Epidemiological survey on prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum anti-circumsporozoite antibodies (Ab-CS) was carried out in 21 villages of Comoros FIR, at the beginning of 1988 rainy season. Evaluation of anopheline indoor resting densities was also carried out at the same time. Frequencies of antibody-positive subjects vary considerably in the different villages, according to the Anopheles gambiae and A. funestus densities per room, which are determined by ecological factors. Ab-CS prevalence varies in the sample population from 5.5% in 3-4 years children to 40% in those of 5 years. Starting from 6-7 years group, prevalence increased steadily reaching a plateau by 30 years of age. The detection of Ab-CS levels in a sample population is a good tool to evaluate malaria transmission levels, especially where the epidemiological situation does not allow a reliable entomological evaluation.
Field tests were conducted in the Grande Comore Island, Federal Islamic Republic of Comoros, in order to evaluate the potential of the larvivorous fish Poecilia reticulata for the control of the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae s.s. Due to the high permeability of soil, Anopheles breeding sites in all island occurs only in the man-made water reservoirs. The study was carried out from November 1987 to November 1988 within a framework of a malaria and filariasis control programme, supported by WHO and UNDP in collaboration with the Government of the FIR of Comoros. All larval breeding places of An. gambiae existing in the village of Hantsambou were recorded (59 ablutions basins and 61 cisterns) and provided initially with 3-5 specimens of P. reticulata/m3 in November 1987, after the importation of the larvivorous species from Mayotte Island. The percentage of breeding places positive for An. gambiae decreased from 41% to 6% after one year. Pyrethrum spray catch showed a reduction of indoor resting density from 5.5 to 0.3, while the ma value, number of Anopheles bites/man/night, obtained by night-biting catches, decreased from 6.3 to 1.2. At the same time of the reduction of entomological indices parasite index for P. falciparum and spleen rate drop steadily in 5-9 years school children. The tested vector control method, well accepted by the community, could be implemented in malaria control through primary health care, being the ecological conditions in the entire island very peculiar.
The evolution of the main topics of study related to the biology, the life-cycle and the distribution of insects causing cutaneous myiasis during the last century is presented. These subjects are still of interest and a synopsis of new data concerning Hypoderma tarandi, H. diana and Prezhevalskiana silenus is reported as well as the changes of distribution of some species such as Cochliomyia hominivorax. In the second part, an over view of what has been archived on myiasis immunology is reviewed. This is based on the work conducted on Lucilia cuprina and Hypoderma. The areas of research are serological diagnosis, disease monitoring, immunological mechanisms of host protection and parasite escape. The following topic reviewed the latest developments in chemotherapy, the problems associated with this approach to control the myiasis and the part played by these chemicals in successful eradication programs. In the last topic the latest results obtained with the use of biological measures to control C. hominivorax and H. bovis and H. lineatum are reported.
After morphological and histopathological characterization, the Cali strain of T. cruzi isolated from a patient in Cali (Colombia), was also submitted to a morphometrical characterization. For this we estimated 16 cellular parameters in 30 samples of each evolutive form of T. cruzi in blood in NNN medium through planimetry by the IBAS-1 (Image Basic Analytic System). This morphometrical study was completed with a statistical one through the application of the variance (ANOVA-1). This made it possible to evidence a great number of significant differences between the slender, broad and stout forms and also between the short and large epimastigotes from the NNN medium. These data have a real interest for classifying some features of the biological cycle of T. cruzi as well as the future development of diagnosis techniques or therapeutical and prophylactic experiments.
A study of the anatomo-pathological lesions induced by Monanema martini, a filaria with skin-dwelling microfilariae, was performed using 65 Lemniscomys striatus fixed from 30 minutes to 36 months after inoculation of the infective larvae, 5 Arvicanthis niloticus and 3 Meriones unguiculatus fixed during the patent phase, and controls. Attempts at quantification of lesions in L. striatus was made. Approximately 20% of L. striatus had microfilariae in the eyeballs, and many more presented ocular lesions. The delay of the patent period seems to have more effects on the gravity of lesions than repeated inoculations. The location of the lesions and parasites presuppose that microfilariae enter the eyeball through the lymphatic capillaries of the irido-corneal angles. Cutaneous lesions were often severe: there is a parallel between the importance of lesions and the abundance of microfilariae. Larvae are responsible for damage to various structures of the lymphatic system (thrombo-lymphangitis, acute or granulomatous lymphadenitis...) into which they migrate, explaining the mechanism of elephantiasis. These rodent lesions appear similar to those observed in human onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis. Whatever the M. martini stage and the organ examined, major lesions belonged to the inflammatory process. Various types of inflammatory reaction (acute, subacute, or chronic inflammation, scarring sclerosis etc.) can co-exist within a single tissue area. The accidental escape of a microfilaria from a lymphatic capillary into the connective tissue (including the corneal stroma) induces an inflammatory reaction. Thus M. martini, as human Onchocerca species, causes a chronic disease, associating recent lesions to old ones.