Kolkata, India is endemic for mosquito borne diseases like dengue, chikungunya and malaria. For monitoring, altogether 252 serum samples of fever cases were examined for dengue specific NS1 antigen and IgM and IgG antibodies and chikungunya specific IgM antibody. Their blood samples were also tested for malarial parasites. Out of 252 cases, 15 (5.95%), 16 (6.34%) and 18 (7.13%) were infected with dengue, chikungunya and malaria respectively. Amongst 15 dengue cases 10 (3.96%) were positive for both dengue IgM and IgG antibodies and 5 (1.98%) for NS1 antigen. Out of 18 malaria victims 14 (5.55%) and 4 (1.58%) were positive for Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum respectively. During the present study, one case of concurrent infections of dengue and chikungunya and another case of concurrent infections of dengue, chikungunya and falciparum malaria were detected. Detail case report of the later has been described. This is the first ever report of concurrent infections of dengue, chikungunya and malaria.

PURPOSE To find out the most suitable serological investigative procedures to diagnose dengue cases effectively in the laboratory practice identifying primary and secondary cases as well as period of suffering. MATERIALS AND METHODS Dengue suspected cases sent to the laboratory in 2012 in central Kolkata by the local physicians were categorised into seven panels according to the investigations asked for such as (1) only dengue-specific NS1 antigen (2) only IgM antibodies, (3) NS1+IgM+IgG antibodies, (4) only IgM and IgG, (5) NS1+IgM, (6) NS1+IgG and (7) only IgG. RESULTS Out of 1892 suspected cases, dengue was diagnosed in 725 (38.3%). Through panels I, II, III, IV, V, VI and VII, it was possible to diagnose dengue in (I) 35.98% (435/1209), (II) 37.5% (24/60), (III) 49% (173/354), (IV) 30.8% (68/221), (V) 60.5% (23/38), (VI) 40% (2/5) and (VII) 0 of cases respectively. Detail information such as confirmed diagnosis, duration of the disease (whether early or prolonged) and classification of primary and secondary dengue in such early or prolonged stages would only be possible in panel III, which information would be helpful for effective monitoring and treatment of dengue patients. In all other panels, merely fragmentary information would be obtained. CONCLUSIONS Serodiagnostic tests dengue-specific NS1 antigen and IgM and IgG antibodies when conducted simultaneously would be able to diagnose confirmed dengue cases categorising primary and secondary dengue along with the duration of the disease, whether early or prolonged.

Assessment of antibacterial as well as antiherpes virus activity of sulfonoquinovosyldiacylglyceride (SQDG), a glycolipid, isolated from the leaves of Azadirachta indica has been described. Antimicrobial activity was evaluated against Gram-positive, Gram-negative bacteria and herpes simplex virus. SQDG showed significant inhibitory activity against Salmonella typhi and two isolates of Shigella dysenteriae with MIC values 32gml(-1), while three isolates of Salm.typhi, Escherichia coli and Vibrio cholerae were inhibited at 64gml(-1) and have shown zone diameter ranging from 62 to 123mm. The growth kinetics study of SQDG on Salm.typhi and Sh.dysenteriae revealed that the growths were completely inhibited at their MIC values within 24h of exposure. Interestingly, SQDG inhibits herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 and 2 with the EC50 of 91 and 85gml(-1), compared with acyclovir (22 and 28gml(-1) against HSV-1 and HSV-2). The selectivity index (SI) was found to be 124 against HSV-1 and 1341 with HSV-2. Furthermore, the expression of proinflammatory cytokines of HSV-infected and SQDG-treated macrophages using ELISA kit revealed that SQDG significantly downregulated the production of TNF-, IL-1, IL-12 and IL-6.

To conduct a retrospective analysis of dengue cases in Kolkata, on the basis of presence of anti-dengue IgM in their sera and presence or absence of anti-dengue IgG and dengue specific Non structural 1 (NS1) antigen in each of the serum sample. Sample was tested quantitatively employing ELISA technique, using Biorad test kits, with a view to get a more comprehensive picture of dengue in an urban endemic area and also to evaluate individual cases. This reconstructed study revealed that of those 91 dengue cases, 70.3% (64) and 29.7% (27) were suffering from secondary and primary dengue respectively, showing that number of secondary dengue cases were much more than that of primary dengue cases with a possibility of emergence of DHF. A small proportion of cases 18.7% (17) were reactive for NS1. The duration of fever in NS1 antigen positive cases varied between 5 and 7 days. Of 17 NS1 reactive cases, 10 (10.9%) and 7 (7.7%) were suffering from secondary and primary dengue respectively. Early detection of primary and secondary dengue cases would be facilitated by utilizing all three parameters (NS1 antigen, anti-dengue IgM and IgG) helping to evaluate, monitor and treat a dengue case effectively.

AimTo evaluate the in vitro antimicrobial activity of aqueous and methanol extracts of Odina wodier bark (OWB), a folk medicine, against representative bacteria, fungi and herpes simplex virus (HSV) associated with skin infections.Methods and ResultsThe OWB extract(s) was found to inhibit the isolates of Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumonia, Escherichia coli at an MIC of 256-5000gml(-1) and Candida albicans at and above 4000gml(-1) by agar and broth dilution assays. The growth curve of Staph.aureus revealed the highest activity within 2-6h of methanol extract (ME) exposure. Interestingly, the MTT and plaque reduction assay showed that the extracts can inhibit HSV-1 and HSV-2 at EC50 of 224 and 288gml(-1), with Selectivity index of 117-15. While the time kinetic and binding assays demonstrated that the ME at 50gml(-1) prevents viral attachment into Vero cells. Phytochemical and HPLC analysis of ME revealed the presence of flavonoids, phytosterols, saponins and tannins including the pseudotannin chlorogenic acid.ConclusionThe traditional use of OWB for the management of skin infections has scientific basis.Significance and Impact of the StudyThis study demonstrated the antimicrobial potential of OWB on selected isolates of bacteria, fungi and HSV, associated with skin infections.

Objective: To establish the nature and extent of dual dengue and malaria infections in an endemic area through a longitudinal study. Methods: A prospective study was conducted from August 2005 to December 2010 to document the nature and extent of concurrent dengue and malaria infections in an area in central Kolkata, endemic both for dengue and malaria. Results: Of 2 971 suspected cases of dengue fever, in 605 (20.36%) persons dengue infection was detected, of whom 46 (7.60%, 46/605) patients (40 and 6 suffered from secondary and primary dengue fever respectively) were simultaneously suffering from malaria (28 and 18 were infected with Plasmodium vivax (P.vivax) and Plasmodium falciparum (P. falciparum) respectively, such dual infections of dengue and malaria were detected in all the years of the study period, except 2007, indicating intense transmission of both dengue and malaria in the study area, and the phenomenon was not an isolated one, the rate of concomitant infections ranged from 25% in 2009 to 4.9% in 2005. Out of total population surveyed, 1.54% (46/2 971) had concurrent dengue and malaria infection. Conclusions: These findings added a new dimension hi diagnosis, treatment, epidemiology and control of dengue and malaria. The possible risk of concurrent dengue and malaria infections should always be kept in mind in endemic areas for early diagnosis employing modern technology and prompt and effective treatment to avoid serious complications.

This paper proposed a fuzzy expert system for identification of people living below poverty line and allotment of different scheme to them. A prototype system called, Poor People Identification System (PPIS), has been developed to assist the Government to identify the real poor people and also allot different benefit according to their needs. To evaluate the performance of the PPIS we have tested the proposed system with data from a village of West Bengal, India.

After its first appearance in Kolkata (Calcutta) during 1963-1965, chikungunya occurred in epidemic form in India in 17 states and union territories. There were 13,90,322 cases suspected to be suffering from chikungunya in 2006, 59,535 in 2007 and 11,222 in 2008; in 2006, 2007 and 2008 there were 15,961, 7,837 and 262 samples, respectively, sent to the National Institute of Virology, Pune, and the National Institute of Communicable Disease, Delhi, for serological diagnosis. Of these, 2001,1826 and 44, respectively, were confirmed as chikungunya. There were no deaths (data from the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme, Government of India).

Fever of unknown origin broke out in several districts of West Bengal, from August 2007 to December 2007. The cases were suffering from high fever, severe joint pain lasting for several weeks after clinical cure and appearance of skin rashes. Patients' sera were collected at least five days after fever and were analyzed to detect specific IgM antibodies. A total of 800 patients were investigated and 321 (40.13%) were found to be reactive for Chikungunya antibodies. Of the patients, 66% were male. Predominant signs and symptoms observed in the sero-positive cases were fever (100%), arthralgia (96%) and diffuse erythematous skin rash (94%). Of the patients, 3% had haemorrhagic manifestations. Re-emerging Chikungunya virus spread in epidemic form in several districts of West Bengal after a gap of four decades.

The nature and the extent of transmission dynamics of vivax and falciparum malaria in Burrabazar area, which is known to be one of the most endemic areas in Kolkata, have been studied longitudinally through different seasons during 1997-2001. A significant difference in the seasonal variation of endemicity of the vivax and the falciparum malaria is evident throughout the years. This statistical finding is interesting in view of the fact that the transmission of both Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum parasites is achieved through the same mosquito Anopheles stephensi in recent times in Kolkata. In this article, we carry out a detailed statistical analysis of monthly numbers of vivax and falciparum cases detected in a leading pathological laboratory located in Burrabazar area during the five year period. We also analyze monthly figures of gametocyte carriers among malaria patients detected in the laboratory. The objective here is to make some attempts to determine possible reasons behind the apparent difference in the seasonal variations in the occurrence of the two types of malaria cases.

Parasite density of one hundred patients suffering from falciparum malaria in an endemic area in Kolkata was determined using three different methods. In the first of these, parasite density per microlitre of blood in a patient was determined using parasite count adjusted by average WBC count (i.e. 8000/microliter) observed in microscopic fields of the thick film. In the remaining two methods, only raw (i.e. unadjusted) parasite counts in microscopic fields of the same slide were used. A statistical analysis was carried out in detail to compare these methods based on raw and adjusted parasite counts and also to find out a suitable method which can be used in practice. Estimating the density of parasites is of primary importance in determining the severity of infection. Furthermore, parasite density can help in identifying short-treatment and long-treatment failure vis-a-vis detection of development of resistance in P. falciparum against the drug used. This article reports some findings that indicate the existence of a potentially dangerous situation in the study area.

Calcutta is now intensely malarious. Malarial infections are detected in every month. In an endemic area in central Calcutta a year-long study from August 1996 to July 1997 reveals that 31.47% of all cases are due to Plasmodium falciparum infection. A competition is going on between P vivax and P falciparum to gain upperhand. An equilibrium is there in the month of January (1997), when P vivax and P falciparum cases constitute 51.13% and 49.43% respectively. The highest and lowest percentage of P falciparum infection is in December 1996 (67.98%) and in May 1997 (0.89%) which is just reverse in the case of P vivax in December 1996 (33.60%) and in May 1997 (99.10%). Three imported cases of P malariae have been detected but the patients cannot be traced. Six cases of mixed infections have been found.

Neem (Azadiracta India) seed oil in appropriate amount when smeared on the surface of the hand showed excellent repellent action against Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. When 1 ml of oil was spread on the hand, with an approximate area of 160 sq cm the percentage of alighting and blood fed mosquitoes in the experimental cages varied from 14 to 78 and 4 to 46 respectively. This percentage decreased to 6 to 18 and 0 to 16 respectively when the amount of oil applied was 1.5 ml. Only 0-4% of the mosquitoes alighted on the skin of which 2% only took the blood meal when 2 ml of the oil was used to cover the hand. In the control cages cent percent of the mosquitoes alighted and sucked blood. The repellent action was directly proportional to the hour of exposure to the oil. It was also observed that even after alighting on a oil- smeared skin a sizeable proportion of mosquitoes were not able to imbibe blood meal. Neem seed oil was non-toxic, non- irritating to skin.

A simple growth medium for primary isolation and subsequent cultivation of Leishmania donovani promastigotes without using whole blood is described. This medium is modified from Aljeboori's biphasic medium (used originally only for cultivation), containing only beef extract, peptone, sodium chloride, bactoagar and foetal calf serum (FCS). We have modified the medium by adding glucose and ascertaining the pH in the solid phase and by drastically reducing (91%) FCS in the liquid phase. The medium helps in isolation of L. donovani promastigotes from kala-azar patients, in addition to luxurious growth of parasites. The medium is simple, reliable, reproducible and convenient, with minimal interference in using the parasitic cells for immunological, molecular and isoenzyme studies.