A study on the possibility of zoonotic infection in rotaviral diarrhoea among calves and buffalo calves in and around Kolkata, India.

Group A and group B rotaviruses are important diarrhea causing agents among calves and buffalo calves. Epidemiological studies in Indian calves revealed the predominance of group A rotavirus strains with G6, G8, and G10 specificity and group B rotaviruses. A total of 95 fecal samples were collected from calves and buffalo calves affected with diarrhea from an unorganized cattle farm and two cattle markets in and around Kolkata, in the state of West Bengal of Eastern India. Rotaviruses were detected in 23.15% (22/95) samples by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Of 22 rotavirus positive cases, 10.52% (10/95) samples showed characteristic group A rotavirus-like long type electropherotype (e-type) pattern and 4.21% (4/95) samples showed the characteristic group B rotavirus long type of electropherotype pattern and in 8.42% (8/95) the electropherotype pattern could not be recorded. Out of 22 positive samples, 7 samples of group A rotaviruses were subjected to reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, using VP7 generic and genotype [G type] specific primers and 2 of 7 isolates were identified as G10.

A study on the prevalence of hookworm infection in four districts of West Bengal and its linkage with anaemia.

Stool samples collected from the districts of Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Hooghly and Calcutta in West Bengal were examined for hookworm and associated parasites. It was found that maximum prevalence of hookworm was in Hooghly district (24.8%). N. americanus appeared to be more prevalent species in all the districts studied. The load ofhookworm infection appeared to be mostly in the mild range. Ascaris lumbricoides appeared to the most common accompanying infection. In the affected population, the degree of anaemia was mostly mild.

Knowledge, attitude and practices about zoonoses with reference to Campylobacteriosis in a rural area of West Bengal.

Campylobacteriosis is a leading cause of zoonotic diarrhoea in the developed as well as developing countries. Domestic animals particularly the poultry act as a source of human infections. Domestic animal rearing is a very common practice in India particularly in rural areas. The present study of KAP of Zoonosis showed 68.2 % of 500 families interviewed did not have knowledge about zoonotic diseases in rural Bengal and not a single family had any idea of Campylobacter infections.

A study on the polymicrobial etiology of root canal infections in anterior non-vital teeth in a government hospital in Kolkata, India.

A total of 52 patients having non-vital anterior teeth who attended at the Department of Conservative Dentistry of a Government Dental College of the city of Kolkata, India where studied for isolation of different microflora in the root canals of the non-vital teeth. 41 (78.8%) out of 52 cases studied showed the presence of microorganisms in the root canal of the teeth. A total of 83 different strains were isolated. The anaerobic organisms constituted 30.1% of the total isolates. 51.7% of the root canals showed presence of polymicrobial etiology of the non-vital teeth.

Search for Shiga toxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC) including 0157: H7 strains in and around Kolkata.

PURPOSE: An attempt was made to isolate and characterize Shiga toxin producing E. coli (STEC) from animals handlers, animal products and admitted diarrhoeic children in and around Kolkata. METHODS: A total of 415 samples were processed for detection of STEC by PCR and colony hybridization techniques. RESULTS: 0 (4.81%) samples were found to be positive for STEC. Diarrhoeic cattle accounted for maximum (22.1 %) isolation. CONCLUSIONS: The study showed PCR to be more sensitive than hybridization technique for detection of STEC.

Chemical sprays as a method for improvement in microbiological quality and shelf-life of fresh sheep and goat meats during refrigeration storage (5-7°C).

The shelf-life of meats from freshly slaughtered sheep and goat carcasses at 5-7 °C was extended after spraying (pressure 3 kg/cm(2)) the carcasses with solution 'B' containing potassium sorbate, sodium acetate, sodium citrate, sodium lactate each at 2.5% and sodium chloride at 5% (prepared w/v in potable water), when compared with solution 'A' (without potassium sorbate). Solution B treatment inhibited Bacillus spp. to minimum and were not detected up to sixth day. It extended the lag phase of all organisms including psychrotrophes (pseudomonads) and reduction of differential counts in sheep and goat meat were noted throughout the refrigerated storage. On sixth day (control) and seventh day (solution "A treated") meat samples developed off odour and discoloration with total viable count (TVC)>10(7) cfu/g. Solution B treated meat samples showed no spoilage at seventh or eighth day, indicating an extended shelf-life of 3 and 2 days when compared with control and solution A treated meat, respectively.

Bioterrorism--a review.

With the turn of the new millennium, a new kind of warfare has evolved--bioterrorism. After the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center, every country in the world is now living under the shadow of an unknown yet deadly enemy--biological weapons. Every individual has suddenly become very vulnerable to this new weapon, which can strike anybody at any time without any warning. It is, therefore, important that we take a close look at this new weapon, so that we can take appropriate measures to shield ourselves from this deadly enemy.

Coagglutination test for rapid noncultural diagnosis of human Campylobacteriosis.

Forty diarrhoeic stool samples of domestic animal handlers in a rural area of India were cultured and screened for detection of Campylobacter jejuni by Co-agglutination technique (CoA). Seven C. jejuni strains were isolated by culture and 6 faecal samples gave positive CoA test. The specificity and sensitivity for negative and positive culture were 96.9% and 85.7% respectively. This is first report of detection of Campylobacter enteritis of human beings using CoA technique directly from stool samples.

New born chicks can serve as an experimental animal model for human campylobacteriosis.

Campylobacter enteritis is an emerging food borne zoonotic disease. Improperly cooked chicken serve as a potential source for this infection. Diarrheogenic potential of Campylobacter jejuni is tested either by in-vivo rat ileal loop (RIL) test or by molecular methods. This study reveals that 3-day-old chicks can serve as an animal model for toxigenic C. jejuni.

Verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli--an environment-induced emerging zoonosis in and around Calcutta.

With changes in livestock management practices and food processing industry, along with changes in people's food habits, many diseases have emerged. Infection with verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) is one such illness. In the present study an attempt was made to isolate, identify and characterize VTEC strains with reference to the O157:H7 serotype from animal, human sources and some food products with the aid of the available modern methods. A total of 876 samples (330 animal, 184 human, 362 food samples) were screened for the presence of VTEC by conventional as well as PCR technique. Seventeen VTEC strains (12 animal, one human and four food samples) were isolated. The isolation rate was higher in diarrhoeic animals (6.02%), followed by diarrhoeic handler (3.12%) and raw beef (1.78%) samples. All strains showed the presence of the VT gene by PCR tests and were uniformly sensitive to common antibiotics except tetracycline, cephalexin, dicloxacillin, erythromycin and lincomycin. Since all strains were isolated from various sources of animal and human origin and all strains showed the presence of the VT gene and uniform antibiogram, a zoonotic association is suggested. This study marks the first report of isolation of VTEC strains from animal sources in India.

A study on the status of Japanese encephalitis infection in Arunachal Pradesh.

Suspected cases of Japanese Encephalitis (J.E.) were recorded in the hospitals of Arunachal Pradesh from 1986 to 1995. 162 cases were diagnosed as J.E. with predominance in male sex and lower age group. Maximum cases were recorded between June to October. 11.3% pig sera showed J.E. antibodies when tested by ELISA test.

Isolation and identification of Aeromonas from patients with acute diarrhoea in Kolkata, India.

Isolation of diarrhoea causing Aeromonas was carried out in the division of Active Surveillance, National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases (NICED), Kolkata for a period of 12 months from January 1999 to December 1999. Out of 602 stool samples collected from patients with acute diarrhoea admitted in Infectious Diseases (ID) Hospital, Kolkata, 64 (10.6%) samples were identified positive for Aeromonas as the pathogen. The different isolated and identified species from patients with acute diarrhoea were A. hydrophila (60%), A. caviae (20%), A. veronii (10%), A. schubertii (4%), A. jandaei (3%), and A. trota (3%). Most of the isolated Aeromonas strains showed resistance to commonly employed antibiotics. All the clinical isolates of Aeromonas possessed virulence genes encoding for aerolysin and cytotonic enterotoxin genes. Except A. schubertii and A. jandaei, all the other species possessed the gene for haemolysis.

Direct detection of diarrheagenic Aeromonas from faeces by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting aerolysin toxin gene.

Detection of diarrheagenic Aeromonas specific aerolysin toxin (Aer) gene by PCR based assay and isolation, identification of diarrhea causing Aeromonas from faeces by culture methods were carried out in the Division of Active Surveillance, National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases (NICED), Kolkata, India for a period of 12 months. Out of 602 faecal samples collected from patients with acute diarrhea admitted in Infectious Diseases (ID) Hospital, Kolkata, 68 (11.29%) samples were found to be possessing Aer gene by PCR technique. The conventional culture methods using selective media yielded only 64 (10.6%) Aeromonas strains from the same faecal samples. The different Aeromonas species possessing Aer gene identified by PCR based technique include A. hydrophila (55.8%), A. caviae (17.6%), A. veronii (10.2%), A. schubertii (4.4%), A. jandaei (2.9%) and A. trota (8.8%). The isolation and identification of Aeromonas by routine culture did not detect enterotoxigenic A. trota present in four diarrheal faecal samples. The failure of the growth of enterotoxigenic A. trota on selective media may be attributed to the ampicillin susceptibility of those strains. The quality control studies revealed that PCR method for the direct detection of Aer gene from the faeces has the sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 98%.

Sterility testing of disposable syringes and needles marketed in Calcutta.

Presterilized (disposable) syringes and needles were subjected to sterility testing for aerobic cultures. It was found that 56.3% of the samples were contaminated indicating failure of the sterilisation process. The implications of this could be far reaching and is discussed alongwith.

A study of nosocomial diarrhea in Calcutta.

BACKGROUND: Nosocomial infection is a major problem in hospitalized patients, particularly those who are debilitated. These infections may manifest as diarrhea. The spectrum of infections agents causing nosocomial diarrhea in our country is not known. METHODS: Thirty-two patients, admitted to the hospital with various complaints, who developed diarrhea during their hospital stay, were studied to identify the causative agents of diarrhea. Hospital food samples were also processed for pathogens. RESULTS: The bacteria isolated from patients included established enteropathogens like Salmonella, enteropathogenic Escherichia coli, Campylobacter species and organisms with low pathogenicity like Serratia marsescens, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Morganella morganii. The bacterial pathogens isolated were resistant to most antibiotics, suggesting their nosocomial character. Hospital food samples contained Salmonella typhimurium, Campylobacter jejuni (biotype 1) and enteropathogenic Escherichia coli, suggesting that food might have been the vehicle for these infections. CONCLUSION: Nosocomial infection was found to be an important cause of diarrhea (34%), EPEC and Salmonell being the predominant pathogens. Water, egg and milk were the source of infection in these cases. Special measures to obtain uneffected items will prevent occurrence of nosocomial diarrhea in our hospitals.