Introduction. Intestinal parasitic infections are most common and prevalent among children and accounts for great morbidity and mortality. Objective. This research is aimed at studying the prevalence and related risk factors of parasitic infections among private school-going pupils of Dharan Submetropolitan City. Methods and Materials. This was a cross-sectional laboratory-based study conducted from 13 November 2018 to 26 February 2019 among 400 private school pupils. The stool samples were collected and microscopically examined for parasites using the formalin ethyl acetate sedimentation technique. Data Analysis. Statistical analysis was performed by using SPSS version 16.0. Pearson’s Chi-square test was used to establish association between dependent and independent variables. The association was also determined using crude and adjusted odds ratio, and the test considered a P value < 0.05 as statistically significant with 95% confidence interval. Result. In this study, 46 (11.5%) children were positive for intestinal parasites. In this study, 3 protozoans (Entamoeba histolytica = 3 (0.75%)) and 43 helminths (Ascaris lumbricoides = 22 (5.5%); Enterobiusvermicularis = 6 (1.5%); Ancylostoma duodenale = 2 (0.5%); and Trichuris trichiura = 13 (3.25%)) were isolated and identified. Statistically, significant difference in the parasitic prevalence with respect to age and gender was not seen ( P > 0.05 ). However, the prevalence of parasitic infection was strongly associated with the ethnicity of the pupils ( P = 0.001 ). The strong associated risk factors of intestinal parasitic infections were nail-biting habit, source of drinking water, biannual deworming, thumb-sucking, hand sanitation before having food and after toilet, knowledge of parents on parasitosis, health and sanitation, keeping cat/dog as pet, and wearing protective shoes during play ( P = 0.001 ). Bowel syndromes like abdominal cramp and constipation also had a strong statistical association ( P = 0.001 ) with the prevalence of parasitic infection. According to binary and multivariate logistic regression analyses, the parents without awareness, pupils with a nail-biting habit, pupils not wearing shoes during play, lack of deworming, drinking direct tap water, and pupils with poor hand sanitation were more likely to be infested with intestinal parasitic infections. Conclusion. This study concludes that intestinal parasites are still prevalent among private school-going pupils of Dharan Submetropolitan City. The poor sanitation and sanitary habits like biting nails, consumption of untreated drinking water, and failure to practice proper hand washing were studied as contributors to the acquisition of intestinal parasitic infections. Therefore, integration of control measures such as provision of clean and safe drinking water, improved sanitation and hygiene, with biannual administration of drugs are necessary for effective eradication of parasitic infections.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common pathological conditions observed in hospital settings and communities. Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) is the causative agent of most of the UTIs, such as pyelonephritis and cystitis. The infectious complications may cause acute renal failure affecting both the healthy and renal transplant patient's. The untreated patients with UTI may exhibit septicemia and bacteremia. Furthermore, the multidrug resistance patterns of UPEC may result in severe septic shock. Factors that contribute to the pathogenesis of UPEC include; secreted proteins, haemolysins, capsule, lipopolysaccharides, biofilm, fimbriae adhesions and iron acquisition systems. In spite of several host protection mechanisms; however, UPEC may persist inside the urinary tract and serve as a reservoir of recurrent infections and complications. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment of UTI with broad spectrum antibiotics are essential before this infection causes other medical complications. Generally, in clinical settings, diagnosis of UTIs involves bacterial culture and antibiotic susceptibility assay, in addition to other medical examinations, which aid the physicians to prescribe the appropriate drugs and measures during UTIs treatments. This review aims to understand the epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestation, diagnosis, treatment and preventive measures of UTIs caused by the uropathogenic E. coli.

Background: Candida are almost universal on normal adult skin and C. albicans is part of the normal flora of the mucous membranes of the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and female genital tracts. It is acknowledged that diabetic patients are more susceptible to infections caused by Candida albicans due to increased blood glucose and inability of immune system in eradicating the fungus. Studies suggest that Gutkha consumers are also at high risk of oral Candida carriage . Materials and methodology The participants were provided 10 ml of Normal saline and were asked to oral rinse for 1 minute. Oral rinse was collected in a sterile screw capped container and was transported in cold chain to microbiology laboratory. The oral rinse sample was inoculated onto the Sabouraud dextrose agar with Chloramphenicol and was incubated at 37°C for 3-4 days. The Colony forming Unit of candida was compared among diabetic and healthy controls. The candida albicans were identified by Germ tube formation. The Candida albicans isolates were subjected to Biofilm assay, Antifungal susceptibility Test, Haemolysin assay, Haemolysis degree and phospholipase assay. Result: This study reported 31.5% prevalence of oral Candida.The Candida carriage in CFU of diabetic population was statistically significant (p<0.05). The maximum isolates were found to be Biofilm producers. There was significant association between Gutkha consumers with oral Candida carriage. The study suggests that there is higher colonization of Candida in diabetic populations than in healthy population. The result also concludes that frequency of Candida in Oral cavity of Gutkha consumers was also higher (p<0.05). All isolated strains of Candida albicans were tested for antifungal susceptibility testing and 76.19% were found to be Resistant to Fluconazole and 50% were found to be resistant to Amphotericin B. There was statistical significance in Biofilm formation and fluconazole Drug resistance. Conclusion The findings indicated highest colonization of oral Candida in diabetic population and in Gutkha consumers. The greatest numbers of isolated Candida albicans were biofilm producer which showed greater frequency of Fluconazole drug resistance.

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) synthesize a large diversity of crystal proteins (Cry and Cyt) during sporulation which exhibit insecticidal activity against insects and protozoa. The main aim of this study was to isolate Bacillus thuringiensis and study its insecticidal effect against Galleria mellonella. Soil samples from four different geographical locations of Koshi Zone viz. Itahari, Tarhara, Dharan and Vedetar of Eastern Nepal were collected. The isolation of Bt was done by acetate selection method. The insect bioassay of Bt isolates were performed against greater wax moth (G. mellonella) by feeding the third instar larvae by extracted crystal spores with three different concentrations. The overall distribution of Bt from the study sample was found to be 30% (30/100). Bt was isolated from all four geographical location with higher incidence; 9 (36%) in Tarhara region followed by Dharan (32%), Itahari (28%) and Vedetar (24%). However, the incidence of Bt with potent insecticidal activity against G. mellonella was reported to be 4% (4/100). The insecticidal activity of isolated Bt between test and control groups was found to be statistically significant (p<0.05). LC50 value of Bt from Tarhara (Tar1) was 388.29μg/mL, Dharan; Drn8 and Drn1 was 416.20μg/mL and 463.15μg/mL respectively and from Vedetar (Vd5) was 476.63μg/mL. In overall study the Bt isolated from Tarhara (Tar1) region exhibited greater incidence, Bt index, efficacy and effective level of LC50 against greater wax moth. Native Bt strains isolated from soil of Eastern Nepal possess effective insecticidal activity and hence can used as biocontrol agent in controlling honeycomb pest like G. mellonella.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by drug resistant (DR) Uropathogenic Escherichia coli have become a significant worldwide public health problem. Green tea (Camellia sinensis), has been reported to have antimicrobial activities against various pathogenic bacteria. The main aim of our study was to estimate the antibacterial effect of green tea extract against drug resistant Uropathogenic E. coli isolated from urine samples of patients visiting in tertiary care hospital from eastern Nepal. During the study 360 urine samples were collected from UTI suspected patients visiting a tertiary care hospital of Biratnagar. Urine samples were cultured by using semi-quantitative culture technique and bacteria was identified by standard microbiological procedure. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was done by Kirby-Bauer Disk Diffusion method according to NCCLS (2011) guidelines. The antibacterial effect of green tea extract was performed by preparing the 95% ethanol extract in Soxhlet apparatus which was dispensed in DMSO solution and sterilized by membrane filtration. Antibacterial activity of Green Tea Extract against MDR Uropathogenic Escherichia coli was performed by making different concentration of green tea. The overall prevalence of E. coli was 27.22% in study population whereas the prevalence of MDR E. coli was 21.08%. All the isolated E. coli exhibited 100% sensitivity towards Nitrofurantoin and it was still a drug of choice for the treatment of Urinary tract infection caused by E. coli. The green tea extracts exhibited effective antibacterial activity against MDR E. coli. The MIC of Green Tea Extract was found to be 600µg/ml for 24 MDR isolates and 1000µg/ml for remaining 11 isolates. Based on the present study it is concluded that Green Tea extracts have great potential as an antimicrobial agent against E. coli. Int. J. Appl. Sci. Biotechnol. Vol 8(1): 45-51