A MODERN LABORATORY FOR ALL PATHOLOGY RELATED TESTS ALONG WITH

FOLLOWING MAIN RESEARCH ACTIVITIES:

CATT/T. evansi antibody levels in human and caprine population of West Bengal, India

One confirmed case of human surra had been reported from Western India in recent past (Joshi et al, 2005), and in Eastern India one suspected case was found in 2005 so far (WHO,2005). However, animal surra is significantly prevalent in West Bengal and they are reported time to time in local veterinary meetings and in minor project works done by veterinary students (unpublished). Thus we have planned a study to see CATT/T. evansi antibody levels in general human population and in caprine population with guidance from Dr. Louis Touratier ( Secretary General/Coordinator, OIE ad hoc Group on NTTAT, World Organisation for Animal Health, Paris, France), and Dr. Carlos Gutierrez (Head, Veterinary Faculty, University of Las Palmas, Canary Islands, Spain). This study had been possible by kind donation of CATT/T. evansi kits by Dr. Carlos Gutierrez, and donation of the rotator instrument by Dr. Philippe Buscher ( Institute of Tropical Medicine, Parasitology, Nationalestraat 155, Antwerpen, Belgium). In 2008, one PhD student (Ankita Sarkar, M.Sc., Microbiology) has enrolled under West Bengal University of Technology for her thesis work on this topic, to see the CATT/T. evansi antibody levels in human and caprine population. Thus by 2009, we may complete district wise study in the West Bengal State.

Joshi PP, Shegokar VR, Power RM, Herder S, Katti R, Salkar HR, Dani VS, Bhargava A, Jannin J, Truc P. Human trypanosomiasis caused by Trypanosoma evansi in India; The first case report. Am. J. Trop, Med. Hyg.,2005, 73(3):491-495.
WHO, Weekly Epidemiological Record, No.7, 18 February, 2005.

Study on the opportunistic infections in HIV infected people, particularly in relation to salmonellosis.

Study on the lipoprotein electrophoresis of serum in patients with HIV infection

Study on the rapid diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori.

Study on mosquito larvicidal activity of sodium metasilicate

Study on rust fungi causing allergy in man

Study on brucellosis in man

Study on the knowledge, anxiety and attitude regarding HIV infection among students of West Bengal, India. (The questionnaire and the scale is available on request).

Some important presented papers from this Laboratory:

A new test for assessing the mental ability of children. XVIIth World Conference on health Promotion and Health Education, Paris, France, 15-20 July, 2001.

Vulture and scavenging birds’ droppings do not spread secondary infections in AIDS. XIV International AIDS Conference, Barcelona, 2002.

Das, S. and Das, P. K. “ K-Sorbate: The ideal food preservative during HIV pandemic”. Paper presented at 88th Session of Indian Science Congress, New Delhi, 2001.

Das, S. and Das, S. “A new plan to free urban areas from mosquito borne diseases.” Paper presented at 50th Annual Meeting of American Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene.13th November 2001, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.(One can view details in internet entering the website of ASTMH).

Das S. “Mosquito larvicidal effects of sodium metasilicate: A New approach”. Paper presented at 88th Session of Indian Science Congress, New Delhi, 2001.

Das, S. and Das, S. “Vulture droppings do not spread anthrax”. Paper presented at 10th International Congress on   Infectious Diseases, 13th March 2002, Singapore.

Evaluation of jackbean meal as a control for rapid urease tests and introduction of a new  room temperature stable rapid urease test for diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori. 13th European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Glasgow, UK, May 10- 13, 2003.

“Diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori by rapid urease test”Paper presented at 91st Session of the Science Congress Association held in Chandigarh from January 3 to 7, 2004

“Serum lipoprotein electrophoresis of HIV infected persons in Kolkata”, Paper presented at XV International AIDS Conference held at Bangkok, July 2004