HEALTH STATUS AND IMPRISONMENT PROFILE OF JAIL INMATES OF DISTRICT JAIL RAHIM YAR KHAN, PAKISTAN

Out of 850 total prisoners of district jail, Rahim Yar Khan, 100 were selected at random and examined for prevalence of HIV. Apart from HIV screening, data was collected about different diseases, narcotics use, occupations, reasons for imprisonment, ages and marital status of the prisoners through a questionnaire. None of these prisoners was suffering from HIV, the results regarding narcotics habits showed that 3% of the prisoners were used to bhang, 4% took heroin, 5% were using snuff, 34% cigarette smokers and 54% were not taking any narcotics. Nineteen percent of the prisoners suffered from various diseases like asthma, allergy, chest infection, hernia, heart problem, jaundice, lung infection, ulcer, weakness, typhoid and gastric problems whereas 81% were healthy

An Epidemiological Study of Dengue Outbreak in Pakistan

In 2016, Hazara Division reported his major outbreak of Dengue fever. In this context, current epidemiological and serological survey conducted to highlight the actual burden of Dengue fever in cities of Hazara Division. Blood samples were taken from the total of 1462 suspected people for detection of Dengue antibodies. Among these patients, 1359 (93%) were found to be positive for Dengue, including 965 (71%) males and 394 (29%) females. Distribution in keeping the presence of antibodies shows 897 (66%) IgM positive people. Second most frequently seen antibodies were both IgG and IgM in 435 (32%) people. Presence of IgG antibodies was detected in 27 (2%) individuals. 1142 (84%) of Dengue positive people were not found to be symptomatic while rest of 217 (16%) observed with various symptoms. In this outbreak peak incidence of Dengue fever was observed in Manshera city. Although minimum was seen in Abbottabad city. To conclude, this might be the largest outbreak in the history of Hazara Division and second in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. We recommend that policymakers and the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa desperately need to make efforts to prevent this mounting ratio of Dengue fever and implement the vector management policies by environmental measures and promote awareness in this area

Ethnomedicinal and cultural practices of mammals and birds in the vicinity of river Chenab, Punjab-Pakistan

Abstract Background Although, use of animal species in disease treatment and culture practices is as ancient as that of plant species; however ethnomedicinal uses and cultural values of animal species have rarely been reported. Present study is the first report on the medicinal uses of mammals and bird species in Pakistan. Methods Questionnaires and semi-structured interviews were applied to collect qualitative and quantitative data from local informants (N = 109). Relative frequency of mention (RFM), fidelity level (FL), relative popularity level (RPL), similarity index (SI) and rank order priority (ROP) indices were used to analyzed the data. Results One hundred and eight species of animals, which include: 83% birds and 17% mammals were documented. In total 30 mammalian and 28 birds’ species were used to treat various diseases such as rheumatic disorders, skin infections and sexual weakness among several others. Fats, flesh, blood, milk and eggs were the most commonly utilized body parts. Bos taurus, Bubalus bubalis, Capra aegagrus hircus, Felis domesticus, Lepus nigricollis dayanus and Ovis aries (mammals) and Anas platyrhynchos domesticus, Columba livia, Coturnix coturnix, Gallus gallus and Passer domesticus (birds) were the highly utilized species. Medicinal and cultural uses of 30% mammals and 46% birds were reported for the first time, whereas 33% mammals and 79% birds depicted zero similarity with previous reports. Conclusion Present study exhibits significant ethnozoological knowledge of local inhabitants and their strong association with animal species, which could be helpful in sustainable use of biodiversity of the region. Additionally, in vitro and in vivo evaluation of biological activities in the mammalian and birds’ species with maximum fidelity level and frequency of mention could be important to discover animal based novel drugs. Graphical Abstract Some commonly used mammals and birds species of the study are

Diversity of Water Bugs in Gujranwala District, Punjab, Pakistan

Water bugs fall under the order Hemiptera, suborder Heteroptera, which is further divided into two types, i.e., semi-aquatic (Gerromorpha) and true water bugs (Nepomorpha). They play a vital role as biological control agents and also a source of food for fishes, birds and other aquatic organisms. The present work was carried out to ascertain aquatic Hemiptera in different lentic and lotic water bodies of various sizes in Gujranwala district, Pakistan. A total of 10 species belonging to five families were identified. Species include Nepa ruber Linnaeus, Laccotrephes elongatus Montandon, Ranatra filiformis Fabricius (Nepidae), Corixa substriata Uhler, Micronecta proba Distant, Micronecta thyesta Distant (Corixidae), Lethocerus indicus Lepeletier, Diplonychus rusticus Fabricius (Belostomatidae), Ambrysus sp. (Naucoridae) and Anisops sardea Herrich-Schaffer (Notonectidae). A key at genera and species level was developed to help the future researchers

Covid-19 attack, prevention, precaution and managemental strategies

Human population is increasing exponentially parallel to which serious public health issues are also progressing. During the last three decades a number of viral epidemics have caused huge human death throughout the globe. Corona viruses belong to family of single-stranded RNA viruses have widespread prevalence in humans. Currently new mutant corona virus disease (COVID-19) has led to a global pandemic affecting more than 215 countries worldwide. COVID-19 is closely related to SARS and MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome corona virus) which were responsible for considerable deaths throughout the globe. The reported cases of COVID-19 have been crossed more than 3,759,967 worldwide out of which about 259,474 deaths are occurred up till now. This is novel mutant virus and human beings have not developed immunity against this until been infected and recovered. Thus this new devastating pathogen will prevail and affect the humanity in quite different way to common viruses. There is no any vaccine is present against this virus and only precautions and isolation can helpful to avoid the huge loss. Therefore, this article is aimed provide information for public awareness about the general overview and prevalence of COVID-19 and the effective management, precautionary measure to avoid this prevailing infection

Khalid Javed Iqbal

ABSTRACT: Out of 850 total prisoners of district jail, Rahim Yar Khan, 100 were selected at random and examined for prevalence of HIV. Apart from HIV screening, data was collected about different diseases, narcotics use, occupations, reasons for imprisonment, ages and marital status of the prisoners through a questionnaire. None of these prisoners was suffering from HIV, the results regarding narcotics habits showed that 3% of the prisoners were used to bhang, 4% took heroin, 5% were using snuff, 34% cigarette smokers and 54% were not taking any narcotics. Nineteen percent of the prisoners suffered from various diseases like asthma, allergy, chest infection, hernia, heart problem, jaundice, lung infection, ulcer, weakness, typhoid and gastric problems whereas 81% were healthy

Anthropogenic impact on the distribution of the birds in the tropical thorn forest, Punjab, Pakistan

The present research was conducted to assess the anthropogenic impacts on avian diversity around the river Chenab, Pakistan. The avian diversity was recorded on different landscapes along the river Chenab, that is, forest, agricultural, rural, and urban habitats. The data on diversity and distribution of various avian species were collected through linear count along with direct count methods viz. personal observations and sound records and indirect count methods viz. presences of carcasses and meeting with local communities. The habitat preferences of birds varied significantly. A decline in avian diversity was observed from forest habitat to urban landscapes. One year of bird surveys compiled a total of 150 species from all habitats along the river Chenab. Computed statistical data show that Shannon's index provides a quantitative report of diversity which was highest at forest habitat (4.261) followed by rural forest habitat (3.746), agri–rural habitat (3.746), agriculture habitat (3.623), WLH (2.723), urban vegetative habitat (3.215), and very least at urban nonvegetative habitat (2.247). It can be concluded from the present study that many of the avian species have specific habitats and also noted that corridors and connections among different landscapes are important for the conservation of avian diversity

Lernaea Susceptibility, Infestation and its Treatment in Indigenous Major and Exotic Chinese Carps Under Polyculture System

Abstract.-Present study was aimed to find out the Lernaea susceptibility, infestation and its treatment in indigenous major and exotic Chinese carps under polyculture system. 450 fishes were reared in the 0.5 acre ponds at Fish Pond Complex, Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Ravi Campus Pattoki and parasitic load was checked for the month of June, July and August. Five specimens of each species were caught on fortnightly basis and examined for the presence of Lernaea cyprinacea species on different body parts. The parasites were removed, preserved in 5% formalin and identified. Intensity of Lernaea was highest in the Catla catla followed by Hypophthalmichthys molitrix and Ctenopharyngodon idella in the month of June. Highest number of Lernaea (100) were counted in Catla catla and lowest in the Labeo rohita and Cirrhinus mrigala after the Cyprinus carpio which did not showed any parasite and behave as most resistant species among the Chinese and Indian major carps. Treatment with Thunder however, reduce the parasitic infection to a large extend and at the end of experiment all fishes were became free of parasite. Abdomen was the most prevalent site for the parasite attachment followed by the gills and caudal fins whereas head was the least