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The present study aimed to investigate the molecular epidemiology, risk factors, and haemato-biochemical changes in anaplasmosis in Indian dromedary camels. Blood samples collected from 103 camels were analysed using blood smear examination and semi-nested PCR based on the 16s rRNA gene to diagnose anaplasmosis. The prevalence of anaplasmosis was estimated to be 42.72% (95% CI: 33.59-52.37) by PCR assay and 16.5% (95% CI: 10.47-24.95%) by blood smear examination. Phylogenetic analysis of six partial sequences of 16s rRNA gene obtained in the present study indicated the involvement of multiple Anaplasma species, including A. marginale and A. platys, showing genetic similarity with cattle strains. A novel genotype related to A. camelii/A. cinensis/A. platys group was also identified. Hemato-biochemical examination revealed mild anaemia, increased serum urea nitrogen and creatinine levels, and decreased total protein and albumin levels in Anaplasma-positive animals. The infections were largely subclinical in nature, except in one camel that revealed fever, inappetence, and pale mucous membrane and responded well to treatment with oxytetracycline. To our knowledge, this is the first molecular study on camel anaplasmosis in India, indicating a high prevalence of infection and involvement of multiple Anaplasma species with potential risk for interspecies transmission., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

In the present study, tissue samples (tongue, esophagus and heart) were investigated from dromedary camels of India for identification and characterization of Sarcocystis spp. using histopathology, PCR and gene sequencing. Genomic DNA extracted from these tissue samples was used for PCR amplification of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene (cox1) of Sarcocystis spp. and the partial sequence of small subunit ribosomal RNA (18S rRNA) gene of the S. cameli. The PCR products were purified, sequenced and analyzed using bioinformatics tools. Based on phylogenetic analysis of the cox1 gene, the sequences of the present study clustered with those of S. cameli, hosted by dromedary camels of Iraq and a close association was observed with S. masoni hosted by dogs and alpacas of China. Until now, there are no 18S rRNA sequences of S. cameli available in GenBank and this is the first study recording 18S rRNA sequences of S. cameli which were grouped with S. masoni from alpaca of China and guanaco and llama of Argentina in phylogenetic analysis. These findings could be useful for further studies on the characterization through molecular epidemiology, genetic diversity and host specificity of S. cameli., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is endemic in India with a majority of outbreaks caused by FMD virus (FMDV) serotype O. In the present study a panel of eight (2F9, 2G10, 3B9, 3H5, 4C8, 4D6, 4G10 and 5B6) mouse monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were developed against FMDV serotype O Indian vaccine strain, O/IND/R2/75 via hybridoma systems. The MAbs generated were FMDV/O specific without cross-reactivity against FMDV type A and Asia 1. All the MAbs were identified as IgG1/kappa type. Out of eight, three MAbs (3B9, 3H5 and 4G10) demonstrated virus neutralizing activity. The reactivity of all MAbs increased with heat treated (@56 0 C) serotype O antigen compared to untreated antigen in sandwich ELISA indicating that their binding epitopes are linear. Six MAbs (except 2F9 and 4D6) reacted with recombinant P1 protein of homologous virus in an indirect ELISA among which only MAb 3B9 bound to VP1. MAb profiling of 37 serotype O field viruses isolated between the years 1962 and 2021 demonstrated antigenic similarity between field isolates and reference vaccine strain. MAbs 5B6 and 4C8 consistently reacted with all 37 isolates. In indirect immunofluorescence assay MAb 5B6 bound well with FMDV/O antigen. Finally, a sandwich ELISA was successfully developed using rabbit polyclonal anti-FMDV/O serum and MAb 5B6 for detection of FMDV/O antigen in clinical samples (n = 649). The new assay exhibited 100% and 98.89% diagnostic sensitivity and specificity respectively compared to traditional polyclonal antibody-based sandwich ELISA suggesting that the MAb-based ELISA developed here could be an effective method for detection of FMDV serotype O., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a major disease of livestock in India and causes huge economic losses. The formal FMD control program started in 2003-04 in selected districts and was gradually expanded. The present study provides a descriptive review of the FMD outbreaks, prevalent serotypes, and genetic and antigenic features of the FMD virus (FMDV) that circulated in the country between 2011 and 2020. FMD outbreaks were regularly reported in cloven-hoofed domestic livestock and wildlife, with three serotypes including O, A, and Asia1. During the study period, a total of 2226 FMD outbreaks were documented and serotypes confirmed. FMDV serotype O dominated the outbreak scenario, accounting for about 92% of all outbreaks, followed by Asia1 (5% of all outbreaks) and A (3% of all outbreaks). Two major epidemics of FMD on an unprecedented scale during the years 2013 and 2018 by serotype O were recorded. The spatial distribution of FMD was characterized by a larger number of outbreaks in the southern region of the country. In an annual-scale analysis, 2020 was the year with the lowest outbreaks, and 2013 was the year with the highest. The month-scale analysis showed that outbreaks were reported throughout the year, with the highest numbers between October and March. The emergence of three major lineages (O/ME-SA/Ind2001d, O/ME-SA/Ind2001e, and O/ME-SA/Ind2018) of serotype O was observed during the period. In the cases of serotype A and Asia1, the appearance of at least one novel lineage/genetic group, including A/G-18/non-deletion/2019 and Asia1/Group-IX, was documented. While serotype A showed the advent of antigenic variants, serotypes O and Asia1 did not show any antigenic diversity. It was noticed during the course of an outbreak that animal movement contributes significantly to disease transmission. Except for 2018, when numerous FMD outbreaks were recorded, the number of annual outbreaks reported after 2016 has been lower than in the first half of the decade, probably due to mass vaccination and COVID-19 pandemic-linked movement restrictions. Even during outbreaks, disease symptoms in ruminant populations, including cattle, were found to be less severe. Regular six-monthly immunization certainly has a positive impact on the reduction of disease burden and should be followed without fail and delay, along with intensive disease surveillance., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)