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Biomedical subjects

V P Sharma

Publications and source records attributed to V P Sharma.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Chloroquine resistant Plasmodium vivax malaria in India.

In India, 1.2-1.5 million new cases of Plasmodium vivax occur each year. These cases are successfully treated with 600 mg chloroquine (adult dose). We report the results of malaria treatment of a 13-year-old girl from the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Mathura, India who contracted P. vivax infection. The infection failed to respond to 2 cycles of standard chloroquine therapy. The concentrations of chloroquine were monitored with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The plasma and whole blood chloroquine concentrations were 260 and 106 micrograms/l respectively, while a 15 micrograms/l plasma concentration is considered lethal to P. vivax. Resistance in P. vivax to chloroquine was found at the IOC, Mathura.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Determination of levels of HCH and DDT in soil, water and whole blood from bioenvironmental and insecticide-sprayed areas of malaria control.

Concentrations of HCH and DDT in soil, water and whole blood were determined in two areas under malaria control. These were, (i) bioenvironmental control of malaria at BHEL, and (ii) residual spraying of insecticides in rural and urban area of Bahadrabad PHC of Hardwar district. Mean concentrations of HCH in soil and whole blood samples from BHEL was 2.26 micrograms/kg and 1.20 micrograms/l and from Bahadrabad 61.12 micrograms/kg and 24.3 micrograms/l respectively. Similarly, the mean concentration of DDT in soil and whole blood from BHEL was 3.68 micrograms/kg and 4.71 micrograms/l, while in Bahadrabad 270.51 micrograms/kg and 38.13 micrograms/l respectively. HCH and DDT were never detected in any water samples from BHEL area, while the mean concentration of these compounds in water of Bahadrabad area was 0.18 and 0.07 microgram/l respectively. Residual level of HCH and DDT were 27 and 73.5 times higher in soil and 20.2 and 8.1 times higher in whole blood samples from Bahadrabad as compared to their corresponding values from BHEL respectively.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Anopheles fluviatilis complex: host feeding patterns of species S, T, and U.

The host feeding specificity of Anopheles fluviatilis sibling species S, T, and U was determined by analyzing blood meal source using countercurrent immunoelectrophoresis. A distinct difference in the feeding patterns was observed among these species. Species S was found to be predominantly anthropophagic with 91% of the population having fed on human blood. In contrast, species T and U were either exclusively or primarily zoophagic.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Dynamics of malaria transmission in forested and deforested regions of Mandla District, central India (Madhya Pradesh).

A longitudinal malaria study was undertaken in 1990-91 in 2 adjacent ecological zones in central India: villages in forest and villages away from the forest. The prevalence of Anopheles species varied widely between the 2 ecological settings. In the villages in forest, Anopheles culicifacies and An. fluviatilis were mainly exophilic, whereas in the villages away from forest, An. culicifacies was predominantly endophilic and An. fluviatilis was equally prevalent both indoors and outdoors. The seasonal patterns of malaria transmission were also different between the 2 zones. Plasmodium falciparum was the dominant parasite species in the villages in forest, whereas malaria infection was mainly due to Plasmodium vivax in the villages away from forest. The annual parasite incidence was high in the villages in forest. The failure to control malaria in forested areas is rooted in the terrain and a variety of poorly understood sociological factors.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Repellency of Lantana camara (Verbenaceae) flowers against Aedes mosquitoes.

The repellent effect of Lantana camara flowers was evaluated against Aedes mosquitoes. Lantana flower extract in coconut oil provided 94.5% protection from Aedes albopictus and Ae. aegypti. The mean protection time was 1.9 h. One application of Lantana flower can provide more than 50% protection up to 4 h against the possible bites of Aedes mosquitoes. No adverse effects of the human volunteers were observed through 3 months after the application.

Aedes↗
PubMed1996

Control of Culex quinquefasciatus with Bacillus sphaericus in Vasco City, Goa.

In a locality (Sada) of Vasco City, Goa, India, that was highly infested with mosquitoes, weekly spraying of Bacillus sphaericus (strain 101, serotype H 5a 5b) at the rate of 1 g/m2 in polluted water habitats, viz, surface drains, cess pits, cess pools, and septic tanks, resulted in a sharp decline in the immature and adult populations of Culex quinquefasciatus. The per man-hour adult densities, percent habitat positivity, and immature densities were significantly lower (P < 0.001) in the treated area compared to the control area through out the study period.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Re-emergence of malaria in India.

Malaria was nearly eradicated from India in the early 1960s but the disease has re-emerged as a major public health problem. Early set backs in malaria eradication coincided with DDT shortages. Later in the 1960s and 1970s malaria resurgence was the result of technical, financial and operational problems. In the late 1960s malaria cases in urban areas started to multiply, and upsurge of malaria was widespread. As a result in 1976, 6.45 million cases were recorded by the National Malaria Eradication Programme (NMEP), highest since resurgence. The implementation of urban malaria scheme (UMS) in 1971-72 and the modified plan of operation (MPO) in 1977 improved the malaria situation for 5-6 yr. Malaria cases were reduced to about 2 million. The impact was mainly on vivax malaria. Easy availability of drugs under the MPO prevented deaths due to malaria and reduced morbidity, a peculiar feature of malaria during the resurgence. The Plasmodium falciparum containment programme (PfCP) launched in 1977 to contain the spread of falciparum malaria reduced falciparum malaria in the areas where the containment programme was operated but its general spread could not be contained. P. falciparum showed a steady upward trend during the 1970s and thereafter. Rising trend of malaria was facilitated by developments in various sectors to improve the national economy under successive 5 year plans. Malaria at one time a rural disease, diversified under the pressure of developments into various ecotypes. These ecotypes have been identified as forest malaria, urban malaria, rural malaria, industrial malaria, border malaria and migration malaria; the latter cutting across boundaries of various epidemiological types. Further, malaria in the 1990s has returned with new features not witnessed during the pre-eradication days. These are the vector resistance to insecticide(s); pronounced exophilic vector behaviour; extensive vector breeding grounds created principally by the water resource development projects, urbanization and industrialization; change in parasite formula in favour of P. falciparum; resistance in P. falciparum to chloroquine and other anti-malarial drugs; and human resistance to chemical control of vectors. Malaria control has become a complex enterprise, and its management requires decentralization and approaches based on local transmission involving multi-sectoral action and community participation.

Disease Outbreaks↗
PubMed1996

Study on the feasibility of delineating mosquitogenic conditions in and around Delhi using Indian Remote Sensing Satellite data.

A feasibility study to identify mosquitogenic conditions in six study sites in and around Delhi (Bhalaswa lake, Nazafgarh drain, Seelampur lake, Sanjay lake, Okhla barrage and Hindon barrage) using Indian Remote Sensing Satellites was carried out. The water bodies with marshy areas, vegetation and human settlements were considered as environmental variables responsible for mosquitogenic conditions. Multidate IRS 1A and B, LISS-II satellite data were collected and analysed on Vax 11/780 computers. False colour composite (FCC) images were generated and land cover assessed using supervised classification based on ground truth training sets. Ground truth validation of satellite data was done on satellite pass dates. Concurrent monitoring of larval and adult mosquito density was performed by selecting sub-sites in each study site. The results indicate that mosquitogenic conditions can be identified (with limitation of resolution, i.e. 36.5 m) using FCC images and these images can be used as base maps of study sites. Characterization of study sites based on land cover was done from the view point of mosquitogenic conditions. Spatial changes in mosquito density vis-a-vis changes in environmental variables revealed positive correlation with water bodies and vegetation in some study sites.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Malaria: cost to India and future trends.

A study of the economic loss due to malaria and its future trends revealed that malaria in India was responsible for economic loss between US$ 0.5 to 1.0 billion annually. The study also brought out that malariogenic potential of the country is increasing, and new malaria paradigms have been established requiring new approaches for its control. Unless this trend is checked losses due to malaria will increase in the coming decades. Effective malaria control requires immediate remedial measures to prevent environmental degradation conductive to vector proliferation; and renewed attack on malaria based on local epidemiological, entomological and social determinants. The first requirement for such an action is a reliable data base, both on the malariometric indices and the causative factors. Research therefore should be intensified to fill the gaps, generate new knowledge, disseminate malaria information as widely as possible and provide training for success in malaria control by the implementation of the global malaria control strategy.

Costs and Cost Analysis↗
PubMed1996

Clinical trials of a new immunochromatographic test for diagnosis of Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Goa.

Plasmodium falciparum histidine rich protein-2 (PfHRP-2) based immunochromatographic test kit (ICT Malaria Pf) for the rapid diagnosis of P. falciparum malaria was evaluated at the clinic of Malaria Research Centre (Field Station), Goa. Of the 98 febrile patients screened, 22 were ICT positive for P. falciparum. Simultaneous microscopic examination of the blood smears of these ICT positive patients showed that 20 were positive for P. falciparum alone, whereas one had mix infection of both P. vivax and P. falciparum suggesting 100% sensitivity. Only one slide negative patient who had taken 600 mg chloroquine the previous day was positive in the ICT. Out of the remaining 76 blood smears, 41 showed P. vivax infection and none cross-reacted with P. falciparum HRP-2 antigen and were ICT negative except one mix infection case in which P. vivax and P. falciparum infections occurred concomitantly suggesting species specificity of 98.7%. The positive predictive value, negative predictive value and efficacy of the ICT were 95.4, 100 and 98.9% respectively. The band intensity of the ICT positive cases significantly correlated with P. falciparum parasitaemia (p < 0.01). The usefulness and the disadvantages of this diagnostic kit have been discussed in context of prevailing malaria situation in the country.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Studies on Plasmodium vivax relapse pattern in Kheda district, Gujarat.

Relapse pattern in P. vivax malaria was studied in five villages of Nadiad taluka, Kheda district, Gujarat. P. vivax cases treated with 600 mg chloroquine and in combination with 50 mg pyrimethamine (adult dose) yielded 28.31 and 27.73% relapse rate respectively. While relapse rate of 5.78% was observed with five day course of 75 mg primaquine (15 mg/day) administered as radical treatment. Relapse rate in 5-10 yr of age group was comparatively more than other age groups. There was no noticeable difference in relapse rates among male and female. The short-term relapse with a lag period of 2-3 months was significantly higher in this area. The longest relapse with an interval of 17 months was found in one case treated with chloroquine along with pyrimethamine. However, primaquine regimen prevented consecutive relapses. Primaquine has been found adequate to prevent relapse in more than 90% vivax cases, while efficacy of chloroquine-pyrimethamine and chloroquine alone was almost comparable. A high proportion of relapse may be minimized, if 5-days radical treatment is given at appropriate time.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Socio-economic aspects of malaria in Kheda district, Gujarat.

Study on the socio-cultural factors and economic loss due to malaria in rural and urban areas of Kheda district, Gujarat revealed that factors such as education, profession, income, housing pattern, social groups, water storage and treatment seeking behaviour play an important role in malaria transmission. However, the difference of these components in respect to malaria cases between rural and urban areas were statistically insignificant. Mean monetary loss per malaria episode was found to be more in urban area (Rs. 393.59) as compared to rural (Rs. 157.59). The study also suggests the importance of socio-cultural factors in implementing any community health programme. Health education is needed to make the people aware and health conscious for prevention of disease at their own level.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

The biology and predatory potential of notonectid bug, Enithares indica (Fabr) against mosquito larvae.

The biology of a notonectid bug Enithares indica against immatures of Anopheline, Culicine and Aedine mosquitos was studied in the laboratory. The life cycle of the bug consists of the egg and five nymphal stages and takes about 64 +/- 1.54 days for completion. All stages of E. indica have good predatory potential. It can be used as a biological control agent in an integrated disease vector control program.

Aedes↗
PubMed1996

Estimation of larval production in Sanjay Lake and its surrounding ponds in Delhi, India using remote sensing technology.

A feasibility study to use remote sensing techniques for estimation of mosquito production in Sanjay lake in east Delhi was carried out. Besides the Sanjay lake, larval production for 12 surrounding remote sensing identifiable ponds was also estimated. Inspite of some limitations the technique is very useful for rapid mapping of major breeding sites, recording temporal changes and estimation of larval production in a cost effective manner in terms of survey cost and time.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Repellent action of neem cream against mosquitoes.

Neem cream was used as mosquito repellent to provide protection against Aedes albopictus, Ae. aegypti, Culex quinquefasciatus, Anopheles culicifacies and An. subpictus mosquitoes. The application of neem cream on exposed body parts @2.0 gm/person showed 78 (range 65-95), 89 (range 66-100) and 94.4 (range 66-100) per cent protection against Aedes, Culex and Anopheles mosquitoes respectively. Significant difference was observed between neem cream treated and untreated group of population for Aedes mosquitoes (p < 0.001). Application of neem cream was found to be a safe and suitable alternative to insecticide impregnated coils for personal protection against mosquitoes and one application was 68% effective for four hours.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

ABO blood groups among malaria cases from district Mandla, Madhya Pradesh.

A total of 2095 patients with fever were tested for malaria and classified according to ABO blood groups. Only 696 cases were malaria positive. While blood group A, B and O were equally susceptible to malaria infection, AB blood group had less number of persons with malaria parasites. A significantly lower frequency of Plasmodium falciparum was observed among individuals with blood groups A and O. In other two blood groups B and AB, no difference in P. vivax and P. falciparum proportions were observed. A two-year study showed that the frequency of repeated attacks between all blood groups was similar.

ABO Blood-Group System↗
PubMed1995

Control of mosquito breeding using wood scrapings treated with neem oil.

Wood scrapings were given shape of a ball and soaked in 5, 10 and 20% neem (Azadirachta indica) oil diluted in acetone. Control of Anopheles stephensi and Aedes aegypti breeding in water storage overhead tanks (OHTs) with the application of these balls was achieved for 45 days. Two balls soaked in 5% neem oil produced the best results among other concentrations tested.

Animals↗