Incidental heavy landings of mackerel, at Arangamkuppam near Madras

During the period 1988-'92, an annual average of 14,340 t of the mackerel, Rastrelliger kanagurta were landed along the Tamil Nadu coast. Out of the total mackerel landed during the period, 44% was obtained in 1902. Peak mackerel catches alng the east coast occurs in March-April period [Mar. Fish. Infor. Sew., T&E Sen, No. 63, 1985). In this connection it was interesting to observe an incidental heavy landings of the mackerel outside the fishing season recorded on 22-6-'92 at Aramgamkuppam landing centre bordering the Pulicat Lake of Chengalpet District

Landing of giant devil rays at Chennai Fisheries Harbour

Three numbers of giant devil rays, Manta birostris (Fig. 1), locally called as “kombu thirukkai” along with the lesser devil ray, Mobula diabolus (Fig. 2) were landed by mechanised gillnet at Chennai Fisheries Harbour on 04-06-201

Quality of symptom elicitation in an epidemiological survey on tuberculosis

The quality of symptom elicited by health workers in an epidemiological survey on tuberculosis was assessed by again subjecting a 10% random sample of the persons interviewed, by the supervisory staff, independently. Three thousand four hundred and forty nine persons were thus interviewed twice. The overall estimates for overdiagnosis and under-diagnosis in the elicitation of symptoms by health workers were to the extent of 16% and 8% respectively, with minimal yield of sputum positivity from the discordant groups of persons. The additional load of 16% for sputum examination can thus be considerably reduced if health workers are well trained in symptom-elicitationscreening of the population and their work is monitored through spot supervisory checks

Catch trend of the commercial trawl fisheries of Rameswaram

The present report summarises the catch details of some of the commercially important fishes landed by the trawlers operating from Rameswaram during the years 1980 and 1981. The silverbellies, formed the major group, indicating the availability of silverbellies in large quantities throughout the year, followed by Elasmobranchs and Penaeid prawns in the landings. Quarterrwise landings of trawlnets and monthwise landings of prawns and other groups were portrayed

On the recent Introduction of outboard engines along the Coromandal coast

Introduction of outboard engines along the Coromandal coast and Pondicherry were studied. A total number of 232 outboard engines have been introduced at 16 fish landing centres in the South Arcot District. The outboard engines are fitted exclusively to catamarans with a length range of 8-10 m operating mainly gill nets, Pannu valai and Mani valai and the encircling bag-net, Eda valai

Marine fisheries of the north-east coast of India during 2008

The north-east region of India comprises of the states of West Bengal and Orissa. There are about 100 landing centres distributed in these two coastal states, of which most of them record seasonal fishing. The estimated marine fish landings in this region was 4.83 lakh t in 2008, which formed about 15% of the total ‘all India landings’

Seroprevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection among tuberculosis patients in Tamil Nadu

Background & objectives: The dual epidemic of HIV and tuberculosis is a cause for concern in those countries where these two infections are prevalent in epidemic proportions. We undertook a survey at two sites in North Arcot district of Tamil Nadu in 1992-1993, to know the seroprevalence of HIV infection among tuberculosis patients. The objective of this study was to re-examine the prevalence of HIV infection among tuberculosis patients in a repeat survey. Methods: The study was undertaken in four centres: District Tuberculosis Centre (DTC), Vellore, Tuberculosis Sanatorium, Pennathur (Vellore), District TB Centre (DTC), Kancheepuram and the Government Thiruvotteswarar Tuberculosis Hospital (GTTH), Chennai in the northern part of Tamil Nadu during 1997-1998. A total of 2361 newly diagnosed TB patients were registered in this study. HIV serology after pre-test counseling was done along with sputum examination for acid-fast bacillus by smear and culture for mycobacteria for all patients. Results: The overall HIV seroprevalence among TB patients was 4.7 per cent. The highest HIV seropositivity rate was found among patients aged 30-39 yr (10.6%). HIV seroprevalence showed a wide variation among the different centres ranging from 0.6. per cent in DTC, Kancheepuram to 9.4 per cent in Pennathur Sanatorium, Vellore. Sputum smear positivity was 88 per cent among the HIV-negative and 83 per cent among HIV-positive tuberculosis patients. Interpretation & conclusion: HIV infection is on the rise among TB patients in Tamil Nadu. Acid-fast smear microscopy is adequate for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis, and drug resistance among HIV positive patients is not a major problem at this point of time; hence antituberculosis regimens recommended by the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program (RNTCP) can be used to treat HIV positive patients with tuberculosis