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Prof Parija was awarded WHO fellowships for study of DNA probes, PCR and other molecular biological methods in the study of parasitic diseases at the University of Aberdeen, UK. Prof. Parija is member of Research Advisory Board of BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal, the member of Board of MD Examination in Parasitology, Colombo University, SriLanka, and the visiting Professor of the College of Medicine & Health Sciences, Sultan Quaboos University, Muscat, Oman. Author of four books "Text Book of Medical Parasitology", "Textbook of Practical Microbiology", "Stool Microscopy" and "Sputum Microscopy: a Practical Manual" editor of a book "Review of Parasitic Zoonoses" and two monographs "Immunizing agents for tropics: success, failure and some practical issues" and "Kala-azar: epidemiology, diagnosis and control in Nepal" Prof Parija also has contributed several chapters mainly on parasitic diseases for the books, compendium of lectures and proceedings of scientific meetings. Prof Parija has published more than 139 papers both in the National and International journals of repute. Some of his papers are quoted in text books and serial publications. The development of simple, economical and rapid diagnostic tests in serodiagnosis of parasitic diseases such as amoebiasis, cysticercosis and hydatid disease and epidemiology of the parasitic diseases is the main field of his interest in research. Prof Parija was the first to demonstrate that parasitic antigens are excreted in the urine in hydatid disease and cysticercosis, and urinary antigen could be detected for diagnosis of these two diseases. He developed for the first time the carbon-immunoassay (CIA) and staphylococci adherence test (SAT) as two simple rapid diagnostic methods using a light microscope; rapid IHA, protein A IHA, dot-ELISA for serum antibodies in the diagnosis of amoebic liver abscess, hydatid disease, cysticercosis and lymphatic filariasis; and co-agglutination (Co-A), latex agglutination test and CIEP for the detection of antigen in the serum and other body fluids in the patients with amoebic liver abscess, cysticercosis and hydatid diseases. Prof Parija was first to report the use of LPCB, KOH, etc in the wet mount preparation of stool for detection of intestinal parasites including Cryptosporidium, Cyclospora and Isospora by light microscopy; suggested thick smear of stool as a sensitive method for demonstration of intestinal parasites; suggested newer methods such as sucrose layer centrifugation method, and formalin-acetone method for concentration of stool. Prof Parija was first to document and report the prevalence of Entamoeba moshkovskii from India, and report Arcanobacterium heamolyticum associated pneumothorax from India. Prof Parija conducted for the first time the knowledge, attitude and perceptions of rural people staying in two villages endemic for kala-azar in Nepal. For the first time reported the cases of Post-kala azar dermal leishmaniasis, cases of imported cutaneous leishmaniasis, a case of kala-azar presenting with ulcers on the skin of the leg, a case of kala-azar without hepatomegaly and LD bodies-negative cases of kala-azar in Nepal and cases of ocular rhinosporidiosis from Nepal.Prof Parija for the first time documented the prevalence of hydatid diseases, prevalence of enterobiasis in children, prevalence of Necator americanus and Ancylostoma duodenale infections, and intracameral gnathostomiasis from Pondicherry, India. In recognition of his immense contributions in research in parasitic diseases, Prof Parija has been honoured with several awards both international and national. The international awards include BPKIHS Internal Oration Award 1977 conferred by BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal, for overall contributions to the vision, mission and goal of BPKIHS and contributions in the field of Microbiology and Parasitology; and Man of the Year 1997 by the American Biographical Society, USA for overall contributions to the society. The National awards include Dr BC Roy National Award of the Medical Council of India 2003 for contribution to the development of Medical Microbiology, Dr S.R.Memorial Award 2003 of the Bombay Veterinary College Alumni Association, Dr SC Agarwal Oration Award 2001 of the Indian Association of Medical Microbiologists, Dr BP Pandey Memorial Oration Award 1998 of the Indian Society for Parasitic Diseases for research in tropical diseases, Prof BK Aikat Oration Award 1998 by the Indian Council of Medical Research for diagnosis and Epidemiology of parasitic diseases, Major General Saheb Singh Sokhey Award 1992 by the Indian Council of Medical Research for serodiagnosis of hydatid disease at less equipped laboratories, Third Dr Datta Memorial Award 1999 by the Indian Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology, IAPM (Orissa chapter) Oration Award 1993 by the Indian Association of Pathologists & Microbiologists (Orissa Chapter) for the development of simple immunoassays in the diagnosis of parasitic infections, Smt Kuntidevi Malhotra Award 1990 by the Indian association of Pathologists & Microbiologists for his research work on amoebiasis, Dr S S Misra Memorial Award 1987 by the National Academy of Medical Sciences for serodiagnosis of amoebic liver abscess at primary health centre level, Young Scientist Award 1986 by the Indian Association of Medical Microbologists for serodiagnosis of amoebic liver abscess at primary health centre level, and Best Scientific Paper Award 1987 by the JIPMER Scientific Society. Professor Parija is the Editor-in-Chief of the online journal Internet Journal of Parasitic Diseases, and member of the Advisory board, the on-line journal www.Biomednet.com, reviews papers regularly for the international journals such as The Lancet, Acta Tropica, etc., and has contributed the papers for the on-line journal www.emedicine.com. He has been serving as the member of the editorial boards of various journals both International (Parasitology International, BMC Infectious Diseases and Health Renaissance) and National (Journal of Veterinary Parasitology, Journal of Parasitic Diseases, Indian Journal of Medical Microbiology, and Indian Journal of Pathology and Microbiology). He has been conferred with various fellowships such as FAMS, FICPath, FABMS, FICAI, FISCD, FIAVP and FIMSA by professional bodies. Prof Parija has visited many countries, delivered invited talks in parasitic diseases at universities, institutions conferences, seminars etc, and has chaired scientific sessions in the international as well as national conferences. He has guided both MD and PhD students and has been examiner for MBBS, MD and PhD of various universities. |
Dr S. PARIJA, MBBS, MD, PhD, FAMS, FICAI, FABMS, FIMSA, FISCD, FIAVP, FICPath is Director-Professor and Head, Department of Microbiology at the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research, Pondicherry having nearly three decades of teaching and research experiences in Medical Microbiology. Prof Parija was sent on deputation by Govt of India to set up and establish the departments of Microbiology & initiate an integrated Clinical Laboratory Services at the B P Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal, of which he was the founder head between 1995-98.