Name of Technical Division: Department of Parasitic Diseases

Full mailing Address:       Department of Parasitic Diseases, NCDC, 22, Shamnath Marg,Delhi-110054

Head of the Division:       

Officers in the Division:

National programmes implemented though division are as under

Laboratories/ Units under division -
Officer in charge of unit

NCDC Branches under the Division:

• Kozhikode  Branch, National Centre for Disease Control, Kerala (formerly RFT&RC, Kozhikode)
• Rajamahendravarum Branch, National Centre for Disease Control, Andhra Pradesh (formerly RFT&RC Rajahmundry)
• Varanasi Branch, National Centre for Disease Control, Uttar Pradesh (formerly RFT&RC Varanasi)

Activities undertaken in the division –

A) Guinea Worm Eradication Programme:

Guinea Worm disease (Dracunculiasis), a crippling parasitic disease was an important public health problem in seven states of India before it was eradicated in 2000. Cases occurred in areas which had natural or artificial ponds or step-wells as sources of drinking water. India had launched the National Guinea Worm Eradication Programme (GWEP) in 1983-84 with NCDC Delhi as the nodal agency for planning, co-ordination and evaluation of the programme in the country. NCDC deployed epidemiological surveillance teams in endemic states which closely monitored the Programme and helped the district/local authorities in effective implementation of various GWEP operational components; especially surveillance and GW case containment measures. The last case of Guinea worm was reported from India in 1996. Subsequently, International Certification Team (ICT) from International Commission for Certification of Dracunculiasis Eradication (ICCDE), WHO visited India from 9th -25th November, 1999 to assess the status of guinea worm disease in the country and Country was declared free of Guinea worm Disease in February 2000. However, the surveillance activities are continuing and verification of suspect cases for Guinea worm disease are being carried out under the programme till the global eradication is achieved

B) Lymphatic Filariasis:

The Department of Parasitic Diseases, NCDC is the technical body which supports the activities under the National Filaria Control Programme (NFCP) being implemented by the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme. The Department is providing necessary diagnostic services through filarial antigen and antibody testing and staining and examination of night blood smears for microfilaria at the NCDC Headquarters and at the three NCDC branches at Kozhikode, Rajamahendravarum and Varanasi.

The three branches are running filaria clinics and are providing IEC and lymph edema management services along with drug treatment to affected patients.

In addition, the branches are involved in development of trained technical manpower through 5 days training for Medical Officer/District Programme Officers and 10 days training courses for technicians at the three branches. In all, 4 trainings each are organized at the three NCDC branches every year.

The branches are also supporting the NFCP in the Transmission Assessment Surveys.

C) Soil Transmitted Helminthiasis (STH)

• Since 1963, NCDC has been conducting STH surveys in different parts of the country.
• From 1999, WHO sampling methodologies and Kato-Katz technique have been adopted for stool sample examination and surveys have been conducted in different ecological zones in the country.
• NCDC has completed the countrywide mapping of the STH prevalence and Intensity among school children.
• This country wide STH survey provided support to the National Deworming Day activities and would help in monitoring the effect of de-worming in school children and to find out the appropriate effective interval of de-worming.
• NCDC has initiated Countrywide remapping for STH prevalence and Intensity which will be completed in a phased manner till 2021

Major Achievements:

• Certification of country as Guinea Worm disease free in the year 2000
• NCDC has completed country wide mapping of prevalence and intensity of Soil Transmitted Helminths infection among school children
• Support for Elimination of Filariasis through branches:
• Support in conduct of Transmission assessment surveys (TAS)
• Conducting filarial & morbidity management clinics
• Trained of medical and para-medical personnel across the country in Filariology.

Research Projects undertaken:

• Countrywide mapping of the Soil Transmitted Helminthiasis(STH) prevalence and intensity during period between the 2015-2017

• Assessment of Albendazole efficacy against Soil Transmitted Helminthiasis at three sites of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Kerala in year 2016

Current Research projects -

• Assessment of Albendazole efficacy against Soil Transmitted Helminthiasis (STH) at two sites of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Sikkim
• Comparison of two slide kato katz and mini-Flotac techniques for estimation of soil transmitted helminths Infection in varied intensity settings at two sites: Rajamahendravarum, Andhra Pradesh and one site in North East region.
• Study on  “Assessment of prevalence and intensity of soil transmitted helminths among pregnant women” ongoing at two sites: Varanasi and Kozhikode.
• Countrywide remapping for STH prevalence and Intensity

Publications /Guidelines –

Articles:

1. Garg A, Garg VK, Dwivedi A et al. Effect of Multiple Rounds of Mass Drug Administration under Lymphatic Filariasis Elimination Program on Prevalence of Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis in One of the Co-endemic Districts of India. J Commun Dis 2018; 50(1): 1-7.
2. Jain SK, Dwivedi A, Shrivastava A, et al. Prevalence of Soil-Transmitted Helminthic Infection in India in Current Scenario: A Systematic Review. J. Commun. Dis. 2016;48(2):24-35.
3. Regu K, Rajendran R, Showkath MK,et al. Current Status of Bancroftian Filariasis in Palakkad District, Kerala. J. Commun. Dis.2016;48(4): 21-5.
4. Garg V, Jain SK, Jogdand S, et al. Prevalence of STH Infection among School Going Children in Delhi: Study of Contributing Factors in Varied Demographic Settings. J. Commun. Dis.2015; 47(3):13-18.