Animals In India Research Articles

Community awareness and risk of rabies associated with exposure to animals in India.

Rabies is a fatal but preventable disease. Around the world, awareness studies about rabies have been widely used to understand the disease and in its preventive measures. The present study was conducted to assess the awareness of rabies as a disease, its transmission, and prevention among the general population and also to assess the perceived health risks associated with exposure to animals. A cross-sectional study was undertaken across seven representative states in India between July and November 2017. Multistage sampling methodology was followed to select 1012 households as the primary sampling unit, and one adult responsible respondent from each household was interviewed as study participants. Six hundred and eleven (60.4%) participants had heard of rabies. Only 0.2% had extensive knowledge of rabies. Majority (440, 72.0%) of the participants considered rabies as a fatal disease; 77.3% opined that risk of rabies from dogs was high compared to 41.6% who believed that there was little or no risk of rabies from cats. Only 37 (3.7%) participants were aware about preexposure prophylaxis. The awareness on rabies and its prevention in the study population was not satisfactory.

Molecular determination of methicillin resistance mecA and virulence coa genes in Staphylococcus aureus from pyogenic clinical cases of companion animals in India

Out of 100 pyogenic clinical cases of companion animals, 40 samples revealed Staphylococcus aureus confirmed by genomic amplification of 280-bp amplicons of the nuc gene. The presence of resistance and virulence determinants was confirmed for the genomic and plasmid mec, van, and coa genes. Out of 40 isolates of S. aureus, 23 isolates revealed amplification of 533-bp mecA genes on genomic DNA. These included 4, 14, and 5 isolates of cattle, buffalo, and dogs, respectively. On amplification for the coa gene, 19 isolates revealed amplicons of variable size and number on genomic DNA. The numbers of coa-positive isolates were 4, 12, and 3 of cattle, buffalo, and dogs, respectively. Among coa-positive isolates, thirteen were mecA-positive isolates while the other six isolates were mecA-negative.

Recombinant interferon stimulated protein 15 (rISG15) as a molecular marker for detection of early pregnancy in Bubalus bubalis

Early and accurate diagnosis of pregnancy in animals is important for improving the reproductive management of livestock. The buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) is the most important dairy animal in India, but there are reproductive problems resulting from extended calving interval and ovulation occurring in the absence of behavioral estrus. The lack of simple methods for early pregnancy diagnosis intensifies these problems. The present study, therefore, was conducted to ascertain the role of the interferon-stimulated gene, (ISG), 15 in pregnancy detection. The anti-ISG15 Mab based ELISA was developed that could be used for detecting pregnancy at 18 to 20 days after artificial insemination (AI). The ISG15 protein was isolated from a pregnant buffalo and was amplified, and cloned in Escherichia coli by using coding region primers. The ISG15 gene was expressed in the host Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3), and the protocol was standardized for optimum gene expression. Using immortal hybridoma (fused myeloma and B cells) cells, a highly specific and sensitive antibody, anti-ISG15 mAb, for detecting ISG15 (protein) in the serum of pregnant buffaloes was obtained. A blocking ELISA was developed using the anti-ISG15 mAb to detect pregnancy in buffalo within 18 to 21 days after AI. The ISG15 gene was upregulated (P < 0.05) in pregnant buffalo at 18 to 21 days of pregnancy. This assay has an overall diagnostic accuracy of 75.0%. It, therefore, is concluded that recombinant ISG15 retains the potential for detecting pregnancy in B. bubalis and may have applications in ELISA kits for pregnancy detection in closely related species.

Molecular epidemiology of rabies virus circulating in domestic animals in India.

Rabies is a neglected viral zoonotic disease affecting humans, domestic and wild animals and is endemic in most parts of the India. Dog mediated rabies is more predominant than other forms of rabies and molecular epidemiology is poorly understood in both reservoir and susceptible hosts. In the present study, a total of 140 rabies suspected brain samples from different species of animals from different geographical regions of India were used. The samples were parallelly tested by direct fluorescent antibody test, reverse transcriptase PCR and real-time PCR. Thirty positive samples were subjected for partial nucleoprotein gene sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. On sequence and phylogenetic analysis, it was observed that all Indian rabies viruses belonged to classical rabies virus of genotype 1 of Lyssavirus and formed two distinct groups. The majority of isolates were in group-1 and are closely related to arctic/arctic like lineage, whereas group-II isolated are closely related to cosmopolitan lineage. These results indicated there is simultaneous existence of two distinct lineages of rabies viruses in Indian subcontinent. Further whole genome studies are needed for better understanding of molecular epidemiology of rabies virus circulating in animals for control and prevention of rabies in India.

Neoplasms in pet animals in India

In last few decades, incidences of neoplasms have continuously and sharply increased all over the globe. There is increased risk for certain neoplasms in pet animals such as those of cutaneous cancers, mammary gland tumours. Cancer incidence and mortality, in spite of prompt diagnosis and better treatment, is increasing, that may be because the carcinogens in industrialised lifestyle may have affected these companions of human beings which share common environment with them. The present paper is an endeavour to sum up the current knowledge including empirical findings and conceptual and methodological contributions of various research workers on neoplasms in pet animals in India from the available literature. Various neoplasms encountered were mast cell tumour, fibroma, lipoma, liposarcoma, papilloma, squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell tumour, cutaneous epidermoid carcinoma, calcifying epithelioma, trichoepithelioma, adenoma, adenocarcinoma, osteosarcoma, melanoma, melanosarcoma, mesothelial tumours, spirocercosis, transmissible venereal tumours, ovarian granulosa tumours, testicular tumours, tumours of haemopoietic cells, heart base tumours, haemangiosarcoma, leiomyoma, leiomyosarcoma, rhabdoma, rhabdomyosarcoma and hepatic and biliary neoplasms. Most of these neoplasms were reported from southern parts of India. These neoplasms were studied on the basis of their cytological and histopathological features, cell proliferative markers and some molecular techniques for evaluation of mutations in genes.

Neoplasms in wild animals in India

Neoplasm or tumour occurs as an unexplained, clinically silent mass in tissue. It can be due to epigenetic or genetic alterations. However, precise clinical examination, observation and biopsy and other diagnostic procedures can be used for confirmatory diagnosis and helps in identification and treatment of the various tumours. They are classified as benign and malignant neoplasms on basis of metastasis. Neoplasm is a condition commonly affecting the animal kingdom as compared with plant because of the presence of cell wall in them. Carcinogenesis involves both the genetic and epigenetic alterations. Genetics involves changes with the DNA, and epigenetics involves alterations without changes in the DNA. Cancer is most commonly studied in companion animals; however, wild animals though equally affected by neoplasms are rarely reported as they are most commonly encountered during post-mortem, and often signs and symptoms are noticed which coincide with tumour development. The article presents the information about neoplastic occurrence in various wild animals and birds. The related safety issues as wild animals act as source of disease to humans, especially the zoo keepers in contact with them.

Impact estimation of animal trypanosomosis (surra) on livestock productivity in India using simulation model: Current and future perspective.

Animal trypanosomosis (surra), caused by Trypanosoma evansi, is one of the most important diseases in livestock and wild animals in India. The disease is prevalent across all agro-climatic regions of India, and has a considerable impact on the country's livestock economy through direct and indirect impact on livestock productivity. In the present study, the economic losses on livestock productivity were assessed resulting from surra in India, considering all possible direct and indirect losses in major six livestock species viz., cattle, buffalo, goat, equine, camel and pig. The contemplative risk and retrospective analyses were performed using various official records and scientific literature complemented with expert data for evaluation of impact of surra on livestock productivity in India. Most of the information were derived using the secondary data published in scientific journals, and the official data reported by Basic Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Statistics (BAHS, 2014), the Government of India and other scientific reports. To address the variability and uncertainty, probability distributions for many input values were used in the present study and sensitivity statistical analyses were conducted using a simulation model. In the current analysis, all prices were assumed as deterministic. Based on present study, a total annual loss (direct and indirect) caused by surra was estimated to US $ 671.1 million or Indian Rupee (INR) 44,740 million (US $ 344-US $ 1209 million or INR 22951.88-80,752.35 million at 95% confidence interval), at present valuation. The mortality losses were estimated to 15.67% of the total loss. Among morbidity losses, the reduction in milk yield and reproductive losses components were 36.46% and 25.72% of total loss, respectively. Other parameters like reduction in growth (9.83%), reduction in draught power (7.95%) and additional opportunity cost (2.93%) also yielded considerable loss. The results highlighted the urgent need for early diagnosis and control strategies for surra in livestock species to reduce the productivity losses in the country's livestock sector.

A brief and critical review on hydrofluorosis in diverse species of domestic animals in India.

India is one of the fluoride-endemic countries where the maximum numbers of ground or drinking water sources are naturally fluoridated. In India, a total of 23, out of 36 states and union territories have drinking water contaminated with fluoride in varying concentration. In the present scenario, especially in rural India, besides the surface waters (perennial ponds, dams, rivers, etc.), bore wells and hand pumps are the principal drinking water sources for domestic animals such as cattle (Bos taurus), water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis), sheep (Ovis aries), goats (Capra hircus), horses (Equus caballus), donkeys (Equus asinus) and dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius). Out of 23 states, 17 states, namely Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha (Orissa), Punjab, Rajasthan, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, have fluoride beyond the maximum permissible limit of 1.0 or 1.5ppm in drinking water. This situation is a great concern for the animal health because fluoride is a slow toxicant and causes chronic diverse serious health hazards or toxic effects. Despite the fact that domestic animals are the basic income sources in rural areas and possess a significant contributory role not only in the agriculture sector but also in the strengthening of economy as well as in sustainable development of the country, research work on chronic fluoride intoxication (hydrofluorosis) due to drinking of fluoridated water in domestic animals rearing in various fluoride-endemic states is not enough as compared to work done in humans. However, some interesting and excellent research works conducted on different aspects of hydrofluorosis in domesticated animals rearing in different states are briefly and critically reviewed in the present communication. Author believes that this review paper not only will be more useful for researchers to do some more advance research work on fluoride-induced toxicosis in different species of animals but will also be helpful in the making of health policy for domestic animals at state and national level for the mitigation of hydrofluorosis in India.

Animal Ethics and India: Understanding the Connection through the Capabilities Approach

This paper, unveiling the visionary short-sightedness of animal protection, argues for a just vision towards animals in India. Critically analysing the wide range of animal protections in India, the paper finds that in spite of such protections, animals continue to suffer out of unfair and unjust treatments in the country. Considering visionary short-sightedness as the reason behind these unfair and unjust treatments, the paper argues that ensuring the rights of non-human animals to basic capabilities is a fundamental and just vision towards delivering ethical and just actions towards animals. For this, the paper grounds itself on the theoretical foundation of the capabilities approach and makes some policy-level recommendations to protect animals in India.

Intra and inter species genetic variability of transferrin receptor gene regions in Trypanosoma evansi isolates of different livestock and geographical regions of India.

Trypanosoma evansi, the aetiological agent of Surra affects a wide range of livestock and wild animals in India. In the present study, we studied intra- and inter species genetic variability in the transferrin receptor encoding gene regions (ESAG6/7 gene region) of T. evansi isolates by cloning, sequencing and phylogenetic study collected from camel, cattle, donkeys and ponies from North-Western and Central India. The nucleotide sequence variation of ESAG6/7 gene region between Indian T. evansi isolates was up to 17.7% and amino acid sequence variation was up to 31%. Twenty nine clones from six T. evansi isolates from geographical regions of India were included into Clade 1, 5, 6, 7 and 9 consisting of ESAG6 variants reported among T. evansi isolates from South-east Asia and South America. The cladogram indicated a relation between the host species and the genetic variability in the hyper-variable region of ESAG6 gene. Analysis of the Indian ESAG6 variants and their respective Clade positions presented a host specific distribution indicating homogenous parasite population in their respective animal hosts.

Mobilities and the Multinatural

This article examines whether the mobilities paradigm could be more sensitive to recent debates about the more-than-human (animals, plants, and insects) and indeed the inhuman (geological, planetary, and biophysical). Many possible examples spring to mind: the forced movement of people due to “natural” catastrophes, the annual migrations of birds across vast distances, the accidental and intentional spread of invasive weeds. “Multinatural mobilities” are at present both inside and outside of the paradigm’s core themes. Can mobilities go beyond transportation, migration, urban development, the hypermobility of the few, and the comparative immobility of the world’s majority of people to encompass everything that moves? Or does this risk diluting the novelty of the paradigm? By presenting a test case of a potential research theme on wild animals in India’s urban spaces, this article argues that by thinking multinaturally progress can be reached in applying the rich mobilities framework to problems in mobility systems.

A training course on laboratory animal science: an initiative to implement the Three Rs of animal research in India.

There is a current need for a change in the attitudes of researchers toward the care and use of experimental animals in India. This could be achieved through improvements in the provision of training, to further the integration of the Three Rs concept into scientific research and into the regulations of the Committee for the Purpose of Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals (CPCSEA). A survey was performed after participants undertook the Federation of European Laboratory Animal Science Associations (FELASA) Category C-based course on Laboratory Animal Science (in 2013 and 2015). It revealed that the participants subsequently employed, in their future research, the practical and theoretical Three Rs approaches that they had learned. This is of great importance in terms of animal welfare, and also serves to benefit their research outcomes extensively. All the lectures, hands-on practical sessions and supplementary elements of the courses, which also involved the handling of small animals and procedures with live animals, were well appreciated by the participants. Insight into developments in practical handling and welfare procedures, norms, directives, and ethical use of laboratory animals in research, was also provided, through the comparison of results from the 2013 and 2015 post-course surveys.

Status of industrial fluoride pollution and its diverse adverse health effects in man and domestic animals in India.

Hydrofluorosis in humans and domestic animals is a worldwide health problem and caused by a prolonged period of fluoride exposure through drinking of fluoride contaminated water. But in recent years, due to rapid industrialization in India, diverse serious health problems among industrial workers and residents and domestic animals living in the industrial areas due to fluoride pollution are on the rise. A number of coal-burning and industrial activities such as power-generating stations, welding operations and the manufacturing or production of steel, iron, aluminum, zinc, phosphorus, chemical fertilizers, bricks, glass, plastic, cement, and hydrofluoric acid are generally discharging fluoride in both gaseous and particulate/dust forms into surrounding environments which create a industrial fluoride pollution and are an important cause of occupational exposure to fluoride in several countries including India. An industrial emitted fluoride contaminates not only surrounding soil, air, and water but also vegetation, crops and many other biotic communities on which man and animals are generally dependants for food. Long- time of inhalation or ingestion of industrial fluoride also causes serious health problems in the forms of industrial and neighborhood fluorosis. In India, whatever research works conducted so far on the chronic industrial fluoride intoxication or poisoning (industrial and neighborhood fluorosis) in man and various species of domestic animals due to a prolonged period of industrial fluoride exposure or pollution (contamination) are critically reviewed in the present communication. Simultaneously, we are also focused the various bio-indicators and bio-markers for chronic industrial fluoride intoxication or pollution.

Indigenous ethnoveterinary medicinal practices for management of mastitis in dairy cattle

The role of ethno-veterinary medicine in livestock and human health is well known fact due to its widespread practice across the globe, including India. WHO stated that, 80% of people in developing countries depend on ethno-veterinary practices due to its inexpensive, easy accessibility and its preparations. Further, 50% of all modern drugs originally came from plants directly or its structural modification suggests for its potency and safety. Although, India has well practiced traditional knowledge, it could not capitalize the global market like USA, EU and China. Lack of well documentation of traditional “hidden” practices is one of the major limitations for its less exploitation. Therefore, an explorative study was conducted in participatory mode to explore and document the traditional practices for clinical mastitis management of dairy animals in the district of Bangalore urban, Karnataka. Since, the mastitis is most common and costly diseases of dairy animals in India and frequent reason for veterinary drug residue problem; in the present study, we have documented the indigenous practices and its procedure for the management of clinical mastitis in dairy animals.

Genetic characterization of Toxoplasma gondii from autopsy proven cases of AIDS associated cerebral toxoplasmosis in South India

Toxoplasma gondii (T.gondii) infection can be devastating in the immunodeficient causing high morbidity and mortality. Due to limited availability of both diagnostic facilities and Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART), toxoplasmosis continues to be a significant problem amongst Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) patients in India. While scanty literature is available on T. gondii isolates in animals in India, little is known about the genetic diversity of the parasite in humans. Therefore, the present study investigated the genetic diversity of T. gondii in 25 confirmed cases of cerebral toxoplasmosis developing on the background of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection/AIDS. PCR DNA sequencing was performed at four important genetic loci of T. gondii: BTUB, GRA6, alternative SAG2 (alt SAG2) and SAG3 on DNA from tissues obtained at postmortem. The amplified products from all the cases were successfully sequenced except at one locus for one case. Results of the present study suggest that majority of the patients (22/25; 88%) in South India are infected with strains that are recombinants of type II/III and/or strains representing T. gondii different from the archetypal lineages I, II, and III. In addition, clonal types III, MAS, and MAS variant genotypes were encountered. No clonal type I or II was seen in the present study. In addition, variants were observed at alt SAG2 and SAG3 but BTUB and GRA6 were highly conserved. Single nucleotide polymorphisms were observed mainly at two loci which are coding for surface antigens at alt SAG2 and SAG3. In conclusion, the present study reveals genetic diversity in India amongst strains of T. gondii from clinical cases of toxoplasmosis which is in accordance with other recent studies showing a high rate of genetic diversity in this parasite across the globe. There is a need to genotype T. gondii from different forms of toxoplasmosis in humans in India.

Isolation and Seroprevalence of Aeromonas spp. Among Common Food Animals Slaughtered in Nagpur, Central India.

Aeromonads are ubiquitous foodborne pathogens with a global distribution. Animal-origin foods and contaminated animals are the main sources of Aeromonas infection to humans. So far little is known about the occurrence of Aeromonas spp. in food-producing animals in India. The present study was conducted to determine the prevalence and seroprevalence of Aeromonas species from 50 each of meat, blood, and sera samples collected from cattle, buffaloes, goats, and pigs slaughtered in and around Nagpur, Central India. Alkaline peptone water and ampicillin dextrin agar were used to isolate Aeromonas spp. An indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was standardized by use of whole-cell antigen (WC) and outer membrane protein (OMP) of Aeromonas hydrophila (MTCC 646). Aeromonads were isolated from 44 (22%) of the meat samples, and 1 (0.5%) from the blood samples. Seroprevalence by indirect ELISA-based WC antigen was estimated as 68% in cattle, 44% in buffaloes, 60% in goats, and 30% in pigs. OMP-based ELISA yielded a seroprevalence of 56%, 48%, 52%, and 22% in cattle, buffaloes, goats, and pigs, respectively. The results revealed that OMP-based ELISA and WC-based ELISA were in agreement with one another. Isolation along with high seropositivity demonstrates the presence of foodborne Aeromonas spp. in the Nagpur city of Central India.

DIGE based proteome analysis of mammary gland tissue in water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis): lactating vis-a-vis heifer.

This work is important because we have generated information in water buffalo (B. bubalis) for the first time which is the major milk producing animal in Indian Subcontinent. Out of a present production of 133milliontons of milk produced in India, contribution of buffalo milk is around 54%. Its physiology is somewhat different from the lactating cows. Buffalo milk composition varies from cow milk in terms of higher fat and total solid content, which confers an advantage in preparation of specialized cheese, curd and other dairy products. Being a major milk producing animal in India it is highly essential to understand the lactation associated proteins in the mammary gland of buffalo. In the present investigation our attempt has been to identify new protein evidences which are expressed in lactating buffalo mammary gland and have not been reported before. The findings reported in the present study will help in understanding the lactation biology of buffalo mammary gland in particular and the mammary gland biology in general.

A campaign to end animal testing: introducing the PETA International Science Consortium Ltd.

The successful development and validation of non-animal techniques, or the analysis of existing data to satisfy regulatory requirements, provide no guarantee that this information will be used in place of animal experiments. In order to advocate for the replacement of animal-based testing requirements, the PETA International Science Consortium Ltd (PISC) liaises with industry, regulatory and research agencies to establish and promote clear paths to validation and regulatory use of non-animal techniques. PISC and its members use an approach that identifies, promotes and verifies the implementation of good scientific practices in place of testing on animals. Examples of how PISC and its members have applied this approach to minimise the use of animals for the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals regulation in the EU and testing of cosmetics on animals in India, are described.

Validation of Bacteroidales quantitative PCR assays targeting human and animal fecal contamination in the public and domestic domains in India

We compared host-associated Bacteroidales qPCR assays developed in the continental United States and Europe for the purpose of measuring the effect of improved sanitation on human fecal exposure in rural Indian communities where both human and animal fecal loading are high. Ten candidate Bacteroidales qPCR assays were tested against fecal samples (human, sewage, cow, buffalo, goat, sheep, dog and chicken) from a test set of 30 individual human, 5 sewage, and 60 pooled animal samples collected in coastal Odisha, India. The two universal/general Bacteroidales assays tested (BacUni, GenBac3) performed equally well, achieving 100% sensitivity on the test set. Across the five human-associated assays tested (HF183 Taqman, BacHum, HumM2, BacH, HF183 SYBR), we found low sensitivity (17 to 49%) except for HF183 SYBR (89%), and moderate to high cross-reactivity with dog (20 to 80%) and chicken fecal samples (60 to 100%). BacHum had the highest accuracy (67%), amplified all sewage samples within the range of quantification (ROQ), and did not cross-react with any fecal samples from cows, the most populous livestock animal in India. Of the ruminant- and cattle-associated assays tested (BacCow, CowM2), BacCow was more sensitive in detecting the full range of common Indian livestock animal fecal sources, while CowM2 only detected cow sources with 50% sensitivity. Neither assay cross-reacted with human sources. BacCan, the dog-associated assay tested, showed no cross-reactivity with human sources, and high sensitivity (90%) for dog fecal samples. Overall, our results indicate BacUni, BacHum, HumM2, BacCan and BacCow would be the most suitable MST assays to distinguish and quantify relative amounts of human-associated and livestock/domestic animal-associated contributions to fecal contamination in Odisha, India.

Genotyping of Cryptosporidium spp. isolated from young domestic ruminants in some targeted areas of India

Faecal samples (363) from kids, lambs, calves and buffalo calves of below 3 months of age were collected from various parts of India and screened microscopically for Cryptosporidium oocysts using modified Ziehl–Neelsen method of staining. Microscopically positive samples (20) were genotyped by PCR amplification of the partial 18S rRNA region and subsequent digestion by SspI, VspI and MboII restriction enzymes. Based on the PCR-RFLP patterns of 18S rRNA, all the 20 samples were found positive for C. parvum. All the positive samples were also used for amplification of partial actin gene of Cryptosporidium spp. For further confirmation of the species of Cryptosporidium, amplified 818 bp partial actin gene of 3 representative isolates was cloned and sequenced. The sequence and phylogenetic analysis of PCR-positive samples confirmed the presence of C. parvum. Thus, actin gene can also be used for specific molecular diagnosis of Cryptosporidium spp., in addition to 18S rRNA. These findings also indicated that young domestic ruminants can be a potent source of cryptosporidial infection for humans and animals in India.