Host susceptibility to Peste des Petits ruminants virus

Peste des petits ruminants virus infects a wide range of domestic and wild small ruminants and the host spectrum has recently increased to camels. Despite this host range, the clinical manifestation varies not only between domestic and wild small ruminants but also between different species. Studies have begun to reveal different host genetics and non-genetic factors that may play significant roles in disease outcome and virus susceptibility. The role of wild small ruminants in the epizootiology of PPRV is not fully understood, however, evidences indicate that these could play a role in disease transmission. Understanding these factors may be of help in disease control and eradication campaigns

Not Available

Not AvailableBluetongue (BT), peste des petits ruminants (PPR) and sheep pox are the most economically important viral diseases of sheep in India. Serum samples obtained from sheep in five northern states of the country were screened for antibody against these agents to explore the extent of spread of these infections. A total of 516 serum samples were screened for the presence of antibodies against BT and PPR viruses. Of these, 155 samples were also tested for antibodies against sheep pox virus. BT antibodies were found in 293 (56.8%) animals, PPR virus antibodies in 215 (41.7%) and sheep pox virus antibodies in 106 (68.3%). Of the serum samples tested, 25.2% were positive for antibodies against all three viruses. These findings clearly demonstrated not only the enzootic nature of disease, but also the co-existence of antibodies to more than one of these viruses which would indicate that concurrent infections were common. Therefore, control measures should focus in combating all three diseases simultaneously by exploring the possibility of a trivalent vaccine or the use of multiple genes expressing vectored vaccine.Not Availabl

Sequence and phylogenetic analyses of an Indian isolate of orf virus from sheep

The authors describe the isolation and identification of orf virus (ORFV) from an outbreak in a flock of sheep at Mukteswar, Uttarakhand, India, in 2009. The causative agent, ORFV was successfully isolated in primary lamb testes cells and identified using a semi-nested diagnostic polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequence and phylogenetic analyses of immunogenic envelope protein (B2L) coding gene. The affected animals showed characteristic proliferative skin lesions around the mouth and on nostrils and, in a few animals, lesions were also noticed on the tongue irrespective of age and sex. The morbidity, mortality and case fatality rates observed were 6%, 45% and 13%, respectively. Clinical samples were initially screened by counter immuno-electrophoresis and the serum neutralisation test; further positive skin scabs were tested with diagnostic PCR and virus isolation was performed on primary or secondary lamb testes cultures. Sequencing and phylogenetic analyses of the sheep isolate based on the B2L gene revealed that the isolate was closest to a goat isolate retrieved from an outbreak at the same geographic location in 2000. Furthermore, it also showed close genetic similarities with other Indian isolates reported earlier. Regular and systematic investigation of outbreaks is necessary to monitor the disease in susceptible populations. The development of rapid diagnostic methods as well as effective vaccine to control this infection not only from India but also other parts of the world is called for

Quantitative polymerase chain reaction: another tool to evaluate viable virus content in live attenuated orf vaccine

A probe-based real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay based on the highly conserved DNA polymerase gene of orf virus (ORFV) for the quality control of attenuated orf vaccine is reported. Primary lamb testis (PLT) cells were infected with orf vaccine virus and harvested at a critical time point to obtain maximum viable virus content as determined by real-time PCR. DNA extracted from these harvests was subjected to real-time PCR. A critical time point for the harvesting of PLT cells infected with various log10 dilutions of vaccine virus was found to be 42 h (highest slope of 3.335), which was obtained by comparing the slopes of standard curves of different time intervals. The assay was employed to evaluate viable virus content in different batches of orf vaccine. The titres estimated by real-time PCR and conventional TCID50 were comparable with a correlation of 0.8169. Thus, the real-time PCR assay could provide an alternative method or supplementary tool to estimate live ORFV particles in attenuated orf vaccine

Status of sheep sera to bluetongue, peste des petits ruminants and sheep pox in a few northern states of India

Bluetongue (BT), peste des petits ruminants (PPR) and sheep pox are the most economically important viral diseases of sheep in India. Serum samples obtained from sheep in five northern states of the country were screened for antibody against these agents to explore the extent of spread of these infections. A total of 516 serum samples were screened for the presence of antibodies against BT and PPR viruses. Of these, 155 samples were also tested for antibodies against sheep pox virus. BT antibodies were found in 293 (56.8%) animals, PPR virus antibodies in 215 (41.7%) and sheep pox virus antibodies in 106 (68.3%). Of the serum samples tested, 25.2% were positive for antibodies against all three viruses. These findings clearly demonstrated not only the enzootic nature of disease, but also the co-existence of antibodies to more than one of these viruses which would indicate that concurrent infections were common. Therefore, control measures should focus in combating all three diseases simultaneously by exploring the possibility of a trivalent vaccine or the use of multiple genes expressing vectored vaccine

Temporal and Spatial Epidemiological Analysis of Peste Des Petits Ruminants Outbreaks from the Past 25 Years in Sheep and Goats and Its Control in India

This study was aimed to understand the temporal and spatial epidemiology of peste des petits ruminants (PPR) in India using national surveillance data available in the National Animal Diseases Referral Expert System (NADRES) along with its control plan undertaken. On analysis of the outbreaks/cases reports in sheep and goats in NADRES database from 1995 to 2019, it was observed that PPR features among the top ten diseases and stands first among viral diseases, and among reported deaths, PPR accounts for 36% of mortality in sheep and goats. PPR outbreaks occur round the year in all the seasons but are encountered most frequently during the lean period especially, in the winter season (January to February) in different regions/zones. The reported outbreaks have been progressively declined in most of the states in India due to the implementation of a mass vaccination strategic program since 2011. On state-wise analysis, the PPR risk-areas showed wide variations with different levels of endemicity. Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, and Karnataka were the top three outbreaks reported states during 1995–2010, whereas Jharkhand and West Bengal states reported more outbreaks during 2011–2015 and 2016–2019 periods. The temporal and spatial distribution of PPR in India provides valuable information on the hotspot areas/zones to take appropriate policy decisions towards its prevention and control in different regions/zones of India. The study also identifies when and where intensive surveillance and vaccination along with biosecurity measures need to be implemented for the control and eradication of the disease from India in consonance with the PPR Global Control and Eradication Strategy

Emerging and re-emerging zoonotic buffalopox infection: a severe outbreak in Kolhapur (Maharashtra), India

Buffalopox is an emerging and re-emerging zoonotic viral infection. The authors investigated an extensive zoonotic outbreak of buffalopox involving many human cases. High morbidity and significant productivity losses were recorded among domestic buffalo in Kolhapur (Maharashtra), India, between February and March 2009. The outbreak involved a total of 4 000 buffalo from 21 villages in which over 10 000 buffalo were herded. The outbreak also involved 125 humans who were mostly animal handlers and milkers of all age groups. The disease inflicted a loss of approximately 40% in terms of reduced milk production and a decline in animal trade. Although pox lesions were observed on all parts of the body, the most severe were found on the inner ear. This led to otitis and pyrexia in most of the affected animals. Milkers developed pox-like lesions on the skin of their fingers, hands, forearms, forehead, ears and face, along with pyrexia, malaise and axillary lymphadenitis and lymphadenopathy. The causal agent, buffalopox virus, was confirmed using counter-immuno-electrophoresis, the serum neutralisation test, virus isolation and buffalopox virus-specific ankyrin repeat protein (C18L) gene-based polymerase chain reaction. Considering the emergence and re-emergence of buffalopox virus in buffalo, cows and humans, not only in India but also in other buffalo rearing countries, regular monitoring of outbreaks and control measures are necessary to curb economic losses and also to reduce the public health impact of the disease

Not Available

Not AvailableIn this study, in the beginning 582 serum samples were subjected to Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT) with eight different serovars prevalent in the region to know the seroprevalence of Leptospira in bovines in Karnataka, India. Based on the findings of the MAT, different samples like blood, urine, aborted materials and uterine discharge collected from the MAT positive animals were used for isolation and genomic detection by conventional PCR targeting two lipL32 and seqY genes using specific primers. Out of the 163 MAT positive samples screened 12 samples (including three isolates) were found positive in PCR. Subsequently, to identify the different species prevalent in the geographical region the PCR positive samples were subjected to rpoB and LipL41 gene amplification. and nucleotide sequence analysis of rpo B, it was found that all the samples were belonging to L. interrogans species with overlapping/superimposing L. interrogans and L.borgpetersenii species. Further, the LipL41 gene sequence phylogenetic analysis differentiated these two species clearly. Therefore, it can be concluded that LipL41 gene based phylogenic analysis besides rpoB gene can be effectively utilized to identify different Leptospira species in a geographical niche including the identification of intermediate species. This is first of its kind in India using LipL41 gene based phylogenetic analysis for Leptospira species identification in limited number of samples from bovines, hence the same can be explored on a larger geographical area with more number of samples and even to identify the prevalence or presence of intermediate species in different geographical locations.Not Availabl