Keshab Parajuli

Characterization of rotavirus causing acute diarrhoea in children in Kathmandu, Nepal, showing the dominance of serotype G12.

Diarrhoeal diseases are a major problem in developing countries. Though precise data on childhood mortality associated with diarrhoeal diseases in Nepal are not available, it has been estimated that approximately 25 % of child deaths are associated with diarrhoeal disease, particularly acute diarrhoea. The purpose of this study was to assess the incidence of rotavirus causing acute diarrhoea in children less than 5 years of age. A total of 525 children with acute diarrhoea in a childrens hospital of Kathmandu, Nepal, were enrolled between April and September 2011. The incidence of acute diarrhoea due to rotavirus was 25.9 % (136/525) as determined by ELISA. The percentage of rotavirus-infected males was higher (64.5 %) than females (35.5 %). The frequency of rotavirus cases was higher in children less than 2 years of age, among which the majority of cases (80.2 %) were in children between 6 and 24 months old (P<0.01). Genotypic characterization by RT-PCR revealed that the serotype G12 represented 55.9 % of cases in this study associated with P-types of either P[6], P[4] or P[8]. Further to this, a total of eight G/P combinations were identified, G12P[6] being the most common strain type of rotavirus in Nepal, with a prevalence rate of 46.4 %. The aim of this study was to find out the major genotypes of rotavirus causing acute diarrhoea in children.

P3.143 Serological prevalence of antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus among nepalese population

Introduction HIV is one of the major public health problems in recent time. Because of limited work opportunities in Nepal, seasonal labour migration especially disadvantaged groups to overseas become common. Nepalese government is promoting overseas employment opportunities’ for its citizens because of poor absorption of growing labour force in the country. This study was aimed to determine the serological prevalence of antibodies Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) among the Nepalese population intended to depart overseas. Methods This study was conducted at Namaste Nepal Medical Centre and Polyclinic, Kathmandu, Nepal. Twenty Nine Thousand Four Hundred Forty One healthy populations were included for this study over a period from January 2013 to December 2014. The venous blood was collected aseptically and subjected to screening for anti HIV 1/2 (HIV Tri Dot, Jay Mitra, India) and confirmed by third generation HIV 1/2 ELISA (SD, Bio Lines, Korea) prior to overseas migration for labour employment. Data were analysed by using SPSS version 17.0 software. Results The serological prevalence of antibodies to HIV 1/2 were found to be 0.04% (11/29,441). Among the HIV infected population 0.03% (9/29,441) was male while only 0.01% (2/29,441) was female. Majority of the HIV infected people with HIV 1/2 was found to be 20–30 years old and belonging from disadvantaged groups like Dalit, Janajati and Kshetri. Conclusion The HIV seroprevalence showed decreasing trend, due to the cumulative effect of increasing awareness of HIV and better HIV testing and counselling (HTC) in Nepal. This study reflects that it would be alarming situation because young age population becomes more infected. Therefore, a continuous surveillance, advocacy and social mobilisation need to be considered for further improvements of transmission of HIV infection.

Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (E.coli O157): A Case Report from Nepal

E.coli O157 is one of the important causes of bloody diarrhea which can be self-limiting or may complicate into Haemolytic Ureaemic Syndrome (HUS). We are reporting a case of Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (E.coli O157) in a thirty year old male who presented to the surgical OPD of Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH), Kathmandu, Nepal with the complaint of bloody diarrhea and abdominal pain along with the history of consumption of food in local restaurant. Stool sample of the patient was processed to find out the cause of bloody diarrhea. Microscopic examination of the stool sample revealed plenty of red blood cells but no pus cells. Stool culture on MacConkey agar revealed lactose fermenting (pink) colonies whereas on sorbitol MacConkey agar, sorbitol fermenting (pink) and non-sorbitol fermenting (pale) colonies were isolated. Both the sorbitol fermenting and non-fermenting isolates were identified as Escherichia coli on the basis of biochemical tests. The non-sorbitol fermenting colonies which were identified as Escherichia coli were serotyped which were positive on polyvalent antisera 3 and monovalent antisera O157. Therefore, on the basis of biochemical reaction and serotyping, Escherichia coli O157 (Enterohaemorrhagic E. coli) was identified as the cause of the bloody diarrhea. The patient was managed symptomatically without any antibiotics and got improved in few days without any complication.