Scientists in Dr. Nishibuchi's laboratory in Japan have been collaborating with those in various Asian countries. Classical enteric infections are still very important in these countries. They were able to extract some features of enteric infections unique to many or some countries through collaborative studies. He will summarize these features and emphasize that international collaborative studies can effectively generate important findings.
(1) Prevalence of enteric infections: Developing countries where their economic conditions are not good enough to support improving hygienic conditions in the environments and medical care systems exhibit victims of frequent enteric infections. The situation in Indonesia is explained as an example.
(2) Distribution of enteric pathogens in the natural environment: In many countries, some important enteric pathogens in the clinical and/or environmental samples (e.g., food) are not under official surveillance. Our surveillance results and some interesting findings on Escherichia coli O157 in beef and Vibrio parahaemolyticus in shellfish (molluscan bivalves) is introduced.
(3) Transborder issues: In many respects, situation in Asia is called“borderless” Enteric infections are not exempted from this principle. They may be spread across international borders due in part to frequent commodity trade and very active labor flow across international borders. Two examples are introduced: (a) Cholera in Sarawak, Indonesia, and (b) emergence of a new clone of V. parahaemolyticus in Asia and worldwide spread of the infection.
(4) Major victims are children: Since children are major victims of diarrheal diseases, particularly cholera, in developing countries in Asia, we attempt to predict and prevent cholera outbreaks in Bangladeshi children.
(5) Conclusion: In developing countries in Asia, many people, children in particular, frequently suffer from enteric infections by the pathogens distributed in the natural environment. The infections may be spread across international borders or even globally but some of the infections may be prevented by local features/knowledge in ‘Glocal’ (Global + Local) Asia.
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