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[Comparison of immune response in patients with bilharziasis (S. mansoni) from Africa south of the Sahara and Antilles].

Retrospective study has been conducted in the parasitic and tropical diseases department of the hospital Cochin, based on observations made between 1966 and 1985 on antibody rates in sera of 709 bilharziasis patients (S. mansoni). This study shows a great difference of immunologic reaction between the group of patients from French West Indies (458 patients) and the one of the group of patients from Africa South of Sahara (189 patients). Such an observation leads the authors to suppose a difference between strains of schistosomes from Black Africa and French West Indies.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Health indicators of a population in an agro-industrial complex of southern Cameroon].

An agro-industrial program involving sugar cane farming was established in Mbandjock (Cameroon) in the 1960's. We studied the impact of this development project on the health of the population by determining the prevalence and distributions of the major parasitic diseases according to district, ethnic origin, age and sex. Three main conclusions can be drawn. First, in the study area, economic development was not associated with deteriorating health conditions. Indeed, the incidence of parasitic disease was lower in Mbandjock than in surrounding areas. Second, imported diseases (loaiasis and schistosomiasis for example) did not develop locally despite the large population concentrations created by the implantation of the agro-industrial complex. Third, endemic parasitic diseases (malaria, onchocerciasis and intestinal infection by helminths or protozoan) were found only in a few districts. Thus, integrated control measures should be taken in these areas as a priority.

Adolescent↗