BackgroundDelay in diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis (TB) may enhance the chances of morbidity and mortality and play a key role in continuous transmission of the bacilli. The objective of this study was to describe health care seeking behavior of suspected TB patients and initial diagnostic work up prior to consultation and diagnosis at National TB Center (NTC).FindingsInterviews of 252 sputum smear positive patients were taken from NTC, Rawalpindi. The duration between on-set of symptoms and start of treatment was considered as the total delay and correlated with general characteristics of TB patients. The proportion of males and females were 49.6% and 50.4% with median age of 25 and 24 years respectively. A median delay of 56 days (8 weeks) was observed which was significantly associated with age, cough and fever. More than 50% of the current patients had a history of contact with previously diagnosed TB patients. The majority of patients (63%) visited health care providers within three weeks of appearance of symptoms but only thirty five percent were investigated for TB diagnosis.ConclusionCough and fever are being ignored as likely symptoms of TB by patients as well as health care providers resulting in delay. Engaging private practitioners through public private mix (PPM) approach for expansion of TB diagnosis and increasing public awareness could be more beneficial to reduce delay.

To assess heavy metal loads in cultured fish, four farmed carp fish species were sampled from a fish farming cluster at the Head Qadirabad area. Samples were randomly collected from fish farms and a local fish market and analyzed for three nonessential heavy metals, cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), and lead (Pb), at Fish Quality Control Labs Manawan, Lahore, Pakistan. All three tested metals were found in all samples of selected fish species. The highest accumulation among heavy metals in farmed carps was recorded for Pb (0.3316 ± 0.0143 µg g -1 ), followed by Cr (0.0488 ± 0.0063 µg g -1 ) and Cd (0.0094 ± 0.0011 µg g -1 ). Mean Pb concentrations found in Labeo rohita (0.3316 ± 0.0143 µg g -1 ) and Hypophthalmichthys molitrix (0.3246 ± 0.0496 µg g -1 ), collected from the local market, were beyond the permissible limits of the WHO for fish (0.123 µg g -1 ), while the concentrations of Cr (0.0488 ± 0.0063 µg g -1 ) and Cd (0.0094±0.0011 µg g -1 ) were found to be below the WHO permissible limits (0.100 µg g -1 ). Cd was significantly higher in Labeo rohita when compared with other species, while among distribution points Cr was significantly higher in fishes sampled from the local fish market. The correlation matrix showed that concentrations of Cd and Pb were significantly and positively correlated with each other. This study concludes that farmed fish produced in the Head Qadirabad area along the Chenab River are not safe for human consumption due to the presence of Pb, beyond acceptable limits. Eating farmed fish from this area may pose health hazards for humans and thus can create an upsetting situation, not only for the consumers but for the producers as well.

No abstract

Objective of the present study was to assess effects of pre‐freezing ice storage and duration of frozen storage on proximate composition and microbial parameters of fish. Thirty‐six samples of pond raised silver carp were divided into three groups. Samples in Group 1 were immediately subjected to frozen storage at −18ºC, those in Group 2 and Group 3 were stored in ice for 3 and 5 days, respectively, prior to freezing. In samples of Group 3, initial protein content (20.09% ± 0.44%) of fish muscles significantly decreased to 17.71% ± 0.87% (p < .05) after 60 days of frozen storage that further reduced to 17.10% ± 0.28% after 90 days. Samples in Group 1 and Group 2 showed significantly reduced protein content after 90 days of freezing. Total coliform and fecal coliform count was found to be higher than the maximum proposed limits in samples of Group 3. Practical applications Fish food industry has to deal with the challenge of seafood quality preservation to comply with consumer expectations. Due to lack of frozen storage facility in our fish markets, fish is stored in ice for variable duration. Results of present study indicate that condition of fish prior to freezing significantly influences its quality during frozen storage. Moreover, interactive effect of pre‐freezing ice storage and frozen storage duration on fish quality implies that storage of fish in ice will intensify its microbial and enzymatic spoilage during freezing.

Pond bottom soil quality is an interesting area to assess environmental impact of aquaculture. Aim of the present study was, therefore, to investigate effects of fish culture on quality of pond bottom soil. Ten excavated earthen ponds located in Lahore, Pakistan were divided into two groups; Group1: 23-32 years old and Group 2: 8-20 years old ponds. Mechanical and chemical methods were used to study particle size distribution and physico-chemical attributes of soil respectively. Surface sediment of ponds contained higher sand and lower clay content than that of deeper soil layers in both groups. pH of the soil was higher than 7.0 that ruled out the necessity to lime soil for neutralizing acidity. Salinity of surface soil was found to be significantly high (P<.05) compared to that of deeper layers. Organic carbon in surface soil of Group 1 ponds (3.35%) was significantly higher (P<.05) than that of Group 2 ponds (2.60%). Available phosphorous represented only 1-10% of total soil phosphorous. An interactive effect of pond age and soil depth was found on soil clay and electrical conductivity through factorial analysis. Results led to the conclusion that regular removal of sediment can maintain original quality of bottom soil.