- Email: [email protected]
Chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Punjab (northern India)
511
TF.ANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL.SOCIETYOF TROPICALMEUICINE AND HY(;IENE (1988) 82, CORRESPONDENCE
I Correspondence
I
Chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Punjab (northern India) S. C. Verma et al. (Transactions, 1986, 80, 489)
reported the presenceof in vitro chloroquine resistant falciaarum in Puniab. The authors claimed that &owih at a chloroquibe concentration of 0.03 kg/ml indicated chloroquine resistance in vitro. This concentration corresponds to 1 x 10w7~;yet the lowest chloroquine concentration on WHO predosed plates k 1.0 pmol/weu (2 X 10w7M). Sensitive P. falciparum isolates grow normally up to 4.0 pmol/well (8 x 10e7~). However. schizont maturation at 6.3 pgiml (i X 10F6M)is’indicative of in vitro chloroquine resistance(Payne, D., 1984: Practical aspectsof the use of the standard WHO in vitro macro- and microtest systems for the determination of the sensitivity of Plasnwdium falciparum to chloroquine, mefloquine, amodiaquine and quinine. Geneva: unpublished WHO document WHO/MAP/84=2). It is most likely, therefore, that the figure given by these authors was intended to read 0.3 @ml. This type of error could have been avoided, if the concentration had been quoted in pmol/well, as indicated on the predosed microtitre plates supplied by WHO. Plasmodium
M. M. Lemnge National Institute for Medical Research Amani Research Centre P.O. Box 4 8 December 1987 Amani, Tanzania.
Why dengue haemorrhagic
fever in Cuba?
I was interested to read the two papers on dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) in Cuba (J. R. BRAVO et al.. 1987: Transactions, 81. 816-820 and G. P. KOURI et k., 1987: Transacti&s 81, 821-823). The authors recorded significantly higher prevalencesof bronchial asthma among DHF patients than in the general population in Cuba, and they concluded: “Although the two current hypotheses to explain the occurrence of DHFiDSS enidemics are valid in well defined but different epidt&ological situations, neither Halstead’s hypothesis of secondary-type infection or Rosen’s hypothesis of the role played by the virulence of the circulating strain can explain all cases” [p.82 11. Apparently they have overlooked yet another hypoihesis bised & multi-factoral holistic consideration (KHORSHED PAVRI & S. R. PRASAD. 1980: Rev&s of Infectious Diseases, 2, 142-146. We proposed two-typ& of hypersen&ti&y reactions in the causation of DHF/DSS: (i1 formation of antigen-16 antibody complex leading‘io activation of corn&em&t and local inflammation, and (ii) IgE-mediated histamine releaseleading to increased vascular permeability and vascular collapse. The suggestedrole of IgE mediated hypersensitive mechanism fits in very well with the findings from Cuba. Khorshed National Institute of Virology 20-A, Dr Ambedkar Road Pune 41 I 001, India
Pavri
14 December 1987
Current AIDS literature It was good to see reference to our publication on AIDS literature (Transactions 1988,82, 159), but may I make a correction and a comment? First, the AIDS and Retroviruses Update has been relaunched by Gower Academic Journals under a new title: Current AIDS Literature. It contains not only the annotated citations on AIDS and retroviruses (still prepared here in the Bureau) but a short survey of the month’s literature and statistics. Secondly, it was disappointing to see the comment about the 6-month delay: we do try extremely hard to ensure that the citations are published as soon as possible after receipt of the journal and 11;5% of casespublication is within l-5 weeks of ou seeing the current issue of the journal. Someoverseasjournals are delayed in the post, a few slip through the net, or we have to await a translation from our expert abstracters of articles in difficult languages, but small delays are the exception rather than the rule. David FitzSimons Director Bureau of Hwiene and TroPical Diseases Keppel streei 17 February 1988 London, WClE 7HT
Coconut water in the culture of Trypanosomatidae
We read with great interest the report by Marques
et al. (1987: Transactions. 81. 61% on the use of
coconui water enriched u&h i% haemolyzed rabbit blood in the culture of Trypanosomatidae. Since 1985 we have been doing similar studies independently and without previous knowledge of the work of the Venezuelan scientists. Our researchwas stimulated by the observations of our colleagues Schatzmayr et al. (1970: Revista Brasileira de Biologia, 30,97-lOO), who used coconut water for cell culture of human kidney and chicken fibroblast cells, as well as Toure & Seye (1979: Eleza Servicesfor OAUISTRC, Nairobi, 110, 211-214) who cultivated Trypanosoma (Namwmonas) congokmse in biphasic media using 2% agar and coconut water. The proposed phylogenetic relationship between Kinetoplastida which parasitize plants and those of medical interest further motivated our studies. We have reported previously (Marzochi et al., 1986: Memtias
do Instituto
Oswald0 Cruz,
81,
(Suppl.), 68) that Leishmania b. braziliensis, T. cruzi (Y strain) and Phytomonas davidi could be cultivated in pure coconut water as well asin mixtures of it with NNN medium and brain heart infusion-LIT. None of these media contained foetal calf serum, and the complex media produced better growth. The addition of haemin (0.51%) to pure coconut water also increased the productivity and stability of the cultures. More recently (Alves & Marzochi and Alves et al., 1987: Mem&ias do Instituto Oswald0 Cruz. 82. (Suppl.), 81), we have compared various sub-species of Leishmania (L. b. braziliensis, L. b. guyanensis, L. m. mexicanu, L. m. amazonensis, L. infantum and L. major) and T. cru.zi using vure coconut water and complex media with c&o&t water plus various defined chemicals (haemin, folic acid, L-glutamine, L-lysine and L-ornithine). L. m. mxicana, L. m.
TF.ANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL.SOCIETYOF TROPICALMEUICINE AND HY(;IENE (1988) 82, CORRESPONDENCE
I Correspondence
I
Chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Punjab (northern India) S. C. Verma et al. (Transactions, 1986, 80, 489)
reported the presenceof in vitro chloroquine resistant falciaarum in Puniab. The authors claimed that &owih at a chloroquibe concentration of 0.03 kg/ml indicated chloroquine resistance in vitro. This concentration corresponds to 1 x 10w7~;yet the lowest chloroquine concentration on WHO predosed plates k 1.0 pmol/weu (2 X 10w7M). Sensitive P. falciparum isolates grow normally up to 4.0 pmol/well (8 x 10e7~). However. schizont maturation at 6.3 pgiml (i X 10F6M)is’indicative of in vitro chloroquine resistance(Payne, D., 1984: Practical aspectsof the use of the standard WHO in vitro macro- and microtest systems for the determination of the sensitivity of Plasnwdium falciparum to chloroquine, mefloquine, amodiaquine and quinine. Geneva: unpublished WHO document WHO/MAP/84=2). It is most likely, therefore, that the figure given by these authors was intended to read 0.3 @ml. This type of error could have been avoided, if the concentration had been quoted in pmol/well, as indicated on the predosed microtitre plates supplied by WHO. Plasmodium
M. M. Lemnge National Institute for Medical Research Amani Research Centre P.O. Box 4 8 December 1987 Amani, Tanzania.
Why dengue haemorrhagic
fever in Cuba?
I was interested to read the two papers on dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) in Cuba (J. R. BRAVO et al.. 1987: Transactions, 81. 816-820 and G. P. KOURI et k., 1987: Transacti&s 81, 821-823). The authors recorded significantly higher prevalencesof bronchial asthma among DHF patients than in the general population in Cuba, and they concluded: “Although the two current hypotheses to explain the occurrence of DHFiDSS enidemics are valid in well defined but different epidt&ological situations, neither Halstead’s hypothesis of secondary-type infection or Rosen’s hypothesis of the role played by the virulence of the circulating strain can explain all cases” [p.82 11. Apparently they have overlooked yet another hypoihesis bised & multi-factoral holistic consideration (KHORSHED PAVRI & S. R. PRASAD. 1980: Rev&s of Infectious Diseases, 2, 142-146. We proposed two-typ& of hypersen&ti&y reactions in the causation of DHF/DSS: (i1 formation of antigen-16 antibody complex leading‘io activation of corn&em&t and local inflammation, and (ii) IgE-mediated histamine releaseleading to increased vascular permeability and vascular collapse. The suggestedrole of IgE mediated hypersensitive mechanism fits in very well with the findings from Cuba. Khorshed National Institute of Virology 20-A, Dr Ambedkar Road Pune 41 I 001, India
Pavri
14 December 1987
Current AIDS literature It was good to see reference to our publication on AIDS literature (Transactions 1988,82, 159), but may I make a correction and a comment? First, the AIDS and Retroviruses Update has been relaunched by Gower Academic Journals under a new title: Current AIDS Literature. It contains not only the annotated citations on AIDS and retroviruses (still prepared here in the Bureau) but a short survey of the month’s literature and statistics. Secondly, it was disappointing to see the comment about the 6-month delay: we do try extremely hard to ensure that the citations are published as soon as possible after receipt of the journal and 11;5% of casespublication is within l-5 weeks of ou seeing the current issue of the journal. Someoverseasjournals are delayed in the post, a few slip through the net, or we have to await a translation from our expert abstracters of articles in difficult languages, but small delays are the exception rather than the rule. David FitzSimons Director Bureau of Hwiene and TroPical Diseases Keppel streei 17 February 1988 London, WClE 7HT
Coconut water in the culture of Trypanosomatidae
We read with great interest the report by Marques
et al. (1987: Transactions. 81. 61% on the use of
coconui water enriched u&h i% haemolyzed rabbit blood in the culture of Trypanosomatidae. Since 1985 we have been doing similar studies independently and without previous knowledge of the work of the Venezuelan scientists. Our researchwas stimulated by the observations of our colleagues Schatzmayr et al. (1970: Revista Brasileira de Biologia, 30,97-lOO), who used coconut water for cell culture of human kidney and chicken fibroblast cells, as well as Toure & Seye (1979: Eleza Servicesfor OAUISTRC, Nairobi, 110, 211-214) who cultivated Trypanosoma (Namwmonas) congokmse in biphasic media using 2% agar and coconut water. The proposed phylogenetic relationship between Kinetoplastida which parasitize plants and those of medical interest further motivated our studies. We have reported previously (Marzochi et al., 1986: Memtias
do Instituto
Oswald0 Cruz,
81,
(Suppl.), 68) that Leishmania b. braziliensis, T. cruzi (Y strain) and Phytomonas davidi could be cultivated in pure coconut water as well asin mixtures of it with NNN medium and brain heart infusion-LIT. None of these media contained foetal calf serum, and the complex media produced better growth. The addition of haemin (0.51%) to pure coconut water also increased the productivity and stability of the cultures. More recently (Alves & Marzochi and Alves et al., 1987: Mem&ias do Instituto Oswald0 Cruz. 82. (Suppl.), 81), we have compared various sub-species of Leishmania (L. b. braziliensis, L. b. guyanensis, L. m. mexicanu, L. m. amazonensis, L. infantum and L. major) and T. cru.zi using vure coconut water and complex media with c&o&t water plus various defined chemicals (haemin, folic acid, L-glutamine, L-lysine and L-ornithine). L. m. mxicana, L. m.