Biodiversity in enteropathogens of public health significance in Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Andaman and Nicobar Islands (ANI) is a hot spot for tourists and also a biodiversity. But little is known about the prevalence of enteropathogens in the Islands. This review explored the epidemiology of different enteropathogens prevalent in ANI. Shigella spp, S. enterica ser Typhimurium and E. coli are the major enteropathogens of human beings. In urban and suburb population children below five years of age experienced about one bout of enteric (mostly diarrhoea) disease every month but incidence is low (0.02/child year) in Nicobar. Common causes of diarrhoea reported in other coastal areas including Aeromonas spp, Edwardsiella spp., Vibrio parahaemolyticus and other marine Vibrio spp. are rarely reported from ANI. In animals and birds also, predominant enteropathogens are Salmonella and E. coli. Serological surveys of poultry birds revealed up to 75% positive reactors for salmonellosis. The disease might be sub-clinical in adult birds but may be responsible for high chick mortality, reported to be around 50% year after year in ANI.