ABSTRACT
Background: Malaria is a major health issue in tropical and subtropical areas. Out of all subtypes, Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) is the most dangerous form accounting for high mortality and morbidity. It is transmitted by infected female anopheles mosquitoes and infected blood transfusions. Aims and Objectives: The aim of the study is to establish correct diagnosis by direct microscopy, Immunochromatographic test (ICT), and molecular studies. Materials and Methods: This prospective study was conducted in the PG Department of Microbiology, SCB Medical College, Cuttack. Thick blood smears were drawn and then stained with Leishman’s stain to visualize falciparum rings. DNA was extracted from infected blood samples by phenol chloroform method with some modification as described by Sambrook and Russel for molecular analysis. Results: In the present study, 150 cases of malaria were analyzed. The male: female ratio was 1.7:1 and age ranged from 0 to 56 years. The Plasmodium vivax positivity was compared with thin smear to 21 (84%) in ICT, 100% both polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and loop mediated isothermal amplification assay (LAMP) assays followed by the Pf positivity as 76 (92.7%) in ICT, 82 (100%) both PCR and LAMP assays, respectively. The results obtained were statistically significant with P < 0.001. The PCR and LAMP showed 100% response to specificity and positive predictive value. Conclusion: The present study established the role of molecular tests such as PCR and LAMP are highly specific for diagnosis of Plasmodium species whereas they are more or less similar in sensitivity as compared to other diagnostic methods such as ICT and microscopy.
ABSTRACT
Background: In both waves of COVID-19 infections, loss of taste was noted in a disproportionately high number of individuals. However, there is a considerable risk of dental disease during and after COVID -19 infections. Aim: Our aim here is to study the oral manifestation of the COVID -19 infections and make a comparison of the severity of presentation in the second wave with the first wave among the general population in Bhubaneswar, city of Odisha, India. Methods: A detailed online questionnaire was developed focusing on the oral manifestation during both the waves using Google forms. Results: Out of a total of 380 RT PCR positive cases, 91/169 and 167/211 cases with oral manifestation were obtained in the first and second waves, respectively. We found 41 (24.26 %) in the first wave and 63 (29.85 %) in the second wave of patients with oral manifestations over the age of 50. Patients receiving oxygen or using a ventilator were found to be 15 (8.9 %) in the first wave and 59 (28%) in the second wave. Conclusion: This is the first study to evaluate the correlation of oral infection with COVID 19 in different waves. This difference could be correlated with the virulence of viruses with mutated strains.