SEROPREVALENCE OF INFECTIOUS BOVINE RHINOTRACHEITIS (IBR) IN NORTH EASTERN (NE) STATES OF INDIA

Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) is an infectious disease caused by BoHV-1 and belongs to the Herpesviridae family. IBR is endemic in India including north eastern states of the country. Hence the study was undertaken to understand the seroprevalence of IBR in north eastern parts of the country. A total of 3125 cattle (Holstein Friesian crossbred) serum samples from 35 districts of five north eastern states (Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Sikkim) of India were screened for infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) virus antibodies using Avidin biotin ELISA.  A two-stage random sampling methodology was followed for the collection of samples. Results from the present study revealed that the overall seropositivity was reported around 29.50% while the highest and lowest seropositivity of 43.39% and 16.66% were reported in the states of Sikkim and Assam respectively, followed by Mizoram (42.16%), Manipur (29.86%) and Meghalaya (27.40%). Cattle of higher age groups showed the highest seropositivity compared to younger ones. A higher percent of IBR antibodies in cattle of NE states is a cause of concern and a detailed study on IBR prevalence comprising of a large number of the bovine population need to be undertaken

DETECTION OF TORQUE TENO SUS VIRUS (TTSUV) IN CLINICAL SPECIMENS OF PIGS WITH CLASSICAL SWINE FEVER, PORCINE REPRODUCTIVE AND RESPIRATORY SYNDROME, AND PORCINE CIRCOVIRUS 2 INFECTIONS

Torque teno sus viruses (TTSuVs) have never been implicated in the direct causation of any disease; however, their role as cofactors in the precipitation of certain disease conditions is gaining some support. Considering the spurt in the number of outbreaks of the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS), porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2) infections, and classical swine fever (CSF) in India, we have investigated the extent of association of TTSuVs with the above said viruses by PCR. The TTsuVs were detected in 53% and 26.22% of CSFV-PRRSV-PCV-positive and apparently healthy negative tissue samples respectively. In serum, these were detected respectively in 29.60% and 21.42 % of CSFV-PRRSVinfected and apparently samples. The results obtained for the tissue samples are in concurrence with the observations of previous studies which reported a higher prevalence of TTSuVs in CSFV-PRRSV-PCV-positive clinical specimens as compared to the healthy ones. This is the first report of co-infection of TTSuVs with CSFV, PRRSV, and PCV from India. Future works are needed to establish the pathogenic role of TTSuVs through experimental studies

Spatial and temporal analysis of haemorrhagic septicaemia outbreaks in India over three decades (1987–2016)

Haemorrhagic septicaemia (HS) is an economically important disease affecting cattle and buffaloes and the livelihoods of small-holder farmers that depend upon them. The disease is caused by Gram-negative bacterium, Pasteurella multocida, and is considered to be endemic in many states of India with more than 25,000 outbreaks in the past three decades. Currently, there is no national policy for control of HS in India. In this study, we analysed thirty year (1987–2016) monthly data on HS outbreaks using different statistical and mathematical methods to identify spatial variability and temporal patterns (seasonality, periodicity). There was zonal variation in the trend and seasonality of HS outbreaks. Overall, South zone reported maximum proportion of the outbreaks (70.2%), followed by East zone (7.2%), Central zone (6.4%), North zone (5.6%), West zone (5.5%) and North-East zone (4.9%). Annual state level analysis indicated that the reporting of HS outbreaks started at different years independently and there was no apparent transmission between the states. The results of the current study are useful for the policy makers to design national control programme on HS in India and implement state specific strategies. Further, our study and strategies could aid in implementation of similar approaches in HS endemic tropical countries around the world

Comprehensive assessment of lumpy skin disease prevalence across Asia and African countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) stands out as one of the economically significant ailments affecting both small-scale farmers and the broader livestock industry. To gauge its prevalence across Asia and Africa, this study employs a rigorous methodology combining systematic review, and meta-analysis, accounting for heterogeneity. Adhering to the guidelines set forth by the cochrane collaboration’s preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis, present initial search sifted through approximately 6,000 articles spanning from 1990 to 2022, using carefully crafted combinations of keywords; Boolean operators, asterisks, and quotation marks. After meticulous assessment for quality bias, employing inclusion and exclusion criteria, 52 publications were included in present study for analysis. The methodology involved in current study utilizing scientometric tools to determine LSD prevalence, with a median sample size of 293 across various studies, predominantly focusing on cattle and buffaloes. Meta-analysis outcomes were dissected based on parameters such as study period, sample size, tests employed, continents, and species, with samples stratified into two to three categories based on medians for heterogeneity assessment. Meta-analysis unveiled a pooled prevalence rate of 14% in Asia and Africa. The subgroup analysis found an 11% prevalence in Asia and Africa constituted 21%. Clinical observation showed a 19% prevalence followed by other tests and PCR with 12 and 13%, respectively. The results underscore the necessity for effective strategies to control and prevent LSD spread, mitigating its economic impact on the livestock industry. This collaborative and comprehensive assessment is crucial in combating the widespread dissemination of LSD and offers valuable insights for policymakers, veterinarians, and stakeholders in the livestock sector

Contrasting selective patterns across the segmented genome of bluetongue virus in a global reassortment hotspot

For segmented viruses, rapid genomic and phenotypic changes can occur through the process of reassortment, whereby co-infecting strains exchange entire segments creating novel progeny virus genotypes. However, for many viruses with segmented genomes, this process and its effect on transmission dynamics remain poorly understood. Here, we assessed the consequences of reassortment for selection on viral diversity through time using bluetongue virus (BTV), a segmented arbovirus that is the causative agent of a major disease of ruminants. We analysed ninety-two BTV genomes isolated across four decades from India, where BTV diversity, and thus opportunities for reassortment, are among the highest in the world. Our results point to frequent reassortment and segment turnover, some of which appear to be driven by selective sweeps and serial hitchhiking. Particularly, we found evidence for a recent selective sweep affecting segment 5 and its encoded NS1 protein that has allowed a single variant to essentially invade the full range of BTV genomic backgrounds and serotypes currently circulating in India. In contrast, diversifying selection was found to play an important role in maintaining genetic diversity in genes encoding outer surface proteins involved in virus interactions (VP2 and VP5, encoded by segments 2 and 6, respectively). Our results support the role of reassortment in driving rapid phenotypic change in segmented viruses and generate testable hypotheses for in vitro experiments aiming at understanding the specific mechanisms underlying differences in fitness and selection across viral genomes

A thirty-year time series analyses identifies coherence between oscillations in anthrax outbreaks and El Niño in Karnataka, India

Anthrax is an economically important zoonotic disease affecting both livestock and humans. The disease is caused by a spore forming bacterium, Bacillus anthracis, and is considered endemic to the state of Karnataka, India. It is critical to quantify the role of climatic factors in determining the temporal pattern of anthrax outbreaks, so that reliable forecasting models can be developed. These models will aid in establishing public health surveillance and guide strategic vaccination programs, which will reduce the economic loss to farmers, and prevent the spill-over of anthrax from livestock to humans. In this study, correlation and coherence between time series of anthrax outbreaks in livestock (1987–2016) and meteorological variables and Sea Surface Temperature anomalies (SST) were identified using a combination of cross-correlation analyses, spectral analyses (wavelets and empirical mode decomposition) and further quantified using a Bayesian time series regression model accounting for temporal autocorrelation. Monthly numbers of anthrax outbreaks were positively associated with a lagged effect of rainfall and wet day frequency. Long-term periodicity in anthrax outbreaks (approximately 6–8 years) was coherent with the periodicity in SST anomalies and outbreak numbers increased with decrease in SST anomalies. These findings will be useful in planning long-term anthrax prevention and control strategies in Karnataka state of India

Multiple Origins of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus Serotype Asia 1 Outbreaks, 2003–2007

Viruses in 6 genetic groups have caused recent outbreaks in Asia

Full-genome sequencing as a basis for molecular epidemiology studies of bluetongue virus in India

Since 1998 there have been significant changes in the global distribution of bluetongue virus (BTV). Ten previously exotic BTV serotypes have been detected in Europe, causing severe disease outbreaks in naïve ruminant populations. Previously exotic BTV serotypes were also identified in the USA, Israel, Australia and India. BTV is transmitted by biting midges (Culicoides spp.) and changes in the distribution of vector species, climate change, increased international travel and trade are thought to have contributed to these events. Thirteen BTV serotypes have been isolated in India since first reports of the disease in the country during 1964. Efficient methods for preparation of viral dsRNA and cDNA synthesis, have facilitated full-genome sequencing of BTV strains from the region. These studies introduce a new approach for BTV characterization, based on full-genome sequencing and phylogenetic analyses, facilitating the identification of BTV serotype, topotype and reassortant strains. Phylogenetic analyses show that most of the equivalent genome-segments of Indian BTV strains are closely related, clustering within a major eastern BTV ‘topotype’. However, genome-segment 5 (Seg-5) encoding NS1, from multiple post 1982 Indian isolates, originated from a western BTV topotype. All ten genome-segments of BTV-2 isolates (IND2003/01, IND2003/02 and IND2003/03) are closely related (>99% identity) to a South African BTV-2 vaccine-strain (western topotype). Similarly BTV-10 isolates (IND2003/06; IND2005/04) show >99% identity in all genome segments, to the prototype BTV-10 (CA-8) strain from the USA. These data suggest repeated introductions of western BTV field and/or vaccine-strains into India, potentially linked to animal or vector-insect movements, or unauthorised use of ‘live’ South African or American BTV-vaccines in the country. The data presented will help improve nucleic acid based diagnostics for Indian serotypes/topotypes, as part of control strategies

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Not AvailableThe 3A region of foot-and-mouth disease virus has been implicated in host range and virulence. Here we analyzed the 3A region of serotype A virus in view of the emergence of a variant group in India with an amino acid deletion at an antigenically critical position of capsid protein, VP3. The 3A region exhibited extreme variability with 38% of the amino acid positions showing substitutions and the C-terminal third (127-151) region was most flexible. Genotype inclusive grouping of type A foot-and-mouth disease virus as observed in 1D region based phylogeny was much less apparent at 3A region possibly due to independent evolution of nonstructural and structural protein coding regions. Akin to the 1D region, the VP3(59)-deletion group maintained its phylogenetic distinctness even at the 3A region and was found to be diverging with time. Twelve lineage specific signature amino acid residues, of which four were identified to be experiencing positive selection, indicates fixation of advantageous mutations in a lineage specific manner. Six positions, all located in the hypervariable C-terminal third, were identified to be under positive selection and were presumed to be imparting the virus certain advantage accounting for its adaptability to wide host spectrum and rapid dissemination. A significant change of Q(44)H was noted only in the older lineage (VIIb) of the deletion group at a position where Q(44)R mutation is associated with guinea pig adaptation. As this site has been detected to be under positive selection, such a lineage specific substitution is thought to have imparted certain temporary advantage to the virus during its possible adaptation in wild or some understudied domestic hosts and must not have seriously compromised fitness upon readaptation in bovines. A conserved hydrophobic transmembrane domain from position 59 to 76 could be predicted which possibly anchors 3A to intracellular membranes for successful interaction with RNA replication complex.Not Availabl