For all the hard cash spent on media campaigns urging people to practise protected sexual intercourse, here is some unsettling news. Results of a research by students of the Yashwantrao Mohite College (YMC), Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University, Kothrud, has revealed that three out of 12 brands of condoms popular in the market contain traces of disease–causing pathogens. All three varieties are locally–produced and heavily purchased, priced at Rs 30 for a pack of 10, compared to high–end brands that are sold for Rs 100 or 110 for a pack of 10. One of the brands in the red, according to the study, is recognised by the government and is freely distributed by Population Services International, India (PSI). The research was conducted by four Microbiology students and one Botany student, under the guidance of Prof Bharat Ballal, Assistant Professor at YMC’s Microbiology Department. Two years ago Ballal created the formula for immunityincreasing ayurvedic formulations, Cytomini and Cytomaw, for HIV positive patients. "The results are shocking. The pathogen found in one brand showed similarities to Bacillus anthracis, which is an anthrax agent," said Harpreet Matey, one of the researchers. "The two other varieties had microorganisms similar to Bacillus endophyticus and Micrococcus luteus respectively. "Bacillus anthracis can cause cuteneous anthrax (severe skin infection), pulmonary anthrax (haemorrhagic pneumonia) and intestinal diseases like bloody diarrhoea," said Professor Ballal. Although Bacillus endophyticus and Micrococcus luteus are not proven pathogens, Ballal said, "They might be harmful if they come in contact during intercourse."

More research is needed to prove the level of infection.

For the study, researchers took 12 different samples across high–end, medium–end and low–end condom brands.Theytookthesurfaceculture of the contraceptives, using sterile cotton swabs and plated them. After 25 hours, 10 samples (all of which were medium–end and low–end brands) showed signs of microbe colonisation.

BHARAT BALLAL, Asst prof at YMC’s
Microbiology Department
Although Bacillus endophyticus and Micrococcus luteus are not proven pathogens, they might be harmful

On performing cultural morphological and biochemical tests of the colonies, it was found that seven medium–end contraceptives had organisms which are found in the human body anyway and were thus considered non–pathogenic. However, the other three were found to have microorganisms that showed unusual characteristics, which could not be confirmed by biochemical tests.

The samples were then sent to National Centre for Cell Sciences (NCCS), located in University of Pune for 16S ribosomal typing – a test to match the microorganisms with the ones existing in the database. The sequences were then scrutinised and submitted to the National Centre for BiotechnologyInformation(NCBI)to include in their database.

HARPREET MATEY, RESEARCHER
The results are shocking. The pathogen found in one brand showed similarities to Bacillus anthracis, which is an anthrax agent

"The infected samples were sourcedfromBudhwarPeth’sredlight area," said Ankush Jee Bhat, another researcher. "One of the brands is recognised by the government and the one that was found to have Bacillus anthracis is popular amongst homosexuals," said Tejaswi Sevekari, director of Saheli, an NGO that works for sex workers.

When questioned, a PSI official said all freely distributed condoms were safe to use. "All condoms are tested in World Health Organisation labs. Only after the tests, does the government send them to us in sealed packets, which are then distributed," he said.