From the MJM Editors' Desk: Common errors authors make in submission to the Medical Journal of Malaysia.

Proper understanding the 'Instructions to authors' for a particular journal is the key towards successful submission of a manuscript which will lead to it being published. Common errors that are frequently made by authors in their submission to the Malaysia Journal of Malaysia (MJM) that lead to rejection of their submission or requiring major revisions or minor revisions are listed and discussed in this article. Outright rejection prior to even a peer review process may be made for an article due to: it is poorly written or when there is suspicion on the authenticity of the submission, which contains elements that are suspected to be plagiarised, it is a duplicate submission or not in the format required by the MJM.

Oxyspiruriasis in zoo birds.

Oxyspiruriasis caused by the bird eyeworm, Oxyspirura mansoni, a thelaziid nematode, in three species of pheasants, 3 Chrysolophus pictus (golden pheasant), 7 Lophura nycthemera (silver pheasant) and 9 Phasianus colchicus (common pheasant) in Zoo Negara Malaysia are reported. Birds with the disease were treated with a solution of 0.5% iodine or 0.

Domiciliary cockroaches found in restaurants in five zones of Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory, peninsular Malaysia.

The following domiciliary cockroaches were collected from restaurants in five zones of Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory, Malaysia using 1L glass beaker traps baited with ground mouse-pellets: Periplaneta americana (Linnaeus) (n = 820), Periplaneta brunnea Burmeister (n = 46), Blattella germanica (Linnaeus) (n = 12504), Supella longipalpa (Fabricius) (n = 321), Symploce pallens Stephens (n = 29) and Neostylopyga rhombifolia (Stoll) (n = 5). The following bacteria were isolated from 10 cockroach specimens: Enterobacter cloacae, Klebsiella pneumoniae ssp. pneumoniae, Klebsiella pneumoniae ssp.

Ectoparasite fauna of rodents and shrews from four habitats in Kuala Lumpur and the states of Selangor and Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia and its public health significance.

A total of 204 rodents comprising 14 host species from four different habitats were examined. Nine rodent species were trapped from the forest and another five species were trapped from the coastal, rice field and urban habitats. Rattus rattus diardii (67%) was the predominant rodent species examined.

Efficacy of albendazole in the treatment of Trichuris trichuria and Giardia intestinalis infection in rural Malay communities.

A community study was carried out to evaluate the efficacy of a 3-day course of 400 mg albendazole daily in the treatment of Trichuris trichiura and Giardia intestinalis infection. This treatment regimen was effective in the treatment of Trichuris trichiura and Giardia intestinalis infection with cure rates of 91.5% and 96.

Some risk factors of Ascaris and Trichuris infection in Malaysian aborigine (Orang Asli) children.

A study on risk factors of soil-transmitted helminths was conducted in a highly endemic area. In all 205 children (95 boys and 110 girls) participated in this study. The overall prevalences of Ascaris, Trichuris and hookworm infection were 62.

Prevalence and some risk factors of Giardia duodenalis infection in a rural community in Malaysia.

A study on prevalence and risk factors of Giardia duodenalis infection was conducted in rural communities of Malaysia. A total of 917 individuals between 2-70 years old (431 males and 486 females), participated in this study. The overall prevalence of G.

Efficacy of single dose albendazole on the prevalence and intensity of infection of soil-transmitted helminths in Orang Asli children in Malaysia.

The efficacy of a single-dose 400 mg albendazole to treat Ascaris, Trichuris and hookworm infection was studied in Orang Asli community. Kato-Katz examination was performed on fecal samples which were collected before treatment, 1 and 4 months after treatment. A total of 123 children were involved in all three surveys.

Malnutrition and its risk factors among children 1-7 years old in rural Malaysian communities.

The aims of this study were to investigate the nutritional status of children aged 1-7 years in Malaysian rural communities and to identify its risk factors. In all, 221 children were assessed using anthropometric measurements, dietary questionnaires and other tools. Weight-for-age, height-for-age, weight-for-height were analysed.

Cockroaches from urban human dwellings: isolation of bacterial pathogens and control.

A study was carried out to determine the distribution of cockroaches in two different housing areas with central sewerage or individual septic tanks in an urban area in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Six species of cockroaches were present and of these Periplaneta americana and Periplaneta brunnea were found in greater abundance. Seventeen species of bacteria were isolated and of these Escherichia coli and Klebsiella p.

The prevalence of Trichuris, Ascaris and hookworm infection in Orang Asli children.

A community study on the age and sex related prevalence, intensity infection and frequency distribution of Ascaris, Trichuris and hookworm was carried out in 205 Orang Asli (Aborigines) children (95 boys, 110 girls) aged 1-13 years. The overall prevalence of Ascaris, Trichuris and hookworm was 62.9%, 91.

Nutrient intake and socio-economic status among children attending a health exhibition in Malaysian rural villages.

A dietary survey was carried out in 216 children (109 males, 107 females) aged 1-7 years, living in rural villages in Selangor, Malaysia to assess their nutrient intake and to determine the association between nutrient consumption and socio-economic background. All the children studied had inadequate intakes of energy, iron and niacin according to Recommended Daily Intake (RDI). Children aged of 4-9 years showed inadequate intake of calcium, thiamine and riboflavin.

Hookworm infection and reinfection following treatment among Orang Asli children.

In hookworm endemic areas where sanitation is often wanting, reinfection of treated children is a problem. This study was conducted to enumerate the prevalence and the reinfection rate of hookworm in 193 Orang Asli children following treatment with stat dose of 400mg of albendazole at 2 and 4 months post-treatment. All samples were examined using the Kato-Katz and Harada Mori techniques.

Enterobius vermicularis infection among children aged 1-8 years in a rural area in Malaysia.

The infection rate and relationship of enterobiasis with socio-economic status were determined in children aged 1-8 years, living in a rural area in Malaysia. Of the 178 subjects 40.4% were infected with Enterobius vermicularis.

Host tissue reaction to Gnathostoma malaysiae (Nematoda: Gnathostomidae) in Rattus surifer Miller.

The occurrence of adult Gnathostoma malaysiae in Rattus surifer and R. tiomanicus in Malaysia has been reported but there are no known reports on the host tissue reactions. This paper reports on the gross pathology caused by G.

Detection of circulating antigens and parasite specific antibodies in filariasis.

In Peninsular Malaysia, only Wuchereria bancrofti and Brugia malayi are reported to cause human filariasis. Brugia pahangi infects many of the same animal hosts as the zoonotically transmitted subperiodic B. malayi.

Prevalence of Enterobius vermicularis amongst adults living in hostels by six successive day examination.

The prevalence of Enterobius vermicularis in four groups of adults, all trainee public health inspectors or public health nurses, aged 18-35 years and all living in hostels on campus was studied. The modified scotch tape technique was used and the subjects were taught to do the examination on themselves to detect the presence of eggs over a period of 6 successive mornings. Each was given an elaborately illustrated diagram on how and when to take the samples and given demonstration in groups.

The prevalence of Enterobius vermicularis amongst primary school children in Pulau Ketam, Selangor--1988.

A survey was conducted to investigate the prevalence of Enterobius vermicularis in 1352 Chinese children between the ages of 6-12 years from the three National Type Chinese Primary Schools in Pulau Ketam in 1988, using the scotch-tape technique on three successive days. The overall prevalence was high (56.88%).

Bacterial pathogens isolated from cockroaches trapped from paediatric wards in peninsular Malaysia.

A survey was conducted in 4 paediatric wards in Malaysia to determine the distribution of various species of cockroaches and to examine their gut contents for bacteria. Cockroaches were trapped from food dispensing areas (kitchens), store rooms, cupboards and open wards. 104 cockroaches were caught, consisting of Periplaneta americana (67.

Successful vaccination of cats against Brugia pahangi with larvae attenuated by irradiation with 10 krad cobalt 60.

Cats were vaccinated by the inoculation on 10 occasions of approximately 300 larvae of Brugia pahangi which had been irradiated with 10 krad cobalt 60. They were challenged on 3 occasions with normal larvae of either B. pahangior B.

Studies with Brugia pahangi. 16. Precipitation antibody in infected cats detected by counterimmunoelectrophoresis.

In cats infected with normal, or irradiated, infective (L3) larvae of Brugia pahangi counterimmunoelectrophoresis revealed the presence of antibody to soluble antigens derived from microfilariae, adults and infective larvae of the same parasite. Infected cats with a persistently high to moderate microfilaraemia gave positive precipitin reactions to L3, microfilarial and adult worm antigens. Cats which had become amicrofilaraemic had antibody to L3 and microfilarial antigens but not to adult worm antigen.

Studies with Brugia pahangi. 15. Cobalt 60 irradiation of the worm.

Infective larvae of Brugia pahangi were irradiated at 10, 25 or 45 krads by means of a Cobalt 60 source. In cats, 10 krads caused the worms to be stunted and sterile but allowed them to become 5th stage, migrate posteriorly into the afferent lymphatic, and produce pathology. 25 krads prevented the worms from developing beyond the early fourth stage and from migrating away from the popliteal lymph node.