Nipah Virus Outbreak in Kerala State, India Amidst of COVID-19 Pandemic

We report here a Nipah virus (NiV) outbreak in Kozhikode district of Kerala state, India, which had caused fatal encephalitis in a 12-year-old boy and the outbreak response, which led to the successful containment of the disease and the related investigations. Quantitative real-time reverse transcription (RT)-PCR, ELISA-based antibody detection, and whole genome sequencing (WGS) were performed to confirm the NiV infection. Contacts of the index case were traced and isolated based on risk categorization. Bats from the areas near the epicenter of the outbreak were sampled for throat swabs, rectal swabs, and blood samples for NiV screening by real-time RT-PCR and anti-NiV bat immunoglobulin G (IgG) ELISA. A plaque reduction neutralization test was performed for the detection of neutralizing antibodies. Nipah viral RNA could be detected from blood, bronchial wash, endotracheal (ET) secretion, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and anti-NiV immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies from the serum sample of the index case. Rapid establishment of an onsite NiV diagnostic facility and contact tracing helped in quick containment of the outbreak. NiV sequences retrieved from the clinical specimen of the index case formed a sub-cluster with the earlier reported Nipah I genotype sequences from India with more than 95% similarity. Anti-NiV IgG positivity could be detected in 21% of Pteropus medius (P. medius) and 37.73% of Rousettus leschenaultia (R. leschenaultia). Neutralizing antibodies against NiV could be detected in P. medius. Stringent surveillance and awareness campaigns need to be implemented in the area to reduce human-bat interactions and minimize spillover events, which can lead to sporadic outbreaks of NiV.

Effect of in vivo electrical stimulation on the carbohydrate metabolism of control and denervation atrophied muscle of dog, Canis domesticus

The standardized programme of electrical stimulation was applied to the control and denervation atrophied muscle of dog, Canis domesticus and the pattern of changes in the carbohydrate metabolism was analysed in the control (C), denervated control (DC), control stimulated (CS) and denervated stimulated (DS) gastrocnemius muscles. The programme of electrical stimulation of the control muscle has elevated glycogenolysis, glycolysis and increased the level of operation of TCA cycle with decreased mobilization of carbohydrates into hexose monophosphate pathway, indicating the setting in of trained condition. Sciatectomy, on the other hand, lowered the level of operation of glycogenolysis and decreased the utilization of carbohydrates through hexose-mono and di-phosphate pathways and TCA cycle. The programme of electrical stimulation applied to the denervated muscle has restored the utilization of carbohydrates through hexose mono and diphosphate pathways and oxidative metabolism indicating the applicability of this programme of electrical stimulation in the treatment of muscular atrophy.