Tuberculin purified protein derivative (PPD) was prepared in this laboratory from H37Ra strain of M. tuberculosis. Using this antigen, non-competitive Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was carried out to detect lgG antibody in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens from forty patients with clinical diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis (TBM) and the data was compared with ten culture positive patients (positive control) of TBM. CSF specimens from fifty patients from non-tuberculosis neurological disease formed the control group in this study. The antibody titre did not depend upon lgG concentration in CSF, tuberculin reactor status or duration of chemotherapy in patients with TBM. The geometric mean antibody titre for tuberculous and non-tuberculous subjects were 195.5 and 20.5 respectively. At a dilution end-point 1:80 the assay had a sensitivity of 75% and specificity of 84.0%. However at dilution end-point 1:160 the specificity of the assay could be increased to 100%, but sensitivity of the assay was 70%. The non-competitive ELISA described in this communication has potential diagnostic application in patients with TBM in whom repeated cultures in CSF specimens fail to demonstrate the causative agent M. tuberculosis.

Breeding, care and management of large colony of guinea pigs suitable for performing potency testing is expensive as well as difficult to maintain. Moreover there is acute shortage of these animals in the country. In the present study effort has been made to find the suitability of different Breeding, care and management of large colony of guinea pigs suitable for performing potency testing is expensive as well as difficult to maintain. Moreover there is acute shortage of these animals in the country. In the present study effort has been made to find the suitability of different laboratory animals like mice, rats and hamster vis-a-vis quinea pigs for performing the potency of diphtheria and tetanus components by antibody titration method of adsorbed diphtheria tetanus vaccine (DT) and diphtheria tetanus pertossis vaccine (DPT). The results show that rats and mice were equally suitable for potency assay of diphtheria and tetanus component. Hamsters were not found to be suitable for assaying the potency of diphtheria components. Marked adjuvant effect of pertussis component was observed while performing the potency of tetanus component in rats. Comparative results of potency as obtained in different laboratory animals have been presented and discussed.

Colonies of different bacteria were rubbed on filter paper strips and the live bacteria were recovered from these strips even after 28 to 56 days. Further twenty isolates of Gram negative bacteria when transported on filter paper by ordinary post form which sufficient organisms were recovered at the receiving reference laboratory. This simple convenient and economical method is recommended for trial in transporting the bacteria from one laboratory to the various parts of the country.

Eight strains of Salmonella belonging to sub-genus I, having antigenic formula, 47: z4 z23: - were identified at National Salmonella and Eschrichia Center, Central Research Institute, Kasauli, since its inception in 1958. Source and placewise analysis of these strains showed this serotype to be essentially a human pathogen causing diarrhoea and systemic infections. Out of these eight strains, 3 strains received in 1983 were sensitive to different antibiotics tested. Five strains received in 1989 were multi-drug resistant. None of these strains produced bacteriocines, hemolysins and aerobactin.

In 21 cases of malaria due to plasmodium falciparum, schizonts were detected in the peripheral blood smears during a survey carried out by Malaria Research Center, Shahjahanpur from Jan. to Dec., 1988. The occurrence of schizonts was more among females (62.9%) than males (38.1%). The number of schizonts detected per mm3 of blood ranged from 4 to 760. It is concluded that schizonts of P. falciparum can be detected in peripheral blood also.

We repot a primary cutaneous infection in a 46 year old male diabetic patient, found to be caused by a dematiaceous fungus Drechslera spicifera (Bipolaris spicifera). The diagnosis was established by repeated cultures, morphology and animal pathogenicity. The lesions were resolved after treatment with amphotericin- B.

Clinical and laboratory study of trichomoniasis on 560 symptomatic patients and 40 asymptomatic subjects who were on intra–uterine contraceptive device (IUCD) for a long duration revealed that out of symptomatic patients 10% were positive for T. vaginalis by the vaginal swab and/or urine examination while none of the 40 subjects with IUCD showed any evidence of T, vaginalis infection. While frothy discharge was the commonest (51.7%) clinical sign in positive cases followed by chronic cervicitis (21.4%), pus discharge (10.7%) backache with healthy vagina and cervix (9%), cervicits erosion (5.3%) and pregnancy with while discharge (1.9%). Association of T. vaginalis in the female genital tract and urinary tract was found in 66%. Parasites could be detected in 78.5. 87.5 and 85.7% patients by using wet smear preparation, culture of the vaginal swab and urine examination respectively. Cure rate following metronidazole therapy was 81.8% after first course of therapy and 18.2% after two courses.

Salmonella senftenberg was isolated from the blood samples of two neonates admitted in the nursery attached to Gynae Ward of Rajendra Hospital, Patiala. Clinically these two were diagnosed as causes of septicaemia.

A total of 220 stool samples from children of less than 3 years age with acute/persistent diarrhoea were investigated for various enteropathogens. The predominant bacterial isolate was Eschericlia coli (positive 44.5% cases). Enteropathogenic, enterotoxigenic and enteroinvasive Esch. coli were detected in 23.2%, 12.7% and 1.4% cases respectively. Shigella sp, and salmonella typhimurium were isolated in 3.6% and 1.3% children respectively. In one case, Campylobacter jejuni was isolated. Rotavirus was detected in 14.1% cases. Candida albicans was isolated in 0.9% cases. In 2.7 children, Giardia lamblia and in 1.8% cases Entamoeba histolytica were detected. Cryptosporidium in pure from was detected in 1.4% cases. The importance of Cryptosporidium as a causative agent of diarrhoea in children is discussed.