Lambia

Abstract: It is considered that this group is very important, because in most cases the first suspicion of infection was raised by trained nurses or lay welfare officers, and it proves that by an increased awareness among persons concerned with the care of aborigines, a great deal can he done to detect cases of this infection. It is obvious that a number of minimal lesions will not be noticed, but much basic information has been obtained in this way. As an extension of this idea, it was thought worthwhile to see whether the diagnosis could be made without bringing children to the clinic. Following the diagnosis of endothrix tinea capitis in a full-blooded aboriginal child from Ernabella Mission (some 900 miles north of Adelaide in the Musgrave Ranges close to the Northern Territory border), it was decided, through the cooperation of Sister V. Ramm of that Mission to see how many cases could be found on this station, which has a population of at least 350 full-blooded aborigines who have little contact with civilization.

Abstract: Dielectrophoresis (DEP) has been shown to have significant potential for the characterization of cells and could become an efficient tool for rapid identification and assessment of microorganisms. The present work is focused on the trapping, characterization, and separation of two species of Cryptosporidium (C. parvum and C. muris) and Giardia lambia (G. lambia) using a microfluidic experimental setup. Cryptosporidium oocysts, which are 2-4 μm in size and nearly spherical in shape, are used for the preliminary stage of prototype development and testing. G. lambia cysts are 8–12 μm in size. In order to facilitate effective trapping, simulations were performed to study the effects of buffer conductivity and applied voltage on the flow and cell transport inside the DEP chip. Microscopic experiments were performed using the fabricated device and the real part of Clausius—Mossotti factor of the cells was estimated from critical voltages for particle trapping at the electrodes under steady fluid flow. The dielectric properties of the cell compartments (cytoplasm and membrane) were calculated based on a single shell model of the cells. The separation of C. muris and G. lambia is achieved successfully at a frequency of 10 MHz and a voltage of 3 Vpp (peak to peak voltage).

Abstract: A survey was carried out in seven villages around Bandarabass, on Persion Gulf, to determine the prevalence of the intestinal protozoa infections. Out of the 835 stool specimens examined, 676 samples were positive with single and multiple infections. The most prevalent of intestinal protozoa in Bandarabass were Entamoeba histolytica, Entamoeba coli, Giardia lambia and Iodamoeba butschlii.