Introduction The objective was to study seroepidemiology and potential risk factors of Rift Valley Fever (RVF) virus infection in South Western Saudi Arabia. Methods A random sample of the general population were studied. Through questionnaire interviews, data were collected regarding sociodemographic status, housing conditions, animal contact and other relevant information. Blood samples were taken and tested for RVF-specific IgG and IgM utilising enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). Results Out of 2322 persons included in the study, only 139 were positive for RVF-specific IgG giving an overall prevalence of 6.0%. On the other hand, none of the study samples were found to be sero-positive to RVF-specific IgM. The highest prevalence of sero positive RVF IgG was observed in Al Birk of Aseer region (13.3%) followed by Al-Arda of Jizan Region (11.8%), where the first animal deaths were reported during 2000–2001 outbreak. The study revealed zero prevalence of specific IgM and IgG among children born after the 2000–2001 outbreak. Using multivariate binary logistic regression analysis, the following significant risk factors were identified; lacking house electricity, having animals in the house, history of slaughtering animals, contact with or transporting aborted animals. Conclusion The lack of recent virus activity mandates the rigorous maintenance of the control measures undertaken by the Ministries of Agriculture and Health. It is recommended to have regular seroepidemiological surveillance of RVF among humans, fostering public health messages in the region for risk reduction on reducing the risk of animal-to-human transmission as a result of unsafe animal husbandry and slaughtering practices.
To determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites among foreign junior staff working in the College of Medicine of King Khalid University, Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Stool analysis and Helicobacter pylori stool antigen test are offered freely to our staff as part of routine medical examination in our Department. The candidates for this study thus volunteered themselves. Nonetheless, their consent was sought for this additional test. This study took place between September 2006 and February, 2007. Fresh stool samples collected first thing in the morning in wide-mouthed clean, dry and grease-free containers were preserved in 10% formal-saline. The samples were concentrated using the formol-ether technique and examined for parasites. Sixty-five (65) junior staff, all of Asian origin, participated in the study. Twenty-four (24) 37%, had no parasites in their stool, while 41 (63%), were positive. Out of the forty-one (41) who had stool parasites, nineteen (19) had only one (1) parasite each, sixteen (16) had two (2), four (4) had three (3), one (1) had four (4) and one (1) had six (6). The commonest parasite was Trichuris trichiura (28), followed by Ascaris lumbricoides (19), and Hookworm sp. (15). (Table 1). Giardia lamblia and Entamoeba coli were the only protozoa identified. Those found positive were treated at the College Clinic. Poly-parasitism, two or more parasites per person, was common among these workers (22/41, 54%). The preponderance of Trichuris trichiura and Ascaris lumbricoides, suggests that feco-oral route constitutes an important route of acquisition and transmission. Employers of this category of workers in food and vegetable industries, must ensure they are regularly screened and if found to be infected, promptly treated to interrupt transmission of these parasites to the community.Nigerian Medical Practitioner Vol. 53 (4) 2008: pp. 66-69
We carried out a study on the prevalence of CA-MRSA in Abha and found a rate of 16% in an environment where nosocomial MRS A rate is 46%. We believe that the rate of CA-MRSA could be much lower if the patients had been interviewed with a view to eliminate obvious risk factors
