Centre for Medical Entomology and Vector Management

Full Mailing Address:

Centre for Medical Entomology and Vector Management,
National Centre for Disease Control,
22- Sham Nath Marg, Delhi – 110054.
Tele Fax. No. 01123987704

 

Head of the Division:

Dr. Tanzin Dikid, MBBS, MD
Joint Director & Head
Email ID- tanzindikid@gmail.com

*Other Staff in the Division

Mr.Raishuddin
B.Sc. M.Sc
ARO

Dr. Sunita Patel
M.Sc. Ph D
ARO
Email ID- drsunitacdc@gmail.com

Ms. Shilpi Dhan
B.Sc. M.Sc
ARO
Email ID- dhan_shilpi@yahoo.co

Mr. P. Chandrasekharan
M.Sc.
RA

Dr. Ved Prakash
M.Sc. Ph D
Technician
Email ID- drvpmanncdc@gmail.com

Dr. Abhay Kumar Sharma
M.Phil Ph D
Technician
Email ID- drabhayncdc@gmail.com

Mrs. Priya Singh
M.Sc. (Biotech.), PG-DMLT
Technician
Email ID- priyancdc@gmail.com

Dr. Somya Sharma
M.Sc. Ph D
Technician
Email ID- somya.entomology@gmail.com

Mrs. Shweta Sharma
M.Phil PhD (pursuing)
Technician
Email ID- shweta.kaushik111@gmail.com

Mr. Anand Kumar
B.A.
Lab Attendent
Email ID- ak.kumar750@gmail.com

Mr. Rambhool
7th
Head Animal Attendent

Details of National Programmes

*Programme details:

Dr. Sunil Kumar  DGHS, Director NCDC and Director NVBDCP visited CME&VM division

Visit of DGHS, Director NCDC and Director NVBDCP to the National Referral Museum, CME&VM division, NCDC

Details of Laboratories/Units:

3. Laboratories/ units under the Division:

1. Lab/Unit name: Virus Antigen Detection Laboratory

     Officer in Charge of Lab/Unit: Dr. Rina Kumawat

     Lab/Unit details: Detection of antigens from mosquitoes

• JE virus antigen detection
• Dengue virus antigen detection
• Zika virus antigen detection

Processing of mosquito pools for Virus antigen detection in the VAD Laboratory.

2. Lab/Unit name: Insecticide Testing Laboratory

     Officer in Charge of Lab/Unit: Dr. Arun Chauhan

     Lab/Unit details: Laboratory and field evaluation of insecticide samples   

     received from various National and International agencies against   

     vectors of  public health importance.

• Evaluation of newer formulations of insecticides
• Monitoring of susceptibility status of vector species of arthropods of medical importance.

Evaluation of insecticide samples in the Insecticide Testing Laboratory.

3. Lab/Unit name: National Reference Entomological Museum

    Officer in Charge of Lab/Unit: Dr. Shiva Kamlakannan

     Lab/Unit details: Maintaining an entomological museum with more than 1.5 lakh insect specimens. It contains many species of insects (Diptera, Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, Hymenoptera, Odonata, Hemiptera & Orthoptera) and few arachnids. It has 1,08,757 specimens (89,464 Mosquitoes belonging to 31 genera and 539 species). Besides these, there are 19,293 entomological Specimens, other than mosquitoes. The oldest specimen, Simulium indicum is from United Kingdom collected in 1902, and the oldest collection from India is of malaria vector Anopheles culcifacies collected, in 1905 from Karnal, Haryana State. Collections also include An. sundaicus (Car Nicobar, India in 2005), An. stephensi, An. subpictus, Culex quinquefasciatus, Ae. aegypti (Alwar & Jaipur, India in 2017), Ae. aegypti (Ahmedabad, India in 2017).

National Reference Entomological Museum with more than 1.5 lakh insect specimens

4. Lab/Unit name: Insectary

    Officer in Charge of Lab/Unit: Dr. Namita Soni

    Lab/Unit details: Mosquito and Sandfly colonies

The centre is having well maintained facility for the arthropods of medical importance and mosquito larvivorous fishes for different research activities.

The insectary facility is maintaining both adults and larval stages of the Anopheline and Culicine mosquitoes and Phlebotomus sps. which can be used for different bioassays, adulticide tests, repellent tests, susceptibility assessment towards insecticides, etc.

• Mosquito colonies: Anopheles stephensi, Culex quinquefasciatus and Aedes aegypti.
• Sandfly colony: Phlebotomus argentipes.
• Laboratory Culture of Gambusia affinis: Mosquito larvivorous fish, Gambusia affinis is established in the CME & VM for demonstration purpose for training students.

 Supply of different arthropods of medical importance such as Anopheles, Aedes, Culex, etc slides of them and their different parts such as wings, legs, mouth parts, antenna, and slides of different vector species of Arthropods (sandfly, Ticks, mites, fleas etc.) to the institutions.

Larval trays of Anopheles stephensi, Culex quinquefasciatus and Aedes aegypti in mosquito colony

Processing of larvae, eggs and adults of sandfly, Phlebotomus argentipes.  

“NICD Cooler”

Dengue and Chikungunya have become important outbreak prone vector borne diseases in the country. The mosquitoes transmitting these viral diseases are found breeding in domestic/peri-domestic containers including desert coolers.

The conventional desert coolers are being used in many parts of the country as a cooling device in houses, offices and industrial establishments during the summer months. The conventional desert coolers hold water for long period and they have become the potential breeding grounds for dangerous mosquitoes in absence of adequate control efforts.

The study carried out in Delhi area revealed that more than 50% of the breeding places of dengue vectors are contributed by these conventional coolers because of the following reasons: 

1. The water tank of the conventional coolers is open type, which attracts mosquitoes for egg laying which results in prolific breeding of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes and transmit Dengue/Chikungunya viruses.
2. Weekly larviciding or cleaning is required to prevent breeding of mosquitoes inside the cooler, which is often not practiced.
3. Standing water in the cooler, when not in use, particularly during monsoon season, has high potential for the breeding of dengue vector mosquito and thus increases the risk of disease transmission.

In order to overcome the above problems, a mosquito proof desert cooler (NICD Cooler) has been designed in 2009.The NICD cooler has the following advantages over the conventional desert coolers:

1. Water tank of the NICD cooler is completely covered to prevent the entry of mosquitoes in to the water tank for egg laying. There is thus no risk of disease transmission due to coolers.
2. No weekly cleaning of the water tank is required.
3. No chemical larvicide is required to kill mosquito larvae.
4. It can be conveniently installed in high rise buildings.
5. Even standing water in the cooler, when not in use, has no risk of mosquito breeding.

The NICD cooler is a patented item and registered with National Research Development Corporation (A DSIR enterprise, Ministry of Science and Technology) and is being manufactured and marketed by the 13 agencies.

Mosquito proof desert cooler (NICD Cooler) designed in 2009

4. Mandate of the Division:

• Undertakes entomological investigation of outbreaks of vector-borne diseases and recommend appropriate vector control measures
• Undertake assessment for potential of vector borne diseases and their control in areas affected due to natural calamities like earthquake, flood, tsunami and cyclone
• Undertake Dengue, Zika and JE virus detection in mosquito vectors
• Undertake laboratory and field evaluation of pesticides formulations against vectors and pests of public health importance
• Undertake insecticide susceptibility tests in vectors and study cross resistance
• Maintain a reference collection museum of preserved specimens of arthropods of medical importance to facilitate identification of the collected material
• Maintain live cultures of arthropods of medical importance for teaching, supply and research purposes within and outside the institute
• Capacity building through training courses on vector-borne diseases and their control
• Maintain fish hatcheries of larvivorous fishes viz. Gambusia affinis and Poecilia reticulata for supply to various agencies in the country for the control of larval breeding and to initiate fish culture
• Taxonomy, ecology and biology of vector arthropod species and dynamics of disease transmission
• Identification and supply of live and preserved specimens of arthropods of medical importance to various health institutions in the country for teaching and research purposes.
• Entomological surveillance for vector of plague, scrub typhus and other tick borne diseases in the country

• Support to National Health Programmes:  

1. NCVBDC: Monitoring and evaluation of VBD programme implementation in different states; monitoring and evaluation of indoor insecticidal spray under taken for the control of VBD in different states
2. Support Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP): Provide support in entomological surveillance and control of VBD

• Support Entomological Surveillance for International Health Regulations compliance at Points of Entry:

The centre is involved in the entomological surveillance at ten International Airports and seven Seaports in the pre and post-monsoon period. The findings are shared with the IH division of Directorate General of Health Services, Govt of India and the health offices at the points of entry for public health action.

As per International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005, all the International Airports/Seaports and peripherals areas up to 400 metres should be made free from vectors.

• Capacity Building programmes/Trainings/Workshop/Seminars/ organized by the centre:

The centre is conducting capacity building programmes on Vector Borne Diseases and Public Health Entomology in collaboration with WHO for the health personals, which are having concern to control vector borne diseases. The courses will focus on vectors of local as well as national importance covering the following aspects: -

• Biology, ecology and application of modern tools in the management of vectors and vector borne diseases.
• Entomological sampling methods and practices, vector surveillance procedures and methods.
• Have in-depth knowledge of epidemiology, entomology and control measures for vector-borne diseases and its management.
• Programme implementation and application of modern tools in the control and management of vectors of public health importance.

Training on "Vector Biology & Control of Vector Borne Disease" in collaboration with WHO, 2018.

Training on "Ticks, Mites and Flea borne Disease", 2019

Release of Training Module on "Ticks, Mites and Flea borne Disease", by Dr. N.S. Dhramsaktu (Principal Advisor, MoHFW, GoI) and Dr. Sujeet Singh (Director, NCDC), 2019

Vector Borne Diseases with main emphasis on Mosquitoes, Ticks and Mites” organized by CME & VM, NCDC Delhi at NCDC Branch, Bengaluru from 12-16 Dec. 2022.

Patent awarded: 

• Patent on “NICD mosquito proof Cooler ’’ in July2018
• Patent awarded on “Biological Control” agent for mosquito larvae Chilodonella uncinate

Field Trials:

• Phase III trial: Field evaluation of DuraNet LLIN at three eco-epidemiological locations- Bastar District (CG) 2. Alwar District (Rajasthan) 3. East Godavari District (AP).

5. Research projects and Publication (With website link) (2017-2022):

1. Sunita Patel, AK Sharma Shilpi Dhan, Priya Singh, et.al. 2017. Dengue Vector Surveillance in and around Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) – Goa, India. Journal of Communicable Diseases, 49 (3): 4-8.
2. Sharma AK, KumarK, Thomas TG and Singh SK. 2018. Ecto-parasites of rodents collected from International seaport, Gujarat (India) with special reference to Plague and Scrub Typhus transmission. Journal of Communicable Diseases, 50(4): 7-13.
3. Shweta Kaushik, Neeta Raj Sharma, TG Thomas, Abhay Kumar Sharma, Anu Bansal. 2019. Indigenous Plants and their Larvicidal Potential against Indian Mosquito Vectors: A Review. Journal of Communicable Diseases, 51(2): 59-72.
4. Anu Bansal, Neeta Raj Sharma, Atul K Upadhyay, Shweta Kaushik, TG Thomas. 2019. Evaluation of Carvacrol and its Receptor (Ubiquinone-c-reductase) as a Potential Anti-malarial Drug. Journal of Communicable Diseases, 51( 4): 16-20.
5. Sujeet K. Singh, S. K. Jain, S. N. Sharma and Sukhvir Singh. 2019. 70 Years of Indian Society for Malaria and Other Communicable Diseases towards public health in the country. Journal of Communicable Diseases,51 (1):29-33.
6. Rina Kumawat, T.G. Thomas, Sujeet Kumar Singh et al. 2019. Entomological Survey during Zika Virus Infection in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Journal of Communicable Diseases, 51(1):12-17.
7. S N Sharma, Rina Kumawat, Sujeet Kumar Singh. 2019. Kyasanur Forest Disease: Vector Surveillance and its Control. Journal of Communicable Diseases, 51(3): 55-61.
8. S N Sharma, Ram Singh, Rina Kumawat, Sujeet Kumar Singh. 2019. Scrub Typhus: Vector Surveillance and its Control. Journal of Communicable Diseases, 51(3): 55-61.
9. S N Sharma, Ram Singh, Rina Kumawat, Sujeet Kumar Singh. 2019. Rodents as Public Health pests: Identification, Surveillance & its Management. Journal of Communicable Diseases, 51(3): 55-61.
10. Sweta Bhan, Pankaj U Ramteke, Amarpal Singh, Rina Kumawat and Abhay K Sharma. 2019. Entomological surveillance of Dengue vectors in Bareilly District of Uttar Pradesh, India. (Abstract No.-PP:15). Proceedings of the XIII Annual Conference of Indian Society for Malaria and other Communicable Diseases (29^th November 2019 to 1^st December 2019).
11. Shweta Kaushik, Neeta Raj Sharma, T.G. Thomas, Abhay Kumar and Anu Bansal. 2019. Indigenous plants and their Larvicidal potential against Indian Mosquito Vectors: A Review. Journal of Communicable Diseases, 51(2): 59-72.
12. Anu Bansal, Neeta Raj Sharma, Atul K Upadhyay, Shweta Kaushik and T.G. Thomas. 2019. Evaluation of Carvacrol and its receptor (Ubiquinone-c-reductase) as a potential Anti-Malarial Drug. Journal of Communicable Diseases, 51(4): 16-20.
13. S.N.Sharma and Sujeet Kumar Singh. 2020. Challenges and Threats due to deadly Corona virus in India and dealing with social vaccine (distancing) – the only vaccine. Journal of Communicable Diseases, 52(1): 7-13.
14. Sujeet K. Singh, S. K. Jain and S. N. Sharma. 2020. Prevention and Control of Covid-19 in Indian Perspective. Journal of Communicable Diseases, 5(1): 32-38.
15. S. N. Sharma, Ram Singh, Rina Kumawat and Sujeet Kumar Singh. 2020. Guidelines for Vector Surveillance and its Control at International airports and ports in India. Journal of Communicable Diseases, 52(1): 38-60.
16. Sujeet K.Singh, S.K. Jain and S.N. Sharma. 2020. Situational Analysis and Trend of Covid-19 in India. Journal of Communicable Diseases, 52(2): 38-45.
17. AMKM Rao, ND Kanchana, SN Sharma. 2020. Sampling Model on Surveillance of COVID-19 virus among Human Populations. Journal of Communicable Diseases,52(2): 12-1
18. Kamal, Ramesh Chandra, KK Mitra and SN Sharma. 2020. An investigation into Outbreak of Malaria in Bareilly district of Uttar Pradesh, India. Journal of Communicable Diseases, 52(2): 1-11.
19. Rajendran R, Sheela Devi D, Anusree SB, Regu K, S N Sharma. 2020. Coronaviruses: The Most Dangerous Pathogen of Present Era. Journal of Communicable Diseases, 52(4): 17-28.
20. S.N. Sharma, Ram Singh, Rina Kumawat and Sujeet Kumar Singh. 2020. Vectors of CCHF: Prevention and its control. Journal of Communicable Diseases, 53(1): 22-26.
21. Ved Prakash; Sunita Patel; Sweta Bhan; TG Thomas J. 2020. Vector Surveillance for Dengue, Chikungunya, Zika Virus and Yellow Fever at Three Blocks of Pakud Districts of Jharkhand, India. Journal of Communicable Diseases, 52 (4): 1-4.
22. Amarpal Singh Bhadauriya, Pankaj U Ramteke, Abhay K Sharma, R.K Meena, Rina Kumawat, Sweta Bhan, Lalthazuali, Ram Singh and Arun Chouhan. 2020. Entomological Investigations of an outbreak of Japanese Encephalitis in three districts of Chhattisgarh, India in the year 2017. International Journal of Advanced Research, 8(2): 161-171.
23. Amarpal Singh Bhadauriya, Shilpi Dhan, Pankaj U Ramteke, Sweta Bhan, Lalthazuali, Rina Kumawat, Ram Singh, Arun Chauhan. 2020. Entomological Survey for Aedes Species at Deendayal Seaport, Kandla, Gujarat India during Pre-Monsoon Period, 2018. Journal of Communicable Diseases,52(4): 35-38.
24. Sweta Bhan, Lalthazuali, Abhay K Sharma, T.G. Thomas and Ram Singh. 2020. Entomological assessment of malaria outbreak in Bareilly and Budaun districts of Uttar Pradesh, India. International Journal of Mosquito Research, 7(5): 53-59.
25. Lalthazuali, Sweta Bhan, T. G. Thomas and Ram Singh. 2020. Post flood vector borne disease surveillance: An experience from Malappuram district of Kerala, India in 2018. International Journal of Mosquito Research, 7(5): 01-06.
26. Lalthazuali, Abhay Kumar Sharma, TG Thomas, Sweta Bhan, Amarpal Singh Bhadauriya, Pankaj U Ramteke, Rina Kumawat, Ram Singh. 2020. Entomological Survey of Vectors of Scrub Typhus in Haulawng, Lunglei district, Mizoram, India. Journal of Communicable Diseases, 52(2): 69-73
27. Lalthazuali and Abhay Kumar Sharma. 2020. Entomological Survey for Vectors during Scrub Typhus outbreak in Haulawng, Lunglei district, Mizoram, India.(Abstract No.-PP:16). Proceedings of the XIII Annual Conference of Indian Society for Malaria and other Communicable Diseases (29^th November 2019 to 1^st December 2019).
28. Sunita Patel, Ram Singh, Sujeet Kumar Singh et.al. 2020. A study on the influence of climatic factors on the prefential breeding places of Aedes, the Dengue vector, in Delhi, India. International Journal of Mosquito Research, 7(4): 95-104.
29. VedParkash, Sunita Patel, Sweta Bhan, TG Thomas. 2020. Vector Surveillance for Dengue, Chikungunya, Zika Virus and Yellow Fever at Three Blocks of Pakur Districts of Jharkhand, India. Journal of Communicable Diseases, 52(4): 77-80.
30. S.N.Sharma, B.R. Mane, Mahendra Sonar, Sanket Kulkarni , Raishuddin, Rina Kumawat, Ram Singh ,S.K. Singh. 2021. Entomological Survey for CCHF Vectors in Palghar District of Maharashtra. Journal of Communicable Diseases, 53(1): 10-14.
31. Kaushal K, Dhuria M, Mariam W, Jain S K, Singh S, Garg S, Chauhan A. Experience of setting up of Control room for COVID-19 at NCDC, New Delhi. Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, Vol 10, No. 3, March 2021, pp. 1082-1085.
32. Sharma SN, Kamalakannan S, Sharma AK and Chandrasekaran P. NCDC assists Uttarakhand Government in preparedness against Vector Borne Diseases (VBDs) at Kumbh Mela, Haridwar, April 2021. NCDC Newsletter. 2021; 10(2): 10-11.
33. SN Sharma, Rina Kumawat, SK Singh. 2022. Entomological Sampling Strategy, Sampling Tools and Analytical Techniques with regard to Vector Borne Diseases: Indian Perspective. Journal of Communicable Diseases, 54(1): 117-123.                              
34. SN Sharma, Rina Kumawat, SK Singh. 2022. Good Medical Entomology Laboratories Practices (GMELP) in India: A Concept Note. Journal of Communicable Diseases, 54(1): 150-155.                                               
35. SN Sharma, Rina Kumawat, SK Singh. 2022. Mass Gathering and Population Movement in India: Possible Risk of Vector–Borne Diseases. Journal of Communicable Diseases, 54(2): 49-54.

6. Branches Under Division:

       National Central for Disease Control, Patna Branch, Bihar.