Seroprevalence of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii, with particular reference to obstetric history of patients in Rawalpindi-Islamabad, Pakistan

Six hundred and forty blood samples were obtained from Rawalpindi-Islamabad to determine the frequency of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies using indirect immunofluorescent antibody (IFA) test. Two hundred and forty samples were from suspected cases of Toxoplasmosis. Forty (17%) cases were positive for IgG antibody. Seven (3%) of these cases showed antibody titre greater than 1:320. Of 65 children tested, 8 (12.30%) were positive. Four (6%) children had a rising titre from 1:160 to 1:1025. Prevalence of Toxoplasma antibodies was correlated to mode of living, maternal obstetric history, their animal contact and age of the children.

Bacillus sphaericus as mosquito larvicide

In Noorpur Shahan, a village in the outskirts of Islamabad, Bacillus sphaericus was tested to determine its efficacy against mosquito larvae. Since the creation of this new Islamabad district no mosquito control measure has been taken in the area and like so many other places in and around Islamabad, mosquito density is unusually high in this village. The efficacy of Bacillus sphaericus was studied upto seven weeks after its application and it gave good larval control.