Influence of socio-economic status and environmental factors on serologically diagnosed Japanese encephalitis cases in the state of West Bengal, India during 2005-2010

Abstract

Objectives: The main aim of the current study is to examine the influence of socio-economic status and environmental factors on serologically diagnosed Japanese encephalitis cases in the state of West Bengal, India during 2005-2010. Materials and methods: A total of 648 blood/CSF specimens were collected and/or referred from the suspected AES cases, admitted in the different medical colleges and hospitals of the state during the year of 2005-2010. These specimens were subjected to JE Mac ELISA to determine the actual JE case amongst these AES. The association of the socio-economic status and environmental factors with the serologically diagnosed JE positive cases was studied by a statistical analysis through Normal Deviate test or Z test. Result: Out of 648 specimens, only 175 (27.0%) specimens were reactive to JE IgM antibody, of which 60.0% were from the male individuals and 40.0% from the female population. Major cases were observed in the age group of 0 -10 years; followed by 11 -20 years. Regarding literacy, only 58.3% cases had no education and 41.7% were from the literate with varying level of education, i.e., from primary level to post graduate level. A total of 65.7% cases were from low income group where as only 34.3% cases were from high income group. Regarding house type, 62.3% cases lived in mud house and 37.7% cases lived in the brick house. In most of the cases (74.3%), persons were living in close proximity to rice fields/lakes/ponds. 69.7% cases were found to occur in the monsoon and postmonsoon period whereas 30.3% cases were reported in the pre-monsoon period. Conclusion: Our study concludes that socio-economic status and environmental conditions were statistically significant contextual risk factors for serologically diagnosed JE incidences in West Bengal where JE is proved to be endemic in nature and such study constitutes a new report of this kind in the region.

Meningoencephalitis in intensive care unit: Do Japanese Encephalitis cases go unsuspected?

“…9 Likewise, in a five year study done by Indian Council of Medical Research in India, JE was found in 27.0% patients with suspected viral encephalitis. 10 Unlike the findings of other studies our audit has shown that serology of JE was done only in very limited patients of ICU; only four out of 15 patients clinically diagnosed as ME with positivity in two cases. Two out of four is a high occurrence.…”

A clinico-epidemiological profile of acute encephalitis syndrome in children of Bellary, Karnataka, India

“…which was similar with findings in study by Khinchi YR et al, Anuradha et al however a difference in pattern of seasonal distribution of AES-JE cases was seen in studies by Kabilan L et al, JE occurrence was perennial, with a peak in the month of December and in a study by Sarkar et al found that cases were more in the monsoon and post-monsoon period. 15,16,18,19 This difference in observations may be due to ecological variations of distribution of Culex mosquitoes. However, this was enumerated with the results obtained in an ecological study by Kanojia PC on mosquito vectors of Japanese encephalitis virus in Bellary district, Karnataka at National Institute of Virology(ICMR), Pune, where the general mosquito population showed bimodal pattern of peak occurrence.…”

Incidence of Japanese Encephalitis Virus Infection in West Bengal, India – A Two Years Comprehensive Study.

“…This study was particularly aimed to accurately identify the variable JE cases among the patients with Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) in the East Indian state of West Bengal and to understand the current status of JEV in the state (13,14).JEV infection can be detected either directly or indirectly with the aid of several techniques. The conventional IgM specific capture ELISA is the approach for analysis of many infections including JEV as the primary screening test (15).…”