Asian Influenza in 1963 in Two General Practices in Cambridge,England

A clinical, epidemiological and virological investigation was conducted on patients in two general practices in Cambridge, England, during an influenza epidemic between February and April 1963. The epidemiological pattern differed from that of the 1957-58 Asian influenza epidemic in that the overall incidence was considerably lower (3.2%) and that the highest attack rates were not in school children but in pre-school children (71.5 per 1000 persons).Virological investigation confirmed the diagnosis of Influenza A2 infection in 56 of 63 patients (89%). Isolations were made in 29 of 51 specimens tested. Serological studies revealed that the complement fixation test was more reliable than hemagglutination - inhibition or neutralization tests. Clinical features resembled those reported in previous epidemics, cough, headache and limb pains being prominent features.     

Potential Zoonotic Trematodes Recovered in Stray Cats from Kuwait Municipality,Kuwait

Stray cats are a common feature roaming the streets and alleys of Kuwait; they could be a source of parasites, including trematodes, that affect humans. A survey was conducted to identify feline trematodes and throw the light on their public health significance in Kuwait. Out of 240 stray cats trapped from different localities of Kuwait from June 2011 to May 2012, 59 (24.6%) were found to be infected with 14 species of trematodes. The most common were trematodes of the genus Heterophyes, particularly H. heterophyes and H. dispar that were found in respectively 15.8% and 10.8% of the cats examined. Other trematodes recorded, with lower prevalences, were Heterophyes nocens (2.9%), Haplorchis taichui (3.8%), Stictodora sawakinensis (2.1%), Stellantchasmus falcatus (1.6%), Echinochasmus japonicus (1.6%), and Mesostephanus dottrensi (1.3%). Centrocestus cuspidatus, Galactosomum fregatae, Ascocotyle sp., Mesostephanus appendiculatus, Haplorchis yokogawai, and Pygidiopsis genata showed the lowest prevalence (0.4%) and intensity. The majority of the trematodes are recorded for the first time in Kuwait and even in the Gulf region. The study reveals that stray cats are good indicators of fish-borne trematodes in the environment. As all trematodes recovered are zoonotic, their significance to public health should be considred.