Browsing by Author "Pun, SB"
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Publication Comparative Study of Microscopy and Polymerase Chain Reaction for the Diagnosis of Suspected Visceral Leishma- niasis Patients in Nepal(Kathmandu University, 2013) Pandey, K; Mallik, AK; Pyakurel, S; Pun, SB; Pandey, BDABSTRACT Background Visceral leishmaniasis is potentially fatal protozoan diseases caused by Leishmania donovani. Nepal is an endemic region in which visceral leishmaniasis causes a major public health problem in the lowland areas that border the endemic areas of Bihar state in India. Accurate diagnosis to inform treatment is a first step in achieving the goal of visceral leishmaniasis elimination from South East Asian regions by 2020. Objective The objective of the present study was to compare between the Microcopy and polymerase chain reaction for diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis. Methods In the present study, 236 bone marrow aspirations were collected from suspected visceral leishmaniasis patients in Janakpur Zonal Hospital, Dhanusa district, Terai region of Nepal in between 2003-2007. We evaluated bone marrow samples by microscopic examination with subsequent testing of the same sample by polymerase chain reaction and sequence analysis. Results Giemsa’s solution stained bone marrow slides stored for over five years were used for polymerase chain reaction amplification. The result showed that 71% were polymerase chain reaction positive and 56% were microscopic positive. Out of 104 microscopic negative bone marrow samples, 15% of samples were positive by polymerase chain reaction. Conclusion Polymerase chain reaction could make a very good option for diagnosis by using less or non-invasive material from visceral leishmaniasis patients in endemic areas of Nepal. KEY WORDS Diagnosis, microscopy, Nepal, polymerase chain reaction, visceral leishmaniasisPublication Rotavirus infection: An unrecognised disease in Nepal(Kathmandu University, 2010) Pun, SBAbstract Rotavirus is the most common cause of acute infectious gastroenteritis in young children and is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality worldwide, mostly in developing countries. The global rotavirus disease burden has prompted study on their basic research, molecular epidemiology and vaccine development. Little is known about rotavirus infection among health professionals in Nepal. This article summarises basic and clinical features, treatment and prevention, epidemiological pattern, challenges and recommendations of human rotavirus infections in Nepal. Key words: Rotavirus, Epidemiology, Challenges and Recommendations, NepalPublication Trends of Rotavirus in Nepal(Kathmandu University, 2011) Pandey BD; Pun, SBABSTRACT Background Rotavirus gastroenteritis is the major cause of morbidity and mortality in infants and young children worldwide. Safe and effective rotavirus vaccine is needed to have significant impact on severe rotavirus gastroenteritis. Currently, two live oral rotavirus vaccines have been licensed in many countries. Knowledge on distribution of human rotavirus of G and P types are essential before rotavirus vaccines are introduced in the target populations. Objective To observe the trends of rotavirus strains in children below five years of age, during the years, 2003-2005 in Nepal. Methods Stool specimen collected from children with acute diarrhea who were referred to observation unit or hospitalized in Kanti Children’s Hospital between 2003 and 2005 were examined. Meteorological data was obtained from Ministry of Environment, Nepal to examine the possibility on the impact of weather on rotavirus infection. Results Of 1250 stool specimens, 271(22%) were positive for rotavirus by Rotaclone ELISA. G1 was the most common serotype in the first year of study, and G2 in the following year. G12 serotype emerged and remained predominant in two consecutive years. In addition, G9 and G3 emerged in the second year of the study. Children less than three years of age were commonly affected. The records reveal that rotavirus infection is related to the climate, and is commonly seen in the dry season, peaking in January. Conclusions Continued surveillance of different regions is needed to monitor the trend of rotavirus strains and to establish rotavirus disease burden, which will help policy makers to make a decision in introducing rotavirus vaccine in Nepal. KEY WORD Nepal, rotavirus, serotype