Dhriti Banerjee

A study of hepatobiliary function in chronic heroin smokers

The controversy over the relationship between heroin addiction and hepatocellular dysfunction was examined by assay of serum activities of aspartate and alanine aminotransferases, total protein, albumin and globulin in 48 chronic heroin smokers and 33 controls. Biliary secretion in the addicts was compared to controls by assay of serum bilirubin and its conjugated and unconjugated fractions. Serum aminotransferases, total protein, albumin and globulin did not differ significantly between the addict and the control groups (p < 0.05), whereas total bilirubin and its conjugated fraction were significantly higher in the addicts (p < 0.02). The results indicate that chronic abuse of heroin by smoking affects biliary secretion but exercises little influence over hepatocellular function.

Tabanid Fauna (Diptera: Tabanidae) along The Lower Most Gangetic Plains of India: A Taxonomic Approach

True flies of family Tabanidae (Brachycera, Tabanomorpha) refers to group of sturdy, handsome, large headed flies devoid of large bristles and with colourful eyes. The present study reports 21 species under 6 genera, 4 tribes and 2 subfamilies from the Gangetic plains of West Bengal. These are also keyed, diagnosed and their distribution pattern discussed. Among these Chrysops designatus Ricardo (1911), Tabanus dorsiger Wiedemann (1821), Tabanus (Tabanus) optatus Walker (1856), Tabanus (Tabanus) tenens Walker (1850), and Haematopota tessellata Ricardo, (1906) are new records from the lowermost Gangetic plains and also from West Bengal. Continuous distribution pattern was observed with these flies of veterinary importance and haematophagous nature.

Hover Flies (Diptera: Syrphidae) from Darjeeling Himalaya—A Part of Indo-Burmese Hotspot

Taxonomy of the hover flies (Diptera: Syrphidae) from north eastern part of Himalaya with special reference to the areas of Darjeeling Himalaya discussed. It includes an account of 38 species under 24 genera, of which five species are new records. Population diversity assessments indicate their higher rate of survival at such altitude, which could be attributed to their effective resource utilization capability in the Indo-Burmese hotspot region.

A new species of the genus Tabanus linnaeus (Diptera: Tabanidae) from the West Bengal

A new species, Tabanus pseudoannularis n. sp. of the horse fly genus Tabanus, from West Bengal, India is described and illustrated. Its morphological differences and association with T. biannularis is also discussed.

Developmental Variation of Indian Thermophilic Variety of Scuttle Fly Megaselia (Megaselia) scalaris (Loew, 1866) (Diptera: Phoridae) on Different Substrates.

The scuttle flies (Diptera: Phoridae) are important in forensic dipterology, because of their necrophagous habit. They are amongst the first wave of insects visiting human corpses in mechanically barricaded environments; hence their immature stages are generally used for estimation of PMI. The effect of different substrates commonly used for developmental studies was studied to analyze the variation of growth of the thermophilic variety of Megaselia (M.) scalaris prevalent in India on GDM, EDM, and SMS (n = 3). One approach of PMI estimation depends on larvae collected from the crime scene and comparing them with reference data derived from larval rearing to establish PMI. Results showed that there was a significant variation in avg. length (F(2,111) = 15.79873, p = 0.000000917), width (F(2,111) = 14.60528, p = 0.00000234), and biomass (F(2,111) = 37.01727, p = 0.000000000000482) of the immature stages in the three media and the larvae grow maximally in the SMS medium. The results of the present study thus provide baseline data on the growth and developmental pattern of the Megaselia (M.) scalaris, which can be utilized in conjunction with specific geoclimatic reference data, for forensic entomological studies and also for using the phorid as a biocontrol agent of pestiferous insects.