Life table features of dengue vectors are significant for the evaluation of the disease transmiss... more Life table features of dengue vectors are significant for the evaluation of the disease transmission potential. Using information on the larval stages thriving in different larval habitats in Kolkata, India, we evaluated life table features of Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus, 1762) and A. albopictus (Skuse, 1894) (Diptera: Culicidae). Daily monitoring of the larval habitats inhabited exclusively by either A. aegypti or A. albopictus was accomplished in order to estimate the instar-wise abundance and, based on it, the larval life table was constructed. Out of 90 positive larval habitats, ~34.4% was exclusively for A. aegypti and ~35.6% for A. albopictus. The life expectancy (ex) of the instar I larva of A. aegypti and A. albopictus was 5 and 4 days, respectively. There was no significant difference found in survival of immature (t(2),14 = 1.144; p = 0.272) and adult (t(2),6 = 0.536; p = 0.611) individuals of the two species. Mortality of the immature stages of A. aegypti and A. albopictus wa...
House dust mites play an important role in causing various allergic disorders. Many factors like ... more House dust mites play an important role in causing various allergic disorders. Many factors like temperature, humidity as well as different microclimatic conditions may influence mite growth. The aim of this study was to analyse the mite fauna of Kolkata, West Bengal, India. House dust was collected from 20 selected houses located in and around Kolkata from January 2017 to December 2017. House dust samples were processed following the flotation technique and house dust mites were isolated from all the samples surveyed. A total of 51 species belonging to 34 genera and 17 families were isolated from positive samples. Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Blomia tropicalis and Cheyletus malaccensis were present in all positive samples. Most abundant mite in house dust was Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, constitute 47% of the mites collected from dust samples. Amblyseius longispinosus was first time reported from Indian house dust.
Background Wetlands provide diverse ecological services to sustain rich biodiversity, but they ar... more Background Wetlands provide diverse ecological services to sustain rich biodiversity, but they are recklessly exploited around the globe. East Kolkata Wetlands (EKW; Ramsar site No. 1208, ~ 125 km2) was once very rich in faunal diversity that declined over the years due to various anthropogenic pressures. In such scenarios, effective management plans need to contemplate local and landscape level initiatives and prioritize areas for conservation. Studying the foraging guild structure and spatial patterns of relationship between bird and its environment provides important insight of ecological processes of avifauna. Thus, we carried out extensive surveys in 142 point count stations to explore the diversity and foraging guild structure of birds in EKW. We addressed two important questions that how bird diversity varied from the outer periphery of the city towards the wetlands and how bird diversity is influenced by land cover features at local and landscape level in wetland complex. Th...
The transportation infrastructures like railway tracks and roads bear negative impacts on natural... more The transportation infrastructures like railway tracks and roads bear negative impacts on natural environment. However, the opposite effects are also true in some instances where the man-made constructions have positive effect on faunal assemblages. This proposition was justified through the assessment of bird species using railway stations as model man-made structures in an urban-rural gradient, in the suburbs of Kolkata, India. During the entire study period along nine different railway stations, a total of 43 bird species belonging to 12 orders and 26 families were observed. Among these, the order Passeriformes was predominant in its species composition having 18 different species from 11 different families. In urban railway stations, a total of 23 bird species under 22 genera and 14 families were observed. In suburban railway stations, a total of 35 bird species under 32 genera and 22 families were documented. The railway stations from rural region showed the maximum number of s...
Metrocoris quynhi Tran and Zettel of the genus Metrocoris Mayr was described from Vietnam in the... more Metrocoris quynhi Tran and Zettel of the genus Metrocoris Mayr was described from Vietnam in the year 2005. During the recent surveys to explore the diversity of water striders (Gerridae) in the State of West Bengal and in Himachal Pradesh, Metrocoris quynhi Tran and Zettel, 2005, was collected from different localities of Bengal and Himachal Pradesh. This species is widespread in Himalayan region of Bengal but not previously known from India. Hence, it is a new record to India after Vietnam.
Terai and Dooars region of West Bengal is highly diversified area, located in the Darjeeling Hima... more Terai and Dooars region of West Bengal is highly diversified area, located in the Darjeeling Himalayan foot hills. A total of 49 species under 30 genera and 13 family of aquatic and semi-aquatic Heteroptera, commonly known as water bugs, were collected from this region of West Bengal during a survey conducted between 2011 - 2013, of which four species were already published as new species and one species is a new report to India. Collection data and their worldwide distribution are provided in this communication. Aphelocheirus thirumalaii Basu, Subramanian and Saha, Onychotrechus dooarsicus Subramanian, Basu and Zettel, Pleciobates bengalensis Jehamalar, Basu and Zettel, Amemboa bifurcata Basu, Subramanian and Polhemus and Amemboa mahananda Basu, Subramanian and Polhemus have been already described as new species and published elsewhere.
Waterbirds constitute a prominent biota and reflect the ecosystem health and functionality of the... more Waterbirds constitute a prominent biota and reflect the ecosystem health and functionality of the freshwater wetlands. Documentation of the bird species assemblages of wetlands is therefore carried out as a part of monitoring of wetlands from a sustainability viewpoint. Using the emerging wetland of Purbasthali, West Bengal, India, as a model study area, the diversity of the associated bird species was estimated to supplement necessary information for conservation management of birds and ecosystems. The point count method was applied to count the waterbirds from each sighting location with a 25 m radius covering 360° arc and the counting period lasted 10 min for each site, and counts were made in the winter of 2016/2017. The data on the waterbirds encountered were recorded and subjected to diversity analysis, including the residential status, global population trend and feeding guilds. Apparently, the wetland was considered as suitable habitat for 27 waterbird species, which could b...
IntroductionDarjeeling tea of India is one of the most famous beverages globally. However, a larg... more IntroductionDarjeeling tea of India is one of the most famous beverages globally. However, a large amount of tea crop is damaged every year by the attack of mites.ObjectivesThe study aimed to determine the changes in different pigments and biochemical components of tea leaves due to mite infestation.Materials and MethodsWe used UV‐visible and Fourier‐transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy simultaneously to understand the damages in pigment contents of the leaves of tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze) due to attack of phytophagus mite, Oligonychus coffeae Nietner. Furthermore, chemical analysis of infested tea leaves was also performed to compare the nutrients of the plants, namely total phenol, protein and soluble sugar.ResultsThe UV‐visible study reveals severe reduction of the pigments such as chlorophyll (Chl), carotenoids and xanthophylls in the tea leaf due to mite infestation. The findings of the FTIR study, also shows variation in different physiochemical components in the le...
The red spider mite, Oligonychus coffeae (Nietner) serves as a serious threat to the Darjeeling t... more The red spider mite, Oligonychus coffeae (Nietner) serves as a serious threat to the Darjeeling tea plantations affecting the quality of the leaves. Various plant extracts are currently being researched as an alternative to the chemical pesticides to control the red spider mites. In the present study, the leaves of Vitex negundo L. and the bulb of Allium sativum L. were analyzed for their acaricidal activity on the larval, nymphal and adult stages of the mite. Both the extracts were found to have potent activity against red spider mites and may prove to be potential acaricides in future.
International Archives of Allergy and Immunology, 2019
Introduction: Genetic polymorphisms associated with IgE-mediated food sensitization have been a r... more Introduction: Genetic polymorphisms associated with IgE-mediated food sensitization have been a robust area of research for decades. A genome-wide search for susceptible loci regulating the IgE response (atopy) identified the candidate gene STAT6, which is important in the context of food allergic manifestations. Objective: The present study was designed to investigate the sensitization of West Bengal population against some common allergenic food items and to study the role of the STAT6 gene polymorphism in elevating food-specific IgE levels among sensitized individuals. Methods: Skin prick test was performed for 6 food items among 501 patients (126 children, 85 adolescents, and 290 adults)from West Bengal, India. Among them, 165 patients were selected for measurement of total IgE and food-specific IgE levels along with 165 controls. Finally, the STAT6 (rs3024974 (C/T) polymorphism was genotyped in 139 cases and control subjects. Results: Shrimp was identified as a dominant food al...
The fungal (Penicillium) infection, on the eggs of butterfly Papilio polytes (Lepidoptera: Papili... more The fungal (Penicillium) infection, on the eggs of butterfly Papilio polytes (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae), was reported for the first time at the urban settings, Kolkata, India. In course of rearing P. polytes, the eggs were observed to be vulnerable to the fungal attack. The eggs that oviposited on the leaves of Citrus limon were found to be infested with the fungi, identified as Penicillium sp., through further microbial culture. In all instances, the growth of Penicillium on the eggs restrained further development with the absence of larval emergence. The infestation by Penicillium on butterfly eggs caused disruption of development and eventual shrinking.
At a spatial scale, the diversity of butterflies varies with numerous factors including the avail... more At a spatial scale, the diversity of butterflies varies with numerous factors including the availability of the host plant species. In parity with this proposition, the correspondence of diversity of butterfly and plant in the background of the urban–rural gradient was evaluated using Kolkata, India, as a model study area. The results reveal significant positive correlation between the diversity of butterflies and the plants, with the different values for the suburban, rural, and urban areas. Identification of the butterfly loads for the plants in the respective areas can be useful in enhancing the conservation of the butterflies through enhanced plantation of the concerned plant species. Alternatively, the disclosure of the generalist and specialist pattern of the plant species preference by the butterflies may be useful in enhancing the population of the respective species in the concerned areas. The conservation strategy for butterfly species may be refined through the use of bot...
West Bengal, India, is inhabited by abundance and variety of insects that triggers sensitization ... more West Bengal, India, is inhabited by abundance and variety of insects that triggers sensitization in some humans to inhalant allergens and/or insect stings/venoms. Lack of research on this topic prevented accurate diagnosis and proper follow-up treatments to patients suffering from insect-induced allergies. The aim of our study was to identify the allergy-causing insects and evaluate resulting sensitization among a study population in West Bengal, India. The skin prick test (SPT) evaluated sensitivity of 450 patients who sought treatment at the Allergy and Asthma Research Center from July 2017 to June 2018. Eight insect allergens were tested: Common Black Ant (Lasius niger, Linnaeus 1758), Fire Ant (Solenopsis invicta, Buren 1972), Honey Bee (Apis cerana indica, Fabricius 1798), Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris, Linnaeus 1758), Mosquito (Aedes aegypti, Linnaeus in Hasselquist 1762), American Cockroach (Periplaneta americana, Linnaeus 1758), House Fly (Musca domestica, Linnaeus 1758), an...
Abstract House dust mites (HDMs) are the major constituents of house dust (HD). HD and HDM sensit... more Abstract House dust mites (HDMs) are the major constituents of house dust (HD). HD and HDM sensitization is well documented worldwide. Storage mite (SM) sensitization is presently lacking from India.The present study evaluated the sensitization of both HDM and SM among 372 allergic rhinitis patients reported to the Allergy and Asthma Research Center of Kolkata metropolitan, India. HD samples were collected from the patients' home and analyzed for the major constituent mites. HD and six constituent mites Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (DP), Dermatophagoides farina Hughes (Acari: Pyroglyphidae) (DF), Blomia tropicalis (BT) Bronswijk et al., Acarus siro Linnaeus (Acari: Acaridae) (AS), Lepidoglyphus destructor (Schrank) (LD), and Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank) (Acari: Acaridae) (TP) are tested for the allergenic potential through Skin Prick Test (SPT). Three SMs, namely AS, LD, and TP, were newly included in the mite SPT extract for the first time in Kolkata. In total, 330 patients showed significant positive SPT toward any one allergen tested. HD was the major elicitor exhibiting 92.42% response. Individuals of age group 15-40 were the worst sufferers. DF showed the highest sensitization (87.87%) among the dust mites. The SMs also contributed significantly to prove their sensitizing potential. SPT rates for AS, LD, and TP were 33, 25, and 18%, respectively. SPT grades and total Immunoglobulin E (IgE) were positively correlated for each of the allergens. Most of the patients were multi-sensitized (95%) and represented markedly high total IgE levels (>500 IU/ml). Three SMs proved to be significant allergens for the studied population.The sensitization toward these SMs is first time reported from India and can be recommended for inclusion of routine SPT for better outcome in the future.
The present study reports a total of 61 Species belonging to 34 genera and 14 families from Darje... more The present study reports a total of 61 Species belonging to 34 genera and 14 families from Darjeeling Himalaya and Jalpaiguri sub Himalaya regions of West Bengal. The study documented 11 new species to science, which were already published, 15 new records to the state and one new record to India. The study showed that the Nepomorphan families are mostly restricted to the slow flowing or to the stagnant ecosystems like ponds or lakes and the running waters are dominated mainly by the Gerromorpha. The key to all family, genera and species of aquatic Hemiptera are provided with their distribution in India and globally. The description of all species with their detail photographs and distribution map were also presented here. The diagnostic characters supported with photographs for each species are also presented here.
Energy reserves in mosquitoes are an indicator of fitness, linking larval effort in resource acqu... more Energy reserves in mosquitoes are an indicator of fitness, linking larval effort in resource acquisition with adult survival and fecundity. In other words, life history strategies and disease transmission potential can be related to the amount of energy reserves. The energy reserves of four mosquitoes –Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopictus, Armigeres subalbatusandCulex quinquefasciatus(Diptera: Culicidae) – were calculated to justify species-specific differences in their life history strategies. Following repeated sampling of pupae from the respective larval habitats, the glycogen, sugar and lipid contents of individual mosquitoes were assessed and corroborated with pupal weight and adult wing length. Discriminant function analysis was used to acquire an initial reflection of the differences of the parameters among the sex and species of the mosquitoes considered in the study. Using logistic regression and ANOVA, the effects of species and sex as contributors to variations in energy reser...
Life table features of dengue vectors are significant for the evaluation of the disease transmiss... more Life table features of dengue vectors are significant for the evaluation of the disease transmission potential. Using information on the larval stages thriving in different larval habitats in Kolkata, India, we evaluated life table features of Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus, 1762) and A. albopictus (Skuse, 1894) (Diptera: Culicidae). Daily monitoring of the larval habitats inhabited exclusively by either A. aegypti or A. albopictus was accomplished in order to estimate the instar-wise abundance and, based on it, the larval life table was constructed. Out of 90 positive larval habitats, ~34.4% was exclusively for A. aegypti and ~35.6% for A. albopictus. The life expectancy (ex) of the instar I larva of A. aegypti and A. albopictus was 5 and 4 days, respectively. There was no significant difference found in survival of immature (t(2),14 = 1.144; p = 0.272) and adult (t(2),6 = 0.536; p = 0.611) individuals of the two species. Mortality of the immature stages of A. aegypti and A. albopictus wa...
House dust mites play an important role in causing various allergic disorders. Many factors like ... more House dust mites play an important role in causing various allergic disorders. Many factors like temperature, humidity as well as different microclimatic conditions may influence mite growth. The aim of this study was to analyse the mite fauna of Kolkata, West Bengal, India. House dust was collected from 20 selected houses located in and around Kolkata from January 2017 to December 2017. House dust samples were processed following the flotation technique and house dust mites were isolated from all the samples surveyed. A total of 51 species belonging to 34 genera and 17 families were isolated from positive samples. Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Blomia tropicalis and Cheyletus malaccensis were present in all positive samples. Most abundant mite in house dust was Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, constitute 47% of the mites collected from dust samples. Amblyseius longispinosus was first time reported from Indian house dust.
Background Wetlands provide diverse ecological services to sustain rich biodiversity, but they ar... more Background Wetlands provide diverse ecological services to sustain rich biodiversity, but they are recklessly exploited around the globe. East Kolkata Wetlands (EKW; Ramsar site No. 1208, ~ 125 km2) was once very rich in faunal diversity that declined over the years due to various anthropogenic pressures. In such scenarios, effective management plans need to contemplate local and landscape level initiatives and prioritize areas for conservation. Studying the foraging guild structure and spatial patterns of relationship between bird and its environment provides important insight of ecological processes of avifauna. Thus, we carried out extensive surveys in 142 point count stations to explore the diversity and foraging guild structure of birds in EKW. We addressed two important questions that how bird diversity varied from the outer periphery of the city towards the wetlands and how bird diversity is influenced by land cover features at local and landscape level in wetland complex. Th...
The transportation infrastructures like railway tracks and roads bear negative impacts on natural... more The transportation infrastructures like railway tracks and roads bear negative impacts on natural environment. However, the opposite effects are also true in some instances where the man-made constructions have positive effect on faunal assemblages. This proposition was justified through the assessment of bird species using railway stations as model man-made structures in an urban-rural gradient, in the suburbs of Kolkata, India. During the entire study period along nine different railway stations, a total of 43 bird species belonging to 12 orders and 26 families were observed. Among these, the order Passeriformes was predominant in its species composition having 18 different species from 11 different families. In urban railway stations, a total of 23 bird species under 22 genera and 14 families were observed. In suburban railway stations, a total of 35 bird species under 32 genera and 22 families were documented. The railway stations from rural region showed the maximum number of s...
Metrocoris quynhi Tran and Zettel of the genus Metrocoris Mayr was described from Vietnam in the... more Metrocoris quynhi Tran and Zettel of the genus Metrocoris Mayr was described from Vietnam in the year 2005. During the recent surveys to explore the diversity of water striders (Gerridae) in the State of West Bengal and in Himachal Pradesh, Metrocoris quynhi Tran and Zettel, 2005, was collected from different localities of Bengal and Himachal Pradesh. This species is widespread in Himalayan region of Bengal but not previously known from India. Hence, it is a new record to India after Vietnam.
Terai and Dooars region of West Bengal is highly diversified area, located in the Darjeeling Hima... more Terai and Dooars region of West Bengal is highly diversified area, located in the Darjeeling Himalayan foot hills. A total of 49 species under 30 genera and 13 family of aquatic and semi-aquatic Heteroptera, commonly known as water bugs, were collected from this region of West Bengal during a survey conducted between 2011 - 2013, of which four species were already published as new species and one species is a new report to India. Collection data and their worldwide distribution are provided in this communication. Aphelocheirus thirumalaii Basu, Subramanian and Saha, Onychotrechus dooarsicus Subramanian, Basu and Zettel, Pleciobates bengalensis Jehamalar, Basu and Zettel, Amemboa bifurcata Basu, Subramanian and Polhemus and Amemboa mahananda Basu, Subramanian and Polhemus have been already described as new species and published elsewhere.
Waterbirds constitute a prominent biota and reflect the ecosystem health and functionality of the... more Waterbirds constitute a prominent biota and reflect the ecosystem health and functionality of the freshwater wetlands. Documentation of the bird species assemblages of wetlands is therefore carried out as a part of monitoring of wetlands from a sustainability viewpoint. Using the emerging wetland of Purbasthali, West Bengal, India, as a model study area, the diversity of the associated bird species was estimated to supplement necessary information for conservation management of birds and ecosystems. The point count method was applied to count the waterbirds from each sighting location with a 25 m radius covering 360° arc and the counting period lasted 10 min for each site, and counts were made in the winter of 2016/2017. The data on the waterbirds encountered were recorded and subjected to diversity analysis, including the residential status, global population trend and feeding guilds. Apparently, the wetland was considered as suitable habitat for 27 waterbird species, which could b...
IntroductionDarjeeling tea of India is one of the most famous beverages globally. However, a larg... more IntroductionDarjeeling tea of India is one of the most famous beverages globally. However, a large amount of tea crop is damaged every year by the attack of mites.ObjectivesThe study aimed to determine the changes in different pigments and biochemical components of tea leaves due to mite infestation.Materials and MethodsWe used UV‐visible and Fourier‐transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy simultaneously to understand the damages in pigment contents of the leaves of tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze) due to attack of phytophagus mite, Oligonychus coffeae Nietner. Furthermore, chemical analysis of infested tea leaves was also performed to compare the nutrients of the plants, namely total phenol, protein and soluble sugar.ResultsThe UV‐visible study reveals severe reduction of the pigments such as chlorophyll (Chl), carotenoids and xanthophylls in the tea leaf due to mite infestation. The findings of the FTIR study, also shows variation in different physiochemical components in the le...
The red spider mite, Oligonychus coffeae (Nietner) serves as a serious threat to the Darjeeling t... more The red spider mite, Oligonychus coffeae (Nietner) serves as a serious threat to the Darjeeling tea plantations affecting the quality of the leaves. Various plant extracts are currently being researched as an alternative to the chemical pesticides to control the red spider mites. In the present study, the leaves of Vitex negundo L. and the bulb of Allium sativum L. were analyzed for their acaricidal activity on the larval, nymphal and adult stages of the mite. Both the extracts were found to have potent activity against red spider mites and may prove to be potential acaricides in future.
International Archives of Allergy and Immunology, 2019
Introduction: Genetic polymorphisms associated with IgE-mediated food sensitization have been a r... more Introduction: Genetic polymorphisms associated with IgE-mediated food sensitization have been a robust area of research for decades. A genome-wide search for susceptible loci regulating the IgE response (atopy) identified the candidate gene STAT6, which is important in the context of food allergic manifestations. Objective: The present study was designed to investigate the sensitization of West Bengal population against some common allergenic food items and to study the role of the STAT6 gene polymorphism in elevating food-specific IgE levels among sensitized individuals. Methods: Skin prick test was performed for 6 food items among 501 patients (126 children, 85 adolescents, and 290 adults)from West Bengal, India. Among them, 165 patients were selected for measurement of total IgE and food-specific IgE levels along with 165 controls. Finally, the STAT6 (rs3024974 (C/T) polymorphism was genotyped in 139 cases and control subjects. Results: Shrimp was identified as a dominant food al...
The fungal (Penicillium) infection, on the eggs of butterfly Papilio polytes (Lepidoptera: Papili... more The fungal (Penicillium) infection, on the eggs of butterfly Papilio polytes (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae), was reported for the first time at the urban settings, Kolkata, India. In course of rearing P. polytes, the eggs were observed to be vulnerable to the fungal attack. The eggs that oviposited on the leaves of Citrus limon were found to be infested with the fungi, identified as Penicillium sp., through further microbial culture. In all instances, the growth of Penicillium on the eggs restrained further development with the absence of larval emergence. The infestation by Penicillium on butterfly eggs caused disruption of development and eventual shrinking.
At a spatial scale, the diversity of butterflies varies with numerous factors including the avail... more At a spatial scale, the diversity of butterflies varies with numerous factors including the availability of the host plant species. In parity with this proposition, the correspondence of diversity of butterfly and plant in the background of the urban–rural gradient was evaluated using Kolkata, India, as a model study area. The results reveal significant positive correlation between the diversity of butterflies and the plants, with the different values for the suburban, rural, and urban areas. Identification of the butterfly loads for the plants in the respective areas can be useful in enhancing the conservation of the butterflies through enhanced plantation of the concerned plant species. Alternatively, the disclosure of the generalist and specialist pattern of the plant species preference by the butterflies may be useful in enhancing the population of the respective species in the concerned areas. The conservation strategy for butterfly species may be refined through the use of bot...
West Bengal, India, is inhabited by abundance and variety of insects that triggers sensitization ... more West Bengal, India, is inhabited by abundance and variety of insects that triggers sensitization in some humans to inhalant allergens and/or insect stings/venoms. Lack of research on this topic prevented accurate diagnosis and proper follow-up treatments to patients suffering from insect-induced allergies. The aim of our study was to identify the allergy-causing insects and evaluate resulting sensitization among a study population in West Bengal, India. The skin prick test (SPT) evaluated sensitivity of 450 patients who sought treatment at the Allergy and Asthma Research Center from July 2017 to June 2018. Eight insect allergens were tested: Common Black Ant (Lasius niger, Linnaeus 1758), Fire Ant (Solenopsis invicta, Buren 1972), Honey Bee (Apis cerana indica, Fabricius 1798), Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris, Linnaeus 1758), Mosquito (Aedes aegypti, Linnaeus in Hasselquist 1762), American Cockroach (Periplaneta americana, Linnaeus 1758), House Fly (Musca domestica, Linnaeus 1758), an...
Abstract House dust mites (HDMs) are the major constituents of house dust (HD). HD and HDM sensit... more Abstract House dust mites (HDMs) are the major constituents of house dust (HD). HD and HDM sensitization is well documented worldwide. Storage mite (SM) sensitization is presently lacking from India.The present study evaluated the sensitization of both HDM and SM among 372 allergic rhinitis patients reported to the Allergy and Asthma Research Center of Kolkata metropolitan, India. HD samples were collected from the patients' home and analyzed for the major constituent mites. HD and six constituent mites Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (DP), Dermatophagoides farina Hughes (Acari: Pyroglyphidae) (DF), Blomia tropicalis (BT) Bronswijk et al., Acarus siro Linnaeus (Acari: Acaridae) (AS), Lepidoglyphus destructor (Schrank) (LD), and Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank) (Acari: Acaridae) (TP) are tested for the allergenic potential through Skin Prick Test (SPT). Three SMs, namely AS, LD, and TP, were newly included in the mite SPT extract for the first time in Kolkata. In total, 330 patients showed significant positive SPT toward any one allergen tested. HD was the major elicitor exhibiting 92.42% response. Individuals of age group 15-40 were the worst sufferers. DF showed the highest sensitization (87.87%) among the dust mites. The SMs also contributed significantly to prove their sensitizing potential. SPT rates for AS, LD, and TP were 33, 25, and 18%, respectively. SPT grades and total Immunoglobulin E (IgE) were positively correlated for each of the allergens. Most of the patients were multi-sensitized (95%) and represented markedly high total IgE levels (>500 IU/ml). Three SMs proved to be significant allergens for the studied population.The sensitization toward these SMs is first time reported from India and can be recommended for inclusion of routine SPT for better outcome in the future.
The present study reports a total of 61 Species belonging to 34 genera and 14 families from Darje... more The present study reports a total of 61 Species belonging to 34 genera and 14 families from Darjeeling Himalaya and Jalpaiguri sub Himalaya regions of West Bengal. The study documented 11 new species to science, which were already published, 15 new records to the state and one new record to India. The study showed that the Nepomorphan families are mostly restricted to the slow flowing or to the stagnant ecosystems like ponds or lakes and the running waters are dominated mainly by the Gerromorpha. The key to all family, genera and species of aquatic Hemiptera are provided with their distribution in India and globally. The description of all species with their detail photographs and distribution map were also presented here. The diagnostic characters supported with photographs for each species are also presented here.
Energy reserves in mosquitoes are an indicator of fitness, linking larval effort in resource acqu... more Energy reserves in mosquitoes are an indicator of fitness, linking larval effort in resource acquisition with adult survival and fecundity. In other words, life history strategies and disease transmission potential can be related to the amount of energy reserves. The energy reserves of four mosquitoes –Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopictus, Armigeres subalbatusandCulex quinquefasciatus(Diptera: Culicidae) – were calculated to justify species-specific differences in their life history strategies. Following repeated sampling of pupae from the respective larval habitats, the glycogen, sugar and lipid contents of individual mosquitoes were assessed and corroborated with pupal weight and adult wing length. Discriminant function analysis was used to acquire an initial reflection of the differences of the parameters among the sex and species of the mosquitoes considered in the study. Using logistic regression and ANOVA, the effects of species and sex as contributors to variations in energy reser...
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