ABSTRACT
Introduction: Dengue is a major public health problem in tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world and it is known for serious life threatening complications. Detection of IgM antibodies forms the mainstay for diagnosis of dengue infection. However, IgM antibodies develop after 4-5 days of infection and there is an urgent need for an alternative diagnostic tools that can detect dengue infection earlier. Aim and Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of NS1 antigen ELISA for early diagnosis of dengue virus infection in a tertiary care hospital Methods-A total of 2106 serum samples from patients with suspected dengue infection were tested for dengue NS1 antigen and IgM anti-body detection by ELISA. Results: 765 (36.32%) were positive for dengue NS1 antigen and 857 (40.69%) were positive for dengue IgM antibody. NS1 antigen was detectable in patient sera from day 1 onwards however; dengue IgM anti-body was detected from day 3 onwards. Out of 765 NS1 antigen positive samples, 562 (73.46%) were positive in acute phase of illness and 203 (26.54%) were positive in convalescent phase of illness. Out of 857 MAC ELISA positive samples, 312 (36.41%) were from acute phase of illness and 545 (63.59%) were from early convalescent phase of illness. Combination of two tests resulted in increase in the positivity rate to 52.66% as against to independent posi-tivity rate of 36.32% of NS1 ELISA and 40.69% of MAC ELISA. Conclusion: Combined use of NS1 antigen assay with MAC ELISA test could significantly improve diagnostic sensitivity of dengue infection
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Pulmonary nocardiosis is a well-described infection in patients with neoplastic disease, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. The radiographic appearance of pulmonary nocardiosis is varied and nonspecific. Since the clinical and radiologic manifestations are non-specific, and the microbiological diagnosis is often difficult. In some patients, pulmonary nocardiosis will be mistaken for other infections, such as tuberculosis or bacterial pneumonia. Hence this study was undertaken to detect the prevalence of nocardiasis in HIV infected patients. Material and Methods: One hundred chest symptomatic patients screened for HIV infection and the samples of HIV positive patient processed for Nocardia using kinyoun’s modification of zeihl Neelsen stain and culture. The CD4 count of HIV patients with Nocardial infection and co-infection by mycobacterium tuberculosis studied. Observations: Out of 100 patients with cough and fever more than 2 weeks, 58 turned out to be HIV positive. Most of the patients included in the study were in their 3rd and 4th decades of life. The male to female ratio was 1:0.38. The open tuberculosis cases were 43.45% and sputum positive for acid fast bacilli. The nocardiosis was observed in 3.45% cases by modified Kinyoun’s method of staining and culture. In 80.65% tuberculosis cases, CD4 count less than 200/μl, while 19.35% had CD4 count more than 200/μl. The cases with nocardiosis had CD4 count less than 200/μl. Co-infection with tuberculosis and nocardiosis is not observed. The history of family contact for tuberculosis was found in 9.68% cases. Conclusion: The prevalence of nocardia in HIV positive individuals for north Maharashtra region is observed. The nocardia are easy to treat if diagnosed correctly and this will help in preventing morbidity in chest symptomatic patients. Unnecessary treatment with higher antibiotics can be avoided and cost effective treatment will be possible. Patients with CD4+ count less than 200 cells/μl should be screened for Nocardia. [Ravindra K NJIRM 2016; 7(5):73-77]
ABSTRACT
Background & objectives: An outbreak of acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) among children from Nagpur division, Maharashtra was investigated to confirm the aetiology and to describe clinico-epidemiological features. Methods: AES cases among children <15 yr, from Nagpur division, hospitalized between June-September 2007, were investigated. Serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were tested for IgM antibodies against Chandipura virus (CHPV) and Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) and for CHPV RNA by RT-PCR. Partial N gene sequences were used for phylogenetic analysis. Virus isolations were attempted in rhabdomyosarcoma (RD) cell line. Sandflies were collected, pooled and tested for CHPV RNA by RT-PCR. Results: A total of 78 AES cases were recorded in children <15 yr of age. Case fatality ratio was 43.6 per cent. Male to female ratio was 1:1.2. Chandipura (CHP) was confirmed in 39 cases. CHPV RNA was detected in both CSF and serum specimens of 2 cases and in serum of 22 cases. Phylogenetic analysis showed 99.98 – 100 per cent nucleotide identity in the sequences studied. Anti-CHPV IgM antibodies were detected in CSF of 2 cases and in serum of 8 cases. Seroconversion to anti-CHPV IgM antibodies was observed in 5 cases. Clinical manifestations of CHP cases (n=38) were fever (100%), convulsion (76.3%), altered sensorium (34.2%), headache (23.7%), vomiting (44.7%) and diarrhoea (23.7%). CHPV RNA was detected in one of two pools of sandflies from affected locality. Interpretation & conclusions: Chandipura virus was confirmed as the aetiological agent of this acute encephalitis outbreak with high case-fatality among children.