Successful results of a program combining live and inactivated poliovirus vaccines to control poliomyelitis in Gaza.

Trivalent oral poliovirus vaccine ( TOPV ) has been used in Gaza since 1967. After an initial decrease of 33% in the incidence of the paralytic disease, no further decrease could be noted. The mean annual incidence until 1977 was 10 per 100,000 inhabitants.

Cell mediated immunity to polio antigens in the early stage of acute poliomyelitis.

Specific cell-mediated immunity to polio antigens in 22 children suffering from acute paralytic poliomyelitis was investigated by the macrophage migration inhibition factor (MIF) technique. A positive response was observed in 9 of the 11 patients tested 1-4 days after the onset of the paralysis, and in 6 of the 8 patients tested between 15-90 days. In one case, the response was positive before paralysis became evident.

HLA antigens in the Arab population of the Gaza Strip.

The HLA antigen system was studied in the Arab population of the Gaza Strip. The lymphocytes of 113 individuals were typed for 13 and 16 antigens at loci A and B, respectively. The distribution of the HLA antigens was found to be similar to that of an average Caucasoid Middle Eastern population.

Study of the HLA antigen in Arab children with paralytic poliomyelitis.

In 1974 and 1976, two outbreaks of paralytic poliomyelitis occurred in a vaccine-protected infant population in the Gaza Strip. To test the possibility of an increased susceptibility to the disease, the frequency of HLA antigens was studied in 58 of the affected children and compared with 113 control subjects. HLA-AW19 and -B7 were found more frequently in the affected children.

A new variant of mannosidosis with increased residual enzymatic activity and mild clinical manifestation.

A partial deficiency of alpha-mannosidase was found in cultured skin fibroblasts, serum, and extracts of leukoytes in two siblings with mild mental retardation, delayed speech, a suggestion of coarse or full facies, and limited mobility of the large joints. All other lysosomal enzymes tested were within the normal range. Their father demonstrated intermediate alpha-mannosidase activity.