Search

BackgroundSince its emergence in China, SARS-CoV-2 has infected more than 240 million people worldwide, including in regions where dengue virus (DENV) is hyperendemic such as Latin America and Southeast Asia, including Indonesia. Diagnosis of COVID-19 in dengue endemic regions as well as DENV and SARS-CoV-2 co-infection can be challenging.Case PresentationWe describe a 68-year-old woman with diabetes mellitus type II who was admitted to the Tangerang District Hospital on 14 April 2020. She lived in a neighborhood where a few people were contracting dengue fever. She presented with five days of fever, malaise, anorexia, nausea, myalgia, and arthralgia. Hematology revealed anemia, thrombocytopenia, normal leukocyte count, increased neutrophil proportion, and decreased lymphocyte proportion and absolute lymphocytes. Her chest X-ray showed right pericardial infiltrates. Although dengue was clinically suspected, she was also tested for SARS-CoV-2 infection as she met screening criteria. After being confirmed SARS-CoV-2 positive by RT-PCR, she was treated with ceftriaxone, paracetamol, azithromycin, oseltamivir, and chloroquine. She was clinically improved four days later and discharged from the hospital on 25 April 2020 after SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR was negative on two consecutive samples. Dengue was diagnosed retrospectively based on sero-conversion of dengue IgM and a very high dengue IgG index (ELISA, Focus Diagnostics®, Cypress, CA, USA), and sero-conversion of dengue IgM and positive IgG (Rapid test, PanBio ®Dengue duo cassette, Inverness Medical Innovations, QLD, AU), which was equivalent to high Hemagglutination Inhibition (HI) antibody titer (≥1280) found in secondary dengue infection.ConclusionThe overlapping clinical presentations of COVID-19 and dengue; limited diagnostic capacity of laboratories in resource constrained settings; and complexities of interpreting results make identification of COVID-19 in the dengue endemic setting challenging. Clinicians in endemic areas must be aware of diagnostic challenges and maintain a high index of suspicion for COVID-19 coinfection with DENV and other tropical pathogens.

Emergence of SARS-CoV-2 in dengue virus (DENV)–endemic areas complicates the diagnosis of both infections. COVID-19 cases may be misdiagnosed as dengue, particularly when relying on DENV IgM, which can remain positive months after infection. To estimate the extent of this problem, we evaluated sera from 42 confirmed COVID-19 patients for evidence of DENV infection. No cases of SARS-CoV-2 and DENV coinfection were identified. However, recent DENV infection, indicated by the presence of DENV IgM and/or high level of IgG antibodies, was found in seven patients. Dengue virus IgM and/or high IgG titer should not exclude COVID-19. SARS-CoV-2 reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing is appropriate when dengue nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) or RT-PCR is negative. Given the possibility of coinfection, testing for both DENV and SARS-CoV-2 is merited in the setting of the current pandemic.

Murine typhus is a tropical disease caused by Rickettsia typhi and is endemic in resource-limited settings such as Southeast Asian countries. Early diagnosis of R. typhi infection facilitates appropriate management and reduces the risk of severe disease. However, molecular detection of R. typhi in blood is insensitive due to low rickettsemia. Furthermore, the gold standard of sero-diagnosis by immunofluorescence assay (IFA) is cumbersome, subjective, impractical, and unavailable in many endemic areas. In an attempt to identify a practical diagnostic approach that can be applied in Indonesia, we evaluated the performance of commercial R. typhi IgM and IgG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and IFA using paired plasma from previously studied R. typhi PCR-positive cases and controls with other known infections. Sensitivity and specificity of combined ELISA IgM and IgG anti-R. typhi using paired specimens were excellent (95.0% and 98.3%, respectively), comparable to combined IFA IgM and IgG (97.5% and 100%, respectively); sensitivity of ELISA IgM from acute specimens only was poor (45.0%), but specificity was excellent (98.3%). IFA IgM was more sensitive (77.5%), but less specific (89.7%) for single specimens.

Background: Since its emergence in China, SARS-CoV-2 has infected more than 15.5 million people worldwide, including in regions where dengue virus (DENV) is hyperendemic such as Latin America and Southeast Asia, including Indonesia. Hence, anticipation for simultaneous infection by DENV and SARS-CoV-2 has been raised.Case presentation: We describe a 68-year-old woman with diabetes mellitus type II who was admitted to the Tangerang District Hospital on 14 April 2020. She lived in a neighborhood where a few people were contracting dengue fever. She presented with five days of fever, malaise, anorexia, nausea, myalgia, and arthralgia. Hematology results revealed anemia, thrombocytopenia, normal leukocyte count, increased neutrophil proportion, and decreased lymphocyte proportion and absolute lymphocyte. Her chest X-ray showed right pericardial infiltrates. Although dengue was clinically suspected, as she met COVID-19 screening criteria, she was also tested for SARS-CoV-2 infection. The patient was treated with ceftriaxone, paracetamol, azithromycin, oseltamivir, and chloroquine. She was clinically improved four days later and was discharged from the hospital on 25 April 2020 after SARS-CoV-2 rRT-PCR was negative on two consecutive samples. Dengue was diagnosed retrospectively based on sero-conversion of dengue IgM and a very high dengue IgG index (Focus Diagnostics®, ELISA), and sero-conversion of dengue IgM and positive IgG (PanBio ®Dengue duo cassette), which was equivalent to high hemagglutination inhibition antibody titer found in secondary dengue infection.Conclusion: The overlapping clinical presentations of COVID-19 and dengue; limited diagnostic capacity of laboratories in resource constrained settings; and complexities of interpreting results make identification of COVID-19 in the dengue endemic setting challenging. Clinicians in endemic areas must maintain a high index of suspicion for the possibility of COVID-19 coinfection with DENV and other tropical pathogens.

This study aimed to evaluate the water quality of mangrove ecosystem indegraded mangrove forest areas, either already or not rehabilitated. The research was conducted at the Ciasem protected forest areas, BKPH Ciasem Pamanukan (RPH Poponcol, RPH Bobos, and Tegal Tangkil RPH), Subang regency, West Java province. Observations and measurements of mangrove stands were performed using line transect and sample plots method (Line Transect Plot). Substrate and water samples were taken and analyzed in the laboratory. The results showed that the mangrove ecosystem in Subang was dominated by Avicennia sp and Rhizophora sp. Avicennia more adaptive to the shallow water, while Rhizophora more adaptive to an area closer or direct contact with the sea. Water quality conditions at the three locations were quite varied and still within the quality standard range for mangrove waters, except the BOD and DO parameters that need to be recovered because they out of the standard. Fertility conditions (physics and chemistry) of sediment (substrate) were generally in good condition for plant growth.

Murine typhus is a tropical disease caused by Rickettsia typhi and is endemic in resource-limited settings such as Southeast Asian countries. Early diagnosis of R. typhi infection facilitates appropriate management and reduces the risk of severe disease. However, molecular detection of R. typhi in blood is insensitive due to low rickettsemia. Furthermore, the gold standard of sero-diagnosis by immunofluorescence assay (IFA) is cumbersome, subjective, impractical, and unavailable in many endemic areas. In an attempt to identify a practical diagnostic approach that can be applied in Indonesia, we evaluated the performance of commercial R. typhi IgM and IgG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and IFA using paired plasma from previously studied R. typhi PCR-positive cases and controls with other known infections. Sensitivity and specificity of combined ELISA IgM and IgG anti-R. typhi using paired specimens were excellent (95.0% and 98.3%, respectively), comparable to combined IFA IgM and IgG (97.5% and 100%, respectively); sensitivity of ELISA IgM from acute specimens only was poor (45.0%), but specificity was excellent (98.3%). IFA IgM was more sensitive (77.5%), but less specific (89.7%) for single specimens.

Increasing demand for woody biomass as the fuel of renewable power plants must be anticipated by utilizing critical land through land rehabilitation activities using potential woody biomass species. However, there is a lack of information on the potency of such critical land. Therefore this study aims to explore the critical land area suitable for woody biomass cultivation and estimate the electricity production that can be generated from the utilization of the critical land. The study was conducted by determining the priority areas of integrated land to be rehabilitated, identifying the status and function of the critical land area, evaluating its suitability for the woody biomass cultivation, and calculating the potential output of electrical energy. The result shows that there are approximately 3.8 million hectares of critical land, which is suitable for producing woody biomass. This area consists of 2.3 million hectares of non state forest area and 1.5 million hectares of production forest area. The largest suitable area is located in the Sumatra region, while the smallest was in the Papua region. The suitable area potentially produces electricity as much as 102,953 GWh, should be able to supply electricity of 69.5 million households. Further, the biomass has the potential to be used as co-firing fuel in coal-based power plants to reduce the negative impacts of the use of coal.

This study aimed to evaluate the water quality of mangrove ecosystem indegraded mangrove forest areas, either already or not rehabilitated. The research was conducted at the Ciasem protected forest areas, BKPH Ciasem Pamanukan (RPH Poponcol, RPH Bobos, and Tegal Tangkil RPH), Subang regency, West Java province. Observations and measurements of mangrove stands were performed using line transect and sample plots method (Line Transect Plot). Substrate and water samples were taken and analyzed in the laboratory. The results showed that the mangrove ecosystem in Subang was dominated by Avicennia sp and Rhizophora sp. Avicennia more adaptive to the shallow water, while Rhizophora more adaptive to an area closer or direct contact with the sea. Water quality conditions at the three locations were quite varied and still within the quality standard range for mangrove waters, except the BOD and DO parameters that need to be recovered because they out of the standard. Fertility conditions (physics and chemistry) of sediment (substrate) were generally in good condition for plant growth.

Bentuk pengelolaan khas hutan rakyat di Desa Nglanggeran, Kecamatan Patuk, Kabupaten Gunung Kidul, ada tiga macam, yaitu alas (hutan), pekarangan, dan tegalan. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui produksi dan jenis serasah dominan serta menganalisis kandungan nutrisinya sehingga dapat menjadi bahan pertimbangan dalam pemilihan jenis yang dapat menambah unsur hara pada tanah. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan urutan produksi serasah adalah dari HR3 (6,05 ton/ha/6bln), HR2 (5,64 ton/ha/6 bln) dan HR1 (4,61 ton/ha/6 bln). Berat serasah daun sebesar 5,150 ton/ha (77,07%) di HR3, 5,218 ton/ha (76,22%) di HR2 dan 3,816 ton/ha (66,96 %) di HR1. Produksi serasah tersebut jika terdekomposisi sempurna selama 6 bulan akan menambah unsur hara ke tanah HR3 sebesar 80,56 kg/haN; 3,50 kg/ha P; dan 14,73 kg/ha K, HR2 (69,58 kg/ha N; 3,38 kg/ha P; dan 14,28 kg/ha K), dan paling rendah pada HR1 (53,15 kg/ha N; 1,95 kg/ha P dan 7,18 kg/ha K). Untuk memenuhi kebutuhan hara baik tanaman pertanian maupun tanaman hutan (pohon) kandungan hara serasah ini belum mencukupi sehingga perlu dikombinsikan dengan jenis lain seperti legum.

The decline in water resources and the occurrence of various hydrological disasters in the Citarum watershed indicate the need to restructure the components inside the watershed, especially land cover in the upper watershed area. This study aims to determine the effect of forest land cover on the hydrological parameters of the upstream Citarum watershed through simulations of the SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) model. The results showed that the forest cover in the Citarum watershed was only 15.96% of the watershed area and only 4.94% was located in the Upper area. The Flow Rate Coefficient of the upstream Citarum watershed is 31.4, the annual average surface flow and annual erosion are 933.03 mm and 517.9 tons/ha respectively. The simulation from several scenarios shows that a decreasing in forest area can increase discharge and surface runoff, whereas an increase in forest area will increase soil infiltration and evapotranspiration. Decreasing forest area by 10% from existing conditions caused 58% of rainwater to become surface runoff. The large number of discrepancies between the existing conditions and the directions in the RTRWP will require a long time and large costs to adjust so that the short-term alternative that can be done is to convert dryland agricultural cover to the forest to reach forest cover of at least 45% of the land area in the upstream area and can optimize the hydrological function of the watershed.

Curah hujan yang tinggi dan pengolahan lahan tanpa menerapkan teknik-teknik konservasi tanah menyebabkan tingginya aliran permukaan dan erosi yang menghanyutkan top soil yang kaya unsur hara. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk memperoleh informasi tentang besarnya pengaruh aplikasi teknik konservasi tanah dan air (rorak) terhadap pertumbuhan tanaman Gmelina arborea Roxb. Lokasi penelitian adalah Kawasan Hutan Dengan Tujuan Khusus (KHDTK) Carita. Rancangan yang digunakan adalah Rancangan Acak Kelompok dengan tiga perlakuan, yaitu P 5 = G. arborea + rorak jarak 5 m; P 10 = G. arborea + rorak jarak 10 m; dan P 0 = G. arborea + tanpa rorak (kontrol). Analisis data tinggi dan diameter tanaman menggunakan ANOVA, dan untuk parameter lain dianalisis secara deskriptif. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan pertumbuhan terbaik tanaman G. arborea dicapai pada P 5 dengan rata-rata tinggi dan diameter masing-masing 10,07 m dan 13,21 cm. Pada saat tanaman mencapai umur 3 tahun, pada perlakuan P 5 dan P 10 berpengaruh nyata terhadap pertumbuhan tinggi tanaman sedangkan pertumbuhan diameter hanya dipengaruhi oleh P 5 . Perlakuan P 5 juga mampu menekan aliran permukaan dan erosi sebesar 2,07% dan 13,56% dari plot kontrol. Kehilangan unsur hara melalui erosi lebih besar jika dibandingkan melalui aliran permukaan, dan P 5 mengalami kehilangan unsur hara paling kecil jika dibandingkan P 10 dan P 0 .

Perubahan penggunaan lahan dari hutan ke penggunaan lainnya seringkali diikuti oleh penurunan fungsi tanah sebagai pengatur tata air. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mempelajari pengaruh tutupan mangrove terhadap perubahan garis pantai dan intrusi air laut pada hilir DAS. Penelitian difokuskan pada penentuan jenis penggunaan lahan pantai melalui interpretasi citra satelit dan pengecekan lapangan, analisis kondisi fisik tanah, pengamatan intrusi air laut, dan analisis perubahan garis pantai akibat abrasi atau ekresi. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan pada periode tahun 1989 hingga 2013, tambak yang ditanami mangrove di Kabupaten Subang mengalami penurunan luas dari 3402,6 ha menjadi 2384,9 ha, sebaliknya terjadi peningkatan luas tambak tanpa mangrove dari 5745 ha menjadi 8741,5 ha. Analisis perubahan garis pantai menunjukkan adanya abrasi di Ujung Pamanukan dan Teluk Ciasem mencapai 1,2 km ke arah daratan. Akresi dijumpai di Teluk Blanakan dan Muara Cipunagara mencapai 1,3 km dalam kurun waktu 1989 – 2013, sedangkan di Muara Sungai Cipunagara mencapai 1,7 km. Air tanah di Desa Muara dan Desa Legon Wetan termasuk air agak payau karena memiliki nilai DHL yang lebih besar dari 1500 µS/cm dan TDS di Legon Wetan > 1000 ppm, sedangkan di Muara TDS nya mendekati 1000 ppm. Perbandingan konsentrasi khlorida-bikarbonat di Desa Muara dan Desa Legon Wetan menunjukkan angka R > 1 sehingga tingginya kadar garam pada air tanah diakibatkan oleh intrusi air laut. Hal sebaliknya terjadi di Desa Tegalurung yang penggunaan pantainya didominasi tambak bermangrove memiliki nilai DHL dan TDS air tanah yang masuk dalam klasifikasi air tawar. ABSTRACT Changes in land use from forest to other uses are often followed by a decrease in soil functions as a regulator of the water system. This research aimed to study the effect of mangrove cover to a change of a coastline and sea water intrusion in the downstream watershed. The research were focused on determining the type of land use shore via satellite image interpretation and field inspections, analysis of soil physical conditions, observation of seawater intrusion, and analysis of shoreline change due to abrasion or accretion. The results showed in the period of 1989 to 2013, mangrove ponds in Subang decreased from 3402.6 ha to 2384.9 ha, whereas an increase in pond area without mangroves was from 5745 ha to 8741.5 ha. Analysis of a shoreline change showed abrasion in Ujung Pamanukan and Ciasem gulf, it reached 1.2 km inland. Accretion was found in the Blanakan gulf reached 1.3 km in the period of 1989-2013, while at the Cipunagara estuary reached 1.7 km. The ground water in the Muara and Legon Wetan village included brackish water because it had the DHL that was greater than 1500 μS/cm and TDS in Legon Wetan reached > 1000 ppm, whereas TDS in Muara village closed to 1,000. Comparison of bicarbonate-chloride concentrations in the Muara and Legon Wetan village showed R > 1 so that high levels of salt in groundwater is caused by seawater intrusion. On the other hand, there was occur in the Tegalurung village that the use of shores was dominated by mangrove ponds had DHL and TDS value groundwater that was classified as plain water.

Secondary dengue infection by heterotypic serotypes is associated with severe manifestations of disease, that is, dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) and dengue shock syndrome (DSS). The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended criteria based on the hemagglutination inhibition (HI) test to distinguish between primary and secondary dengue infections. Since the HI test has practical limitations and disadvantages, we evaluated the accuracy of WHO HI criteria and compared it with criteria based on an IgG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using a plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT) as the gold standard. Both WHO HI criteria and IgG ELISA criteria performed strongly (16/16) in determining primary infection. However, to determine secondary infection, the IgG ELISA criteria performed better (72/73) compared to the WHO HI criteria (23/73).