During 2015-2019, we recorded 10 patients with indigenous cases of visceral leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania donovani in Western Ghats, a region in India to which visceral leishmaniasis is not endemic. The parasite involved in 4 of these infections was of the MON-37 zymodeme strain, which normally causes cutaneous leishmaniasis in this region.
This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the addition of a cover page and metadata, and formatting for readability, but it is not yet the definitive version of record. This version will undergo additional copyediting, typesetting and review before it is published in its final form, but we are providing this version to give early visibility of the article. Please note that, during the production process, errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain.
Background
In wake of the global health emergency declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) during 2016, on the outbreak of ZIKA pandemic, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) carried out countrywide vector surveillance for ZIKA and DENGUE viruses (ZIKV & DENV) in India, as a preparedness measure.
Methods
The study incorporated high-risk zones distributed to 49 Districts in 14 states/ Union Territories (UT) of India during 2016-2019. Seven ICMR Institutions undertook the study, following a uniform Standard Operating Protocol. Aedes specimens sampled on weekly intervals were processed by multiplex Reverse transcriptase PCR for ZIKV/DENV and Real time RT-PCR of ZIKV, among few samples distributed to all the Districts.
Results
Altogether, 79492 specimens of Aedes mosquitoes in 6492 pools were processed for both ZIKV and DENV infections. Among these, three and 63 pools respectively were found positive for ZIKV and DENV. ZIKV infections were recorded from Aedes aegypti sampled during 2018 sporadic ZIKA outbreak in Jaipur, Rajasthan, which belonged to the Asian lineage, already circulating in the Country. Both Ae. aegypti and Aedes albopictus were found infected with DENV and were distributed to ten states/ UTs. Both male and female specimens of Ae. albopictus recorded DENV infections indicating trans-ovarial transmission of DENV in the species.
Conclusion
This national vector surveillance study evinced no active transmission of the “American lineage - pandemic ZIKA virus” in India during 2016-2019, although Asian lineage of the virus already circulating in the Country was detected from Ae. aegypti from Jaipur, Rajasthan.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.