REGIONAL MEDICAL RESEARCH CENTRE FOR TRIBALS

JABALPUR - 482003

(Established in 1984)

Publications

• Situated in the city of Jabalpur in the state of Madhya Pradesh, the Regional Medical Research Centre for Tribals (RMRCT) conducts research on Haemoglobinopathies, Vector borne disease, other Communicable diseases and Nutritional disorders.
• The studies in Haemoglobinopathies are confined to sickle cell anemia, G6PD Deficiency and α Thallasemia; the studies in vector borne diseases are restricted to the study of Malaria, Filaria and Dengue; the studies on other communicable diseases include Tuberculosis, Viral hepatitis, sexually transmitted infection including HIV/AIDS, Diarrheal diseases, etc.; the Nutritional studies include research on nutritional disorders and studies on fluorosis.

The following are the thrust areas of RMRCT

• Haemoglobinopathies and malaria.
• Work on the genetic disorders by mapping the genetic traits/ diseases.
• Work on bio-medical and behavioural aspects of malaria using technology driven laboratories developed by it over the years.

• The requisite formalities and processes to declare RMRCT as a WHO collaborative centre for Malaria and Haemoglobinopathies are currently underway.
• RMRCT works in close coordination with many international organizations in collaborative research or organizing symposia, etc. e.g. Centre for Disease Control, London School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, UNICEF, WHO, DFID, USAID, US Embassy, etc.

• RMRCT is recognized as State Referral Laboratory for HIV. Under this it participates in External Quality Assurance Scheme (EQUAS) where samples from different ICTC’S and Blood banks of the state are tested for quality controls. Regular trainings are also organized under EQUAS for laboratory technicians and medical officers. Induction and reorientation trainings on HIV/AIDS are also regularly organized for laboratory technicians of ICTC’s.
• RMRCT jointly with NIMR-FS, Jabalpur organises from time to time training workshop for medical officers on malariology.
• RMRCT also organizes various national/international symposia, workshops and trainings.
  • 2004
    • WHO workshop on Rapid Assessment Tools for Malaria in Pregnancy for South East Asian Countries;
    • INDO-US workshop on Cerebral Malaria Associated Neurological Disorders in India.
  • 2007
    • Workshop on molecular and immuno-epidemiological aspects of malaria and other vector born diseases.
  • 2006
    • National symposium on Tribal Health.
  • 2009
    • Symposium on tribal health.
• Various students from Rani Durgawati Vishwavidyalaya, Jabalpur, Sikkim Manipal Institute of Technology and Medical Sciences, Sikkim, etc. have completed their M.Sc dissertation work under the guidance of scientists of the centre.
• Nine students guided by the centre’s scientists were awarded Ph.D from various universities such as Rani Durgawati Vishwavidyalaya, Jabalpur; Dr. Harisingh Gour University, Sagar; Bundelkhand University, Jhansi.

• Rani Durgawati Vishwavidyalaya, Jabalpur through a memorandum of understanding in 2008 has recognized the centre/ scientists for guiding bio-medical and socio-behavioural health research students for the degree of Ph.D.
• The centre is also recognized for Ph.D work by Jiwaji University, Gwalior.

Among the major achievements of RMRCT are the following: Established a TB lab.

Research Projects and important findings:

• Prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis in tribal population of Madhya Pradesh;
  • The overall prevalence of TB was assessed at 387 per 100,000 populations
  • It was observed as a major public health problem amongst the Saharia primitive tribal community with the prevalence of 1,518 per 100,000 populations; 150 per 100,000 populations among Baigas of Baigachak; 430 per 100,000 populations among Bharias of Patalkot.
• Epidemiology of viral hepatitis in primitive tribes of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh (Ongoing)
  • An ICMR multi-centric task force study being undertaken among primitive tribal communities in different parts of the country.
  • The prevalence of HBsAg is found to be ranging between 3 - 6.5% in different tribal communities.
  • The prevalence of anti-HCV is found to be ranging between 1 - 7% except among Bharias (15%).
  • The study has shown genotype D to be the most prevalent genotype in the study population.
• Genetic Diversity of Plasmodium vivax Circumsporozoite Protein (Ongoing)
  • A total 40 samples were sequenced & amplified successfully and compared to a reference sequence obtained from GenBank (M11926 & J04090).
  • All aligned sequences were found to be of VK210 type showing 5 sub type variants.
• Malaria in Baiga Chak of Dindori and Kanha of Mandla districts (Ongoing)
  • These districts contribute about 29% of the state’s malaria even though their population is only 2.6 % of state of M.P.
  • In Baiga Chak, Chloroquine sensitivity test showed 53% treatment failure rate (early treatment failure - 26%, late clinical failure - 8% and late parasite clearance failure - 19%).
  • The insecticide susceptibility test of An. culicifacies showed only 15% mortality against DDT while cent percent mortality was recorded against Deltametherine.
  • Based on this study drug policy was modified in Baiga Chak in 2006. The change in insecticide and drugs reduced the prevalence of malaria significantly.
  • Sibling species composition revealed the predominance of species C (90%) followed by species B and D using the cytotaxonomic techniques.
  • An. fluviatilis sibling species was identified using Allele specific PCR technique which revealed the predominance of species T (80%) and the proportion of species S was 20%.
  • Sporozoite rate of 0.08 and 0.3 was recorded in Baiga Chak and Kanha respectively.
• Prevalence of Haemoglobinopathies in tribes of Madhya Pradesh (Ongoing)
  • High prevalence of alpha thalassaemia type II (52 to 82%), which is benign in nature, in ethnic tribes of MP.
  • The distribution of alpha thalassaemia type II is suggestive of selection pressure.
  • High prevalence of sickle haemoglobin (30%) in Pradhan tribe of district Dindori.
  • Minor intervention of sickle cell disease reduces the disease severity.
• Integrated Disease Surveillance Project – NCD Risk Factor Surveillance, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, India
  • The first community based survey on assessment of cardiovascular risk factors.
  • In Maharashtra stage II hypertensive which is usually manifested in the disease form was seen in 7% individuals some of them were even less than 30 years old.
  • In Madhya Pradesh stage II hypertensive was seen in 8% individuals of which 3.4% individuals were less than 30 years.
• Newborn Care among Tribes of Madhya Pradesh: A Case Study among the Bhils of Dhar District of Madhya Pradesh (Ongoing)
  • 65% of recently delivered women (RDW) registered with ANM.
  • 63% received at least one antenatal care.
  • 45% of the deliveries are made at a Government institution.
• Tobacco Related Disease in the Tribal Population of Kundam Block, Jabalpur District, Madhya Pradesh
• This study demonstrates a high prevalence of tobacco use - smoking (59.9%) and smokeless/chewing tobacco (42.2%).
• Resulting in hypertension (31.8%), mouth ulcer (12.6%), leukoplakia (11.3%), sub-mucosis fibrosis (9.4%), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (5.1%), etc.