogs were investigated. Positive findings were demonstrated successfully in 10 cases of 19 clinical cases and serologically confirmed in 10 cases. Strains were isolated in the experimental animal the hamster.
Animals↗
Serological investigations for leptospirosis in humans in Columbia.
The authors examined serologically 353 clinically healthy persons in 5 localities in South Columbia for leptospirosis using the MAL-reaction with 15 serovars of 15 serogroups. The positivity was high - 18.4% namely with the serovars of the serogroups Icterohaemorrhagiae, Canicola, Pyrogenes, Australis, Pomona, Grippotyphosa, Sejroe, Hebdomadis, Bataviae, Panama and Shermani. Sera reacted positive in titer levels of 1:400 and higher only with the serovars of the serogroups Icterohaemorrhagiae, Canicola, Australis, Grippotyphosa, Sejroe, Hebdomadis, Panama and Shermani. In the total positivity were the serovars of the serogroups Icterohaemorrhagiae with 30.8%, Grippotyphosa with 23.1%, Australis with 15.4%, Panama and Pyrogenes with 10.8% each, Pomona with 6.2%, Shermani with 4.6% and Canicola, Sejroe, Hebdomadis, Bataviae with 3.1% each. The high positivity of the sera from the Mocoa for L.grippotyphosa was surprising - 20.7%.
Adolescent↗
Results of leptospirosis examinations of human sera from El Salvador.
The authors examined 984 human sera for leptospirosis with the serovars from 15 serogroups serologically in 15 localities of El Salvador. In 17.5% of the sera the following reactions were found with serovars of 13 serogroups: Australis 6.8%, Pomona 5.5%, Grippotyphosa 3.2%, Icterohaemorrhagiae and Tarassovi each 2.1%, Javanica, Canicola, Pyrogenes, Cynopteri, Autumnalis, Sejroe, Hebdomadis, Bataviae, Shermani, between 0.2%-1.4%. Men showed a 18.5% and women 17.0% positive reaction. Positivity increases with an increase in age, an increase was shown from 11.5% in the group of up to 10 years, to 40.4% in the group of 51 to 60 years, in the last age group of over 60 years a decrease was shown of 34.7%. In 8 localities we were able to compare the serological positivity of the population, the highest percentages were found in Fey Esperanza 35.1%, San Jose de la Montana 31.6% and Domus Maria 27.8%, the lowest in Credisa 6.4% and Ametepec 7.6%.
Adolescent↗
[The significance of detecting Corynebacterium equi in the conjunctiva of children in Cairo].
The probable correlations between certain Corynebacterium are discussed. Carpenter et al. (1976) describes a Corynebacterium equi-pneumonia in a patient with Hodgkin's disease; Gardner et. al. (1976) also reports on a case of pneumonia. Golub et. al. (1967) demonstrates a lung abscess resulting from Corynebacterium equi. Williams et. al. (1971) demonstrates a thoracic infection in an immunosuppressed patient. Although, our findings have been demonstrated only in conjunctivitis of children, hitherto descriptions of Corynebacterium equi in diseases of the lungs, especially in the case of a low immune response in certain sections of the population should be taken into account. Further investigations of the numerous dead donkeys with severe clinical symptoms of lung sequela are necessary.
Actinomycetales Infections↗
[Data from measuring air pathogens of inhabitants of refuse disposal sites in Cairo (1)].
Atmospheric germ measurements were carried out and the germ spectrum determined in medical ambulances, bedrooms and livingrooms.
Air Microbiology↗
Toxicokinetics of chlorinated hydrocarbons.
Substitution of ethylene with halogen atoms leads to a highly effective compound with a strongly lipophilic character. The most important solvent in the dry cleaning process is tetrachloroethylene (PER). Owing to its physical-chemical properties, it has become a ubiquitous environmental pollutant. The uptake of small amounts of PER through polluted drinking water does not lead to liver damage as originally suspected. On the one hand, PER is taken up by erythrocyte membranes, on the other, it interacts with chylomicrons. Thereby two transportmechanisms are provided by for PER. Consequently, various physiological functions of both transport systems are disturbed. The erythrocytes increasingly disintegrate and are broken down in the spleen. Of all organs, the spleen shows the highest concentration of PER. Also, disturbances in the lipid metabolism occur because chylomicrons are broken down at a slower rate. Thereby, serum triglyceride concentration increases. These lipids are increasingly stored in the fatty tissue leading to the high accumulation of PER. A toxicological evaluation of chlorinated hydrocarbons should therefore take into account the changes in the blood system and in the lipoprotein metabolism.
Animals↗
Accumulation of heavy metals in animals. Part 1: Lead and cadmium contamination in some wild animals.
The accumulation of the heavy metals lead and cadmium in the liver of wild animals reveals when also not so alarming, an anthropogenic source of influence from industrial procedures. A great deal of the high mean values distributed in the literature appear to be more a problem of data evaluation, where few, but higher deviation values caused by sample contamination distorts the picture. Apart from samples with heavy lead deposits due to the gun shot, it is not necessary to advise against the consumption of venison.
Animals↗
Accumulation of heavy metals in animals. Part 2: Heavy metal contamination of fish in Styrian waters.
The kidneys of fish from five different regions of Styrian waters were investigated for their content of cadmium, lead, copper and zinc. 72.6% of fish demonstrated a zinc content below 130 ppm, cadmium content lay with 69% under 750 ppb. Lead concentrations were slightly higher, however values above 1 ppm were demonstrated only in 27.4% of cases. The copper content in the kidneys of fish was significantly higher; revealing in 28.8% a copper content of above 8 ppm.
Animals↗
Accumulation of heavy metals in animals. Part 3: Heavy metal contamination in small mammals at a waste disposal site.
Small mammals were captured at a waste disposal site; the kidneys of the animals were analysed for their content of lead, cadmium, copper and zinc. A control group was taken from the adjoining forest. Lead and copper clearly revealed higher values, no difference could be found for zinc, while the reverse was true for the cadmium content.
Animals↗
Groundwater investigations in the surroundings of the Halbenrain Standard Waste Disposal Plant.
The results of a seven year chemical water investigation of tube samples from the region of the Halbenrain Waste Disposal Plant reveal fluctuations in chloride, oxygen content, total, hardness, conductivity, potassium permanganate and potassium. A direct relationship between the fluctuations of values and influence on groundwater through disposal plant seeping water could not be established. Further investigations will be continued on a more extensive scale.
Austria↗
Measurements of air pollutants at two disposal sites in Cairo.
40,000 people live on the periphery of Cairo. They dispose of the city's entire waste. A complete recycling of the waste is carried out (up to 90%). The rest is burnt. Enormous fume emissions result form the incomplete burning process of their constituents of rest wastes (plastic, paper rests, tins cloth rests, org. material). The daily burning process lasts from midday to approximately 11 p.m. The main pollutants measured were: Carbon monoxide, hydrochloric acid and sulphur dioxide. As the results demonstrate, high amounts of carbon monoxide and hydrochloric acid are emitted from the burning process.
Air Pollutants↗
Biological parameter of environmental pollution.
Daily used chemicals, sooner or later reach our soil in the form of the original product or a by-product. The relationship between the chemical compound and organisms varies greatly and therefore cannot be demonstrated solely by chemical investigations. Bioassays are used in order to predict potential dangers.
Biological Assay↗
Hygiene control in standard waste disposal works.
Standard waste disposal works are subject to a continuous hygiene control. As a rule, deposited waste is not inert, i.e. substances can be extracted, which in certain quantities and concentrations must be considered as a source of danger to the water. Inflammable, explosive and health endangering gases are formed. The following must be controlled: groundwater in the area surrounding the disposal site, development of odour from the disposal site, appearance of vermins and noise resulting from the waste disposal works. Waste disposal must clearly be viewed critically from the aspect of waste management control, however, in future it will not be possible to manage without a standard waste disposal system. Hygiene control must represent a fixed component in the waste disposal works.
Air Pollution↗
Problems of housing and health of people utilizing the garbage in Cairo from the viewpoint of medical entomology.
More than 50 arthropod species were found at two dumping-grounds with dwelling-places (Mokattam and Ezbet el Nakhl) in Cairo. Their importance was evaluated from the epidemiological and epizootological points of view. Of primary importance is the great prevalence of the fleas (Xenopsylla cheopis) on brown rats (Rattus norvegicus), since the rats are in a close contact with people. They are often simultaneously parasitized with another flea species, Ctenocephalides felis felis, which is very frequent in the studied localities, occurring not only on people and dogs, but also freely in the whole area inhabited by people. Significant is also the large number of ticks (Rhipicephalus sanguineus) and synantropic flies of epidemiological importance. There is a mass occurrence particularly of the species Musca domestica vicina, Musca sorbens and Piophila casei. Attention is paid also to natural reducers of these flies.
Animals↗