Introduction: Scrub typhus(ST) being a re-emerging zoonotic Rickettsial disease, presenting as undifferentiated febrile illness and goes under diagnosed due to low suspicion rate. Objective: To study the incidence of Scrub typhus in samples meant for fever panel investigation in a tertiary care center. To compare and correlate the statistical significance of blood biochemical and blood counts. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted for 6 months. During which 122 samples were screened for scrub typhus using Immunochromatographic test (ICT) and Enzyme Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay (ELISA). Both hematological and biochemical parameters were recorded for all the samples to compare their clinical significance. A detailed clinical history was collected and recorded for 14 Scrub typhus positive patients. Results: Out of 122 samples screened 22 (18%) of them were positive for ST either by ICT or ELISA. Among the 14 ST patients 6(42.9%) of them presented with co morbidities viz., pulmonary tuberculosis 2(14.3%) followed by 1(7.1%) each with Multiple organ dysfunction, Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), Acute kidney injury (AKI), and Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). Incidentally 3(21.4%) of the patients had co infections with dengue, hepatitis A and B. Summary and Conclusion: Our study shows ST to be considered as one of the common cause for febrile illness as the incidence was 18 % with male preponderance. Early diagnosis and treatment can bring down the morbidity and mortality. Hypoalbuminemia had a statistical significance (p-value: 0.004) than other parameters. Further studies like molecular assays can give more information.

Ubiquitous presence of DDT owing to its excessive use and recalcitrance has been a matter of concern worldwide. The current study is an attempt to address this problem by isolating a bacterium possessing the capability of utilizing DDT as a sole Carbon source by selective enrichment technique. The isolated strain was identified to belong to bacteria Achromobacter on the basis of 16S rRNA gene similarity. The study revealed that strain Y12A was the most efficient degrader, degrading 81.25% DDT within 10 days of incubation. The degrading ability of the strain escalated at optimum conditions of 30ºC temperature, pH 7 and 50 mgL-1 of DDT concentration. Metabolites obtained during DDT degradation were DDE, DDD and DDMU. Hence, DDT degrading efficiency of the isolated strain Y12A could be utilized in integration with DDMU utilizing strains in consortia to achieve mineralization of DDT. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first instance when member of Achromobacter genus has been reported to possess DDT degrading ability. The study reveals the degradation potential of Achromobacter sp. strain Y12A for the bioremediation of DDT from polluted sites.