Background- Urinary tract infections (UTI) by E.coli are very common in clinical practice. In last few years antimicrobial resistance has increased that can result in treatment failure. Antibiotic sensitivity pattern may vary in different geographical locations. Aim of this study is to determine the pattern of antimicrobial resistance to E.coli among the UTI patients. Retrospective observational study of last three years (Jan 2017- Dec 2019) was done from microbiological record of urine samples. Information of patients with UTI caused by E.coli were recorded with their Antimicrobial resistance pattern. E.coli was 43% from the total positive culture isolates. Antibiotic resistance observed high for Nalidixic acid (88.5%), Cefotaxime (72.1%), Norfloxacin (71%), Ceftazidime (63.7%), Cotrimoxazole (58.4%) Cefoxitin (51.4%) and low resistance for Gentamicin (32.1%), Amikacin (13.4%), Piperacillin-Tazobactam (12.2%), Imipenem(5.9%) and Nitrofurantoin (5.8%). Conclusion- Due to high antimicrobial resistance to most commonly prescribed antibiotics, we recommend that Nitrofurantoin can be used as empirical treatment option in UTI due to low resistance.

Banana fusarium fruit rot is an important post-harvest disease. Environmental factor plays important role to disease development. The initiation of the disease was noted in the month of July and continuously progressed upto the harvest of the fruits. The disease was more progressive during 36th to 39th MSW which considered as the window period. Correlation coefficient study between weather parameters and disease incidence indicated that all the parameters jointly played an important role in the development of fusarium fruit rot. Moreover, maximum temperature, minimum temperature, average temperature and relative humidity were found to play important role in the disease development. The stepwise regression, it has been also observed that R2-value (0.67) indicating association between per cent disease index to average temperature and maximum temperature. The stepwise regression equation [?= -586.270 + 18.613 (X4) + (-38.456) (X2) whereas, Y= Predicted Disease Index, X2= Maximum Temperature and X4= Average temperature]. Thus, maximum temperature and average temperature found to play dominant role in the disease development.

Research was carried out to explore plant growth promoting abilities of native rhizospheric potash mobilizing bacterial (KMB) isolates. Seventeen prominent cultures were selected on the basis of the zone of potash solubilization on Aleksandrov agar supplemented with mica which exhibited organic acid and capsular polysaccharides production. Fourteen isolates were positive for acidic exo-polysaccharides. Five prominent cultures were selected on the basis of PGP traits i.e. solubilization of phosphate and zinc; production of indole acetic acid and siderophore; showing various enzyme activity viz. ACC-deaminase, lipase, protease and cellulase. Moreover, these isolates manage phytopathogenic fungi viz. Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium solani, Pythium aphanidermatum, Macrophomina phaseolina and Alternaria alternata. Isolates were able to tolerate wide range of pH, temperature and NaCl concentrations. On the basis of morphological, physiological, biochemical and molecular techniques, native KMB PGPR isolates were characterized as; Acinetobacter pittii, A. oleivorans, A. baumannii, A. calcoaceticus and A. junii. The results endow with a basis for understanding the beneficial effects of KMB for deploying the strains and or its consortium in industrial production of bio-fertilizer cum bio-control agents for agricultural crops.

Introduction: The prevalence of transfusion transmitted infections (TTIs) is high in India. The aim of our study was to evaluate the sero-prevalence of TTIs in blood bank at Rajahmundry (Andhra Pradesh, India) since 2010. Materials and Methods: A total 89,639 units of blood donated at our blood bank till date. The sero-prevalence for HIV, HBV and HCV was tested by 4th generation ELISA. Only sero-negative samples were tested on mini pool nucleic acid test (MP-NAT) to detect HIV1, HIV2, HCV and HBV viral nucleic acids. Combined NAT yield was calculated and compared the NAT yield with MPX test and MPX V2.0. We also evaluated the optical density (OD) values of ELISA for MP-NAT reactive donor samples to evaluate the efficacy of NAT in detecting window period cases. Results: The overall sero-prevalence of TTIs was 2.41% and HBV was predominantly present (66%). Total 29 ELISA negative blood donor samples were found reactive on NAT. All NAT reactive donors were of HBV only. Out of 29 cases, 12 were detected by MPX test from 26,008 donations and 17 by MPX V2.0 from 25,619 donations, providing NAT yield of 1:2169 and 1:1507 respectively. OD and Signal cut off values of ELISA for NAT reactive samples were found to be much below extended grey zone value (<0.3). Conclusion: Additional testing of nucleic acids by MP-NAT in combination of mandated primary serology by ELISA provides 99.99% of safe blood to needy patients; thus significantly reduces the risk of TTIs by identifying the window period cases.

Back ground -Group A Streptococcus (GAS) is one of the most common cause of pharyngitis. It may lead to rheumatic heart disease as complication. Prevalence of GAS pharyngitis in India is 4.2-13.7%. A study was conducted to find out prevalence of Group A Streptococcus causing sore throat in patient attending a tertiary care hospital of Western Odisha. Materials & method- Throat swabs of 350 patients presenting with sore throat were collected aseptically and culture was done as per standard protocol. Streptococcus pyogenes was identified with the help of colony morphology, bacitracin disc (0.04U) and group A specific antisera. Blood sample was collected from all culture positive patients and was tested for ASO test. GAS pharyngitis was considered only when patient was positive in both culture and ASO test. Antibiotic sensitivity test was performed as per CLSI guideline. Result-Prevalence of Group A Streptococcus in sore throat patients was 6%. Most of the positive cases were found in rainy season and in young (<30 yrs) patients of female sex. Penicillin and Amoxy clav showed 100% sensitivity against GAS and Erythromycin was 86% sensitive. Levofloxacin showed high resistance rate (43%). Conclusion- Prevalence of GAS in Western Odisha was lower than most of the studies in India. Penicillin and Amoxycillin were still 100% sensitive against GAS.

In this present investigation, comprehensive study on the seasonal effect on hormonal parameters (Growth Hormone and Cortisol) in pre pubertal state was done in black Bengal goats reared under free range system. The parameters were studied on day 15, day 30, day 60, day 90, day 120, day 150 and day 180 after birth during summer and winter season. Kids were weaned at 2 months and reared in completely free ranged system without any concentrate. Blood samples were collected from six randomly selected male and female kids during summer and winter season for hormonal studies. The major finding of this study was that body weight is a unique parameter amongst the various growth parameters which varied between age and season. Growth hormone had highly significantly (P ? 0.01) positive correlation with body measurements. The mean concentration of growth hormone was found to be lower than the earlier reports (0.41 ± 0.01 ng/ml) indicating probable cause of stunted growth in highly prolific black Bengal goat. Seasonal variations in Cortisol levels significantly (P ? 0.01) increased during summer.