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Table of Contents
October-December 2017
Volume 54 | Issue 4
Page Nos. 295-377
Online since Monday, February 19, 2018
Accessed 76,153 times.
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REVIEW ARTICLE
Aedes vittatus
(Bigot) mosquito: An emerging threat to public health
p. 295
AB Sudeep, P Shil
DOI
:10.4103/0972-9062.225833
PMID
:29460858
Aedes vittatus
(Bigot) mosquito is a voracious biter of humans and has a geographical distribution throughout tropical Asia, Africa and the Mediterranean region of Europe. It is predominantly a rock-hole breeder, though it can breed in diverse macro- and micro-habitats. The mosquito plays an important role in the maintenance and transmission of yellow fever (YFV), dengue (DENV), chikungunya (CHIKV) and Zika (ZIKV) viruses. It has been implicated as an important vector of YFV in several African countries as evidenced by repeated virus isolations from the mosquito and its potential to transmit the virus experimentally. Similarly, DENV-2 has been isolated from wild caught
Ae. vittatus
mosquitoes in Senegal, Africa which has been shown to circulate the virus in sylvatic populations without causing human infection. Experimental studies have shown replication of the virus at a low scale in naturally infected mosquitoes while high rate of infection and dissemination have been reported in parenterally infected mosquitoes. Natural isolation of ZIKV has been reported from Senegal and Cote d’Ivoire from these mosquitoes. They were found highly competent to transmit the virus experimentally and the transmission rate is at par with
Ae. leuteocephalus
, the primary vector of ZIKV. A few CHIKV isolations have also been reported from the mosquitoes in Senegal and other countries in Africa. Experimental studies have demonstrated high susceptibility, early dissemination and efficient transmission of CHIKV by
Ae. vittatus
mosquitoes. The mosquitoes with their high susceptibility and competence to transmit important viruses,
viz
. YFV, DENV, CHIKV and ZIKV pose a major threat to public health due to their abundance and anthropophilic behaviour.
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RESEARCH ARTICLES
Improving vector-borne pathogen surveillance: A laboratory-based study exploring the potential to detect dengue virus and malaria parasites in mosquito saliva
p. 301
Vanessa R Melanson, Ryan Jochim, Michael Yarnell, Karen Bingham Ferlez, Soumya Shashikumar, Jason H Richardson
DOI
:10.4103/0972-9062.225834
PMID
:29460859
Background & objectives:
Vector-borne pathogen surveillance programmes typically rely on the collection of large numbers of potential vectors followed by screening protocols focused on detecting pathogens in the arthropods. These processes are laborious, time consuming, expensive, and require screening of large numbers of samples. To streamline the surveillance process, increase sample throughput, and improve cost-effectiveness, a method to detect dengue virus and malaria parasites
(Plasmodium falciparum)
by leveraging the sugar-feeding behaviour of mosquitoes and their habit of expectorating infectious agents in their saliva during feeding was investigated in this study.
Methods:
Dengue virus 2 (DENV-2) infected female
Aedes aegypti
mosquitoes and
P. falciparum
infected female
Anopheles stephensi
mosquitoes were allowed to feed on honey coated Flinders Technical Associates —FTA® cards dyed with blue food colouring. The feeding resulted in deposition of saliva containing either DENV-2 particles or
P. falciparum
sporozoites onto the FTA card. Nucleic acid was extracted from each card and the appropriate real-time PCR (qPCR) assay was run to detect the pathogen of interest.
Results:
As little as one plaque forming unit (PFU) of DENV-2 and as few as 60
P. falciparum
parasites deposited on FTA cards from infected mosquitoes were detected
via
qPCR. Hence, their use to collect mosquito saliva for pathogen detection is a relevant technique for vector surveillance.
Interpretation & conclusion:
This study provides laboratory confirmation that FTA cards can be used to capture and stabilize expectorated DENV-2 particles and
P. falciparum
sporozoites from infectious, sugar-feeding mosquitoes in very low numbers. Thus, the FTA card-based mosquito saliva capture method offers promise to overcome current limitations and revolutionize traditional mosquito-based pathogen surveillance programmes. Field testing and further method development are required to optimize this strategy.
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Aetiology of acute encephalitis syndrome in Uttar Pradesh, India from 2014 to 2016
p. 311
Parul Jain, Shantanu Prakash, Danish N Khan, Ravindra Kumar Garg, Rashmi Kumar, Amit Bhagat, V Ramakrishna, Amita Jain
DOI
:10.4103/0972-9062.225835
PMID
:29460860
Background & objectives:
It is imperative to know the aetiology of acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) for patient management and policy making. The present study was carried out to determine the prevalence of common aetiological agents of AES in Uttar Pradesh (UP) state of India.
Methods:
Serum and/or CSF samples were collected from AES patients admitted at Gandhi Memorial and Associated Hospital, King George's Medical University, Lucknow, a tertiary care centre, UP during 2014–16. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum samples from cases were tested for IgM antibodies against Japanese encephalitis virus (anti-JEV), and dengue virus (anti-DENV) by ELISA; and for enterovirus, herpes simplex virus (HSV) and varicella zoster virus (VZV) by real-time PCR. Serum samples of cases having sufficient CSF volume, were also tested for anti-scrub typhus IgM antibodies and for
Neisseria meningitides, Streptococcus pneumoniae
and
Haemophilus influenzae
.
Results:
JEV and DENV (8% each) were the most common identified aetiology from the 4092 enrolled patients. Enterovirus, HSV and VZV, each were detected in <1% AES cases. Co-positivity occurred in 48 cases. Scrub typhus (31.8%) was the most common aetiology detected.
Haemophilus influenzae
and
S. pneumoniae
were detected in 0.97 and 0.94% cases, respectively, however,
N. meningitides
was not detected in any of the cases. About 40% of the JEV/DENV positive AES cases were adults. The gap between the total number of AES cases and those with JEV/ DENV infection increased during monsoon and post-monsoon seasons.
Interpretation & conclusion:
Scrub typhus, JEV and DENV are the main aetiological agents of AES in UP. DENV and JEV can no longer be considered paediatric diseases. The prevalence of non-JEV/DENV aetiology of AES increases in the monsoon and post-monsoon seasons.
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Immunogenicity of OmpA and OmpB antigens from
Rickettsia rickettsii
on mononuclear cells from
Rickettsia
positive Mexican patients
p. 317
Karla Dzul-Rosado, Javier Balam-Romero, Guillermo Valencia-Pacheco, Cesar Lugo-Caballero, Juan Arias-León, Gaspar Peniche-Lara, Jorge Zavala-Castro
DOI
:10.4103/0972-9062.225836
PMID
:29460861
Background & objectives:
The nature of the rickettsial antigens and the immune response generated by them, have been the subject of exhaustive research so that a suitable vaccine can be developed. Till date evaluations of
Rickettsia rickettsii
antigens that induce both humoral and cellular responses in animal models have only shown partial protection and short-term immunological memory. This study was aimed to evaluate the immune response induced by DNA plasmids generated from the OmpA and OmpB genes of
R. rickettsii
in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of rickettsial (sensitized) patients compared to healthy subjects.
Methods:
Plasmids OmpA-49, OmpB-15 and OmpB-24 were generated in the pVAX vector. Macrophages derived from the THP-1 cell line were transfected
in vitro
with the plasmids and were co-cultured with T-lymphocytes from sensitized subjects and healthy subjects to evaluate cell proliferation and cytokine production.
Results:
The OmpB-24 plasmid induced proliferative response in human lymphocytes, with production of IL-2, IFN-γ, IL-12p70, IL-6 and TNF-α, likely due to the presence of conserved epitopes among
R. rickettsii, R. typhi
and
R. felis
(differing from 1 to 3 amino acids) during the construction of the plasmids.
Interpretation & conclusion:
DNA sequences of rickettsial epitopes can be cloned into the pVAX vector. Constructed plasmids can generate a proliferative response and produce cytokines
in vitro
, in co-culture of transfected macrophages with sensitized human lymphocytes. Plasmid OmpB-24 proved to be the most immunogenic with respect to plasmids OmpA-49 and OmpB-15.
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Host preferences and feeding patterns of
Anopheles sinensis
Wiedemann in three sites of Shandong province, China
p. 328
Chongxing Zhang, Guihong Shi, Peng Cheng, Lijuan Liu, Maoqing Gong
DOI
:10.4103/0972-9062.225837
PMID
:29460862
Background & objectives:
Anopheles sinensis
Wiedemann is a major vector of malaria and is among the dominant species in Shandong province of China. Knowledge of the blood-feeding patterns of mosquitoes is crucial for elimination of malaria vectors. However, little information is available on the blood-feeding behaviour of
An. sinensis
mosquitoes in Shandong province. This study was carried out to compare the blood-feeding behaviour of
An. sinensis
in malaria-endemic areas of Shandong province China.
Methods:
Adult
Anopheles
mosquitoes were collected from three malaria-endemic areas (Jimo, Yinan and Shanxian), during the peak months of mosquito population (August and September) from 2014 to 2015. Indoor-resting mosquitoes and outdoor-resting blood-fed females were sampled in the morning hours (0600 to 0900 hrs) from 10 randomly selected houses using pyrethrum spray catch method, and sweeping with an insect net. ELISA was used for the identification of blood meal. The blood meal of each mosquito was tested against antisera specific to human, pig, dog, cow, goat, horse (mule) and fowl.
Results:
At all indoor study locations of Jimo, Yinan and Shanxian, 59.4, 68.1 and 98.8% blood-engorged female
An. sinensis
collected from cattle sheds fed almost exclusively on bovines, respectively. For outdoor locations, at Jimo site, 27.27 and 49.55%
An. sinensis
fed on cattle and pigs; at Yinan, 30.42% fed on cattle and 36.88% fed both on cattle and goats, while no pig antibodies were detected. At Shanxian, percent of
An. sinensis
that fed on cattle, pigs and cattle-goat was 20.72, 27.62 and 21.78%, respectively.
Interpretation & conclusion:
The analysis of
An. sinensis
blood meals in all the three studied areas from human houses, cattle sheds, pig sheds and mixed dwellings revealed that
An. sinensis
prefers cattle hosts, and can feed on other available animal hosts if the cattle hosts are absent, and the mosquitoes readily feed on humans when domestic animals (cattle and pigs) are not nearby for feeding. The analysis of blood meal revealed that
An. sinensis
follow opportunistic feeding in Shandong province, China.
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Entomological determinants of malaria transmission in an epidemic prone area of District Nuh (Haryana state), India
p. 334
Nutan Nanda, SP Singh, BK Prajapati, Kumud Ranjan, NP Kar, SK Sharma, Neena Valecha
DOI
:10.4103/0972-9062.225838
PMID
:29460863
Background & objectives:
Entomological investigations were carried out in highly malarious villages under Ujina PHC of District Nuh (Haryana state) which is an epidemic prone area in northwestern region of India. The study was aimed to have an in-depth understanding of the entomological parameters influencing malaria transmission in the study area.
Methods:
The seasonal prevalence and biological attributes of vector mosquitoes were investigated during 2015 and 2016. Indoor resting vector mosquitoes were collected from human dwellings/cattle sheds and morphologically identified.
Anopheles culicifacies
were categorized to sibling species by species-specific inversions in polytene chromosomes and
An. stephensi
to ecological races on the basis of ridge number on egg float. The blood meal source analysis and incrimination studies of vectors were done by counter-current immunoelectrophoresis and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. Insecticide susceptibility test on vectors was performed as per WHO guidelines.
Results:
Seasonal abundance of
An. culicifacies
and
An. stephensi
in the study area showed variation; the peak densities of both the vectors were observed during monsoon months which correlated well with the average monthly rainfall data. Though both vectors were found to be primarily zoophagic, the human blood index of
An. culicifacies
(HBI = 0.17) was significantly higher than that of
An. stephensi
(HBI= 0.02). Analysis of sibling species composition of
An. culicifacies
population showed that it comprised almost of sibling species A (>98%) which is an established malaria vector.
Anopheles culicifacies
was incriminated for
Plasmodium vivax
and
P. falciparum
circumsporozoite (CS) antigen during monsoon months in 2015 and 2016. Assessment of insecticide susceptibility status of malaria vectors against 0.5% deltamethrin revealed that
An. culicifacies
is more susceptible (95% mortality) than
An. stephensi
(85% mortality).
Interpretation & conclusion:
The results suggest that
An. culicifacies
(species A) is playing a major role in malaria transmission in the study area and is almost susceptible to deltamethrin. Timely two rounds of indoor residual spray of synthetic pyrethroid with proper dosage and good coverage would be helpful in reducing vector population and consequently the malaria incidence. In addition, personal protection measures by the community would supplement the major intervention tool (IRS) in decreasing the man-vector contact.
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Serosurvey of
Coxiella burnetii
in high risk population in Turkey, endemic to Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus
p. 341
Rahşan Erturk, Ömer Poyraz, Turabi Güneş
DOI
:10.4103/0972-9062.225839
PMID
:29460864
Background & objectives:
Q fever caused by
Coxiella burnetii
is a zoonotic infection that spreads to human beings from animals. This study was aimed to demographically examine the
C. burnetii
seroprevalence in the people living in villages where Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) is endemic, in terms of various risk factors such as tick bites, tick contact, and occupational groups.
Methods:
A total of 440 serum samples from those living in rural areas of Sivas and Tokat regions in Turkey were included in the study as a risk group; 387of them were serologically CCHFV positive (as confirmed in our previous research). Serums of the control group composed of 110 people living in urban areas. In all serum samples, IgG antibodies of
C. burnetii
against phase-I and phase-II antigens were diagnosed using the ELISA method.
Results:
Coxiella burnetii
seropositivity was detected in 19.09% of those living in rural areas and 4.55% of those living in urban areas (p < 0.001, OR = 4.96). In terms of their approach to the ticks, no statistical difference was observed between the risk groups in the chi-square test (p = 0.787). However, according to univariate analysis, the absorbance means of antibodies reactive to
C. burnetii
was statistically higher for the rural people who have made contact with ticks than those who have not (
p
= 0.017). No seroepidemiological relation was found between CCHFV and
C. burnetii
serology (
p
= 0.787), and the rate of co-seropositivity between them was 5.43% (21/387).
Interpretation & conclusion:
The findings of the study showed that
C. burnetii
infection is epidemic especially in the people living in rural areas. Contact with ticks in various ways might have resulted in the increased risk of
C. burnetii
infection in the study. Personal protective measures against tick bites may be important for reducing Q fever risk as in other tick-borne infectious disease.
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The first positive serological study on rift valley fever in ruminants of Iran
p. 348
Shahin Fakour, Salahedin Naserabadi, Elham Ahmadi
DOI
:10.4103/0972-9062.225840
PMID
:29460865
Background & objectives:
Rift Valley fever (RVF) is a zoonotic vector-borne disease that primarily affects domestic animals but can also infect humans. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the presence of antibodies against RVF virus (RVFV) in ruminants,
viz
. cattle, sheep, and goats in Kurdistan Province of western Iran.
Methods:
Blood samples were collected from 288 ruminants (118 cattle, 142 sheep and 28 goats) of both sexes, under age groups ≤1, 1–3, 3–5 and ≥5 yr, from January 2016 to December 2016. Clinical symptoms and history of abortion were recorded. The presence of RVFV-specific antibodies was investigated by using ELISA (competitive) and indirect immunofluorescence assay (IIFA) after separation of serum.
Results:
The results of two tests were positive for five (1.74%) of total 288 animals which included two cattle of 118 (1.7%), and three sheep of 142 (2.11%). The results of IIFA were correlated with the ELISA results. All animals were clinically normal. No significant relationship between the RVFV infection rate and the variable considered, i.e. season, animal’s age or sex, and the species of the animal (
p
≥ 0.05), although there were four seropositive animals in the age group 1–3 and five seropositive animals in the spring season.
Interpretation & conclusion:
The results of the study revealed the presence of low-level RVFV circulation among the ruminants of Kurdistan Province in Iran indicating that they are at risk of exposure to the virus during their lifetime. Since the present study was the first serological study on RVF in Iran with positive results, further studies are suggested including other areas of Iran.
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Vector prevalence and detection of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus in Golestan Province, Iran
p. 353
Mohammad Mehdi Sedaghat, Moslem Sarani, Sadegh Chinikar, Zakiye Telmadarraiy, Abdolreza Salahi Moghaddam, Kamal Azam, Norbert Nowotny, Anthony R Fooks, Nariman Shahhosseini
DOI
:10.4103/0972-9062.225841
PMID
:29460866
Background & objectives:
Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) causes severe disease with fatality rate of 30%. The virus is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected tick, direct contact with the products of infected livestock as well as nosocomially. The disease occurs sporadically throughout many of African, Asian and European countries. Different species of ticks serve either as vector or reservoir for CCHFV. This study was aimed to determine the prevalence of CCHFV in hard ticks (Ixodidae) in the Golestan Province of Iran.
Methods:
A molecular survey was conducted on hard ticks (Ixodidae) isolated from six counties in Golestan Province, north of Iran during 2014–15. The ticks were identified using morphological characteristics and presence of CCHFV RNA was detected using RT-PCR.
Results:
Data revealed the presence of CCHFV in 5.3% of the ticks selected for screening. The infected ticks belonged to
Hyalomma dromedarii, Hy. anatolicum, Hy. marginatum
and
Rhipicephalus sanguineus
species.
Interpretation & conclusion:
The study demonstrated that Hyalomma ticks are the main vectors of CCHFV in Golestan Province. Thus, preventive strategies such as using acaricides and repellents in order to avoid contact with Hyalomma ticks are proposed.
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Leishmaniasis in northern Cyprus: Human cases and their association with risk factors
p. 358
Emrah Ruh, Aysegul Bostanci, Vasfiye Kunter, Ozgur Tosun, Turgut Imir, Henk Schallig, Aysegul Taylan-Ozkan
DOI
:10.4103/0972-9062.225842
PMID
:29460867
Background & objectives:
Cyprus is located in the eastern part of the Mediterranean Region where leishmaniasis is endemic. The primary objective of this study was to investigate human visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in the northern region of Cyprus where presence of canine leishmaniasis (CanL) and sandflies has been documented in earlier studies. The secondary objective was to assess the association of leishmaniasis with demographic and epidemiological variables.
Methods:
Intravenous blood samples were collected from 249 volunteers in Kyrenia district (located in the northern coastal region of Cyprus). Whole blood samples were tested for DNA of
Leishmania
spp by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), while serum samples were analyzed using direct agglutination test (DAT) and rK39 test. For evaluation of possible risk factors, a questionnaire was applied to the participants.
Results:
Only three (1.2%) of 249 participants were found seropositive by DAT (n = 2) or rK39 test (n = 1). The remaining samples were negative in serology, and no PCR positivity was detected in any of the 249 participants. Seven individuals, including the seropositive cases, had a history of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL). Seropositivity and CL were not significantly related with gender (M/F: 40.2/59.8%), age [Mean: 42.85 ± 17.45, Median: 40 (7–86)], occupation (Indoor/Outdoor: 84.7/12.9%), dog ownership (52.6%), and CanL history (5.3%). However, a statistical association was found between seropositivity and past CL infection. Also, a significant relation was observed between participants living in peripheral area (63.1%) and CL infection. Furthermore, leishmaniasis awareness (28.1%) among the study population was statistically correlated with past CL infection and dog ownership.
Interpretation & conclusion:
This study demonstrates the presence of leishmaniasis and highlight the need for implementation of efficient control measures on the northern coast of Cyprus.
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SHORT RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
Functional response and density dependent feeding interaction of
Oreochromis niloticus
against immatures of
Culex quinquefasciatus
p. 366
Anupam Ghosh, Goutam Chandra
DOI
:10.4103/0972-9062.225843
PMID
:29460868
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Scrub typhus in Mizoram, India
p. 369
H Lalrinkima, R Lalremruata, C Lalchhandama, Lalthansanga Khiangte, Freddy H Siamthara, C Lalnunpuia, SK Borthakur, Gautam Patra
DOI
:10.4103/0972-9062.225844
PMID
:29460869
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CASE REPORT
Malaria and the heart: Two rare case reports of
Plasmodium falciparumassociated
pericarditis
p. 372
Claudia Colomba, Marcello Trizzino, Claudia Gioè, Filipa Coelho, Inês Lopo, Pedro Pinheiro, José Sousa, Antonio Cascio
DOI
:10.4103/0972-9062.225845
PMID
:29460870
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CORRESPONDENCE
Epidemiological and demographic characteristics of dengue at a tertiary care centre in Gujarat
p. 375
Paritosh K Kar, S Haq, Ashish Gupta
DOI
:10.4103/0972-9062.225846
PMID
:29460871
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Author's reply
p. 376
Rajesh K Chudasama
DOI
:10.4103/0972-9062.225859
PMID
:29460872
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