Molecular phylogenetic study of
Culex quinquefasciatus mosquito populations collected from different geoclimatic regions of India was carried out using 16S rRNA gene sequences.
Culex quinquefasciatus ...is a major vector of filariasis and various encephalitis in India and worldwide. Vector control remains the most successful strategy for the suppression of mosquito borne diseases. The genetic structure of vector populations in terms of insecticide resistance and susceptibility or refractoriness to infection may possibly vary. To exploit the genetic variability in vector population could pave the path for the alternative strategies in vector management. The sequences of ribosomal RNA molecules have been widely used for such studies. Here, we examined the molecular phylogenetic relationship among the
Cx.
quinquefasciatus collected from different geographical regions of India, using 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA) gene nucleotide sequences. The distances among the species were measured using Pearson correlation; the Neighbor-Joining (NJ) method was used for the clustering with appropriate bootstrap values using Data Analysis in Molecular Biology and Evolution (DAMBE) software. The results revealed that the populations are genetically diverse. Based on the distance values and the tree topology on the basis of 16S rRNA sequences reflected the clear biogeographical and geoclimatic pattern among the different geographical populations from India.
Susceptibility studies of malaria vectors Anopheles stephensi Liston (Diptera: Culicidae) and An. subpictus Grassi collected during 2004–2007 from various locations of Arid and Semi-Arid Zone of ...India were conducted by adulticide bioassay of DDT, malathion, deltamethrin and larvicide bioassay of fenthion, temephos, chlorpyriphos and malathion using diagnostic doses. Both species from all locations exhibited variable resistance to DDT and malathion from majority of location. Adults of both the species were susceptible to Deltamethrin. Larvae of both the Anopheline species showed some evidence of resistance to chlorpyriphos followed by fenthion whereas susceptible to temephos and malathion.
Purpose: Cs‐131, I‐125 and Pd‐103, have been used for permanent implant brachytherapy. Cs‐131 has shorter half‐life — 9.7 days as compared to I‐125 and Pd‐103 — 59.4 and 17.0 days, respectively. It ...is likely more biologically efficient for tumor cell kill as the initial dose rate from Cs‐131(23.9 cGy/h) is 4 times higher than that of I‐125(5.8 cGy/h) and twice of Pd‐103(13.62 cGy/h). These isotopes differ in their average gamma‐ray energies (30.4keV, 28.5keV and 20.8keV, respectively). This study examines the dosimetric differences amongst these isotopes when used as a permanent implant for patients with resected brain metastasis with regard to exposure of normal brain tissue and the potential for developing radiation necrosis (RN). Methods: 24 patients with a single newly diagnosed and resected brain metastasis were implanted with Cs‐131. Post‐op dosimetry plans were generated for Cs‐131, I‐125 model #6711 and Pd‐103 model #200. The prescription dose was 80 Gy to 5mm depth from the surface cavity. The mean air kerma strength for the Cs‐131, I‐125 and Pd‐103 seeds were 2.4U, 0.6985U and 2.11U respectively. The volume of brain tissue exposed to radiation at 100%, 80% and 50% isodose lines were compared for each isotope. Results: Significantly larger volume of brain tissue exposed to radiation, with the use of I‐125 when compared to both Cs‐131 (p less than 0.00005) and Pd‐103 (p less than 0.00004). There is no significant difference when comparing Cs‐131 to Pd‐103 (p=0.26605). Conclusion: In this analysis, we report that Cs‐131 and Pd‐103 expose less normal brain tissue to radiation when compared to I‐125, thus providing a dosimetric superiority and subjecting less tissue to RN. In addition, Cs‐131 has the shortest T1/2 and in our trial with a median follow up of 10 months, all 24 patients have 100% local control while experiencing 0% incidence of RN.
Culex tritaeniorhynchus Giles, 1901 and Culex quinquefasciatus Say, 1823 is an important vector of Japanese encephalitis and Bancroftian filariasis, respectively in India and South East Asian ...countries. In this paper, we are describing the surface morphology and morphometrics of the egg of C. tritaeniorhynchus in comparison with C. quinquefasciatus for the first time. The results indicated that eggs of both the species appears to be similar to great extent in surface morphology, however, morphometrics provide 56.81% demarking attributes out of 44 attributes at various significant levels (p < 0.05-0.001), i.e., egg length, width and ratio of length/width, attributes of micropylar apparatus including corolla, disc, mound, tubercles size, and length of tubercular rows in micropylar region, size and density of tubercles, exochorionic pore in conical-shaped regions of eggs, and size of tubercular wheel units. Structurally, the additional presence of large tubercles strengthens the micropylar region to bear various collapsing forces in these species.