Zahida Fatima

Investigating the epidemiology of EI epidemic spread in the Province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan in 2015–16

EI in non-vaccinated population causes disruption and economic losses. To identify the risk factors associated with the EI epidemics in equids in Pakistan, a 1:1 matched case control study was conducted during 2015-2016. Including a total of 197 laboratory confirmed cases and negative controls, matched on the basis of geography, time of sampling, specie and age. A piloted questionnaire was used to collect data regarding risk factors associated with the occurrence of EI in face to face interviews. Conditional logistic regression was performed to analyze the data. A total of 16 out of 23 variables were found associated as risk factors in Univariable conditional logistic regression analysis. Multivariable conditional logistic-regression analysis was also performed. Monthly removal of manure doubles the risk of EI (EI) compared to its daily removal. Due to lack of vaccination; the spread of disease was favored by high equine density. Investigating the index-case it was recorded that infected cases were imported from Afghanistan. Most of these risk factors related to biosecurity and management were due to low awareness level regarding EI amongst the respondents. These findings are in line with the results of many other studies identifying similar risk factors for EI infection in various countries. Adopting protective practices, vaccination and controlling the risk factors identified in the present study could reduce the spread and future outbreaks of EI in Pakistan.

Seroprevalence and risk factor analysis of human leptospirosis in distinct climatic regions of Pakistan

Leptospirosis is a worldwide emerging infectious disease of zoonotic importance and large epidemics and epizootics have been reported all over the globe. A cross survey study was conducted to estimate seroprevalence of human leptospirosis in climatically distinct regions of Pakistan and to identify the risk factors associated with the disease. Blood samples from 360 humans were collected through convenient sampling, 120 from each of three study areas. Serological testing was performed using ELISA kit as per manufacturers recommendations. The results showed an overall prevalence of 40.83% (95% CI; 35.71-46.11). Statistical analysis showed significant (P < .05) differences in leptospiral seroprevalence in three different geographic locations, with highest in humid sub-tropical climatic region (50.83%; 95% CI; 41.55-60.07), followed by semi-arid region (44.16%; 95% CI; 35.11-53.52) and lowest in hot and dry region (27.50%; 95% CI; 19.75-36.40). After multivariate analysis age, gender, exposure to flooding water, source of water usage, disinfection schedule of surroundings and history of cut and wound were found significantly associated with the seropositivity of Leptospira. The present study, first to uncover seroprevalence of human Leptospira in different climatic regions of Pakistan, alarms about effect of climate on prevalence of Leptospira in the region.

Physico-chemical growth requirements and molecular characterization of indigenous Spirulina

The present study was designed to explore the indigenous Spirulina and its mass cultivation by optimizing the physico-chemical growth requirements. One hundred and twenty samples were collected from different soils and water from three districts (Sargodha, Lahore and Faisalabad) of Punjab. Collected samples were shifted to laboratory immediately under sterile conditions to avoid contamination and were kept under dim light at 30°C. Then Spirulina was isolated from collected samples and cultivated under different nutrient, temperature and light regimens to get its maximum biomass in our laboratory. Our results showed that maximum growth of indigenous Spirulina was obtained at 30°C and at 1500 lux light intensity. Nitrogen concentrations of 0.625, 1.25 and 1.875 g/L had no effect on the growth, while phosphate concentrations of 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 g/L had a minimal and gradual effect on growth as the concentrations were increased. For the confirmation and molecular characterization of indigenous Spirulina, DNA was isolated by chloroform-isoamyl alcohol extraction method and its polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was carried out by using specific primer of 16s rDNA gene and PCR products were run on gel giving an amplicon size of 700 bp. Our study shows that Spirulina can be grown in lab conditions by optimizing the physico-chemical growth requirements.