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Not AvailableSevere Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus- 2 (SARS-CoV-2) or coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has been identified as the cause of a pandemic of respiratory illness. It has been declared as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by the World Health Organization. The reported symptoms include fever, cough, fatigue, pneumonia, headache, diarrhea, hemoptysis, and dyspnea. The human-to-human transmission has been described via droplets, contaminated hands or surfaces. The incubation times ranges between 2-14 days. Early diagnosis, quarantine, and supportive treatments are required to cure patients. Treatments, including antiviral agents, chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, monoclonal antibodies, and convalescent plasma transfusion have been used for successful treatment of the patients. Preventive measures such as masks, hand hygiene practices, avoidance of public contact, case detection, contact tracing, and quarantines have been discussed as ways to reduce transmission. The pandemic has impacted on the meat industry. The event demands urgent implementation of a multidisciplinary team in a One Health approach to address the present-day challenges at the human-animal-environment interface. We reviewed the literature on the epidemiology, the disease, diagnosis, therapeutics and mitigation strategies of COVID-19. Although many studies are relevant to control the current public emergency, more research is needed to provide valid and reliable ways to manage this kind of public health emergency in both the short- and long-term.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableSevere acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus- 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the etiological agent of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), has posed a great public health threat to the global community as a pandemic. The origin of the virus has been linked to animals, through a yet-to-be-identified intermediate host. The disease is transmitted to humans mainly through inhalation or contact with infected droplets. The variable clinical presentation of COVID-19 includes fever, cough, sore throat, breathlessness, fatigue and malaise; however, cutaneous, ocular, neurological, and gastrointestinal manifestations have also been reported. There is an urgent need to strengthen One Health surveillance, intervention, and management strategies to understand the ecology of coronaviruses and to prevent epidemics in the future. Global attention toward the development of treatments, immunotherapies, vaccines, and control options to combat the COVID-19 pandemic has been on an increasing trend. Here, we review the current epidemiological status, public health concerns, and mitigation strategies for COVID-19.Not Availabl

Apparent prevalence and risk factors of coxiellosis (Q fever) among dairy herds in India.

Coxiella burnetii is a highly infectious zoonotic pathogen infecting wide range of mammals, including humans. In the present study, a total of 711 blood samples from bovines [cattle (n = 543) and buffaloes (n = 168)] from eight farms at different geographical locations in India were screened for C. burnetii targeting the IS1111 and the com1 genes. The anti-C. burnetii antibodies in serum samples were detected using indirect-ELISA kits. Also, a total of 21 parameters pertaining to animal health and farm management were identified to assess their role as possible risk factors for coxiellosis among the targeted farms. The apparent prevalence (positive for PCR and/or ELISA) for coxiellosis was reported to be 24.5% in cattle and 8.9% in buffaloes. In cattle, the detection rate of C. burnetii employing the IS1111 gene (8.5%) was found to be significantly higher (p<0.05) as compared to the com1 (6.5%) gene. The seropositivity by ELISA was higher among cattle (17.7%) than in buffaloes (8.3%). Further, on univariable analysis of risk factors, species (cattle) (OR:3.31; 95%CI:1.88-5.82), inadequate floor spacing (OR:1.64; 95%CI:1.10-2.43), mastitis (OR:2.35, 95%CI:1.45-3.81) and reproductive disorders (OR:2.54; 95%CI:1.67-3.85) were significantly (p<0.05) having high odds for coxiellosis. The multivariable logistic regression analysis of the animal level risk factors revealed that species and age were found to be significantly associated with coxiellosis. However, since the number of screened farms is limited; further research is needed with a higher number of animals to confirm the farm level odds ratio of risk factors. Quarantine and biosecurity measures including farm hygiene operations were observed to be inadequate and also the lack of awareness about coxiellosis among the farm workers. In absence of vaccination program for coxiellosis in India, robust surveillance, farm biosecurity measures and the awareness for the disease among risk groups can play an important role in the disease prevention and subsequent transmission of the pathogen

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Not AvailableWe report a novel, rapid, economical and species-specific DNA-based assay for the authentication of pork. The technique specifically amplified porcine mitochondrial D loop region by combining Alkaline Lysis (AL) method of DNA extraction and Loop Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP). Visual detection of the reaction was accomplished by color development in the reaction with the addition of SYBR Green I dye. Dependable amplification was possible in thermally processed meat samples heated up to 121 °C for 30 min. The assay was able to detect pork in beef up to the level of 0.1% admixture and limit of detection of DNA was at 0.5 ng/μL. Cross amplification of related species like cattle, buffalo, sheep, goat and chicken was excluded by incorporating their DNA in the reaction assay. The novel approach (AL-LAMP technique) was found to be robust and handy, suitable even for resource compromised laboratories engaged in the food analysisNot Availabl

Seroprevalence and molecular detection of coxiellosis among cattle and their human contacts in an organized dairy farm

Background: The present investigation of Coxiella burnetii infection in cattle and farm workers on an organized cattle dairy farm, which appears to be the first of its kind in India, was undertaken to assess the status of this largely neglected and masked zoonosis. Methods: A total of 665 samples comprising of serum (n = 224), milk (n = 217) and vaginal swabs (n = 224) collected from milch animals (n = 224) with a history of reproductive disorders were screened. Besides these, ticks (n = 114); animal feed (n = 4) and environmental samples (n = 13) as well as serum (n = 19) of farm workers were also collected. The animal sera and milk samples as well as human sera were tested for antibodies against C. burnetii by commercial ELISA kit, whereas, all the collected samples were subjected to trans-PCR targeting the IS1111 gene of C. burnetii. Results: A high positivity for coxiellosis was detected in sera (29.91%) and milk (26.73%) samples of dairy cattle as well as sera from human contacts (84.21%) by ELISA. The trans-PCR detected the pathogen in 12.94% sera, 14.73% vaginal swabs and 5.53% milk samples of cattle, and in one soil sample, however, the sera of the farm workers and tick were tested negative. Conclusions: The high positivity for coxiellosis among cattle and farm workers highlight the need to undertake extensive epidemiological studies to unravel the trends of C. burnetii infection in India. Keywords: Coxiella burnetii, Coxiellosis, Farm workers, Organized farm, Zoonosi

Isolation and identification of Salmonella from diarrheagenic infants and young animals, sewage waste and fresh vegetables

Abstract Aim: This study was carried out to determine the prevalence, distribution, and identification of Salmonella serotypes in diarrheagenic infants and young animals, including sewage waste and fresh vegetables. Materials and Methods

Isolation and identification of Salmonella from diarrheagenic infants and young animals, sewage waste and fresh vegetables

Aim: This study was carried out to determine the prevalence, distribution, and identification of Salmonella serotypes in diarrheagenic infants and young animals, including sewage waste and fresh vegetables. Materials and Methods: A total of 550 samples were processed for the isolation of Salmonella spp., using standard microbiological and biochemical tests. Further polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection of Salmonella genus was carried out using self-designed primers targeting invA gene and thereafter identification of important serotypes namely Salmonella Enterica serovar Typhimurium, Salmonella Enterica serovar Enteritidis, Salmonella Enterica serovar Typhi was performed using published standardized multiplex PCR. Results: An overall low prevalence of 2.5% (14/550) was observed. The observed prevalence of Salmonella spp. in diarrheagenic infants was 1.2% (05/400), diarrheagenic young animals 4% (02/50), sewage waste 10% (05/50), and fresh vegetables 4% (02/50), respectively. In diarrheagenic infants, of the five Salmonella isolates identified, two were Salmonella Typhimurium, two Salmonella Enteritidis, and one was unidentified and hence designated as other Salmonella serovar. All the Salmonella isolates identified from diarrheagenic young animals and sewage waste belonged to other Salmonella serovar, whereas, of the two isolates recovered from fresh vegetables, one was identified as other Salmonella serovar, and one as Salmonella Typhimurium, respectively. Conclusion: Isolation of Salmonella spp. especially from sewage waste and fresh vegetable is a matter of great concern from public health point of view because these sources can accidentally serve as a potential vehicle for transmission of Salmonella spp. to animals and human beings

Utilization of Fc receptors as a mucosal vaccine strategy against an intracellular bacterium, Francisella tularensis

Numerous studies have demonstrated that targeting Ag to Fc receptors (FcR) on APCs can enhance humoral and cellular immunity. However, studies are lacking that examine both the use of FcR-targeting in generating immune protection against infectious agents and the use of FcRs in the induction of mucosal immunity. Francisella tularensis is a category A intracellular mucosal pathogen. Thus, intense efforts are underway to develop a vaccine against this organism. We hypothesized that protection against mucosal infection with F. tularensis would be significantly enhanced by targeting inactivated F. tularensis live vaccine strain (iFt) to FcRs at mucosal sites, via intranasal immunization with mAb-iFt complexes. These studies demonstrate for the first time that: 1) FcR-targeted immunogen enhances immunogen-specific IgA production and protection against subsequent infection in an IgA-dependent manner, 2) FcgammaR and neonatal FcR are crucial to this protection, and 3) inactivated F. tularensis, when targeted to FcRs, enhances protection against the highly virulent SchuS4 strain of F. tularensis, a category A biothreat agent. In summary, these studies show for the first time the use of FcRs as a highly effective vaccination strategy against a highly virulent mucosal intracellular pathogen

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