Studies on occurrence, characterisation and decontamination of emerging pathogenic Escherichia coli (STEC, ETEC and EIEC) in table eggs.

1. Escherichia coli is one of the most common facultative anaerobic species present in the gastrointestinal tract of animals and human beings. Usually they occur as commensals, but some serotypes can cause significant illnesses in humans as well as mammals and birds. 2. The occurrence of E. coli in different categories of table eggs collected from markets was evaluated. Isolates were analysed for the presence of virulence genes, antibiotic susceptibility pattern and efficacy of peracetic acid and chlorine for the purpose of decontaminating table eggs. 3. Significant differences were observed in the occurrence of E. coli between different groups viz. processed (cleaned, washed, sanitised and packed eggs), unprocessed (un-cleaned, un-sanitised and loose eggs) and free range (eggs obtained from backyard poultry) table eggs. Overall, E. coli occurred in table eggs at 28.6% with 22.9, 29.2 and 50.0% occurrence in processed, unprocessed and free-range table eggs, respectively. 4. A total of 24 isolates of E. coli were obtained and screened for virulence genes viz. STH, SLT1/2 and INVE genes. Of the 24 isolates recovered, 10 typeable isolates belonged to O141, O119, O9, O120 and O101 serotypes, while the remaining 14 were untypeable. Antibiograms of the isolates showed multiple antimicrobial resistance (MAR) index in the range of 0.13-0.40. 5. Peracetic acid (PAA) and chlorine (CL) were studied for their sanitisation efficacy; concentrations of 100 mg/kg of PAA and 200 mg/kg of CL completely inactivated E. coli over the egg surface and also resulted in 2.58 and 2.38 log reduction in total viable counts (TVC), respectively. 6. The presence of virulence-associated shiga-like toxin (SLT1/2) and invasion E (INVE) genes and antimicrobial resistance among the emerging serotypes of pathogenic E. coli isolated from table eggs has public health implications. It underscores the need to implement better management practices across the production systems and marketing channels to produce E. coli-free wholesome eggs for consumers.

Microsatellite based genetic diversity study in indigenous chicken ecotypes of Karnataka.

AIM: The current study was the first of its kind taken upon indigenous ecotypes of the Karnataka in order to unravel the diversity details at 20 chicken microsatellite regions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 210 indigenous chicken belonging to six districts of Bangalore and Mysore division formed the target sample for the present study. The genomic deoxyribonucleic acid was isolated by phenol chloroform isoamyl alcohol method. A panel of 20 microsatellite regions, including 14 recommended by FAO and six identified from published scientific literature became the targeted chicken genomic region. 27-33 samples were successfully genotyped in each of the six ecotypes through simplex or multiplex polymerase chain reactions, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and silver staining for the selected microsatellite panel. RESULTS: The chickens of Ramanagara and Chamrajnagara were most distant with a Nei's genetic distance value of 0.22. The chickens of Bangalore rural and Mysore were least distant with a value of 0.056. The Ramanagara and Chamrajnagara pair had Nei's genetic identity value of 0.802, which is least among all pairs of ecotypes. There were five main nodes from which the six ecotypes evolved on the basis 20 microsatellite markers used in this study. This study indicates that the four ecotypes Ramnagara, Bangalore Rural, Chickaballapura and Mysore are genetically identical due to their common ancestral evolution while, Mandya and Chamrajnagara ecotypes formed a relatively different cluster due to a separate common ancestral chicken population and less number of generations since drifting from bifurcation node. CONCLUSION: Twenty microsatellite markers based genetic diversity study on six indigenous ecotypes indicated lower genetic distances as well as lower FST values compared to the distinguished breeds reported. There were two main clusters, which differentiated into six ecotypes. They may differentiate into more distinct varieties if bred in isolation for a longer number of generations.

A study on allergen sensitivity in patients with allergic rhinitis in Bangalore, India.

BACKGROUND: Allergic rhinitis is the most common form of non-infectious rhinitis, affecting 500 million people worldwide, with one-fifth of those affected living in the Indian subcontinent. The skin prick test is the most valuable test for detecting offending allergens, and can be helpful for patient education, allergen avoidance and immunotherapy planning. METHOD: The skin prick test was performed with 49 allergens in 486 patients who presented with symptoms of allergic rhinitis, and the allergen profile was studied. RESULTS: Of the 486 allergic rhinitis patients, 335 (68.93 per cent) showed allergen positivity to the skin prick test. Dust mite was the most common allergen, with positive results in 44.65 per cent of cases. CONCLUSION: The most common offending allergen in our study was the dust mite. Identification of specific allergens for a particular geographical area aids patient education and enables allergen-specific immunotherapy.

Vascularised joint transfer in the management of recurrent giant cell tumour of the second metacarpal.

This paper presents the medium-term follow-up results (34 and 40 months, respectively) of two cases of recurrent giant cell tumour of the head of the second metacarpal, treated by marginal excision and reconstruction with a vascularised toe joint transfer. Both patients had painless, stable joints with excellent ranges of motion at the metacarpophalangeal joint of 80 degrees and 70 degrees , respectively, no degenerative changes and no recurrence of the tumours.

Health information management: an introduction to disease classification and coding.

Morbidity and mortality data constitute an important component of a health information system and their coding enables uniform data collation and analysis as well as meaningful comparisons between regions or countries. Strengthening the recording and reporting systems for health monitoring is a basic requirement for an efficient health information management system. Increased advocacy for and awareness of a uniform coding system together with adequate capacity building of physicians, coders and other allied health and information technology personnel would pave the way for a valid and reliable health information management system in India. The core requirements for the implementation of disease coding are: (i) support from national/institutional health administrators, (ii) widespread availability of the ICD-10 material for morbidity and mortality coding; (iii) enhanced human and financial resources; and (iv) optimal use of informatics. We describe the methodology of a disease classification and codification system as also its applications for developing and maintaining an effective health information management system for India.

Gel purified LipL32: a prospective antigen for detection of leptospirosis.

BACKGROUND: Leptospirosis, a zoonosis, is a re-emerging disease, affecting populations across the globe. However, the current methods of diagnosis are time- consuming, cumbersome, imprecise or expensive. AIM: To develop an assay for differential and early diagnosis of Leptospirosis. METHODS AND MATERIAL: IgG based ELISA for evaluation of three antigens, namely, a gel-purified recombinant protein (rLipL32), secreted proteins and whole organism sonicates of Leptospira spp. The antigens were evaluated using, rabbit polyclonal antiserum and human sera samples. RESULTS: Studies with a rabbit polyclonal antiserum indicated the utility of these antigens in differentiating Leptospira from other common pathogenic organisms. Evaluation of these antigens with fifteen representative human serum samples indicated gel-purified rLipL32 to be a potentially useful antigen for detection of leptospirosis. The results obtained with IgG ELISA were correlated with the results of microscopic agglutination test (MAT). CONCLUSION: Gel-purified rLipL32 is a valuable antigen for early and accurate diagnosis of leptospirosis. Further evaluation of this assay in field conditions and larger sera samples will indicate its suitability in case of an epidemic.

An in vivo chloroquine sensitivity study in relation to low transmission potential and imported malaria in Kerala.

The study highlights the presence of chloroquine resistant Plasmodium falciparum strains in Kerala state, India for the first time. The emergence of chloroquine resistant P. falciparum in a low transmission area is dependent on the imported cases while build up of resistance is mainly due to persistence of resistant parasites which have more opportunities for transmission.

An in-vitro profile of the action of four antimalarials on indigenous cases of Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Karnataka.

In view of the emergence of chloroquine resistant Plasmodium falciparum from more and more geographical areas profiling of the responses to other available antimalarials by in vitro methods have become essential. A preliminary study undertaken in two Primary Health Centres of Karnataka State, India show the presence of strains of P. falciparum resistant to chloroquine and amodiaquine. The response for amodiaquine was poor as compared to chloroquine. The isolates were, however, sensitive to mefloquine and quinine.

Localization of the focus of origin of resistance in Plasmodium falciparum.

An attempt has been made to identify the focus of origin of Plasmodium falciparum resistance. Several factors have been analysed and the importance of mean parasite recrudescence time (M.P.R.T.) in the identification of focus of origin of resistance is highlighted.

A longitudinal study of P. falciparum response to chloroquine in relation to the epidemiology.

An attempt has been made to study the dynamics in the epidemiology of a locality where the local strains of Plasmodium falciparum have developed resistance to the antimalarial chloroquine. Increase in the transmission rate and prolonged drug pressure with chloroquine have been noted in association with the development of resistance. The importance of the study is on the mean parasite clearance time and mean parasite recrudescence time which appear to be related with the process developing resistance of chloroquine.