Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Disease

925-927

Authors: Ahmed Sabbir, Majedul Islam, Mst. Marium Begum, Saikat Kumar Poddar, Amlan Ganguly

Zika infection, caused by Zika virus, is one of the life-threatening viral diseases of the 21st century. Though this virus came into our focus about 50 years ago, our understanding regarding this has not been improved till then. The probable reason lies within its characteristics of not showing any physical or physiological symptoms until the virus is spread to our next generation, new-born babies, who become mostly victims of microcephaly. The prime focus of this review was to demonstrate two focusing etiological features and complications related to Zika infection along with their findings. In the first study, the purpose was to isolate the virus strain and to find out the reason for not showing any physiological symptoms. The next study was about how Guillain-Barré syndrome can complicate the Zika infection in vector body. In short, a partial depiction of infection by Zika virus was tried to be focused.

936-939

Authors: Anubrata Paul, Arpana Vibhuti, Samuel Raj

Globally, dengue has become one of the major public health concerns. However, the threat of dengue virus (DENV) has been overlooked due to lack of continuous surveillance. The four DENV serotypes are the reason for this serious illness and for its treatment till date no commercial drug is available. The increase in demand of plant based medicine and lack of antidengue drug and therapy has triggered to review available literature of potential anti-dengue plants against DENV serotypes. Therefore, the twin objective of this study aims to explore the current dengue data in India (2011–2016) and to review potential anti-dengue plants for their inhibition activity on DENV serotypes. Dengue data from time period 2011–2016 has been reviewed and analysed state, region and year wise in India and studies from 2002–2016 related to potential anti-dengue plant have been reviewed for their inhibition activity on DENV serotypes. It was observed that Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Gujarat, West Bengal, Maharashtra and Karnataka are highly and most consistently affected states. South region of India, most affected by DENV and 2015, 2013 reported the highest number of dengue cases. Moreover, the reviewed potential anti-dengue plants majorly show inhibition activity against DENV 2. Study revealed the current scenario of DENV and identified the largely affected areas and regions in India for development of health initiatives and future studies are encouraged to identify plant species showing inhibition activity against DENV 3, 4.

943-945

Authors: Idris Abdullahi Nasir, Olajide Olubunmi Agbede, Mustapha Bakare, Muhammad Musa Babandina

Severe malaria and HIV coinfection is a disastrous syndemism especially in the face of antimalarial resistance and pregnancy. This case-control study investigated the effects of severe malaria parasitaemia (SMP)/HIV coinfections on hemoglobin concentration and CD4+ cell counts of pregnant women attending four government-owned secondary hospitals in Kaduna State, Nigeria. Eighteen HIV-infected women with SMP served as test subjects while 23 HIV-uninfected women with SMP served as control subjects. All test subjects were on firstline antiretroviral therapy. Antimalarial susceptibility testing (using chloroquine, artesunate, artether and sulfadoxin-pyrimethamine), CD4+ cell counts and hemoglobin concentration were conducted using schizont maturation assay, flow cytometry and methemoglobin methods respectively. Multidrug-resistant severe malaria parasitemia (MDRSMP) was defined by resistance against three or more antimalarial drugs. Eight (44.4%) women with SMP/HIV coinfections and none of the control subjects had MDRSMP respectively. There was statistical association between MDRSMP in test and control subjects (P = 0.015). Women with SMP had significantly low hemoglobin concentration [(7.1 ± 1.8) g/dL] and low CD4+ cell counts [(209.0 ± 43.0) cells/mm3] when compared with the control counterparts [(10.8 ± 2.2) g/dL and (431.0 ± 57.4) cells/mm3] (P < 0.05). SMP/HIV coinfection was significantly correlated with hemoglobin concentration (r = –1.25, P = 0.03) but not with CD4+ cell counts (r = –2.44, P = 0.075). SMP/HIV coinfections exist in our study area. In the absence of appropriate and prompt clinical interventions, these may lead to severe anemia and CD4+ lymphopenia.

952-956

Authors: Vena Chupia, Prapas Patchanee, Patcharin Krutmuang, Surachai Pikulkaew

Objective: To develop loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) to detect Nosema ceranae (N. ceranae) in honeybee samples. Methods: LAMP primers were designed recognizing six distinct fragments of 16s rRNA gene and LAMP reaction was determined by optimizing the concentration of reagents, such as forward inner primer and backward inner primer, deoxynucleoside triphosphate and betaine, time and temperature. Ten-fold serial dilutions of DNA were used to determine the detection limit and accuracy using both LAMP and PCR tests. Results: LAMP required 1.2 μmol/L of forward inner primer and backward inner primer primers, 0.2 μmol/L of forward outer primers and backward outer primer, 2 μmol/L of Mg2+, 0.6 mol/L of betaine, 0.6 μmol/L of deoxynucleoside triphosphate, 4.8 IU of Bst DNA polymerase and 30 ng of DNA. The optimal temperature was 63 °C and after a 40-min incubation time, a clearly ladder-like pattern of LAMP product appeared in the gel electrophoresis. LAMP appeared more sensitive than a standard PCR in detection of N. ceranae. Conclusions: LAMP gave a good results and it could be an alternative diagnostic tool instead of PCR to detect N. ceranae infection in honeybee.

961-968

Authors: Schehrazad Selmane, Leila Benferhat, Mohamed L’Hadj, Huaiping Zhu

Objective: To examine some epidemiological features of scorpion envenomations, analyse and interpret the recorded data, find any relationship between the incidence of scorpion stings and climatic factors, and finally develop a statistical model to estimate the variability among future cases in El Bayadh Province, Algeria. Methods: To assess the effects of climate variability on the scorpion envenomations, we applied the count data regression models to the monthly recorded scorpion stings in El Bayadh Province from 2001 to 2012. Results: The epidemiological analysis of data revealed that scorpion stings occured mainly in rural areas, round the clock, all year long with the highest seasonal incidence in summer, and the lowest in winter, all ages with male predominance. The ends of upper and lower limbs were the most affected parts of the human body. The majority of cases (95.7%) were classified as mild envenomations and systemic toxicity was observed in 4.3% of cases. The use of count data regression models showed that the negative binomial regression was appropriate to forecast cases and the fitted data agreed considerably with the actual data. Moreover, the model had predicted the monthly scorpion sting cases for the year of 2013, with satisfactory accuracy. Conclusions: This study shows an optimism for forecasting scorpion stings by modelling and calibration with surveillance data and climate information. This knowledge could help to contain any unusual situation and assist health decision-makers to strengthen the prevention and control measures and to be in a state of readiness.

973-978

Authors: Lame Younoussa, Elias Nchiwan Nukenine, Simon Pierre Yinyang Danga, Charles Okechukwu Esimone

Objective: To investigate the repellent efficacy of the creams formulated from methanol extract and n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanol fractions as well as essential oils of Annona senegalensis (A. senegalensis) and Boswellia dalzielii (B. dalzielii) leaves against the malarial vector Anopheles gambiae (An. gambiae) in the laboratory. Methods: The efficacies of 25% w/w active ingredient creams formulated from the plant-based products were tested. Different concentrations of the creams, ranging from 2.0 to 12.0 mg/ cm²were applied on the exposed dorsal hand area (25 cm2) of volunteers. The treated hands were submitted to 50 caged blood-starved females of An. gambiae for 3 min after every 30 min until 180 min. Results: Total protection of up to 120 and 60 min without bites of An. gambiae were recorded with n-hexane creams applied at 12 mg/cm2 respectively for A. senegalensis and B. dalzielii. The essential oil creams of the two tested plants applied at 6 mg/cm2 protected volunteers up to 120 min without mosquito bites. The commercial Odomos cream (12% N,N-diethyl- 3-methylbenzamide) tested as the positive control at 6 mg/cm2 protected volunteers from mosquito bites up to180 min. Conclusions: These results suggest that the cream formulated from the n-hexane fraction of A. senegalensis and essential oil creams of A. senegalensis and B. dalzielii leaves have the potential of a natural herbal source for the development of new, safe and eco-friendly repellent products to prevent An. gambiae bites.

987-989

Authors: Othman Wan-Norafikah, Han Lim Lee, Seau Rong Loke, Wei Ann Andy-Tan, Chee Dhang Chen

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of a synergized pyrethroid formulation containing 0.8% w/ w s-bioallethrin, 18.7% w/w permethrin and 16.8% w/w piperonyl butoxide. Methods: Cold fogging was carried out against Aedes aegypti (Ae. aegypti) and Culex quinquefasciatus using a synergized pyrethroid formulation containing 0.8% w/w s-bioallethrin, 18.7% w/w permethrin and 16.8% w/w piperonyl butoxide. Three cages each containing 15 mosquitoes and paper cups each containing 25 larvae in 250 mL of water were deployed at each test pole between 10 and 40 feet. The formulation was diluted as 1:33, 1:50 and 1:100, respectively, and applied using a mist blower. Results: Using the dilution ratio of 1:33 and 1:50, 100% adult knock-down was recorded after an hour of post spraying at all checkpoints for both species. The percentage of adult mortalities for both species at 24 h post spraying ranged from 80% to 100%. Moreover, complete mortalities of Ae. aegypti larvae were demonstrated for both dilution ratio of 1:33 and 1:50 at all checkpoints. Meanwhile, complete mortalities of Culex quinquefasciatus larvae were recorded only at 10 and 20 feet with dilution ratio of 1:33. Conclusions: These results showed that cold fogging using synergized pyrethroid formulation tested was more effective against Ae. aegypti between 10 and 30 feet with dilution ratio of 1:33.

996-999

Authors: Muhammad Rowshanul Habib, Muhammad Rezaul Karim

Objective: To test the insecticidal activity of ethyl acetate extract of Calotropis gigantea L. flower (designated as EECF) against stored grain pest Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) of different larval and adult stages. Methods: Residual film method was used here to study the toxicity of EECF against Tribolium castaneum and gas chromatography-mass spectrometer analysis was also performed to characterize the chemicals of EECF. Results: In residual film bioassay, EECF showed lowest LD50 (0.134 mg/cm2) against 1st instar larvae of Tribolium castaneum and this finding ultimately revealed that the insect of initial stage was more susceptible than other stages. From the results of this study, it was found that with the increasing of age, Tribolium castaneum showed some extent of resistance against the toxicity of EECF. Moreover, chemical profiles of EECF identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometer analysis were also found to consistent with its insecticidal activity. Conclusions: So, the overall results suggested that extracts of Calotropis gigantea L. flower have potential insecticidal effect which might be used in pest control.

1004-1006

Authors: Ourlad Alzeus G. Tantengco, Marlon Lian C. Condes, Hanna Hasmin T. Estadilla, Elena M. Ragragio

This study investigated the antibacterial activities of methanolic crude extracts of Vitex parviflora (V. parviflora) leaves and stem and Cyanthillium cinereum (C. cinereum) leaves and roots. Crude methanolic extracts of V. parviflora and C. cinereum were tested for their antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus subtilis. The leaf and stem extracts of V. parviflora and root extracts of C. cinereum exhibited high antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus. Increasing concentration of the V. parviflora leaves and roots crude extracts resulted in an increasing antistaphylococcal activity as exhibited by increasing diameters of zone of inhibition. Root extracts of C. cinereum exhibited inverse dose-response relationship. The anti-staphylococcal activity was the highest at the lowest concentration (25 mg/mL) and it decreased as the concentration increased. This study established the anti-staphylococcal activity of methanolic crude extracts of V. parviflora leaves and stem and C. cinereum roots. This study also validated the use of these plants in folkloric medicines in the indigenous communities in the Philippines.