Safety and immunogenicity of conjugate vaccine for typhoid (Vi-DT): Finding from an observer-blind, active-controlled, randomized, non-inferiority, phase III clinical trial among healthy volunteers.

Typhoid fever is a significant public health concern with most of the sufferers between 15 and 25 y of age in Nepal. We undertook this study to demonstrate Vi polysaccharide conjugated with diphtheria toxoid (Vi-DT) conjugate vaccine which is non-inferior to Typbar typhoid conjugate vaccine, a Vi polysaccharide vaccine conjugated with tetanus toxoid (Vi-TT) with a focus on the adult population from Dhulikhel Hospital which was one of the total four sites in Nepal. In this study, we assigned the eligible participants in 1:1:1:1 ratio by block randomization, and stratified into three age groups (6 months to less than 2 y, 2 y to less than 18 y, and 18 y to 45 y), allotted to Group A, B, C, and D.

A randomized, observer-blind, controlled phase III clinical trial assessing safety and immunological non-inferiority of Vi-diphtheria toxoid versus Vi-tetanus toxoid typhoid conjugate vaccine in healthy volunteers in eastern Nepal.

Typhoid remains one of the major serious health concerns for children in developing countries. With extremely drug-resistant cases emerging, preventative measures like sanitation and vaccination, including typhoid conjugate vaccines (TCV) remain the mainstay in its prevention and control. Different types of TCVs are being developed to meet the global demand.

Immune non-interference and safety study of Vi-DT typhoid conjugate vaccine with a measles, mumps and rubella containing vaccine in 9-15 months old Nepalese infants.

Background: Typhoid fever is a common disease in developing countries especially in the Indian subcontinent and Africa. The available typhoid conjugate vaccines (TCV) have been found to be highly immunogenic in infants and children less than 2 years of age. Many countries are planning to adopt TCV in their routine EPI programs around 9 months of age when measles containing vaccines are given.

Factors affecting willingness to participate in vaccine clinical trials in an underdeveloped country: perspective from Nepal.

Due to the inherent complex nature of clinical trials, individual's willingness to participate and hence, enrollment in a clinical trial maybe challenging. When it comes to vaccine clinical trial in children, informed consent needs to be secured from the parents or legally acceptable representatives (LARs). Some of the factors which contribute to hesitancy in taking part in clinical trials are based on the level of education, living standards, part of the world they live, associated burden of disease, fear of different procedures in clinical trial, side effects, limited understanding, limited time, and mistrust with Investigational product.

Safety and immunogenicity of the Vi-DT typhoid conjugate vaccine in healthy volunteers in Nepal: an observer-blind, active-controlled, randomised, non-inferiority, phase 3 trial.

Background: Typhoid fever is an endemic disease in many low-income and middle-income countries. The 2018 WHO position paper recommends that countries should consider typhoid vaccination in high-risk groups and for outbreak control. To address the typhoid vaccine supply and demand gap, a typhoid Vi polysaccharide-diphtheria toxoid (Vi-DT) conjugate vaccine development effort was undertaken to achieve WHO prequalification and contribute to the global supply of typhoid conjugate vaccine.

Challenges and opportunities in setting up a phase III vaccine clinical trial in resource limited settings: Experience from Nepal.

Clinical trials are complicated, time-consuming and costly. From the initial screening, informed consent and recruitment of the participants' to study completion, the sponsor must undertake a wide array of complex and closely monitored operations, complying with international standards for human subject research and local requirements. Conducting these studies in an underdeveloped country, with limited resources, infrastructure, and experience with regulated clinical trials adds to this complexity.

Application of Hepatitis E Virus-Related Markers on Samples from a Developing Country.

Background: Nepal is an endemic area for hepatitis E virus (HEV) epidemics. The research on viral hepatitis in Nepal is limited.

Methods: Serum samples from 170 patients presenting with symptoms of hepatitis were collected from April to May 2014 in Biratnagar, Nepal, and then transported to Xiamen, China, for further evaluation.

Determination of CD4+ T- Lymphocytes in Healthy Children of Kathmandu.

Background: The cluster differentiation (CD) of T-cell is the good marker for the immunological competence study. Nepal does not have a reference value for CD4+ T cell count and percentage for children, which severely limits the prospect of pediatric prognosis.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Kathmandu valley where total 207 children of age 0-14 year age group were recruited in this study.

Short article: Association between liver fibrosis and hepatitis E seroprevalence among HIV-positive individuals in Nepal.

Objective: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) seropositivity may confer an increased risk of liver fibrosis in immunosuppressed individuals. We studied this effect in HIV-infected individuals in Nepal, a country hyperendemic for HEV.

Participants And Methods: We prospectively evaluated 200 HIV-positive individuals.

Estimation of Transmission of Porphyromonas Gingivalis from Mother to Child through Saliva.

Introduction: Chronic periodontitis is an infectious disease. Porphyromonas gingivalis is the major pathogen associated with it and can be found in all ecosystems in the oral cavity. The presence of this organism is highly correlated with preterm and low birth weight babies.

Hepatitis viruses in Kathmandu, Nepal: hospital-based study.

Objective: The objective of this study was to see the aetiology and outcome of sporadic acute viral hepatitis (AVH) in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Results: Among 210 patients, 94 (45%) were male and 116 (55%) were female. Mean age was 30 years.

Microfilaria persistent foci during post MDA and the risk assessment of resurgence in India.

Background: Pondicherry, , is an endemic district for bancroftian lymphatic filariasis transmitted by where eight rounds of mass drug administration (MDA) were completed in 2011 (annually once from 2004 to 2011).The objectives of this study were to conduct a focal survey to assess microfilaria and antigen (Ag) prevalence among young adults and to assess vector infection and infectivity through a focal entomological survey.

Methods: Mosquitoes were collected using gravid traps in Sedurapet village of Pondicherry and dissected to enumerate larvae stage first larval stage (L1), second larval stage (L2), and third larval stage (L3).

The Dengue virus in Nepal: gaps in diagnosis and surveillance.

Background: The introduction of the dengue virus (DENV) in Nepal is recent, first reports date back to 2004 from a Japanese traveller and limited information is available about DENV infection in the Nepali population. Within a decade after the first DENV detection, it is now endemic in multiple districts of Nepal with approximately 11.2 million people residing in the Terai belt being at risk of DENV infection.

Profile of the 2016 dengue outbreak in Nepal.

Objective: The objective of this study was to obtain clinical, virological and demographic data detailing the 2016 dengue outbreak in Nepal.

Results: Dengue disease was first reported in Nepal in 2004 and several major outbreaks have occurred since then, with a significant impact on public health. An outbreak of dengue fever occurred in Nepal during June to November 2016, with a peak number of cases reported in September.

Emergence of dengue in Nepal.

Dengue virus is a major health problem in Nepal. The endogenous dengue appeared in 2006 in the country with reported outbreaks in 2010, 2013 and 2016. Eleven years vertical data show there were sporadic cases in all the years and mostly adults between 25 and 40 years of age were infected with dengue virus.

Epidemiological Profile and Risk Factors for Acquiring HBV and/or HCV in HIV-Infected Population Groups in Nepal.

HBV and HCV infections are widespread among the HIV-infected individuals in Nepal. The goals of this study were to investigate the epidemiological profile and risk factors for acquiring HBV and/or HCV coinfection in disadvantaged HIV-positive population groups in Nepal. We conducted a retrospective study on blood samples from HIV-positive patients from the National Public Health Laboratory at Kathmandu to assay for HBsAg, HBeAg, and anti-HCV antibodies, HIV viral load, and CD4+ T cell count.

Dengue periodic outbreaks and epidemiological trends in Nepal.

Dengue is a global health problem and expansion of its endemics towards new territories in the hilly regions in Nepal is a serious concern. It appeared as a new disease in Nepal in 2004 from Japanese traveler with sporadic cases every year and massive outbreaks in 2010, 2013 and 2016. The serotype was responsible for outbreak in particular year was dengue virus serotype-1 (DENV-1) in 2010, 2016; and DENV-2 in 2013.

Human papillomavirus genotype distribution in cervical cancer biopsies from Nepalese women.

Background: Cervical cancer (CC) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality from cancer in Nepalese women. Nearly all cases of CC are caused by infection with certain genotypes of human papillomavirus (HPV). Data on HPV genotype distribution in Nepalese CC patients is sparse.

Prevalence and risk of hepatitis E virus infection in the HIV population of Nepal.

Background: Infection with the hepatitis E virus (HEV) can cause acute hepatitis in endemic areas in immune-competent hosts, as well as chronic infection in immune-compromised subjects in non-endemic areas. Most studies assessing HEV infection in HIV-infected populations have been performed in developed countries that are usually affected by HEV genotype 3. The objective of this study is to measure the prevalence and risk of acquiring HEV among HIV-infected individuals in Nepal.

Comparative Study of GeneXpert MTB/RIF Assay and Multiplex PCR Assay for Direct Detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Suspected Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients.

Pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) is one of the major infectious diseases in developing countries. The objective of this study was to compare rapid diagnostics technique, GeneXpert MTB/RIF (GeneXpert) and Multiplex PCR assay (MPCR) targeting IS6110 segment and mpb64 gene for direct detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) in suspected PTB patients. A cross sectional study was carried among 105 sputum samples from suspected PTB patients to evaluate GeneXpert and Multiplex PCR who visited National Tuberculosis Center, Nepal.

First report of hepatitis E virus viremia in healthy blood donors from Nepal.

The aim of this study was to detect the prevalence of hepatitis E virus (HEV) in healthy blood donors so as to decipher the maintenance of (HEV) reservoir if any. Five hundred and eighty-one blood samples along with clinical information were collected from central blood bank, Kathmandu between February and March 2014. Samples were tested for hepatitis B virus surface antigen, anti-hepatitis C virus antibodies, anti-hepatitis A virus IgM, HEV antigen, HEV viral load and anti-HEV antibodies (IgM and IgG) by ELISA.

Dengue virus infection in a French traveller to the hilly region of Nepal in 2015: a case report.

Background: Dengue viral infections are known to pose a significant risk during travel to tropical regions, but it is surprising to find dengue transmission in the hilly region of Nepal, which is over 1800mtr above sea level.

Case Presentation: A 43-year-old Caucasian female traveler from France presented with fever and abdominal pain following a diarrheal illness while visiting the central hilly region of Nepal. Over the course of 9 days, she developed fever, body aches, and joint pain, with hemorrhagic manifestation.