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WHO Collaborating Centres in MalaysiaThe Ministry of Health hosted the 8 th Annual Meeting of the Head of the WHO Collaborating Centre in Malaysia on 7 November 2002 . The meeting was chaired by Dato' Dr. Ismail Merican, Deputy Director of Health , Malaysia . Dr. Stephen Tamplin was present as the WHO Representative for Brunei , Malaysia and Singapore at the meeting. Also present were the Director of Institute for Medical Research (IMR) and the Director of the Infectious Diseases Research Centre, IMR. The five Heads of the WHO Collaborating Centres (WCC) and representative of the CIS-International Occupational Safety and Health Information System presented the activities of each of the Centres for the year 2001-2002. The Centres were: - WCC for Taxanomy, Immunology and Chemotherapy of Brugian Filariasis. WCC for Ecology, Taxanomy and Control of Vectors of Malaria, Filariasis and Dengue. WCC for Health System Research and Quality Improvement. WCC for Regulatory Control of Pharmaceuticals. WCC for Drug Information CIS-International Occupational Safety and Health Information System.
Four Centres reported a total of 40 research projects conducted during the period of 2001-2002. The research projects were in relation to the term of reference of the Centre. Most of the projects were funded by internal sources. The projects that were supported by WHO were: - • Development and field-testing of an information exchange system for drug information. • Epidemology of malaria in relation to entomological parameters in Sekong Province , Laos PDR. • The structure of sustainable delivery of essential public health elements
The WHO Collaborating Centre for Brugian Filariasis and the WHO Collaborating Centre for Vectors of Malaria, Dengue and Filariasis received a total of 128 and 48, 362 specimens respectively for diagnostic services during the period of 2001-2002. The WCC for Regulatory Control of Pharmaceuticals received a cumulative total of 48,286 product applications for registration in 2001 and 51,098 applications in 2002, an increase of 5.8%. The breakdowns for the type of applications received in 2002 were scheduled poison (509), non-scheduled poisons (448), cosmetics (214) and traditional products (1,603). The Centres also reported various consultative services provided to national and international agencies.
A total of 41 workshops and short training activities were conducted by the Centres during the period. Another 174, mainly local university students, underwent attachment training in these Centres. The Centres also received 79 visitors, including WHO sponsored fellows.
REPORTS, PUBLICATIONS and PRESENTATION A cumulative total of 107 reports and proceedings and 23 scientific papers were published in the year 2001-2002 by the Collaborating Centres. Officers at the Centres presented a total of 123 papers in various local and international seminars and conferences.
WHO Collaborating Centre for Taxonomy, Ecology and Control of Vectors of Malaria, Filariasis and Dengue
ACTIVITIES OF COLLABORATING CENTRE Research activities The main thrust of research for the Centre focused on studies on various aspects of vectors and their control. Research on microbial control agents concentrated on the testings of various formulations of Bacillus thuringiensis H-14 (Bti) and B. sphaericus . Study on the field bioefficacy of B sphaericus for the control of the Japanese encephalitis vectors was initiated in a pilot study in Serian District, Sarawak . Formulations of B. thuringiensis H-14 were also tested against container-breeding Aedes and chironomid larvae in oxidation ponds. Sublethal Bti dosages were found to be insufficient to suppress development of dengue virus in adults emerging from affected larvae. Study on Malaysian isolates of Bti emphasised on the effects of toxins against cancer cells. Attempts were initiated to clone and identify the toxin genes of the first novel anaerobic microbial control agent, Clostridium bifermentans serovar malaysia . In the area of chemical insecticides, the toxicity, morphogenetic and histological effects of insect growth regulators on the housefly was studied. A new surfactant, monomolecular film (MMF) was tested against Aedes aegypti in the lab and field and found to be effective under certain conditions. Screening of new pyrethroid formulations for mosquito control was conducted whereby 3 new products were tested. Laboratory evaluation of a mixture of natural plant product and Deet was found to exhibit prolonged protection times against mosquito bites. The effects of insecticide resistance on the biology of mosquitoes and development of dengue virus were studied. A longitudinal survey to determine malaria epidemiology and vector distribution was conducted successfully in Laos , while the bioefficacy of insecticide-impregnated nets on vector and malaria parasite rate of a population was conducted in Sabah . In dengue vector studies, a field evaluation of a formulation of pyrethroid was conducted in an urban area. Protein synthesised by dengue vectors in response to dengue infection was studied with a view of early detection. In other studies, research on coastal leptoconine sandfly in resort islands in Johore had yielded control measures that are being used with success. The effects of various aerosol formulations of pyrethroids and carbamate on local leech were evaluated. Sterile maggots of Lucilia cuprina to be used in maggot therapy were successfully reared.
Diagnostic servicesThe Centre continued to identify all the adult mosquitoes collected from 27 sentinel surveillance traps operated by the Kuala Lumpur City Hall Health Department. As in the past, Culex mosquitoes, mainly Cx quinquefasciatus account for the majority of the mosquitoes collected in urban areas (81.2%). Anophelines were collected infrequently from traps situated near forested areas. The total number of mosquitoes collected increased by about 16% compared with the year 2001 (33,650 in 2002 compared with 28,105 in 2001).
Training activitiesThe Centre was again heavily loaded with the training of post-graduate candidates in the DAP&E course. A total of 8 students elected to conduct their research projects leading to their thesis in the Centre. All senior staff of the Centre conducted many lectures and practical sessions in the D.A.P. & E. Course. The Centre also provided attachment training to 4 undergraduates and 3 post-graduate students (MSc & PhD) from local universities.
Publications and PresentationsThe Centre published 2 scientific publications in international and local journals, 5 more papers were accepted for publication and 11 reports were prepared. The staff presented 34 scientific papers in scientific meetings locally and abroad.
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