HCV genotype distribution and possible transmission risks in Lahore, Pakistan

AIM: To investigate the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes and their association with possible transmission routes in the general population of Lahore, as the data exclusively related to this city is limited. METHODS: Complete data regarding patient's history, possible route of infection and biochemical tests was collected from the public hospital for 1364 patients. SPSS version 16 windows software was used for data analysis by univariate and multivariate techniques. RESULTS: Age range ≤ 40 years showed high prevalence of HCV infection. HCV genotype 3a was dominant (55.9%), followed by 1a (23.6%), 4a (12.5%), 3b (3.2%), untypable (2.5%), 4b (1.2%) and mixed type (1.2%). Blood transfusion, dental surgery and barber shops were the main risk factors for HCV transmission. Genotype prevalence was independent of age (P = 0.971) and gender (P = 0.122) while risk factors showed a significant association with age (P = 0.000) and genotypes (P = 0.000). We observed an independent association of risk factors and genotype 3a, while patients with genotype 1 and 4 were mostly infected due to dental surgery blood transfusion and barber shops. Risk factors of intravenous drug use and sexual exposure were exclusively found in ≤ 40 years age group. CONCLUSION: An increase in genotypes 1a and 4a suggest migration of people, possibly from Balochistan and the northern war-zone area. Government should focus on public education regarding infection routes.

Analysis of Bifenthrin Degrading Bacteria from Rhizosphere of Plants Growing at Tannery Solid Waste

Bifenthrin is an insecticide which is used to control insects, mites, and ticks. It poses a solemn en-vironmental threat and health risk to living organisms. It may be bioaccumulated or biomagnified at different trophic levels in the food chain by biota. Microbes are hidden creature of earth’s biodiversity. For isolation of bifenthrin degrading bacteria, rhizospheric soil samples of plants like Pisum sativum, Triticun aestvum, Chenopodium album were taken from tannery solid waste, Kasur, Pakistan. Enrichment culture techniques were used for the isolation of bacterial strains that showed luxurious growth on minimal growth media with bifenthrin dose was selected for biodegradation study. Bacteria were further screened out based on their morphological, biochemical parameters and degradation efficiency. Furthermore the effect of different growth factors like temperature, pH, inoculum concencentration, minimal inhibitory concentration of heavy metals and antibiotics were also studied. Bacterial strains of Xanthomonas and Bacillus sp. were identified as efficient degrading microbes. Maximum bifenthrin utilization were observed at 25°C (pH 7), with 500 μL inoculum of Bacillus sp., while Xanthomonas sp. gave optimm utilization at 30°C (pH 7) at the same inoculum volume of bacteria. The Rf values of Bacillus sp. and Xanthomonas sp. were 0.91 and 0.90 respectively, which indicated their potential to metabolize bifenthrin into nontoxic forms. These strains can be used to clean up the sites polluted with pesticides and tannery wastes when present in rhizosphere of plants.

Frequency of <i>Staphylococcal</i>Cassette Chromosome <i>mec</i>Type IV and Type V in Clinical Isolates of Methicillin Resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>

MRSA is able to generate a modified variety of penicillin binding protein named as PBP2a instead of PBP which makes it resistant against penicillin and methicillin. Production of PBP2a is due to the presence of a gene on Staphylococcal cassette chromosome or SCC termed as “mec-A gene”. SCC is a mobile genetic element carrying many resistance genes. It is because of current antibiotic selection pressure that by now there are eight types (I - VIII) of SCCmec. This research has been designed to determine frequency of SCCmec type IV and V in clinical isolates of MRSA. A total of 70 presumptive MRSA isolates collected from a tertiary care hospital of Lahore were cultured on blood agar, incubated overnight at 37&degC aerobically. Next day, they were examined for cultural characteristics, colonial morphology, gram stain, and biochemical profile. Confirmation of MRSA was done by phenotypic disk diffusion method according to (CLSI) 2013 guidelines. mecA gene was also detected at molecular level. Molecular identification of SCCmec type IV and V was done by Nested PCR strategy. A total of 50 isolates were confirmed to be MRSA Molecular detection of SCCmec type IV and V revealed that 11 isolates (22%) possess SCCmec type IV and only 2 isolate (4%) carries SCCmec type V. It is obvious from results that SCCmec type IV and V are present in our population too. Larger study (with larger sample size) might be undertaken to find out actual emergence of SCCmec type IV and V in our population.