Background Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is in elimination phase in India while cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is being reported from new foci. In Himachal Pradesh (HP), a foci of CL had been reported along Satluj River, but the causative agent poses a dilemma, hence the present study was undertaken in Shimla, Kullu and Kinnaur districts. Methods A total of 28 CL patients from Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital Shimla (IGMC) in 2018, were tested by rK39., Twelve fresh cases were subjected to microscopic detection of Leishmania parasite, PCR and sequencing. Skin biopsies of 3–4 mm diameter were cultured, as well as imprints were prepared for the detection of Leishmania amastigotes. Biopsy samples were inoculated into different culture media (M199, RPMI 1640, NNN) and were incubated at 22–24 °C. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed to characterize Leishmania parasite species. Results Of 28 patients, one was positive by rK39 dipstick test and one imprint was found positive for Leishmania amstigotes. Twelve biopsy DNA samples subjected to PCR for Leishmania kDNA, were found Lesihmania positive. Identification of Leishmania species was confirmed by PCR-RFLP and sequencing method. Of 12 Leishmania positive samples, six were identified as L. donovani , three L. tropica , two L.major and one remained unidentified. Conclusions This study revealed the existence of three species of parasites i.e., L. donovani, L. tropica and L. major indicating the existence of typical and atypical leishmaniasis in Himachal Pradesh. The occurrence of CL cases in HP, Kerala or elsewhere should not be ignored considering them just cases of CL alone. Further studies are warranted to confirm the existence of L.donovani zymodeme MON37 from cases of CL in HP or L.donovani zymodeme MON2 strain causing VL in Bihar. Elimination of CL should also be considered along with goal of Kala -Azar elimination.
Vector‐borne diseases (VBD) constitute 17% of all infectious diseases that pose a major public health concern around the world. In India, VBD like malaria and dengue continue to account for a significant disease burden. Management of these diseases is dependent in part upon effective vector control and hence several vector control strategies are in use for controlling mosquito populations. However, vectors evolve over time and become capable of averting many of the used control measures, leading to a constant need to find for novel and improved interventions. Attractive toxic sugar bait (ATSB) is a novel vector control strategy that is highly effective at regulating vector density in a particular area. ATSBs exploit the sugar feeding behaviour of mosquitoes. They are developed by combining small amounts of toxins with sugar. A chemical attractant is also included to lure the mosquito into the toxic sugary trap. Although effective, ATSB testing has been limited in scope around the world and ATSBs are completely unexplored in India. In this review, we provide an in‐depth account of the development of ATSBs. We highlight the potential of ATSBs in controlling major Indian vectors of malaria and dengue, and we discuss possible challenges that could affect the efficacy of ATSBs in India. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
The present study was planned to characterize the microclimate experienced by Aedes larvae in different breeding habitats by determining the temperature variations in water kept in containers during different months under natural conditions. The study was conducted in three municipal zones of Delhi. In each site, four types of container material (plastic, cement, iron and ceramic) were chosen for recording the water temperature in the containers. Daily air and water temperatures (mean, maximum and minimum values) recorded by HOBO and Tidbit data loggers, respectively, were compared using analysis of variance and Tukey’s honest significant difference (HSD) tests. Mean monthly temperature of water varied from 16.9 to 33.0 °C in tin containers, 17.3 to 35.6°C in plastic containers, 14.3 to 28.5°C in ceramic pots, 23.3 to 30.4°C in cemented underground tanks (UGT) and 15.8 to 35.1°C in cemented overhead tanks (OHTs). Corresponding values for the air temperature ranged from 17.7 to 36.1°C. The difference between temperature of water in the containers and air temperature was highest for ceramic pots. Daily mean, maximum and minimum temperatures recorded by different data loggers differed significantly (P<0.05). When Tukey HSD test was applied for data analysis, the daily mean air temperature differed significantly from the water temperature in tin and ceramic pots as well as cemented OHTs. The temperature of water in the different breeding habitats investigated was lower than the air temperature. Moreover, actual air temperature as recorded by HOBO was higher than the temperature recorded by local weather stations. Considering the ongoing climate change, cemented UGT and earthen pots may be more productive breeding habitats for the Aedes mosquito in the near future, while plastic and cemented OHTs might no longer be suitable for Aedes breeding.
IntroductionMalaria and malnutrition are key public health challenges in India. However, the relationship between them is poorly understood. Here, we aimed to elucidate the potential interactions between the two health conditions by identifying the areas of their spatial overlap.MethodsWe have analysed the district-wise undernutrition and malaria data of 638 districts of India across 28 states and 8 union territories. Data on malnutrition parameters viz. stunting, wasting, underweight and anaemia, sourced from the fourth National Family Health Survey (2015–2016), and malaria Annual Parasite Index (API) data of the same year (i.e, 2015), sourced from National Center of Vector Borne Diseases Control were analysed using local Moran’s I Index and logistic regression.ResultsAmong all the malnutrition parameters, we found underweight in children and anaemia in men to co-occur with malaria in the districts of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha. Further, districts with more than 36% underweight children (OR (95% CI): 2.31 (1.53 to 3.48)) and/or more than 23.6% male population with anaemia (OR (95% CI): 2.06 (1.37 to 3.11)) had higher odds of being malaria endemic districts (ie, Annual Parasite Index >1).ConclusionMalaria and malnutrition co-occur in the malaria-endemic parts of India. The high prevalence of undernutrition in children and anaemia among men may contribute to malaria endemicity in a particular region. Therefore, future research should be prioritised to generate data on the individual level. Further, malaria control interventions could be tailored to integrate nutrition programmes to disrupt indigenous malaria transmission in endemic districts.
BACKGROUND: Attractive toxic sugar bait (ATSB) is a novel vector control tool that exploits the sugar feeding behavior of mosquitoes. The current study aims to evaluate the efficacy of ivermectin-based ATSB against insecticide susceptible and resistant strains of major Indian malaria vectors -Anopheles culicifacies and Anopheles stephensi. ATSB with different concentrations of ivermectin were tested against mosquito vectors under standard laboratory conditions. RESULTS: Dose-response analysis of ivermectin-ATSB showed 7.8 and 19.8 ppm as 50% and 90% lethal concentration (LC 50 and LC 90 ) values for insecticide susceptible An. culicifacies. In the case of insecticide susceptible An. stephensi, the LC 90 value was 35 ppm which was significantly higher in comparison to the LC 90 for An. culicifacies. The LC 50 of insecticide-resistant An. culicifacies and An. stephensi were 10.6 and 15.9 ppm respectively whereas LC 90 values were 36.9 and 61.0. Ivermectin-ATSB resulted in 99 ± 0.8% mortality of An. culicifacies and 93 ± 3.8% mortality of An. stephensi at an ivermectin concentration of 25 ppm. In another set of experiments, the ATSB solution containing standardized dose of ivermectin was sprayed on Allysum plant and mortality of both Anopheline vectors was recorded. Here, we observed > 90% mortality in both An. stephensi and An. culicifacies.CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates the potential of ivermectin-based ATSB in killing Indian malaria vectors irrespective of the method of application. Further field trials with ivermectin containing ATSB may pave the way for its usage in the national vector control program.
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