Introduction: The epidemiology of viral hepatitis during pregnancy is of paramount importance for health planners and program managers. Data on viral hepatitis during pregnancy are not readily available. This study was conducted to assess the extent of seropositivity of hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV, and syphilis in pregnant women and to re-evaluate the need for routine antenatal care screening.Methodology: All samples were tested to detect HBsAg by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Samples were tested to detect anti-HCV by ELISA. Samples were also tested for antibodies to Treponema Pallidum by qualitative rapid plasma reagine (RPR); finally, samples were tested for antibodies to HIV by three different methods as per Strategy III of the National AIDS Control Organization by using different systems of testing to establish a diagnosis of HIV. Results: Seropositivity of hepatitis B was 2.9%, hepatitis C was 0.19%, syphilis was 0.48%, and HIV was 0.38%. Out of the 1038 samples, no co-infection was found between hepatitis B, hepatitis C, syphilis, or HIV. Conclusion: The data from this study can help health professionals to treat antenatal patients more effectively. The data also reinforces the need for establishing effective prevention programs, which could lead to a reduction in the prevalence of HBV, HCV, syphilis, and HIV

Background and Methods India is one of the countries in the World Health Organization South-East Asia Region that regularly reports outbreaks of dengue fever (DF)/dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF). As effective control and preventive programmes depend upon improved surveillance data, this study was carried out to report the seroprevalence of dengue virus infection in an area around Jamnagar city, Western India. [1] Methods The laboratory records of clinically suspected dengue patients from July 2008 to June 2011 were analysed retrospectively for the results of immunoglobulin M (IgM) anti-dengue antibodies, tested by dengue monoclonal antibody (IgM) capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (MAC ELISA). Variations in disease incidence by sex, age group and season were assessed. Results A total of 903 serum samples were tested, of which 253 were positive. The majority were males (72%) and in the age group of 16-30 years. The incidence of dengue peaked in October and slowly tapered by December. Conclusion Dengue cases were higher during September to December, in the post-monsoon season. This observation is useful for planning special preventive strategies. The study draws attention to the susceptibility of the male, young adult age group.

Introduction:Dengue virus infection has emerged as a notable public health problem in recent decades in terms of the mortality and morbidity associated with it. Dengue has become endemic in India with outbreaks occurring almost every year.Aim: This study is to correlate the clinical marker like platelet count and serological markers like IgM and NS1 in the acute stage of dengue infection Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of conducted in the Government Hospital, Jamnagar, India, the primary health care centres and the community health care centres, which were covered under the district Jamnagar, all clinically suspected cases of dengue, reported to various outpatient departments, emergency services and admitted patients in our Hospital, were included for this study, between the period of September 2013 to December 2013 over duration of 4 months. Samples from clinically suspected dengue cases were collected and tested for NS1 and IgM by ELISA depending on days of fever. Platelet counts were obtained from all positive cases. In all positive cases dengue specific parameters like NS1 and IgM were compared against platelet counts. Statistical Analysis:The Chi-Square test and statistical software Epi info and MS excel was used to find out the statistical significance of the estimate.Results: Of 1628 samples tested, 563 were positive for one or more dengue parameters. Of the 563, 363 were positive for NS1 only, 200 were positive for IgM only, Thrombocytopenia was more consistently associated whenever IgM was detected compared to NS1 detection. Conclusion:Inclusion of NS1 in the diagnosis of dengue increases the early diagnosis so as to avoid complications significantly. In confirmed dengue cases with fever, thrombocytopenia is more consistently found whenever IgM is positive compared to NS1 positive and can be used as predictor to reduce the morbidity and moratlity of dengue disease. InTROduCTIOnDengue fever is an acute febrile arbo-viral disease affecting the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. The incidence of this disease has increased over the last 50 years with 2.5 billion people living in areas where dengue is endemic [1]. Severe and potentially lethal type of dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) and dengue shock syndrome (DSS) are found more in children now-a-days increasing disease burden [2]. DHF with mortality in most countries is 5%, primarily among young children and adults [3]. Rapid and sensitive laboratory methods required for early detection of the disease to reduce the morbidity and mortality [4]. More specific methods like virus isolation, genomic RNA detection by PCR, antigen and antibody detection by ELISA are available but it needs well trained staff and an expensive setup which is not feasible in peripheral hospital settings [5].In most cases antibody (IgG/M) detection are commonly used for diagnosis of dengue infection, but time required for appearance of IgM antibody is approximately 4-6 days [6]. Dengue non-structural 1 antigen (NS1) is highly conserved glycop...

Background: Chikungunya Virus has been responsible for significant human morbidity probably for several hundred years; yet in spite of its prevalence, the Chikungunya Virus epidemiology and the mechanisms of virulence and pathogenesis are still poorly understood and undetermined. Aims:This study was done to show that the Chikungunya infection has shown a change in its pattern of occurrence with respect to the clinical features, the gender and the age group which are predominant and the season of the outbreak. The present study was conducted to evaluate the features of the Chikugunya infection in patients with acute febrile illness from various geographical regions of Rajkot district, Gujarat, India. Type of Study:A cross-sectional study, multi centric study. Statistical method:The Chi-square test for the goodness of the fit and independence. Methods:One hundred ninty three serum samples of suspected cases of patients who attended the outdoor and indoor patients departments at a tertiary care hospital, Rajkot and the primary health centres, the community health centre and the urban health centres that were covered in the Rajkot district, which were collected during the period of one year from 1 st January 2011 to 25 th December 2011, were studied. The sera were processed and tested for the detection of the Chikungunya IgM antibody by using a solid phase, capture micro well ELISA technology. Results:Out of the total 193 cases, 84 were positive for the Chikungunya IgM antibody. Out of the total 84 positive cases, 32 were males (38.09%) and 52 were females (61.9%). Female patients showed more prevalence of this disease. A majority of the patients presented with fever, headache and joint pain: 44(52.38%). The highest prevalence of Chikungunya was found in the 40-50 years age group, which occurred in 34 (40.47%) cases. In the months of November and December, the occurrence of Chikungunya was more. Conclusion:This study emphasizes the need for a continuous surveillance on the disease burden by using multiple diagnostic tests and it also warrants the need for appropriate molecular diagnostic techniques for an early detection of the Chikungunya virus.