Q fever, caused by Coxiella burnetti is a well recognised zoonotic disease around the world which is endemic in many countries. In Bangladesh, a very few information is available in men and animals about this disease. Thus, the objective of this study is to determine the presence of Q fever in animal (goat and cattle) and human population including the tick which is a vector of the disease. A total of 172 animals with abortion and reproductive disorder history were collected from Shahjadpur Upazilla of Sirajgonj district in Bangladesh. 150 sera samples from patients of Mymensingh Medical College Hospital were collected which had a history of pyrexia. 127 tick samples were collected from the body of animals randomly. The samples were tested with CHEKIT Q-Fever antibody Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) Test Kit (indirect ELISA) primarily and the positive sere were retested by real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect DNA of C. burnetii. Indirect ELISA revealed the prevalence result of 6.97 and 0% in animals and humans, respectively and only one tick was Reverse transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) positive (0.79%). It is thus observed that this is the first time the presence of C. burnetii in ticks using real time PCR is reported.

Introduction: Parasitic diseases and Tuberculosis were shown to be the risk factor for each other. Co-infection of visceral leishmaniasis and pulmonary tuberculosis are increasing public health problem now a days especially in developing countries. More than 81% of cases and deaths from TB are in developing countries and is aggravated by concurrency with parasitic diseases.Objective: To find out the occurrence of Leishmaniasis amongst Tuberculosis (TB) patients of Kala-azar endemic areas admitted to Surya Kanto (SK) Hospital, Mymensingh. Materials and Methods:This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at Infectious and Tropical Disease Department of Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, a tertiary referral hospital from January 2014 to Decmber 2016. A total 176 TB patients reported from Kala-azar endemic areas admitted were included. For confirmation of diagnosis all cases of TB were sent for Gene expert before that relevant tests like CBC (Complete Blood Count), X-ray chest, Mantoux test, Smear tests were done. After having confirmed all the TB cases were investigated for Kala-azar. Venous blood was collected for buffy coat and serum for ELISA. All 176 patients' blood were tested with ICT(rK39) for VL. There after splenic aspiration were done with full aseptic preparation for only those who were ICT positive. Smears were prepared and viewed under microscope with 10x 100 magnification. After that all these cases were tested by ELISA.Results: A total of 176 TB patients were selected in this study of which 120(68.1%) were male and male-female ratio was 2.1: 1, the mean age was 43.06 years. Among patients 87.49% were within 16 to 60 years of age that means within productive age of life are infected more with TB. In terms of education 79.10%(139) patients were below Secondary level, that revealed the illiterate and or less literate people were affected more by TB. Maximum patient's family 132(74.99%) had monthly income up to 10,000.00 BDT (125 US$)i.e. the poorer people of the area. Out of 176 patients Smear positive TB cases were 170(97.41%) but By Gene Xpert all 176 patients were found positive. The blood sample of 176 patients were tested with ICT rK39 and 12(6.81%) patients were found positive for leishmaniasis who suffered from TB. In splenic smear test 12 patients smear were examined of which 11(91.66%) were positive but by ELISA all 12(100%) were found positive. Conclusion:Visceral leishmaniasis and tuberculosis co-infection have drawn attention to the clinical aspect. In both diseases infection may remain dormant asymptomatic which may be related to immune suppression and may lead to active disease. This study has been able to find out leishmaniasis amongst tuberculosis patients from kala-azar endemic areas of Bangladesh. Abstract Leishmaniasis amongst TB patients from Kala-azar endemic areas admitted to Surya Kanto Hospital, Mymensingh

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the major public health problems. Sputum microscopy even today is considered as most important laboratory diagnosis of TB though its negative result does not exclude tuberculosis. Objective: To evaluate the smear negative suspected TB patients by GeneXpart. Materials and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in Surya Kanto Hospital, Mymensingh from September 2014 to September 2016.  Total 300 suspected TB patients were selected and sputum microscopy was performed then re-evaluation of the smear negative cases was carried out by GeneXpert. Results: The mean age of the patients was 38.87 ± 13.78 years with a male to female ratio 2.1: 1 and 86% was in economically productive age of life. About 13.1% smear negative suspects were diagnosed as TB positive by GeneXpert. Conclusion: GeneXpert played effective role to re-evaluate the smear negative TB cases. So, GeneXpert may be recommended routinely for TB detection. Journal of Armed Forces Medical College Bangladesh Vol.13(2) 2017: 3-6

Introduction: Co-infection of parasitic disease and pulmonary tuberculosis are increasing public health problem especially in developing countries like Bangladesh. More than 81% of cases and deaths from TB are in developing countries and is aggravated by concurrency with parasitic diseases, where in Bangladesh suffer a substantial no of Kala-azar cases in each year. Cattle are found to have bovine tuberculosis but at the same areas of Kala-azar endemicity, whether this animal found to be positive. Objectives: To findout the concurrent infection in humans and animals in Kala-azar endemic areas of Bangladesh. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted at Surya Kanto Hospital, Mymensingh and four Kala-azar endemic Upazilla of Mymensingh, Tangail and Pabna District. A total of 300 highly suspected tuberculosis patients reported from Kala-azar endemic areas and 170 cattle’s blood sample, 110 cattle spleen samples were included in this study. Cattle blood and spleen samples were investigated for both TB and Kalaazar and all the TB cases were investigated for Kala-azar. Buffy coat from venous blood was taken for ELISA and PCR. Spleen samples were sonicated and then were examined by PCR. All patients’ blood was tested with ICT (rK39) for Visceral Leishmaniasis. ICT positive patient’s splenic aspiration was examined by smear microscopy with 10x 100 magnifications. After that, all these samples were tested by ELISA and PCR. Results: Out of total 300 patients 162(54%) were found positive for TB. Blood sample of 180 patients was tested with ICT rK39 and 12(7%) patients were found positive for leishmaniasis who suffered from Tuberculosis. These 12(7%) patient’s splenic smear were examined of which 11(92%) of them were found positive for leishmania. But using ELISA all 12(100%) patient smears were found positive. Out of 170 cattle blood 12(7.1%) were ICT positive indicating prevalence of bovine tuberculosis and of these 170 cattle blood 20(11.8%) were found positive for antileishmania antibody. With PCR of these 20, no one was found positive for Leishmania. Conclusion: Visceral leishmaniasis and tuberculosis coinfection have drawn attention clinically. This study found the presence of leishmaniasis and tuberculosis concurrently in humans in Kala-azar endemic areas, wherein bTB antibody was detected in cattle. Though concurrently leishmania antibody was found in cattle but was not proved by PCR which requires further studies. Journal of Armed Forces Medical College Bangladesh Vol.14 (2) 2018: 91-96

Introduction: Avian influenza is considered as serious global public health problem for poultry industry. Literature suggests that when HPAI/H5N1 Avian influenza (AI) outbreaks, humans are prone to increased risk of transmission. The recent pandemic caused by highly pathogenic AIA (H5N1) in domestic poultry is currently rated phase-3 by the World Health Organization on the pandemic alert scale. Every year 244 species of migratory birds visit Bangladesh in the winter season (October-March) of which approximately 21 species may carry the H5N1 or HPAI (Highly Pathogenic Avian influenza) virus. Objective: To assess socio demographic status and knowledge on mode of transmission of avian influenza among the poultry workers of selected poultry farms in Dhaka city. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study carried out among the poultry workers of selected poultry farms in Dhaka city. The study was conducted over a period of six months from January 2008 to June 2008. A total of 150 poultry workers aged 9 years and above irrespective of sexes were interviewed face to face by using semi-structured questionnaire. Results: Majority of the respondents were male (92%) and nearly 78% of the respondents had educational level from Class-V to SSC. About three fourth of the respondents (68%) mentioned that avian influenza was transmitted by direct contact. Eighty percent (80%) of the respondents had the knowledge on transmission from poultry to human whereas 63% had the knowledge on transmission from human to human. Good, fair and poor knowledge on mode of transmission of avian influenza was found in 21.33%, 42.67% and 36% of the subjects respectively. Among the respondents belonging to <3 years and 3-5 years duration of service, 12% and 13.33% had poor knowledge followed by 14% and 9.33% had fair knowledge whereas 4% and 4.67% had good knowledge. Conclusion: From the study it was revealed that one third of the workers had poor knowledge on mode of transmission of avian influenza. The study also found that the level of knowledge was found to be good among the older age group having higher educational level and longer duration of service. Journal of Armed Forces Medical College Bangladesh Vol.12(2) 2016: 60-65