No abstract

Introduction:The endemicity of rubella has been well established in India and immunity to rubella in pregnant women can indirectly hint at the risk of acquiring Congenital Rubella Syndrome CRS. In India Rubella vaccine has not been introduced in universal immunization program (UIP) at national level and has been used in only in private sectors which cover only a small proportion of population. In the state no community based studies were conducted among pregnant women to study the immunity against rubella which will reflect their vulnerability to future infection. Aims: The present study was carried out primarily to assess the IgG seroprevalence of rubella in pregnant women. Second, to identify potential predictors of rubella immunity like age, gravidity and previous abortions. Material methods: The study was conducted in Mavoor panchayath area of Kozhikode district, Kerala. The subjects were pregnant women (n=70) of any period of gestation who were permanent residents of the area were selected by systematic random sampling from antenatal register. The data collection, blood sample collection and estimation of Rubella specific I G antibody was done by enzyme linked immunesorbent assay (ELIZA) method. Results: The mean age was 24.7 ± (SD4.3) years. The mean titre value was 192.45 ± 102.58 IU and 94.3% (95%CI 86.2 -97.8) were Ig G positive .There was no difference between IgG levels among different trimesters, age or gravidity. Among those with history of abortion 100% and those without history of abortion 96.4% were Ig G positive. Conclusion: This study indicates that rubella is still an endemic condition in India, majority of pregnant women have acquired immunity towards rubella. More detailed epidemiological studies by taking samples from different states may be needed for a basis of national immunization program.

Context:Rubella is a mild self-limiting disease all over the world; nevertheless, it is of significant public health importance due to its teratogenic effect of congenital rubella syndrome. Rubella vaccine is currently not included in the national immunization program in India. Rubella-specific IgG in the unvaccinated population is a marker of previous rubella infection. Rubella IgG estimation in children will provide data for initiation and necessary modification to the immunization strategy.Aims:In this background, this study was conducted with an aim to know the age-specific susceptibility of acquiring rubella infections and future risk of congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) among girls.Settings and Design:This was a community-based, observational study.Participants and Methods:The study was conducted at a randomly selected rural area Mavoor Panchayath of Kozhikode District, Kerala, among adolescent girls. The estimation of rubella-specific IgG antibody was done by quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. IgG titer value of >15 IU was taken positive, 8–15 IU as equivocal, and <8 IU as negative.Statistical Analysis Used:Statistical analysis was performed using Statistical program for Social science version 16 for Windows. Chi-square test was applied to find out significant difference and Fisher's exact test wherever applicable.Results:The data and blood sample collection was done from 250 girls. The mean IgG titer was 151.93 ± 128.78 IU, and as per the criteria, 68.3% were positive, 28.5% were negative, and 3.2% were equivocal. At this age, majority (68.3%) of the girls get protection by natural infection without any vaccine. Some girls (32%) may remain susceptible to infection during adulthood and pregnancy.Conclusions:Natural rubella infection was widely prevalent among child population and at this age. An immunization policy recommending rubella-containing vaccine is highly desirable to prevent rubella and CRS.

Effective surveillance and monitoring of Aedes albopictus is essential for the possible prediction and implementation of the preventive measures. We tested BG sentinel mosquitito traps with BG lure to collect adults as an alternative surveillance tool in relation to larval indices. Study was carried out in Calicut District, Kerala, India. Three villages in the district were selected by random sampling as study area. In each village, 50 houses were selected as study site for trap collection, larval survey and fever surveillance. Study was conducted for six months from July to December, 2017. Number of adults of Ae.albopictus collected in BG sentinel traps was only 84 in 22 collections spanning over six months (mean 3.82, 95% CI-2.57-5.06).Though the larval indices were high; no epidemic was reported from the study area. There was no correlation between adults collected and larval indices. Adult collection showed a positive correlation with most of meteorological parameters. Larval indices showed no correlation with climatic factors.BG mosquitito trap was found to be not successful for adult surveillance in the area. More studies are required using different traps to suggest adult traps as an alternative to currently used larval indices. Larval indices were high but no cases reported. Our study shows that a more reliable monitoring mechanism is required for Ae.albopictus to enable prevention, to introduce abatement and its evaluation.

Background: The relation of water quality indicators and water borne diseases (WBD) is not properly studied in tropical countries like India. Most of the studies done were cross sectional which reported only point prevalence. This tends to under-estimate and is not adequate to explain the relation. In this context to assess the incidence of water born diseases in relation to household drinking water quality, a longitudinal prospective study was conducted.Methods: The study was conducted in a South Indian state, in a rural area among the members of 300 households by weekly data collection for one year. Water samples were collected and analysis was done thrice corresponding to the climate. Bacterial quality indicators - Total coliform count (TCC), Faecal coliform count (FCC) and E. coli were estimated. The data were processed and analyzed.Results: From 300 households, total 1459 persons were enrolled. During the 12 months period, 72 episodes of WBDs were recorded with incidence rate of 49/1000 person years. Proportional morbidity due to WBD was 11.9%. The WBD reported were ADD, dysentery and hepatitis A. Up to 30% water sources contained E. coli in summer and winter samples and more than 60% in rainy samples. Faecal coliform count was >10 MPN/100 ml in all the seasons in more than 60% water sourcesConclusions: Most of the main water source wells were contaminated. Contamination was more in rainy season. Incidence of WBD has no correlation with water quality indicators in all the seasons (p≥0.05).