Rakesh Sehgal

By Kapil Goyal, Alka Sehgal, Chander S. Gautam and Rakesh Sehgal

Malaria infection during pregnancy is an important public health problem with substantial risks to both the mother and foetus. Pregnant women are the most vulnerable group of malaria‐associated morbidity and mortality. A pregnant woman has an increased risk (up to four times) of getting malaria and twice the chances of dying from malaria, compared to a non‐pregnant adult, becuase the immune system is partially suppressed during pregnancy. Malaria in pregnancy not only affects the mother but also has a dangerous sequel for the developing foetus, resulting in premature delivery or intrauterine growth retardation. Diagnosis of malaria in pregnancy remains a challenge due to the low parasite density and placental sequestration of Plasmodium falciparum. Thus, there is an urgent need for new diagnostic methods to detect malarial parasites in the pregnant women. Though antimalarial drugs are available, which can be safely given in the pregnancy, increasing drug resistance of malarial parasite may pose a big problem in the future. In this chapter, we review the burden of pregnancy‐associated malaria (PAM), its pathogenesis, diagnostic issues during pregnancy and recent guidelines for chemoprophylaxsis and treatment.

Part of the book: Current Topics in Malaria

By Taruna Kaura, Neha Sylvia Walter, Upninder Kaur and Rakesh Sehgal

Vector control is an imperative method for the control of vector borne diseases. Over the last few decades, many methods have been developed for their control and the main goal of these strategies is to reduce the number of mosquito populations to overcome the epidemic situations. Though despite continuous efforts of the present interventions being deployed in the vector control programs we are unable to control the disease transmission and outbreaks. Therefore, it highlights the importance of exploring the challenges which are hindering the success of these strategies and also alternative solutions for the same so as to boost the vector control interventions.

Part of the book: Mosquito Research

By Devyani Sharma, Upninder Kaur and Rakesh Sehgal

Trichinellosis is a meat-borne zoonotic disease caused by nematode worms of the genus Trichinella in humans. Sylvatic animals are the main reservoir hosts of this helminth but domesticated animals, mainly swine, can also acquire the infection when they are fed with scraps of game meat. The genus used to have only one species; however, it has subsequently evolved into a multispecies genus. Due to its broad host range, it has been able to establish itself in both domestic and sylvatic cycles, allowing it to maintain a vast host reservoir. Infection has been documented in a variety of experimental species, showing that it could potentially happen in natural settings as well. Due to the considerable genetic differences among the isolates, researchers predict that the number of species and genotypes discovered within Trichinella will increase. Outbreaks caused by various species in different parts of the world have also been reported therefore prevention and control are critical in order to limit the parasite’s transmission to humans. Although molecular methods are used to identify the Trichinella species but these methods are not appropriate for the diagnosis of the infection in animals.

Part of the book: Cytotoxicity