Investigation of malaria prevalence at National Thermal Power Corporation, Shaktinagar, Sonbhadra District (Uttar Pradesh), India.

Malaria in industrial complexes is promoted by extensive mosquitogenic potential generated by excavations and importation of parasite through migratory labor. The National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), Shaktinagar, Sonbhadra district was surveyed for malariogenic conditions from 1994 to 1996. The major mosquito breeding sites were drains, storm-water drains, lakes, outside tanks, overhead tanks, sluice-valve chambers, ornamental tanks, wells, pit wells and water reservoirs, etc. Anopheles culicifacies was the major vector of malaria in this area. Sibling species identification of An. culicifacies revealed that species C predominated during the transmission season and responsible to transmit malaria. Insecticide susceptibility tests against An. culicifacies sl showed that An.culicifacies population was 100% susceptible to malathion, fenitrothorn and deltamethrin while it was found 44% resistant to DDT. The malaria cases recorded in 1994, 1995 and 1996 were 847, 590 and 409 respectively. In vitro study on P. falciparum cases showed that 41, 70, 50% of the isolates tested were resistant to chloroquine in 1994, 1995 and 1996 respectively while an in vivo follow-up study showed 20-30% P. falciparum cases resistant to chloroquine. An integrated approach involving alternate vector control measures along with judicious use of insecticides has been suggested to bring down malaria in industrial complexes.     

Impact of Olyset nets on malaria transmission in India

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Efficacy of Olyset nets, long-lasting insecticidal nets were tested from August 2003 to August 2006 against Anopheles culicifacies, the vector which transmits 60% of all malaria cases in rural India. METHODS: Three villages in District Gautam Budh Nagar (Uttar Pradesh), India were selected for the trial and Olyset nets were distributed in one village, in another village untreated nets were distributed and the third village was kept as control where nets were not used. Entomological, and epidemiological data were collected using standard methods. RESULTS: The use of Olyset nets reduced the indoor resting density of An. culicifacies and also reduced mosquito entry into the structures where Olyset nets were used. No mosquitoes were caught landing on the Olyset nets. There was a reduction in the parity rate of An. culicifacies in the Olyset net village as compared with untreated net and no net villages. The impact of Olyset nets was observed on malaria incidence and only one case of Plasmodiumfalciparum malaria was reported in the Olyset net village but these continued to be found in the village with untreated nets and the control. CONCLUSION: Results of the present study confirmed that Olyset nets are highly effective in reducing the indoor resting density of mosquitoes, man-vector contact and malaria incidence.     

Impact of residual spraying of Reldan against Anopheles culicifacies in selected villages of District Ghaziabad (Uttar pradesh), India

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Indoor residual spraying of Reldan 40% EC @ 0.5 and 1 g/m2 was done in Tatarpur and Chauna villages, respectively in Dhaulana PHC, Distt. Ghaziabad (U.P.) to evaluate its impact against Anopheles culicifacies and malaria incidence. Results were compared with that of Piyawali village which was taken as control area. METHODS: Four rounds of spray were done from 1999--2000 in human dwellings and cattlesheds in experimental villages. Entomological parameters--man hour density, parity rate, sporozoite rate, etc. were monitored using standard procedures. Epidemiological indicators such as SPR, SFR, cases/000, Pf/000 were also calculated. Cone bioassays as per WHO method were also carried out to assess the persistence of the insecticide on different surfaces. RESULTS: Entomological results revealed that spraying of reldan @ 0.5 g/m2 resulted in significant reduction in adult densities of An. culicifacies in sprayed villages over the control village. Spraying also resulted in reduction of percent parous females, reduction in malaria incidence (p < 0.05). INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: Reldan showed high efficacy @ 0.5 g/m2 in controlling the densities of An. culicifacies and malaria incidence. However, double dosage of reldan @ 1 g/m2 can be used for comprehensive vector control provided > 95% spray coverage is achieved.     

Malaria outbreak in Bhojpur PHC of district Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, India

Based on the reports of 18 fever related deaths in Bhojpur Primary Health Centre (PHC) of Moradabad District (UP), a study was undertaken during September and October, 2000 to explore the possibility of outbreak of malaria in the area and the reasons of the outbreak. The slide positivity rate (SPR) and slide falciparum rate (SFR) in active fever surveys were found to be 84.7% and 82.2% respectively. Among children the average enlarged spleen and spleen rate were 1.9 and 27.4 per cent respectively. The mortality rate of Anopheles culicifacies in DDT, Malathion and Deltamethrin was 42.5, 86.7 and cent per cent respectively. The results of the study revealed that the outbreak was of malaria with predominance of Plasmodium falciparum causing several deaths in the affected villages. The investigation revealed that there was disruption of surveillance and supervision of malaria activities.     

Geographic and ethnic distribution of beta-thalassemia mutations in Uttar Pradesh, India

We have studied the geographic and ethnic distribution of mutations in 376 subjects who were carriers of beta-thalassemia, and identified the mutations in 365 chromosomes. The majority of the beta-thalassemia carriers were of Uttar Pradesh (India) origin. Their pattern of mutations differed from the other states of India and from those families who had migrated from Pakistan. The frequency of the IVS-I-5 (G-->C) and 619 bp deletion mutations were 64.3 and 2.5%, respectively, among families originating from Uttar Pradesh, compared to a prevalence of 37.5 and 27.5%, respectively in the population of Pakistani immigrants. Of the 10 common Asian Indian mutations, only eight were observed in subjects studied from different parts of India. By use of the amplification refractory mutation system along with DNA sequencing techniques, the mutations were successfully identified in 97.1% of subjects, while 11 cases (2.9%) still remain to be characterized by single strand conformation polymorphism and sequencing analyses. The application of this knowledge has facilitated the successful implementation of the program of genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis of beta-thalassemia, thus helping to avoid the birth of an affected child in India.     

Annual risk of tuberculous infection in rural areas of Uttar Pradesh, India.

SETTING: Rural areas in Uttar Pradesh, the most populous state in India. OBJECTIVES: 1) To estimate the average annual risk of tuberculous infection (ARI), 2) to study ARI trends with age, and 3) to compare tuberculin reactions among children with and without BCG scar. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional tuberculin survey was conducted among children aged 1-9 years residing in Rae Bareli, Hardoi and Jaunpur districts, Uttar Pradesh. Tuberculin testing was performed using 1TU of PPD RT23 with Tween 80, and indurations were measured 72 hours later. Prevalence of infection was estimated in children without BCG scar based on the cut-off point identified on the frequency distribution of reaction sizes. The ARI was computed from the estimated prevalence. RESULTS: The proportion of children with BCG scar varied from 25% to 31% in the study districts. Using a cut-off of 14 mm among children without BCG scar, the ARI was estimated at 2.3% in Rae Bareli, 1.9% in Hardoi and 1.5% in Jaunpur, and was observed to increase with age. Tuberculin test results among children with BCG scar suggest that they may be included in tuberculin surveys to estimate ARI. CONCLUSION: High rates of transmission of tuberculous infection suggest that tuberculosis control measures need to be intensified.     

Impact of Spherix (Bacillus sphaericus B-101, serotype H5a, 5b) spraying on the control of mosquito breeding in rural areas of Farrukhabad District, Uttar Pradesh

Spray impact of Spherix (Bacillus sphaericus B-101, Serotype H5a, 5b) was assessed against larval and adult populations of mosquito species in rural areas of Farrukhabad district, Uttar Pradesh. High mortality (> 95%) was observed against anopheline and culicine larvae within 48 h of spray @ 1 g/sq m. But the biolarvicidal effect declined within a week which indicated nonrecycling capacity and weekly reapplications were required. The encouraging results obtained through weekly sprays were short-lived because of decline in efficacy in some perennial intradomestic Culex breedings after 15 rounds of spray. The two year intensive field trials, however, had no appreciable impact on adult densities of both malaria vector An. culicifacies and bancroftian filariasis vector Culex quinquefasciatus. Environmental disturbances and manmade problems also affected the efficacy of the biolarvicide.     

Virgin soil: the spread of visceral leishmaniasis into Uttar Pradesh, India

We conducted a cross-sectional study to determine the incidence of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) and risk factors in two villages in Uttar Pradesh, India reported to have had a recent outbreak. In 245 households with 2,203 people, we detected 3 current VL cases, 32 past cases, and 8 VL deaths since 2001 (annual incidence = 6 per 1,000). Risk factors included living in the same household as a VL case (odds ratio [OR] = 76, P < 0.0005 in one village and OR = 22, P < 0.0005 in the other village), sleeping downstairs and outside in the summer (OR = 4.7, P = 0.004), and an age > or = 15 years old (OR = 2.9, P = 0.024). Increasing cattle density was a risk factor in one village but not the other. We were not able to determine the route by which VL entered the villages. Our data demonstrate a new spread of VL in previously unaffected areas. We recommend carefully supervised spraying with DDT, surveillance to pinpoint other affected villages, and efforts to increase availability of diagnostic and treatment facilities.     

Patterns of rainfall and malaria in Madhya Pradesh,central India

Some recent outbreaks of Plasmodium falciparum malaria have been attributed, at least in part, to increases in the intensity and duration of rainfall caused by the El Ni?o southern oscillation (ENSO), a periodic climatic phenomenon. Since it takes time for unusually heavy rainfall to translate into unusually high densities of the vector mosquitoes, it has been suggested that data on recent rainfall might be used to predict climate-related epidemics of malaria. This possibility was explored by comparing the patterns in the incidence of malaria in (1) Dungaria, a highly malarious village in the central-Indian district of Mandla, and (2) Mandla district as a whole, for the periods 1986-2000 and 1967-2000, respectively, with data on rainfall for the same areas and periods. Unfortunately, no clear relationship was observed between rainfall and malaria incidence, although a major development project to improve water resources in the study area (which resulted in local villages being partially or completely submerged in water) may have masked any significant association. A useful method for predicting which years are going to be high- or low-risk years for malaria epidemics, in the present and other epidemiological settings, remains a future goal.