Chaetotaxy of three nymphal instars of an ischnoceran louse, Aegypoecus perspicuus (Phthiraptera: Insecta)

The present study on three nymphal instars of Aegypoecus perspicuus indicated that these differ from each other not only an size, abdominal segmentation, chitinization but also in the number of setae occurring on head, thorax and abdomen. The study also supplements informations regarding the morphological features and chaetotaxy of three nymphal instars of A. perspicuus, occurring on Neophron percnopterus. The diagnostic features of three nymphal instars have also been discussed

Serial population-based serosurveys for COVID-19 in two neighbourhoods of Karachi, Pakistan

Objective: To determine population-based estimates of COVID-19 in a densely populated urban community of Karachi, Pakistan.Methods: Three cross-sectional surveys were conducted in April, June and August in low- and high-transmission neighborhoods. Participants were randomly selected to provide blood for Elecsys® immunoassay for detection of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Bayesian regression model was used to estimate seroprevalence after adjusting for the demographic characteristics of each district RESULTS: We enrolled 3005 participants from 623 households. In Phase 2, adjusted seroprevalence was estimated as 8.7% (95% CI 5.1-13.1) and 15.1% (95% CI 9.4 -21.7) in low and high transmission areas respectively, compared to 0.2% (95% CI 0-0.7) and 0.4% (95% CI 0 - 1.3) in Phase 1. In Phase 3, it was 12.8% (95% CI 8.3 - 17.7) and 21.5% (95% CI 15.6-28) in low and high transmission areas, respectively. CRI was 0.31 (95% CI 0.16-0.47) and 0.41(95% CI 0.28-0.52) in low and high transmission neighborhoods respectively in Phase 2. Similar trends were observed in Phase 3. Only 5.4% of participants who tested positive for COVID-19 were symptomatic. IFR was 1.66%, 0.37% and 0.26% in Phases 1, 2 and 3 respectively.Conclusion: Continuing rounds of seroprevalence studies will help us better understand secular trends and extent of infection during the course of the pandemic

Serial population-based serosurveys for COVID-19 in two neighbourhoods of Karachi, Pakistan

Objective: To determine population-based estimates of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in a densely populated urban community of Karachi, Pakistan. Methods: Three cross-sectional surveys were conducted in April, June and August 2020 in low- and high-transmission neighbourhoods. Participants were selected at random to provide blood for Elecsys immunoassay for detection of anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 antibodies. A Bayesian regression model was used to estimate seroprevalence after adjusting for the demographic characteristics of each district. Results: In total, 3005 participants from 623 households were enrolled in this study. In Phase 2, adjusted seroprevalence was estimated as 8.7% [95% confidence interval (CI) 5.1-13.1] and 15.1% (95% CI 9.4-21.7) in low- and high-transmission areas, respectively, compared with 0.2% (95% CI 0-0.7) and 0.4% (95% CI 0-1.3) in Phase 1. In Phase 3, it was 12.8% (95% CI 8.3-17.7) and 21.5% (95% CI 15.6-28) in low- and high-transmission areas, respectively. The conditional risk of infection was 0.31 (95% CI 0.16-0.47) and 0.41 (95% CI 0.28-0.52) in low- and high-transmission neighbourhoods, respectively, in Phase 2. Similar trends were observed in Phase 3. Only 5.4% of participants who tested positive for COVID-19 were symptomatic. The infection fatality rate was 1.66%, 0.37% and 0.26% in Phases 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Conclusion: Continuing rounds of seroprevalence studies will help to improve understanding of secular trends and the extent of infection during the course of the pandemic. &nbsp;</p

Recurrence of WHO-defined fast breathing pneumonia among infants, its occurrence and predictors in Pakistan : a nested case-control analysis

Objectives Studies in low-income and middle-income countries have shown an adverse association between environmental exposures including poverty. There is little literature from South Asia. We aimed to test the associations between housing, indoor air pollution and children's respiratory health and recurrent fast breathing pneumonia in a poor urban setting in Pakistan. Setting Primary health centres in a periurban slum in Karachi, Pakistan. Methods Nested matched case-control study within a non-inferiority randomised controlled trial of fast breathing pneumonia (Randomised Trial of Amoxicillin vs Placebo for Pneumonia (RETAPP)) in periurban slums of Karachi, Pakistan. Cases were children aged 2-60 months enrolled in RETAPP with fast breathing pneumonia who presented again with fast breathing between 8 weeks and 12 months after full recovery. Controls, selected in a 2:1 ratio, were age-matched participants who did not represent. Multivariable conditional logistic regression analysis was undertaken to explore associations with potentially modifiable environmental predictors including housing type, indoor air quality, exposure to tobacco smoke, outdoor pollution, household crowding, water and sanitation quality, nutritional status, immunisation completeness, breast feeding and airways hyperactivity. Results Fast breathing recurred in 151 (3.7%) of children out of the total (4003) enrolled in the trial. Poor-quality housing of either katcha or mixed type strongly predicted recurrence with adjusted matched ORs 2.43 (95% CI 1.02 to 5.80) and 2.44 (1.11 to 5.38), respectively. Poor air quality, cooking fuel, inadequate ventilation, nutritional status, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) index, wheeze at first presentation and group of initial trial assignment were not independently predictive of recurrence. Conclusion Poor-quality housing independently predicted recurrence of fast breathing pneumonia

Management of iron deficiency anemia during pregnancy: A midwife-led continuity of care model

Background: Globally, 36.5% of pregnancies are affected by anemia, particularly in low-and middle-income countries, posing significant risks to maternal and perinatal health. In rural Pakistan, 44.3% of pregnant women suffer from iron deficiency, contributing to the high prevalence of anemia. Limited accessibility to antenatal care exacerbates the challenge, necessitating innovative solutions. This study assessed a midwife-led continuity of care model, utilizing intravenous (IV) iron therapy for the management of anemia in Karachi, Pakistan.Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of data from a prospective cohort study conducted in two primary healthcare facilities, which employed a community midwife (CMW)-led continuity of care model for antenatal care, including IV iron therapy. We extracted data from February 2021 to March 2022 for women who were diagnosed with anemia based on hemoglobin (Hb) levels, categorized as mild (10.0 to 10.9 g/dL), moderate (7.0 to 9.9 g/dL), or severe (less than 7.0 g/dL). Assessment occurred at the initial antenatal care (ANC) visit to establish baseline anemia severity, and approximately 2 weeks after intravenous (IV) iron therapy administration to evaluate post-treatment changes were considered.Results: We enrolled 114 pregnant women, where the majority presented with moderate (88.6%) anemia. After IV iron treatment, 48.5% improved to normal-mild levels, while 50% remained unchanged. Severe anemia affected 10.5% at baseline; 42% shifted to moderate and 50% to normal-mild post-treatment, with one remaining unchanged (p \u3c 0.001). Among women enrolled in the first and second trimesters, severe anemia improved to normal-mild (50%) and moderate levels (50%) (pre-treatment: n = 10, post-treatment: n = 0), and moderate anemia decreased by 48% (pre-treatment: n = 92, post-treatment: n = 47).Conclusion: Our midwife-led model of care demonstrated an improvement in iron levels among pregnant women. The model addressed the challenges of anemia prevalence in Pakistan and underscored the significance of empowering front-line healthcare providers, such as community midwives (CMWs) for managing these common conditions

Randomized trial of amoxicillin for pneumonia in Pakistan

Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends oral amoxicillin for patients who have pneumonia with tachypnea, yet trial data indicate that not using amoxicillin to treat this condition may be noninferior to using amoxicillin.Methods: We conducted a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled noninferiority trial involving children at primary health care centers in low-income communities in Karachi, Pakistan. Children who were 2 to 59 months of age and who met WHO criteria for nonsevere pneumonia with tachypnea were randomly assigned to a 3-day course of a suspension of amoxicillin (the active control) of 50 mg per milliliter or matched volume of placebo (the test regimen), according to WHO weight bands (500 mg every 12 hours for a weight of 4 to \u3c10 kg, 1000 mg every 12 hours for a weight of 10 to \u3c14 kg, or 1500 mg every 12 hours for a weight of 14 to \u3c20 kg). The primary outcome was treatment failure during the 3-day course of amoxicillin or placebo. The prespecified noninferiority margin was 1.75 percentage points.Results: From November 9, 2014, through November 30, 2017, a total of 4002 children underwent randomization (1999 in the placebo group and 2003 in the amoxicillin group). In the per-protocol analysis, the incidence of treatment failure was 4.9% among placebo recipients (95 of 1927 children) and 2.6% among amoxicillin recipients (51 of 1929 children) (between-group difference, 2.3 percentage points; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.9 to 3.7). Results were similar in the intention-to-treat analysis. The presence of fever and wheeze predicted treatment failure. The number needed to treat to prevent one treatment failure was 44 (95% CI, 31 to 80). One patient (\u3c0.1%) in each group died. Relapse occurred in 40 children (2.2%) in the placebo group and in 58 children (3.1%) in the amoxicillin group.Conclusions: Among children younger than 5 years of age with nonsevere pneumonia, the frequency of treatment failure was higher in the placebo group than in the amoxicillin group, a difference that did not meet the noninferiority margin for placebo. (Funded by the Joint Global Health Trials Scheme [of the Department for International Development, Medical Research Council, and Wellcome] and others; RETAPP ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02372461.)