A study was conducted in the confined population of a state school for girls where the majority of students gave a history of past sexual intercourse. As part of a six-year survey for gonorrheal infection, examinations were also conducted for Trichomonas vaginalis and yeast infections. From a total of 6,304 specimens examined, the presence of T vaginalis in 20.3% was revealed.Screening for yeast and Neisseria gonorrhoeae revealed the presence of yeast in 10.4% and N gonorrhoeae in 6.3%. Multiple agents were frequently present (4.3%).The prevalence of T vaginalis infection was determined to be 35.2% in a series of 338 consecutive admissions to the institution. Screening for T vaginalis, yeast, and N gonorrhoeae in the presence of vaginal discharge is recommended.A previous study in a closed population in a state school for girls has shown a gonorrheal preva¬ lence of 11.8% in the years 1965 to 1968, inclusive.1 Reported here are the results of a concurrent study of Trichomonas vaginalis and yeast in¬ fections which has been extended to 1971.The average yearly population of the school is 467. Since the average stay is slightly less than six months, and the capacity of the school is around 250 students, there is at least one complete population change a year. Girls are sent to the school for behavioral problems such as truancy, running away from home, and mis¬ demeanors. The majority of the stu¬ dents give a history of past sexual intercourse and 10% to 15% are preg¬ nant at the time of admission.Although Neisseria gonorrhoeae in¬ fections in the mature woman pri¬ marily involves the cervix, infections with T vaginalis and yeast primarily involve the vagina. In instances in which the students are infected with AT gonorrhoeae alone, the complaint of vaginal discharge is rare. On the other hand, when the infection is caused by T vaginalis the patient will frequently but not always complain about vaginal discharge. The dis¬ charge associated with T vaginalis infection is white, or white tinged with gray or yellow, frothy, bubbly, mucopurulent, and has an acrid odor. Occasionally multiple, punctate, red erosions are seen on the vaginal mu¬ cosa. There is a wide range of clinical manifestations from almost asympto¬ matic to profuse, malodorous dis¬ charge associated with severe pru¬ ritus.Concomitant infection of the urethra in the woman may present a burning sensation on urination and simulate a bacterial urinary tract in¬ fection. When bacterial urinary tract infection is excluded by a standard, urine culture, the student is reexamined for T vaginalis, yeast, and N gonorrhoeae infections. When these organisms are found, specific treat¬ ment is instituted which usually pro¬ duces symptomatic relief. The typical discharge of the Can¬ dida infection is white, curded, and flaky, and sometimes adheres in patches like a plaque to the vaginal mucosa. According to Gardner2 less than 50% of women with symptoms related to yeast infections show evi¬ dence of adhering patches. The infec¬ tion may cause marked pruritus of the vulva...

A number of standard bacteriological media with supplements were tested for their ability to support in vitro growth of Ethiopian strains of Borrelia recurrentis. Propagation of 18 out of 21 strains occurred in Trypticase soy yeast broth to which bovine albumin (fraction V), N-acetyl glucosamine, and sodium pyruvate had been added. This medium supported a population of 107 organisms per ml and yielded a harvest of four to five times the original inoculum during the logarithmic phase of growth. Maximal yield varied from 1.4 x 107 to 3.4 x 107 organisms per ml. Generation time in optimal media was 11.3 h. Lesser multiplication of organisms occurred in other media tested. Strains from primary cultures were infective for the green monkey. Recovery of viable organisms from subculture has not been successful.

A number of standard bacteriological media with supplements were tested for their ability to support in vitro growth of Ethiopian strains of Borrelia recurrentis . Propagation of 18 out of 21 strains occurred in Trypticase soy yeast broth to which bovine albumin (fraction V), N -acetyl glucosamine, and sodium pyruvate had been added. This medium supported a population of 10 7 organisms per ml and yielded a harvest of four to five times the original inoculum during the logarithmic phase of growth. Maximal yield varied from 1.4 × 10 7 to 3.4 × 10 7 organisms per ml. Generation time in optimal media was 11.3 h. Lesser multiplication of organisms occurred in other media tested. Strains from primary cultures were infective for the green monkey. Recovery of viable organisms from subculture has not been successful.

Serological response to louse-borne relapsing fever in Ethiopia was determined by immobilization tests using Borrelia recurrentis cultures. Isolates from 26 patients tested with autologous convalescent sera showed from 90 to 100% of the organisms had been immobilized. Sera from thirteen patients were tested with autologous and heterologous strains. Several reacted with the majority and two showed high titers against all strains tested. Screening of day 2 and day 8 sera frequently showed heterologous antibody present before autologous antibody appeared, suggesting multiple antigenic challenge to infected patients. Some strains appeared to be antigenically related, but because of the wide diversity of serological responses, no definite serological groupings could be ascertained.