This paper describes the clinical, epidemiological, and laboratory investigations undertaken to isolate and identify the etiological agent of a nosocomial cluster of hemorrhagic fever cases due to Crimean hemorrhagic fever (CHR)-Congo virus. Since this virus is usually transmitted by ticks it was surprising that the index case, in a nomadic shepherd, occurred during the winter season when ticks are relatively inactive. These are the first cases of CHF-Congo virus found in humans in Pakistan. Investigations on other biological properties, particularly strain differences and virulence, are being continued at the Islamabad laboratory.

Adult↗

PubMed1978

The effect of soaking, germination and cooking on the protein quality of mash beans (Phaseolus mungo)

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Cooking↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Diagnoses of acute lower respiratory tract infections in children in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Pakistan.

A hospital-based inpatient and outpatient study of 1,492 cases of acute lower respiratory tract infection (ALRI) was conducted from November 1986 to March 1988 in two hospitals in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Pakistan. Specimens of nasopharyngeal aspirate were processed for viral studies in all cases; blood cultures were performed in 1,331 cases; and urine was obtained for detection of bacterial antigen in 378 cases, but 227 of these samples had bacterial contamination and were discarded. Respiratory syncytial virus was identified in 33% of cases, and Haemophilus influenzae and Streptococcus pneumoniae were identified in 9.6% and 9.9% of cases, respectively. Nonencapsulated H. influenzae accounted for 32% of the Haemophilus isolates, and type b was the only encapsulated H. influenzae strain identified. Of the S. pneumoniae serotypes isolated, 31% are not included in the currently available polyvalent pneumococcal vaccine. No clinical characteristic was demonstrated to be a reliable indicator for bacterial ALRI.

Acute Disease↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Causative agents of acute diarrhoea in the first 3 years of life: hospital-based study.

During the 2 years of the study, 402 patients and an equal number of age- and sex-matched controls were investigated for the presence of diarrhoeal pathogens. Pathogenic organisms were recovered from 277 (68.9%) patients and 97 (24.1%) controls. In the patient group, possible bacterial pathogens were found in 210 (52.2%) cases. Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) was the most frequently found potential pathogen, being recovered in 132 cases (32.8%) with serotypes 026, 086, 0111 and 0124 being the most frequently identified. Other bacterial pathogens identified were enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) 57 (14.2%), Shigella 13 (3.2%) and Salmonella eight (2%). Rotavirus was identified in 33 (8.2%) cases. Mixed bacterial and viral infections were also seen in 26 (6.5%) cases. In the control group, enteric pathogens were recovered from 97 (24.1%) specimens. The most common bacterial pathogen found in this group was again EPEC (40, 9.9%), with serogroups 018, 044, 0111 and 0126 being the most frequent. Giardia lamblia and Entamoeba histolytica were found in 31 (7.7%) and 10 (2.5%) controls, respectively. Rotavirus was found in 16 (4%) controls. The results of both centres where the study was performed (Karachi and Rawalpindi) were compared.

Bacterial Infections↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Aetiologic agents of diarrhoeal diseases in hospitalised children in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.

The causes of diarrhoea were diagnosed in 250 children and 250 controls, a sample of 3,500 children who reported to the Rawalpindi General Hospital, Pakistan between May 1983 and April 1984. The pathogens identified in children with diarrhoea were enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) (43.2%), enterotoxigenic E. coli (14%), rotavirus (9.6%), Shigella spp (3.6%), Salmonella spp (3.2%) and Giardia lamblia (1.2%). Mixed infections were found in 2.4% of patients. The following pathogens were detected in controls: EPEC (14.0%), rotavirus (7.6%), G. lamblia (6.8%) and Entamoeba histolytica (3.2%). The serotypes of E. coli were determined.

Bacteria↗