HIV and tuberculosis in India

The global impact of the converging dual epidemics of tuberculosis (TB) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is one of the major public health challenges of our time. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports 9.2 million new cases of TB in 2006 of whom 7.7% were HIV-infected. Tuberculosis is the most common opportunistic infection in HIV-infected patients as well as the leading cause of death. Further, there has been an increase in rates of drug resistant tuberculosis, including multi-drug (MDRTB) and extensively drug resistant TB (XDRTB), which are difficult to treat and contribute to increased mortality. The diagnosis of TB is based on sputum smear microscopy, a 100-year old technique and chest radiography, which has problems of specificity. Extra-pulmonary, disseminated and sputum smear negative manifestations are more common in patients with advanced immunosuppression. Newer diagnostic tests are urgently required that are not only sensitive and specific but easy to use in remote and resource-poor settings. Treatment of HIV-TB co-infection is complex and associated with high pill burden, overlapping drug toxicities, risk of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) and challenges related to adherence. From a programmatic point of view, screening of all HIV-infected persons for tuberculosis and vice-versa will help identify co-infected patients who require treatment for both infections. This requires good coordination and communication between the TB and AIDS control programs, in India.     

Plasmodium vivax in India

Four Plasmodium species cause malaria in humans: Plasmodium vivax is the most widespread and results in pronounced morbidity. India (population >1 billion) is a major contributor to the burden of vivax malaria. With a resurgence in interest concerning the neglected burden of vivax malaria and the completion of the P. vivax genome, it is timely to review what is known concerning P. vivax in India. The P. vivax population is highly diverse in terms of relapse patterns, drug response and clinical profiles, and highly genetically variable according to studies of antigen genes, isoenzyme markers and microsatellites. The unique epidemiology of malaria in India, where P. vivax predominates over Plasmodium falciparum, renders this location ideal for studying the dynamics of co-infection.     

Alloalbuminemia in North India.

Electrophoretic screening of sera from 550 individuals from Punjab, North India, revealed four cases of alloalbuminemia. Two albumin variants migrated slower and two migrated faster than the common albumin A. These variants were further analyzed by electrophoresis of their cyanogen bromide fragments to localize their molecular differences. One of the slow variants appears similar to, if not identical with, albumin B, with an altered cyanogen bromide fragment CNBr VII. The other slow variant appears to be a new variant (proposed name albumin Punjab) differing from albumin A in an altered fragment CNBr VI (which also occurs in albumins Kashmir and Adana) and in an altered fragment CNBr I. Among the fast variants, one has the same altered fragment CNBr V as albumin Naskapi, while the other appears to be a new variant (proposed name albumin Patiala) having an altered fragment CNBr VI. The presence of albumin Naskapi in Punjabis, North American Indians, and Eti Turks (previously reported) is consistent with the existence of a common ancestral population in which the mutation to Naskapi occurred before the migrations eastward and westward.     

Somatovariants of females from Northern India

On the basis of the somatometric data of a series of healthy females (126 individuals 20-30 years old; 219 individuals 31-49 years old) from Northern India (Punjab) a new method is demonstrated for the indication of habitus variants. This method is based on only three measurements. In this study stature, weight and biepicondylar breadth of the humerus were used. This simple method permits instant visualization of the actual class-memberships of each individual (somatovariants). The applicability of the method is shown for intragroup and intergroup comparison. The results are discussed with respect to possible indications of pathologic cases, undernourishment, population specific criteria and age-depending effects. The authors emphasize, however, that this method still needs further elaboration.     

Rotifer fauna of Rajasthan,India

Summary Thirty six species of rotifers have been reported from Rajasthan including a new species of Monostyla. Lecane dorsicalis ARORA (1965) is regarded as a synonym of L. luna (Muller) 1776.     

LDH variants in India

Summary 17 examples of genetically controlled variation of LDH have been encountered in a survey of 1331 Indian blood samples collected in Calcutta and Madras. 15 of the variants (10 in Calcutta and 5 in Madras) were identical and have been given the trivial name Calcutta-1. The other 2 examples were found in Madras and have been called Madras-1. Calcutta-1 is an A-subunit variant, whilst Madras-1 is a B-subunit variant. The overall frequency of LDH variants in India (1.28 per cent) is among the highest reported for any population in the world.     

Mycetomas in North India

Of 60 clinically suspected cases of mycetoma, 20 were confirmed by cultural and histopathological methods. The feet were found to be affected in 70% of the cases. The age group most affected by the disease was 20-40 years. Men were involved in 18 while females were affected in 2 cases only. Actinomycetomas (70%) were found more often than eumycetomas (30%). Nocardia species were identified in 35% of cases and Madurella mycetomi in 25%. There were four cases (20%) where the etiological agents could not be identified; these were suspected to be due to Actinomadura madurae. A. pelletieri, A. madurae, an unidentified anaerobic actinomyces, and Phialophora jeanselmei, were identified in one case each.     

Stature in Holocene foragers of North India

The Ganga Plain of North India provides an archaeological and skeletal record of semi‐nomadic Holocene foragers in association with an aceramic Mesolithic culture. Prior estimates of stature for Mesolithic Lake Cultures (MLC) used inappropriate equations from an American White reference group and need revision. Attention is given to intralimb body proportions and geo‐climatic provenance of MLC series in considering the most suitable reference population. Regression equations from ancient Egyptians are used in reconstructing stature for MLC skeletal series from Damdama (DDM), Mahadaha (MDH), and Sarai Nahar Rai (SNR). Mean stature is estimated at between 174 (MDH) and 178 cm (DDM and SNR) for males, and between 163 cm (MDH) and 179 cm (SNR) for females. Stature estimates based on ancient Egyptian equations are significantly shorter (from 3.5 to 7.1 cm shorter in males; from 3.2 to 7.5 cm shorter in females) than estimates using the American White reference group. Revised stature estimates from tibia length and from femur + tibia more accurately estimate MLC stature for two reasons: a) these elements are highly correlated with stature and have lower standard estimates of error, and b) uncertainty regarding methods of measuring tibia length is avoided. When compared with Holocene samples of native Americans and Mesolithic Europeans, MLC series from North India are tall. This aspect of their biological variation confirms earlier assessments and results from the synergistic influence of balanced nutrition from broad‐spectrum foraging, body‐proportions adapted to a seasonally hot and arid climate, and the functional demands of a mobile, semi‐nomadic life‐style. Am J Phys Anthropol 153:408–416, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Characterization of Mungbean yellow mosaic India virus genome with a recombinant DNA-B in Southern Peninsular India.

Molecular Biology Reports - Mungbean yellow mosaic India virus (MYMIV) is a representative of the genus begomovirus/Begomoviridae, which is prevalent in the northern part of Indian subcontinent...     

Hanuman Langur: Monkey of India

An apparently new type of dental wear pattern, lingual surface attrition of the maxillary anterior teeth (LSAMAT), has been found in 85% of 46 adult crania from a 3000–4200 BP Archaic site called Corondó near the Atlantic Ocean coast of Brazil. LSAMAT is associated with a high caries rate (60% of 77 adults; 11% of 1,219 permanent teeth) in what on archeologica grounds alone would be considered a mainly meat-eating population. It is suggested that both LSAMAT and caries resulted from eating some starchy plant like manioc.     

Nocardiosis in a tertiary care hospital in North India and review of patients reported from India

Nocardiosis, an uncommon infection of the past, is being increasingly reported in recent years with rise of immunosuppressed patients. In India, very few centers have reported this disease. The present report describes twelve consecutive cases of nocardiosis reported over a period of 26 months (January 2004 to March 2006) from a tertiary care center in north India. The patients were predominantly males (75%) with age range of 8–65 years and mean age of 38.4 years. Eleven patients had known underlying illness including renal transplantation, human immunodeficiency virus infection, and long-term steroid therapy. One patient with cerebral nocardiosis had no detectable predisposing factor. Infection involved central nervous system (3 cases), lungs (5 cases), subcutaneous tissue (1 case), and anterior mediastinum (1 case). Disseminated infection was documented in two patients. Nocardia asteroides complex was incriminated in six patients, N. brasiliensis in five and N. otitidiscaviarum in one patient. All the isolates were sensitive to co-trimoxazole, amikacin, cefotaxime and imipenem. Good therapeutic response was observed in 10 (90.9%) of 11 patients treated with antibiotics including co-trimaxazole, cephalosporins, amikacin, and imipenem alone or in combination. The series of nocardiosis reported from India has also been reviewed.     

Ancient wolf lineages in India

All previously obtained wolf (Canis lupus) and dog (Canis familiaris) mitochondrial (mt) DNA sequences fall within an intertwined and shallow clade (the 'wolf-dog' clade). We sequenced mtDNA of recent and historical samples from 45 wolves from throughout lowland peninsular India and 23 wolves from the Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau and compared these sequences with all available wolf and dog sequences. All 45 lowland Indian wolves have one of four closely related haplotypes that form a well-supported, divergent sister lineage to the wolf-dog clade. This unique lineage may have been independent for more than 400,000 years. Although seven Himalayan wolves from western and central Kashmir fall within the widespread wolf-dog clade, one from Ladakh in eastern Kashmir, nine from Himachal Pradesh, four from Nepal and two from Tibet form a very different basal clade. This lineage contains five related haplotypes that probably diverged from other canids more than 800,000 years ago, but we find no evidence of current barriers to admixture. Thus, the Indian subcontinent has three divergent, ancient and apparently parapatric mtDNA lineages within the morphologically delineated wolf. No haplotypes of either novel lineage are found within a sample of 37 Indian (or other) dogs. Thus, we find no evidence that these two taxa played a part in the domestication of canids.     

The biogeographic and tectonic history of India

Aim To present an up to date account of the Mesozoic history of India and its relationship to the other Gondwana continents and to Eurasia. Location Continents surrounding the Western Indian Ocean. Methods Utilization of recent evidence of continental relationships based upon research in stratigraphy, palaeomagnetism, palaeontology, and contemporary biotas. Results The physical data revealed a sequence of events as India moved northward: (1) India–Madagascar rifted from east Africa 158–160 Ma (million years ago), (2) India–Madagascar from Antarctica c. 130 Ma, (3) India–Seychelles from Madagascar 84–96 Ma, (4) India from Seychelles 65 Ma, (5) India began collision with Eurasia 55–65 Ma and (6) final suturing took place c. 42–55 Ma. However, data from fossil and contemporary faunas indicate that, throughout the late Cretaceous, India maintained exchanges with adjacent lands. There is an absence in the fossil record of peculiar animals and plants that should have evolved, had India undergone an extended period of isolation just before its contact with Eurasia. Main conclusions The depiction of India in late Cretaceous as an isolated continent is in error. Most global palaeomaps, including the most recent one, show India, as it moves northward, following a track far out in the Indian Ocean. But the evidence now indicates that India's journey into northern latitudes cannot have taken place under such isolated circumstances. Although real breaks among the lands were indicated by the physical data, faunal links were maintained by vagile animals that were able to surmount minor marine barriers. India, during its northward journey, remained close to Africa and Madagascar even as it began to contact Eurasia.     

Frequency of HLA antibodies in south India

Sera from 4088 pregnant women (649 antenatal bleeding and 3439 post-partum bleeding) living in Madurai, were collected and screened for anti-HLA. A, B and DR antibodies. 696 of them were screened for anti-HLA DR antibodies. Ten per cent (65/649) of antenatal sera and 13 4% of post-partum sera (463/3439) were positive for HLA A and B antibodies: nonetheless the percentage of monospecific sera were almost the same in both. Screening for HLA DR antibodies were carried out using platelet absorption in test tray technique: seventy three of 696 (10.5%) were positive. The incidence of anti-HLA A, B antibodies correlates to the allelic frequencies in the population. Thus in India, collection and screening post-partum haemorrhage is the simplest and cost effective method of acquiring polyclonal sera for routine laboratory and diagnostic use.     

Dew fall in sand dune areas of India

An attempt has been made to study the significance of dew in the sand dune areas of India. Dew data recorded by Duvdevani dew gauges at three India Meteorological Stations (Bikaner, Jaisalmer and Ganganagar) with dew so recorded at four different heights i.e., 5 cm, 25 cm, 50 cm and 100 cm above the ground from 1973 to 1976 is taken for analysis. Mean monthly dew amount per dew night for the three stations at all the four heights is presented and discussed. Variation of mean seasonal (September to April) dew amount with height is also presented. It is found that higher amounts of dew deposit occur during the three months December to February. The data for the year having maximum dew fall (1975–76) is taken and analysed in terms of rainfall and potential evapotranspiration during the season. Ganganagar shows highest percentage of dew in 1975–76 when compared to actual seasonal rainfall (37%) and normal seasonal rainfall (27%); which is about 14% of the actual potential evapotranspiration and 18% of the normal potential evapotranspiration. Techniques standardized for afforesting shifting sand dunes are mentioned and recommended tree species for afforestation are presented.     

Ganoderma australe from southern India

The genetic diversity of Ganoderma australe (Fr.) Pat. from southern India was investigated by using ITS1/2 rDNA. The phylogenetic analysis showed that six isolates clustered into two groups viz. biological species I and II. The four strains of BS I (YER03, MYC5, MYC2 and KE) clustered with G. australe TAI-01 and the two other strains of BS II (KMK3 and K39) were grouped with G. australe TAI-05 from Taiwan. The two strains namely TAI-01 and TAI-05 were described as G. australe intersterile Group 1 and 2 from Taiwan, respectively. The higher level nucleotide divergence among BS I and BS II and the high bootstrapping support clearly represent the presence of two biological species of G. australe in southern India which are genetically isolated.     

Sporotrichosis in sub-himalayan India

Sporotrichosis is endemic in the Sub-Himalayan belt, which ranges from the northern to the north-eastern Indian subcontinent. Similar to many parts of the developing world, sporotrichosis is commonly recognized clinically in this region however consolidated epidemiological data is lacking. We report epidemiological, clinical and microbiological data from a hundred culture positive cases of sporotrichosis. Out of 305 clinically suspicious cases of sporotrichosis, a total of 100 isolates were identified as Sporothrix schenckii species complex (S. schenckii) on culture. Out of the culture proven cases 71% of the cases presented with lymphocutaneous type of lesions while 28% had fixed localized type and 1% had disseminated sporotrichosis. Presentation with lesions on hands was most frequently seen in 32% with arm (23%) and face (21%) in that sequence. The male to female ratio was 1∶1.27. Age ranged from 1 ½ years to 88 years. Mean age was 43.25 years. Disease was predominantly seen in the fourth to sixth decade of life with 58% cases between 31 and 60 years of age. Since the first report from the region there has been a steady rise in the number of cases of sporotrichosis. Seasonal trends reveal that most of the patients visited for consultation in the beginning of the year between March and April. This is the first study, from the most endemic region of the Sub-Himalayan belt, to delve into epidemiological and clinical details of such a large number of culture proven cases over a period of more than eighteen years which would help in the understanding of the local disease pattern of sporotrichosis.     

Community-based malaria control in India

India launched its National Malaria Eradication Programme (NMEP) in 1958, designed to interrupt transmission with residual insecticide spraying coupled with chemotherapy and anti-larval methods in urban areas. The strategy produced spectacular results. By 1965 malaria was reduced from around 75 million cases annually (with 800 000 deaths) to about 100 000 cases per year. Unfortunately, even under the subsequent maintenance phase, malaria began to resurge in many foci, and in 1976 the NMEP reported 6.4 million parasite positive cases. In this article, V.P. Sharma looks at some of the problems faced by the NMEP strategy, and discusses the alternative community-based approach now being evaluated in the northwestern state of Gujarat.