OUTBREAK OF HEMORRHAGIC SEPTICEMIA IN FREE RANGE BUFFALO AND CATTLE GRAZING AT RIVERSIDE GRASSLAND IN MURSHIDABAD DISTRICT, WEST BENGAL, INDIA

An outbreak of Haemorrhegic Septicaemia among free ranging buffaloes and cattle reared at the natural grassland at the embankment and surrounding area of Bhagirathi river in 3 blocks of Murshidabad district of West Bengal, India was diagnosed by clinical symptoms, postmortem examination, bacteriological study and biochemical tests. Among 154 affected animals (2.16% of total animals at risk) buffalo were 85.71% and cattle were 14.28%. A total of 52 affected animals (33.76%) died before starting treatment. Among the dead animals, 86.53% was buffalo and 13.46% was cattle. The ailing animals were successfully treated with antibiotic, analgesic and corticosteroid. The epidemic was finally controlled by vaccination, restriction of animal movement and proper disposal of carcasses

THERAPEUTIC MANAGEMENT OF SARCOPTIC MANGE IN RABBIT WITH IVERMECTIN

Sarcoptic mange infected non-descriptive rabbits were successfully treated with Ivermectin @ 400 µg / kg body weight sub-cutaneously once weekly for 4 weeks resulted complete recovery within a month in Kalyani area, West Bengal, India

SERO-PREVALENCE OF BOVINE BRUCELLOSIS IN WEST BENGAL, INDIA: A 15 - YEARS STUDY

Bovine brucellosis is an important zoonotic disease caused by Brucella abortus. The distribution of bovine brucellosis in West Bengal has not been reported so far. Here, a longitudinal epidemiological study was conducted from April 2002 to March 2016 to determine the distribution, pattern and trend of bovine brucellosis in different organized and unorganized farms of West Bengal, India. Bovine serum samples were examined for identification of brucellosis by Rose Bengal Plate Test and indirect ELISA. Results envisaged that the prevalence of brucellosis is 11.12 times higher in organized farm (average 6.6%) compared to rural areas (average 0.6%) with overall prevalence was 3.9%. The highest and lowest level of sero-positivity was observed in 2015 and 2011 with 9.8% and 0.5% respectively. In reference to the year 2002, trend of brucellosis was decreasing up to 2013 in a fluctuating manner (odd ratio ranging from 1.7 to 2.3); however, it again increased in 2014 and 2015 with final decrease in 2016. In organized farms, highest (12.6%) and lowest (0.6%) level of prevalence was recorded in 2015 and 2011 respectively. In rural areas, the highest and lowest level of prevalence was observed in 2010 and 2008 with 1.8% and 0.15% respectively. Chi square statistics revealed that location of cattle (χ2 =713.8, df=1, p<0.001) and year of sample collection (χ2 = 468.6, df=14, p<0.001) contributed significantly to increasing or decreasing sero-positivity. A univariate logistic regression analysis also revealed that location of the animals either in organized farm or in rural areas and year(s) of sampling have statistically significant (p<0.001) effect on individual animal level sero-positivity. The results suggested that brucellosis is endemic and moderately distributed in different regions of West Bengal including Burdwan, Nadia, Paschim Medinipur, Murshidabad and Hoogly districts

MICROBIOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF BOVINE FROZEN SEMEN SAMPLES IN WEST BENGAL, INDIA

A total number of 860 French mini straws (0.25 ml) of frozen semen from 215 bulls from three different farms namely frozen semen bull station (FSBS), Harighata Farm (98), FSBS, Salboni (93) and Sperm Station, Beldanga (24) were evaluated for bacterial load by standard plate count (SPC) technique using soyabean casein digest agar and 1% plain agar media. Following incubation at 37°C for 72 hrs average colony forming unit (CFU) was estimated and bacteria were identified. Different micro-organisms identified in frozen semen samples were Staphylococcus spp., Micrococcus spp., Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas spp., Corynebacterium spp., Proteus spp., Klebsiella spp., Bacillus spp. other than Bacillus anthracis and Streptococcus spp. Several of these bacteria have been identified in association with breeding failure in cattle and warrants precautionary and preventive measures for successful breeding program

SERO-PREVALENCE OF BOVINE LEPTOSPIROSIS IN SOUTH ANANDAMAN ISLANDS, INDIA

A total of 108 blood serum samples of bovine were collected from different regions of South Andaman to Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (RDDL, ER, Kolkata) for sero-prevalence study of bovine leptospirosis. All the sera samples were tested by Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT) against eight serovars of Leptospira spp. Out of 108 serum samples tested, 75(69.44%) were serologically positive. The most prevalent serovars were Automnalis (53.70%) followed by Sejroe (28.70%) and Hardjo (22.22%). This study suggests that bovine may have a role in maintaining Autumnalis serovar of Leptospira as reservoir in Anandaman and Nicobar Islands

A clinico-epidemiological study of childhood herpes zoster

Herpes zoster (HZ) is a viral infection believed to be caused by the re activation of varicella zoster virus (VZV) or human herpes virus type 3 (HHV 3) that persists in the posterior nerve root ganglion. HZ is rarely reported in the pediatric age group with an intact immunity. Past infection with VZV and immunization with chickenpox vaccine are key markers in the onset of varicella zoster in children. Our aim was to study the clinicoepidemiological pattern of HZ infection in children aged less than 12 years and to start an early management to prevent long term complications. A prospective observational study over a total duration of 2 years was conducted in a tertiary hospital, and all children less than 12 years of age with diagnosed HZ were included in the study. A total of 39 children were diagnosed to have pediatric HZ infection during the study period. The children were followed up over 4 weeks post diagnosis and were treated with oral acyclovir therapy along with symptomatic management. All children had an uneventful benign course, and their siblings and close pediatric contacts were also screened for the development of HZ or chickenpox during the incubation period. All children were screened for an underlying immunodeficiency and two cases of HIV co infection were detected. HZ is a rare disease in childhood. Varicella in early childhood is a risk factor for HZ in both immunocompromised and immunocompetent children. The appearance of HZ in a young child does not always imply an underlying immunodeficiency or malignancy, but the children should be screened for immunodeficiency. In general, the prognosis is good in healthy children

PREVALENCE OF BOVINE VIRAL DIARRHOEA VIRUS IN WEST BENGAL, INDIA

Bovine Viral Diarrhea (BVD) is one of the most economically important diseases in cattle. The present study was undertaken to diagnose the persistently infected (PI) animals by AntigenELISA and Reverse Transcriptase PCR using serum samples from organized farms as well as rural areas of West Bengal. The results showed that out of 964 serum samples tested 07 (0.73%) was positive for BVDV by Antigen-ELISA. For further confirmation, RNA was extracted from the positive samples and RT-PCR was performed with 5' UTR specific primers which showed 294 bp amplicons. This finding showed circulation of BVDV in cattle in West Bengal, India

DETECTION OF CLASSICAL SWINE FEVER VIRUS BY RT-PCR IN WEST BENGAL, INDIA

Classical swine fever is a deadly disease of swine, caused by a RNA virus. The present study has identified presence of the classical swine fever virus (CSFV) in pigs of West Bengal by one step reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) performed using 5’ NTR specific primers. Internal organs from clinically affected pigs were examined from three districts of West Bengal. RT-PCT has identified presence of CSFV in all the tissues examined confirming presence of CSFV in different parts of the state