Faunal diversity of aquatic insects in Surha Tal of District - Ballia (U. P.), India

Diversity of aquatic insect fauna of Surha Tal, district Ballia (U.P.) was studied during 2006-08. Twenty nine species of aquatic insect were collected. In class insect four orders namely Coleoptera, Hemiptera, Odonata and Diptera belonging to fourteen families Dytiscidae, Gyrinidae, Hydrophlidae Notonectidae, Palaeidae, Nepidae, Belostomatidae, Hydrometridae, Gerridae. Gomphidae, Libellulidae, Coegrionidae. Chironomidae, Culicidae having twenty genera and twenty nine species were identified

Fish fauna of Surha Tal of District-Ballia (U.P.), India

The present study on survey of Surha Tal of district Ballia, U. P. for fish fauna showed the presence of 59 species belonging to 40 genera of 22 families and 8 orders

A study on physico-chemical parameters of Dah lake water, District-Ballia (U.P.), India

The back water of river Saryu is a prime source of water for Dah Lake, located in Ballia district, have been studied to project the pristinety of water with respect to different pollution sensitive parameters i.e. organic pollutants– BOD, DO, COD, Inorganic pollutants - Electrical Conductivity, Turbidity, pH, total alkalinity, Chloride, Total hardness etc. The pH (7.68), total alkalinity (180.5 mg/l), Chloride (133.12 mg/l), Total hardness(139.83 mg/l), Calcium (60.26 mg/l) and Magnesium hardness (19.38 mg/l) were found well within the prescribed standard for drinking water (BIS 10500:1991) during the study period i.e. April 2006- March 2008. The study inferred that the water quality of Dah Lake is still free from the any kind of pollutants, must be due to its higher assimilative capacity. It also indicates the higher potential for pisiculture and drinking water sources (after disinfection) for the nearby villages which may ultimately improve the economic condition of the surrounding habitation

Fish fauna of Surha Tal of District-Ballia (U.P.), India

The present study on survey of Surha Tal of district Ballia, U. P. for fish fauna showed the presence of 59 species belonging to 40 genera of 22 families and 8 orders

Low levels of awareness, vaccine coverage, and the need for boosters among health care workers in tertiary care hospitals in India

Background and Aim: The risk of acquiring hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection through exposure to blood or its products is highest amongst health care workers (HCWs). Despite potential risks, a proportion of HCWs never get vaccinated. India is second to China in the numbers of people with chronic HBV. This study aimed to investigate the vaccination practices and the prevalence of HBV infection in HCWs in India. Methods: A total of 2162 HCWs were screened for the presence of serological markers of HBV and hepatitis C virus (HCV). Occult HBV infection was tested by detection of HBV-DNA for surface and core regions by nested polymerase chain reaction in HBsAg-negative and IgG anti-hepatitis core antigen-positive subjects. Results: Only 1198 (55.4%) of the 2162 HCWs screened had been vaccinated; and 964 (44.6%) were not vaccination-status conscious; of these HCWs, 600 (27.7%) had never been vaccinated and 364 (16.4%) were unaware of their vaccination status. Protective (> 10 IU/mL) anti-hepatitis B surface (anti-HBs) antigen titers were seen in only 61.7%. The anti-HBs titers were found to be lower with the passage of time; the median anti-HBs titers in subjects who were vaccinated > 10 years ago were significantly lower than those who had been vaccinated < 5 years ago (P < 0.001). One percent of HCWs were HBsAg-positive, and 24.7% of 700 HCWs screened had past exposure (IgG-anti-HBc-positive). Occult HBV was detected in 5% of 120 positive subjects with past exposure; all had anti-HBs titers > 10 IU/mL. Conclusions: Even today, 28% HCWs in India are unvaccinated and 17% are unaware of their vaccination status. This data suggests that use of hepatitis B immune globulin be mandatory in needle-pricked HCWs in India, and that implementation of awareness strategies is urgent. Since the anti-HBs titers decline in a fair proportion, there is justification for giving a booster dose of vaccine 10 years after primary vaccination to HCWs in India