Investigation of dogs as a reservoir of Penicillium marneffei in northern Thailand.

Background: Penicillium marneffei is a dimorphic pathogenic fungus endemic in Southeast Asia that usually causes disseminated disease, mainly in immunocompromised individuals, especially those with HIV infection. Untreated cases are usually fatal. The only known natural reservoir exists in bamboo rats and there is no firm evidence that these animals are involved in direct transmission to humans.

Genotypic distribution of hepatitis C virus in voluntary blood donors of northern Thailand.

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and distribution of HCV genotypes among voluntary blood donors in northern Thailand. From 1998 to 2000, 167 serum samples which tested positive for anti-HCV antibodies in the screening of voluntary blood donors from 5 provinces in northern Thailand were selected for genotyping. Viral RNA was extracted from the sera.

Genotypes of hepatitis B virus among children in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

In sub-Saharan Africa, the Pacific, and particularly Asia, hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is highly endemic, the most common route of transmission is perinatal. To minimize the number of horizontal transmissions, we determined the prevalence of HBV genotypes among children in northern Thailand. From a survey of 1,231 schoolchildren in Chiang Mai during 1998 to 2000, 55 (4.

Genotypes of hepatitis B virus among voluntary blood donors in northern Thailand.

There are distinct ethnogeographic variations for the distribution of various hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypes, and pathogenic and therapeutic differences are also observed. In general, genotype B infection has a relatively better prognosis than genotype C. In Thailand, genotypes C and B were reported as the major genotypes; however, there were no previous reports of HBV genotyping in the north of the country.

Evaluation of a hepatitis B vaccination program in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Chiang Mai is a province in northern Thailand that started a vaccination program for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in 1989. In this paper, we report the long-term efficacy of this program. Of children aged 4-9 years, 65.

Present epidemiological pattern of antibody to hepatitis a virus among Chiang Mai children, Northern Thailand.

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection is common in Southeast Asia, and most of the inhabitants acquire a lifelong immunity as a result of natural infection during childhood. However, the age-specific seroprevalence is changing with development of socioeconomic and hygiene status in this area and the infection is predicted to shift to adulthood with more severe clinical manifestations in the future. In this study, we report the present epidemiological pattern of antibody to HAV (anti-HAV) among schoolchildren in Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand.