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Background Malaysia aims to eliminate malaria by 2020. However, while cases of Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax have decreased substantially, the incidence of zoonotic malaria from Plasmodium knowlesi continues to increase, presenting a major challenge to regional malaria control efforts. Here we report incidence of all Plasmodium species in Sabah, including zoonotic P. knowlesi, during 2015–2017. Methods Microscopy-based malaria notification data and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) results were obtained from the Sabah Department of Health and State Public Health Laboratory, respectively, from January 2015 to December 2017. From January 2016 this was complemented by a statewide prospective hospital surveillance study. Databases were matched, and species was determined by PCR, or microscopy if PCR was not available. Results A total of 3867 malaria cases were recorded between 2015 and 2017, with PCR performed in 93%. Using PCR results, and microscopy if PCR was unavailable, P. knowlesi accounted for 817 (80%), 677 (88%), and 2030 (98%) malaria cases in 2015, 2016, and 2017, respectively. P. falciparum accounted for 110 (11%), 45 (6%), and 23 (1%) cases and P. vivax accounted for 61 (6%), 17 (2%), and 8 (0.4%) cases, respectively. Of those with P. knowlesi, the median age was 35 (interquartile range: 24–47) years, and 85% were male. Conclusions Malaysia is approaching elimination of the human-only Plasmodium species. However, the ongoing increase in P. knowlesi incidence presents a major challenge to malaria control and warrants increased focus on knowlesi-specific prevention activities. Wider molecular surveillance in surrounding countries is required.

A simple, ready-to-use concentrated specimen smear microscopy method employing a nanometer silicon polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) polymer membrane sandwich filtration vessel to concentrate acid-fast bacilli (AFB) in samples (SFV-CSSM, Hunan-Tech New Medical System Co. Ltd. China) was compared with direct sputum smear microscopy (DSSM) to determine its performance using culture on modified Ogawa agar as reference. The results for 4114 clinical samples collected from health facilities in Sabah were interpreted with reference to culture results, sample collection-transportation conditions and clinical data including responses to anti-TB drug treatment. The SFV-CSSM showed higher sensitivity than DSSM (79.4% versus 60.5%) and less background interference. Its ability to detect low levels of AFB at an affordable cost makes it an excellent tool for the screening of pauci-bacillary samples as well as for active case finding in TB control programs.

Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease caused by the pathogenic species of Leptospira. The initial symptoms include fever, myalgia, nausea, skin rash, chills, and headache, which can be misdiagnosed. LipL32 is the highly conserved and abundant outer membrane protein (OMP) of Leptospira, which is used as an antigen in serodiagnostic assays. We used three in silico methods to predict the immunodominant regions in the full-length LipL32 protein. We identified three regions, namely the N-terminus (NrLipL32, amino acid sequence 20th-120th), intermediate (amino acid sequence 120th-150th), and C-terminus (CrLipL32, amino acid sequence 160th-260th) regions. The full-length protein and two larger fragments were cloned into the pET22b plasmid and expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3). The purified proteins were used as antigens in an ELISA to detect Leptospira-specific antibodies. The CrLipL32 ELISA showed the highest sensitivity for IgM (73.3%) and IgG (65%), followed by the full-length rLipL32 ELISA (IgM 68% and IgG 60%). The full-length rLipL32 ELISA showed high specificity (IgM 85% and IgG 75%), followed by the NrLipL32 ELISA (IgM 75% and IgG 60%). The intermediate fragment showed very low sensitivity (IgM 17% and IgG 2%). The sensitivity of the rLipL32 ELISA could be enhanced by adding other OMPs of Leptospira.

This study aims at finding out the scope of Organizational Learning. It also aims at recognizing the level of achieving the Administrative excellence dimensions at the Jordanian public sector. The findings show that there is a positive association between Organizational Learning (Personalempowerment, Systematic thinking , the mental patterns , participated vision , teamwork learning ) andadministrativeexcellence ( Leadership excellence , Subordinates excellence , the structure excellence , the strategy excellence , culture excellence , ). In conclusion,thepublic sector should consider enhancing Organizational Learning to boost the level of Administrative excellence

The objective of this paper is to determine the relationship between motivated, empowerment and organizational commitment, through existing LMX as mediating among employees in Jordanian municipalities. The findings show that there is a positive association between antecedent behavioral and organizational commitment. In conclusion, municipalities should consider in enhancing motivated, empowerment and organizational culture to boost the level of their employees’ commitment.

As concerns for accountability, social responsibility and the environment grow, users of the financial reports expect more social information to be included in the financial statements for decision‐makings. Although the amount of social information has increased over the past decades, it has not yet fulfilled the needs of the users. This paper identifies the miscommunication between providers and users of information as the main reason for the failure. The preparers of financial report do not appear to be in communication with the users and visa‐versa The preparers seldom provide the information needed by the users and the users seldom communicate to the preparers the information they require. It then gives suggestions and recommendations to bridge this gap. In order to bridge this gap, the co‐operation from all parties involved is greatly necessary. The users have to identify the kind of information they need and the importance of the preparers to communicate what information they can realistically provide. To make sure that the information provided is accurate and credible, the accounting profession has to play a role in formulating guidelines and standards. The profession needs to communicate with the universities and academicians in their effort to develop a suitable curriculum to link teaching with research. Universities on the other hand need to develop a curriculum that fits with what is practiced and is foreseen will be practiced. Apart from re‐educating the public and companies on the importance of moral, ethical and religious values the government will have to weigh and decide whether to impose environmental regulations or not. On part of the companies, they will have to be more aware of the social responsibilities, develop training programs in order to educate the staff and the community about social responsibilities.

Background While Malaysia has had great success in controlling Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax, notifications of Plasmodium malariae and the microscopically near-identical Plasmodium knowlesi increased substantially over the past decade. However, whether this represents microscopic misdiagnosis or increased recognition of P. knowlesi has remained uncertain. Methods To describe the changing epidemiology of malaria in Sabah, in particular the increasing incidence of P. knowlesi, a retrospective descriptive study was undertaken involving a review of Department of Health malaria notification data from 2012–2013, extending a previous review of these data from 1992–2011. In addition, malaria PCR and microscopy data from the State Public Health Laboratory were reviewed to estimate the accuracy of the microscopy-based notification data. Results Notifications of P. malariae/P. knowlesi increased from 703 in 2011 to 815 in 2012 and 996 in 2013. Notifications of P. vivax and P. falciparum decreased from 605 and 628, respectively, in 2011, to 297 and 263 in 2013. In 2013, P. malariae/P. knowlesi accounted for 62% of all malaria notifications compared to 35% in 2011. Among 1,082 P. malariae/P. knowlesi blood slides referred for PCR testing during 2011–2013, there were 924 (85%) P. knowlesi mono-infections, 30 (2.8%) P. falciparum, 43 (4.0%) P. vivax, seven (0.6%) P. malariae, six (0.6%) mixed infections, 31 (2.9%) positive only for Plasmodium genus, and 41 (3.8%) Plasmodium-negative. Plasmodium knowlesi mono-infection accounted for 32/156 (21%) and 33/87 (38%) blood slides diagnosed by microscopy as P. falciparum and P. vivax, respectively. Twenty-six malaria deaths were reported during 2010–2013, including 12 with ‘P. malariae/P. knowlesi’ (all adults), 12 with P. falciparum (seven adults), and two adults with P. vivax. Conclusions Notifications of P. malariae/P. knowlesi in Sabah are increasing, with this trend likely reflecting a true increase in incidence of P. knowlesi and presenting a major threat to malaria control and elimination in Malaysia. With the decline of P. falciparum and P. vivax, control programmes need to incorporate measures to protect against P. knowlesi, with further research required to determine effective interventions. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1475-2875-13-390) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.