Our studies indicate genetic variation in VL and PKDL isolates. Down-regulation of AQP1 correlates well with clinical drug resistance in a majority of Indian VL and PKDL isolates. AQP1 gene expression at both the genetic and transcriptional level showed positive correlation with SbIII accumulation, with some exceptions.

Antimonial-containing drugs are the first line of treatment against Leishmaniasis. Resistance to antimonials in Leishmania is proposed to be due to reduced uptake of trivalent antimony (SbIII) through the aquaglyceroporin (AQP1). We investigated the uptake of SbIII and involvement of aquaglyceroporin in developing antimony resistance phenotype in Leishmania donovani clinical isolates. SbIII accumulation, copy number of AQP1 gene, and transcript levels were compared in antimony-sensitive versus -resistant isolates. Antimony-resistant field isolates showed reduced uptake of SbIII. The copy number of AQP1 gene showed higher copy number in the antimony-resistant isolates when compared with the sensitive isolates and did not correlate to the reduced uptake of SbIII. Downregulation of AQP1 RNA levels was not consistently found in the antimony-resistant isolates. Our studies indicate that while downregulation of AQP1 may be one of the mechanisms of antimony resistance, it is however not an invariable feature.

A cross-sectional study of raw meat samples from the local meat market of Kathmandu Metropolitan City was carried out during September 2002 to May 2003 with special emphasis on isolation and identification of Salmonella bacteria. A total of 123 raw meat samples (55 chicken, 37 buffalo, and 31 goat) were collected and analyzed relative to season. Salmonella spp was found in 11.4% (14/123) meat samples. Eight samples of chicken, that is, 14.5%, five samples of buffalo (13.5%), and one sample of goat (3.3%) were found to be positive for Salmonella. Salmonella prevalence revealed Salmonella (S.) pullorum in 3.3% samples, S. gallinarum in 0.8%, S. typhi in 1.6%, S. choleraesuis in 0.8%, and Salmonella of subgenus I or II group in 4.9% samples. More than 80% meat samples microbiologically processed indicated coliform contamination. Seasonal prevalence of Salmonella was highest in the months of April/May. Surveys revealed unsatisfactory conditions of sanitation in the local meat markets of Kathmandu.

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Bats are the only active flying placental mammals and are traditionally classified into mega- and microbats, which are, respectively, herbivorous and insectivorous in feeding habit. Though deforestation, habitat destruction, natural calamities, illegal hunting, and climate changes are the challenging threats for bats, the role of existing gastrointestinal (GI) parasites have not been evaluated yet in Nepal. Thus, the current study aims to determine the prevalence of GI parasites in bats from the Shaktikhor area at the Chitwan district of Southcentral Nepal. From July 2018 to February 2019, a total of 60 fecal samples of bats (30 from frugivorous bats and 30 from the insectivorous bats) were collected. These samples were preserved at 2.5% potassium dichromate solution. The fecal examination was carried out by the direct wet mount, concentrations, acid-fast staining, and sporulation techniques. Overall results showed the prevalence rate of 80% GI parasites. The parasites detected in the insectivorous bats were Ascarid spp., Capillarid sp., Cryptosporidium sp., Eimeria spp., Entamoeba sp., Giardia sp., Hymenolepis spp., Isospora sp., Oxyurid sp., Strongyle, and Strongyloides sp. In contrast, Eimeria sp., Entamoeba sp., and Hymenolepis sp. were detected in the frugivorous bats. Based on a wide diversity of parasite richness and parasitic concurrency measured by the prevalence rates, we suggest that GI parasitism might be a threatening factor in the insectivorous bats in the current study area.