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Biomedical subjects

J Mahanta

Publications and source records attributed to J Mahanta.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

Transmission of bancroftian filariasis in tea agro-ecosystem of Assam, India.

Tea industry is a labor intensive agro-industry and filariasis is mostly localized among the tea garden workers in Assam. The workers live inside the gardens in colonies. Studies conducted in two cosecutive years revealed that among the host seeking Culex quinquefasciatus average infection rate was 4.6% and with 2.1 larvae per mosquito. The overall prevalence of infective mosquitos was 0.8% with average L3 load of 2.0 per mosquito. The probability of infected mosquitos surviving to have complete development of filarial larvae (13 days) was 0.17. The expectation of infective life was 1.416 days for man biting Cx. quinquefasciatus and the estimated adult survival rate of was 87.6%. It has been estimated that a total of 22,569 mosquito bites were received/man/year in tea garden environment out of which 182 bites/man/year were infective (0.806%). The monthly biting rate varied from 310-4,758.5 bites per man (mean 1,846 +/- 1,389.7 SD). Monthly transmission index of W. bancrofti filaria showed two periods of transmission. In both the year no infection was detected during February and March and infection rate remained low up to May (average infection in April 0.72% and in May 0.48%).

Agricultural Workers' Diseases↗
PubMed2001

HCV activity in an isolated community in north east India.

Prevalence of anti-HCV among the people at risk and general population were reported across the globe. We investigated HCV activity among the members of "Lisu" community settled in a remote and isolated area of Changlang District, Arunachal Pradesh during 1999-2000. The families were scattered with 380 households. Blood samples were collected from 76 (35 males and 45 females) apparently healthy individuals from randomly selected 10% families. Sera were processed for detection for antibody to HCV by using 3rd generation ELISA kit. All the persons were within the age of 18-98 years and 75% of them were uneducated and 92% were cultivators. The prevalence of anti-HCV was found to be very high (7.89%). Since the HCV activity is high in an isolated community, transmission dynamics study will be interesting for this epidemiologically important viral disease.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Differences in blood pressure level and hypertension in three ethnic groups of northeastern India.

A cross sectional study on hypertension was done on 294 subjects aged 30 years and above. 150 households were selected randomly representing 50 households from each locality inhabited exclusively by the rural Mizos, indigenous rural Assamese and the tea-garden workers respectively, in the northeastern region of India. Blood pressure was measured by sphygmo-manometer in sitting posture. Anthro-pometric measurements were taken using standard procedure for measuring height, weight, waist and hip girth. Information on age, sex, ethnicity, literacy, alcohol intake, smoking pattern, physical activity, occupation, amount of salt consumption was collected using a standard and pre-tested questionnaire. Significant differences were observed in both the systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels among the three different ethnic groups selected for this study (p < 0.0001). Multiple regression analyses indicated that in Mizos, age, waist circumference and alcohol intake were independently associated with increase in systolic blood pressure whereas smoking was found to be negatively associated with systolic blood pressure (R2 = 0.391, p < 0.001). Factors, which were the best predictors of diastolic blood pressure, were age and body mass index [(kg/m2) (R2 = 0.227, p < 0.001)]. In the rural Assamese population, the best predictors of systolic blood pressure were age and waist circumference (R2 = 0.263, p = 0.018). For the diastolic blood pressure, age, alcohol intake and body mass index were important correlates (R2 = 0.131, p < 0.001). In the tea garden community, important predictors of systolic blood pressure were age, gender and marital status (R2 = 0.187, p < 0.001). On the other hand, age and alcohol intake were best predictors for diastolic blood pressure (R2 = 0.09, p < 0.001).

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Epidemiology of malaria outbreak (April/May, 1999) in Titabor Primary Health Centre, district Jorhat (Assam).

An investigation was undertaken of a malaria outbreak in the Primary Health Centre Titabor, district Jorhat, Assam during May/June 1999. The fever rate in the community since March 1999, was 44.4 per cent with an average case load of 2.5 per family. The fever cases peaked in the third week of May. Slide positive and slide falciparum rates in mass blood survey, in the study village were 16.1 and 14.5 per cent respectively with 90 per cent infection of Plasmodium falciparum. Males (SPR 17.5%) suffered relatively more than females (SPR 14.7%). Malaria prevalence was significantly less in individuals above 15 yr of age (SPR 11.0%) as compared to those below 15 yr (SPR 22.9%). Prevalence of malaria as well as mosquito densities in different clusters of the village were inversely related to the distance from the forested Naga hills. Anopheles minimus and A. dirus were collected in good numbers with comparatively higher densities of the former. Several factors like unusual climatic conditions, inadequate surveillance, unsatisfactory laboratory services and inadequate indoor residual insecticide spray were instrumental for the outbreak.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Prevalence of Trichuris trichiura in relation to socio-economic & behavioural determinants of exposure to infection in rural Assam.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Stunting, anaemia, and the poor level of mental development are known to be associated with Trichuris trichiura infections. However, no information is available on the socio-environmental predictors relevant to Trichuris infection in rural communities. Whilst geohelminthic infections per se is an inevitable consequence of poor personal hygiene and household sanitation, the importance of specific factors in the epidemiology of Trichuris infection have not been formally investigated. The objective of this study was to explore, quantify and study different socio-environmental risk factors and find out their possible interaction vis-a-vis T. trichiura infection. METHODS: The study population consisted of 244 children (aged 15 yr and below) and 336 adults selected from 144 randomly selected households belonging to three villages of upper Assam. The prevalence rate ratio (PRR; = relative risk) and 95 per cent confidence interval (CI) were calculated. Univariate, multivariate analysis using Cox's proportional hazards regression assuming constant risk period and a tree-based risk factor analysis, were used. RESULTS: In the overall multivariate model, open field defaecation, large family size, and three or more children in the household were found independently associated with Trichuris infection. Gender specific analysis revealed that in females the age was also independently associated with increased risk of infection whereas in males, earth flooring was the most significant risk factor independently associated with the risk of Trichuris infection. Tree-based risk factor analysis indicated interaction between defaecating habits of people and the source of drinking water. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSIONS: Installation of pit latrines (if not sanitary latrines) together with provision for safe drinking water and the construction of cement floors would probably reduce community prevalence of T. trichiura effectively.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Bronchopulmonary candidiasis in a tertiary referral hospital of Assam, India.

One hundred patients with chronic chest infection suffering for more than three months admitted into a tertiary referral Hospital, northeast India were examined for pulmonary mycoses. The morning sputum samples in 3 consecutive days with a throat swab of each patient were examined for detection, isolation and identification of the fungus. Study showed Pulmonary candidiasis in 50% of the patients where Candida albicans were having highest incidence of association followed by 5 other species of Candida. Pre-existing conditions like pulmonary tuberculosis, bronchogenic carcinoma, lung abscess, bronchial asthma make the lungs prone to be invaded by the candida species. Long term antibiotics and steroids therapy was found to be associated with pulmonary candidiasis. Other conditions like irradiation treatment, malignancy, diabetes mellitus and malnutrition were also found to be the predisposing factors which influence bronchopulmonary candidiasis.

Candida↗
PubMed1999

Iodine status of food and drinking water of a sub-Himalayan zone of India.

Iodine content of rice (42) and drinking water (108) from a goitre-endemic belt of Assam, a sub-Himalayan zone of India, was evaluated. Iodine content of staple food (rice) and drinking water was found to be poor. Mean iodine content of rice was found to be 11.8 +/- 7.3 micrograms/100g. Lower level of iodine was also observed in drinking water samples (mean of 1.52 +/- 0.48 micrograms/l).

Diet↗
PubMed1999

Antibodies reacting with chloroquine in human sera.

Presence of antibodies in human sera reacting with chloroquine (CQ) was demonstrated from a malaria endemic belt. The study groups consisted of 53 healthy volunteers, receiving regular chloroquine prophylaxis [2 tablets of CQ (150 mg)/wk, single dose], 105 individuals with a history of frequent CQ intake for any febrile attack and 95 individuals from a non-endemic area who had neither a history of malaria nor of previous consumption of CQ. Sixty six per cent individuals taking regular prophylactic chloroquine and about ten per cent of those with a history of taking frequent chloroquine due to febrile illness in the malaria endemic area showed antibodies reacting to chloroquine. However, antichloroquine antibodies were either insignificant or nondetectable in serum samples collected from persons without any history of chloroquine intake. The results indicate a possible interaction of CQ in vivo.

Antibodies↗
PubMed1999

Prevalence of communicable disease among restaurant workers along a highway in Assam, India.

105 workers of 29 roadside restaurants along a highway in Assam were interviewed for their habits, educational status and were examined for their hygienic status and presence of communicable diseases (STDs,TB etc). Most of them were young, males with 40% literacy; more than half were unmarried. About 30% of them were alcoholic and smokers and 2.9% were addicted to cannabis. The hygienic conditions of the workers were poor. More than one third had sexual contact with multiple sex partners or commercial sex workers and 2% were engaged in homosexual activity. Most of them did not use condom. 25.7% of them had genital lesions suggestive of sexually transmitted disease, 11.8% showed gram negative diplococci in urethral smears and 5.1% were VDRL reactive. Skin infections followed by gastrointestinal disorders and respiratory tract infections were other prevalent problems. 70.6% were positive for intestinal parasites and 22.2% were sputum positive for acid fast bacilli. However all the collected blood samples were negative for HIV.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Temporal variations in biting density and rhythm of Culex quinquefasciatus in tea agro-ecosystem of Assam, India.

Temporal changes in the biting density and host-seeking periodicity of Culex quinquefasciatus, the vector of bancroftian filariasis, were studied for two years in the tea agro-ecosystem of Assam, India. Average biting density of the vector varied from 0.8/hour in December to 13.3/hour in March. Minimum temperature was found to have a limiting effect on the biting density of the vector mosquitos. Multiple regression analysis showed that the rainfall and minimum temperature were significant factors influencing biting density of this vector mosquito. The biting rhythm of Cx. quinquefasciatus was found to be nocturnal with two distinct peak periods of biting activity. The first peak was around 19.00 to 20.00 hours and the second peak period was around 22.00 to 23.00 hours. Biting activity however was seen throughout the night with declining trend as the night proceeded.

Agriculture↗
PubMed1998

A study of neonatal deaths in the tea gardens of Dibrugarh district of upper Assam.

A total of 2432 live births and 46 stillbirths were studied in some of the tea gardens of Dibrugarh district of upper Assam. The neonatal mortality rate was 46.5 per 1000 live births per year. Immaturity (21.2%), fever/sepsis (13.3%), breathing disorder (12.4%), neonatal tetanus (11.5%) and neonatal diarrhoea (8.8%) accounted for most of the neonatal deaths. There were 42.9% low birth weight infants and this was associated with 92.8% of total neonatal deaths and 34.3% of preterm babies were associated with 90.7% of neonatal deaths. The case fatality rate among low birth weight and preterm babies was 9% and 11% respectively. High risk of neonatal deaths had been found among the neonates in case of no maternal immunisation, delivery attended by untrained person and newborn care at home.

Cause of Death↗
PubMed1998

Larval ecology and mosquito fauna of upper Brahmaputra valley, northeast India.

Ninety-one mosquito species in 15 genera were collected from 22 habitat types of Upper Brahmaputra valley in Assam and bordering areas of Arunachal Pradesh. Nineteen species have been recorded for the first time in Assam including seven first records from the northeast region and three first country records. Jaccard's coefficient was used to quantify the similarity between 13 different geographical localities surveyed on the basis of their mosquito fauna. Group average sorting (UPGMA) cluster analysis was used to find out relationship between Jonai, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Tinsukia and north Lakhimpur (study zones) on the basis of their mosquito community. Immatures of three malaria vectors incriminated from the northeast India, viz. Anopheles dirus, An. minimus and An. philippinensis were collected exclusively from forest areas. Fourteen potential vectors of Japanese encephalitis incriminated from elsewhere in India were collected during the study.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Investigation on malaria vectors and mosquito fauna in south Tripura district, Tripura state.

In an entomological study in South Tripura district of Tripura state during June 1998, a total of 31 species of mosquitoes belonging to eight genera were recorded. Among the known malaria vectors in India, Anopheles annularis, An. jeyporiensis, An. minimus, An. philippinensis/nivipes and An. varuna were collected but none of them could be incriminated. During the survey, Aedes pallidostriatus and Malaya genurostris were recorded for the first time in the north-eastern region and Tripura state respectively. Presence of host seeking An. minimus in light-trap collections indoors and its absence during morning indoor resting collections indicated the probability of some degree of exophilic behaviour of An. minimus population in Tripura.

Animals↗