Simon S. Namnyak

Prevalence of cryptosporidiosis in Dammam and Alkhobar, Saudi Arabia

This report presents results from a 6-month study over the period 16 November 1986 to 15 May 1987 which was designed to investigate the prevalence of cryptosporidiosis in Dammam and Alkhobar, Saudi Arabia. A total of 209 stool specimens from children and 112 from adults with diarrhoea were examined. Only two (1%) of the children, both aged 2 years, were positive for Cryptosporidium spp. Giardia lamblia was found in 13 (4%) cases and was found to be the most common protozoan parasite, whereas Salmonella spp. was seen in 19 (6%) cases. Stool specimens were examined for rotavirus from children under 2 years of age; 31 (41%) of the specimens were positive.

Black Grain Mycetoma Caused by Madurella grisea in Saudi Arabia

A 19-year-old Saudi woman presented to Dammam Central Hospital with a swelling of the right foot of 2 years duration. The lesion had started as a small nodule on the sole 6 months previous to the swelling. It burst open and discharged pus. Multiple nodules slowly developed, ulcerated and discharged serosanguineous fluid that often contained black grains. There was no history of trauma. The swelling on the medial aspect of the right sole was firm, painless, and nodular with multiple sinuses discharging serosanguineous fluid witb black grains. X-ray of the foot showed no bony involvement. A deep biopsy was performed. Histologic examination revealed dark brown granules in microabscesses. The granules were small, oval, or lobulated with a hollow center containing loose hyaline bypbae. Tbe periphery was dark witb a dense network of hyphae and chlamydospores embedded in brown cement (Fig. 1). The cellular reaction was that of chronic granulomatous type witb foreign body giant cells and fibrosis (Fig. 2).

Bordetella Pertussis and Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Viruses in Egyptian Children with Whooping Cough

ABSTRACT Isolates of Bordetella pertussis and upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) viruses from nasopharyngeal secretions were studied in 100 Egyptian children with whooping cough. Thirteen (13...