Infectious lameness among migratory sheep and goats in north-west India, with particular focus on anaerobes

Various bacterial species, particularly Dichelobacter nodosus, Fusobacterium necrophorum, Trueperella pyogenes (previously Arcanobacterium pyogenes) and Treponema spp., have been implicated in infectious conditions manifesting in lameness in sheep and goat populations. The current study reports the causes of infectious lameness in the north-western Himalayan region, particularly Himachal Pradesh (HP), where no such study has been conducted in the past. Among a total surveyed population of 27,586 animals, comprised of 15,006 sheep and 12,580 goats, 216 samples were collected from foot lesions. A total of 6.48% (14/216) samples were positive for D. nodosus, 20.83% (45/216) for F. necrophorum and 20.37% (44/216) for T pyogenes. In three instances, all of the three aforementioned bacteria were present in a single foot lesion. Most of the positive samples were from areas in the state of HP adjoining the state of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), where footrot is endemic. The confirmation of footrot in HP and the fact that F. necrophorum and T pyogenes were detected from cases of foot/hoof infection in high numbers emphasises thatthese organisms play an important role in inducing morbidity in migratory sheep and goats. The present investigation also confirms the detection of D. nodosus from cases of footrot for the first time from HP. With new reports identifying F. necrophorum as a pathogen with a potential role in aggravating infection caused by footrot, the development of a combined vaccine to prevent lameness in sheep and goats in the north-western Himalayan region has been suggested.

Development of OMP based indirect ELISA to gauge the antibody titers in bovines against Pasteurella multocida

Pasteurella multocida (P. multocida) is an important pathogen of various domestic animals. The outer membrane proteins (OMPs) play a major role in pathogenesis and immunogenicity of P. multocida. The aim of the study was to develop indirect enzyme linked immuno sorbant assay (ELISA) based on OMPs to ascertain the antibody titers in animals post-infection or to gauge the potency of vaccine. The OMPs were extracted and purified from P. multocida P:52 (vaccine strain) and P. multocida B:2 isolated from natural outbreak of Haemorrhagic septicaemia (HS) and analyzed on SDS PAGE and through western blot. The OMPs profile of the vaccine strain and the isolate from the natural outbreak of HS were found to be similar. Optimization of various components viz. coating antigens, anti-species conjugate, etc. were carried out against both anti-P. multocida hyper immune and pre immune serum. Validation of OMP based indirect ELISA assay to measure immune response against P. multocida in bovine revealed 91% diagnostic sensitivity (DSN) and about 100% diagnostic specificity (DSP) at 25% cut off. OMP based indirect ELISA was found to be more specific, but less sensitive as compared to WCL based assay.

Courveilhier baumgarten syndrome: a rare syndrome revisited

A 25 year old male had presented with history of abdominal distension of 20 days duration and on examination he had prominent abdominal vein and a venous hum with Ascites. He had no history of altered sensorium, melena. The clinical scenario was suggestive of Cruveilhier Baumgarten syndrome.