Bluetongue Virus: Detection Kits

With the discharge of diagnostic kits by ICAR-IVRI, early identification & isolation of the infected animals are recommended to control the disease. On 15th October 2019, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi, hosted the launch of ELISA kits. One to diagnose bluetongue virus in goats, buffalo, camels & cattle. While the other is for Japanese Encephalitis (JE) for pigs. Developed by ICAR, which stands for Indian Veterinary Research Institute under, 100 days commuted Action Point being monitored by PMO. 

Presence

The bluetongue virus has a wide seroprevalence in India’s camels, goats, cattle, buffaloes, and sheep. Similarly, the major cause of AES in India is the Japanese encephalitis virus, as per the National Health Portal. Identifying the virus early & isolation the animals will help strategize the control program. Moreover, the newly developed Bluetongue sandwich ELISA kit will help in the same.

Japanese Encephalitis

Mostly an infection found in the West Pacific and Asia, Japanese Encephalitis is the virus spread by infected mosquitoes. It is most common in agricultural or rural areas. Though most cases are mild, rarely, it might cause disorientation, high fever, or brain swelling with a sudden headache. Treatment for the same involves supportive care and a vaccine, which is also available.

Being numerically one of the most important causes of viral encephalitis worldwide, JE is yet considered to be exotic & rare in the West. With an estimated 15,000 deaths annually alongside almost 50,000 cases, half the patients go through the severe neuropsychiatric sequel and about one-third die. Moreover, spreading at an alarming rate in Southeast Asia, China & the Indian subcontinent are affected by the virus. 

IgM ELISA

Notably, another kit, IgM ELISA, is used to assess the active infection of the Japanese Encephalitis (JE) virus in pigs. JE virus causes abortion in pigs, but it can be deadly to humans. A bird species is the reservoir host of the JE virus. Eventually, it comes to pigs through mosquitoes, further spreading to humans. It claimed several human lives in Assam & Bihar. 

Therefore, predicting the disease in the human population will be easier. There is no indigenously diagnostic kit for JE IgM ELISA, which will be cheaper than the imported kits available. 

To mention more

• Each kit can test around 45 samples
• This kit comes at a minimum price of Rs.5000 compared to the commercial kit available in the market for around Rs. 54,000
• Helps to take necessary measures early, e.g. vaccination among children etc

Quality of the kit

Because China & the U.S.A. have expensive kits that cost nearly Rs.1200 to sample per pig, this kit, developed by the IVRI on the contrary, will cost only Rs.120 per sample. Then again, an IgG ELISA kit was developed earlier by IVRI for JE. But the current kit of IgM ELISA being modified can see new cases of infection.

Bluetongue virus(BTV)   

A vector-borne hemorrhagic disease of ruminant species in many sub-tropical, tropical & temperate regions is caused by BTV, which has a double-stranded RNA genome. Certain species of biting midges transmit the disease. Consequently, symptoms evolve as swelling of the face, the face & tongue, high fever, excessive salivation & cyanosis of the tongue.

Furthermore, analysis shows that it represents the least conserved region of the BTV genome, separated mostly into 26 distinct serotypes characterized by their geographic location. Over the past, it has been reported almost all over the world.

Bluetongue: Sandwich ELISA for detection of Antigen

Diagnosing bluetongue virus at the right time would help farmers to the utmost. For instance, it claimed the lives of nearly 30,000 sheep in Tamil Nadu 15 years back. The release of diagnostic kits developed by ICAR-IVRI can attend to the problem. Allowing early detection would help majorly to take steps beforehand. 

Henceforth, a strategy can be acquired much before time to assemble the requirements to save the cattle. Starting from the isolation of the infected animals to vaccinations could be carried out by easy means, which is the recommended practice for controlling the disease.

To simplify

• Apart from the vaccination, the early diagnosis and isolation of the infected animals are commonly suggested preventive methods
• To control the bluetongue virus, quarantine of infected animals with good management practices and vector control with the vaccination of susceptible animals can be done with this kit
• Developed to detect the Antigen in animals

Quality of the kit

Not to mention, India is the first country to develop a diagnosis for the bluetongue virus. These kits will soon make their way to the block level, and the farmers will make early detection to prevent outbreaks. Additionally, the cheaper kit is also worthy of export that would yield India’s economy. 

Conclusion 

The bluetongue virus is a hemorrhagic disease of ruminant species in several sub-tropical, temperate and some tropical regions caused by the BTV virus. The virus is transmitted through certain biting midges species. Major symptoms of the virus are excessive salivation, high fever etc. The BTV detection kit detects the disease and controls the effects.