ABSTRACT
The South Garo Hills District of Meghalaya had a high number of 284 Malaria cases out of which 281 were due to Plasmodium falciparum and an Annual Parasite Incidence (API) of 1.69 during 2021. However, if interventions like the treatment of asymptomatic carriers take place, it is expected that the API and the number of Malaria cases will come down further.
ABSTRACT
Background & objectives: Chikungunya (CHIK) fever is a mosquito-borne disease caused by chikungunya virus (CHIKV). Chikungunya infection was first reported from India in 1963 from Kolkata. We report the serological and molecular evidence of an outbreak of chikungunya in northeast India that occurred in Tura, a hilly and forested terrain in Garo Hills district of Meghalaya. Methods: blood samples (3 ml) collected from hospitalized patients during the outbreak were tested for IgM antibodies against CHIKV and followed up four months later. A repeat survey was carried out in the same area after four months from where cases had been reported. Blood samples were also collected from people with history of fever and body ache in the last four months. Persons showing IgM positivity against CHIKV in the repeat survey were followed up one and a half years later. All samples were also processed by RT-PCR assay for CHIK Envelope (E) 1 gene. Immature mosquitoes were collected, link reared and identified with standard keys. Virus incrimination studies were done on Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus mosquitoes collected during the survey. Results: Fever, headache and joint pain were the primary clinical presentations. Twenty three (35.93 %) of 64 samples reported during the outbreak were IgM positive for CHIK. Three samples showed PCR amplification. All these were IgM positive. The sequenced E1 gene revealed that the strains belonged to East Central South African (ECSA) genotype. Interpretation & conclusions: Field survey done after four months revealed that some individuals still had joint pain associated with episodes of headache and fever. It could be inferred that these persons might have contracted infection during the CHIK outbreak four months ago or during the intervening period which caused persistence of sequelae. ECSA genotype was found to be involved in the outbreak. Aedes albopictus was the predominant mosquito species collected during the outbreak.
ABSTRACT
The nutritional potential of five wild edible leaves of the plant e.g. Chenopodium album, Alternanthera philoxeroides, Homalomena aromatica, Zanthoxylum rhetsa and Cajanus indicus collected from Meghalaya state in India were evaluated by determining proximate and phytochemical composition. These plants are used by the local people of Meghalaya state in India as their food. The present study revealed that for different plant species, the crude fat content ranged between 0.69±0.02-2.30±0.02%. The crude protein content was determined high in the leaves of Cajanus indicus (15.77±0.03 %) and in Zanthoxylum rhetsa (13.75±0.05%) while the available carbohydrate content was the highest in the leaves of Alternanthera philoxeroides (73.67±0.30 %). The nutritive value ranged from 77.41±0.53-344.52±0.33 kcal/100g in the various wild edible plants. Among the various macronutrients estimated in the plant samples of different wild edible plants potassium was present in the highest quantity (10.42±0.10- 45.86±0.22mg /g) followed by calcium (5.93±0.15 -26.47±0.18 mg/g) and sodium (0.32±0.01-8.25±0.07 mg /g). Micronutrients, such as iron, zinc, copper, manganese and magnesium were also analyzed in the different plant specimens. The result indicates that the nutritional values and mineral contents of these leafy vegetables under investigation were richer than that of the commercial vegetables and could be used for nutritional purpose. The present study also gives an account of ethnobotanical importance of the wild plants under investigation.
ABSTRACT
A study on mosquitoes in parts of Meghalaya revealed the presence of 64 species of mosquitoes under 10 genera. In monsoon (June to October) and post-monsoon (November to May) survey, 42 and 48 species of mosquitoes were detected, respectivily. Higher species diversity was found at lower elevations (up to 1050 m). Anopheles peditaeniatus, An. sinensis, Aedes vexans, Ae. nigrostriatus, Ae. annandalei, Culex. fuscocephala, Cx. pseudovishnui, Cx. murrelli, Cx. brevipalpis, Coquillettidia novochracea, Lutzia halifaxii, Malaya genurostris, Ml. jacobsoni, Tripteroides aranoides, Toxorhynchites minimus, Uranotaenia campestris, Ur. edwardsi and Ur. testaceae which were never reported earlier from Meghalaya state were detected in the present study and the findings were discussed with previously published reports from the state.