Priority areas of research

• Priority areas of research in Malaria
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  • Studies on vector bioecology in the entire country including north eastern states like Meghalaya, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam as well as other states like Chattisgarh, Jharkhand and Orissa. Studies are required on vector ecology and behaviour, vector bionomics, blood meal feeding preferences, resting habits (exophilic/endophilic), breeding habitats, impact of ecological changes on the vector populations, vector competence, vector population dynamics, cytotaxonomic studies identifying major vectors as species complexes and laboratory and field studies to examine the same.
  • Field Evaluations/Trials:
    • - The bio-efficacy trials of new insecticides, biolarvicides, bednets etc.
    • - Determination of diagnostic doses of the new formulations, products, compounds for vector control.
    • - Development of risk maps at district level for prediction of epidemics of Malaria
  • Insecticide Resistance:
    • - Monitoring of insecticide resistance for individual insecticides.
    • - Impact on resistance by using a combination of insecticides such as IRS/LLIN.
    • - Biochemical mechanisms of the new compounds for vector control.
  • Vector surveillance and Xenomonitoring.
• Priority areas of research in Dengue and Chikungunya
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  • Mapping of all breeding sites of Dengue and Chikungunya vectors: Preliminary studies conducted by NIMR have revealed that there is shift of Aedes, the vector of Dengue and Chikungunya breeding from indoor during pre-monsoon season to outdoor during monsoon and post-monsoon season. It is, therefore proposed that key containers should be targeted for control of breeding of Aedes in pre-monsoon season i.e. from December to April and its impact may be evaluated in amplification containers during monsoon and post monsoon season i.e. in May - November for cost effective control.
  • Role of Aedes albopictus in the Transmission of Dengue: Ae. albopictus is known to be a vector of Dengue. However, there is a need to establish the extent of its role in dengue transmission in different geographical regions.
  • Development of district-wise risk maps for prediction of epidemics of Dengue and Chikungunya.
  • Novel vector control measures using genetic manipulation and SiRNA technique.
  • Develop guidelines for promoting community-based interventions and behavioural change towards vector control.
• Priority areas of research in Japanese encephalitis
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  • Evaluation of Biological Control Agents and Insecticide Treated Mosquito Curtains/Nets for JE control: Use of larvivorous fish and neem cake in rice fields were evaluated earlier and found to be effective with certain limitations. These tools need to be evaluated in larger areas and with improvisations to keep fish survive longer and spread through the entire rice fields.
  • Mapping of JE Prone Areas Using Satellite Remote Sensing: Large water bodies like flooded rice fields, abandoned water bodies, marshy areas are preferred breeding sites for Culex tritaeniorhynchus and Cx. vishnui sub-group of mosquitoes, which are vectors of Japanese encephalitis. Pigs and two species of birds are animal reservoirs. Mapping water bodies, animal reservoir areas using satellite remote sensing images would help in estimating/predicting risk of disease transmission.
• Priority areas of research in Filariasis
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  • Biodiversity of Culicine Mosquitoes: In view of rapid change in environment and water management methods in the country, there is a need to update fauna of culicine mosquitoes, a few species of this group of mosquitoes are vectors of filariasis and Japanese encephalitis.
  • Development of Filaria Risk Maps: Developing filarial risk maps would facilitate in developing differential strategies and focusing control efforts in the high risk areas. Efforts in this direction have been initiated by VCRC Puducherry, which has developed mathematical models (Lyphasim and epilympho) for disease prediction. These models need to be further fine tuned and validated.
  • Vector surveillance and Xenomonitoring.
• Priority areas of research in Visceral Leishmaniasis
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  • Impact of Environmental Management, Insecticide Treated Bed Nets and DDT Spray in Kala-Azar Control: DDT is still the insecticide of choice (@ 1gm/m2with two rounds in a year, first in February/March and second in May/June) for control of sand fly vectors. Recently there are reports of development of resistance in P. argentipes in parts of Vaishali and Samastipur districts, while in other Kala-azar endemic areas of the country i.e. West Bengal and eastern Uttar Pradesh, the vector has been reported susceptible to DDT. In view of the reports of development of resistance in P argentipes, there is a need to evaluate the epidemiological impact of DDT spray on P argentipes for effective control of Kala-azar.
    In addition to DDT, it is proposed to evaluate simultaneously the strategy of insecticide treated bed nets (ITBN) and environmental management in the reduction of density of P. argentipes.
    The findings of the proposed study would be of immense help to Kala-azar control programme in Bihar and country as a whole in assessing the impact of ongoing DDT operations at sub-centre level, and simultaneous evaluation of two other strategies, ITBN and environmental management at sub-center level would help to choose situation specific appropriate strategy.
    
    • Epidemiological impact of DDT in villages/sub-centre with different levels of resistance
    • Impact of ITBNs
    • Impact of environmental modification
  • Development of Molecular Markers for the Characterization of Populations of Phlebotomus argentipes: with the advancements in molecular biological techniques it is now possible to develop DNA based markers. RAPDs, RFLPs, SNPs, microsatellite markers etc, which are polymorphic would be useful in studying genetic variations between sandfly populations. Molecular markers need to be developed for the identification of three sibling species recognized morphologically in Ph.argepentis for their use in various field studies.
  • Development of kala azar risk maps: As Kala azar endemicity is variable, to improve surveillance and information management, evidence based information system is needed for decision making. To facilitate this, it is desirable to develop district/PHC wise kala azar risk maps using following factors; vector prevalence, disease, DDT resistance, parasite resistance to drugs in use, landscape features etc. Remote sensing technology can be used to get landscape features of the areas. This would help to have focused and rational approach to plan situation specific intervention measures.
  • Field evaluation trials for the following
    • Laboratory and field trials to evaluate new insecticides/ vector control tools in different vector eco-systems
    • Monitoring of DDT resistance in sand flies
    • Evaluation of diagnostic kits/ assays for parasite detection