The Oral History and Literature of the Wolof People of Waalo, Northern Senegal

The Oral History and Literature of the Wolof People of Waalo, Northern Senegal. Samba Diop. Lewiston, Canada; Edwin Mellen Press, 1995. 389 pp.     

Trichinella spiralis: Comparison with an Arctic isolate

The muscle phase of Trichinella spiralis and of Trichinella sp. isolated in the Arctic was compared in experimental and wild animals. Reproductive capacity indices (RCI) of the Trichinella sp. isolate were significantly lower in laboratory rodents but were similar to T. spiralis in wild rodents. Sprague-Dawley rats were the most refractory to the Trichinella sp. isolate of all laboratory rodents. Outbred strains of mice were more susceptible to both T. spiralis and the Trichinella sp. isolate than inbred strains of mice. T. spiralis muscle larvae survived longer in mice and the survival of both T. spiralis and the Trichinella sp. isolate larvae was higher in female mice. While single pair interbreeding experiments showed reproductive isolation between T. spiralis and the Trichinella sp. isolate, multiple pair and transplant breeding experiments showed reproductive compatibility. Male and female infective larvae of T. spiralis and the Trichinella sp. isolate differed morphometrically, but a convergence in size of worms was observed after prolonged passages of the parasites in mice. Passaging history of the isolate and host species was found to have a significant effect on Trichinella morphology. It is proposed that the Trichinella sp. isolate is a physiological variant of T. spiralis and not a distinct species.     

Dynamic changes of serum gamma-glutamyl transferase in chronic alcoholism.

Elevated serum gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) levels were found in 29% of 155 chronic alcoholics undergoing detoxification treatment. Alkaline phosphatase (AP) was increased in 16%, alanine aminotransferase--SGPT (ALT) in 12% of the patients, while 23% had elevations of either AP or ALT or both. Of the foregoing parameters, GGT was the best single indicator of liver involvement. In course of the follow-ups GGT/ALT correlation improved, but GGT/AP correlation deteriorated. In 9 patients, abstinence during follow-up was associated with progressive decrease in previously elevated serum GGT. Because of its unique sensitivity, GGT may be useful as a screening and/or monitoring aid in alcoholism.