ABSTRACT: The genus Aeromonas is associated with a wide variety of human infective syndromes both as a primary pathogen as well as an opportunistic agent in immune-compromised hosts. Aeromonas isolated from different water bodies revealed the presence of virulence factors including enterotoxins, haemolysins, cytotoxins ['Asaotoxins'], adhesins, etc. They reside in sink traps and drainpipes and can be isolated from tap water faucets and distilled water supplies, which are potential sources of bacteria involved in nosocomial infection. The strains of Aeromonas isolated from food materials also possess virulence factors suggesting the possibilities of foodborne outbreaks. Correlating its prevalence in the aquatic environment and etiological role as a human pathogen, presence of this organism may be considered as an indicator of the drinking water and food quality. There is a need for further detailed studies on the molecular biology of virulence genes of aeromonads.

ABSTRACT: Mucormycosis refers to a group of rapidly progressive opportunistic infections caused by fungi belonging to the order Mucorales. Infections most often develop in individuals with immunological or metabolic compromise, although patients without underlying abnormalities are also affected. Specific clinical manifestations are associated with various predisposing factors. Rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis is the most common form and most frequently develops in individuals with poorly controlled diabetes mellitus. The extent of anatomical involvement and clinical course are unpredictable, depending on the intrinsic factors of the host. Over the past 30 years, the prognosis for patients with rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis, once considered a uniformly fatal disease, has improved. Co-ordinated medical and surgical treatments, including rapid diagnosis, the advent of systemic antifungal agents, aggressive surgical debridement and control of the underlying disease process, have credited with its successful managements. The range of survival rates recorded with the regimen of combined therapies is wide because the number of patients reported is limited and anatomical involvements is diverse. The characteristic clinical, radiographic and pathological features of rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis and the importance of early detection and aggressive treatment in the management of this frequently fulminant and fatal disease are reviewed.

ABSTRACT: A retrospective analysis of various intestinal parasites identified during the past decade was carried out in Nehru Hospital attached to Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh. A total of 82,667 stool samples were collected from patients attending outpatient departments (OPDs) and admitted to the various wards from 1988 to 1997 and were examined by routine microscopy using normal saline and iodine preparations. Negative samples were examined again after formol ether concentration method. From the data obtained, pattern of parasites identified was analysed to see whether there was any change in the trends during this period. The overall prevalence of intestinal parasite varied from 7.3 to 15.5 percent. Giardia lamblia was the most common parasite detected (4-9 percent) followed by Entamoeba histolytica (1 to 3 percent), Hookworms (0.4 to 1 percent), Hymenolepis nana (0.3 to 1 percent), Ascaris lumbricoides (0.2 to 0.6 percent) and Taenia species (0.02 to 0.12percent). Other helminthic infestations were rare (0.1 percent). Overall, there was a gradual decline in intestinal parasitosis during the past decade. Males (12.5 percent) were affected more than females (10 percent) and it was also observed that increased infection occurred during the monsoon season.

ABSTRACT: A total of 190 pregnant women attending antenatal clinic at Varanasi were screened for genital mycoplasmas at 34 plus minus 2 weeks gestation. Information regarding gestational age and birth weight of infants were recorded from 172 women at the time of delivery. Mycoplasma hominis was recovered from 9.7 percent, Ureaplasma urealyticum from 60.3 percent and both from 7.37 pregnant women at their prenatal visit. Prevalence of U. urealyticum was found to be significantly higher in women delivering low birth weight and premature infants. However, on categorization of low birth weight infants as preterm and term, this association became non-significant. Mean birth weight and mean gestational lengths of infants born to mothers colonized with U. urealyticum were significantly lower than those born to non-colonized mothers. Therefore, it can be concluded from the study that although U. urealyticum is not associated with low birth weight and prematurity, however, colonization in pregnant women is associated with a decrease in birth weight and gestational length of infants.

ABSTRACT: Use of the paraffin baiting technique allowed isolation of various casual agents from 13 of 14 clinically suspected and microscopically identified actinomycetomas, while only 8 of those were isolated by conventional culture in Sabouraud's dextrose agar medium. The baiting technique has been previously applied for isolation of various Nocardia species from soil or sputum samples. The present study revealed that a wide rage of causal agents can also be isolated by this technique from grains of actinomycetomas.

ABSTRACT: The present study sought to determine the prevalence of Taenia infestation in 3 areas of Goa with different cultural practices with regard to the handling and consumption of pork. A higher prevalence (12 percent) was found where residents handle and consume pork and beef, with low prevalence (3.4 percent) in a mixed population of consumers and nonconsumers and no Taenia in an area where pork is not eaten. However, a high prevalence of nematodes was found in the latter area and a low prevalence in areas with endemic Taenia infestations, possibly due to empiric albendazole therapy.

ABSTRACT: Forty eight patients with non-vital anterior teeth with closed pulp chamber attending the department of Conservative Dentistry of R. Ahmed Dental College and Hospital, Calcutta were studied to ascertain the efficacy of different root canal medicaments in controlling microbes after biomechanical preparation. Of the 48 cases, 45 (93.7 percent) showed presence of microorganisms. Enterococcus faecalis appeared to be the commonest organism followed by peptostreptococci and Streptococcus viridans. Bacteriodes melaninogenicus was isolated from 5 cases. One percent aqueous para chlorophenol was found to be the most effective medicament in disinfection of root canals.

ABSTRACT: One hundred isolates of Enterococcus faecalis obtained from various clinical samples were screened for Beta lactamase production by the acidometric method and the Clover leaf technique. Antibiogram of the isolates were done according to recommended methods. Thirty two percent were positive for Lactamase-lactamase production by the acidometric method and 34 percent by the cover leaf technique. Three percent of the isolates which were found to be resistant to penicillin by antibiogram were Bit-lactamase negative by clover leaf pattern. Though both the tests are simple and easy to perform clover leaf technique is easy, cost effective and can be done in any diagnostic laboratory.

ABSTRACT: The presently recommended tests for assaying rabies antibodies like mouse neutralization test (MNT) and rapid fluorescent focus inhibition test (RFFIT) are time consuming, expensive and are generally performed in reference laboratories only. In this study we have developed a simple passive haemagglutination test (PHA) by coating concentrated rabies virus, the challenge virus standard (CVS) grown in vero cells on to trypsin treated sheep red blood cells by using chromium chloride (0.4 percent) as a coupling agent. Three hundred and four serum samples from patients who had received post-exposure treatment with different rabies vaccines and 16 serum and CSF samples from autopsy confirmed paralytic rabies patients were tested by PHA and the results evaluated in comparison to titers obtained with standard MNT. Though the titers obtained with PHA were less than those observed with MNT, there was a significant correlation between the results, when analyzed by Pearson's product movement correlation coefficient (r=0.807). The sensitivity of PHA was 95.5 percent and specificity was 97.9 percent. This simple and rapid test may serve as a screening test for large number of samples obtained from field studies for evaluation of rabies antibodies following vaccination. It may also help in rapid antemortem diagnosis of human rabies.(125-130)

ABSTRACT: A comparison of the invitro activity of isepamicin with amikacin and gentamicin was made. A total of 102 clinical isolates of Gram negative (n=72) and Gram positive organisms (n=30) from various clinical sources were included for testing. All the strains tested except 4 strains of Staphylococcus. aureus, were susceptible to isepamicin; these 4 strains of S. aureus (methicillin resistant) also showed resistance to amikacin and gentamicin. Of the 3 antimicrobials tested resistance to gentamicin was the highest at 38 percent. The MIC90 values of isepamicin were lower for all the strains as compared to amikacin and gentamicin. In the emerging scenario of increasing global resistance to amikacin and gentamicin, isepamicin could be considered as an alternative, especially in the management of neutropenic sepsis.

ABSTRACT: A rare bilateral eumycetoma involving feet of a 70-yr-old farmer from Bangladesh is reported here. Phialemonium sp. was isolated from the patient.

ABSTRACT: A 35-yr-old female, belonging to a rural area, presented with pain in the abdomen for two months and distension for 15 days. Laboratory investigations of ascitic fluid microfilaria, identified as microfilaria of Mansonella perstans. The patient responded to diethylcarbamazine treatment. This is the first report of occurrence of infection due to M. perstans in India and the Asian sub-continent.