True Hermaphroditism in a Goat – A case report

A four-month-old prepubertal female goat was presented to RVP IVRI Bareilly, with the history of an abnormal growth in the vulva. On clinical examination the growth was found as prominent clitoris, and two peanut sized soft structures were palpable at the subcutaneous in inguinal region. Transabdominal B mode real time ultrasound of inguinal region revealed testis like morphology and presence of uterus and ovaries structures subcutaneously. The case was subsequently diagnosed as hermaphrodism.

Profile of Pediatric Scrub Typhus in Odisha, India

Objective: To investigate the distribution and clinical profile of scrub typhus infection amongchildren with acute febrile illness in Odisha. Methods: Children (<15 y) presenting with acutefever (>5 days) in 4 agro-climatic zones from June to November 2017 were evaluated.Patients were screened for malaria, leptospira, dengue, typhoid and scrub typhus. Scrubtyphus was confirmed by IgM ELISA and PCR. Results: Out of413 casesexamined, 48.7%were positive for scrub typhus, and 5.5% of them developed systemic complications. Escharwas found in 17.9% of cases. Five days treatment of Doxycycline and/or Azithromycin wasclinically effective against scrub typhus. Conclusion: Our study highlights that scrub typhusis one of the causes of high morbidity in children during rainy months in Odisha.

An outbreak of Japanese encephalitis after two decades in Odisha, India.

Sudden deaths in children due to acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) from a tribal dominated district of Malkangiri in Odisha, India, was reported during September-November, 2012. The investigation was carried out to search for the possible viral aetiology that caused this outbreak. Clinico-epidemiological survey and seromolecular investigation were carried out to confirm the viral aetiology. Two hundred seventy two suspected cases with 24 deaths were observed. The patients presented with low to moderate grade fever (87%), headache (43%), vomiting (27%), cold (18%), cough (17%), body ache (15%), joint pain (15%), rash (15%), abdomen pain (9%), lethargy (5%), altered sensorium (8%), convulsion (2%), diarrhoea (3%), and haematemesis (3%). Laboratory investigation showed Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) IgM in 13.8 per cent (13/94) in blood samples and JEV RNA in one of two cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples. Paddy fields close to the houses, high pig to cattle ratio, high density (33 per man hour density) of Culex vishnui mosquitoes, low socio-economic status and low health awareness in the tribal population were observed. This report confirmed the outbreak of JEV infection in Odisha after two decades.

Chandipura virus infection causing encephalitis in a tribal population of Odisha in eastern India.

Background. The sudden death of 10 children in a tribal village of Kandhamal district, Odisha in eastern India led to this investigation. Methods. We conducted a door-to-door survey to identify cases. Antibodies for Chandipura, Japanese encephalitis, dengue, chikungunya and West Nile viruses were tested by ELISA in probable cases. Chandipura virus RNA was tested from both human blood samples and sand flies by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. We conducted vector surveys in domestic and peridomestic areas, and collected sand flies. Results. Entomological investigations revealed the presence of Phlebotomus argentipes and Sergentomiya sp. Thirty-five patients presented with fever, 12 of them had altered sensorium including 4 who had convulsions. The blood samples of 21 patients were tested; four samples revealed Chandipura virusspecific IgM antibody. Conclusion. Chandipura virus infection causing encephalitis affected this tribal population in eastern India at 1212 m above sea level. Natl Med J India 2015;28:185–7

An Outbreak of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.

Objective: To describe the epidemiology and clinical features of cases in an outbreak of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD). Design: Descriptive epidemiological study. Setting: Hospitals and community in urban areas of Bhubaneswar city, Odisha. Methods: Upon clinical suspicion of the first case as HFMD, local pediatricians and dermatologists were sensitized for case referral to Dermatology department of Institute of Medical Science and SUM hospital (IMS&SH) for evaluation and follow up. Community survey was undertaken by household visit by the team from Regional Medical Research Centre, Bhubaneswar in an outbreak area through hospital case tracing. Blood samples were tested for hematological counts and RT PCR assay done in a subset of samples for confirmation. Results: Seventy eight cases of HFMD were detected between R E S E A R C H P A P E R September 7 and November 6, 2009. Mean age (SD) was 5.13 (4.94) years (range 4 mo-31 yrs) and both sexes were equally affected. Fever and rash were the most common presenting symptoms with the rash distributed mostly over buttocks (83.3%), knees (77.5%), both surfaces of hands and oral mucosa (78.2%). Lesions healed in Mean (SD) 8.6 (1.5) days (range 7-15 d). Recovery was complete with minimal supportive treatment but, nail shedding was noted in three children within 4-5 weeks. CA16 was confirmed as the viral agent. Conclusion: Children (5-14 yrs) were majorly affected and complete recovery without neurological complications were noted. The characteristic clinical features described will be useful for early clinical diagnosis where laboratory confirmation is not feasible.

Carcinoscorpius rotunda cauda amoebocyte lysate for detection of endotoxins--its preparation, stability, sensitivity and comparison with Limulus amoebocyte lysate.

Carcinoscorpius amoebocyte lysate (CAL) was prepared from C. rotunda cauda by a modification of the method described by Mahalanabis et al. [Indian J Med Res, 70 (1979) 35]. Seasonal variation as well as batch variation was observed in the yield of haemolymph and the total lysate protein. In the presence of E. coli lipopolysaccharide (pure, free endotoxin) and E. coli and Salmonella cell suspensions (bound endotoxin), the CAL formed a gel after incubation at 37 degrees C. The gelling time varied from 10-90 min depending on the concentration of endotoxin used; higher concentrations formed gel more rapidly. The endotoxin detection capacity (sensitivity) of the lysate preparations was influenced by the season in which prepared, but not by the total protein content. Ten fold increase in the sensitivity was achieved by a purification step using chloroform. Although subsequent frozen storage with or without lyophilization did not alter the initial sensitivity, it was either decreased considerably or lost totally when the lysate was stored for 4 months at 4 degrees C or for 2 months at 30 degrees C. Under the same conditions, Limulus lysate was more stable. The lost sensitivity could not be regained by the incorporation of divalent cations (Ca2+ and Mg2+). The CAL preparations in general were able to detect as little as 10-100 pg of endotoxin or as few as 10(3) cells of E. coli or 10(4) cells of Salmonella and were comparable to LAL. CAL could be used successfully in lieu of Limulus amoebocyte lysate in the detection and assay of endotoxins.