Mixed Infection of Vivax and Falciparum Malaria with Severe Manifestations of Malaria at the General Hospital of the Christian University of Indonesia: A Case Report

Malaria is still a health problem in Indonesia. The number of malaria cases according to the 2018 RISKESDAS reached 8076 cases, and the highest number was obtained from Papua province with 3,334 cases. Multiple infection malaria in Indonesia according to RISKESDAS 2018, has a rate of 0.01% of the total cases, namely Plasmodium Falciparum malaria and Plasmodium non Falciparum malaria. A 47 year old man was referred from the clinic with complaints of high fever preceded by chills 10 days before being admitted to the hospital. Accompanied by shortness of breath, unable to get off the treatment bed due to feeling very weak, nauseous, sick and having a bulging stomach. Physical examination revealed a pale conjunctiva, ronkhi in the lower field of the right lung, dim percussion in the basal of the left lung, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, shifting dullness. Ring form vivax, on chest X-ray found a left pleural effusion. It is known that the patient previously lived in Papua from September 2018 to May 2019. During treatment, the patient was given artesunate injection therapy, dihydroartemisin + piperaquine and primaquin for seven days of treatment. At the end of the treatment, another chest X-ray was performed and re-examination of the peripheral blood smear, no more pleural effusions were found and no parasites were found on re-examination of the peripheral blood smear. Mixed infection of vivax and falciparum malaria, is a rare case that may occur in endemic areas where both plasmodium can be found. The prevalence in Indonesia according to RISKESDAS is only about 0.01% of all malaria cases in Indonesia.

Tuberization and Dry Matter Accumulation in Potato Solanum Tuberosum L.

The present research project was carried out at the Agricultural Research Institute, Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, which is situated at 31 o N and 71 o E with elevation of 174 m from sea level. Research trials were conducted on the effects of agro-climatic conditions of Dera Ismail Khan on potato bulking rate, weed control in potato using different strategies and performance of several varieties/clones in autumn season. Before going into field trials, a survey research was carried out from 50 vegetable growers in Dera Ismail Khan District to assess the knowledge of growers and to uncover the reasons of low or no potato production in the area. Age, education level, tenancy status, land holding and gender status of the sampled population were also assessed. Results revealed that only 8% possessed little knowledge of potato production. Major barriers in potato production appeared to be lack of scientific knowledge, weed and pest problems, nutritional management, un-availability of high yielding varieties, seed source and potato harvesting time. Almost 100% of the growers were unaware of the potato varieties, stage of harvest and pest control. Exact sowing time was not known to 92% of the sampled population. Knowledge of weed and nutritional management in potato crop was completely unknown to 98% respondents. First set of field trials was conducted to optimize the sowing date and crop growth period of potato during autumn 2003 and 2004. Total number of stems increased with the delay in planting in both years. Total numbers of tubers per unit area and percentage of large sized tubers (> 55 mm) were highest at earliest planting. Smaller tubers (< 35 mm) increased with delay in planting and small sized tubers were maximum at sowing date Oct. 24 in 2003 and at sowing date Oct. 15 in 2004. Total tuber yield was also higher at earlier planting (Oct. 03, 2003 and Sep. 24, 2004) as compared to planting at later dates. However, dry matter was higher at delayed planting. Plant dry bio-mass was higher by planting the potato earlier at Oct. 03, 2003 and Sep. 24, 2004. Harvesting potato at various intervals also significantly affected these parameters. Total number of tubers, percent larger and medium sized tubers, tuber yield and plant dry bio-mass increased with the delay in harvesting in both years. However dry matter in tuber was found higher at earlier harvestings. xAnother experiment was carried out to select the best weed control strategy for autumn grown potato. All the weed management plots produced significantly higher percentage of large tubers. While leaving the weeds throughout the season (Weedy- check) resulted in maximum percentage of small tubers; controlling the weed chemically or manually significantly improved the marketable yield as compared to weedy-check. Significantly lower population of weeds was recorded in weed- controlled plots at the end of growing season. At the end of growing season weeds found in weedy-check were; Anagallis arvensis (47.54% in year-1 and 39.56% in year-2), Cyperus rotundus (13.11% and 18.68%), Convolvulus arvensis (9.84% and 12.09%), Chenopodium album (6.56% and 6.59%), Rumex dentatus (3.28% and 4.40%), Cynodon dactylon (6.56% and 6.59%) and Meliotus indica (13.11% and 12.09%) in a two years study. In an other experiment 30 potato clones/varieties were evaluated during the first year of study. Out of thirty clones/varieties fifteen performed better in term of yield during the first year of study. These 15 clones/varieties along with another commercial cultivar ‘Cardinal’ were tested in 2 nd year. Great variations were observed among the 16 clones for tubers’ distribution in term of number and weight, total yield, marketable yield, plant height days to sprouting, percent plant survival, and stem plant -1 . Cardinal produced highest tuber yield closely followed by Desiree, Raja, Diamant, NARC-3, 9813, 9802 and 394021 with yield ranged from 13.66 to 19.21 t ha -1 .