Department of Zoonosis is actively engaged in research, testing and training program on parasitic diseases of zoonotic importance since many years.

TRAINING ACTIVITIES

• Workshop on “Mission to control Mosquito Menace” for college students at regular interval.
• Training on Orientation Course in Medical Entomology.
• Workshop on Principle and Practices of Laboratory Animal Care.

RESAERCH ACTIVITIES

PLAGUE SURVEILLANCE STUDY

Plague is primarily a disease of rodents. Even though there were a few number of suspected outbreaks of plague during past years, but still it is necessary to carry out the plague study which includes surveillance about the suspected rodent population, fleas index serological diagnosis, and culture isolation to understand the status of plague in specific areas.

MALARIA

The clinical and entomological surveillance of malaria cases detection will be carried out in the endemic areas of state both parasite plasmodium species, mosquito species and its role in transmission of malaria in the study areas. The surveillance of malaria will be carried out in endemic area by detecting parasites and role mosquitoes. The recombinant DNA technology will be developed to study sero-epidemiology of malaria for its earlier diagnosis. Presently the department is undertaking research on assessment of dendritic cell vaccine as an immunotherapeutic agent in malaria and comparative analysis of different methods for diagnosis of malaria.

LEPTOSPIROSIS

Leptospirosis is widely prevalent Zoonosis in tropical countries like India; it is of much significance because of the climate which provides favorable conditions for the survival of the causative agent throughout the year. Animals when infected may suffer from disease or remain asymptomatic carriers excreting the leptospirosis organism in urine.

Therefore the surveillance study will be undertaken to study the prevalence of leptospirosis as Zoonotic problem in rodents in study areas of the state. Serological diagnosis, microscopic examination of organism, isolation and identification of different species of Leptospirosis by in-vitro culture will be under priority research activity.

FILARIASIS

Filariasis is a parasitic disease and is considered as an infectious tropical disease, that is caused by thread-like filarial nematodes (roundworms) in the superfamily Filarioidea, also known as "filariae. Presently department is undertaking screening of synthetic and medicinal plants for antifilarial activity in vitro and in vivo systems.

JAPANESE ENCEPHALITIS

Japanese Encephalitis Virus (JEV) belongs to Flaviviridae family. It is a mosquito-borne infection – belonging to the arbovirus group - and a leading cause of viral encephalitis in Asia. Approximately 60% of the World’s populations live in these endemic regions. Annually about 50,000 cases are reported worldwide with 10,000 cases of deaths recorded. In India, there is a rise of JE incidence and outbreaks have occurred in 25 states.

There is no known anti-viral and control of JE is done through Vaccination and Vector Control Presently two approaches of vaccination as being investigated in our laboratory

1. Administering BCG as an adjuvant with the presently existing JEV vaccine.
2. Preparation of a Recombinant BCG expressing the immunodominant antigen of JEV.

We are also investigating various measures to control JEV vectors and screening for the presence of Culex spp around Mumbai region.

BIOPESTICIDES

The term biopesticide is used for microbial biological pest control agents that are applied in a similar manner to chemical pesticides. Commonly these are bacterial, but there are also examples of control agents based on fungi, viruses and nematodes. Weeds and rodents have also been controlled with microbial agents.BT-cotton is best example in India.

One well-known insecticide example is Bacillus thuringiensis, a bacterial disease of Lepidoptera, Coleoptera and Diptera. Because it has little effect on other organisms, it is considered more environmentally friendly than synthetic pesticides. The toxin from Bacillus thuringiensis (BT toxin) has been incorporated directly into plants through the use of genetic engineering. Presently department is Woking in the field of Identification of normal flora midgut of mosquito larvae and Larvicidal activity of Bacillus therengensis and Bacillus spharicus on mosquito larvae. Mosquito adulticide and larvicidal activity of Phenol derivatives.

BIOACCUMULATION STUDY

Bioaccumulation refers to the accumulation of substances, such as pesticides, or other organic chemicals in an organism. Bioaccumulation occurs when an organism absorbs a toxic substance at a rate greater than that at which the substance is lost. Thus, the longer the biological half-life of the substance the greater the risk of chronic poisoning, even if environmental levels of the toxin are not very high. Presently department is undertaking research on Bioaccumulation of heavy metals in Mollusk and Toxicokinetic analysis of the process of bioaccumulation in rats.

ENTOMOLOGY STUDY

Entomology is the scientific study of insects, a branch of arthropodology. The definition is sometimes widened to include the study of terrestrial animals in other arthropod groups or other phyla, such as arachnids, myriapods, earthworms, land snails, and slugs.

Entomology therefore includes a cross-section of topics as diverse as molecular genetics, behavior, biomechanics, biochemistry, systematics, physiology, developmental biology, ecology, morphology, paleontology, anthropology, robotics, agriculture, nutrition, forensic science and more. Presently department is undertaking research on Olfactory and gustatory preference behavior of Drosophila and entomological survey of mosquitoes in and around Mumbai city.

ENTOMOLOGICAL SPECIMENS

The identification, preservation and maintenance of various important public health insects in our laboratory for research and as reference for future.

VECTOR BIOLOGY

The important vectors, such as mosquitoes, fleas, Cyclops, snails and other insects, which are important as vector in transmitting the diseases will also be studied in and around Mumbai.

VENOMOUS STUDY

The study will be undertaken on venom neutralization with indigenous plants extract and purification of venom both scorpion and snakes will also be considered in near feature.

ANIMAL DISEASE MODELS

As the name implies, induced models are healthy animals in which the condition to be investigated is experimentally induced. The induced model group is the only category that theoretically allows a free choice of species. Most induced models are partial or isomorphic because the etiology of a disease experimentally induced in an animal is often different from that of the corresponding disease in man. Few induced models completely mimic the etiology, course and pathology of the target disease in the human.