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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Molecular cloning and characterization of a midgut chymotrypsin-like enzyme from the lesser grain borer, Rhyzopertha dominica.

A cDNA encoding a chymotrypsinogen-like protein in midguts of the lesser grain borer, Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) was cloned and sequenced. The 901 bp cDNA contains an 816-nucleotide open reading frame encoding 272-amino acids. The predicted molecular mass and pI of the mature enzyme are 23.7 kDa and 4.64, respectively. The encoded protein includes amino acid sequence motifs that are conserved with 5 homologous chymotrypsinogen proteins from other insects. Features of the putative chymotrypsin-like protein from R. dominica include the serine proteinase active site (His(90), Asp(133), Ser(226)), conserved cysteine residues for disulfide bridges, the residues (Gly(220), Gly(243), Asp(252)) that determine chymotrypsin specificity, and both zymogen activation and signal peptides. A TPCK-sensitive caseinolytic protein (P6) with an estimated molecular mass of 24 kDa is present in midgut extracts of R. dominica and can be resolved by electrophoresis on 4-16% polyacrylamide gels. The molecular mass of this caseinolytic enzyme is similar to that of the chymotrypsin deduced from cDNA. Midgut extracts of R. dominica readily hydrolyzed azocasein and N-succinyl-alanine-alanine-proline-phenylalanine-p- nitroanilide (SAAPFpNA), a chymotrypsin-specific substrate. Properties of the enzymes responsible for these activities were partially characterized with respect to distribution in the gut, optimum pH, and sensitivity toward selected proteinase inhibitors. Optimal activity against both azocasein and SAAPFpNA occurs in a broad pH range from about 7 to 10. Both azocasein and SAAPFpNA activities, located primarily in the anterior midgut region, are inhibited by aprotinin, phenylmethyl sulphonylfluoride (PMSF), and soybean trypsin inhibitor (STI). TPCK (N-alpha-tosyl-L-phenylalanine chloromethyl ketone) and chymostatin inhibited more than 60% of SAAPFpNA but only about 10-20% of azocasein activity. These results provide additional evidence for the presence of serine proteinases, including chymotrypsin, in midguts of R. dominica. Arch. Insect Biochem. Physiol. 43:173-184, 2000.Published 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2005

Influence of grain type on the insecticidal efficacy of two diatomaceous earth formulations against Rhyzopertha dominica (F) (Coleoptera: Bostrychidae).

Laboratory bioassays were carried out in order to evaluate the effectiveness of two diatomaceous earth (DE) formulations, Insecto and SilicoSec, against adults of Rhyzopertha dominica (F) in eight different grain commodities. The adherence of the two DEs to each grain was also measured. The eight grains tested were wheat, whole barley, peeled barley, oats, rye, triticale, rice and maize. These commodities were treated with the DEs at three rates, 0.75, 1.0 and 1.5 g DE kg(-1) grain. The mortality of R dominica adults was measured after 24 h, 48 h, 7 days and 14 days of exposure in the treated grains at 26 degrees C and 55% RH. After the 14-day mortality count, all adults were removed and the treated grains retained under the same conditions for a further 60 days. The treated grains were subsequently examined for F1 progeny. Significant differences were recorded among the eight grain types as well as between the DE formulations tested. After 14 days of exposure, even at the lowest DE rate for both formulations, adult mortality was high (>90%) in wheat and triticale. In contrast, adult mortality was significantly lower in peeled barley. Increasing the rate improved the efficacy of the DEs significantly in only some of the grains tested. Reproductive capacity in all the treated grains was significantly suppressed when compared with untreated grains. Generally, more F1 individuals of R dominica were noted in the treated peeled barley than in the other commodities. Significant differences in the percentage of DE retention were noted among the eight grains. The highest retention level was noted in rice (>87%) and the lowest in maize (<6%). However, the degree of DE adherence to a given grain was not always indicative of the effectiveness of DE against R dominica.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Effect of exposure period on degree of dominance of phosphine resistance in adults of Rhyzopertha dominica (Coleoptera: Bostrychidae) and Sitophilus oryzae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae).

Degree of dominance of phosphine resistance was investigated in adults of Rhyzopertha dominica F and Sitophilus oryzae L. Efficacy of the grain fumigant phosphine depends on both concentration and exposure period, which raises the possibility that dominance levels vary with exposure period. New and published data were used to test this possibility in adults of R dominica and S oryzae fumigated for periods of up to 144 h. The concentrations required for control of homozygous resistant and susceptible strains and their F1 hybrids decreased with increasing exposure period. For both species the response lines for the homozygous resistant and susceptible strains and their F1 hybrids were parallel. Therefore, neither dominance level nor resistance factor was affected by exposure period. Resistance was incompletely recessive and the level of dominance, calculated at 50% mortality level, was -0.59 for R dominica and -0.65 for S oryzae. The resistant R dominica strain was 30.9 times more resistant than the susceptible strain, compared with 8.9 times for the resistant S oryzae strain. The results suggest that developing discriminating doses for detecting heterozygote adults of either species will be difficult.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Characterization of midgut trypsin-like enzymes and three trypsinogen cDNAs from the lesser grain borer, Rhyzopertha dominica (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae).

Protein digestion in the lesser grain borer, Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae), results from the action of a complex of serine proteinases present in the midgut. In this study we partially characterized trypsin-like enzyme activity against N-alpha-benzoyl-L-arginine p-nitroanilide (BApNA) in midgut preparations and cloned and sequenced three cDNAs for trypsinogen-like proteins. BApNAase activity in R. dominica midgut was significantly reduced by serine proteinase inhibitors and specific inhibitors of trypsin, whereas BApNAase activity was not sensitive to specific inhibitors of chymotrypsin or aspartic proteinases. However, trans-epoxysuccinyl-L-leucylamido-(4-guanidino) butane (E-64) inhibited BApNAase activity by about 30%. BApNAase was most active in a broad pH range from about pH 7 to 9.5. The gut of R. dominica is a tubular tract approximately 2.5 mm in length. BApNAase activity was primarily located in the midgut region with about 1.5-fold more BApNAase activity in the anterior region compared to that in the posterior region. Proteinases with apparent molecular masses of 23-24 kDa that were visualized on casein zymograms following electrophoresis were inhibited by TLCK. Three cDNAs for trypsinogen-like proteins were cloned and sequenced from mRNA of R. dominica midgut. The full cDNA sequences consisted of open reading frames encoding 249, 293, and 255 amino acid residues for RdoT1, RdoT2, and RdoT3, respectively. cDNAs RdoT1, RdoT2, and RdoT3 shared 77-81% sequence identity. The three encoded trypsinogens shared 54-62% identity in their amino acid sequences and had 16-18 residues of signal peptides and 12-15 residues of activation peptides. The three predicted mature trypsin-like enzymes had molecular masses of 23.1, 28, and 23.8 kDa for RdoT1, RdoT2, and RdoT3, respectively. Typical features of these trypsin-like enzymes included the conserved N-terminal residues IVGG62-65, the catalytic amino acid triad of serine proteinase active sites (His109, Asp156, Ser257), three pairs of conserved cysteine residues for disulfide bridges, and the three residues (Asp251, Gly274, Gly284) that determine specificity in trypsin-like enzymes. In addition, RdoT2 has both a PEST-like sequence at the C-terminus and a free Cys158 near the active site, suggesting instability of this enzyme and/or sensitivity to thiol reagents. The sequences have been deposited in GenBank database (accession numbers AF130840 for RdoT1, AF130841 for RdoT2, and AF130842 for RdoT3).

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2006

Alpha-amylase activity of Rhyzopertha dominica (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) reared on several wheat varieties and its inhibition with kernel extracts.

Total progeny of Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) reared on 10 wheat, Triticum aestivum L., varieties was evaluated. Higher amylase activities were detected in populations with few individuals, whereas the opposite was observed in higher populations. As protein ingested increased, reproductive success increased. However, consumption of wheat protein was inversely correlated with amylase activity levels (r = -0.66). Amylase activity in homogenates of R. dominica populations showed variable inhibition by wheat extracts prepared from wheat varieties on which they were reared. Insect populations with lowest amylase activities were inhibited more by wheat extracts than those with higher amylase activity (r = -0.77). An electrophoretic analysis revealed four phenotypes showing combinations of three isoamylases (Rm 0.70, 0.79, and 0.90) in different populations of R. dominica. Some of the insect progeny that emerged from resistant wheat varieties contained the three isoamylases, whereas progeny that emerged from the most susceptible varieties showed reduced activity of isoamylases 0.70 or 0.90. These results suggest that the alpha-amylase activity levels and the composition of isoamylases in R. dominica populations are modulated by diet and that the alpha-amylase inhibitory activity of the wheat kernels influences these variations.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) and lymphoid malignancies in Dominica: a seroprevalence study.

Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is endemic in certain regions of the world where it is associated with lymphoid malignancies. Herein we aim to describe the seroprevalence of HTLV-1 in lymphoid malignancies in Dominica. We carried out a 10-year retrospective study of histologically proven hematologic malignancies and HTLV-1 seropositivity at the Princess Margaret Hospital, Dominica. Ninety-eight cases were reviewed (59% males, 41% females), ranging in age from 3 to 91 years. HTLV-1 was seropositive in 38.6% (31/80) of all hematologic malignancies. Three of 6 cases of Hodgkin disease (50%), 16 of 36 (44.4%) of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and 3 out of 8 unclassified lymphomas (37.5%) were seropositive; all 6 cases (100%) of acute adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) were seropositive. One case each of chronic lymphocytic leukemia and myeloproliferative disorder was seropositive. HTLV-1-seropositive lymphomas presented at a younger age than did seronegative cases. Thus, HTLV-1 is significantly associated with lymphoid malignancies in Dominica, and further studies are needed before a causal relationship with Hodgkin disease can be established.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Attitudes towards mental illness in the Commonwealth of Dominica.

Little is known about the perception of mental illness in the English-speaking Caribbean. This study was conducted in 1995 to determine the attitudes, knowledge, and help-seeking practices for emotional disorders in the Commonwealth of Dominica. Two groups in Dominica were surveyed: 67 community leaders, consisting of nurses, teachers, and police officers; and 135 community members grouped into five socioeconomic strata that were collapsed to three for the analysis. All the respondents were asked to identify and suggest management of individuals with psychosis, alcoholism, depression, and childhood hyperactivity, as depicted in case vignettes. The person in the psychosis vignette was diagnosed as suffering from mental illness by 84.0% of the leaders and by 71.2% of the community members. However, in each of the three other vignettes, fewer than 30% of the respondents thought that mental illness was present. The person with alcoholism was viewed as having a serious problem by only slightly more than half of the respondents. Fewer than half of the respondents thought that the individuals with depression or hyperactivity had serious problems. The community leaders did somewhat worse in recognizing mental illness than did the community members. Respondents were most likely to refer a family member with emotional problems to a medical practitioner. In conclusion, education about mental health problems is needed in Dominica. Especially disconcerting was the lack of knowledge on mental illness among nurses, teachers, and police officers, that is, professionals directly involved in the pathway to care.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Three scleractinian coral diseases in Dominica, West Indies: distribution, infection patterns and contribution to coral tissue mortality.

Coral diseases have been documented in many areas of the Caribbean, but studies in the eastern Caribbean region have been lacking. The prevalence, distribution patterns and contribution to the mortality of coral tissue by black band discase (BBD), white plague (WP) and dark spots disease (DSD) were examined at five reef sites along the west coast of Dominica. 185 of the 325 diseased colonies recorded between March and August 2000, in a survey area of 5884 m2, were WP. This disease contributed to 89% of the total 4.08 m2 of tissue mortality caused by diseases during the survey period. WP also affected the largest average tissue surface area (relative to colony size) per colony and exhibited the largest average tissue loss per infection when compared to BBD and DSD. The species most susceptible to WP and BBD in Dominica differed from most other described Caribbean locations with Siderastrea siderea being most susceptible. S. siderea was also the only species noted to be susceptible to DSD. Measurements of colony size revealed that each disease affected the larger colonies of some coral species. Comparisons between disease prevalence at each site and various physical parameters, including temperature, wave height, depth, and current patterns, did not exhibit significant correlations. The lack of a direct correlation between temperature and disease prevalence indicates that there are other seasonal factors contributing to the higher prevalence of diseases recorded during the summer months in Dominica. WP prevalence at each site was positively correlated to the relative species abundances of the species most susceptible to WP. This was the dominant factor in determining site-specific disease densities of this disease and may therefore be a valuable predictive and management tool. There were no correlations between BBD or DSD and the relative abundances of susceptible species. The spatial distribution patterns of WP, BBD and DSD were clustered, which is a distribution pattern that suggests an infectious disease.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Long-term persistence and efficacy of spinosad against Rhyzopertha dominica (Coleoptera: Bostrychidae) in wheat.

A laboratory study was undertaken to determine the persistence and efficacy of spinosad against Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) in wheat stored for 9 months at 30 degrees C and 55 and 70% relative humidity. The aim was to investigate the potential of spinosad for protecting wheat from R. dominica during long-term storage in warm climates. Wheat was treated with spinosad at 0.1, 0.5 and 1 mg kg(-1) grain and sampled after 0, 1.5, 3, 4.5, 6, 7.5 and 9 months of storage for bioassays and residue analyses. Residues were estimated to have declined by 30% during 9 months of storage at 30 degrees C and there was no effect of relative humidity. Spinosad applied at 0.5 or 1 mg kg(-1) was completely effective for 9 months, with 100% adult mortality after 14 days of exposure and no live F1 adults produced. Adult mortality was <100% in some samples of wheat treated with 0.1 mg kg(-1) of spinosad, and live progeny were produced in all samples treated at this level. The results show that spinosad is likely to be an effective grain protectant against R. dominica in wheat stored in warm climates.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

The response of phosphine-resistant lesser grain borer Rhyzopertha dominica and rice weevil Sitophilus oryzae in mixed-age cultures to varying concentrations of phosphine.

The response of Rhyzopertha dominica and Sitophilus oryzae (both phosphine-resistant) in mixed-age cultures to phosphine at fixed concentration-time products (CT) of 10,500 to 168,000 microliters litre 1 h (ppm h) with either constant, rising or falling concentrations for 7 days was studied at 27 (+/- 2) degrees C. At lower CT products, rising concentrations of phosphine led to significantly fewer survivors of R dominica and S oryzae. Conversely, exposure to falling concentrations of phosphine resulted in significantly more survivors. The influence of changing concentrations of phosphine was more pronounced in S oryzae than in R dominica. In the latter, at the lower CT products of 21,000 and 42,000 microliters-1 h, the adult stage proved to be most tolerant, contrary to the accepted belief that the egg or pupal stage are always more tolerant to phosphine. The results indicate that application of phosphine in rising concentrations is more effective than in constant or falling concentrations.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

The use of capture-recapture methods to monitor diabetes in Dominica, West Indies.

The aim of this project was to evaluate the utility of capture-recapture (CR) estimation methodology, together with easily accessible sources of information, for monitoring the frequency of diabetes mellitus in a developing country. On the Caribbean island of Dominica, from July 1995 through July 1996, the names were collected of all individuals who were listed in at least one of three sources as having been diagnosed with diabetes during 1995. The sources were the membership list of the Dominica Diabetic Association, a register of patients in seven regional health centers, and clinic records of the Princess Margaret Hospital, which is the main hospital on the island. Capture-recapture techniques were used to estimate the number of Dominicans with diagnosed diabetes who were missed by all three sources of information and to evaluate dependencies among the sources. An ascertainment-corrected prevalence estimate of diagnosed diabetes was then calculated. The three sources identified a total of 1,945 different individuals. When this number was compared with the ascertainment-corrected estimate obtained with CR methodology (2,688), it appeared to represent only 72.3% of the true prevalence of diagnosed diabetes. Most of the under-ascertainment by the data sources was due to cases that were missed in the urban area of the island. This approach to disease monitoring may be useful for other Caribbean countries. However, standardized procedures for collecting and reporting prevalence and morbidity data are needed to maximize its accuracy and cost-effectiveness.

Chi-Square Distribution↗
PubMed2003

Molecular cloning and characterization of a cDNA encoding cytochrome c oxidase subunit Va from the lesser grain borer, Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae).

A cDNA encoding subunit Va of cytochrome c oxidase (EC 1.9.3.1) was cloned and characterized from a lesser grain borer (Rhyzopertha dominica) cDNA library. The complete cDNA consists of 693-bp and contains an open reading frame of 450-bp that encodes 150 amino acid residues. The sequence includes a 28-bp putative N-terminal and a 122-bp putative mature protein. The estimated molecular weight and pI for the predicted mature protein are 13,962 and 4.60, respectively. The cDNA-deduced amino acid sequence of the mature protein shows 73% identity to that of a corresponding subunit of African malaria mosquito (Anopheles gambiae) and 59% identity to that of the fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster). In addition, 31% of all amino acid residues are conserved among six different animal species. Evolutionary distance analysis suggests that cytochrome c oxidase subunit Va from R. dominica is most similar to the corresponding subunit from the malaria mosquito. Northern analysis revealed a single 4.9-kb transcript that is much larger than that found in mammalian species.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2005

Mortality and F1 progeny of the lesser grain borer, Rhyzopertha dominica (F), on wheat treated with diatomaceous earth: effects of rate, exposure period and relative humidity.

A series of experiments at 25 (+/-1) degrees C were conducted in which different application rates of diatomaceous earth (DE) formulation Protect-It at two levels of relative humidity, 40 and 55%, and at three exposure periods were evaluated for control of Rhyzopertha dominica (F). Test insects were placed in vials containing 40 g of soft winter wheat mixed with 0.25, 0.50, 1.00, 1.50 and 2.00 g DE kg(-1). At all rates except 0.25 g kg(-1), mortality was significantly different from that in the control at the relevant exposure period. After each exposure interval, dead and live insects were counted and removed, and the vial containing wheat was then returned to the appropriate humidity chamber for 8 weeks until F(1) adults emerged. F(1) progeny production was significantly different from the control group at all rates. Mortalities for 1, 2 and 3 weeks exposure were found to be 47 (+/-5)%. Despite the fact that mortality increased with increasing rate, total mortality was not achieved even at the highest rate of DE. F(1) progeny production decreased with increasing rate for both RH conditions, and containment of population for both RH conditions was achieved at 1.00 g DE kg(-1). For each exposure period, F(1) progeny production of R dominica decreased with increasing rate of DE, and population suppression was achieved at 1.00 g DE kg(-1) for all exposure intervals. In summary, Protect-It resulted in reduced F(1) adult progeny and containment of population was achieved at 1.00 g DE kg(-1) at which rate mortality was 77%.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Genetic linkage analysis of the lesser grain borer Rhyzopertha dominica identifies two loci that confer high-level resistance to the fumigant phosphine.

High levels of inheritable resistance to phosphine in Rhyzopertha dominica have recently been detected in Australia and in an effort to isolate the genes responsible for resistance we have used random amplified DNA fingerprinting (RAF) to produce a genetic linkage map of R. dominica. The map consists of 94 dominant DNA markers with an average distance between markers of 4.6 cM and defines nine linkage groups with a total recombination distance of 390.1 cM. We have identified two loci that are responsible for high-level resistance. One provides approximately 50x resistance to phosphine while the other provides 12.5x resistance and in combination, the two genes act synergistically to provide a resistance level 250x greater than that of fully susceptible beetles. The haploid genome size has been determined to be 4.76 x 10(8) bp, resulting in an average physical distance of 1.2 Mbp per map unit. No recombination has been observed between either of the two resistance loci and their adjacent DNA markers in a population of 44 fully resistant F5 individuals, which indicates that the genes are likely to reside within 0.91 cM (1.1 Mbp) of the DNA markers.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Soft-electron beam and gamma-radiation sensitivity and DNA damage in phosphine-resistant and -susceptible strains of Rhyzopertha dominica.

The soft-electron beam (low-energy electrons) and gamma-radiation sensitivities of phosphine-resistant (PHR) and -susceptible (PHS) strains of adults lesser grain borer Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) were studied, with particular reference to DNA damage assessed using single-cell electrophoresis (comet assay). Results showed that mortality in adult R. dominica varied significantly between both PHR and PHS strains. Adults of the PHR strain were found to be more tolerant toward soft-electron and gamma radiation than adults of the PHS strain. Studies on the longevity of strains showed that mean survival time and dose rate were highly correlated with both strains and treatments. Results also showed that adults of the PHR strain lived longer than adults of PHS strain for both treatments. Radiation sensitivity indices, however, decreased as radiation dose increased in both strains. Analysis of DNA damage, after 40- and 160-Gy gamma radiation, was carried out using cells obtained from both strains. Gamma-irradiated adults of both strains showed typical DNA fragmentation, compared with cells from nonirradiated adults, which showed more intact DNA. Investigations using the comet assay showed that tail length, moment, olive-tail moment, percentage of tail DNA, and percentage of DNA damage were all greater in the PHS strain compared with the PHR strain and the control insects. Results also showed that DNA damage remained at a constant level for up to 24 h after irradiation. The results have been discussed in relation to the observed strain differences in radiation sensitivity and resistance to phosphine.

Animals↗
PubMed1977

Studies on the functional morphology and ecology of the atyid prawns of Dominica.

Six species of atyid prawns, representing five genera, occur in streams on the West Indian island of Dominica (figures 1-6). The ecology and habits of each are described and the relation of features of gross morphology to ways of life noted. Xiphocaris elongata, the most primitive living atyid, is a lightly built prawn whose adult habits are related to life in quiet pools in streams. An agile species and an excellent swimmer, it picks up individual small food particles with specialized chelipeds (figures 18 and 19) that differ from those of all other atyids and manipulates them with mouthparts (figure 77) which, while highly complex, are more primitive than those described for any other member of the family. Atya innocous and A. scabra, representing perhaps the most specialized atyid genus, are very similar in gross morphology and are robustly built ambulatory species. A. innocous is common in a variety of situations: A. scabra is rare and has been found only in fast-flowing water. Both have chelipeds whose three distal segments are extremely specialized (figure 36) and whose propus and dactylus are armed with an exceedingly complex array of long, slender bristles. These can be used either as brushes for collecting finely particulate detritus (figures 58-60) or as filtering fans (figures 68 and 69) which, held passively in flowing water, extract suspended particles. The Atyidae is unique among the Malacostraca in having representatives that filter passively by means of the chelipeds. The bristles (figure 40) are extended (figure 49), not by muscles, of which there are none in the distal parts of the propus and none anywhere in the dactylus, but by hydraulic forces. The return of the bristles to rest is by means of a cuticular spring. Some of the bristles of A. innocous are armed distally with minute denticles (figures 41 and 42) that facilitate scraping and sweeping: no such are present in A. scabra. The difference is related to the relative importance of scraping in the two species: A. innocous scrapes frequently, A. scabra seldom. Finely particulate food is transferred and manipulated by the extremely complex oral machinery (figure 78). One of the most elaborate parts of this is a teaselling device in which components of the maxillae and first maxillipeds participate (figures 80 and 81). The feeding mechanism is described. Morphologically and functionally Micratya poeyi can be regarded as a miniature version of Atya. It can both sweep and filter. Potimirim glabra is rare in Dominica and its habits but little known. Morphologically it is similar to, but more primitive than, Micratya. Its cheliped bristles are clearly specialized for sweeping and show few signs of being used for passive filtration. Jonga serrei occupies a separate and well-defined niche in the quieter parts of streams. For this it shows many morphological specializations and lacks such attributes as stout claws and robust walking legs that are the hallmark of its relatives living in fast-flowing waters.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

The dental health of 12-year-old children in Dominica: a report of a survey using WHO methods.

As part of the process of assisting in the planning of a primary dental health care system in the Commonwealth of Dominica, we conducted a survey of mostly 12-year-old children. The purpose of the survey was to assess the oral health status and identify the needs for treatment and prevention. Secondary purposes included training Dominican dental auxiliaries and assistants to collect epidemiologic data and to use the findings to compare oral health status by region and previous coverage by the auxiliaries. The sample was obtained from schools throughout the country. Examinations were conducted according to standard WHO methods, using mirrors and explorers. The findings were recorded on prepared forms and the data were processed in Toronto using microcomputers. We found 31% of children to be caries-free and the mean DMFT score to be 2.5 (95% CI 2.2-2.7). Only 8% of lesions had been treated. No differences were observed by region but in areas covered by dental auxiliaries, children had fewer decayed teeth, fewer DMFT and higher F/DMFT ratios. Only 17% scored 0 on the CPITN index and 63% scored 2, meaning they had calculus. Debris was 3.6 times more likely to be found among those with gingival bleeding or calculus compared to those with periodontal health. Single surface restorations made up 82% of the estimated 2.0 caries treatment services required. The survey findings will allow planners to design specific preventive and treatment programs to meet Dominica's needs.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1998

District nursing in Dominica.

District nurses constitute the basis of the primary health care services in Dominica. All encounters of three district nurses were registered using the international classification of primary care. Information on other aspects of district nursing was collected by participating observation and the use of a questionnaire. Check-ups for hypertension, diabetes, pregnancy and immunisations constituted 40% of all reasons for encounter. The district nurses dealt with 80% of all contacts; only 20% of all patients were referred to the district medical officer. There are several discouragements to the motivation of the nurses. In addition to being a nurse, all have their family and other obligations. Postgraduate training with diversified certification and upgrading of wages could contribute to a continued high motivation and increased job satisfaction.

Adolescent↗