Impact of diabetes mellitus on adenolymphangitis episodes in patients with filarial lymphedema-Towards an integrated care approach.

Background: Filarial lymphedema, caused by lymphatic filariasis, is characterized by chronic swelling and recurrent skin infections. Acute adenolymphangitis (ADL) episodes significantly exacerbate morbidity. Diabetes mellitus (DM) increases susceptibility to infections; however, the relationship between diabetes and ADL frequency and severity in filarial lymphedema patients remains unclear.

Age and sex distribution trends of SARS-CoV-2 infections: Insights from three epidemic waves in Puducherry, India.

Introduction: This study analyzed the age and sex distribution of COVID-19 patients during the initial three COVID-19 waves in Puducherry, India, from August 2020 to March 2022, to understand the distribution of infection across different demographic groups.

Methods: The disease surveillance program conducted at ICMR-Vector Control Research Centre processed 79,705 Throat Swab/Nasal Swab (TSNS) samples received from various institutions in Puducherry through the Integrated Disease Surveillance Program (IDSP). Real-time reverse-transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) was performed following approved protocols.

Molecular identification of wild caught phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera, Psychodidae) by mitochondrial DNA barcoding in India.

Sand flies are medically important insects with diverse distributions and roles in pathogen transmission. Globally, over a thousand species have been documented, with Indian sand fly fauna currently comprising 71 species. Traditional morphological identification faces challenges due to specimen damage and the presence of cryptic species.

Diversity and spatiotemporal distribution of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) with emphasis on disease vectors across agroecological areas of Kerala, India.

Mosquitoes are important vectors of several diseases that significantly impact public health globally. This multi-district mosquito survey revealed the diversity and distribution of mosquito species across varied agroecological areas in Kerala, India. Immature and adult mosquito collections were carried out using standard, appropriate sampling methods and the mosquitoes were identified using morphological characters.

Elevated blood lead and metal levels among occupationally exposed tribal fishermen in Tamil Nadu, India.

Background: Fishermen are exposed to hazardous substances, including metals, through fishing-related activities, posing significant health risks, particularly among vulnerable tribal communities in mangrove ecosystems.

Objectives: This study assessed blood metal levels among tribal fishermen from Pichavaram, Tamil Nadu, India.

Methods: Blood samples from 53 fishermen were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) to quantify chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn).

Unveiling : detection of an emerging microbe in the skin microbiome of patients with filarial lymphedema.

is an emerging pathogen in human beings and only a few clinical cases were reported in the literature. We detected the presence of this unusual microbe among the skin flora of three patients with filarial lymphedema in a 16S rRNA-based metagenomic study on the skin microbiome. To our knowledge, this is the first report of detection of this microbe in patients affected with filarial lymphedema.

Epidemiological monitoring survey to assess the impact of mass drug administration with triple-drug regimen in lymphatic filariasis elimination programme in an endemic district in Southern India.

Background: Mass Drug Administration (MDA) with triple-drug regimen (Ivermectin, Diethylcarbamazine, and Albendazole- IDA), recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) was introduced in India in 2018, as an alternate strategy to two drug regimens (Diethylcarbamazine, and Albendazole- DA), for accelerating lymphatic filariasis (LF) elimination. By December 2023, IDA-MDA has been implemented in 63 LF endemic districts in India. The currently followed monitoring and evaluation (M&E) guidelines for DA may not be suitable to this new strategy.

Metagenomic Analyses of Gut Bacteria of Two Sandfly Species from Western Ghats, India, Differing in Their Vector Competence for Leishmaniasis.

Phlebotomine sandflies are the primary vectors of parasites, the causative agents of leishmaniasis. In India, is the confirmed vector of . The sandfly gut microbiota plays a crucial role in development and transmission, yet it remains largely understudied.

Prevalence and Abundance of Ixodid Ticks in Domestic Mammals in Villages at the Forest Fringes of the Western Ghats, India.

Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD), first reported in 1957 in the Shimoga district of Karnataka, India, has spread significantly over the past two decades, reaching both northern and southern states, with reports of monkey deaths. spp. ticks are the primary vectors, transmitting the disease to monkeys, humans, and other mammals.

Acute undifferentiated febrile illness in a traveler returning from Burkina Faso, West Africa to Puducherry, India- a case report.

Background: Imported malaria remains a significant diagnostic challenge, particularly in regions approaching elimination. This case report is novel in its exploration of the complexities involved in diagnosing malaria imported from a high-endemic area to a low-endemic region, emphasizing the critical role of detailed travel history and molecular diagnostics in identifying the disease. The case underscores the potential public health implications of missing such diagnoses in regions where routine malaria testing is not performed due to low endemicity.

Global insights can accelerate India's journey towards the elimination of lymphatic filariasis as a public health problem.

India has set an ambitious target to achieve the elimination of lymphatic filariasis (LF) as a public health problem by 2027, 3 years ahead of the global target. Achieving this goal demands accelerated progress and evidence-based strategies. This review synthesises insights from the policies and interventions of 21 countries that achieved LF elimination in the past decade (2015-2024).

Occupational health complaints and demographic features of farmers exposed to agrochemicals during agricultural activity.

Background: This cross-sectional study evaluates occupational health hazards among farmers' exposure to pesticides in Chikkaballapura, Karnataka, India, focusing on health complaints, demographic factors, occupational history and pesticide-handling practices.

Methods: A total of 226 participants were recruited, comprising 109 exposed farmers and 117 unexposed controls matched by age and gender. Structured questionnaires addressing demographics,and lifestyle characteristics, pesticide application practices, management procedures, and health complaints were used to gather data.

Stegomyia mosquitoes in the airport and seaports of Sri Vijaya Puram, Andaman and Nicobar Islands: A popular tourist destination.

Background Objectives: The breeding potential of vector mosquitoes of dengue and chikungunya viruses in and around airport and seaport of Sri Vijaya Puram (Port Blair), Andaman & Nicobar Islands was explored.

Methods: The survey was carried out for two years during the months of March and April. All the water holding containers in the residential and non-residential areas of airport and seaport were surveyed for Aedes immatures.

Comparative analysis of skin microbiome of patients with filarial lymphedema and healthy individuals.

Background: Lymphatic filariasis, a vector borne parasitic disease is a public health problem in the tropical region. Recurrent skin and soft tissue infections termed adenolymphangitis (ADL) is a major complication of filarial lymphedema. Understanding the changes in skin microbiome associated with this disease may provide novel insights on ADL attacks and lymphedema progression.

Morpho-molecular characterization of tick species prevalent in domesticated and semi-domesticated bovine species in three districts of Arunachal Pradesh.

Ticks are small, blood-sucking arthropods that pose a significant threat to public health and animal welfare worldwide. However, information on the relationships between tick species diversity, altitudinal gradients and hosts in Arunachal Pradesh is limited. This study investigates tick prevalence across five locations in Arunachal Pradesh, India, at altitudes ranging from 140 m to 1200 m.

Availability of anti-rabies vaccine and rabies immunoglobulin in Indian health facilities: a nationwide cross-sectional health facility survey.

Background: Ensuring the uninterrupted availability of the anti-rabies vaccine (ARV) and rabies immunoglobulin (RIG) in health facilities is crucial to achieve the global target of zero dog-mediated human rabies deaths by 2030. This study aimed to estimate the availability of ARV and RIG across health facilities in India.

Methods: We conducted a nationwide health facility-based, cross-sectional study across 60 districts selected by multistage probability sampling from 15 Indian states.

Evaluation of sampling strategies for assessing lymphatic filariasis endemic status of a non-MDA district in South India.

Background: India is moving towards the Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) elimination goal in 2027. Documentation on LF transmission status in the non-endemic and unsurveyed areas is crucial for WHO to certify that LF has been eliminated as a public health problem in the country. Appropriate sampling strategy is necessary to determine LF transmission status in the areas not under mass drug administration (MDA).

Report of a New Sand Fly (Diptera: Psychodidae) Species, () n. sp. from Madhya Pradesh, India.

Madhya Pradesh, a biodiversity-rich state in central India, reports sporadic non-indigenous leishmaniasis cases. Systematic entomological surveillance as part of molecular xenomonitoring in sand flies led to the discovery of a new species, ) n. sp.

The New Era of mRNA Vaccines: The Success of the COVID-19 Vaccines and the Safety Concerns in Adolescents.

A remarkable scientific achievement during the Covid pandemic is the rapid development and deployment of the mRNA vaccines which played a crucial role in reducing the Covid-related morbidity and mortality. The first-time safe use of the mRNA vaccine platform in humans opened up a new era in vaccinology. In the near future, the mRNA vaccine platform is likely to be used for other diseases as well.

Synergistic effects of imidacloprid on the Perionyx excavatus: Biomarker responses and gene expression profiles.

Imidacloprid, a widely used neonicotinoid insecticide, negatively impacts soil biota and harms the environment with long-term use. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of imidacloprid on Perionyx excavatus, an indigenous earthworm species found in India. To evaluate the toxic effects of imidacloprid on earthworms, avoidance behavior, acute toxicity, chronic toxicity, oxidative damage, and functional gene expression patterns were measured.

Industrial hotspot: Infestation of invasive Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus in Puducherry, India.

Objectives: Industrial zones are large, unsupervised areas with a high risk of Aedes vector infestation because of the presence of diverse artificial breeding habitats. Unlike community-based Aedes surveys, research on vector breeding in industrial settings is limited. Therefore, this research aimed to explore Aedes vector infestation levels in industrial regions, their breeding places and the presence of dengue virus transmission.

Molecular identification of immature stages of medically important fly species, Puducherry, South India: a preliminary study.

Flies and maggots are of medical importance, and it is often necessary to identify them at species level. Conventionally, this is carried out based on morphological features using taxonomic keys. However, identification of maggots based on morphology is difficult and required entomological expertise is often lacking in clinical settings.

Impacts of the seasonal climates, host preference and domestic habitat environment on the abundance of ticks in a district in Tamil Nadu, South India.

Ticks are medically and veterinary important hematophagous ectoparasites in transmitting many vector-borne diseases to humans and animals. A study was conducted (July 2017-June 2018) in the Madurai district, Tamil Nadu South India, to observe the host preference, abundance and seasonal variations of ectoparasites. A total of 1132 ticks belonging to 15 different species under 4 genera were collected from 114 cows, 35 dogs, 90 goats, 7 cats, and 22 hens.

In vivo evaluation of three isoxazolines against Cx. tritaeniorhynchus (Diptera: Culicidae): A novel approach to control Japanese encephalitis vector.

As Culex tritaeniorhynchus the primary vector of JE is a highly zoophagic and exophilic nature, a novel vector control approach use of isoxazolines drugs (Sarolaner, Fluralaner and Afoxolane) to reduce the survival of blood-fed mosquito was studied by in vivo model using Rattus norvegicus as an experimental animal. All the drugs are orally administered to the animal with therapeutic dosage. The drugs Fluralaner, Sarolaner and Afoxolaner induced 100 % mortality of Cx.

Is the Zika virus re-emerging as a distinct genetic lineage in India?

An outbreak of Zika fever occurred in Thiruvananthapuram City, Kerala, India, during 2021. At the request of the Kerala state health administration, we investigated the same, towards proposing requisite containment strategies for the disease outbreak. Epidemiological investigations indicated a clustering pattern of Zika fever cases with the presumed index case from a multi-speciality hospital in the city.