Chlamydia trachomatis infection and distribution of serovars in the Eastern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea.

We have used nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the PCR-based endonuclease digestion method to genotype Chlamydia trachomatis serovars in 460 infected individuals from the Eastern Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea. Our study groups comprised women who presented in labour to the Goroka Base Hospital, their newborn infants, symptomatic children who presented to the hospital's Outpatients Department and men and women from 15 randomly selected villages in the Asaro Valley. In this analysis, the major outer membrane protein (MOMP) gene, omp1, of C.

Safety and immunogenicity of two Haemophilus influenzae type b polysaccharide-tetanus toxoid conjugate vaccines (PRP-T) given with diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine to young Papua New Guinean children.

Background: In view of high mortality and morbidity from Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) in young Papua New Guinean children, the incorporation of a Hib conjugate vaccine into a nationwide immunization program would be of major public health benefit.

Methods: We evaluated the safety and immunogenicity of a lyophilized and a liquid form of Hib polysaccharide-tetanus toxoid conjugate vaccines (PRP-T) given in the same syringe as diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP) vaccine to children in Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province. In Part 1 of the study 209 children were randomized to receive at ages 1, 2 and 3 months either DTP alone or a liquid formulation of DTP/PRP-T or lyophilized PRP-T dissolved in DTP suspension.

Mortality rates and the utilization of health services during terminal illness in the Asaro Valley, Eastern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea.

Between 1980 and 1989 we carried out fortnightly demographic surveillance in a random sample of people living in Goroka town, periurban areas and rural areas in the Lowa and Asaro Census Divisions, all within 1 1/2 hours' drive of the town in the Asaro Valley, Eastern Highlands Province. Cause of death was determined by verbal autopsy supplemented by any available health service information. Crude death and birth rates were 10 and 32 per 1000 person-years, respectively, in 59,906 person-years at risk.

Safety and immunogenicity of Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccine (PedvaxHIB) in Papua New Guinean children.

Background: In view of high mortality and morbidity from Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) in young Papua New Guinean children, the incorporation of a Hib conjugate vaccine into a nationwide immunization program would be of major public health benefit. The choice of the Hib conjugate vaccine will be based on the evaluation of several Hib conjugate vaccines, after consideration of such factors as the ease of incorporation into the current vaccination schedule, cost, kinetics of antibody responses and safety.

Methods: This study evaluated the safety and immunogenicity of Hib polysaccharide-Neisseria meningitidis outer membrane protein complex conjugate vaccine (PRP-OMPC) in Papua New Guinea.

Diarrhoea morbidity in children in the Asaro Valley, Eastern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea.

A morbidity study of diarrhoea covering 1926 children aged less than 5 years was carried out in Goroka town and the Lowa and Asaro Census Divisions, Eastern Highlands Province between 1986 and 1989. The study involved weekly demographic surveillance of the total population and morbidity surveillance of children by lay reporters who enquired about the presence or absence on any of the preceding 8 days of a range of symptoms associated with diarrhoeal and respiratory diseases. A three-day symptom-free period was used to define distinct episodes of diarrhoea.