Gamont of Hepatozoon canis was observed by light, phase contrast and transmission electron microscopies. In a thin blood film the gamont was contained within a pale-blue capsule in the leukocyte. By phase contrast microscopy, the gamont was seen to be surrounded by a contrasty substance. Transmission electron microscopy revealed the presence of a parasitophorous vacuolar membrane, two layers in the pellicle of the gamont and a fine fibril-like structure surrounding the parasitophorous vacuole.

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We examined the causative organisms of respiratory infections from 1989 to 1990 at Mae Sot General Hospital in collaboration with Chiang Mai University, Thailand. We collected sputum from patient with acute bronchitis and pneumonia to identify the causative organisms by sputum culture and inflammatory sputum cytology. We experienced 72 cases (97 strains of bacteria) of acute broncitis and 17 cases of pneumonia (20 strains of bacteria) in Mae Sot General Hospital. The most frequently identified pathogens in respiratory infections were Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Branhamella catarrhalis. This study shows that Gram-stained smears and quantitative sputum culture together have a significant role in enhancing the diagnostic value of expectorated sputum specimens. The causative organisms between Thailand and Japan were very similar in acute respiratory infections. The most important outcome of this study was the detection of Branhamella catarrhalis in many adult cases with acute respiratory infection.

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Leprosy (Hansen's disease) has become a curable disease by the advance of chemotherapy, however, deformities evoked by nerve damages are still a great problem of treatment. We have recently demonstrated a highly sensitive and specific method to identify the leprosy antigen in skin tissue by immunohistochemical staining using a Mycobacteriam leprae-specific antiphenolic lipid-I (PGL) monoclonal antibody. Using this method, we have examined the peripheral nerves of lower extremities, spinal cords and brain stems of clinically cured (skin slit smear negative more than 10 years) leprosy autopsy cases (Lepromatous (L) : n= 6, Tuberculoid (T) : n= 6), in which ordinary Fite's acid-fast staining did not reveal M. leprae. Positive staining was observed as follows : (1) Peripheral nerves : L : 6/6, T : 1/6. (2) Dorsal root ganglia and posterior spinal roots : L : 6/6, T : 2/6. (3) Anterior roots : L : 0/6, T : 0/6. (4) Spinal cord : L : 6/6, T : 2/6, observed in posterior horn cytoplasm and anterior horn neurons. (5) Medulla oblongata : L : 6/6, T : 2/6, observed mainly in ambiguus, facial, hypoglossal, cuneate and gracile nuclei. These findings indicate that M. leprae specific antigen remains in the peripheral sensory nerves as well as central sensory and motor nerves long after the clinical cure, especially in lepromatous patients where definitely abnormal cellular immunity against M. leprae is noted, which suggest the role of motor neurons in the pathogenesis of quiet nerve paralysis.

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In this study both spatial and seasonal variations in the size of tsetse flies from the south Kenya coast were investigated. The work was done at two sites; in Rongomwagandi (in Shimba Hills National Researve) and in Muhaka Forest. Wing length was used as an index of fly size. In a cross-sectional study the size of flies from two study sites was compared. Significant differences were found between the size of flies from Rongomwagandi and Muhaka Forest. In a longitudial study the size of flies from two study sites was compared over a six month period. The population of flies at Rongomwagandi showed larger seasonal variation in size than those in Muhaka. Additionally, all flies collected were aged using the wing fray method. More older flies were observed in dry season than in rainy season.

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Imported malaria is one of the perplexing problems in the world. Migrants, either refugees or those looking for better opportunites in life, have contributed to the introduction of malaria to previously free areas. The increased incidence of imported malaria is distinctly attributed to a failure of travellers to take appropriate action to prevent infection. Annually up to 100 cases of malaria are presumed to be imported into Japan and most of these cases are Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax malaria. The reports of P. malariae malaria cases are very few in Japan. The present paper reports a case of one patient with imported P. malariae malaria infection accompanied with marked hepato-splenomegaly who has come from Nigeria. And this patient was treated with Fansidar® (sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine) and minocycline which were very effective against this infection.

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