Introduction: Although histopathology remains the gold standard for most dermatological diagnosis, it must be recognized that not all lesions are amenable to definitive “specific” histological diagnosis. The histological features of many inflammatory disorders in particular are non-specific or at best only suggestive of a specific diagnosis. Aims & objectives: The accurate diagnosis of bullous and other immune-mediated skin lesions require combination of clinical, histopathological and Immunofluorescence findings, so as to assess importance of DIF in final diagnosis. Materials & method: A study of 70 cases of immune-mediated skin disorders was done over the period of 8 months. Salt-split skin processing was also done in cases of sub epidermal bullous lesions. Results: Out of total 70 cases, 52 (74.3%) cases were from Immunobullous disorders and 18 (25.7%) cases were from Connective Tissue Disorders. In Immunobullous Disorders (n=52), 36 (69.2%) cases were from Intra-Epidermal bullous lesions and 16 (30.8%) cases were from Sub-Epidermal Bullous Lesions. Conclusion: DIF plays pivotal role in diagnosing immune mediated skin disorders and it plays confirmatory role.

Background: Cutaneous bacteria inhabiting the skin of boreal toads (Anaxyrus (Bufo) boreas boreas) and columbia spotted frogs (Rana luteiventris) from Grand Teton National Park were isolated and identified using their 16S SSU rRNA gene sequence. We also used a culture-independent method, Terminal Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (TRFLP) analysis of the 16S SSU rRNA gene sequence, to characterize and compare the bacterial microbiota of these two amphibian species within and between different collection sites in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, USA. Results: Bacterial isolates belonged to 5 major phylogenetic lineages: the Actinobacteria, the Bacteroidetes/Chlorobi Group, and the Alpha-, Beta-, and Gamma-Proteobacterial lineages. TRFLP analyses showed a high species richness between sites and between amphibian species, as well as a significant amount of diversity. All three measures of diversity used (Margalef Species Richness, the Shannon Index, and the Simpson Index) were higher for frog samples than toad samples, but varied between sites. Additive Main effects and Multiplicative Interaction (AMMI) analysis of the TRFLP results showed more variability in the 3’ fragments than in the 5’ fragments of the 16S SSU rRNA gene sequences amplified from metagenomic DNA extracted from amphibian skin surface samples. Furthermore, within the 3’ fragments one site was shown to be significantly different than the other four sites by AMMI analysis. Conclusions: This study illustrated the extensive phylogenetic diversity of microorganisms present on the skin of frogs and toads present in GTNP. The identification of some of the bacterial isolates present as belonging to lineages known to produce antifungal or antibiotic compounds (thereby enabling microbial antagonism) forms the basis for a plausible hypothesis for the disease resistance of amphibians to Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in GTNP.

Introduction: Gram negative bacteria are becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics due to the production of ESBL and MBL. Microbiology laboratories must be prepared to screen for ESBL and MBL producing isolates by a low cost, convenient and sensitive procedure. Objectives: To detect ESBL and MBL production in Escherichia coli and Klebsiella species by using three different phenotypic methods and NDM-1 detection by PCR. Materials and Methods: ESBL production was detected using double disc synergy test (DDST), ESBL Etest and ESBL detection kits. For detecting MBL production, combined disk test, Modified Hodge test (MHT) and MBL Etest were used. MIC was determined by agar dilution, microbroth dilution and NDM-1 production by PCR. Results: Among Esch. coli, ESBL production was observed in 81.2%, 80.0%, 76.8% and 75.2% of 250 isolates by ESBL detection kit, DDST, Etest for ceftazidime and cefotaxime respectively. MBL production was observed in 12.5% of 40 isolates by MHT and 10% by both combined disk test and Etest. Among Klebsiella, ESBL production was observed in 63.3%, 62.2% and 61.0% of 267 isolates by Etest, ESBL detection kit and DDST. MBL production was observed in 35.1% of 97 isolates by MHT and 21.6% by both the combined disk test and Etest. 1 Esch. coli and 8 Klebsiella spp. were strongly positive, 1 each of Esch. coli and Klebsiella spp. was weakly positive, and 1 Esch. coli and 6 Klebsiella spp. were negative for NDM-1 production. Conclusion: Etest was best for detecting ESBL and MBL production among Gram negative bacteria.

Introduction: The advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy has brought with it a great sense of optimism for people living with HIV and their clinicians. It has been estimated that approximately one third of deaths of patients with HIV infection are in some way related to liver disease co-infections such as hepatitis B or C. And these continue to present challenges in the overall management of the HIV-infected patient. The prevalence of HIV and viral hepatitis co-infection has considerable geographic and demographic variability. In western world, 9-12% & 9-16% of HIV patients have HBV & HCV co-infection respectively. The literature regarding the prevalence of co-infection with HBV/HCV in India is sparse. Hence the present study was conducted to find out prevalence of HBV/HCV co-infection in HIV patients in Gujarat. Objectives: To study the prevalence, epidemiological and biochemical profile of HIV/ HBV and HIV/ HCV co-infection in PLHA along with study of HBV/HCV as a co-factor in HIV disease progression & vice versa. Materials and Method: Study of 80 HIV/ HBV co infected, 66 HIV/ HCV co infected patients out of 2397 PLHA was conducted who visited to ART Center, Civil Hospital Ahmedabad, over the period of two years. Evaluation of each patient for HIV & HBV/HCV co-infection, medical care & provision of HAART is free of charge to all patients at ARTC, Ahmedabad as per NACO guide lines. Patients were considered to have HBV co-infection when HBsAg could be detected in Plasma & considered to have HCV co-infection when anti HCV was present. PLHA with negative HBsAg and negative anti-HCV were considered HIV monoinfected. Results: In present study total male patients were 66.45% and female patients were 33.08%, which is comparable to GSACS having total, male patients 71.7% and female patients 28.8 % and NACO having male patients 70.7% and female patients 29.3%. It shows males are more affected than females in HIV. Male to female ratio is nearly 2:1. Out of 2397 HIV patients, 166 (6.92%) belonged to age 45 years. Out of 80 HIV/ HBV co-infected patients 64 (80%) patients and out of 66 HIV/ HCV co-infected patients 50 (75.75%) patients belonged to the age group 20-45 years. Conclusion: Out of 2397 PLHA screened in present study total male patient were 66.45% and females patients were 33.08%. It shows males are more affected than females in PLHA. In present study HIV/ HBV co-infection is more prevalent in male than in female (M: F- 7:1). While in HIV/ HCV co-infected patients, prevalence in male is nearly same as in female (M: F-1.2:1). The Seroprevalence of HBV (3.34%) is 1.36 times higher than Seroprevalence of HCV (2.75%) in our population of PLHA (2397).

Salmonella Enteritidis biofilm was formed successfully in vitro by using five different media and substrate combination. The total biomass of the biofilm formed using different media and substrate varied considerably. The best biofilm was observed when the bacterium was grown in TSB in combination with 1% Chitin (4.749±0.1), while the least biofilm was formed in LB in combination with 1% Glass wool (1.539±0.02). The average of all the media irrespective of substrates revealed that in RPV maximum biofilm (4.068±0.144) was formed whereas, the least was formed in LB.