Background: Scrub typhus (ST), is a vector borne zoonotic disease, transmitted by the larva of the trombiculid mites. The enzootic cycle of the pathogen involves rodents/shrews as the animal reservoirs and humans are the accidental dead-end host. A transposon-like activity in its major antigen 56 kDa, has led to the evolution of several serotypes/strains, and more than 40 serotypes are reported globally. Puducherry, India, is endemic to scrub, but limited data exist on local serotype distribution across hosts and vectors.Methodology: A longitudinal molecular surveillance was conducted in Puducherry to investigate the genetic diversity of Orientia tsutsugamushi among humans, animal reservoirs, and vectors. Samples from febrile patients, trapped rodents/shrews, and their infesting mites were screened using real-time and nested PCR. Serotype analysis was performed by partial amplification and sequencing of the 56 kDa gene, followed by phylogenetic, pairwise genetic distance and amino acid analysis.Result: ST infection was detected in 4.37% (95% CI: 3.05–5.71%) of human, 11.52% (95% CI: 8.6–14.4%) of rodent/shrew, and 2.36% (95% CI: 0.95–4.87%) of mite samples. Karp-like (51.72%) and Gilliam-like (41.38%) strains were predominant in both humans and animal hosts, with pairwise genetic distance (85%) analysis revealing a close relationship between the strains identified across the region. Notably, the only mite pool that tested positive for the 56 kDa gene, along with a shrew, was identified to belong to the TA678-like serotype (6.90%), which has not been previously reported from Puducherry.Conclusion: This study provides molecular evidence of the enzootic maintenance and active human transmission of O. tsutsugamushi in Puducherry, with multiple co-circulating serotypes. The first detection of the TA678-like strain in the region suggests the possible introduction of new strains and underscores the need to monitor for strain-specific clinical manifestations in future studies.

Background: Hypertension is a prominent health disorder that leads to 12.8% of deaths worldwide. Although predominantly considered a disorder of the adults, the roots of hypertension start from childhood. In the past children usually suffered from secondary hypertension. However, now with increased incidence of obesity, reduced physical activity, unhealthy dietary habits, use of tobacco and alcohol among adolescents there is now an increased prevalence of primary hypertension in this age group. The present study was conducted with the objective of assessing the prevalence of hypertension and its modifiable risk factors in high school children. Methods: The study was conducted among high school students aged 13 to 16 years in urban Bangalore. A self-administered questionnaire was used to assess the lifestyle. Age, sex, height, weight and resting blood pressure were recorded. Odds ratio, Chi square test and logistic regression were used in the analysis. Results: There were 550 students who participated in the study, 300 (54.54%) were males and 250 (45.45%) were females. The prevalence of prehypertension was 21.6% and hypertension was 8.9%. Logistic regression revealed that overweight, obesity, high salt intake, tobacco use, and stress were significantly associated with elevated blood pressure. Conclusions: There is a rise in the prevalence of hypertension among high school students. Changes in lifestyle seem to influence the development of hypertension in this age group. Behaviour change communication should be used to reduce the modifiable risk factors and promote healthy lifestyle among adolescents.

The emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in pathogens and their spillover into the environment have become a global public health menace. Insects can acquire these pathogens from the environment and would serve as mechanical and biological vectors. The current study assessed the ability of Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes to acquire methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) through the exposure of the mosquitoes to the pathogen via rearing water, blood feed, or a feeding membrane under laboratory conditions. In addition, mosquito immatures collected from their habitat in the vicinity of hospitals, veterinary dispensaries, and butcher shops at 15 study sites in Puducherry were screened for MRSA infection. All samples were subjected to the culture-based isolation of S. aureus from the surface and homogenate. The presence of the S. aureus-specific nuc gene and the genes that confer resistance to methicillin (mecA and mecC) were screened using PCR tests. MRSA was not evident either on the external surface or in the homogenate of the mosquitoes emerging from the larvae reared in the MRSA-spiked water or those fed with MRSA through blood or smeared membranes. Furthermore, the presence of MRSA was not evident in any of the field-caught mosquitoes. Hence, we conclude that C. quinquefasciatus mosquitoes are impervious to MRSA colonization.

Background Dengue, a neglected tropical disease, is becoming a more significant global health concern due to factors such as unplanned urbanization, poor sanitation, and improper protective measures. Dengue transmission is intricately linked to the knowledge, perspectives, and practices, and sustainable vector control activities in preventing dengue transmission. We aimed to develop a training plan and implementation strategy for Dengue Source Reduction (DSR) activities for building capacity in medical colleges in Puducherry, India, to control vectors and prevent dengue. Methods This quasi-experimental study involved two medical colleges. Key stakeholders were identified, and resources available for the training program were mapped. The training sessions were interactive, incorporating lectures, demonstrations, discussions, and hands-on training on identifying and removing vector breeding habitats. Sixty multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) of 5-6 members were created, each assigned a zone within the college campus. Each team had a leader responsible for coordinating activities, communication, and reporting. Monitoring and evaluation included pre- and post-training surveys, assessments of capacity before and after the training, and identification of collected mosquito larvae. Results The training program, with a focus on interactive learning and robust monitoring, led to significant improvements in knowledge, perception, and capacity. Stakeholder engagement led to the development of the "Detect, Destroy, and Document (3D)" approach for monitoring and evaluation. Participants showed increased knowledge scores (6.79±1.16 to 8.07±0.89 out of 9, paired t-test p<0.001), heightened risk perception (16.7% to 55%, McNemar's test p<0.001), and a stronger understanding (63.3% to 86.7%, McNemar's test p=0.0005) of the importance of weekly DSR activities. The knowledge scores of breeding sites, symptoms, and preventive measures improved significantly after the intervention. Furthermore, participants demonstrated the ability to identify common Aedes breeding sites and mosquito larvae and even conducted a follow-up DSR activity independently. The number of containers identified improved during the follow-up. On emergence in the laboratory, all the larvae collected during the independent follow-up belonged to Aedes mosquitoes. Conclusions Interactive hands-on capacity-building programs in medical colleges can be a promising approach to reducing dengue transmission risks. Integrating vector control training into the medical curriculum and sustaining motivated and trained MDTs within medical colleges can have a broader impact on community health.