A systematic review on the occurrence, fate, and remediation of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater.

The COVID-19 has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization. Along with impairing the respiratory system, it also affects the gastrointestinal system. By reviewing experiments on the wastewater analysis for the detection of coronavirus, this study explores the fate, persistence, and various remediation strategies for the virus removal from the wastewater. The results indicated that the virus can be detected in the wastewater samples, feces, and sewage, even before the onset of symptoms. Coronavirus can be a potential panzootic disease, as several mammalian species get infected by the deadly virus. The disinfection strategies used earlier for the treatment of wastewater are not sufficient for the removal of viruses from the wastewater. Therefore, concerted efforts should be made to understand their fate, sources, and occurrence in the environmental matrices. To prevent the spread of the panzootic disease, revised guidelines should be issued for the remediation of the virus. Recent viral remediation methods such as membrane bioreactors and advanced oxidation methods can be used. Therefore, the present review puts a light on the current knowledge on the occurrence of coronaviruses in wastewater, the possible sources, fate, and removal strategies.

Molecular approach for ante-mortem diagnosis of rabies in dogs.

Background & objectives: The ante-mortem diagnosis of rabies is of great significance in establishing the status of infection in dogs, especially since they are involved in exposure to human beings. The present study was, therefore, undertaken to elucidate the most appropriate secretion/tissue for reliable diagnosis of rabies in 26 living dogs suspected to be rabid. Methods: In the present study 26 dogs suspected to have rabies were included for ante-mortem diagnosis of rabies in clinical samples of skin and saliva by molecular approach viz. heminested reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (HnRT-PCR). Skin and saliva samples were collected from 13 dogs each. Results: Of the 13 clinically suspected dogs, fluorescent antibody technique (FAT) confirmed rabies in nine cases of dogs. Of these nine true-positive dogs, eight cases could be confirmed by HnRT-PCR from skin. Of the other 13 dogs clinically suspected for rabies, FAT confirmed rabies in 10 cases. Of these 10 true-positive dogs, rabies was detected ante-mortem by HnRT-PCR from the saliva in seven dogs. Thus, rabies was detected from skin with 90 per cent sensitivity, 100 per cent specificity and 92.85 per cent accuracy. With saliva, rabies was detected with a sensitivity of 76.92 per cent, specificity of 100 per cent and accuracy of 62.50 per cent. The positive predictive values were 100 per cent for both skin and saliva samples while negative predictive values were 80 and 50 per cent, respectively. Interpretation & conclusions: Skin biopsy may be more appropriate clinical sample as compared to saliva for ante-mortem diagnosis of rabies in dogs. HnRT-PCR can be employed for molecular diagnosis of rabies from skin in live dogs.

Exploring animal rabies endemicity to inform control programmes in Punjab, India.

Previous studies estimate that one-third of the annual global burden of rabies (~20,000 cases) occurs in India. Elimination of canine rabies is essential to reduce this burden. Surveillance of animal cases can assess both the risk to humans and the efficacy of control strategies. The objective of this study was to describe the spatial and temporal occurrence of reported confirmed cases of rabies in animals in Punjab, India, from 2004 to 2014. We analysed passive surveillance data on 556 samples submitted from 2004 to 2014 to GADVASU, Ludhiana, Punjab, India. Regression and time series analyses were conducted to understand seasonal and long-term variation of cases and identify cross-correlation of monthly cases between species. Spatio-temporal analyses assessed spatial autocorrelation of date of reporting, mean geographic centres of disease occurrence and clustering of cases using Kulldorff's space-time permutation statistic. The annual number of submissions and proportion of confirmed cases were consistent throughout 2004-2014. Most submissions (320; 57.6%) were confirmed rabies cases, including dogs (40.6%), buffalo (29.7%) and cattle (23.1%). Regression analysis of monthly cases in dogs showed seasonal variation with significant increases in cases in March and August. Monthly case numbers in buffalo decreased over time. Long-term temporal trend was not detected in dog and cattle cases. Time-series models identified significant cross-correlation between dog and buffalo cases, suggesting that buffalo cases were spillover events from dogs. Significant spatio-temporal variation or clusters of cases were not detected. These results indicate that rabies cases in animals-and therefore, the potential for exposure to humans-were temporally and spatially stable during 2004-2014 in Punjab, India. The endemic nature of rabies transmission in this region demands a coordinated, sustained control programme. This study provides baseline information for assessing the efficacy of rabies control measures and developing seasonally targeted dog vaccination and rabies awareness strategies.

Periurban outbreaks of bovine calf scours in Northern India caused by Cryptosporidium in association with other enteropathogens.

Bovine calf scours reported to be caused by multiple aetiologies resulting in heavy mortality in unweaned calves and huge economic loss to the dairy farmers. Among these, cryptosporidiosis is an emerging waterborne zoonoses and one of the important causes of neonatal calf diarrhoea. Poor immune response coupled with primary cryptosporidial infections predispose neonatal calves to multiple secondary infections resulting in their deaths. In the present study, faecal samples from 100 diarrhoeic calves randomly picked up out of 17 outbreaks of bovine calf diarrhoea in periurban Ludhiana, Punjab in Northern India were subjected to conventional (microscopy, modified Zeihl-Neelsen (mZN) staining) and immunological and molecular techniques (faecal antigen capture ELISA and PCR) for detection of primary Cryptosporidium parvum infection as well as other frequently reported concurrent pathogens, viz. rotavirus and coronavirus, Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli, Clostridium perfringens and Eimeria spp. The faecal antigen capture ELISA and PCR revealed 35% prevalence of C. parvum in contrast to 25% by mZN staining with a relatively higher prevalence (66·7%) in younger (8-14-day-old) calves. The detection rate of the other enteropathogens associated with C. parvum was 45·71% for C. perfringens followed by Salmonella spp (40·0%), rotavirus (36·0%), coronavirus (16·0%), E. coli (12·0%) and Eimeria spp (4·0%) The sensitivity for detection of C. parvum by ELISA and mZN staining in comparison to PCR was 97·14% and 72·72%, respectively. An important finding of the study was that C. parvum alone was found in only 10% of the diarrhoeic faecal samples, whereas, majority of the samples (90%) showed mixed infections ranging from a combination of two to five agents. This is the first documentary proof of C. parvum and associated pathogens responsible for severe periurban outbreaks of bovine calf diarrhoea culminating in heavy mortality from Northern India.

Comparison of rapid immunodiagnosis assay kit with molecular and immunopathological approaches for diagnosis of rabies in cattle.

AIM: Presently, diagnosis of rabies is primarily based on, conventional fluorescent antibody technique (FAT), immunopathological and molecular techniques. Recently, rapid immunodiagnostic assay (RIDA) - A monoclonal antibody-based technique has been introduced for rapid diagnosis of rabies. The present investigation is envisaged to study the efficacy of RIDA kit for the diagnosis of rabies in cattle. MATERIALS AND METHODS: About 11 brain samples from cattle, clinically suspected for rabies, were screened by the FAT, Heminested reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (HnRT-PCR), Immunohistochemistry (IHC), and RIDA. RESULTS: The sensitivity for detection of rabies from brain tissue by RIDA was 85.7% as compared to 100% by IHC as well as HnRT-PCR. The accuracy of detection of rabies by RIDA was 91.6% as compared to 100% that of IHC and HnRT-PCR, whereas specificity of RIDA was 100% like that of the IHC and HnRT-PCR. CONCLUSION: Despite a comparatively low-sensitivity and accuracy of RIDA, latter can still be useful in screening a large number of field samples promptly. However, it is recommended that negative results with RIDA in cattle need to be authenticated by suitable alternative diagnostic approaches.

Comparison of immunochromatographic diagnostic test with Hheminested Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction for detection of rabies virus from brain samples of various species.

AIM: Detection of rabies is a cause of serious concern in developing countries, where dearth of highly equipped laboratories and trained personnel to handle sophisticated investigations is felt. The availability of a diagnostic kit, which can be used in the field, is essential for diagnosis and control programs as well as for epidemiological surveillance of the prevalence of the disease. This study was planned to evaluate anigen rabies Ag test kit for its efficacy to be used for rapid diagnosis of rabies under field conditions. The test results were compared with hemi-nested reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and with a gold standard fluorescent antibody test. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 34 brain samples from different rabies suspected animals including dogs, buffaloes, cow, horse, and cat were examined in this study. RESULTS: Sensitivity of the kit was found to be 91.66%, specificity 100%, and accuracy was 94.11%. CONCLUSION: The study implies that the immunochromatographic diagnostic test kit may be employed for diagnosis of rabies in field conditions.

Rabies in South Asia: epidemiological investigations and clinical perspective.

A five year study (1995-1999) was conducted in Northern India to investigate epidemiological aspects of rabies in domestic animals. For this purpose, brain tissue samples were collected from rabies suspect animals including 231 dogs, 79 buffaloes, 46 cattle and 28 wild species. Out of the 384 rabies suspected cases, 56% were positive for rabies by fluorescent antibody test (FAT), the mouse inoculation test (MIT) and histopathological techniques. Variations in clinical signs of rabies were recorded for individual animals with significant differences observed between dogs and bovines with respect to hypersalivation, paralysis, recognition of owners and aggression. Likewise, differences in the clinical course of disease between cows and buffaloes regarding hypersalivation and micturition were observed. Rabies incidence was highest among adult male dogs and indicated a seasonal pattern with more rabies cases during certain months of the year (January to April, and August to November). Its impact on cow/buffalo rabies is discussed. Accumulated history records revealed that 78% of owned rabid dogs were not prophylactically vaccinated against rabies.

Studies on the removal of Pb(II) from wastewater by activated carbon developed from Tamarind wood activated with sulphuric acid.

The low-cost activated carbon were prepared from Tamarind wood material by chemical activation with sulphuric acid for the adsorption of Pb(II) from dilute aqueous solution. The activated carbon developed shows substantial capacity to adsorb Pb(II) from dilute aqueous solutions. The parameters studied include physical and chemical properties of adsorbent, pH, adsorbent dose, contact time and initial concentrations. The kinetic data were best fitted to the Lagergren pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second order models. The isotherm equilibrium data were well fitted by the Langmuir and Freundlich models. The maximum removal of lead(II) was obtained 97.95% (experimental) and 134.22 mg/g (from Langmuir isotherm model) at initial concentration 40 mg/l, adsorbent dose 3g/l and pH 6.5. This high uptake showed Tamarind wood activated carbon as among the best adsorbents for Pb(II).

Study of spermatozoa and their relationship with fertility in men of Arunachal Pradesh.

172 semen samples were collected from a cross section of the infertile population of North-East India, consisting mainly of tribal people and were analysed and evaluated for different parameters. Significant negative correlations were found between sperm count and motility, sperm count and morphology and between motility and abnormal morphology in this series. The percentage of abnormal morphology was very high and prospective study on the aetiology of this factor in these tribal people is warranted.

Interaction of pea (Pisum sativum L.) lectins with rhizobial strains.

Lectins from two varieties (PG-3 and LFP-48) of pea have been purified by affinity chromatography on Sephadex G-50. The specific activity increased by 23 and 25 folds, respectively. These lectins from both the varieties were found to be specific for mannose. The purified fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labelled lectins showed binding reaction with homologous as well as heterologous strains of Rhizobium spp. The results revealed that pea lectins are not highly specific to their respective rhizobia. Moreover, these lectins showed a greater stimulatory effect on homologous Rhizobium leguminosarum strains.

Effect of potash alum (aluminium potassium sulphate) on human semen and sperm.

25 normal and healthy human volunteers were engaged in this investigation. The different concentration of potash alum solution have different effects on sperm, motility/death and fructose level of the semen. Higher concentration have higher effects.

Effect of IUCD on human uterine fluid protein concentration throughout the menstrual cycle.

Uterine fluid of 96 Women implanted with IUCD was collected and processed for protein estimation. The results obtained in women having IUCD were compared with those of parous/normal women. The trend of fluctuation in protein concentration was the same in both parous and women with IUCD. But comparatively the protein concentration in it was so much higher in women having IUCD throughout the menstrual cycle. The increased concentration may be responsible for making the fluid environment unfavourable for blastocyst as well as sperm metabolism.

Cyclic variation in rats's uterine fluid phosphatase level after administration of lyndral (17 alpha-ethinyl estradiol).

An oral administration of antifertility drug Lyndral (17 alpha-ethinyl estradiol) at doses 5 micrograms/rat/a week for 3 consecutive weeks altered the internal biochemical milieu of uterus, showing a cyclic variation in both acid and alkaline phosphatase of the uterine fluid with high levels being present at proestrus and estrus in control rats. In Lyndral treated rats acid phosphatase showed a tendency to increase in estrus and metestrus rats, whereas alkaline phosphatase increased significantly during proestrus and estrus stages of the cycle. All these altered phosphatase levels in uterine fluid, after Lyndral treatment, gives some insight into the hormonal sensitiveness of these enzymes.