Karnataka Region Research Articles

Seroepidemiology of Hepatitis E virus among the voluntary blood donors in the coastal region of Karnataka, India

Background: Hepatitis E is a fecal orally transmitted disease and an emerging transfusion transmissible infection with potential transfusion safety implications. Hepatitis E Virus screening among blood donors is not routinely done despite the fact that it is endemic in India. As there are very few reports and evidence, the justification for mandating HEV screening among blood donors is still only marginally convincing. Therefore, the present study was carried out to determine the incidence and prevalence of HEV infection among blood donors in Coastal Karnataka, India. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital in Udupi district of Karnataka, India. A total of 1939 blood donors were randomly selected between June 2020 to June 2022 to participate in the study, where anti-HEV IgM antibody screening was performed using HEV IgM ELISA test kit (DiaPro, Italy). Further, a randomly selected 588 and 1620 pooled donor samples were screened for anti-HEV IgG antibodies and HEV RNA, respectively. Results: The overall prevalence of HEV IgM antibodies among study population is found to be 1.39%, with a statistically significant difference between males and females (n=20, 1.18% vs. n=7, 3.07 %; p=0.027). The prevalence of HEV IgG antibodies was 11.39%. Exposure to agriculture, animal husbandry, and poor hand hygiene were significant risk factors for HEV IgG reactivity. Conclusions: Given the high prevalence of HEV viral markers in the study population, routine screening of blood donors for risk factors and implementation of serologic testing in endemic areas may be considered.

Scenario of Wilt Incidence of Chickpea in Major Chickpea Growing Regions of Northern Karnataka, India

The chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is one of the important pulse crops grown in India. Chickpea wilt complex is one of the most devastating crop diseases in northern Karnataka. Because of abundant inoculum in the soil and suitable environment circumstances, infected plants die, resulting in full loss of yield. A random roaming study was done in important chickpea farming districts of northern Karnataka, namely Dharwad, Belagavi, Haveri, Gadag, Bagalkot, Kalaburgi, and Vijayapur, during Rabi 2021-22 and 2022-22, to establish disease incidence and its in severity in different places. The survey results demonstrated a link between three pathogens: Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceri, Rhizoctonia bataticola, and Sclerotia rolfsii. Dharwad district has the highest illness incidence (30.20%), followed by Kalburgi district.with 29.85 per cent.

Geographical distribution of tomato-infecting begomoviruses in major cucurbits in India: a diagnostic analysis using begomovirus species specific PCR.

Cucurbits are an essential summer-season vegetable crops, but they are highly vulnerable from a range of abiotic and biotic factors. One of the significant biotic factors posing a growing menace to the production of major cucurbits in India is the emergence of tomato-infecting begomoviruses. In this study, we utilized PCR-based species-specific primers, developed earlier in our laboratory for the detection of begomoviruses infecting tomato and chilli plants, to identify begomoviruses in cucurbits across various regions of India. Leaf samples from major cucurbits were collected from different regions of Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Telangana and Karnataka, during the year 2020-2021. Total nucleic acid (TNA) was extracted from the samples and subjected to PCR using a generic primer specific to begomoviruses. The samples that exhibited positive amplification were further tested using six different species-specific primers targeting specific begomovirus species, namely Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV), Tomato leaf curl Palampur virus (ToLCPalV), Tomato leaf curl Bangalore virus (ToLCBV), Tomato leaf curl Joydebpur virus (ToLCJoV), Tomato leaf curl Gujarat virus (ToLCGuV), and Chilli leaf curl virus (ChiLCV). The PCR analysis revealed that among the 551 plant samples tested, a total of 124 samples exhibited positive amplification using the universal begomovirus PCR. Specifically, 47 samples tested positive for ToLCNDV, 73 samples were positive for ToLCPalV and only one sample showed positive amplification for ChiLCV. However, none of the samples tested positive for ToLCJoV, ToLCGuV and ToLCBV. These findings from our study indicate the prevalence of ToLCNDV and ToLCPalV in major cucurbits across India. Furthermore, the study highlights the varied distribution of begomoviruses in major cucurbits between northern and southern regions of India.

Zooplankton Abundance and Growth of Carps in Farm-Ponds of Different Agro-Climatic Zones of Karnataka

Availability of planktons / natural fish food plays an important role in getting better growth of fish from farm ponds. Study was carried out to evaluate the zooplankton community and growth performance of Carp fishes in farm ponds of coastal and malnad agro-climatic regions of Karnataka. All the ponds were manured with cowdung and poultry manure @ 2000 kg/ha. for the production of planktons. Catla, Rohu and common carp fingerlings were stocked in all the ponds @ 10,000 nos. /ha in 1:1:1 ratio and fishes were fed with groundnut oil cake and rice bran (in 1:1 ratio) @ 5% of the body weight every day. The water samples from all the ponds were collected and filtered for zooplanktons using nylon bolting cloth (60 µm). The growth of fishes in terms of weight was recorded. The analyzed zooplankton planktons were classified into 5 class’s viz., Rotifera, Protozoa, Copepoda, Cladocera and Ostracod. Among zooplanktons observed, copepod contributed maximum to zooplankton community followed by rotifers, cladocerans and ostracod. In coastal ponds the average maximum number of zooplankton 10,368 Cells/m3 and minimum number of 176 Cells/m3 were observed. In Malnad ponds the average maximum number of zooplankton 21,797 Cells/m3 and minimum number of 1579 Cells/m3 were observed. The average maximum growth of Catla, Rohu and Common carp was observed in coastal ponds were 884.42, 640.1 and 692.27 gms respectively and in Malnad farm ponds 1080.71, 954.19 and 1023.18 gms respectively. Use of cowdung and poultry manure in combination was found useful for getting better growth in farm ponds of both the regions.

Morphological Variation of Fruits and Seeds of Garcinia indica(Thouars) Choisy in Western Ghats Region of Karnataka, India

Morphological Variation of Fruits and Seeds of Garcinia indica(Thouars) Choisy in Western Ghats Region of Karnataka, India

Bioprospecting of Marine Fungi from Coastal Karnataka Region as Potential Source of Economically Important Enzyme L-Glutaminase and their Comparative Genomic Study

Marine fungi are important sources of new metabolites including certain enzymes of medical interest due to their enormous capacity to adapt themselves to extreme environments. Living in a highly competitive ecological niche, they produce certain unusual chemical moieties. Marine biological resources are green, abundant, renewable and aid in economic development. The present study investigates the production of L-Glutaminase which is of therapeutic and industrial importance, from marine fungi of coastal Karnataka. Primary screening on agar plates and submerged fermentation in broth was employed for enzyme production. Both marine yeasts (Pichia sp) and filamentous fungal strains (Aspergillus, Penicillium) were found to be efficient producers of L-Glutaminase. Of the 42 isolates, five potential strains were selected through primary screening and Thin Layer Chromatography was performed to confirm the production. Filamentous fungi were identified through morphological and molecular methods as Penicillium and Aspergillus strains with 99-100% similarity. A. foveolatus (MT667385)and A. nidulans (MT667422) were potential producers (1.58U/ml and 1.41IU/ml). The yeast identified was Pichia kudriavzevii (MT667428), which was a moderate producer of Glutaminase and first marine yeast reported for this enzyme production. Neosartorya quadricincta (MT667427) and P. citrinum (MT667426) are also moderate producers. After screening the marine fungi, the isolated strains’ potential to produce L-Glutaminase was confirmed using SDS PAGE, FTIR and Mass analysis. This study emphasizes the necessity of marine fungal culturing and the scope of use of these fungi for further commercial production of L-Glutaminase which would uplift marine economy.

New distributional record of <i>Cyclospermum leptophyllum</i> (Pers.) Sprague ex Britton & P. Wilson (Apiaceae) for southern India from Bandipur Tiger Reserve, Karnataka

Cyclospermum leptophyllum (Apiaceae) is reported here for the first time from the Western Ghats region of Karnataka as a naturalized species. A detailed description of the species with photographs and associated species are provided.

Spatiotemporal Characterization of Drought Magnitude, Severity, and Return Period at Various Time Scales in the Hyderabad Karnataka Region of India

Global climate change is anticipated to have a profound impact on drought occurrences, leading to detrimental consequences for the environment, socioeconomic relations, and ecosystem services. In order to evaluate the extent of drought impact, a comprehensive study was conducted in the Hyderabad–Karnataka region, India. Precipitation data from 31 stations spanning a 50-year period (1967–2017) were analyzed using the standardized precipitation index (SPI) based on gamma distribution. The findings reveal that approximately 15% of the assessed years of experienced drought conditions, with a range of influence between 41% and 76% under SPI_3, and between 43% and 72% under SPI_6. Examining the timescale magnitude frequency provided insights into variations in the severity of drought events across different locations and timescales. Notably, the Ballari (−8.77), Chitapur (−8.22), and Aland (−7.40) regions exhibited the most significant magnitudes of drought events for SPI_3 with a 5-year return period. The heightened risk of recurrent droughts in the study area emphasizes the necessity of integrating SPI in decision-making processes, as such integration can markedly contribute to the development of reliable and sustainable long-term water management strategies at regional and national levels.

The Spectrum of ABO and Rhesus Blood Group Systems in a Blood Center in Southern Karnataka

Introduction: Hereditary characteristics, such as ABO and Rhesus (Rh) blood group antigens, are helpful for population genetic studies, for settling medicolegal disputes, and most vitally immunologic safety of blood during transfusion. Having firm knowledge of blood grouping is essential for managing the collection of blood banks. It can lower the likelihood of morbidity and mortality brought on by lack of blood in specific areas. The objective of our study was to screen and determine the frequencies of the occurrence of ABO and Rh blood groups among residents from both the urban and rural populations of the South Karnataka region. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study. The study was conducted in a blood center and included all the donors from January 17 to December 22. Hemoglobin estimation was estimated by copper sulfate method and ERMA INC-PCE-210 3-Part analyzer. After blood bank validation, Tulip Diagnostics Limited standard anti-sera of anti-A, anti-B, and anti-D were used to conduct antigen–antibody slide agglutination test to determine the ABO grouping and Rh typing following blood donation. Simple percentages were used to report data on the ABO and Rh blood group distribution patterns. Results: Out of 19497 donors, predominant age group was 25–29 years (29.46%). The male:female ratio was 108:1. Voluntary donors (91.03%) were more than replacement donors, with predominant donors being Rh positive. Maximum donors had the blood group O (42.5%), followed by B > A > AB. There were also four Bombay blood group donors in our study. Conclusion: Good knowledge and understanding of blood grouping have an imperative involvement in the management of blood bank inventory. It can help to minimize the morbidity and mortality rate due to lack of blood in a particular geographical area.

Estimation of Risk Factors for Intellectual Disability in North Karnataka Region: A Retrospective Analysis

Introduction: Intellectual disability (ID) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by three main clinical conditions, i.e., cognitive deficiencies, impairments of adaptive function, and onset during the developmental period. The causes of ID include genetic abnormalities, as well as prenatal, perinatal, and postnatal environmental factors such as exposure to toxic agents, nutritional deficiencies, childhood brain infections, and maternal infections such as rubella and cytomegalovirus may lead to ID. The present study attempted to perform a detailed analysis of case histories of children with ID among North Karnataka region to examine the frequency of occurrence of risk factors which can cause onset of ID. Methods: Retrospective analysis of records of 1400 individuals who visited our Institute, for speech and language evaluation was analyzed. Among 1400 cases, there were 300 cases were selected for the study. Results: The risk factors identified in this study primely constitute of perinatal and postnatal factors and lower socioeconomic status. Conclusion: It may be implied from the results of the study that appropriate peri and postnatal health care interventions can help to reduce risks leading to ID. Utilizing this knowledge will help with both primary and secondary level prevention by raising public awareness of the probable causes of ID. It is also possible to identify these risk factors, detect ID early, and then intervene at the earliest. Furthermore, extensive researches focusing on a thorough evaluation of risk factors with respect to severity of ID need to be carried out. This will help in understanding the causative factors better, and hence, enhance the development of preventive strategies and planning of a better rehabilitation program.

Electric vehicles in the business processes and sustainable development

Purpose The study aimed at analyzing operations managers’ perception of the use of electric vehicles (EVs) in business processes and its impact on overall business process cost (BPC) and sustainable development (SD). Design/methodology/approach The present study adopts the triangulation approach which is a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods. The data was collected using structured and scientifically tested questionnaires from the industrial managers working in the industries in the Mysore region of Karnataka. Descriptive statistics, factor analysis and structural equation models were employed to analyze and interpret the data. Findings The findings revealed that the usage of EVs in Business Processes significantly impacts the BPC (b = 0.851, t = 8.037, p < 0.01) and it is also the usage of EVs in business processes can significantly impact SD (b = 0.889, t = 7.923, p < 0.01). Thus, the adoption of EVs in the business process offers many benefits to business organizations such as minimized operational costs, an eco-friendly business model, more tax incentives, less BPCs, a low-emission footprint and a contribution towards SD at large. Practical implications Many business organizations operating in the present time show interest in employing EVs in their business processes. Hence, before introducing EVs in industries on a large scale, it becomes imperative to obtain the perception of industrial managers who have already experienced its impact. This study may help industrial organizations to understand the impact of EV on various aspects of the business and to design a business model which would help in achieving SD goals. Originality/value The use of EVs in the daily life of human beings and business activities is gaining importance because of the various positive impacts. Therefore, it is necessary to understand industrial managers’ opinions regarding the use of EV in business activities.

Seroepidemiology of Hepatitis E virus among the voluntary blood donors in the coastal region of Karnataka, India

Background: Hepatitis E is a fecal orally transmitted disease and an emerging transfusion transmissible infection with potential transfusion safety implications. Hepatitis E Virus screening among blood donors is not routinely done despite the fact that it is endemic in India. As there are very few reports and evidence, the justification for mandating HEV screening among blood donors is still only marginally convincing. Therefore, the present study was carried out to determine the incidence and prevalence of HEV infection among blood donors in Coastal Karnataka, India. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital in Udupi district of Karnataka, India. A total of 1939 blood donors were randomly selected between June 2020 to June 2022 to participate in the study, where anti-HEV IgM antibody screening was performed using HEV IgM ELISA test kit (DiaPro, Italy). Further, a randomly selected 588 and 1620 pooled donor samples were screened for anti-HEV IgG antibodies and HEV RNA, respectively. Results: The overall prevalence of HEV IgM antibodies among study population is found to be 1.39%, with a statistically significant difference between males and females (n=20, 1.18% vs. n=7, 3.07 %; p=0.027). The prevalence of HEV IgG antibodies was 11.39%. Exposure to agriculture, animal husbandry, and poor hand hygiene were significant risk factors for HEV IgG reactivity. Conclusions: Given the high prevalence of HEV viral markers in the study population, routine screening of blood donors for risk factors and implementation of serologic testing in endemic areas may be considered.

Antagonistic activity of native Trichoderma spp. and fluorescent Pseudomonads againstRhizoctonia solani causing sheath blight in rice crop

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a cereal grain, it is the most widely consumed staple food for a large part of the world’shuman population, especially in Asia and Africa. Rice production is often subjected to several biotic and abiotic stresses ricesheath blight is one of the most destructive diseases causing great damage to rice yield and quality worldwide.Twentyrhizospheric soil samples of rice obtained during survey from different regions of Northern Karnataka were used for theisolation of Trichoderma spp. and fluorescent Pseudomonads. The antagonistic potential was studied by using dual culturetechnique. Among twenty Trichoderma spp., the highest inhibition (> 50%) was recorded in nine isolates which rangedfrom 54.20 to 65.10 per cent. The results obtained were highly significant between the different isolates and also over control.Among the twenty fluorescent Pseudomonads, the per cent inhibition was higher (> 50%) in twelve isolates which varied from51.92 to 81.79 per cent. The results obtained were highly significant between the different isolates and also over control.

Terrestrial Orchid Diversity in Sagara Taluk of Shimogga District Central Western Ghats Region of Karnataka

The current article evaluates the study of terrestrial orchids in Sagara taluk of Shimogga district, reports total 26 terrestrial orchid species in Sagara taluk region Shimogga district Karnataka from the period of January 2019-January 2022 and provides information on their distribution, phenology aspects and biological status in the district. Extensive field surveys were carried out periodically in different part of the taluk particularly in grasslands and hilly region to study the diversity and phenological character of the plant. It was noticed that, when compared to other species, the Habenaria species is richly distributed in Sagara taluk regions. During field visits also noticed some anthropogenic activities highly effects on the diversity of the terrestrial orchids. The further study has to be carried out to get more information related to diversity and current status of terrestrial orchid species in Sagara taluk region of Shimogga district Karnataka.

Antagonistic potential and growth promoting activities of novel indigenous strains of <i>Trichoderma</i>

Rice (Oryza sativa L.), as a cereal grain, is the most widely consumed staple food for a large part of the world’s human population, especially in Asia and Africa. Rice production is often subjected to several biotic and abiotic stresses. Rice sheath blight is one of the most destructive diseases causing economic losses in rice yields and affecting quality worldwide. Twenty soil samples were collected from the rhizosphere of rice crop from different regions of Northern Karnataka. Trichoderma spp. were isolated from the rhizospheric soil samples. The antagonistic potential of Trichoderma spp. was studied using dual culture technique. Among twenty strains of Trichoderma the highest inhibition (>50%) was recorded in nine strains which ranged from 54.20 to 65.10 per cent. Trichoderma harzianum recorded highest seed germination (100%), root length (13.73 cm), shoot length (8.64 cm) and seedling vigour index. In pot culture experiment, the Trichoderma strains significantly improved the growth parameters such as root length, shoot length and number of tillers per plant. Among the different treatments, seed treatment + root dipping + foliar spray with T. harzianum strain was highly effective in increasing the shoot length, root length and seedling vigour index at 30, 60 and 90 days after sowing. This strain was found highly effective in inhibiting the pathogen and promoting the growth of rice plants.

Persistence of Informal Credit in Rural Karnataka, India-Some Evidences from Primary Data

Purpose: The aim of the study is to examine the rural credit markets in Karnataka region in India. The rural credit structure in India consists of two sectors-formal and informal. This study focuses on understanding farm credit and mixed households (households with farm and non-farm workers) in the rural economy in terms of socioeconomic status, credit structure, linkage, and so on. Design/methodology/approach: A quantitative research approach and a cross-sectional research design were adopted in the study. Primary Data on 100 households collected from two villages in Karnataka India. An attempt was made to understand the difference between informal and formal credit between two villages using cross tabulation and percentage analysis. Findings: The results shows the role of informal credit has declined, it still holds a large share in the rural economy. There is a significant difference between loans give agricultural and mixed households. The results showed that the interlinked credit transactions are less in the developed village, while such transactions are highly prevalent in the backward village Originality/value: The study based on recent changes pertaining to credit markets in the rural Karnataka.

Factors influencing tobacco use behaviour initiation – From the perspective of the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation- Behaviour (COM-B) Model

IntroductionNon-communicable diseases such as ischemic heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases are the leading causes of death worldwide, and are associated with tobacco use. The ultimate goal of health professionals and researchers working to combat smoking's extremely harmful health effects is to prevent smoking initiation. Nearly 5500 new smokers are added each day, for a total of almost 2 million new smokers each year. The COM-B model's primary goal is to determine what needs to be done for a behaviour change to occur. Behaviour modification requires an understanding of the factors that drive behaviour. AimThe current qualitative study intends to explore the factors affecting tobacco use initiation (TUI) using the COM-B model, given the relevance of investigating the factors affecting TUI and the model. MethodsThe present qualitative study has used a directed content analysis approach. Seventeen participants who reported having started any kind of tobacco in the last six months were recruited in the study using a purposive sampling method to understand the factors affecting TUI. The data was collected through interviews, and all of the participants were from the Hyderabad-Karnataka region of Karnataka, India (a state which has been reported as having the highest prevalence of cigarette smoking in India). ResultsDirected content analysis revealed six categories: psychological capabilities affecting TUI (lack of knowledge about adverse health effects of tobacco, behavioural control, and poor academic performance), physical capabilities affecting TUI (lack of better physical resilience), physical opportunities favouring TUI (tobacco advertisements, easy access of tobacco products, and favourite star smoke on screen), social opportunities favouring TUI (peer influence, tobacco use by parents, tradition of hospitality, tobacco use as a normal behaviour, and toxic masculinity), automatic motivation causal factors of TUI (affect regulation, risk taking behaviours and tobacco use for pleasure) and reflective motivation causal factors of TUI (perceived benefits of tobacco, risk perception, perceived stress, and compensatory health beliefs). ConclusionIdentifying the factors that influence TUI may help to limit or prevent people from smoking their first cigarette. Given the importance of preventing TUI, the findings of this study indicated the factors that influence TUI, which can be valuable in improving behaviour change processes.

Occupational Stress among Audiologists in Karnataka Region - Gender Based Study

Occupational Stress among Audiologists in Karnataka Region - Gender Based Study

Assessment of anemia and malnutrition among adolescent in Kalyan Karnataka region of Karnataka

IntroductionMalnutrition and anemia among adolescents are a daunting problem throughout the world, but the most affected are the children from low socioeconomic strata and less developed regions. Hence, the present study was focused on assessing the prevalence of malnutrition and degree of anemia among adolescents in the Kalyan Karnataka region. MethodologyA sample size of 660 was considered. The study was carried out from April to August 2022 in schools selected based on the random number table among children aged 10 to 19 after obtaining baseline socio demographic profile. The investigations included assessment of Body Mass Index (BMI). Hemoglobin was estimated by the micro hematocrit method using a hemoglobinometer. The data was analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) 26 version. ResultsThe prevalence of anemia among adolescents in our study was 37.7%, and underweight was 36.1%. Adolescent females had a higher prevalence of anemia (44.5%). The mean age of the adolescents was 14 years. Underweight was more common among males as compared to females. The factors significantly associated with anemia were female gender, orphans, low socioeconomic strata, early onset of menstruation, and irregular menorrhagia in menstruating females. ConclusionAnemia among female adolescents needs to be addressed by including iron-fortified foods and supplements in the school meal program, specifically among the children belonging to low socioeconomic strata in the Kalyan Karnataka region. A detailed longitudinal study needs to be carried out to assess the ill effects of anemia and the impact of preventive strategies among adolescents.

Time series data and rainfall pattern subjected to climate change using non-parametric tests over a vulnerable region of Karnataka, India

AbstractFluctuations in the precipitation pattern often tend to have an impact on the availability of water, making it necessary to explore spatiotemporal variations in rainfall. This study explores the time series analysis of the rainfall from 1952 to 2019. The trend was analyzed using the modified Mann–Kendall test (MMK), and innovative trend analysis (ITA). The analysis showed that the northern region received the least rainfall while the southern region received the maximum rainfall except that one of the stations had a positive kurtosis. The kurtosis of the rainfall histogram ranges from −0.69 to 24.13. The trend was very well defined by all the methods, though MMK z statistics showed more occurrences of significant changes in the rainfall. The northeast monsoon carried a significantly decreasing trend at Chikkanayakanahalli station where the z value of MMK and ITA_R test showed values of −1.33 and −2.23, respectively, while all of the significantly increasing trends were defined by the MMK test in the annual and southwest monsoon season. The homogeneity test showed the most correlation between Pettitt and Buishand tests in comparison to SNHT. Later, the ARIMA model was run for the precipitation to predict the rainfall value from 2019 to 2029.