Publications (3)12.58 Total impact
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Article: Laboratory diagnosis of Ebola hemorrhagic fever during an outbreak in Yambio, Sudan, 2004.
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ABSTRACT: Between the months of April and June 2004, an Ebola hemorrhagic fever (EHF) outbreak was reported in Yambio county, southern Sudan. Blood samples were collected from a total of 36 patients with suspected EHF and were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for immunoglobulin G and M antibodies, antigen ELISA, and reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of a segment of the Ebolavirus (EBOV) polymerase gene. A total of 13 patients were confirmed to be infected with EBOV. In addition, 4 fatal cases were classified as probable cases, because no samples were collected. Another 12 patients were confirmed to have acute measles infection during the same period that EBOV was circulating. Genetic analysis of PCR-positive samples indicated that the virus was similar to but distinct from Sudan EBOV Maleo 1979. In response, case management, social mobilization, and follow-up of contacts were set up as means of surveillance. The outbreak was declared to be over on 7 August 2004.The Journal of Infectious Diseases 12/2007; 196 Suppl 2:S193-8. · 6.41 Impact Factor -
Article: Yellow fever outbreak, Imatong, southern Sudan.
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ABSTRACT: In May 2003, the World Health Organization received reports about a possible outbreak of a hemorrhagic disease of unknown cause in the Imatong Mountains of southern Sudan. Laboratory investigations were conducted on 28 serum samples collected from patients in the Imatong region. Serum samples from 13 patients were positive for immunoglobulin M antibody to flavivirus, and serum samples from 5 patients were positive by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction with both the genus Flavivirus-reactive primers and yellow fever virus-specific primers. Nucleotide sequencing of the amplicons obtained with the genus Flavivirus oligonucleotide primers confirmed yellow fever virus as the etiologic agent. Isolation attempts in newborn mice and Vero cells from the samples yielded virus isolates from five patients. Rapid and accurate laboratory diagnosis enabled an interagency emergency task force to initiate a targeted vaccination campaign to control the outbreak.Emerging infectious diseases 07/2004; 10(6):1063-8. · 6.17 Impact Factor -
Article: Effects of Tsetse DNA Virus Infection on the Survival of a Host Fly,Glossina morsitans centralis(Diptera; Glossinidae)
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ABSTRACT: Freshly deposited third instarGlossina morsitans centralislarvae were infected with the tsetse DNA virus by microinjection. At emergence comparative observations were made on longevity and feeding behavior of infected and control flies. Gut tissues from the control and virus-infected flies were fixed and processed for light and electron microscopy. The longevity of infected flies was significantly reduced compared to that of the controls (P < 0.05). The main mortality factors in the virus-infected flies with severe lesions in the salivary glands were starvation due to failure to feed and clotting of blood in and/or rupture of the crop. Rupture of the midgut also caused some mortalities. Infected flies probed significantly more times during feeding to repletion (P < 0.05) and took significantly longer to feed compared to the control flies (P < 0.05). Infected flies which fed took significantly less blood compared to the controls (P < 0.05). Histological studies revealed pathological changes in the epithelial cells of the anterior midgut secretory midgut and the posterior midgut. There was severe disintegration of the membranous organelles, especially the mitochondria and rough endoplasmic reticulum, leading to extensive vacuolation in such epithelial cells. No viral particles were observed in the secretory and posterior midgut. Virions were observed in the anterior midgut lumen and occasional particles were seen invading the epithelial cells in this area of the midgut, especially in heavily infected flies.Journal of Invertebrate Pathology.
