Landscape assessment of the availability of medical abortion medicines in India.

BACKGROUND: Medical abortion with mifepristone and misoprostol can be provided up to 63 days' gestation in India. This accounts for 67.5 percent of all abortions in the country. We conducted an assessment to determine the availability of medical abortion medicines, specifically the combi-pack, in India. METHODS: We applied the World Health Organization landscape assessment protocol at the national level. The assessment protocol included a five-step adaptation of an existing availability framework, including online data collection, desk review, country-level key informant interviews, and an analysis to identify barriers and opportunities to improve medical abortion availability. The assessment was conducted between August and March 2021. RESULTS: Medicines for medical abortion are included in the national essential drug list and available with prescription in India. The assessment identified 42 combi-pack products developed by 35 manufacturers. The quality of medical abortion medicines is regulated by national authorities; but as health is devolved to states, there are significant inter-state variations. This is seen across financing, procurement, manufacturing, and monitoring mechanisms for quality assurance of medical abortion medicines prior to distribution. There is a need to strengthen supply chain systems, ensure consistent availability of trained providers and build community awareness on use of medical abortion medicines for early abortions, at the time of the assessment. CONCLUSION: Opportunities to improve availability and quality of medical abortion medicines exist. For example, uniform implementation of regulatory standards, greater emphasis on quality-assurance during manufacturing, and standardizing of procurement and supply chain systems across states. Regular in-service training of providers on medical abortion is required. Finally, innovations in evidence dissemination and community engagement about the recently amended abortion law are needed.

Medical abortion is popular in India and benefits from a liberal legal context. It is important to understand the availability of quality abortion medicines in the country. Using the World Health Organization country assessment protocol and availability framework for medical abortion medicines we examined the availability of these medicines from supply to demand. We used this information to identify opportunities for increasing availability of quality-assured medical abortion medicines. We found that the context for medical abortion varies across states. Strengthening procurement and supply chain management, with a greater emphasis on quality-assurance and regulation of manufacturing should be instituted at the state-level. Training is also needed to increase provider knowledge of the latest national guidelines and laws to ensure respectful and person-centered services. Finally, the public should be informed about medical abortion as a safe and effective choice, especially for early abortions.

Respectful Abortion Care initiative: How a large-scale virtual training for providers in India increased knowledge of the new 2021 Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act.

BACKGROUND: In a historic move to ensure comprehensive abortion care, India amended the 1971 Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act in 2021, creating an unprecedented opportunity for accelerating safe, respectful, and rights-based abortion services. The Federation of Obstetric and Gynecological Societies of India (FOGSI), together with World Health Organization (WHO) India and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, set up a flagship initiative "Respectful Abortion Care" (RAC) to provide training to obstetricians and gynecologists on the new Act, and also address their values and biases. METHODS: Virtual training sessions were organized during the COVID-19 pandemic to disseminate the amendments made under the MTP Act and address provider values and biases. The primary focus was on private providers as they account for more than half of all abortion services in India (52.9%). The RAC modules were systematically designed and delivered by 690 Master Trainers, trained by FOGSI and WHO. RESULTS: A total of 9051 FOGSI members (22%, with 50% from private clinics) completed the RAC trainings. Pretests and post-tests were conducted for impact assessment. Significant improvement was seen on knowledge of criteria for termination of pregnancy for significant birth defects (52%-83%). The post-training survey showed a high level of commitment to promote RAC: >95% were strongly motivated to perform or assist in abortion; 89% reported that the WHO value clarification exercises were helpful in facilitating open discussions on sensitive topics in a comfortable manner; 96% expressed a strong commitment to addressing the issue of respect and confidentiality in abortion care. CONCLUSION: RAC was a unique initiative around the MTP Act amendment 2021 in India, which demonstrated that collaboration and leadership by professional associations can help motivate providers and lead to improved knowledge and commitment from public and private sector providers.

A checklist of epibiont and parasite ciliates (Ciliophora) associated to rotifers (Rotifera).

A review of the ciliate (Ciliophora) species associated to rotifers as epibionts and endoparasites is presented, based on published records. Thirty rotifer species from 12 genera are known as hosts of ciliates. Among ciliates, one species of class Suctorea and 14 species of class Oligohymenophorea (12 from subclass Peritrichia, one from Hymenostomatia, and one from Astomatia) have been noted as associated to rotifers. The possible factors responsible for host prevalence of ciliates are discussed.

New find of Dactylophrya-stage of parasitic suctorian of genus Tachyblaston Martin, 1909 (Ciliophora, Suctorea) with comments on genus taxonomy.

The article presents the new find of Dactylophrya-stage of rare parasitic suctorian ciliate of genus Tachyblaston on harpacticoid copepod from Mumbai, India. The found specimen was identified as Tachyblaston reversum (Collin, 1909), n. comb. The redescription of T. reversum was provided. The refined diagnoses of genus Tachyblaston and included species, data on distribution of genus representatives, synonymy and comments on genus taxonomy are also presented.

A new species of genus Rhabdophrya (Ciliophora: Suctorea) from the west coast of India and comments on the genus taxonomy.

The article presents the description of a new species of the suctorian genus Rhabdophrya inhabiting the body surface (cuticle) of harpacticoid copepod from Navy-Nagar, Mumbai intertidal coralline region, west coast of India, the Arabian Sea. The diagnosis of the genus is refined, all other species diagnoses and identification keys are presented.

An annotated checklist of halacarid mites (Acari, Halacaridae) from India.

A compilation of halacarid mite species (Halacaridae) from India has been carried out based on published records. Indian halacarid records were mostly found among algal habitats, some are also reported associated with pneumatophores and halophytes. Copidognathus is the most dominant genus with 19 species reported from the Indian coast. Reports of halacarid mites from Indian interstitial habitats are mostly doubtful and needs verification. Acarochelopodia delamarei, Copidognathus fabricii, Scaptognathus hallezi, Simognathus minutus should be excluded from Indian record. The real diversity and distribution of Indian halacarid fauna is far from being complete and future investigations may reveal further new taxa.

Report of suctorian ciliates (Ciliophora, Suctorea) as epibionts on meiobenthic nematodes in an oxygen minimum zone of the Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean.

Three suctorian ciliate species, Paracineta livadiana (Mereschkowsky, 1881), Loricophrya bosporica Sergeeva Dovgal, 2014 and Acinetopsis lynni Baldrighi et al., 2020 are found as epibionts on meiobenthic nematodes in an oxygen minimum zone of the Arabian Sea. All three species are recorded here for the first time from the Indian Ocean.

Report of deep-sea epibiont ciliates (Ciliophora) from more than 1000 m depth of the Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean.

The present article deals with the report of 7 suctorian epibiont species viz. Thecacineta calix, Actinocyathula homari, Loricophrya bosporica, L. cf. stresemanni, Acinetides gruberi, Trematosoma rotunda and Brachyosoma sp. on benthic meiofauna collected from the deep Arabian Sea (> 1000 m). The data on the distribution and host prevalence of found species are discussed. The finds of other deep-sea ciliate species are also mentioned.

Petrophysical core-based zonation of OW oilfield in the Bredasdorp Basin South Africa.

This study aims to generate rock units based on core permeability and porosity of OW oilfield in the Bredasdorp Basin offshore South Africa. In this study, we identified and classified lithofacies based on sedimentology reports in conjunction with well logs. Lucia's petrophysical classification method is used to classify rocks into three classes. Results revealed three lithofacies as A (sandstone, coarse to medium-grained), B (fine to medium-grained sandstone), and C (carbonaceous claystone, finely laminated with siltstone). Lithofacies A is the best reservoir quality and corresponds to class 1, while lithofacies B and C correspond to class 2 and 3, which are good and poor reservoir quality rock, respectively. An integrated reservoir zonation for the rocks is based on four different zonation methods (Flow Zone indicator (FZI), Winland r35, Hydraulic conductivity (HC), and Stratigraphy modified Lorenz plot (SMLP)). Four flow zones Reservoir rock types (RRTs) were identified as RRT1, RRT3, RRT4, and RRT5, respectively. The RRT5 is the best reservoir quality composed of a megaporous rock unit, with an average FZI value between 5 and 10 µm, and HC from 40 to 120 mD/v3, ranked as very good. The most prolific flow units (RRT5 and RRT4 zones) form more than 75% of each well's flow capacities are supplied by two flow units (FU1 and FU3). The RRT1 is the most reduced rock quality composed of impervious and nanoporous rock. Quartz is the dominant framework grain, and siderite is the dominant cement that affects flow zones. This study has demonstrated a robust approach to delineate flow units in the OW oilfield. We have developed a useful regional petrophysical reservoir rock flow zonation model for clastic reservoir sediments. This study has produced, for the first time, insights into the petrophysical properties of the OW oilfield from the Bredasdorp Basin South Africa, based on integration of core and mineralogy data. A novel sandstone reservoir zonation classification criteria developed from this study can be applied to other datasets of sandstone reservoirs with confidence.

Report of Acineta euchaetae Sewell, 1951 from new locality of the Arabian Sea with notes on their taxonomy and distribution.

The article deals with the data about new find of the rare suctorian species Acineta euchaetae Sewell, 1951 on calanoid copepod host Euchaeta marina (Prestandrea, 1833) from the Arabian Sea. Seven young (sub-adult) individuals of the ciliate were observed on rear part of cephalothorax and on abdomen of adult male of copepod. The data about all known finds of A. euchaetae are discussed as well as the information on different developmental stages of the ciliate species. It is suggested that A. euchaetae is euryhaline species distributed in Eurasian coastal and inland waters and have preference for calanoid copepod hosts, but do not show specificity to any calanoid genus or species. The summarized diagnosis and refined systematic position of A. euchaetae are also provided.

A checklist of ciliates (Ciliophora) inhabiting on cnidarians.

A compilation of the ciliate epibiont species (Ciliophora) found on marine and fresh water cnidarians has been carried out based on published records. The checklist includes the taxonomic position of each species of epibiontic ciliate, the species of basibiont cnidarians, the geographic zones and the bibliographic references where they were recorded. Cnidarians, especially colonial sessile forms, represent suitable substrates for numerous sessile and vagile ciliates. Altogether 79 ciliate species belong to five classes viz. Spirotrichea, Heterotrichea, Phyllopharingea, Suctorea and Oligohymenophorea were listed. The most diverce as epibions on cnidarians are representatives of Suctorea with 41 species and Peritrichia (under the class Oligohymenophorea) with 25 species. Three species belong to class Spirotrichea, four Heterotrichea and one Phyllopharingea. Among the other representatives (except Peritrichia) of class Oligohymenophorea, four species belong to subclass Scutucociliatia, one species each in subclass Hymenostomatia and Apostomatia. One suctorian species Ophryodendron abietinum and two species of peritrichs, Cothurnia cordylophora and Rhabdostyla sertularium one Heterotrichea Halofolliculina corallasia and one Scutucociliatia Philaster guamensis are likely specific to cnidarian hosts only.

An annotated checklist of the chaetonotidan Gastrotricha from India.

India has a long history of research on freshwater and marine Gastrotricha. In more than 110 years of study on Order Chaetonotida, two families consisting of 11 genera and 39 species have been described. Thirty of these species are taxa originally described from other continents, while only nine species (7 freshwater, 2 marine) are only known from India. The large percentage (77%) of so-called cosmopolitan species in India has contributed to the phenomenon known as the meiofauna paradox. However, a careful review of the pertaining literature provides a different biogeographical picture of the chaetonotidan fauna of India. Herein we show that the high incidence of European and North American species reported from India is mainly due to a mixture of misidentification and species lumping. In fact, for only 12 species there are enough data that would make the Indian specimens morphological similar to taxa previously reported from Europe and/or North America. However, without the appropriate molecular sequence data for comparison, there is no way to rule out the possibility of cryptic speciation.We conclude that further sampling throughout India and the use of more powerful microscopical techniques (e.g., DIC optics) and molecular sequencing will reveal more species and improve the quality of re-descriptions of those (9 spp.) that so far appear to be endemic to the subcontinent. Here we recommend six species to be excluded from the fauna of India while another 11 species (non endemic to India) should be considered dubitatively present in the Indian fauna.

A checklist of halacarid and hydrachnid mites (Acari, Halacaridae amp; Hydrachnidia) associated with sponges (Porifera).

A compilation of halacarid and hydrachnid mite species found associated with sponges has been carried out based on published records. Altogether 78 halacarid mites species belonging to 15 genera viz. Agaue (9 species), Agauopsis (7 species), Arhodeoporus (1 species), Atelopsalis (1 species), Bradyagaue (1 species), Copidognathus (27 species), Halacarellus (7 species), Halacaropsis (2 species), Halacarus (5 species), Lohmannella (3 species), Maracarus (3 species), Rhombognathides (3 species), Rhombognathus (4 species), Spongihalacarus (1 species), and Thalassarachna (4 species) are reported. Twenty-four hydrachnid mite species belonging to three families viz. Hygrobatidae (2 species), Unionicolidae (20 species) and Pontarachnidae (2 species) are included. Some species of Unionicolidae are mentioned as possible sponge-mite species. Further studies, emphasizing developmental studies of unionicolid mites to get better ideas about associations with freshwater sponges are needed. Molecular sequencing will reveal more cryptic species and improve the quality of re-descriptions of currently recognized species in these sponge associated mites.

p class="ZootaxaTitle"Report of ciliate-bryozoan-crustacean hyperepibiosis on crab (Decapoda: Brachyura) from west coast of India, Arabian Sea.

Epibiosis is a common phenomenon, found in different taxa of aquatic animals. This relationship could occur as hyperepibiosis, when a basibiont being also an epibiont, providing a stable substrate for the hypersymbiont. Here we reported a ciliate-bryozoan-crustacean hyperepibiosis in Mandovi River mouth, Goa, West coast of India. We provided descriptions and characterization of the crab Atergatis sp., serving as basibiont for the bryozoan Triticella pedicellata (Alder, 1857), in turn colonized with (hyperepibionts) the ciliates Paracineta saifulae (Mereschkowsky, 1877) and Cothurnia ceramicola Kahl, 1933. Paracineta saifulae and Cothurnia ceramicola are reported here for first time from the Indian Ocean.

A checklist of ciliates (Ciliophora) inhabiting on ostracods (Crustacea, Ostracoda).

A compilation of the ciliated species found on freshwater and marine ostracods as epibiont or parasite (endobiont) has been carried out based on published records. The checklist includes the taxonomic position of each species of epibiontic and endobiontic ciliate, the species of basibiont ostracodes, the geographic zones and the bibliographic references where they were recorded. Altogether 7 suctorian, 29 peritrich, one apostome and one scuticociliatid species were listed. Two of recorded suctorian species are possible specific to marine ostracodes, whereas only one, Tokophrya sibirica to freshwater hosts. Fourteen species of peritrichs are likely specific to freshwater ostracodes, while three possible specific to marine ostracode hosts. Other suctorian and peritrich ciliate species were found on a variety of host taxa. One species of scuticociliatid was recorded as endobiont in ostracod.

A checklist of ciliate epibionts (Ciliophora) found on bryozoans.

A compilation of the ciliate (Ciliophora) species found on marine and fresh water bryozoans as epibionts has been carried out based on published records. The checklist includes the taxonomic position of each species of epibiontic ciliate, the species of basibiont bryozoans, localities and the bibliographic references. Altogether 40 ciliate species from classes Spirotrichea (two species); Suctorea (sixteen species); Oligohymenophorea, subclass Peritrichia (sixteen species) and Heterotrichea, family Folliculinidae (six species) were listed. Among registered species, six were reported on bryozoans only. Only one species of peritrich ciliate Ellobiophrya conviva adapted to inhabit on tentacles of bryozoans with special adhesive organelle (cinctum or adhesive ring) indicate a possible specific to bryozoan host.

Gnathia bermudensis (Crustacea, Isopoda, Gnathiidae), a new species from the mesophotic reefs of Bermuda, with a key to Gnathia from the Greater Caribbean biogeographic region.

Gnathia bermudensis sp. nov. is described from mesophotic coral ecosystems in Bermuda; it is distinguished by pronounced and pointed supraocular lobes, two superior frontolateral processes and a weak bifid mediofrontal process, pereonite 1 not fused dorsally with the cephalosome, and large eyes. This is the first record of a species of Gnathia from Bermuda. A synopsis and key to the other Gnathia species from the Greater Caribbean biogeographic region is provided.

Report of epibiont ciliates (Cilliophora: Suctorea) on pelagic ostracods (Crustacea: Ostracoda) from the Arabian Sea.

The article deals with the report of 5 suctorians viz. Lecanophryella satyanandani (Santhakumari, 1986), Paracineta karunakarani Santhakumari, 1986, Ephelota gemmipara (Hertwig, 1876), Acineta foetida Maupas, 1881 and Pelagacineta sp. on marine pelagic ostracods Cypridina dentata (Müller, 1906) from new localities of the Arabian Sea. Diagnostic characters of Paracineta karunakarani are emended. Ephelota gemmipara (Hertwig, 1876) and Acineta foetida Maupas, 1881 are reported here for the first time on planktonic marine ostracods. Pelagacineta sp. is reported for the first time as epibiont on ostracods and from the Indian Ocean.

A checklist of Pontarachnidae (Acari: Hydrachnidia) and notes on distributional patterns of the species.

A worldwide checklist of the pontarachnid mites is provided based on published reports and original data. A total of 53 valid species of pontarachnid mites have been compiled, of which the genus Pontarachna includes 30 species, while 23 species belong to the genus Litarachna. The highest number of species (n=16) is reported from the marine province Tropical West of the Pacific Ocean. A deutonymph of Litarachna triangularis is reported here from Dongsha Atoll, Taiwan. Patterns of endemism and seemingly incomplete species distributional records are the result of a lack of intensive faunistic surveys in different parts of the world. The taxonomy of Pontarachnid mites will be improved by the use of mite-specific sampling methods and the application of molecular phylogenetics.

Note on the genus Lecanophryella (Ciliophora: Suctorea) with description of a new species from west coast of India.

The article presents a review of the literature on known representatives of the genus Lecanophryella containing general characteristics of the members of this genus, information on morphology and data on distribution. Diagnostic characters of L. satyanandani is emended based on material collected from a new locality. A new species, Lecanophryella indica as epibiont on the body surface of cyclopoid copepod from the Zuari estuary, west coast of India is also described.