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Sulpha therapy in bacillary dysentery
LABORATORY MEETING
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2 teeth of S. (E.) aureum has a peg and socket structure which probably has a sensory function. T h e homologous structure of S. (S.) reptans is solid. These and other differences such as the shape of the outer bristles and the n u m b e r and shape of rows of teeth on the mandibles are probably related to differences in their ecology.
The biting flies o f U g a n d a W. R. W O O F F
University of Salford 9 species of tsetse fly occur in Uganda and specimens of all were exhibited, together with a map showing not only their present distribution but also the 12,000 square miles from which they have been eradicated since 1947. Control measures have been directed largely against the 3 savanna inhabitants, Glossina morsitans centralis, G. m. submorsitans and G. pallidipes. Little action has been taken against the riverine G. f. fuscipes or any of the 5 members of the 'fusca' group. 2 of the latter, G. longipennis and G. nigrofusca hopkinsi are rare and very local, but the extensive forests and forest/savanna mosaics of western Uganda are infested by either G. fusca or G. fuscipleuris while G. brevipalpis has occupied much of the forest now growing in Busoga, on land under cultivation prior to the great Gambian sleeping sickness epidemic in the early years of this century. I n addition to these cyclic vectors of trypanosomiasis, Uganda also has a large and varied population of potential mechanical vectors, of which an ecological study is currently in progress, sponsored by the U.S. Government. Of these the Tabanidae are the most numerous, with over 100 species, a selection of which were displayed to illustrate their remarkable range of form, size and colour, complicated by the marked sexual dimorphism of some species. I n contrast, those haematophagous Muscids the Stomoxyinae, of which a smaller selection were displayed, are fairly uniform in appearance and even generic differences are not conspicuous. Just over 20 members of this sub-family were collected in the field, but only 2 of the third group of flies under investigation, the Hippoboscidae.
Sulpha therapy in bacillary dysentery H. L. W O L F F AND D. H A L A H A
Laboratory of Tropical Hygiene, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Leiden It is well known that many strains of dysentery organisms are resistant to most sulpha drugs. However, irrespective of the laboratory findings the results of sulpha treatment are good. Our experiments with children with infections of the bowel show that sulpha drugs produce better results in acute dysentery where there are blood and mucus present in the stool. We also found that all strains, irrespective of the results of sensitivity tests, show a marked difference in growth curves tested under the influence of sulpha drugs as compared to controls. With sulpha drugs the "lag time" is prolonged and the organisms multiply less readily. Our conclusions are that the body is better able to cope with the infecting organisms in the presence of sulpha drugs than without them.
37
2 teeth of S. (E.) aureum has a peg and socket structure which probably has a sensory function. T h e homologous structure of S. (S.) reptans is solid. These and other differences such as the shape of the outer bristles and the n u m b e r and shape of rows of teeth on the mandibles are probably related to differences in their ecology.
The biting flies o f U g a n d a W. R. W O O F F
University of Salford 9 species of tsetse fly occur in Uganda and specimens of all were exhibited, together with a map showing not only their present distribution but also the 12,000 square miles from which they have been eradicated since 1947. Control measures have been directed largely against the 3 savanna inhabitants, Glossina morsitans centralis, G. m. submorsitans and G. pallidipes. Little action has been taken against the riverine G. f. fuscipes or any of the 5 members of the 'fusca' group. 2 of the latter, G. longipennis and G. nigrofusca hopkinsi are rare and very local, but the extensive forests and forest/savanna mosaics of western Uganda are infested by either G. fusca or G. fuscipleuris while G. brevipalpis has occupied much of the forest now growing in Busoga, on land under cultivation prior to the great Gambian sleeping sickness epidemic in the early years of this century. I n addition to these cyclic vectors of trypanosomiasis, Uganda also has a large and varied population of potential mechanical vectors, of which an ecological study is currently in progress, sponsored by the U.S. Government. Of these the Tabanidae are the most numerous, with over 100 species, a selection of which were displayed to illustrate their remarkable range of form, size and colour, complicated by the marked sexual dimorphism of some species. I n contrast, those haematophagous Muscids the Stomoxyinae, of which a smaller selection were displayed, are fairly uniform in appearance and even generic differences are not conspicuous. Just over 20 members of this sub-family were collected in the field, but only 2 of the third group of flies under investigation, the Hippoboscidae.
Sulpha therapy in bacillary dysentery H. L. W O L F F AND D. H A L A H A
Laboratory of Tropical Hygiene, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Leiden It is well known that many strains of dysentery organisms are resistant to most sulpha drugs. However, irrespective of the laboratory findings the results of sulpha treatment are good. Our experiments with children with infections of the bowel show that sulpha drugs produce better results in acute dysentery where there are blood and mucus present in the stool. We also found that all strains, irrespective of the results of sensitivity tests, show a marked difference in growth curves tested under the influence of sulpha drugs as compared to controls. With sulpha drugs the "lag time" is prolonged and the organisms multiply less readily. Our conclusions are that the body is better able to cope with the infecting organisms in the presence of sulpha drugs than without them.