Prevalence and Burden of Gastrointestinal Parasites in Stray Cattle of Kathmandu Valley

Gastrointestinal parasites (GIPs) are ubiquitous among cattle resulting severe infection. Prevalence of GIPs in stray street cattle may pose risk of dissemination of parasites of zoonotic importance. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of GIPs in stray cattle of Kathmandu valley. Hundred (n=100) freshly voided dung samples were collected from eight places. The samples were processed using concentration method for microscopic examination, and modified McMaster technique for quantification of mean eggs/oocysts per gram of feces (EPG/OPG). Results revealed that 72% of the cattle were found positive for one or more species of GIPs and nine genera of GIPs were recorded (Eimeria, Ostertagia, Haemonchus, Trichostrongylus, Capillaria, Trichuris, Toxocara, Fasciola and Paramphistomum). The prevalence of parasitic infection was higher in male (73.68%) than in female (69.76%). The prevalence was found to be highest in adults (63.89%) followed by heifers (27.78%) and calves (8.33%). Approximately 76% of the cross breed and 65% local breed of cattle were positive for parasitic infection. The parasites differed both in prevalence and intensity, Eimeria sp. being the most prevalent (27%) with highest intensity (858.02 OPG ±63.46 SD). To our information, this is the first research of its kind in relation to stray cattle in Nepal. Our findings reveal that there is burden of helminth infections of zoonotic and socioeconomic importance in the straycattle. Therefore, it warrants regular inspection, relevant preventive measures and molecular detection of parasites.

Parasitic contamination of fresh vegetables sold in open markets: a public health threat

Vegetables eating raw are a leading source of transmission of infective forms of pathogenic internal parasites among human beings. This research was conducted from April to October, 2017 to assess the parasitic contamination of vegetables sold at main vegetable markets in districts Lower Dir and Peshawar, Pakistan. Eight hundred specimens of different vegetables were purchased and soaked in physiological saline solution, shaken with a mechanical shaker for 20 minutes and processed by sedimentation concentration method. Results revealed that only 19.7% (n=158/800) of the vegetables were found to be contaminated with single or multiple parasite species. Ascaris lumbricoides (the large round worm) 12.3% (n=99/800) was the most commonly detected pathogen and Taenia saginata (the beef tapeworm) 1.62% (n=13/800) was the least frequently detected one. Interestingly, significant p value (p>0.05 at 95%CI) between the number of examined and contaminated for all the variables studied including education status of the vendors, markets location, type of vegetables, means of display, washed before display, washing source of water and market type. The findings of this study evidenced that consumption of raw vegetables possesses great risk of getting parasitic infections in Lower Dir and Peshawar districts, Pakistan. Instructing the sellers and the public about parasitic disease transfer and their hygiene can reduce the infection rate of parasites of human origin.

Improved Diagnosis of Pulmonary Tuberculosis using Bleach (Sodium hypochlorite) Concentration Technique at Tertiary Care Hospital

Introduction: In the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program (RNTCP), microscopic examination of sputum for acid-fast bacilli (AFB) is currently the backbone for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis. Studies have shown liquefaction and concentration of sputum by 5% sodium hypochlorite is useful in providing increased sensitivity and safety for the handling of specimens. Objective: To assess the utility of the 5% Sodium hypochlorite concentration method in increasing the sensitivity of smear microscopy for detection of AFB for diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis. Methods: The study included a total of 1000 sputum samples from 500 patients with suspected pulmonary tuberculosis. Direct smears were prepared from the sputum samples as per RNTCP guidelines. The remaining sputum was used for bleach concentration and smears prepared from the concentrated material. Both smears were stained by Ziehl-Neelsen staining and screened for acid-fast bacilli and graded according to the RNTCP guidelines. Results: A total of 158 samples (15.8%) from 89 patients were positive by a routine direct method whereas by concentration method 236 samples (23.6%) from 143 patients were found positive diagnosing additional 54 patients. The gain in sputum smear positivity of 7.8% over the routine method is highly significant (p=0.0000, χ2= 270) with a 10.8% increase in case detection. Conclusions: Improvement in the sensitivity of smears microscopy will be useful in case detection of tuberculosis especially in resource-poor countries. The increased positivity of microscopy by bleach method indicates that would prove useful if included in the RNTCP to improve case detection. Keywords: Concentration; smear positivity; sodium hypochlorite; tuberculosis.

Diversity of waterbirds in mudflat and fishpond habitats in coastal Wetlands of East Lampung, Indonesia

Coastal wetlands provide habitat for waterbirds. However, changes in land use in coastal wetlands in East Lampung, Lampung Province, might affect the use of habitats by waterbirds. The study objective was to identify waterbird species using wetland habitat in coastal areas of East Lampung. Field surveys were conducted in November 2020 in two habitat types, i.e., mudflats and fishponds, employing a concentration method from several vantage points, then calculating Shannon-Wienner diversity indices (H’). A total of 23 species from 9 families of waterbirds were recorded. Mudflat had a higher diversity (H’½2.21) than fishpond (H’=1.74). Sixteen species were found on mudflats, dominated by shorebirds from the families of Scolopacidae and Charadriidae, which are primarily migratory species. Fishponds were used by 12 species, dominated by the Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) and Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus). Two endangered species, i.e., Far Eastern Curlew (Numenius madagascariensis) and Milky Stork (Mycteria cinerea), and one vulnerable species, Lesser Adjutant (Leptoptilos javanicus), were observed using mudflats. This study showed that mudflat in coastal wetlands of East Lampung provides essential habitats for conserving threatened waterbirds and migratory shorebirds.

Portfolio of beetroot (Beta vulgaris L.) peel extracts concentrated by nanofiltration membrane

Membrane process is an intelligent alternative way of concentration, preferably for organic juices rich in thermolabile natural components. The expectation is to scale up the extraction of desired compounds from agro-industrial wastes through modernized concentration method. Recovery of betalains, phenolic, and antioxidant from beetroot peel extracts was accomplished by nanofiltration membrane (NF 200) at a recirculation flow rate (400 L h-1) and feed temperature (30 ºC) under constant transmembrane pressure (40 bar). Characterization of betaxanthin, betacyanin, phenolic, and antioxidant activity by spectrophotometric analysis revealed that the final samples contain these compounds respectively: 202.25±3.26 mg.L-1, 360.07±8.43 mg.L-1, 987.79±19.18 mg.L-1, 642.06±14.78 mg.L-1 (pure water); 206.62±1.37 mg.L-1, 339.72±2.89 mg.L-1, 972.72±47.49 mg.L-1, 745.97±25.45 mg.L-1 (ethanol-water). Final samples exhibit vivid colour and a considerably large amount of desired compounds compared to crude extracts and could have industrial applications.

Wild Apple-Associated Fungi and Bacteria Compete to Colonize the Larval Gut of an Invasive Wood-Borer Agrilus mali in Tianshan Forests

The gut microflora of insects plays important roles throughout their lives. Different foods and geographic locations change gut bacterial communities. The invasive wood-borer Agrilus mali causes extensive mortality of wild apple, Malus sieversii, which is considered a progenitor of all cultivated apples, in Tianshan forests. Recent analysis showed that the gut microbiota of larvae collected from Tianshan forests showed rich bacterial diversity but the absence of fungal species. In this study, we explored the antagonistic ability of the gut bacteria to address this absence of fungi in the larval gut. The results demonstrated that the gut bacteria were able to selectively inhibit wild apple tree-associated fungi. Among them, Pseudomonas synxantha showed strong antagonistic ability, producing antifungal compounds. Using different analytical methods, such as column chromatography, mass spectrometry, HPLC, and NMR, an antifungal compound, phenazine-1-carboxylic acid (PCA), was identified. Activity of the compound was determined by the minimum inhibitory concentration method and electron microscopy. Moreover, our study showed that the gut bacteria could originate from noninfested apple microflora during infestation. Overall, the results showed that in newly invaded locations, A. mali larvae changed their gut microbiota and adopted new gut bacteria that prevented fungal colonization in the gut.

SYNTHESIS, SPECTRAL CHARACTERIZATION AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITIES OF BIS(CYCLOPENTADIENYL)TITANIUM(IV) COMPLEXES WITH SCHIFF BASES DERIVED FROM5-(SUBSTITUTED ARYL)-2-HYDRAZINO-1, 3, 4-OXADIAZOLE AND INDOLINE-2, 3-DIONE

Titanium(IV) complexes of type[(η5-C5H5)2TiCl(L)] have been synthesized by the reactions of bis(cyclopentadienyl)titanium(IV)dichloride with Schiff bases (LH) derived by the condensation of 5-(substituted aryl)-2-hydrazino-1,3,4-oxadiazole and indoline-2,3-dione in tetrahydrofuranin the presence oftriethylamine. All these complexes are soluble in PhNO2, DMF and DMSO.The complexes were characterized by elemental analyses, electrical conductance, magnetic susceptibility, UV-Vis, IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, XRD and SEM spectral techniques. Low molar conductance values indicate that they are non-electrolytes. The spectral data indicate5-coordinate geometry for the complexes.XRD pattern indicate that the complexes have monoclinic crystal system and particle sizes were found 49.36 nm (nano-size). In vitro antifungal activity of synthesized compounds was evaluated against fungi Aspergillusniger, Aspergillusflavus,ColletotrichumfalcatumandIn vitro antibacterial activity was determined by screening the compounds against gram negative (P. aeruginosa, S.typhi) and gram positive (S. aureus and B.subtilis) bacterial strains using minimum inhibition concentration method (MIC) by serial dilution technique. The titanocene(IV) complexes have higher antimicrobial effect than the parent Schiff bases.

The Correlation between Personal Hygiene and Intestinal Parasitic Infection in Students of SDN 060889, SDN 060894, and SDN 060831 Medan

Background. Intestinal parasitic infections are globally endemic diseases. The presence of parasites in the intestine will lead to growth disturbance. Knowledge of personal hygiene is necessary for responding to an illness or other health problems. This study was conducted to determine the correlation between personal hygiene and intestinal parasitic infections in students. Method. This study is an observational analytic study with a cross-sectional design. Samples of this study were taken from students in grades IV, V, VI of SDN 060889, SDN 060894, and SDN 060831 Medan who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria, as many as 62 people. The research data are primarily collected in the form of questionnaires, and fecal specimens examined microscopically using the Kato-Katz and Ether Formol Concentration method. The data that has been collected will be analyzed using bivariate analysis with the chi-square test. Results. From 62 respondents, it was found that 26 (41.93%) respondents suffer from intestinal parasitic infections. There were 16 (25.80%) respondents who had poor personal hygiene, while 46 (74.19%) others had good personal hygiene. A significant correlation was found between personal hygiene and intestinal parasitic infections in study respondents (p = 0.001). Conclusions. There is a significant correlation between personal hygiene and intestinal parasitic infections in this study