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Background: Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease caused by bacteria named Treponema palladium, subsp. pallidum. Nearly 1.36 million pregnant women are known to be affected by syphilis in the developing countries. When left untreated syphilis during pregnancy can result in adverse fetal outcomes such as spontaneous abortion and stillbirth. Objective of the study was to evaluate the seroprevalence of syphilis among pregnant females attending Antenatal Clinic (ANC).Methods: A hospital based cross-sectional study was done over a period of six months from January to June 2019. A total of 132 pregnant females were included in the study who attended Antenatal Clinic for routine checkup whose blood samples were sent to Microbiology Laboratory for screening for syphilis by Rapid Plasma Reagin (RPR) test.Results: Out of 132 samples of pregnant females screened for syphilis, none of the sample was found reactive for syphilis by RPR test. Maximum patients (57.6%) belonged to age group 20-25 years followed by (27.3%) of 26-30 years. 30.3% patients belonged to urban areas and 69.7% patients belonged to rural areas. Majority of patients (80.3%) belonged to first trimester, followed by (18.9%) patients to second trimester and (0.8%) patients to third trimester. 78.8% patients were from lower socio-economic class followed by 12.9% patients from middle class and 8.3% patients from upper class.Conclusions: Although zero percent syphilis prevalence was observed in this study, it is recommended that free screening for syphilis should be offered to all pregnant females visiting Antenatal Clinic.
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Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major causative agent of parenterally acquired hepatitis. Vertical transmission of HCV occurs from mother to infant during pregnancy, delivery, or neonatal period. Hepatitis C infection among pregnant females can adversely affect both mother and fetus, leading to chronic infection in infants who later develop liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Objective of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of hepatitis C among pregnant females attending antenatal clinic.Methods: A hospital based cross-sectional study was done over a period of six months from January to June 2019. A total of 550 pregnant females were included in the study who attended Antenatal Clinic for routine check-up and whose blood samples were sent to Microbiology Laboratory for screening of anti-HCV antibodies by Enzyme linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) method.Results: Out of 550 pregnant females tested, 3 were found to be reactive to anti-HCV antibodies by ELISA; hence the prevalence was found to be 0.5%. All 3 seropositive females belonged to age group 26-35 years, were indoor patients (IPD) and belonged to lower socio-economic class. Majority of seropositive females belonged to urban areas (66.7%, 2/3) as compared to those from rural areas (33.3%, 1/3).Conclusions: Although, prevalence of hepatitis C was found to be less among pregnant females attending ANC of this institute, still routine screening of all pregnant females for anti-HCV antibodies is highly recommended, for timely detection of disease in mothers and prevention of its transmission to infants.
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Background: Vulvovaginal Candidiasis (VVC) is a condition diagnosed in a large proportion of women presenting with complaints of abnormal vaginal discharge. The risk of VVC is high in women with diabetes mellitus, pregnancy, using oral contraceptives or broad-spectrum antibiotics and those having Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection.Objective of the present study was to identify the various species of Candida isolated from patients with Vulvovaginal Candidiasis.Methods: A cross-sectional study was done from January to June 2018. A total of 69 clinically suspected VVC cases were included in the study whose high vaginal swabs were collected and subjected to direct microscopy and cultured on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA). Creamy white pigmented colonies on SDA were confirmed as Candida by doing Gram抯 staining. Speciation of positive cultures was confirmed by conventional methods like Corn Meal agar culture, Germ tube test (GTT), Candida CHROM Agar Medium (CAM), sugar assimilation and fermentation test.Results: Out of 69 clinically suspected VVC cases included in the study, only 14 cultures were positive for Candida species. All the 14 isolates were found to be Non-albicans Candida (NAC). Most common species isolated were Candida glabrata 7(50%), followed by Candida tropicalis 3(21.4%), Candida lusitaniae 3(21.4%), and Candida parapsilosis 1 (7.1%).Conclusions: Candida albicans was known to be the most common causative agent of VVC as it was isolated in 90% cases. However, this study showed that all isolates from VVC were Non-albicans Candida. Therefore, species identification should be done in all microbiology laboratories for accurate diagnosis of VVC.
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Background: HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is the causative agent of AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). It belongs to the lentivirus subgroup of the family Retroviridae. The HIV/AIDS is spreading worldwide at an alarming rate. India has the third largest number of estimated people living with HIV/AIDS. Most common mode of HIV transmission is through heterosexual contact, blood transfusion, percutaneous, mucosal and perinatal mode. The present study was done to evaluate the seroreactivity of HIV among patients attending Integrated Counselling and Testing Centre (ICTC) of our Tertiary care hospital. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted on data of patients who had attended ICTC and undergone HIV testing from January 2017 to January 2019. A total of 4519 patients were included in the study who gave their consent followed by pre-test and post-test counseling and were screened for HIV antibody by using rapid kit Comb-Aids.Results: Out of 4519 samples tested, 23 were reactive to HIV screening test, hence sero-reactivity of HIV was found to be 0.50%. Higher seroreactivity was seen among males (56.5%, 13/23), and patients aged 31-40 years (39.1%, 9/23). Maximum seroreactivity was found among patients of rural areas (73.9%, 17/23), indoor patients (91.3%, 21/23) and married patients (73.9%, 17/23).Conclusions: In this study the seroreactivity of HIV was found to be low among patients attending ICTC but still HIV continues to be a major contributor to the global burden of disease. ICTC data can be used as an important tool for planning and improving the national HIV/AIDS intervention strategy.
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Background: Hepatitis B infection is one of the most common public health problems worldwide. Hepatitis B virus Surface Antigen (HBsAg) positive mothers may transmit the virus vertically to neonates transplacentally during pregnancy, perinatally during delivery or postnatally through breast milk. Such neonates being carriers of virus are at a very high risk of developing chronic liver diseases at a younger age and also, they act as reservoirs of infection in the community. Objective of the study is to evaluate the seroprevalence of HBsAg in pregnant females attending Antenatal Clinic.Methods: A hospital based cross-sectional study was done from January to June 2019. A total of 840 pregnant females were included in the study who attended Antenatal Clinic for routine checkup whose blood samples were sent to Microbiology Laboratory for screening of HBsAg by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA).Results: Out of 840 pregnant females included in the study, 8 were reactive to HBsAg, hence, prevalence was found to be 0.95%. The seroprevalence of HBsAg was found to be more (1.40%) in 26-35 year females. Maximum seropositivity was seen in females from urban areas (1.0%), those attending OPD of ANC (1.03%) and those who belonged to lower socio-economic class (1.02%).Conclusions: Routine free screening for HBV infection should be offered to all antenatal females to reduce the risk of vertical transmission to the neonates born to infected mothers, thereby, preventing them from becoming carriers and developing chronic hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma later in life.
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Background: Trichomonas vaginalis causes a common sexually transmitted disease trichomoniasis, which may lead to increased risk of transmission of human immunodefi ciency virus infection and other pelvic infl ammatory diseases. Wet mount examination is the most common test for diagnosis, but it has low sensitivity. Acridine orange staining can be used for diagnosis, but it requires special microscopic facility. Culture is considered as the gold standard, but it takes a long time for diagnosis. OSOM Trichomonas Rapid Test is a recently introduced rapid method based on immunochromatographic assay of trichomonal protein antigens. Hence, the present study was done to compare these four diagnostic techniques for detection of trichomoniasis in females with vaginal discharge. Materials and Methods: Vaginal swabs were taken from 835 female patients and wet mount examination, acridine orange staining, culture in Kupferberg medium, and OSOM Trichomonas Rapid Test, were performed. Results: Out of 835 patients included in our study, 68 (8.1%) positive cases of trichomoniasis were detected by culture. OSOM Trichomonas Rapid Test detected 63 (7.5%) cases, acridine orange staining detected 53 (6.3%) cases, whereas, wet mount examination detected only 45 (5.4%) positive cases. OSOM Trichomonas Rapid Test performed well and showed high sensitivity and specifi city of 88.2% and 99.6%, respectively. Conclusion: As OSOM Trichomonas Rapid Test is a point of care test and gave better results than both wet mount examination and acridine orange staining; it can be used as a routine test in peripheral areas lacking laboratory facilities.
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Aqueous and alcoholic extracts of endangered medicinal plants Balanites aegyptiaca Del. and Spilanthes acmella Murr. were evaluated for antifungal potential against various pathogenic and opportunistic fungi by in vitro agar well diffusion method. All the alcoholic extracts showed wide range of activity against the tested fungi as compared to aqueous extracts which showed limited antifungal activity. The alcoholic extract of fruit of B. aegyptiaca showed good antifungal activity against most of the tested Candida species and few opportunistic fungi, whereas, alcoholic extract of flower head of S. acmella showed good activity not only against Candida species but also against most of the tested Aspergillus species. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of the alcoholic extracts were determined by broth microdilution method. The MIC of alcoholic extract of B. aegyptiaca and S. acmella against tested fungi ranged from 3.05 to 24.0μg/ml and 1.53 to 49.0 μg/ml respectively. The present study leads to conclusion that extracts of Balanites aegyptiaca and Spilanthes acmella contain good antifungal activity and thus could be used as alternative medicine in the treatment of various opportunistic and life threatening fungal infections especially in immunocompromised patients which otherwise pose problem of resistance to the currently used antifungal agents.
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Alcoholic and aqueous extracts of endangered medicinal plants Balanites aegyptiaca and Tylophora indica were analyzed for antibacterial potential against various gram positive and gram negative bacteria including resistant strains harbouring bla genes by agar well diffusion method. Alcoholic extracts of both the plants showed activity against wider range of tested bacteria as compared to aqueous extracts which showed limited antibacterial activity. The alcoholic extract of leaf of Tylophora indica showed good activity against gram negative bacteria and mild activity against those harbouring bla genes, whereas, the alcoholic extract of fruit of Balanites aegyptiaca showed excellent antibacterial activity against gram positive, gram negative bacteria as well as resistant bacteria harbouring bla genes. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of the alcoholic extracts were determined by broth microdilution method. The MIC values of the alcoholic fruit extract of B. aegyptiaca against tested bacterial species ranged from 1.53 to 49.0 μg/ml and MIC of alcoholic leaf extract of T. indica ranged from 3.05 to 98.0 μg/ml. The present study leads to conclusion that extracts of Balanites aegyptiaca and Tylophora indica contain good antibacterial activity which can be used as novel antimicrobial compounds in the treatment of various infections showing resistance to treatment by currently used antimicrobial agents.
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Alcoholic extracts of stem of an endangered medicinal plant Spilanthes acmella and its in vitro raised callus were evaluated for antibacterial potential against various gram positive and gram negative bacteria including resistant isolates harbouring bla genes by agar well diffusion method. The alcoholic extract of parent plant as well as its callus showed good antibacterial activity against gram positive and gram negative bacteria and also efficiently controlled the growth of most of the resistant bacteria harbouring bla genes. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of the extracts was determined by broth microdilution method. MIC against gram positive bacteria ranged from 12.0 to 49.0 μg/ml, while MIC against gram negative bacteria ranged from 1.53 to 12.0 μg/ml and MIC against resistant bacteria harbouring bla genes ranged from 6.1 to 98.0 μg/ml. The present study shows that extracts of Spilanthes acmella contain good antibacterial activity which can be used to obtain novel antibacterial compounds for the treatment of infectious diseases that otherwise pose problem of drug resistance to currently used antimicrobials. This is the first report of antibacterial activity of S. acmella through in vitro callus and also it’s potential against gram negative bacteria harbouring bla genes.
ABSTRACT
The antifungal potential of medicinal plant Tylophora indica Merr. was evaluated by agar well diffusion method and it was compared with the activity of its in vitro raised plant and callus . The extracts of in vitro raised plant and callus showed better antifungal activity against the tested fungal species as compared to parent plant. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of the extracts were determined by broth microdilution method. The MIC of the alcoholic leaf extracts of parent plant against tested fungi ranged from 12.0 to 98.0 μg/ml, whereas, the MIC of extract of in vitro raised plant and callus ranged from 1.53 to 49.0 μg/ml and 3.05 to 24.0 μg/ml respectively. The present study leads to conclusion that extracts of Tylophora indica contain good antifungal activity which could be used in the treatment of various fungal infections showing resistance to treatment by currently used antifungal agents. As the in vitro raised plant and callus gave good results, in vitro cultivation of the explants may be used to obtain novel antifungal compounds. This is the first report on antifungal activity of Tylophora indica through in vitro raised plant and its callus.