ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Bluetongue disease is an economically important viral disease of livestock caused by bluetongue virus (BTV) having multiple serotypes. It belongs to the genus Orbivirus of family Reoviridae and subfamily Sedoreovirinae. The genome of BTV is 10 segmented dsRNA that codes for 7 structural and 4 nonstructural proteins, of which VP2 was reported to be serotype-specific and a major antigenic determinant. OBJECTIVE: It is important to know the circulating serotypes in a particular geographical location for effective control of the disease. The present study unravels the molecular evolution of the circulating BTV serotypes during 2014-2018 in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh states of India. METHODS: Multiple sequence alignment with available BTV serotypes in GenBank and phylogenetic analysis were performed for the partial VP2 sequences of major circulating BTV serotypes during the study period. RESULTS: The multiple sequence alignment of circulating serotypes with respective reference isolates revealed variations in antigenic VP2. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that the major circulating serotypes were grouped into eastern topotypes (BTV-1, BTV-2, BTV-4, and BTV-16) and Western topotypes (BTV-5, BTV-12, and BTV-24). CONCLUSION: Our study strengthens the need for development of an effective vaccine, which can induce the immune response for a range of serotypes within and in between topotypes.
ABSTRACT
Poliovirus (PV) contains a single-stranded positive-sense RNA genome, which is translated into a single polyprotein. Viral proteases process this polyprotein to produce several individual as well as fused proteins. The major viral protease 3C cleaves at nine of the eleven cleavage sites. During the process of expressing PV 3ABC protein in Escherichia coli, we identified a 3C mutant (L70P), which lost its protease activity. This loss of function was confirmed by generating recombinant adenoviruses expressing mutant and wild-type 3C. Further, infectious PV could not be recovered from PV full-length cDNA containing the L70P mutation. However, 3C L70P mutant cDNA could complement a PV cDNA containing a 1AB deletion, producing a viable virus population containing defective complementing genomes. Structural analysis of the mutant protein indicated that the L70P mutation resulted in the loss of a hydrogen bond between two residues located within a loop between two ß-sheets, potentially leading to strain on the catalytic site. We conclude that L70P inactivates 3C protease because of its close proximity to the 3C catalytic site.
Subject(s)
Cysteine Endopeptidases/metabolism , Poliovirus/enzymology , Viral Proteins/metabolism , 3C Viral Proteases , Amino Acid Sequence , Cloning, Molecular , Cysteine Endopeptidases/genetics , Escherichia coli , Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic , Gene Expression Regulation, Viral , HEK293 Cells , Humans , Models, Molecular , Point Mutation , Protein Conformation , RNA, Viral , Recombinant Proteins/genetics , Viral Proteins/geneticsABSTRACT
Poliomyelitis, caused by poliovirus, is on the verge of eradication, and the world is preparing to shift from live to inactivated polio vaccine. In view of the requirement of non-infectious reagents, especially protein antigens, for surveillance during the final phase of poliovirus eradication, we have attempted to generate reagents that may be of use for the development of diagnostic tests. Polioviral proteins VP0, VP3, VP1, and 3AB were expressed in Escherichia coli using the autoinduction system, purified, and the proteins were used to raise antisera in rabbits. All antisera detected all three serotypes of PV from infected cell lysates in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, immunofluorescence and western blotting.
Subject(s)
Antibodies, Viral/immunology , Fibroblasts/immunology , Poliomyelitis/immunology , Poliovirus/genetics , Poliovirus/immunology , Animals , Capsid Proteins/biosynthesis , Capsid Proteins/genetics , Capsid Proteins/immunology , Capsid Proteins/isolation & purification , Cell Line , Chlorocebus aethiops , Escherichia coli , Fibroblasts/virology , Male , Poliomyelitis/diagnosis , Poliovirus/metabolism , RabbitsABSTRACT
HupB is an iron-regulated protein in Mycobacterium tuberculosis that functions as a positive regulator of mycobactin biosynthesis. It is essential for the growth and survival of the pathogen inside macrophages. Previously, using the full-length rHupB of M. tuberculosis, we demonstrated high levels of anti-HupB antibodies in the serum of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) and, interestingly, extrapulmonary TB patients with negligible levels in household contacts and healthy controls. Here, we used three antigenic fragments of HupB, namely the recombinant HupB-F1 (aa 1-71), HupB-F2 (aa 63-161) and HupB-F3 (aa 164-214), as antigens in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to screen serum from TB patients. HupB-F2 showed enhanced immunoreactivity with serum from patients with pulmonary TB (three groups consisting of new cases, defaulters and recurrent cases) and extrapulmonary TB, with negligible levels in normal healthy controls. The negative correlation of the anti-(HupB-F2) antibodies with serum iron was maximal, with a Pearson's correlation coefficient value of -0.415. The study, in addition to strengthening the diagnostic potential of HupB, reflected the superior performance of HupB-F2 as an antigen in screening pulmonary and extrapulmonary TB.
Subject(s)
Antibodies, Bacterial/blood , Antigens, Bacterial , Bacterial Proteins , Diagnostic Tests, Routine/methods , Histones , Mycobacterium tuberculosis/immunology , Tuberculosis/diagnosis , Adult , Aged , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay/methods , Female , Humans , Male , Mass Screening/methods , Middle Aged , Recombinant Proteins , Serologic Tests/methodsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Live donor liver transplant has become an accepted, effective and lifesaving alternative to deceased donor transplant. The effect on donor and his safety remains a cause of concern. The donors are all in productive age and in our setting may have to go back to active service. This study is aimed at knowing the results of donor hepatectomies at our centre. METHODS: Data of all donor hepatectomies done at our centre from Apr 2007 to Jun 2013 reviewed. This included the preoperative workup, operative details and postoperative follow-up. RESULTS: 35 Donors of age between 20 and 50 years were taken up for procedure of which one was abandoned due to haemodynamic instability after intubation. In the 34 procedures done the percentage of the residual liver was at least 30%. No donor required blood transfusion. The overall complication rate was 26.5% which was stratified according to the modified Clavien classification of postoperative complications. There was transient rise of bilirubin and liver enzymes in all which returned back to normal with time. Infections were the most common cause of complication. All the donors had gone back to their work after a mean of 42 days after surgery. All donors were willing to donate again if needed. CONCLUSION: Living donor liver transplant a widely practiced modality for end-stage liver disease. It is a safe procedure with good recovery and results. Our study shows that meticulous selection criteria and strict adherence to protocols leads to good outcome.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: A rectal impalement injury is a rare type of penetrating injury that involves a solid object being forcefully inserted through anal opening. The removal of such injuries should be planned carefully with preparedness to assess and manage associated injuries in the pelvis and peri-anal region. CASE DESCRIPTION: An elderly female, around 65 years old, had a history of accidental penetration of an iron rod into her anal orifice. The patient was hemodynamically stable, and the distal end of the penetrated rod was visible in the anal verge on arrival. On evaluation, we found that the object had perforated the posterior wall of the middle 1/3rd of the rectum and had traversed retroperitoneally, bypassing all major vessels and viscera. DISCUSSION: We performed exploratory laparotomy, and the iron rod was extracted from the anal canal under vision, and a diversion colostomy of the sigmoid colon was performed. The patient had an uneventful recovery, and the reversal of the sigmoid colostomy was done after 3 months. CONCLUSION: Rectal impalement injuries are rare and serious. It requires a multidisciplinary approach involving a general surgeon, a vascular surgeon, and a urologist since it is associated with a higher incidence of involving major pelvic organs and vessels. In our case, the penetrating object had bypassed all major vessels, which is a rare occurrence.
ABSTRACT
Mastitis is one of the most common and burdensome diseases afflicting dairy animals. Among other causes of mastitis, staphylococci are frequently associated with clinical and subclinical mastitis. Although Staphylococcus aureus is the predominant species involved, Staphylococcus epidermidis and other coagulase-negative staphylococci are increasingly being isolated from cases of bovine mastitis. Although Staph. aureus and Staph. epidermidis can be easily differentiated based on their biochemical properties, such phenotypic identification is time consuming and laborious. This study aimed to rapidly identify Staph. aureus and Staph. epidermidis. Accordingly, a multiplex PCR was developed and we found that a single gene encoding the adhesin fibrinogen binding protein could be used to identify and differentiate the two species. Consequently, a multiplex reaction combining a triplex PCR for Staph. aureus and a duplex PCR for Staph. epidermidis was standardized, first using bacterial cultures and then with pasteurized milk spiked with live organisms or DNA extracted from the organisms. The test could specifically detect Staph. aureus and Staph. epidermidis even in the presence of a dozen other organisms. The limit of detection for detecting Staph. aureus and Staph. epidermidis separately was 10 to 100 cfu/mL for simplex PCR and 10(4)cfu/mL for multiplex PCR. Conversely, the limit was 10(6)cfu/mL by multiplex PCR for simultaneous detection of both the organisms when spiked into culture medium or pasteurized milk. Overnight enrichment enhanced the assay sensitivity 100-fold. The assay had a high diagnostic sensitivity and specificity. The application of the test was verified on 602 field isolates of staphylococci that had been characterized earlier by phenotypic methods. Importantly, 25 coagulase-negative isolates were identified as Staph. aureus by the multiplex PCR. The test could be adapted for use in clinical diagnostic laboratories.
Subject(s)
Bacterial Proteins/genetics , Carrier Proteins/genetics , Genes, Bacterial/genetics , Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods , Staphylococcus aureus/genetics , Staphylococcus epidermidis/genetics , Animals , Cattle , Female , Mastitis, Bovine/diagnosis , Mastitis, Bovine/microbiology , Milk/microbiology , Sensitivity and Specificity , Staphylococcal Infections/microbiology , Staphylococcal Infections/veterinaryABSTRACT
Marriage in India is a voluntary union for life of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others. It is a social association where the husband has the responsibility to take care of and maintain his wife and not to neglect his duties. But in relation to this great institution, the problem of the "dowry" still persists. Women are ill-treated, harassed, killed or divorced for the simple reason that they do not get a dowry or do not get a sufficiently large one. To safeguard the interest of women against the cruelty they face within the four walls of their matrimonial home, the Indian Penal Code 1860 was amended in 1983 and section 498A was added. This deals with "Matrimonial Cruelty" to a woman. Matrimonial Cruelty in India is a cognizable, non-bailable and non-compoundable offence. Notwithstanding that the practice of demanding dowries was made illegal in India over 50 years ago, the (London) Times on 18 January 2012 reported that a study in 2007 concluded that "there is a dowry-related death in India every four hours". Official statistics in India show there were 8,391 dowry-related deaths in 2010, and there may well have been more. Why has leglislation that criminalises these appalling practices failed to stop them?
Subject(s)
Marriage/ethnology , Marriage/legislation & jurisprudence , Spouse Abuse/ethnology , Spouse Abuse/legislation & jurisprudence , Female , Homicide/legislation & jurisprudence , Homicide/prevention & control , Humans , India , Male , Women's Rights/legislation & jurisprudenceABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of estimating height from length of coronal and sagittal sutures of the skull for the positive identification of the height in forensic investigations concerned with fragmentary skeletal remains. The study was conducted on 87 male bodies subjected to medicolegal autopsy in the Department of Forensic Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, South India and the Department of Forensic Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, South India. Length of coronal suture was measured from left pterion at the junction of sphenoparietal with the sphenofrontal suture, along the coronal plane, over the coronal suture to the pterion on the right side. Length of sagittal suture was measured from bregma along the sagittal plane over the sagittal suture to the lambda. The data collected were subjected to statistical methods. Significant correlation was found between height and coronal suture length in males, when compared to sagittal suture. The correlation coefficient between height and coronal suture was 0.363. The correlation coefficient between height and sagittal suture was 0.090. Linear regression equations for stature estimation were derived from coronal suture length in male population. Coronal suture length gives more accurate results in estimating stature than sagittal suture. However, in cases where identification is required by means of only skull, this method could prove useful.
Subject(s)
Body Height/physiology , Cranial Sutures/anatomy & histology , Forensic Anthropology , Adult , Autopsy/legislation & jurisprudence , Female , Humans , India , Linear Models , Male , Middle Aged , Statistics as TopicABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To test in vivo in an animal model the inherent atraumatic characteristics of the spring loaded blunt tip of a coaxial needle (Gangi-SoftGuard®, Apriomed, Sweden) against a conventional sharp stylet coaxial needle. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was conducted on a 40kg male swine that was its own control for a vascular trauma model. The procedure consisted of voluntary attempts to transfix and traverse the artery/aorta under continuous real-time angiogram. Test and control needles were positioned in the region of the intercostal, superior mesenteric and femoral/deep femoral arteries, and in the aorta. Computed tomography (CT) angiogram was performed post trauma to check for bleeding in the form of extravasation of contrast material. One attempt was performed per site and needle, except for the intercostal artery where a second attempt was done with the test needle, resulting in a total of 4 and 5 tests for the control and test needles, respectively. RESULTS: With the spring loaded blunt tip, no vascular trauma or bleeding was noted in the intercostal, superior mesenteric and femoral arteries, nor in the aorta. Vascular spasm that recovered with time was noted during the second attempt to transfix the same intercostal artery. There were consistent vascular traumas and bleedings with the control needle in all three tested arteries and the aorta, confirmed on angiogram as well as CT angiogram. CONCLUSION: The atraumatic feature offered by the spring loaded blunt tip prevented vascular trauma during the 5 attempts made to transfix the artery/aorta in a swine.
Subject(s)
Needles , Animals , Aorta/diagnostic imaging , Computed Tomography Angiography , Equipment Design , Femoral Artery/diagnostic imaging , Iatrogenic Disease/prevention & control , Male , Mesenteric Artery, Superior/diagnostic imaging , Models, Animal , SwineABSTRACT
AIM: The current study was designed to understand the infection kinetics and antibody responses of major circulating serotypes of bluetongue virus (BTV) in India, i.e., BTV-4 and BTV-16 through experimental infection and superinfection of Deccani sheep, a popular breed of sheep found in the southern states of India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Experimental infection with 106 TCID50/ml BTV-4 was followed by superinfection with BTV-16 and vice versa. Along with observing for clinical signs and immunological responses in the experimentally infected sheep, the effect of infection of one specific serotype on the outcome of superinfection with a different serotype was also studied. RESULTS: Certain interesting findings have been made in the course of experimental infection, such as prominent signs of infection in BTV-4 infection, mild or no clinical signs in BTV-16-infected and superinfected animals, and non-seroconversion of one of the BTV-16-superinfected animals. In addition, BTV was isolated from infected sheep in all the experimental conditions except BTV-16 superinfection. Furthermore, it was observed that immune response in the form of type-specific antibodies was slower with BTV-16 superinfection. CONCLUSION: Superinfection of a sheep with more than one serotype of BTV is a common phenomenon in BT endemic countries like India. Such situation was replicated in an experimental infection in the current study, and the findings to our knowledge are first of a kind and are likely to aid in unfolding the newer aspects of BTV pathogenesis and virulence.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: The type of anastomosis of the pancreas following pancreaticoduodenectomy is often attributed to the reason for pancreatic leak. Results of various randomized trials comparing pancreaticojejunostomy and pancreaticogastrostomy are conflicting one suggesting advantage over the other and vice versa. In this study we intend to critically analyze a novel technique of binding pancreaticogastrostomy following pancreaticoduodenectomy. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to see the outcome of binding pancreaticogastrostomy by evaluating the technical aspects of binding PG and study the incidence of post-operative complications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included all patients who had undergone binding pancreaticogastrostomy from Mar 2012 to Mar 2016â¯at a tertiary care hospital. Patients' data, including patients demographics, type of procedure performed, complications, mortality, hospital stay, postoperative interventional procedures or reoperations were all documented. RESULTS: There were 60 men and 37 women (mean age was 55.4⯱â¯11.6 years) with a mean BMI of 22.6â¯Kg/M2. 16% of the patients had evidence of cholangitis and 14 of them had to be stented preoperatively. Ninety-four percent of the patients were operated for malignant cause of obstructive jaundice. The mean operative time was 283â¯minâ¯s and average blood loss during surgery was 352â¯ml. 36% of the patients were operated by the senior residents undergoing training in Gastro intestinal surgery with the assistance of the available faculty. 60% of the patients had a pancreatic duct diameter less than 3â¯mm. 72% of the pancreatic stump were soft in consistency. In our study we had 3% patients with pancreatic leak. The most frequent complication was DGE, which was seen in 22% patients. The mean duration of DGE was 13.5⯱â¯2.6 days. We had 2 deaths within 30 days of surgery of which one was due to massive intraabdominal bleed due to pancreatic leak. None of the parameters like pre-operative and operative parameters like age, bilirubin, total leucocyte count, preoperative stenting, pancreatic duct diameter, texture of pancreas and surgery performed by residents were found to be responsible for pancreatic leak. CONCLUSION: This novel method of binding PG is simple, secure, and reproducible. It possesses several advantages over the conventional PG: it is very easy to perform, it is less traumatic to the pancreatic stump, can be performed in all types of pancreatic stump irrespective of the texture and diameter of the pancreatic duct without any statistically significant adverse outcomes.
Subject(s)
Gastrostomy/methods , Pancreas/surgery , Pancreaticoduodenectomy , Anastomosis, Surgical/methods , Anastomotic Leak/prevention & control , Blood Loss, Surgical/prevention & control , Female , Gastrostomy/adverse effects , Humans , Length of Stay , Male , Middle Aged , Pancreatic Ducts/anatomy & histology , Pancreatic Ducts/surgery , Pancreaticoduodenectomy/adverse effects , Postoperative Complications/prevention & control , Prospective Studies , Reoperation , Suture Techniques , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Bluetongue virus (BTV) is neurotropic in nature, especially in ruminant fetuses and in-utero infection results in abortion and congenital brain malformations. The aim of the present study was to compare the neuropathogenicity of major Indian BTV serotypes 1, 2, 10, 16 and 23 by gross and histopathological lesions and virus distribution in experimentally infected neonatal BALB/c mice. Each BTV serotype (20 µl of inoculum containing 1 × 105 tissue culture infectious dose [TCID]50/ml of virus) was inoculated intracerebrally into 3-day-old mice, while a control group was inoculated with mock-infected cell culture medium. Infection with BTV serotypes 1, 2 and 23 led to 65-70% mortality at 7-9 days post infection (dpi) and caused severe necrotizing encephalitis with neurodegenerative changes in neurons, swelling and proliferation of vascular endothelial cells in the cerebral cortex, cerebellum, midbrain and brainstem. In contrast, infection with BTV serotypes 10 and 16 led to 25-30% mortality at 9-11 dpi and caused mild neuropathological lesions. BTV antigen was detected by immunohistochemistry, direct fluorescence antibody technique and confocal microscopy in the cytoplasm of neuronal cells of the hippocampus, grey matter of the cerebral cortex and vascular endothelial cells in the midbrain and brainstem of BTV-1, -2, -10, -16 and -23 infected groups from 3 to 20 dpi. BTV nucleic acid was detected in the infected brain tissues from as early as 24 h up to 20 dpi by VP7 gene segment-based one-step reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. This study of the relative neurovirulence of BTV serotypes is likely to help design suitable vaccination and control strategies for the disease.
Subject(s)
Bluetongue/pathology , Brain/pathology , Brain/virology , Animals , Animals, Newborn , Bluetongue virus , Disease Models, Animal , Mice , Mice, Inbred BALB C , SerogroupABSTRACT
AIM: The present study was designed to standardize real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for detecting the bluetongue virus from blood samples of sheep collected during outbreaks of bluetongue disease in the year 2014 in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana states of India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 10-fold serial dilution of Plasmid PUC59 with bluetongue virus (BTV) NS3 insert was used to plot the standard curve. BHK-21 and KC cells were used for in vitro propagation of virus BTV-9 at a TCID50/ml of 105 ml and RNA was isolated by the Trizol method. Both reverse transcription-PCR and real-time PCR using TaqMan probe were carried out with RNA extracted from virus-spiked culture medium and blood to compare the sensitivity by means of finding out the limit of detection (LoD). The results were verified by inoculating the detected and undetected dilutions onto cell cultures with further cytological (cytopathic effect) and molecular confirmation (by BTV-NS1 group-specific PCR). The standardized technique was then applied to field samples (blood) for detecting BTV. RESULTS: The slope of the standard curve obtained was -3.23, and the efficiency was 103%. The LoD with RT-PCR was 8.269E×103 number of copies of plasmid, whereas it was 13 with real-time PCR for plasmid dilutions. Similarly, LoD was determined for virus-spiked culture medium, and blood with both the types of PCR and the values were 103 TCID 50/ml and 104 TCID 50/ml with RT-PCR and 10° TCID 50/ml and 102 TCID 50/ml with real-time PCR, respectively. The standardized technique was applied to blood samples collected from BTV suspected animals; 10 among 20 samples were found positive with Cq values ranging from 27 to 39. The Cq value exhibiting samples were further processed in cell cultures and were confirmed to be BT positive. Likewise, Cq undetected samples on processing in cell cultures turned out to be BTV negative. CONCLUSION: Real-time PCR was found to be a very sensitive as well as reliable method to detect BTV present in different types of samples, including blood samples collected from BTV-infected sheep, compared to RT-PCR. The LoD of BTV is likely influenced by sample type, possibly by the interference by the other components present in the sample.
ABSTRACT
Bluetongue (BT) is a Culicoides-borne disease caused by several serotypes of bluetongue virus (BTV). Similar to other insect-borne viral diseases, distribution of BT is limited to distribution of Culicoides species competent to transmit BTV. In the tropics, vector activity is almost year long, and hence, the disease is endemic, with the circulation of several serotypes of BTV, whereas in temperate areas, seasonal incursions of a limited number of serotypes of BTV from neighbouring tropical areas are observed. Although BTV is endemic in all the three major tropical regions (parts of Africa, America and Asia) of the world, the distribution of serotypes is not alike. Apart from serological diversity, geography-based diversity of BTV genome has been observed, and this is the basis for proposal of topotypes. However, evolution of these topotypes is not well understood. In this study, we report the isolation and characterization of several BTV-4 isolates from India. These isolates are distinct from BTV-4 isolates from other geographical regions. Analysis of available BTV seg-2 sequences indicated that the Australasian BTV-4 diverged from African viruses around 3,500 years ago, whereas the American viruses diverged relatively recently (1,684 CE). Unlike Australasia and America, BTV-4 strains of the Mediterranean area evolved through several independent incursions. We speculate that independent evolution of BTV in different geographical areas over long periods of time might have led to the diversity observed in the current virus population.
Subject(s)
Bluetongue virus/genetics , Bluetongue virus/isolation & purification , Bluetongue/virology , Sheep Diseases/virology , Africa , Animals , Asia , Australasia , Bluetongue/epidemiology , Electrophoresis, Agar Gel/veterinary , Geography , India/epidemiology , Molecular Epidemiology , RNA, Viral/genetics , Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction/veterinary , Sequence Analysis, DNA , Serogroup , Sheep , Sheep Diseases/epidemiologyABSTRACT
Bluetongue is endemic in India and has been reported from most Indian states. Of late, the clinical disease is most frequently seen in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana (erstwhile Andhra Pradesh state), Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Our analysis of diagnostic samples from bluetongue outbreaks during 2010-2011 from the state of Karnataka identified bluetongue virus (BTV) serotype 5 (BTV-5) for the first time in India. One of the diagnostic samples (CH1) and subsequent virus isolate (IND2010/02) contained both BTV-2 and BTV-5. Segment 2 (seg-2) sequence data (400 bp: nucleotides 2538-2921) for IND2010/02-BTV5, showed 94.3% nucleotide identity to BTV-5 from South Africa (Accession no. AJ585126), confirming the virus serotype and also indicating that Seg-2 was derived from a Western topotype, which is in contrast to serotype 2, that belongs to an Eastern topotype. BTV-5 has been recently reported from Africa, China, French islands and the Americas. Although the exact source of the Indian BTV-5 isolate is still to be confirmed, recent identification of additional exotic serotypes in India is of real concern and might add to the severity of the disease seen in these outbreaks.
Subject(s)
Bluetongue virus/immunology , Bluetongue/virology , Disease Outbreaks/veterinary , Animals , Bluetongue/epidemiology , Bluetongue virus/genetics , Bluetongue virus/isolation & purification , Chick Embryo , Coinfection/veterinary , Cricetinae , India/epidemiology , Phylogeny , Sequence Analysis, DNA/veterinary , Serogroup , SheepABSTRACT
Bluetongue (BT) is an insectborne endemic disease in India. Although infections are observed in domestic and wild ruminants, the clinical disease and mortality are observed only in sheep, especially in the southern states of the country. The difference in disease patterns in different parts of the country could be due to varied climatic conditions, sheep population density and susceptibility of the sheep breeds to BT. Over the five decades after the first report of BT in 1964, most of the known serotypes of bluetongue virus (BTV) have been reported from India either by virus isolation or by detection of serotype-specific antibodies. There have been no structured longitudinal studies to identify the circulating serotypes throughout the country. At least ten serotypes were isolated between 1967 and 2000 (BTV-1-4, 6, 9, 16-18, 23). Since 2001, the All-India Network Programme on Bluetongue and other laboratories have isolated eight different serotypes (BTV-1-3, 9, 10, 12, 16, 21). Genetic analysis of these viruses has revealed that some of them vary substantially from reference viruses, and some show high sequence identity with modified live virus vaccines used in different parts of the world. These observations have highlighted the need to develop diagnostic capabilities, especially as BT outbreaks are still declared based on clinical signs. Although virus isolation and serotyping are the gold standards, rapid methods based on the detection of viral nucleic acid may be more suitable for India. The epidemiological investigations also have implications for vaccine design. Although only a handful serotypes may be involved in causing outbreaks every year, the combination of serotypes may change from year to year. For effective control of BT in India, it may be pertinent to introduce sentinel and vector traps systems for identification of the circulating serotypes and to evaluate herd immunity against different serotypes, so that relevant strains can be included in vaccine formulations.
Subject(s)
Bluetongue virus , Bluetongue/epidemiology , Animals , Bluetongue/prevention & control , Bluetongue virus/genetics , Bluetongue virus/immunology , Bluetongue virus/isolation & purification , DNA, Viral/analysis , India/epidemiology , Prevalence , Serogroup , Serotyping , Sheep , Viral VaccinesABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Bariatric procedures have become popular in treating not only the morbid obesity but also the metabolic derangements. Sleeve Gastrectomy has recently become popular as a standalone procedure and its usefulness as a metabolic procedure especially glycemic control is still under investigation. One of the most commonly used measure of insulin resistance is statistically derived 'Homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). AIM: The effect of Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy (LSG) on clinical and measurable change in glycemic control as seen by reduction of insulin resistance ie HOMA-IR levels in morbidly obese patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: All the patients with BMI ≥35 kg/m(2) with co morbidities and BMI ≥40 kg/m(2) even without co morbidities were included in the study. The period of the study was from Feb 2013 to Sep 2014. Fasting (FBS), post prandial blood sugar (PPBS) and Insulin levels were checked before the surgery, 1month and 3 month after the surgery. We also recorded BMI and diabetic status. HOMA-IR was calculated and trends were recorded. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS 16.0. RESULTS: Out of 28 patients 8 were males and 20 were females. The mean age was 43 yrs. 11 (39%) patients were diabetic and mean BMI was 44 kg/m(2) and a range of (35-61.3) kg/m(2). 11 patients had BMI > 45 kg/m(2). The HOMA-IR values decreased significantly after the surgery both in diabetics and non diabetics. CONCLUSION: LSG results in improvement in glycemic control in both diabetics and non diabetics.
Subject(s)
Blood Glucose/analysis , Diabetes Mellitus/blood , Gastrectomy/methods , Laparoscopy/methods , Obesity, Morbid/surgery , Adult , Female , Humans , Insulin Resistance , Male , Middle Aged , Obesity, Morbid/bloodABSTRACT
Bluetongue (BT) is an arthropod-borne viral disease mostly of sheep. Bluetongue virus (BTV) is a segmented double-stranded RNA virus belonging to the genus Orbivirus of family Reoviridae and is transmitted by midges belonging to Culicoides spp. The disease is endemic in the tropics and subtropics, and the incidence is high in southern India. Twenty-six serotypes of BTV have been reported worldwide. Although most of the serotypes have been reported in India, information regarding currently circulating serotypes is essential to develop control programs. Both serological assays and nucleic acid-based assays have been used for typing BTV. Segment 2, which codes for the outer capsid protein VP2, is the target for PCR-based typing; however, the VP2 sequence diversity among viruses belonging to the same serotype but isolated from different geographical areas makes it essential to develop geographical based reagents. In this study, reverse transcription PCR was developed based on sequences of Indian isolates of BTV (serotypes 1, 2, 9, 10, 12, 16, 21 and 23), and this was applied to type 52 isolates obtained during the last decade. It was found that multiple serotypes circulate, with involvement of more than one serotype infecting individual animals and herds over a period in a given area. Detection of circulating serotypes and estimation of herd immunity against different serotypes of BTV may provide important information for predicting the distribution of these serotypes and inclusion of serotypes in vaccines.