Pulmonary cryptosporidiosis in HIV negative, immunocompromised host.

Cryptosporidia are intestinal spore forming protozoa, which cause intracellular infections, predominantly in the epithelial cells of the intestine. Extra-intestinal infections with Cryptosporidium parvum have been rarely reported. However, a few reports of pulmonary cryptosporidiosis in HIV/AIDS cases have been mentioned in literature. In immunocompromised individuals who do not have HIV-related disease, Cryptosporidiosis has been rarely reported. We present a case of respiratory infection caused by C. parvum. The patient was a 10-year-old child with nephrotic syndrome and was receiving corticosteroids for 6 months. The child had history of low-grade fever, breathlessness and cough with expectoration of 3 months duration. The patient was nonreactive for HIV, and there was no evidence of primary immunodeficiency. Major serum immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA, and IgM) were in normal range. Simultaneous gastrointestinal involvement with C. parvum was observed.

A rare case of human trypanosomiasis caused by Trypanosoma evansi.

Human trypanosoma infections like the ones seen in Africa and South America are unknown in India. The only exception in literature is of two documented cases of a self-limiting febrile illness, being attributed to Trypanosoma lewisi like parasites. We are reporting an unusual case of trypanosomiasis from the rural parts of Chandrapur district in Maharashtra. An adult male farmhand who used to practice veterinary medicine also, presented with history of febrile episodes on and off since five months and drowsiness before admission to this Institute. Though routine blood and other investigations were within normal limits, the peripheral smear showed a large number of trypanosomes which morphologically resembled the species Trypanosoma evansi, the aetiological agent of surra - a form of animal trypanosomiasis. A battery of assays covering the spectrum of parasitology, serology, and molecular biology confirmed the infecting parasite to be T. evansi. Failure to demonstrate the central nervous system (CNS) involvement, as evidenced by the absence of parasite in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) advocated the use of suramin - the drug of choice in early stage African trypanosomiasis without any CNS involvement. Suramin achieved cure in our patient. The case is being reported because of its unique nature as the patient was not immunocompromised and showed infestation with a parasite which normally does not affect human beings.

Blood pressure trends and life style risk factors in rural India.

A door to door survey of a random sample of 448 subjects (> or = 15 years of age) of Kodamendhi village (near Nagpur) revealed a prevalence of hypertension of 4% rising to 19% in more than 60 years age group. One of the main goals of the study was to search for social, behavioural and life style risk factors and provide baseline information on blood pressure distribution in rural Indian population, information regarding which is scarce from Central India. The relationship between alcohol consumption, smoking, obesity, education, income and diet (assessed by a questionnaire administered by trained interviewers) to blood pressure were studied, in multivariate context. Separate multiple linear regression analysis, performed in males and females with mean blood pressure (MBP) as dependent variable showed that the MBP increased significantly with age (p = 0.000) and males had significantly higher MBP than females (p = 0.002). In males, BMI (p = 0.000) and alcohol intake (p = 0.008) were significantly related to MBP while smokers had significantly lower MBP than non smokers (p = 0.004). Per capita income was a significant predictor of MBP in females (p = 0.000). There was no relationship with education and diet.