Zoology

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https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14540/135

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Browsing Zoology by Advisor "Kishor Pandey"

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    Distribution of Gastrointestinal parasites among the badi community of Gurbhakot Municipality, Surkhet, Nepal
    (2024) Gautam, Jitendra; Kishor Pandey
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    Gastrointestinal Parasitic infection among humans, Macaques dogs and pigeons at Swayambhunath Mahachaitya, Kathmandu Nepal
    (2024) K.C. Anisha; Kishor Pandey
    Gastrointestinal (GI) parasites are the most common infectious agents in both humans and non-human animals. The interaction among humans and a wide variety of animals including wildlife, companion animals and avian species increases the likelihood of transmitting GI parasitic infections across different groups. They pose a significant but often neglected threat to public health, especially in developing countries. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and diversity of GI parasites in humans, macaques, dogs and pigeons and to determine the risk of cross-species transmission. A cross-sectional study was performed from February 2023 to February 2024 at Swayambhunath Mahachaitya. A total of 200 fresh fecal samples were collected non-invasively comprising 50 from humans, 50 from macaques, 50 from dogs and 50 from pigeons. The samples were carefully labeled, preserved in 2.5% potassium dichromate and then transported to the laboratory at the CDZ. The samples were analyzed via iodine wet mount, floatation and sedimentation under the microscope at total magnifications of 100× and 400×. Data interpretation was carried out using venn diagram, tables and bar diagrams while statistical analysis was performed using R studio (version 4.3.2). The current study revealed an overall prevalence rate of 67% with specific rates of 16% in humans, 96% in macaques, 72% in dogs and 84% in pigeons respectively. Major GI parasites detected included Ascaris lumbricoides and Entamoeba spp. in humans. In macaques, Balantidium coli, Hookworm and Strongyle spp. were detected, while in dogs Strongyloides spp., Hookworm and Strongyle spp. were commonly found. Pigeons exhibited a higher prevalence of Eimeria spp., Ascaridia spp. and Heterophyes spp. Given the diverse range of parasites found across the study populations, this area presents a significant risk of cross-species transmission. Humans are susceptible to contracting parasitic infections from these animal populations, emphasizing the importance of implementing proper hygiene practices and parasite control measures. Further molecular studies will help characterization of parasite species and genotypes providing deeper insights into the potential for zoonotic cross transmission of parasites.
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    Intestinal parasites and associated risk factors among the people of squatter community in Butwal, Rupandehi
    (2024) Bhandari, Shristi; Kishor Pandey
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    Molecular detection of Balamuthia Mandrillaris in Soil samples from Kathmandu Valley
    (2024) Magar, Tsunami Tapa; Kishor Pandey
    Abstract Balamuthia mandrillaris is an emerging free-living amoeba (FLA) that inhabits in a wide range of environments including soil, water, air, dust, contact lens storage case, distribution systems, drinking water treatment, and cooling towers. This pathogen is responsible for the amoebic encephalitis caused known as Balamuthia amoebic encephalitis (BAE) with over 90% of cases of this pathogen results in death. The biology and environmental distribution of B. mandrillaris are still insufficiently understood, and the environmental isolation of this amoeba is infrequent. The aim of this study is to detect the presence of B. mandrillaris in soil samples taken from various sites within the Kathmandu Valley. This study assesses the detection of the pathogen in a variety of soil environments that influences its presence, employing molecular approach. Twenty-five (25) soil samples were collected for the investigation and stored in sterilized zip-lock plastic bags at 4°C. B. mandrillaris was identified by isolating DNA from the soil samples, and PCR amplification. The positive samples were separated through electrophoresis and validated the result by sequence analysis and phylogeny. A phylogenetic tree was constructed in MEGA 11 software using the maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) and a substitution Jukes-Cantor model to verify the evolutionary relation and genetic association between predicted B. mandrillaris with previously published GenBank sequences. Out of 25 samples, 5 samples were tested positive for Balamuthia specific DNA in which two were collected from distinct river banks, one from park, one from nursery and one from goat farm premises soil. The NCBI BLAST analysis of the sequences confirmed 100% homology with the corresponding previously reported B. mandrillaris sequence in the GenBank database from Japan. The detection of B. mandrillaris from multiple environmental conditions emphasizes the ubiquitous character of this pathogen. Of the 25 samples, B. mandrillaris was found in five (20%) soil samples through molecular method and sequencing which demonstrate the significantly higher incidence of Balamuthia in environmental habitats. The discovery highlights the importance of public health activities aimed at raising awareness regarding the risks associated with B. mandrillaris.