Menstrual health and hygiene amongst adolescent girls and women of reproductive age: a study of practices and predictors, Odisha, India.

BACKGROUND: Menstruation is a major physiological change in a woman's life, but lack of knowledge, poor practices, socio-cultural barriers, poor access to products and their improper disposal have significant consequences on health, dignity and well-being of women and adolescent girls. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the knowledge and practices related to menstrual health and hygiene amongst females of 10-49 years of age; explore the experiences and challenges of women during menstruation; and identify the key predictors of healthy menstrual health and hygiene. METHODS: Using a cross-sectional study design, we adopted a mixed methods approach for data collection. For quantitative household survey, a total of 921 respondents were selected from three districts of Odisha. Qualitative findings through focus group discussions and in-depth interviews supplemented the survey findings and helped to identify the barriers affecting good menstrual practices. Epi data version 2.5 and R 4.2.2 was used for data entry and data analysis, respectively. Descriptive statistics was used to calculate proportion, mean and standard deviation; Chi square test was used to measure the association between categorical variables. Bivariate and multivariate logistics analyses were done to identify predictors of healthy menstrual health and hygiene. For qualitative data analysis, thematic analysis approach was adopted using software Atlas.ti 8. RESULTS: For 74.3% respondents, mothers were the primary source of information; about 61% respondents were using sanitary pad. The mean age at menarche was 12.9 years and almost 46% of respondents did not receive any information about menstruation before menarche. Lower age and education up to higher secondary level or above had statistically significant associations with the knowledge about menstruation. Age, caste, respondent's education, mother's education, sanitation facility, availability of water, accessibility and affordability for sanitary pads were found to be strongly associated with good menstrual hygiene practices. CONCLUSION: Traditional beliefs regarding menstruation still persists at the community level. Educating mothers, increasing awareness about safe menstrual hygiene, providing adequate water and sanitation facilities and ensuring proper disposal of menstruation products need priority attention.

Forensic Characterization, Genomic Variability and Ancestry Analysis of Six Populations from Odisha Using mtDNA SNPs and Autosomal STRs.

Located on India's eastern coast, Odisha is known for its diverse tribes and castes. In the early days of genome sequencing technology, researchers primarily studied the Austroasiatic communities inhabiting this region to reconstruct the ancient origins and dispersal of this broad linguistic group. However, current research has shifted towards identifying population and individual-specific genome variation for forensic applications. This study aims to analyze the forensic efficiency and ancestry of six populations from Odisha. We assessed the SF mtDNA-SNP60™ PCR Amplification Kit by comparing it with PowerPlex® Fusion 6C System, a widely used autosomal STR (aSTR) kit, in an Indian cohort. Although the mtDNA SNP kit showed low discriminating power for individuals of a diverse population, it could identify deep lineage divergence. Also, we utilized mitochondrial and autosomal variation information to analyze the ancestry of six endogamous ethnic groups in Odisha. We observe two extremities-populations with higher West Asian affinity and those with East Asian affinity. This observation is in congruence with the existing information of their tribal and non-tribal affiliation. When compared with neighbouring populations from Central and Eastern India, multivariate analysis showed that the Brahmins clustered separately or with the Gopala, Kaibarta appeared as an intermediate, Pana and Kandha clustered with the Gonds, and Savara with the Munda tribes. Our findings indicate significant deep lineage stratification in the ethnic populations of Odisha and a gene flow from West and East Asia. The artefacts of unique deep lineage in such a diverse population will help in improving forensic identification. In addition, we conclude that the SF mtDNA-SNP60 PCR Amplification Kit may be used only as a supplementary tool for forensic analysis.

Low diversity, high dominance, and high host prevalence of parasitic isopods of the family Cymothoidae in Chilika lagoon, India: a comparative study between a semi-enclosed ecosystem and its adjoining open region.

Patterns in parasite diversity are shaped by their environmental and ecological settings, and to better understand their interactions with hosts and the corresponding biology, it is crucial to understand these context-dependent patterns. To achieve this, we use cymothoid isopods, an important group of fish parasites, to test a long-standing hypothesis about parasite diversity and prevalence pattern: whether semi-enclosed water bodies allow low diversity and high prevalence of parasitic isopods. Specifically, we compare these patterns between Chilika lagoon (Odisha, India), a semi-enclosed water body, and the adjoining Odisha coast (India). Our finding reveals that the semi-enclosed Chilika lagoon has a considerably lower diversity of parasitic isopods than its adjoining open sea along the Odisha coast. Additionally, the parasitic isopod infection levels in Chilika lagoon are noticeably higher, and isopod assemblage is less even than those in coastal waters along the Odisha coast. Our results support the hypothesised association between enclosed water bodies, parasite diversity, and host prevalence and contribute to an enhanced comprehension of the ecology of parasitic isopods in distinct marine environments.

To leave no one behind: Assessing utilization of maternal newborn and child health services by all the 13 particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTGs) of Odisha, India.

BACKGROUND: Indigenous tribal people experience lower coverage of maternal, newborn and child healthcare (MNCH) services worldwide, including in India. Meanwhile, Indian tribal people comprise a special sub-population who are even more isolated, marginalized and underserved, designated as particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTGs). However, there is an extreme paucity of evidence on how this most vulnerable sub-population utilizes health services. Therefore, we aimed to estimate MNCH service utilization by all the 13 PVTGs of the eastern Indian state of Odisha and compare that with state and national rates. METHODS: A total of 1186 eligible mothers who gave birth to a live child in last 5 years, were interviewed using a validated questionnaire. The weighted MNCH service utilization rates were estimated for antenatal care (ANC), intranatal care (INC), postnatal care (PNC) and immunization (for 12-23-month-old children). The same rates were estimated for state (n = 7144) and nationally representative samples (n = 176 843) from National Family Health Survey-5. RESULTS: The ANC service utilization among PVTGs were considerably higher than national average except for early pregnancy registration (PVTGs 67% versus national 79.9%), and 5 ANC components (80.8% versus 82.3%). However, their institutional delivery rates (77.9%) were lower than averages for Odisha (93.1%) and India (90.1%). The PNC and immunization rates were substantially higher than the national averages. Furthermore, the main reasons behind greater home delivery in the PVTGs were accessibility issues (29.9%) and cultural barriers (23.1%). CONCLUSION: Ours was the first study of MNCH service utilization by PVTGs of an Indian state. It is very pleasantly surprising to note that the most vulnerable subpopulation of India, the PVTGs, have achieved comparable or often greater utilization rates than the national average, which may be attributable to overall significantly better performance by the Odisha state. However, PVTGs have underperformed in terms of timely pregnancy registration and institutional delivery, which should be urgently addressed.

Description of a new species of the genus Awaous Valenciennes, 1837 (Gobiiformes: Oxudercidae) from the middle stretch of the Mahanadi River, Odisha, India, with comments on the Awaous species from India.

A new species of the genus Awaous (Oxudercidae), Awaous motla sp. nov., is described based on 18 specimens collected from the Mahanadi River near Sonepur, Subarnapur District, and 3 specimens from the same river near Boudh bridge, Boudh District of Odisha, India. This species is distinct from its congeners by having a combination of characteristics: relatively small eyes, diameter of 6.6-8.4 in head length (LH); robust and long snout, 2.0-2.6 in LH; eye diameter 2.7-4.1 in snout length; cephalic sensory pore system interrupted with eight pores; predorsal scales 13-15; longitudinal scale series 55-58; gill rakers 2 + 1 + (6-7) on the first gill arch; teeth small, conical, and in a single row on the upper jaw and multiserial (2-3) on the lower jaw. This species is also differentiated from some of its congeners in the nucleotide composition of the cytochrome c oxidase I gene by 8.3%-13.8% Kimura two-parameter (K2P) distance and belongs to a separate cluster in the maximum likelihood tree analysis. This finding is also supported by the species delimitation analysis based on Assemble Species by Automatic Partitioning. The new species holds high commercial value in its locality and needs special conservation attention for sustainable utilization.

Unravelling the signatures of submarine groundwater discharge and seawater intrusion along the coastal plains of Odisha, India: a multi-proxy approach.

Submarine Groundwater Discharge (SGD) and Seawater Intrusion (SWI) are two contrary hydrological processes that occur across the land-sea continuum and understanding their nature is essential for management and development of coastal groundwater resource. Present study has attempted to demarcate probable zones of SGD and SWI along highly populated Odisha coastal plains which is water stressed due to indiscriminate-exploitation of groundwater leading to salinization and fresh groundwater loss from the alluvial aquifers. A multi-proxy investigation approach including decadal groundwater level dynamics, LANDSAT derived sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies and in-situ physicochemical analysis (pH, EC, TDS, salinity and temperature) of porewater, groundwater and seawater were used to locate the SGD and SWI sites. A total of 340 samples for four seasons (85 samples i.e., 30 porewater, 30 seawater and 25 groundwater in each season) were collected and their in-situ parameters were measured at every 1-2 km gap along ~ 145 km coastline of central Odisha (excluding the estuarine region). Considering high groundwater EC values (> 3000 µS/cm), three probable SWI and low porewater salinities (< 32 ppt in pre- and < 25 ppt in post-monsoons), four probable SGD zones were identified. The identified zones were validated with observed high positive hydraulic gradient (> 10 m) at SGD and negative hydraulic gradient (< 0 m) at SWI sites along with anomalous SST (colder in pre- and warmer in post-monsoon) near probable SGD locations. This study is first of its kind along the Odisha coast and may act as initial basis for subsequent investigations on fresh-saline interaction along the coastal plains where environmental integrity supports the livelihood of coastal communities and the ecosystem.

Spectrum of ctxB genotypes, antibiogram profiles and virulence genes of Vibrio cholerae serogroups isolated from environmental water sources from Odisha, India.

BACKGROUND: The present study reports on the comprehensive analysis of Vibrio cholerae O1 and non-O1/non-O139 serogroups isolated from environmental water sources during cholera outbreaks, epidemics and surveillance studies between years 2007 to 2019 from different districts of Odisha, India. METHODS: A total of 85 stocked cultures of V. cholerae O1 and non-O1/non-O139 strains were analyzed for different ctxB genotypes, toxic genes, antibiogram profiles through PCR assays and pulsotyped by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). RESULTS: From all V. cholerae strains tested, 51 isolates were O1 Ogawa and the rest 34 strains were non-O1/non-O139. All the V. cholerae O1 strains were altered El Tor variants carrying ctxB1, ctxB3 and ctxB7 genotypes. However, only ctxB1 genotypes were present in V. cholerae non-O1/non-O139. Though non-O1/non-O139 strains were negative by O1 antisera, 20% strains were positive for rfbO1 gene by PCR assay. All the V. cholerae isolates possessed a variety of virulence genes including ace, ctxAB, toxR, zot, hlyA which were in higher percentage in the case of V. cholerae O1. The Vibrio cholerae O1 and non-O1-/non-O139 strains showed multiple antibiotic resistances in 2007 and 2012. The PCR detection of four resistance associated genes (strB, dfrA1, sulll, SXT) confirmed higher prevalence in V. cholerae non-O1/non-O139 strains. The PFGE analysis revealed 3 pulsotypes having 93% similarity among V. cholerae O1 strains. CONCLUSION: This study indicates the changing epidemiology, antibiogram patterns and continuous genetic variation in environmental V. cholerae strains of Odisha over the years. So continuous surveillance is necessary to understand the changing patterns of V. cholerae different serogroups isolated from stool and water samples from Odisha.

Impacts of climate change and coastal salinization on the environmental risk of heavy metal contamination along the odisha coast, India.

Climate change-mediated rise in sea level and storm surges, along with indiscriminate exploitation of groundwater along populous coastal regions have led to seawater intrusion. Studies on groundwater salinization and heavy metal contamination trends are limited. Present study investigated the heavy metal contamination, associated risks and provided initial information on the impacts of groundwater salinization on heavy metals along the coastal plains of Odisha, India. Total 50 groundwater samples (25 each in post- and pre-monsoon) were collected and analysed. Concentrations of Fe (44%), Mn (44%), As (4%) and Al (4%) in post-monsoon and Fe (32%), Mn (32%), As (4%), B (8%) and Ni (16%) in pre-monsoon exceeded Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) drinking water limits. High concentrations of heavy metals (Fe, Sr, Mn, B, Ba, Li, Ni and Co) and high EC (>3000 µS/cm) indicated that the groundwater-seawater mixing process has enhanced the leaching and ion exchange of metallic ions in central part of the study area. Multivariate statistical analysis suggested leaching process, seawater intrusion and agricultural practices as the main heavy metal sources in the groundwater. 4% of samples in post- and 16% in pre-monsoon represented high heavy metal pollution index (HPI). Pollution indices indicated the central and south-central regions are highly polluted due to saline water intrusion and high agricultural activities. Ecological risks in the groundwater systems found low (ERI <110) in both seasons. Children population found more susceptible to health risks than adults. Hazard index (HI > 1) has shown significant non-carcinogenic risks where Fe, Mn, As, B, Li and Co are the potential contributors. Incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR >1.0E-03) has suggested high carcinogenic risks, where As and Ni are the major contributors. The study concluded that groundwater salinization could increase the heavy metal content and associated risks. This would help policymakers to take appropriate measures for sustainable coastal groundwater management.

A spectrum of viral diseases in Odisha state, eastern India: An evidence-based analysis from 2010-2017.

Introduction: Emerging and re-emerging viral diseases are a major threat to public health. Odisha, being one of the coastal states in the country, reports many viral illnesses due to its typical geographical location. This study focuses on the prevalence of different viral diseases in the state of Odisha, India, from 2010-2017. Material and Methods: A total of 43,397 patients with clinical suspicion of viral diseases were screened for different viral etiologies during 2010-2017. The laboratory diagnosis was conducted by serology (ELISA) and RT-PCR for 24 different viruses, i.e., dengue, chikungunya, Japanese encephalitis, hepatitis A virus, hepatitis E virus, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, rotavirus, herpes simplex virus-1 and herpes simplex virus-2, Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, and respiratory viruses. Patients were enrolled from sporadic hospital admissions and outbreaks under different categories as per clinical diagnoses like fever with rash, diarrhoea, encephalitis, jaundice, respiratory illness, and fever of unknown etiology. Results: The majority of patients belonged to exanthematous group, i.e., fever with rash (32.24%). The number of males was more in all categories except fever with rash, where females (53.34%) were more. Children <16 years of age were found to be the predominant age group for suspected viral diarrhoea (85.26%), encephalitis (76.96%), fever of unknown origin (40.16%), and respiratory infections (27.23%). Conclusion: Not only vector-borne diseases pose a threat to the Odisha state, but other viral illnesses have also emerged. This detailed report of different viral diseases in the state of Odisha will support public health management.

When increasing vegetable production may worsen food availability gaps: A simulation model in India.

Translating agricultural productivity into food availability depends on food supply chains. Agricultural policy and research efforts promote increased horticultural crop production and yields, but the ability of low-resource food supply chains to handle increased volumes of perishable crops is not well understood. This study developed and used a discrete event simulation model to assess the impact of increased production of potato, onion, tomato, brinjal (eggplant), and cabbage on vegetable supply chains in Odisha, India. Odisha serves as an exemplar of vegetable supply chain challenges in many low-resource settings. Model results demonstrated that in response to increasing vegetable production 1.25-5x baseline amounts, demand fulfillment at the retail level fluctuated by + 3% to -4% from baseline; in other words, any improvements in vegetable availability for consumers were disproportionately low compared to the magnitude of increased production, and in some cases increased production worsened demand fulfillment. Increasing vegetable production led to disproportionately high rates of postharvest loss: for brinjal, for example, doubling agricultural production led to a 3% increase in demand fulfillment and a 19% increase in supply chain losses. The majority of postharvest losses occurred as vegetables accumulated and expired during wholesale-to-wholesale trade. In order to avoid inadvertently exacerbating postharvest losses, efforts to address food security through agriculture need to ensure that low-resource supply chains can handle increased productivity. Supply chain improvements should consider the constraints of different types of perishable vegetables, and they may need to go beyond structural improvements to include networks of communication and trade.

Outbreaks and sporadic cases of japanese encephalitis in the state of Odisha, India: Outcome of 7 years of laboratory surveillance.

Acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) is a major public health challenge in India. We report here the epidemiology of sporadics and outbreaks of Japanese Encephalitis (JE) in Odisha state during 2012-2018. A total of 4235 AES cases (sporadics - 3394, outbreak cases - 841) recorded including 42 outbreaks; majority (n = 18) of which were during 2016. Overall JE virus (JEV) positivity was 11.78% (outbreak cases - 24.5%, sporadic cases - 8.6%). Age ≤15 years were largely affected during outbreaks, while 16-60 years population was dominant among sporadics. The major outbreak (2016) involved 336 patients from a tribal dominated district, spread over 173 villages. JEV seropositivity was high (43.45%) with 28.57% mortality. Epidemiological linkage with pig rearing was documented through JEV neutralizing antibodies in 50% of pig serum samples. Although the postvaccination period (2017-18) showed increase in AES case reporting but low JE proportion. Ongoing surveillance and preparedness of the health system would be of importance, especially in tribal-dominated districts.

A community based study on haemoglobinopathies and G6PD deficiency among particularly vulnerable tribal groups in hard-to-reach malaria endemic areas of Odisha, India: implications on malaria control.

BACKGROUND: Haemoglobinopathies and G6PD deficiency are inherited disorders found mostly in malaria-endemic areas among different tribal groups of India. However, epidemiological data specific to Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), important for planning and implementing malaria programmes, is limited. Therefore, the present community-based study aimed to assess the prevalence of haemoglobinopathies and G6PD deficiency among the 13 PVTGs found in the state of Odisha, reporting the maximum malaria cases in the country. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted from July 2018 to February 2019 in 12 districts, home to all 13 PVTGs, in an estimated sample size of 1461, selected two-stage sampling method. Detection of haemoglobinopathies was done by the variant analyser. Screening of G6PD deficiency was carried out using DPIP method followed by quantification using spectrophotometry. The PCR-RFLP technology was used to determine variant of G6PD deficiency and haplotype analysis of sickle cell, while ARMS-PCR and GAP-PCR was used for detecting the mutation pattern in ß-thalassaemia and α-thalassaemia respectively. The diagnosis of malaria was done by Pf-PAN RDT as point of care, followed by nPCR for confirmation and Plasmodium species identification. RESULTS: The prevalence of sickle cell heterozygotes (AS) was 3.4%, sickle cell homozygous (SS) 0.1%, ß-thalassaemia heterozygotes 0.3%, HbS/ß-thalassaemia compound heterozygote 0.07%, HbS-α-thalassaemia 2.1%, G6PD deficiency 3.2% and malaria 8.1%. Molecular characterization of ßS revealed the presence of Arab-Indian haplotype in all HbS cases and IVS 1-5 G → C mutation in all ß-thalassaemia cases. In case of α-thal, αα/α-3.7 gene deletion was most frequent (38%), followed by αα/α-4.2 (18%) and α-3.7/α-3.7 (4%). The frequency of G6PD Orissa (131C → G) mutation was found to be 97.9% and G6PD Mediterranean (563C → T) 2.1%. Around 57.4% of G6PD deficient individuals and 16% of the AS were found to be malaria positive. CONCLUSION: The present study reveals wide spread prevalence of sickle cell anaemia, α-thalassaemia, G6PD deficiency and malaria in the studied population. Moderate to high prevalence of G6PD deficiency and malaria warrants G6PD testing before treating with primaquine (PQ) for radical cure of Plasmodium vivax. Screening and counselling for HbS is required for the PVTGs of Odisha.

Serological survey for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among tribal communities of Odisha post-second wave.

Background & objectives: Serial national level serosurveys in India have provided valuable information regarding the spread of COVID-19 pandemic in the general population, but the impact of the ongoing pandemic on the tribal population in India is not well understood. In this study, we evaluated the seroprevalence of COVID-19 antibodies in the tribal population of Odisha post-second wave (September 2021). Methods: A population-based, age-stratified, cross-sectional study design was adopted for the survey, carried out in seven tribal districts of Odisha from 30th August to 16th September 2021. A multistage random sampling method was used where serum samples were tested for antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) protein in each district, and a weighted seroprevalence with 95 per cent confidence interval (CI) was estimated for each district. Results: A total of 2855 study participants were included from the seven tribal districts of Odisha in the final analysis. The overall weighted seroprevalence was 72.8 per cent (95% CI: 70.1-75.3). Serological prevalence was the highest among 18-44 yr (74.4%, 95% CI: 71.3-77.3) and from Sambalpur district [75.90% (66.90-83.10)]. Among participants, 41.93 per cent had received at least one dose of any COVID-19 vaccine. Kandhamal district had the highest number of fully immunized participants (24.78%), and in Sundergarh district, most of the study participants (58.1%) were unimmunized. Interpretation & conclusions: This study found high seroprevalence against SARS-CoV-2 in the tribal population of Odisha. The vaccination coverage is at par with the general population, and efforts to address some knowledge gaps may be needed to improve the coverage in the future.

Hospitalization & health expenditure in Odisha: Evidence from National Sample Survey (1995-2014).

Background & objectives: Financing healthcare services through out-of-pocket payments is common in India. Household impoverishments due to health expenditure can be daunting, especially among the economically vulnerable households. This study investigated hospitalization and patient's health expenditure in Odisha State in India. Methods: The national sample survey data were used to assess hospitalization and patient's health expenditure over two time periods (1995 and 2014). Disease classification was made following International Classification of Diseases 10th revision (ICD-10). The hospitalization rate and health expenditure were estimated for infectious, cardiovascular, non-communicable, disability and other diseases. Andersen model was used to examine the determinants of healthcare expenditure. Results: Findings of the study revealed that hospitalization in Odisha increased nearly three folds and health expenditure by more than two times between 1995 to 2014. While the hospitalization for other diseases remained consistently higher, health expenditure for disability was the highest and it increased three times within the last two decades. The socio-economic and demographic divides in the hospitalization rate and health expenditure were evident. Interpretation & conclusions: Our analysis indicated that predisposing factors such as age and marital status played an important role in hospitalization whereas, enabling factors likely determined the health expenditure. There is a need to recognize the unique vulnerabilities of older population, widowed and health financial mechanism for disability-related illness.

Marriage practices, decision-making process and contraception use among young married men in rural Odisha, India.

Research on sexual and reproductive health including contraception use has predominantly focussed on women's behaviour. Much less is known about men's behaviour. We investigated the links between marriage practices and decision-making about contraception use among young married men in rural Odisha. This cross-sectional study used a mixed methods design. Data were collected through household surveys and in-depth interviews. Study findings revealed that over half of men were ill prepared for marriage and lacked understanding about what it would entail. Familiarity and communication between spouses were higher in self-arranged marriages and this contributed considerably to contraception use, while negative attitudes and lack of access to contraceptive supply and counselling hindered it. Many young men shied away from seeking contraception services at community level since the majority of frontline health workers providing such services were female. Findings reinforce the need for health system change to actively engage and involve young married men in decision-making about contraception use as well as to introduce male frontline health workers who can reach out to young men on SRH issues.

Forensic features and phylogenetic analyses of the population of Nayagarh (Odisha), India using 23 Y-STRs.

AIM: The present study was designed to explore the STR diversity and genomic history of the inhabitants of Nayagarh district of Odisha, India. We also tested the proficiency of the most recent, new generation PowerPlexR Y23 multiplex system for forensic characterisation and to decipher the phylogenetic affinities. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The genetic diversity and polymorphism among 236 healthy unrelated male volunteers from Nayagarh district of Odisha, India was investigated. This investigation was carried out via 23 Y-chromosomal STRs using capillary electrophoresis. RESULT: A total 223 unique haplotypes were reported. Discrimination capacity (DC), gene diversity (GD) and power of discrimination (PD) were observed as 0.945, 0.999999999998333, and 0.99999999999794, respectively. Polymorphic information content (PIC) and matching probability (PM) were reported as 0.999999999925535 and 2.06 × 10-12, respectively. Simultaneously, the haplogroup analysis characterised with C2, E1b1a, E1b1b, G2a, H1, I2a, J2a, J2b, L, O, O1, O2, Q, R1a, R2, and T haplogroups, disclosing the possible geographical relatedness of the studied population to different areas of the world. CONCLUSION: Phylogenetic analysis with previously reported Indian and Asian populations showed the genetic closeness of the studied population to different Indian populations and the Bangladeshi population of Dhaka, whereas the Bhotra population of Odisha and Han population of China showed much less genetic affinity.

Neglected malaria parasites in hard-to-reach areas of Odisha, India: implications in elimination programme.

BACKGROUND: Information on the foci of Plasmodium species infections is essential for any country heading towards elimination. Odisha, one of the malaria-endemic states of India is targeting elimination of malaria by 2030. To support decision-making regarding targeted intervention, the distribution of Plasmodium species infections was investigated in hard-to-reach areas where a special malaria elimination drive, namely Durgama Anchalare Malaria Nirakaran (DAMaN) began in 2017. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2228 households during July to November 2019 in six districts, to evaluate the occurrence of Plasmodium species. The species were identified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by sequencing, in case of Plasmodium ovale. RESULTS: Of the 3557 blood specimens tested, malaria infection was detected in 282 (7.8%) specimens by PCR. Of the total positive samples, 14.1% were P. ovale spp. and 10.3% were Plasmodium malariae infections. The majority of P. ovale spp. (75.8%) infections were mixed with either Plasmodium falciparum and/or Plasmodium vivax and found to be distributed in three geophysical regions (Northern-plateau, Central Tableland and Eastern Ghat) of the State, while P. malariae has been found in Northern-plateau and Eastern Ghat regions. Speciation revealed occurrence of both Plasmodium ovale curtisi (classic type) and Plasmodium ovale wallikeri (variant type). CONCLUSIONS: In the present study a considerable number of P. ovale spp. and P. malariae were detected in a wide geographical areas of Odisha State, which contributes around 40% of the country's total malaria burden. For successful elimination of malaria within the framework of national programme, P. ovale spp. along with P. malariae needs to be incorporated in surveillance system, especially when P. falciparum and P. vivax spp. are in rapid decline.

Genomic insight into Y-STR diversity in the population of Odisha, India.

This study evaluated the haplotype diversity of 17 Y chromosomal genetic markers among 202 unrelated males who were randomly selected in the population of Odisha, India. Out of total 196 haplotypes observed in this study, 190 were unique haplotypes. Forensic relevant parameters, viz., gene diversity (GD) and discrimination capacity (DC), were calculated as 0.999999998 and 0.970 respectively, for the studied population. The highest genetic diversity was observed at the locus DYS385a/b (0.9541) and lowest at the locus DYS437 (0.3326) among all the studied Y chromosomal loci. The polymorphic information content (PIC), power of discrimination (PD), and matching probability (PM) was found to be 0.999999965, 0.999999998, and 1.6×10-9 for the tested Y STR loci. The genetic data observed in this study would enrich the existing Y STR data of the Indian population and would also be useful for forensic application.

Decades of cholera in Odisha, India (1993-2015): lessons learned and the ways forward.

Cholera is one of the major public health problems in the state of Odisha, India since centuries. The current paper is a comprehensive report on epidemiology of cholera in Odisha, which was documented from 1993. PubMed and Web of Knowledge were searched for publications reporting cholera in Odisha during the period 1993-2015. The search was performed using the keywords 'Odisha' and/or 'Orissa' and 'Cholera'. In addition, manual search was undertaken to find out relevant papers. During the study period, a total of 37 cholera outbreaks were reported with an average of >1.5 cholera outbreaks per year and case fatality ratio was 0.3%. Vibrio cholerae O1 Ogawa serotype was the major causative agent in most of the cholera cases. The recent studies demonstrated the prevalence of V. cholerae O1, El Tor variants carrying ctxB1, ctxB7 and Haitian variant tcpA allele associated with polymyxin B sensitivity and these variants are replacing the proto type El Tor. The first report of variant ctxB7 in Odisha during super-cyclone 1999 predicted its emergence and subsequent spread causing cholera outbreaks. The prevalence of multidrug-resistant V. cholerae at different time periods created alarming situation. The efficacy trial of oral cholera vaccine (OCV, Shanchol) in a public health set-up in Odisha has shown encouraging results which should be deployed for community level vaccination among the vulnerable population. This paper has taken an effort to disseminate the valuable information of epidemiology of cholera that will influence the policy-makers and epidemiologists for constant surveillance in other parts of Odisha, India and around the globe.

Determinants of minimum acceptable diet feeding among children aged 6-23 months in Odisha, India.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the level, pattern and determinants of minimum acceptable diet (MAD) feeding in Odisha, India. DESIGN: Utilising cross-sectional data, the MAD was estimated through a dietary assessment method wherein the child's mother was asked to recall all the food intake of the youngest child the previous day and night of the surveyed date. SETTING: National Family Health Survey 2015-2016. PARTICIPANTS: Children aged 6-23 months, living with mother and for whom complete information on MAD was available (n 3073). RESULTS: Only 8·4 % of the children aged 6-23 months were fed MAD, and the MAD feeding varies considerably by socio-demographic characteristics. Children aged 12-17 months had two times (OR: 2·51, 95 % CI (1·48, 4·26)) and those aged 18-23 months had three times (OR: 3·77, 95 % CI (2·25, 6·30)) higher odds of having a MAD than their counterparts aged 6-8 months. Children whose mother was exposed to any mass media had a higher chance of MAD feeding (OR: 1·46, 95 % CI (1·01, 2·11)). CONCLUSIONS: The children of higher age, second or higher-order births, with mother exposed to mass media are significantly more likely to be fed with a MAD. At the same time, children from scheduled caste (SC) households have a lower probability of MAD feeding. The lower MAD feeding among the SC households suggests strengthening the ongoing programmes with a higher emphasis on the inclusion of this disadvantaged and marginalised group. Findings from the current study would assist policymakers, and public health managers improve MAD feeding practices in Odisha, India, in a targeted manner.