Leptospira interrogans Serovar Hardjo Seroprevalence and Farming Practices on Small-Scale Dairy Farms in North Eastern India; Insights Gained from a Cross-Sectional Study

Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease of major public health concern in India. Bovines play an important role in maintaining and transmitting this disease and proximity between dairy cows and humans makes the dairy cow-human nexus a transmission route of public health interest, yet one currently under-examined in North Eastern India. We report a cross-sectional survey carried out on small-scale dairy farms in the states of Assam and Bihar in North Eastern India investigating seroprevalence for Leptospira interrogans serovar Hardjo, the most common pathogenic serovar reported in cattle worldwide. Higher seroprevalence was reported on dairy farms in Bihar 4.5% (95% CI 2.6–7.5%) than in Assam 1.2% (95% CI 0.42–3.6%), but overall seroprevalence levels were low. The study is the first indication of leptospirosis circulating in small-scale dairy farms in these states. To correlate farming practices with zoonotic risk, we combined results from a dairy farmer questionnaire with cow seroprevalence. However, low seroprevalence levels found in this study made the identification of risk factors difficult. Nevertheless, poor farming practices around hygiene and biosecurity on dairy farms have been highlighted. Implementing simple measures could mitigate environmental contamination, and therefore, reduce the risk of Leptospira interrogans, and other zoonoses transmission, at the animal-environment-human interface

Management of bovine brucellosis in organized dairy herds through the identification of risk factors: A cross-sectional study from Karnataka, India

Background and Aim: Brucellosis is an infectious disease caused by Brucella species. This study aimed to identify the risk factors associated with bovine brucellosis seropositivity in organized dairy farms to control the disease in unvaccinated adult bovine herds in Karnataka, India. Materials and Methods: In total, 3610 samples (3221 cattle and 389 buffaloes) were subjected to parallel testing using the Rose Bengal plate test and protein G-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, followed by analyses of animal- and farm-level epidemiological datasets to identify the risk factors. Results: The apparent brucellosis prevalence at the animal level was higher in buffaloes (8.2%, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 5.9–11.4) than in cattle (6.1%, 95% CI = 5.3–7.0). In a multivariable logistic model, animals calved 3–5 times (odds ratio [OR] = 2.22, 95% CI = 1.50–3.1, reference [ref]: animals calved <2 times); animals with a history of abortion (OR = 54.73, 95% CI = 33.66–89.02), repeat breeding (OR = 19.46, 95% CI = 11.72–32.25), and placental retention (OR = 13.94, 95% CI = 4.92–39.42, ref: no clinical signs); and dogs on farms (OR = 2.55, 95% CI = 1.48–4.40, ref: absence of dogs); disposal of aborted fetus in open fields (OR = 4.97, 95% CI = 1.93–12.84) and water bodies (OR = 2.22, 95% CI = 1.50–3.1, ref: buried); purchase of animals from other farms (OR = 6.46, 95% CI = 1.01–41.67, ref: government farms); hand milking (OR = 1.98, 95% CI = 1.02–10.0, ref: machine milking); and use of monthly veterinary services (OR = 3.45, 95% CI = 1.28–9.29, ref: weekly services) were considered significant risk factors for brucellosis in organized bovine herds (p < 0.01). Conclusion: The study identified that the animals calved 3–5 times or with a history of abortion/repeat breeding/placental retention, and disposal of aborted fetus in open fields/water bodies as the potential risk factors for bovine brucellosis. These risk factors should be controlled through the implementation of best practices to reduce the brucellosis burden in bovine farms

The reno-pineal axis: A novel role for melatonin

The pineal gland is a tiny endocrine gland whose physiologic role has been the focus of much research and much more speculation over the past century. This mini-review discusses recent findings which correlate melatonin and renal physiology, and postulates the presence of a “reno-pineal axis.” Drawing lessons from comparative endocrinology, while quoting human data, it advocates the need to study the “reno-pineal axis” in greater detail

Seroprevalence of hemorrhagic septicemia in dairy cows in Assam, India.

Hemorrhagic septicemia (HS) is a highly fatal disease caused by Pasteurella multocida that often cause outbreaks in buffalo and cattle in India, and thus is a major cause of production losses. It is one of the livestock diseases with the highest mortality, and despite available vaccines, outbreaks still occur. To assess the seroprevalence in the state of Assam, Northeast India, 346 serum samples from cows from 224 randomly selected households, from both urban and rural areas of three districts, were tested with a commercial ELISA. In total 88 cows were seropositive (25.4%), and indigenous cattle were significantly more seropositive (33.5%) compared to the crossbred cattle (18.5%) (p = 0.002). Herd prevalence was 35.7%, and more rural farms (47.4%) were positive compared to the urban farms (23.6%) (p &lt; 0.001). No other risk factors were identified in this study. Only one farm had vaccinated against HS, but there were no seropositive animals detected in that herd. This study shows that HS is highly prevalent in Assam. Considering the importance of dairy production in India, and the dependence of the rural Assam population on farming and livestock keeping, more extensive vaccination campaigns would be important

Prevalence and antibiotic susceptibility of Mannheimia haemolytica and Pasteurella multocida isolated from ovine respiratory infection: A study from Karnataka, Southern India

Background and Aim: Respiratory infection due to Mannheimia haemolytica and Pasteurella multocida are responsible for huge economic losses in livestock sector globally and it is poorly understood in ovine population. The study aimed to investigate and characterize M. haemolytica and P. multocida from infected and healthy sheep to rule out the involvement of these bacteria in the disease. Materials and Methods: A total of 374 healthy and infected sheep samples were processed for isolation, direct detection by multiplex PCR (mPCR), and antibiotic susceptibility testing by phenotypic and genotypic methods. Results: Overall, 55 Pasteurella isolates (27 [7.2%] M. haemolytica and 28 [7.4%] P. multocida) were recovered and identified by bacteriological tests and species-specific PCR assays. Significant correlation between the detection of M. haemolytica (66.6%) with disease condition and P. multocida (19.1%) exclusively from infected sheep was recorded by mPCR. In vitro antibiotic susceptibility testing of 55 isolates revealed higher multidrug resistance in M. haemolytica (25.9%) than P. multocida (7.1%) isolates. Descending resistance towards penicillin (63.6%), oxytetracycline (23.6%), streptomycin (14.5%), and gentamicin (12.7%) and absolute sensitivity towards chloramphenicol were observed in both the pathogens. The antibiotic resistance genes such as strA (32.7%) and sul2 (32.7%) associated with streptomycin and sulfonamide resistance, respectively, were detected in the isolates. Conclusion: The study revealed the significant involvement of M. haemolytica together with P. multocida in ovine respiratory infection and is probably responsible for frequent disease outbreaks even after vaccination against hemorrhagic septicemia in sheep population of Karnataka, southern province of India

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Not AvailableBrucellosis caused by Brucella species is readily transmissible to humans, causing acute febrile illness and undulant fever which may progress to a more chronic form and can also produce serious complications affecting the musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, and central nervous systems. A veterinary livestock inspector presented to the institute with symptoms of intermittent fever, pain involving muscles and joints, loss of weight, anxiety and weakness for about three months has been investigated. The isolation, serological tests and PCR were performed for diagnosis of brucellosis. Based on history of constant professional association with animals, characteristic symptoms, hematological and biochemical, multiple serological and PCR assay results, the patient was diagnosed as brucellosis. Detection of Brucella abortus directly in the clinical samples by gel based PCRs were highly useful for diagnosis and monitoring of treatment. This diagnostic protocol will facilitate in a simple way to map major Brucella species infecting humans in a geographical region.Not Availabl

Evaluation of lateral flow assay as a field test for investigation of brucellosis outbreak in an organized buffalo farm: A pilot study

Abstract Aim: The aim was to evaluate lateral flow assay (LFA) as a field test for investigation of brucellosis outbreak in organized buffalo farm. Materials and Methods: A total of 153 serum samples were tested to detect the presence of brucella antibodies by LFA and three other serological tests i.e. rose bengal plate test (RBPT), protein G based indirect enzyme-linked immunoassay (iELISA), and competitive ELISA (cELISA). The performances of LFA and other serological tests were evaluated using OIE complaint cELISA as the gold standard. Results: Serological tests revealed 50% of the animals were seropositive for Brucella antibodies and correlated with clinical history of abortions, infertility, and productive failures. The newly developed assay showed 87.1% and 92.6% sensitivity and specificity, which was even higher than the specificity of RBPT. Conclusions: The investigation proved the potential usefulness of LFA for field diagnosis of brucellosis in the regions where laboratory facilities are limited

Clinical Characterization and Genomic Analysis of Samples from COVID-19 Breakthrough Infections during the Second Wave among the Various States of India

From March to June 2021, India experienced a deadly second wave of COVID-19, with an increased number of post-vaccination breakthrough infections reported across the country. To understand the possible reason for these breakthroughs, we collected 677 clinical samples (throat swab/nasal swabs) of individuals from 17 states/Union Territories of the country who had received two doses (n = 592) and one dose (n = 85) of vaccines and tested positive for COVID-19. These cases were telephonically interviewed and clinical data were analyzed. A total of 511 SARS-CoV-2 genomes were recovered with genome coverage of higher than 98% from both groups. Analysis of both groups determined that 86.69% (n = 443) of them belonged to the Delta variant, along with Alpha, Kappa, Delta AY.1, and Delta AY.2. The Delta variant clustered into four distinct sub-lineages. Sub-lineage I had mutations in ORF1ab A1306S, P2046L, P2287S, V2930L, T3255I, T3446A, G5063S, P5401L, and A6319V, and in N G215C; Sub-lineage II had mutations in ORF1ab P309L, A3209V, V3718A, G5063S, P5401L, and ORF7a L116F; Sub-lineage III had mutations in ORF1ab A3209V, V3718A, T3750I, G5063S, and P5401L and in spike A222V; Sub-lineage IV had mutations in ORF1ab P309L, D2980N, and F3138S and spike K77T. This study indicates that majority of the breakthrough COVID-19 clinical cases were infected with the Delta variant, and only 9.8% cases required hospitalization, while fatality was observed in only 0.4% cases. This clearly suggests that the vaccination does provide reduction in hospital admission and mortality