Seasonal distribution and upsurge of respiratory viruses among indigenous tribes with ILI and SARI in a far-flung Car Nicobar Island.

BACKGROUND: Respiratory viral illnesses among children are a prominent cause of morbidity and mortality in the developing world. The aim of this study is to understand the seasonal pattern and surge of respiratory viruses among the Nicobarese tribe. METHODS: Respiratory specimens were collected from both ARI and SARI cases attended the BJR district hospital in Car Nicobar Island, India, between 2021 and 2022. Respiratory viruses were identified from the specimens by using the qRT-PCR assay. Meteorological parameters were collected and evaluated using Microsoft Excel and SPSS 21. The significant association between the surge of respiratory viruses and each climatic parameter was evaluated. RESULTS: In this hospital-based cross-sectional study, 471 ILI cases were enrolled, and 209 of these were positive for respiratory viral infections. Of these respiratory virus infections, 201 (96.2%) were infected with a single respiratory virus infection, and 8 (3.8%) had mixed viral infections. Fever, cough, and chills were the most common symptoms of respiratory illness among this indigenous population. There was a significant link between respiratory viruses and influenza-like illness in children (below 5 years and 6 to 15 years). CONCLUSION: This prevalence study revealed that viral respiratory infections were more common in children than adults. Among these respiratory viruses, respiratory syncytial virus A (RSV) and influenza B virus were predominantly reported among tribal children up to age five years. In the year 2021, these viruses were recorded frequently during the winter season. Climate factors such as high humidity, high precipitation, moderate temperature, and moderate rainfall are found to be correlated with respiratory viral infections. This study implicates important information for preventing a further outbreak of respiratory viral infections in Car Nicobar Island.

Unveiling an Uncommon Scenario of Co-occurrence of Multiple Odontomes With Impacted Maxillary Lateral Incisor and Canine in a 17-Year-Old Girl: A Unique and Rare Case Report.

This case report presents the enigma of multiple odontomes with overretained deciduous teeth leading to the impaction of permanent successors (22, 23) in an abnormal position in a 17-year-old female patient who reported the chief complaint of maligned teeth. Permanent maxillary canines and lateral incisors are the most common teeth to face the brunt of impaction due to a wide range of etiological factors. It is imperative for a clinician to diagnose cases at an early stage to accelerate the rate of eruption of such teeth. This is especially important in cases where initially the etiology seems to be simple but on careful and judicious evaluation of the case, numerous other etiologies are found to map together for the underlying pathology. This case discusses how the presence of multiple odontomes with delayed exfoliation of deciduous teeth leads to the impaction of a permanent successor. Understanding the underlying pathology is seemingly important to devise intricate treatment mechanics for traction of impacted teeth without taxing anchorage from dental units and taking cognizance of the amount of alveolar bone loss post-removal of multiple odontomes. The appropriate thickness of alveolar bone scaffolding is required for the canine to extrude down, with an adequate band of marginal gingiva encircling the cement-enamel junction of the impacted canine, preventing any kind of fenestration and dehiscence. Hence, meticulous care was taken during surgical exposure and removal of odontomes to preserve an adequate labial cortical plate intact for traction. These excavated tooth-like structures were later subjected to histopathological evaluation, which confirmed the diagnosis of compound odontomes.

External quality assessment for laboratories in pan-India ILI/SARI surveillance for simultaneous detection of influenza virus and SARS-CoV-2.

Introduction: The Indian Council of Medical Research has set up a nationwide network of 28 laboratories for simultaneous surveillance of influenza virus and SARS-CoV-2 in ILI/SARI patients, using an in-house developed and validated multiplex real-time RTPCR assay. The aim of this study was to ensure the quality of testing by these laboratories by implementing an external quality assessment program (EQAP). Methods: For this EQAP, a proficiency test (PT) panel comprising tissue-culture or egg-grown influenza virus and SARS-CoV-2 was developed. The PT panel was distributed to all the participant laboratories, which tested the panel and submitted the qualitative results online to the EQAP provider. The performance of the laboratories was evaluated on qualitative criteria but cycle threshold (Ct) values were also gathered for each sample. Results: On a qualitative basis, all the laboratories achieved the criteria of 90% concordance with the results of the PT panel provider. Ct values of different samples across the laboratories were within ≤ ±3 cycles of the corresponding mean values of the respective sample. The results of this EQAP affirmed the quality and reliability of testing being done for simultaneous surveillance of influenza virus and SARS-CoV-2 in India.

Looking beyond Pertussis in Prolonged Cough Illness of Young Children.

Pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, is one of the most poorly controlled vaccine-preventable diseases in the world. South-East Asia is estimated to contribute the most to childhood disease burden while this remains largely unexplored in India. The clinical diagnosis of pertussis in young children is a challenge as the classical four-stage presentation with paroxysmal cough or whoop may be absent. It is also difficult to differentiate from other respiratory infections which can cause pertussis-like illness. Children below two years with prolonged cough illness attending an urban pediatric center in western India, were evaluated for pertussis and viral infections by molecular methods. Bordetella pertussis and B. holmesii were confirmed in three each of 45 suspected cases, and RSV-A and hMPV were the most common viruses that were detected. These organisms can mimic mild cases of pertussis and need to be considered in differential diagnosis of prolonged cough illness in young children. The accurate etiology of prolonged cough illness needs to be detected and documented to ensure appropriate management and accurate estimates of disease burden.

A retrospective analysis of respiratory virus transmission before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Pune the western region of India.

Background: SARS-CoV-2 was first reported in China in December 2019 and quickly spread across the world. Non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) are the key to control the transmission of respiratory viruses. To stop the spread, NPI is widely recommended and is still followed by most countries. Methods: At the National Influenza Center of the Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Virology (ICMR-NIV), the surveillance of severe acute respiratory illness and acute respiratory illness cases for influenza and other respiratory viruses is in place. In this study, we analyzed surveillance data on respiratory viruses and/or SARS-CoV-2 testing from January 2017 to December 2021. Multiplex real-time PCR was used to detect the respiratory viruses. Results: Our findings indicate that during the pandemic, the positivity for influenza A and B, metapneumovirus, parainfluenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus, and human coronavirus declined significantly. Conclusion: The annual distinct seasonal outbreaks of influenza, RSV, and other respiratory viruses as observed during the pre-COVID-19 period were not observed during the COVID-19 pandemic in years 2020 and 21. Social distancing, lock-downs, and non-pharmaceutical interventions may play an important role in the reduction of respiratory viruses. Understanding the seasonal respiratory virus decline could help public health experts prepare for future respiratory virus pandemics.

Decolorization and detoxification of Congo red and textile industry effluent by an isolated bacterium Pseudomonas sp. SU-EBT.

The 16S rRNA sequence and biochemical characteristics revealed the isolated organism as Pseudomonas sp. SU-EBT. This strain showed 97 and 90% decolorization of a recalcitrant dye, Congo red (100 mg l(-1)) and textile industry effluent with 50% reduction in COD within 12 and 60 h, respectively. The optimum pH and temperature for the decolorization was 8.0 and 40 degrees C, respectively. Pseudomonas sp. SU-EBT was found to tolerate the dye concentration up to 1.0 g l(-1). Significant induction in the activity of intracellular laccase suggested its involvement in the decolorization of Congo red. The metabolites formed after decolorization of Congo red, such as p-dihydroxy biphenyl, 8-amino naphthol 3-sulfonic acid and 3-hydroperoxy 8-nitrosonaphthol were characterized using FTIR and GC-MS. Phytotoxicity study revealed nontoxic nature of the degradation metabolites to Sorghum bicolor, Vigna radiata, Lens culinaris and Oryza sativa plants as compared to Congo red and textile industry effluent. Pseudomonas sp. SU-EBT decolorized several individual textile dyes, dye mixtures and textile industry effluent, thus it is a useful strain for the development of effluent treatment methods in textile processing industries.