Antibody response of patients after postexposure rabies vaccination with small intradermal doses of purified chick embryo cell vaccine or purified Vero cell rabies vaccine.

Although the introduction of tissue culture vaccines for rabies has dramatically improved the immunogenicity and safety of rabies vaccines, they are often prohibitively expensive for developing countries. To examine whether smaller doses of these vaccines could be used, we tested the safety and immunogenicity of purified chick embryo cell vaccine (PCECV) on 211 patients in Thailand with World Health Organization (WHO) category II and III exposures to rabies. The patients presented at two Thai hospitals and were randomized into three groups.

A study of epidemiology, risk factors and preventive measures against snake bites.

The epidemiology and exposing causes of snake bites were studied in 274 patients between 1 January 1982 and 30 December 1990. They comprised 142 males (51.82%) and 132 females (48.

Dark green pit viper (Trimeresurus popeorum) bite: clinical and serial coagulation profiles in 51 cases.

Trimeresurus popeorum, a dark green pit viper, is commonly found in Southeast Asia. This study describes the clinical picture and blood studies of 51 patients bitten by this snake. Affected limbs were swollen; and hemorrhagic blebs in fingers and toes were found in 12 patients.

Severe cases of green pit viper snake venom poisoning.

Two severe cases of green pit viper bites were reported. The clinical manifestations were severe bleeding and diarrhea. The first patient had acute renal failure complicated from severe diarrhea and hypovolemia.

Hygienic status of food handlers.

The study demonstrated bacterial species on hands and nails of food-handlers before and after hand-washing. Those were Staphylococcus spp., Streptococcus spp.