Solitary staphylococcal liver abcess in a neonate.

28 days old neonate presented with high fever, abdominal distension, poor feeding and lethargy. Sepsis screen was positive; ultrasound and computed tomography of the abdomen demonstrated a multiloculated hepatic abcess in the right lobe of the liver. The baby was treated with intravenous antibiotics for 6 weeks and percutaneous aspiration of the abcess, resulting in excellent recovery.

Red grain botryomycosis due to Staphylococcus aureus - A novel case report.

Staphylococcus aureus and some other bacteria are known to cause botryomycosis. These bacteria are known to produce yellowish-white soft grains. Only Actinomadura pelletieri is known to produce red grains. We report here a case of an intensely inflammatory type of botryomycosis. A 35-year-old male labourer presented with swelling, redness and multiple sinuses on his foot, of eight months duration. The purulent discharge contained bright red coloured grains, 0.5 to 1 mm in size, which were round to oval in shape. Gram-positive cocci were demonstrated in crushed granules and tissue sections. Culture yielded pure and heavy growth of Staphylococcus aureus . He responded very well to cefazolin. There is no other report of such red grain botryomycosis due to Staphylococcus aureus , available in literature. This is first case report of its kind in world literature.

Differentiation of Candida dubliniensis on chrom agar and Pal's agar.

Difference in expression of putative virulence factors and in antifungal susceptibility among different Candida species has raised the need for species-level identification. The close relationship of Candida dubliniensis with C. albicans has led to misidentification of C. dubliniensis isolates as C. albicans. Phenotypic tests include ability to produce chlamydospore on casein agar, colony colour development on differential media CHROM agar Candida medium and ability to form hyphal fringe on Pal's agar, have been used to differentiate these two Candida species. Fifty isolates of Candida species were recovered from various specimens (blood, urine, tissue and respiratory secretions) from diabetic and cancer patients between April and July 2007. The isolates were tested for chlamydospore production on casein agar. These were also streaked simultaneously on CHROM agar, Pal's agar and a combination of CHROM agar supplemented with Pal's agar for identification and differentiation of C. dubliniensis from C. albicans. On CHROM agar, 19 isolates were identified as C. dubliniensis, nine as C. albicans, 10 as C. krusei, nine as C. tropicalis and two as C. glabrata. One was indeterminate and later identified as C. dubliniensis. Out of the 20 C. dubliniensis isolates, 19 isolates exhibited hyphal fringe on Pal's agar. On CHROM agar supplemented with Pal's agar, 16 out of the 19 fringe-positive isolates exhibited fringe surrounding the bluish green-coloured colonies of C. dubliniensis. Additional identification tests like growth at 45 degrees C and ability to reduce 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride were time efficient, inexpensive and easy-to-use methods for differentiation of C. dubliniensis and C. albicans isolates. CHROM agar when supplemented with Pal's agar gave definitive identification between C. dubliniensis and C. albicans.

Predation potential of the Water Bugs Sphaerodema rusticum on the sewage snails Physa acuta

The sewage snail Physa acuta is a serious threat to certain economic plants and to the purification plant of sewage works by rendering the biofilters ineffective. Various attempts are being made to control it. The efficacy of the predacious water bugs Sphaerodema rusticum was judged experimentally, in the laboratory in the potential control of P. acuta. It is revealed that, when supplied separately, the first, second and third instar and the adult S. rusticum did not attack P. acuta belonging to 3.1-8 mm, 5.1-8 mm, 7.1-8 mm and <= 3 mm size classes respectively. In the remaining trials predation rate varied from zero to eight (average 2.3) individuals per predator per day. In experiments with P. acuta belonging to all the size classes supplied together, none, except the first instar S. rusticum, attacked the prey individuals belonging to the lowest (<= 3 mm) size class. The first and second instar S. rusticum, in both trials did not attack P. acuta larger than 4 mm and 5 mm in shell length respectively. The water bugs belonging to the third, fourth, fifth instar and adult stages though preyed upon P. acuta with 3.1-8 mm shell length. The average rate of predation by a single S. rusticum varied from 0.14-3.08 individuals per day depending upon the size of P. acuta and the stage of S. rusticum. A single S. rusticum, irrespective of instar and adult stages, destroyed on average 4.16 P. acuta daily irrespective of sizes. It is estimated that one S. rusticum could destroy 1,360 P. acuta in its life time. The results clearly indicate that the water bug S. rusticum may be used to control the snails P. acuta

Re-emergence of Vibrio cholerae O139 serogroup during 1998 in Nagpur (Maharashtra), India.

In Nagpur, Maharashtra in 1993, V. cholerae serogroup O139 emerged as a novel epidemic strain. The decline in the isolation rate of this serogroup in subsequent year was followed by its re-emergence during 1998 indicating that this serotype requires careful monitoring.

Coronary prone behaviour pattern and risk of coronary heart disease: a case-control study.

A pair-matched case-control study was carried out at Govt. Medical College Hospital, Nagpur, to investigate association between coronary prone behaviour pattern (CPBP) and coronary heart disease (CHD). The study included 186 cases of CHD and equal number of controls matched for age, sex and socioeconomic status. CPBP identified to be significantly associated with CHD (OR = 3.23, 95% CI 1.73-6.02). The estimates of attributable risk proportion (ARP) and population attributable risk proportion i(PARP) were calculated to the 69.04 (42.19-83.38) and 16.93 (6.25-31.45) respectively. This study thus identified CPBP as a significant risk factor of CHD in this population.

Thermal effect on the life-cycle parameters of the medically important freshwater snail species Lymnaea (Radis) luteola (Lamarck)

The snails Lymnaea (Radix) luteola exhibited marked variations in growth, longevity, and attaining sexual maturity at different temperatures and diets. At 10§C, irrespective of foods, pH and salinity of water, the snails had minimum life span, maximum death rate and lowest growth rate. At 15§C, the growth rate was comparatively higher and the snails survived for a few more days. But at these temperatures they failed to attain sexual maturity. Snails exposed to pH5 and 9 at 20§, 25§, 30§, 35§C and room temperatures (19.6§-29.6§C): to 0.5, 1.5 and 2.5 NaCl per thousand at 20§ and 35 §C; to 2.5 NaCl per thousand at 25§C and room temperatures failed to attain sexual maturity. The snails exposed to pH 7 and different salinity grades at 20§, 25§, 30§, 35§C and room temperatures became sexually mature between 25-93 days depending upon the type of foods used in the culture.

On the safe of pesticides in controlling the terrestrial mollusc pests

The preferred food items of the slugs Laevicaulis alte and the snails Achatina fulica were used to prepare 'poison baits'by injecting the pesticides 'Rogor'and 'Nuvan'to kill these mollusc pests. The 'poison baits'prepared with Thrichosanthes dioica and Lycopersicum esculentum were accepted by 100% individuals of both the species irrespective of the pesticides used. In all cases the slug and the snail individuals died within a considerable length of time following consuption of the bait. The importance of using 'poison bait'lies not only with the sure success in killing the pests but also with the 'safe use'of toxic materials in order to avoid environmental hazards

The foetal immune response to maternal tetanus toxoid immunization.

Paired maternal and cord blood samples were collected at delivery from 150 women who received varying doses of tetanus toxoid during pregnancy. Tetanus specific IgM and IgG antibodies were measured in them by standard ELISA with a sensitivity for IgM of 0.001 mg/ml, and for IgG of 0.0003 IU/ml. In 22 infants an additional estimation of tetanus antibody was made 1 month after birth. The presence of specific IgM in 78% of cord samples established an active foetal immune response. The titre did not alter significantly with the number of TT doses given to the mother. Foetal IgM rose in 60% of cases at one month of age compared to cord blood levels. At this time IgG levels were uniformly diminished in accord with a maternally derived passively transferred antibody. No switch of foetal IgM to IgG production was evident. The foetal immune response thus did not confer active protection against tetanus.

Experience with a measles vaccine manufactured in India.

Five hundred and twenty seven children between 7 months and 2 years of age were vaccinated with measles vaccine manufactured by the Serum Institute of India. The sero-conversion rate in children who had no antibodies previous to vaccination was 98.4% as tested in HI. Ninety per cent of children who had pre-vaccination measles antibodies showed a two-fold or more rise in HI antibodies. The side reactions of the vaccine were negligible.

Influence of temperature on survival, growth and fecundity of the freshwater snail Indoplanorbis exustus (Deshayes)

To note the effect of temperature on survival, growth and fecundity, newly hatched (zero day old) snails Indoplanorbis exustus were cultured at 10 degrees, 15 degrees, 20 degrees, 25 degrees, 30 degrees and 35 degreescentigrades constant temperatures and room temperature (17.5 degrees - 32.5 degrees centigrades). Individuals exposed to 10 degrees centigrades died within 3 days while those reared at 15 degrees, 20 degrees, 25 degrees, 30 degrees, 35 degrees centigrades and room temperature survived for a period of 6, 27, 18, 16, 12 and 17 weeks respectively. An individual added on an average 0.21 mm and 0.45 mg, 0.35 mm and 7.94 mg, 0.63 mm and 15.5 mg, 0.81 mm and 27.18 mg, 1.07 mm and 41.48 mg and 0.78 mm and 31.2 mg to the shell diameter and body weight respectively at those temperatures per week. The snails cultured at 15 degrees centigrades died prior to attainment of sexual maturity. On an average, an individual produced 31.9 and 582.77, 54.86 and 902.18, 56.01 and 968.45, 49.32 and 798.68 and 62.34 and 1143.97 capsules and eggs respectively at 20 degrees, 25 degrees, 30 degrees, 35 degrees centigrades and room temperature (17.5 degrees - 32.5 degrees centigrades)