Seroprevalence and risk factors associated with bovine brucellosis in western Uttar Pradesh, India

The present study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of brucellosis in cattle and buffaloes of western Uttar Pradesh, India and possible risk factors associated with it. Blood samples collected from 1,019 animals (dairy cattle and buffaloes) of different age and sex from 17 districts of western Uttar Pradesh, India where no vaccination against brucellosis is practiced were subjected to indirect ELISA for detection of Brucella antibodies. The overall mean seropositivity was 12.37% with seropositivity in unorganized and organized farms 4.08% and 24.88%, respectively. The young calves were having significantly higher seropositivity (10.38%) and it further increased in sexually matured adults (12.71%) in comparison to older animals (9.17%). Overall seropositivity and risk factors logistic regression analyses showed that species and farming type (organized and unorganized) had significant effect and sex of animals and their age group had no significant effect on the positivity of brucellosis. In absence of any vaccination presence of circulating antibodies against Brucella in all age group of animals indicated the natural circulation of infection in the state. Study indicated an urgent need of policy for prevention and control of brucellosis in dairy animals

Status of Johne’s disease in buffalo population of Malwa region using goat based Indigenous ELISA kit

Present study estimated status of Johne’s disease in the buffalo population of Malwa region using goat based Indigenous plate ELISA test. Of 156 serum samples screened 41.0% (64) and 85.8% (134) were positive for MAP infection by Indigenous plate ELISA kit; condition (A), condition (B), respectively. Study showed that despite high slaughter rate, prevalence of Johne’s disease was high in native population of riverine buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) and call for immediate control of disease. The present findings indicated that higher number of animals infected with JD may be responsible for reduced productivity or un-productivity and weight loss in buffaloes. Therefore systematic screening of buffaloes with indigenous sensitive and specific test for detection of Johne’s disease at certain time interval is required. So that spread of infection to other animals and herds can be reduced or avoided. The goat based ‘Indigenous ELISA kit’ was good herd screening test with high sensitivity and is recommended for the large scale screening of Johne’s disease in the domestic livestock population

Outbreak of brucellosis in buffaloes aborted in village Mahuan, district Mainpuri, U.P., India- A case report

Aim: Outbreak of bovine brucellosis in buffaloes aborted in a village Mahuan of District Mainpuri, Uttar Pradesh is described. Materials and Methods: A total of 15 serum samples were collected from a aborted buffaloes. All the sera samples were tested by serological tests, Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT) and Standard Tube Agglutination Test (STAT). Results: Clinical history of the condition complimented with detailed examination of the affected animals revealed that 50% (15/30) buffaloes were aborted between 6-9.5 months of pregnancy. The main clinical signs presented were fever, discharge from vagina and retention of placenta. There was no response of treatment on buffaloes. The antibodies against B. abortus were detected in 7(46.6%) sera samples by RBPT and in 5(33.3%) by STAT. Conclusion: The buffaloes involved and the severity of abortions, that necessitated veterinary intervention, it would be necessary to asses the prevalence and economic importance of the disease in rural herds of Uttar Pradesh. [Vet World 2013; 6(1.000): 51-52

Real Time PCR Usage in the Quantification of Hepatitis B Virus DNA-Clinical Applications in Disease Management

ABSTRACT Simultaneous quantification and detection of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA plays significant role in diagnosing and monitoring infection related to HBV as well as assessing therapeutic response. Variability among HBV genotypes and the huge range of clinical HBV DNA levels presents challenges for PCR-based amplification techniques. High sensitivity, wide linear range, good reproducibility, and genotype inclusivity, combined with a small sample volume requirement and low cost, make this novel quantitative HBV Real-Time PCR assay particularly well suited for application to large clinical and epidemiological studies. Serum DNA levels are a prognostic factor, and contribute to define the phase of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection, the treatment indication, and allow an assessment of the efficacy of antiviral therapy. High levels of HBV DNA are an independent risk factor for cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma HCC in Asia. Recent advances in antiviral therapy, based on the development of new and more powerful nucleotide analogues, have dramatically improved chronic hepatitis B management, including the prevention of allograft reinfection in those patients undergoing liver transplantation for HBV related disease. Advances in the molecular diagnosis of drug resistance using highly sensitive methodologies such as DNA Amplification by PCR can further detect upcoming viral resistance at an early stage when the variant represents only a minor fraction of the total viral population. Such new tools are especially relevant for patients at high risk for disease progression or acute exacerbation

Comparison of newly standardized ‘Latex milk agglutination test’, with ‘Indigenous milk ELISA’ for ‘on spot’ screening of domestic livestock against <i>Mycobacterium avium </i> subsp.<i> paratuberculosis</i> infection

511-517Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP), the cause of Johne’s disease in animals, has also been associated with Crohn’s disease (CD), Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and auto-immune disorders of humans. Increased consumption of milk and milk products made from pasteurized milk led to the sharp rise in the cases of IBD/CD in India. Milk and milk products are the main source of transmission of MAP from animals to humans, since MAP is not inactivated during pasteurization. Lack of rapid and sensitive ‘field test’ is the major stumbling block in estimating bio-incidence of MAP and threat it poses to human population. In the present study, newly standardized ‘Latex milk agglutination test’ (LMAT) was compared with ‘Indigenous milk ELISA’ test. Of the 900 raw milk samples of domestic livestock screened, 36.4 and 51.4% were positive in milk ELISA and LMAT, respectively. In milk ELISA, 38.7, 71.4, 35.1 and 33.5% milk samples of goats, sheep, cattle and buffaloes were positive for MAP, respectively. Whereas in LMAT, 60.6, 90.4, 45.9 and 44.7% milk samples of goats, sheep, cattle and buffaloes were positive for MAP, respectively. LMAT had 70.5% overall rate of agreement with milk ELISA. LMAT had sensitivity and specificity of 80.1 and 65.0%, respectively on comparion with ‘Indigenous milk ELISA’ and Kappa value of 0.416. Strength of agreement between two tests was ‘fair’. Study showed that LMAT has potential to be developed as field based ‘spot test’ for the rapid screening of milk samples of lactating domestic livestock for the detection of MAP