Pathological processes in malaria are the consequence of the erythrocytic cycle of the parasites. Merozoites invade erythrocytes, in which they develop through early trophozoites (ring forms) to late trophozoites and eventually to schizonts. During this process, development of knobs and cytoadherence or rosetting with the knobs play important roles for the falciparum malaria patient to be severely ill. Expression of variant surface neoantigens stimulates the reticuloendothelial system and can cause anemia, tissue hypoxia and cytokine production. Associated fever, paroxysms, headache and other pains are thought to result from cytokines such as interleukins, interferons and tumor necrosis factor released from macrophages or other cells at the time of schizont rupture. In the present paper, pathological and pathophysiological changes mainly in human falciparum malaria are reviewed, emphasizing the importance of basic research to “roll back” the emerging trends of malaria.

抄録全体を表示

An ethanolic extract of the flowering meristems of worm wood, Artemisia nilagirica was allowed to evaporate. The residue, thus obtained, was administered orally on 4 pariah dogs naturally infected with Dirofilaria immitis at 10 mg/kg/day for 15 days and then at 20 mg/kg/day for the next 15 days. Two homoeopathic potencies of the A. nilagirica extract, called Cina 200 and Cina 1000, were obtained commercially and administered orally at 0.1 ml/dog/day for 30 days on two separate batches, each consisting of 4 dogs. Blood was sampled from the dogs before treatment and on day 15, 30, 45 and 75 following the treatment. A. nilagirica extract (Cinaθ) was diluted with 90%ethanol1 : 100 and shaken by 10 manual strokes to prepare the 1st potency, called Cina 1. All subsequent potencies were prepared by mixing 1 part of the preceding potency with 99 parts of 90% ethanol and giving the mixture 10 manual strokes. Cinaθ, Cina 200 and Cina 1000 reduced microfilarial densities in treated dogs by 78.38, 63.06 and 71.40%, respectively on day 30. There were 57.13, 42.44 and 64.20% reduction on day 75. No apparent toxic effect was observed in the treated dogs. Electronic spectra of Cinaθ, Cina 200 and Cina 1000 showed comparable absorbance with the latter two giving a blue shift. Cinaθin CCl₄ showed a red shift suggesting molecular complexation and charge transfer (CT) interaction between aqueous ethanol and compounds of A. nilagirica. CT was further evidenced by the NMR spectra of the deuterium nuclei of Cinaθin 90% ethanol. NMR spectra of Cinaθ, Cina 200, Cina 1000 and 90% ethanol indicated a change in the solution structure of Cina 200 and Cina1000. This altered solution structure is thought to be responsible for inducing immune reaction of the hosts against the parasite.

抄録全体を表示

Serum samples from Japanese chyluria patients were examined for filaria specific antibodies and a circulating filarial antigen in order to know if the symptom was filarial in origin. All the sera were negative for the circulating antigen. Anti-Brugia pahangi antibodies were detected in 6 out of 16 serum samples by ELISA after absorption of the sera with Anisakis and Dirofilaria immitis antigens. One of the positive sera showed a high titer for anti-B. pahangi IgG4, suggesting that Wuchereria bancrofti adults were surviving in the patient in recent years. Detection of antibodies would be helpful for immunodiagnosis of filarial chyluria in Japan, where filarial origin is often determined based simply on the history of residence in the past endemic areas.

抄録全体を表示

This study describes the socio-demographic profile of cerebral malaria (CM) patients and identifies the clinical and laboratory factors which correlate with mortality from this condition. Records of 97 CM cases admitted at the Davao Regional Hospital, Philippines from 1990 to 1995 were reviewed. Information on socio-demographic factors, clinical signs and symptoms, physical examination and laboratory findings and medicines given during hospitalization were obtained. Associations of these variables with mortality were examined by generating two-way tables for qualitative variables and computing descriptive statistics for quantitative variables. Results showed that CM was more common among males and young adults who comprise the economically productive age group (21-40 years) and who are engaged in slash and burn agriculture. Using bivariate analysis, factors that correlated with mortality included age, residence, back/abdominal pain, fever, coma, dyspnea, diastolic blood pressure (BP), white blood cell (WBC), neutrophil and lymphocyte counts, trophozoite count and quinine infusion. Logistic regression analysis showed that only back/abdominal pain, coma, dyspnea, diastolic BP and trophozoite count remained statistically significant after simultaneously controlling for confounding. These results can contribute to the proper assessment and improvement in the clinical management of CM.

抄録全体を表示

Four new species of black flies (Diptera : Simuliidae) are described based on reared adult, pupal and/or larval specimens collected from Thailand. Three new species, Simulium chaliowae sp. nov., S. chainarongi sp. nov., and S. triglobus sp. nov., are all assigned in the multistriatum-group of the subgenus Simulium (Simulium), and share the similar shoe-shaped cocoon instead of the usual fenestrate cocoon. S. triglobus is most remarkable by having three spermathecae in female adult. The fourth new species, S. baimaii sp. nov., is placed in the genus Simulium but its subgeneric assignment remains unclear due to lack of adult specimens. This species is distinct from the other known simuliid species in the Oriental Region by having the pupal gill with two filaments directed forward from an inflated stalk on each side.

抄録全体を表示

This study was carried out to elucidate the prevalence of intestinal helminthic infections in rural communities in Nepal. Of 231 inhabitants randomly sampled in Kotyang and Judigaun, 140 (60.6%) were found to be infected with some soil-transmitted helminths. The highest prevalence was observed in hookworm infection (52.8%), followed by Trichuris trichiura (18.6%) and Ascaris lumbricoides (11.3%) infections. Some inhabitants harboured Vampirolepis nana and liver fluke. The female group aged 60 years old and more showed significantly higher T. trichiura infection rate than the male group with the same age (p<0.05), while no relationship was detected between proportion of T. trichiura infection and age based on logistic regression test (p=0.07). Serum IgE levels of Nepalese were shown to be far higher than common Japanese levels, suggesting the repeated infections with these helminths.

抄録全体を表示