Animal disease surveillance: Its importance & present status in India.

Animal disease surveillance encompasses systematic collection of long-term data on disease events, risk factors and other relevant parameters followed by analyzing the same with reference to temporal and spatial characteristics to arrive at a conclusion so that necessary preventive measures can be taken. In India, the animal disease surveillance is done through National Animal Disease Reporting System, which is a web-based information technology system for disease reporting from States and Union Territories with the aim to record, monitor livestock disease situation and to initiate the preventive and curative action in a swift manner during disease emergencies. National Animal Disease Referral Expert System is a dynamic geographic information system and remote sensing-enabled expert system that captures an incidence of 13 economically important livestock diseases from all over the country and also provides livestock disease forecasting. The laboratories under State and Central governments, several research institutes under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and veterinary colleges are involved in livestock disease diagnosis including zoonotic diseases. An integrated surveillance system is necessary for early detection of emerging/zoonotic diseases in humans. This review provides information on disease reporting and surveillance systems in animal health sector and the need for One Health approach to improve and strengthen the zoonotic disease surveillance system in India.

Evaluation of the diagnostic potential of recombinant leptospiral OMP A-like protein (Loa22) and transmembrane (OmpL37) protein in latex agglutination test for serodiagnosis of leptospirosis in animals.

Leptospirosis is a re-emerging zoonotic disease of animals and humans caused by pathogenic Leptospira, which has major public health concerns. The study is aimed to express the recombinant outer membrane protein (OMP) A-like protein (rLoa22) and transmembrane (rOmpL37) protein of Leptospira interrogans serovar Hardjo in the Escherichia coli and their evaluation as a diagnostic antigen in the latex agglutination test (LAT) to detect anti-leptospiral antibodies in the sera of animals. The Loa22 and OmpL37 genes lacking signal peptide coding sequences were individually amplified (522 and 963 bp), by polymerase chain reaction, and directionally cloned into a pETite N-His Kan vector for expression. The expressed purified proteins were characterized by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblot, which confirmed leptospiral specific reactive protein with a molecular weight of ~19 and 36 kDa, respectively. The sensitized latex beads coated with these OM proteins separately were evaluated in LAT using cattle sera of microscopic agglutination test (MAT) confirmed positive (n = 53) and negative (n = 52) cases of leptospirosis. The rLoa22 LAT and rOmpL37 LAT revealed the relative diagnostic sensitivity of 94·34 and 96·23%, diagnostic specificity of 92·31 and 96·15% and accuracy of 93·33 and 96·19%, with the excellent agreement of Cohen's kappa value of 0·87 and 0·92, respectively. After extensive evaluation, this rapid recombinant protein-based field diagnostic test can be applied as a screening test for the detection of anti-leptospiral antibodies in the sera of animals in the field conditions.

Loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay for rapid and sensitive detection of sheep pox and goat pox viruses in clinical samples.

A Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay targeting the highly conserved DNA polymerase gene of capripox virus genome was developed and evaluated for rapid detection of sheep pox and goat pox viruses. The optimized LAMP assay is found specific and sensitive for amplification of target DNA with a diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of 96.6% and 100% respectively compared to quantitative PCR. The detection rate of LAMP, PCR and Q-PCR assays is found to be 81.5%, 67% and 83% respectively. This LAMP assay has the potential for rapid clinical diagnosis and surveillance of sheep pox and goat pox in field diagnostic laboratories.

Development and comparative evaluation of loop mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay for simple visual detection of orf virus in sheep and goats.

A loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay targeting DNA Pol gene was optimized and evaluated for the rapid detection of orf virus in clinical samples. The LAMP assay was found to be specific and sensitive. The detection rate of LAMP (89.3%) was better than PCR (67.9%) and comparable to real-time PCR (91.1%) in clinical samples by gel electrophoresis and visual detection methods. This LAMP assay is simple and does not rely upon any special equipment and could be employed in clinical diagnosis and epidemiological survey of orf infection.

Development of an enzyme immunoassay using recombinant invariant surface glycoprotein (rISG) 75 for serodiagnosis of bovine trypanosomosis.

Trypanosomosis or surra is caused by the haemoflagellate parasite, Trypanosoma evansi and is an important disease of animals, including domestic and wild herbivores and carnivores, in tropical countries. The invariant surface glycoproteins (ISGs) are blood stream stage specific and are uniformly distributed over the entire surface of the trypanosomes. In the present study, the extracellular domain (ED) region of ISG-75 from T. evansi, consisting of 1320 nt, encoding a polypeptide of 440 amino acids, has been heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli. Further, the immunoreactivity of recombinant ISG-75 (rISG-75) was characterized in immunoblot and ELISA using T. evansi hyper immune sera raised in experimental animals. The protein was found immunoreactive when compared with a panel of antigens (VSG RoTat 1.2 and whole cell lysate) using bovine serum samples from field. The diagnostic potential of rISG-75 was evaluated in ELISA with large number of bovine field serum samples. The optimum sensitivity and specificity were 98.47 and 99.1, respectively. The present finding showed that the expressed protein has potential use in the serodiagnosis of trypanosomosis.

Evaluation of stability of live attenuated camelpox vaccine stabilized with different stabilizers and reconstituted with various diluents.

In this study, thermostability of a Vero cell attenuated live camelpox vaccine under conventional lyophilization conditions has been evaluated. Three stabilizers were used separately for freeze-drying the vaccine and the stability of the vaccine, both in freeze-dried and reconstituted forms at different temperatures was assessed. The study revealed that the camelpox vaccine lyophilized with TAA stabilizer found superior with a shelf life of 44 months, 227 days, 22 days and 20 days at 4, 25, 37 and 45 °C, respectively followed by LS stabilizer. In terms of half-life, TAA stabilizer proved better followed by LS and BUGS stabilizers at all temperatures except at 25 °C in which LS found relatively superior. Among the four diluents viz. 1x PBS (phosphate buffered saline, pH 7.4), 0.85% NaCl, distilled water and 1 M MgSO4, PBS was a better diluent followed by 0.85% NaCl. Both the diluents maintained the infectivity titer more than the minimum effective dose (3 log10TCID50 with a maximum titre of 6.53 log10TCID50 in both the diluents) for 60 h at 37 and 45 °C. However, 1 M MgSO4 found less suitable for camelpox vaccine dilution. The study indicates that the TAA and 1× PBS are the choice of stabilizer and diluent, respectively for camelpox vaccine.

Mapping serogroup distribution and seroprevalence of leptospirosis in livestock of Assam, Northeastern State of India: Unveiling uncommon Leptospira serogroups.

Leptospirosis is a significant zoonotic disease affecting livestock, leading to reproductive issues and economic losses. Despite its endemic status in India, research has predominantly focused on coastal regions, leaving the North Eastern Region (NER) underexplored. This study aims to investigate the seroprevalence and serogroup distribution of leptospirosis in livestock across Assam, a major state in the North Eastern Region (NER) of India. Serum samples (n=811) from cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats, and pigs were collected between 2016 and 2019 and screened using the Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT) for 24 serogroups. The overall seroprevalence was 22.9 % (186/811), with highest prevalence in cattle (26.2 %) and buffalo (25 %), followed by small ruminants (19.8 %) and pigs (18.6 %) . Notably, uncommon serovars such as Mini (28.8 %), Manhao (12.4 %), and Cynopteri (7.5 %) were identified, indicating a unique epidemiological pattern in Assam. High seroprevalence was observed in districts like Bongaigaon (66.7 %), Kamrup Metropolitan (50.0 %), and Nalbari (40.0 %), emphasizing the need for targeted intervention strategies. The presence of these uncommon serogroups, typically found in neighbouring countries and other regions, suggests potential transboundary transmission from these countries. This study provides valuable insights into the seroprevalence and serogroup distribution of leptospirosis in Assam's livestock, highlighting the need for region-specific surveillance and control measures. These findings underscore the importance of understanding the local epidemiological landscape to develop effective disease management and prevention strategies, ultimately reducing the impact of leptospirosis in the NER of India.

Unlocking the potential of cotton stalk as a renewable source of cellulose: A review on advancements and emerging applications.

Cotton stalk (CS) is a global agricultural residue, with an annual production of approximately 50 million tons, albeit with limited economic significance. The utilization of cellulose derived from CS has gained significant attention in green nanomaterial technologies. This interest stems from its unique properties, including biocompatibility, low density, minimal thermal expansion, eco-friendliness, renewability, and its potential as an alternative source for chemicals, petroleum, and biofuels. In this review, we delve into various extraction and characterization methods, the physicochemical attributes, recent advancements, and the applications of cellulose extracted from CS. Notably, the steam explosion method has proven to yield the highest cellulose content (82 %) from CS. Moreover, diverse physicochemical properties of cellulose can be obtained through different extraction techniques. Sulfuric acid hydrolysis, for instance, yields nanocrystalline cellulose fibers measuring 10-100 nm in width and 100-850 nm in length. Conversely, the steam explosion method yields cellulose fibers with dimensions of 10.7 µm in width and 1.2 mm in length. CS-derived products, including biochar, aerogel, dye adsorbents, and reinforcement fillers, find applications in various industries, such as environmental remediation and biodegradable packaging. This is primarily due to their ready availability, cost-effectiveness, and sustainable nature.

Exploring apple pectic polysaccharides: Extraction, characterization, and biological activities - A comprehensive review.

Apple (Malus domestica) is a popular and ancient fruit of the Myrtaceae family. Apple fruit is well-known for its great nutritional and phytochemical content consisted of beneficial compounds such as polyphenols, polysaccharides, sterols, and organic acids. Polysaccharides extracted from different parts of the apple fruit, including the peel, pomace, or the whole fruit, have been extensively studied. Researchers have investigated the structural characteristics of these polysaccharides, such as molecular weight, type of monosaccharide unit, type of linkage and its position and arrangement. Besides this, functional properties and physicochemical and of apple polysaccharides have also been studied, along with the effects of extraction procedures, storage, and processing on cell wall polysaccharides. Various extraction techniques, including hot water extraction, enzymatic extraction, and solvent-assisted extraction, have been studied. From the findings, it was evident that apple polysaccharides are mainly composed of (1 â†’ 3), (1 â†’ 6): α-ß-glycosidic linkage. Moreover, the apple polysaccharides were demonstrated to exhibit antioxidant, hepatoprotective, anti-cancer, hypoilipidemic, and enzyme inhibitory properties in vitro and in vivo. The potential applications of apple polysaccharides in the food, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical industries have also been explored in the present review. Overall, the research on apple polysaccharides highlights their significant potential as a source of biologically active compounds with various health benefits and practical applications.

Beneath the rind: A review on the remarkable health benefits and applications of the wood apple fruit.

Limonia acidissima Groff, commonly referred to as the Wood apple, is a tropical fruit belonging to Rutaceae family. Indigenous to Sri Lanka, India, and Myanmar, it is extensively cultivated throughout Southeast Asia. This fruit holds a profound historical significance in traditional medicine due to its exceptional nutritional and therapeutic attributes. Wood apple pulp is significantly abundant in ß-carotene, a precursor to vitamin A, and contains a substantial amount of vitamin B, including riboflavin and thiamine, as well as trace amounts of ascorbic acid (vitamin C). Moreover health-benefitting properties associated with L. acidissima, such as, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, antimicrobial, neuroprotective, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-spermatogenic, analgesic, antiulcer, and antihyperlipidemic properties, are attributed to a diverse range of phytochemicals. These encompass polyphenolic compounds, saponins, phytosterols, tannins, triterpenoids, coumarins, amino acids, tyramine derivatives, and vitamins. From the findings of the various studies, it was observed that wood apple fruit shows significant anticancer activity by inhibiting the proliferation of cancer. Furthermore, wood apple finds wide-ranging commercial applications in the formulation of ready-to-serve beverages, syrups, jellies, chutneys, and various other food products. In summary, this review highlights the nutritional and phytochemical constituents of wood apple, depicts its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-diabetic capabilities, and explores its potential in value-added product development. Nevertheless, it is crucial to acknowledge that the molecular mechanisms supporting these properties remain an underexplored domain. To ensure the safe integration of wood apple fruit into the realms of the food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical sectors, rigorous clinical trials, including toxicity assessments, are required. These endeavors hold the potential to promote innovation and contribute significantly to both research and industrial sectors.

Epidemiological analysis of leptospirosis, dengue, and Co-infection rates among febrile illness cases in Dakshina Kannada, Karnataka.

INTRODUCTION: Leptospirosis and dengue are two significant public health concerns in tropical and subtropical regions, often resulting in severe forms of disease and fatality. This study addresses the pressing public health issues of leptospirosis and dengue in the Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka, India. Both diseases pose significant health risks and are relatively understudied in this region, making it essential to investigate their prevalence and clinical presentations for targeted healthcare planning. AIM: The primary aim is to determine the frequency of leptospirosis and dengue among febrile illness cases to understand the epidemiological patterns and assess co-infection rates in Dakshina Kannada. METHOD: Between 2020 and 2021, serum samples suspected of leptospirosis were tested using IgM ELISA (n = 1629) and the Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT) (n = 92) for leptospirosis, while dengue was tested using NS1Ag and IgM antibodies ELISA (n = 1415). Data were collected through medical records and patient interviews. Seasonal trends, gender, and age distributions were analyzed. RESULT: The study found a significant prevalence of leptospirosis (21 %) and dengue (10 %) among febrile illness cases in the study area, with a 1.3 % co-infection rate. Clinically, fever was common to both diseases, but leptospirosis also frequently exhibited symptoms such as abdominal pain, myalgia, and jaundice. MAT screening revealed a predominance of anti-leptospiral antibodies against the Djasiman, Pyrogenes, Hurstbridge, Hebdomadis, and Grippotyphosa serogroups in Dakshina Kannada. CONCLUSION: The study highlights the urgent need for focused public health interventions, improved diagnostic tools, and targeted epidemiological studies to manage these diseases. The findings underscore the necessity of enhancing diagnostic capabilities and public health awareness, particularly considering the significant health risks posed by leptospirosis and dengue in the region.

Comparative diagnostic efficacy of Avidin-Biotin recombinant nucleoprotein competitive ELISA for serosurveillance and monitoring of peste des petits ruminants in sheep and goats.

In this study extensive evaluation of Avidin-Biotin recombinant nucleoprotein competitive ELISA (ABrC-ELISA) was carried out by mass screening of a large number of sera to make use of this assay for serosurveillance and seromonitoring of peste des petits ruminants (PPR) in sheep and goats to evaluate its diagnostic efficacy value and strengthen findings associated with the assay. The recombinant PPR virus (PPRV) nucleoprotein was over-expressed in E. coli, Ni-NTA affinity-purified, and characterized and used as coating diagnostic antigen in ABrC-ELISA, and evaluated using the field sera from animals. On evaluation of the diagnostic performance or efficacy of this assay using the pre-vaccinated and post-vaccinated sera of sheep and goats (n = 1437), the ABrC-ELISA showed a relative diagnostic sensitivity of 87.2% (95% CI: 84.1-90%) and diagnostic specificity of 92.0% (95% CI: 90-93.7%), against well-established existing indigenous H protein-specific PPR competitive ELISA kit with an accuracy of 90.1% (95% CI: 88.5-91.7%) and good or substantial agreement of Cohen's Kappa value of 0.79 ± 0.017 SE (95% CI: 0.76 to 0.82). These findings suggest that the ABrC-ELISA is a potential additional diagnostic tool of a rapid, sensitive, and specific assay for the detection of the PPRV nucleoprotein antibodies in sera of sheep and goats. This PPR Ab Chek kit can be used extensively under field conditions for serosurveillance, and seromonitoring of PPR in sheep and goats at the eradication /post-eradication phase in disease-controlled countries or PPR non-enzootic countries.

Phytochemicals, therapeutic benefits and applications of chrysanthemum flower: A review.

Chrysanthemum is a flowering plant belonging to a genus of the dicotyledonous herbaceous annual flowering plant of the Asteraceae (Compositae) family. It is a perpetual flowering plant, mostly cultivated for medicinal purposes; generally, used in popular drinks due to its aroma and flavor. It is primarily cultivated in China, Japan, Europe, and United States. These flowers were extensively used in various healthcare systems and for treating various diseases. Chrysanthemum flowers are rich in phenolic compounds and exhibit strong properties including antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, anti-allergic, anti-obesity, immune regulation, hepatoprotective, and nephroprotective activities. The main aim of the present review was to investigate the nutritional profile, phytochemistry, and biological activities of flowers of different Chrysanthemum species. Also, a critical discussion of the diverse metabolites or bioactive constituents of the Chrysanthemum flowers is highlighted in the present review. Moreover, the flower extracts of Chrysanthemum have been assessed to possess a rich phytochemical profile, including compounds such as cyanidin-3-O-(6″-O-malonyl) glucoside, delphinidin 3-O-(6" -O-malonyl) glucoside-3', rutin, quercetin, isorhamnetin, rutinoside, and others. These profiles exhibit potential health benefits, leading to their utilization in the production of supplementary food products and pharmaceutical drugs within the industry. However, more comprehensive research studies/investigations are still needed to further discover the potential benefits for human and animal utilization.

Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Hook.f. & Thomson polysaccharides: A review on extraction, characterization, and bioactivities.

Human awareness of the need for health and wellness practices that enhance disease resilience has increased as a result of recent health risks. Plant-derived polysaccharides with biological activity are good candidates to fight diseases because of their low toxicity. Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Hook.f. & Thomson polysaccharides extract from different plant parts have been reported to possess significant biological activity such as anti-oxidant, anti-cancer, immunomodulatory, anti-diabetic, radioprotective and hepatoprotective. Several extraction and purification techniques have been used to isolate and characterize T. cordifolia polysaccharides. Along with hot-water extraction (HWE), other novel techniques like microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), pulsed electric field (PEF), supercritical-fluid extraction (SFE), and enzyme-assisted extraction (EAE) are used to extract T cordifolia polysaccharides. SFE is a revolutionary technology that gives the best yield and purity of low-molecular-weight polysaccharides. According to the findings, polysaccharides extracted and purified from T. cordifolia have a significant impact on their structure and biological activity. As a result, the methods of extraction, structural characterization, and biological activity of T. cordifolia polysaccharides are covered in this review. Research on T. cordifolia polysaccharides and their potential applications will benefit greatly from the findings presented in this review.

Real time PCR: a rapid tool for potency estimation of live attenuated camelpox and buffalopox vaccines.

In the present study, SYBR Green and TaqMan real time PCRs (rt-PCR) based on the C18L gene (encodes ankyrin repeat protein) of camelpox (CMLV) and buffalopox viruses (BPXV) were, respectively employed for potency evaluation of live attenuated camelpox and buffalopox vaccines. Cells infected with the respective vaccine viruses were harvested at critical time points and subjected to respective PCRs. The critical time points of harvests for CMLV and BPXV respectively, were 36 and 30 h post infection and were respectively determined based on maximum slopes of (-3.324) and (-3.321) standard curves. On evaluation of eight batches of camelpox and seven batches of buffalopox vaccines, the results indicated that the titres estimated by respective rt-PCRs were well comparable to the conventional TCID(50) method. The rt-PCR assays were found relatively more sensitive, specific and rapid than end point dilution assay. Thus, they could be used as additional tools for estimation of live CMLV and BPXV particles in camelpox and buffalopox vaccines.

Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii, Leptospira spp., and Coxiella burnetii-associated antibodies in dairy cattle with reproductive disorders.

Background and Aim: In cattle dairy farms, abortions and other reproductive problems due to major infectious diseases are overlooked, and identifying their causative agents is very challenging without a confirmatory diagnosis. Further, a prevalence study in animals will provide important hints of pathogen reservoirs and provide necessary direction to disease burden with appropriate control and biosecurity measures at the farm level. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in dairy cattle associated with reproductive problems along with coexisting antibodies against abortifacient zoonotic (Coxiella burnetii and Leptospira spp.) pathogens. Materials and Methods: Cattle sera (n = 246) from dairy farms (n = 35) situated in different locations in India were screened for anti-T. gondii and C. burnetii antibodies with enzyme-linked immunoassay and Leptospira spp. antibodies with microscopic agglutination test. Results: The overall prevalence of 11.4% (95% confidence intervals [CIs]: 7.99%-15.96%) antibodies in cattle associated with reproductive problems (p < 0.021) with farm-level seropositivity of 43% was observed. Further, on analysis of screened sera, 49.8% (95% CI: 42.6%-55%) and 77.6% (95% CI: 72%-82.4%) of samples were found to be positive for C. burnetii and Leptospira spp. antibodies, respectively. Moreover, the seropositivity of 91.9% (226/246) for at least one of the screened zoonotic pathogens was observed, indicating antibodies against either of these organisms in association with reproductive disorders (p < 0.005). The percentage of cattle found to have T. gondii antibodies was only 1.8%, whereas 11.5% and 41.6% of cattle were found to have C. burnetii and Leptospira spp. antibodies, respectively. Nevertheless, the predominantly mixed infections observed were of Leptospira and C. burnetii (34.5%), followed by all three infections (4.9%); toxoplasmosis and leptospirosis (3.5%); and toxoplasmosis and Q fever (2.2%). Conclusion: The serological detection of antibodies against these pathogens in cattle may have significant implications for the livestock industry and public health, suggesting the need for continuous surveillance and monitoring of these infections to prevent their spread.

The complete genome sequence of Indian sheeppox vaccine virus and comparative analysis with other capripoxviruses.

Sheeppox virus (SPPV) is responsible for a significant economic loss to sheep husbandry in enzootic regions of Africa, the Middle East, and Asia including the Indian subcontinent. In this study, we present the complete genome sequence of SPPV vaccine strain SPPV-Srin38/00 from India determined by next-generation sequencing (NGS) using Illumina technology. The attenuated Srinagar vaccine strain of SPPV (SPPV-Srin38/00) was developed by serial passaging the virus initially in lamb testes (LT) cells followed by Vero cell line. The SPPV-Srin38/00 virus has a genome size of 150, 103 bp, which encodes for 147 functional putative genes and consists of a central coding region flanked by two identical 2353 bp inverted terminal repeats (ITRs). Comparative phylogenetic analysis based on complete genome sequences of Capripoxviruses formed three distinct groups each for SPPV, GTPV, and LSDV with clustering of SPPV-Srin38/00 strain with SPPV-A strain. Nine ORFs of SPPV-Srin38/00 namely SPPV-Srin_002/SPPV-Srin_155, SPPV-Srin_004/SPPV-Srin_153, SPPV-Srin_009, SPPV-Srin_013, SPPV-Srin_026, SPPV-Srin_132, and SPPV-Srin_136 were found to be fragmented as compared to LSDV, whereas only one ORF (such as SPPV-Srin_136) was found to be fragmented as compared to GTPV. SPPV genomes, including the SPPV-Srin38/00 strain, shared 99.78-99.98% intraspecies nucleotide identity, indicating that SPPV strains have extremely low genetic diversity. The strain shared 96.80-97.08% and 97.11-97.61% nt identity with GTPV and LSDV strains, respectively. Its ORFs 016, 021, 022, 130 and 138 are the least identical ORFs among three species of the genus Capripoxvirus with 72.5-93% aa identity to GTPV and LSDV strains and may be potentially used for differentiation of CaPV species. This study may contribute to a better understanding of the epidemiology and evolution of capripoxviruses as well as the development of specific detection methods, better expression vectors, and vaccines with improved safety and efficacy.

Assessment of post-vaccination immune response to peste des petits ruminants virus in small ruminants in the central and western regions of India.

The cross-sectional serosurvey for post-vaccination assessment of peste des petits ruminants (PPR) virus (PPRV) antibodies in sheep and goats was carried out in different states in the central and western regions of India after the implementation of vaccination under the PPR control programme. The serum samples (n = 4687) were collected from sheep (n = 1539) and goats (n = 3148) from August 2017 to March 2018 at various epidemiological units (n = 301) of the studied regions using a stratified random sampling method and PPR competitive ELISA kit was employed to detect PPRV antibodies. The results revealed 34, 21, 52, 74, 68, and 65% of prevalence of PPRV antibodies in small ruminants in Madhya Pradesh, Goa, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Rajasthan states, respectively, with a difference in seropositivity in sheep and goats across the states in sheep (p < 0.01) and goats (p < 0.01). Further, this serosurvey revealed that 60% of the epi-units (n = 185) had > 50% prevalence of post vaccination PPRV antibodies across states due to variations in vaccination rates and patterns. The vaccination coverage and the reported outbreaks varied between the states in the studied regions. Due to continuous vaccination under the control program, the reported PPR outbreaks have progressively declined in most of the studied states, and the PPR risk areas are confined to a few districts and sporadically, outbreaks are reported indicating the effectiveness of vaccination. These findings provide valuable information on potential PPRV episystems, and will assist with activities regarding intensive surveillance, vaccination, biosecurity, and modification of policy decisions towards designing and implementing control and eradication measures. Further, the present situation necessitates continuous mass vaccination and active surveillance programs to make these regions free from PPR in consonance with the PPR Global Control and Eradication Strategy under the PPR Global Eradication Program. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13337-022-00796-6.

Comparative efficacy of live replicating sheeppox vaccine strains in Ovines.

In the present study, two sheeppox vaccines made from strains [sheeppox virus-Srinagar (SPPV-Srin) and Ranipet (SPPV-R)] indigenous to India and adapted to Vero cells were compared in terms of their safety, potency, efficacy and antigenic value with the commercial in-use Roumanian Fanar (SPPV-RF) vaccine, a foreign strain adapted in primary lamb testes cells. The safety test indicated that the SPPV (Sri and RF) vaccines were safe while SPPV-R was not completely attenuated and caused excessive adverse reactions at the passage level tested. The immunized animals showed DTH reaction and resisted virulent SPPV challenge, while control animals developed disease. Specific virus could be detected in the controls and animals immunized with lower dilutions of vaccines after challenge but not in any of the sheep immunized with 1 and 100 doses of each vaccine. All vaccines were found potent and the PD(50) was highest for SPPV (Srin and R) followed by RF. The immunized animals were seroconverted following vaccination with sustained antibody responses after challenge. In conclusion, indigenous SPPV-Srin vaccine was found to be as efficacious as SPPV-R and SPPV-RF vaccines. Thus, there is potential benefit in replacing the currently used commercial vaccine SPPV-RF with indigenous SPPV-Srin vaccine for use in India.

Sero-epidemiological study of peste des petits ruminants in sheep and goats in India between 2003 and 2009.

This study describes the serosurveillance of peste des petits ruminants (PPR) in sheep and goats that was carried out between 2003 and 2009 using serum samples from animals suspected of PPR that were submitted to the Rinderpest and Allied Disease Laboratory (Division of Virology of the Indian Veterinary Research Institute [IVRI]). A total of 2,197 serum samples from sheep and 2,687 from goats were screened for PPR virus (PPRV) antibody using a monoclonal antibody-based competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay developed at IVRI. Screening of the 4,884 serum samples showed that the prevalence of PPRV antibody in sheep and goats was 41.01% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 31.86 to 50.16) and 46.11% (95% CI: 37.18 to 55.04), respectively, with an overall prevalence of 43.56% (95% CI: 36.78 to 50.34) during the period. This indicates increased and widespread infection with the virus in India compared with earlier reports, which is attributed to the variations in sheep and goat husbandry practices in different regions, the agro-climatic conditions, the topography of different states, the socio-economic status of individual farmers and the migration of livestock in India.