Poultry production in Bangladesh has been experiencing H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and H9N2 low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) for the last 14 years. Vaccination of chickens ...against H5 HPAI is in practice since the end of 2012. Subsequently, the official reporting of HPAI outbreaks gradually decreased. However, the true extent of circulation of avian influenza virus (AIV) in commercial poultry production is not clear. To explore this, we conducted active surveillance in 422 small‐scale commercial layer farms in 20 villages of Mymensingh and Tangail districts of Bangladesh during 2017 and 2018 for the presence of diseases with respiratory signs. A total of 88 farms with respiratory disease problems were identified and investigated during the surveillance. In addition, 22 small‐scale commercial layer farms in the neighbouring areas with respiratory disease problem were also investigated on request from the farmers. Pooled samples of oropharyngeal swabs from live birds or respiratory tissues from dead birds of the farm suffering from respiratory disease problem were tested for molecular detection of avian influenza virus (AIV), Newcastle disease virus (NDV), infectious bronchitis virus (IBV), infectious laryngotracheitis virus (ILTV), Mycoplasma gallisepticum and Avibacterium paragallinarum. A total of 110 farms (88 in the surveillance site and 22 in the neighbouring region) were investigated, and one or more respiratory pathogens were detected from 89 farms. AIV was detected in 57 farms often concurrently with other pathogens. Among these 57 farms, H5, H9, both H5 and H9 or non‐H5 and non‐H9 AIV were detected in 28, 9, 13 or 7 farms, respectively. Birds of most of the H5 AIV‐positive farms did not present typical clinical signs or high mortality. Twenty such farms were observed longitudinally, which had only 1.05%–5.50% mortality but a marked drop in egg production. This widespread circulation of H5 AIV along with H9 AIV and other pathogens in small‐scale commercial layer farms, often with low mortality, reaffirms the enzootic circulation of AIV in Bangladesh, which may escape syndromic surveillance focused on unusual mortality only. To reduce public health risks, strengthening of the control programme with comprehensive vaccination, enhanced biosecurity, improved surveillance and outbreak response is suggested.
A total of 23 Newcastle disease virus (NDV) isolates from Bangladesh taken between 2010 and 2012 were characterized on the basis of partial F gene sequences. All the isolates belonged to genotype ...XIII of class II NDV but segregated into three sub-clusters. One sub-cluster with 17 isolates aligned with sub-genotype XIIIc. The other two sub-clusters were phylogenetically distinct from the previously described sub-genotypes XIIIa, XIIIb and XIIIc and could be candidates of new sub-genotypes; however, that needs to be validated through full-length F gene sequence data. The results of the present study suggest that genotype XIII NDVs are under continuing evolution in Bangladesh.
This study was aimed to identify humoral immune response against anthrax vaccine in mice model by using colored slide agglutination test and detection of field infectivity of anthrax. The field ...isolates of B. anthracis (n=05) and F34 stern strain vaccine was isolated on agar plates in order to carry out the slide agglutination test. The field isolates of B. anthracis and vaccine bacteria grew on PLET agar medium produced roughly circular and creamy white colonies with ground glass appearance. The bacteria on sheep blood agar media produced rough, sticky, white-gray non hemolytic colonies. Colony polymerase chain reaction (PCR) protocol was adapted to detect fragments of pX01 (596bp) and pX02 (777bp) plasmid of virulent field isolates of B. anthracis. The fragment of pX01 plasmid was only detected in vaccine bacteria. Growth of a field isolate and a vaccine bacteria were colored with crystal violet and used in slide agglutination test to detect anthrax antibodies. The anti-anthrax antibody was prepared by immunizing female mice with 100ül anthrax vaccine through subcutaneous route. Tail bleed were collected on day 0, 30, 60, 120 and 180 of immunization. Cardiac bleed was collected on day 180 of immunization for extensive study. 25μl of diluted (1:10, 1:20, 1:50 and 1:100) antisera and 25μl colored antigen was mixed together onto a clean slide at room temperature and the results was red following 5min, 10mins, 15mins and 20mins of reaction. Unstained antigens and non-immunized sera from the mice were used as control. Results of slide agglutination test showed that the colored vaccine bacteria and field isolates clumped the mice anti-antisera (day 30, 60, and 120) at 1:20 dilution as seen in naked eye but the reaction was seen only at 1:10 dilution while colorless antigens were used. Under microscopic investigation of slide agglutination test, the reaction was read up to 1:100 dilutions with the sera collected at day 30, 60, 120 and 180 of immunization. The Anthrax Sterne strain vaccine induced anti-anthrax immunity in mice that was detected until day 180 of immunization. The clumping reaction was distinct while colored anthrax antigen was used in slide agglutination tests. The colored slide agglutination tests protocol developed in this study can be used to detect anti-anthrax immune response and anthrax bacteria in the field condition with minimum laboratory facilities.
Res. Agric., Livest. Fish.7(3): 497-506, December 2020
Avian influenza (AI) is considered as one of the greatest global threat for the poultry industry that the animal health sector has ever had to face. It is primarily an infectious disease of birds ...caused by influenza virus Type A strain. The major concern now is that a highly pathogenic strain (H5N1) has also been shown to transmit to humans and has the potential to be fatal. Since March 2007, outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) have been occurring in commercial and backyard poultry in Bangladesh. Good bio-security practices can help reducing the risk of spreading and controlling the disease. This investigation describes the bio-security practices of small scale poultry holders (500-2000 birds/ farm) of Gazipur district, their knowledge and attitude in prevention and control of avian influenza. This was assessed using prescribed questionnaire. This study has been conducted on 100 poultry raising farmers through household-based individual interviews. Though respondents had different opinions on the magnitude of AI in their respective area, almost everyone realized AI is a big problem for Bangladesh. Generally, the respondents were not aware of the common infection sources such as, sick poultry, their pens, cages, backyard poultry, wild animals, migratory birds etc. Most of the interviewed small scale farmers in this area were not aware about the strict bio-security process like segregation of diseased birds, cleaning and disinfection of premises to prevent AI. Although there was a basic knowledge about the dangers and economic consequences of AI, there needs to be an updating of information on sources of infection, symptoms and prevention techniques, as well as an understanding of the cross species dangers of the infection. The study has, to a large extent, successfully drawn up a picture of how Bangladeshi small holder farmers have perceived and responded to AI and what they have understood and what practices they are taking against AI in their respective areas.Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. December 2015, 1(3): 670-676
Aims/hypothesis
This study reports the results of the first phase of a national study to determine the prevalence of diabetes and prediabetes (impaired fasting glucose and/or impaired glucose ...tolerance) in India.
Methods
A total of 363 primary sampling units (188 urban, 175 rural), in three states (Tamilnadu, Maharashtra and Jharkhand) and one union territory (Chandigarh) of India were sampled using a stratified multistage sampling design to survey individuals aged ≥20 years. The prevalence rates of diabetes and prediabetes were assessed by measurement of fasting and 2 h post glucose load capillary blood glucose.
Results
Of the 16,607 individuals selected for the study, 14,277 (86%) participated, of whom 13,055 gave blood samples. The weighted prevalence of diabetes (both known and newly diagnosed) was 10.4% in Tamilnadu, 8.4% in Maharashtra, 5.3% in Jharkhand, and 13.6% in Chandigarh. The prevalences of prediabetes (impaired fasting glucose and/or impaired glucose tolerance) were 8.3%, 12.8%, 8.1% and 14.6% respectively. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that age, male sex, family history of diabetes, urban residence, abdominal obesity, generalised obesity, hypertension and income status were significantly associated with diabetes. Significant risk factors for prediabetes were age, family history of diabetes, abdominal obesity, hypertension and income status.
Conclusions/interpretations
We estimate that, in 2011, Maharashtra will have 6 million individuals with diabetes and 9.2 million with prediabetes, Tamilnadu will have 4.8 million with diabetes and 3.9 million with prediabetes, Jharkhand will have 0.96 million with diabetes and 1.5 million with prediabetes, and Chandigarh will have 0.12 million with diabetes and 0.13 million with prediabetes. Projections for the whole of India would be 62.4 million people with diabetes and 77.2 million people with prediabetes.
BBV152 is a whole-virion inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (3 μg or 6 μg) formulated with a toll-like receptor 7/8 agonist molecule (IMDG) adsorbed to alum (Algel). We previously reported findings from ...a double-blind, multicentre, randomised, controlled phase 1 trial on the safety and immunogenicity of three different formulations of BBV152 (3 μg with Algel-IMDG, 6 μg with Algel-IMDG, or 6 μg with Algel) and one Algel-only control (no antigen), with the first dose administered on day 0 and the second dose on day 14. The 3 μg and 6 μg with Algel-IMDG formulations were selected for this phase 2 study. Herein, we report interim findings of the phase 2 trial on the immunogenicity and safety of BBV152, with the first dose administered on day 0 and the second dose on day 28.
We did a double-blind, randomised, multicentre, phase 2 clinical trial to evaluate the immunogenicity and safety of BBV152 in healthy adults and adolescents (aged 12–65 years) at nine hospitals in India. Participants with positive SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid and serology tests were excluded. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive either 3 μg with Algel-IMDG or 6 μg with Algel-IMDG. Block randomisation was done by use of an interactive web response system. Participants, investigators, study coordinators, study-related personnel, and the sponsor were masked to treatment group allocation. Two intramuscular doses of vaccine were administered on day 0 and day 28. The primary outcome was SARS-CoV-2 wild-type neutralising antibody titres and seroconversion rates (defined as a post-vaccination titre that was at least four-fold higher than the baseline titre) at 4 weeks after the second dose (day 56), measured by use of the plaque-reduction neutralisation test (PRNT50) and the microneutralisation test (MNT50). The primary outcome was assessed in all participants who had received both doses of the vaccine. Cell-mediated responses were a secondary outcome and were assessed by T-helper-1 (Th1)/Th2 profiling at 2 weeks after the second dose (day 42). Safety was assessed in all participants who received at least one dose of the vaccine. In addition, we report immunogenicity results from a follow-up blood draw collected from phase 1 trial participants at 3 months after they received the second dose (day 104). This trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04471519.
Between Sept 5 and 12, 2020, 921 participants were screened, of whom 380 were enrolled and randomly assigned to the 3 μg with Algel-IMDG group (n=190) or 6 μg with Algel-IMDG group (n=190). Geometric mean titres (GMTs; PRNT50) at day 56 were significantly higher in the 6 μg with Algel-IMDG group (197·0 95% CI 155·6–249·4) than the 3 μg with Algel-IMDG group (100·9 74·1–137·4; p=0·0041). Seroconversion based on PRNT50 at day 56 was reported in 171 (92·9% 95% CI 88·2–96·2 of 184 participants in the 3 μg with Algel-IMDG group and 174 (98·3% 95·1–99·6) of 177 participants in the 6 μg with Algel-IMDG group. GMTs (MNT50) at day 56 were 92·5 (95% CI 77·7–110·2) in the 3 μg with Algel-IMDG group and 160·1 (135·8–188·8) in the 6 μg with Algel-IMDG group. Seroconversion based on MNT50 at day 56 was reported in 162 (88·0% 95% CI 82·4–92·3) of 184 participants in the 3 μg with Algel-IMDG group and 171 (96·6% 92·8–98·8) of 177 participants in the 6 μg with Algel-IMDG group. The 3 μg with Algel-IMDG and 6 μg with Algel-IMDG formulations elicited T-cell responses that were biased to a Th1 phenotype at day 42. No significant difference in the proportion of participants who had a solicited local or systemic adverse reaction in the 3 μg with Algel-IMDG group (38 20·0%; 95% CI 14·7–26·5 of 190) and the 6 μg with Algel-IMDG group (40 21·1%; 15·5–27·5 of 190) was observed on days 0–7 and days 28–35; no serious adverse events were reported in the study. From the phase 1 trial, 3-month post-second-dose GMTs (MNT50) were 39·9 (95% CI 32·0–49·9) in the 3μg with Algel-IMDG group, 69·5 (53·7–89·9) in the 6 μg with Algel-IMDG group, 53·3 (40·1–71·0) in the 6 μg with Algel group, and 20·7 (14·5–29·5) in the Algel alone group.
In the phase 1 trial, BBV152 induced high neutralising antibody responses that remained elevated in all participants at 3 months after the second vaccination. In the phase 2 trial, BBV152 showed better reactogenicity and safety outcomes, and enhanced humoral and cell-mediated immune responses compared with the phase 1 trial. The 6 μg with Algel-IMDG formulation has been selected for the phase 3 efficacy trial.
Bharat Biotech International.
For the Hindi translation of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.
We report the development and evaluation of safety and immunogenicity of a whole virion inactivated (WVI) SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (BBV152), adjuvanted with aluminum hydroxide gel (Algel), or TLR7/8 ...agonist chemisorbed Algel. We used a well-characterized SARS-CoV-2 strain and an established Vero cell platform to produce large-scale GMP-grade highly purified inactivated antigen. Product development and manufacturing process were carried out in a BSL-3 facility. Immunogenicity and safety were determined at two antigen concentrations (3μg and 6μg), with two different adjuvants, in mice, rats, and rabbits. Our results show that BBV152 vaccine formulations generated significantly high antigen-binding and neutralizing antibody titers (NAb), at both concentrations, in all three species with excellent safety profiles. The inactivated vaccine formulation contains TLR7/8 agonist adjuvant-induced Th1-biased antibody responses with elevated IgG2a/IgG1 ratio and increased levels of SARS-CoV-2-specific IFN-γ+ CD4+ T lymphocyte response. Our results support further development for phase I/II clinical trials in humans.
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•WVI SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (BBV152) was developed using genetically stable strain•Adjuvanted vaccines (BBV152A, B, and C) induced high NAb titers in animal models•Chemisorbed Algel with TLR7/8 agonists vaccine formulations (BBV152A & B) induced robust Th1 biased immunity•Adjuvanted vaccines (BBV152A, B, and C) are found to be safe in animal models
Immune Response ; Microbiology ; Virology
Background & objectives: India has been reporting the cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) since January 30, 2020. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) formulated and established ...laboratory surveillance for COVID-19. In this study, an analysis of the surveillance data was done to describe the testing performance and descriptive epidemiology of COVID-19 cases by time, place and person.
Methods: The data were extracted from January 22 to April 30, 2020. The frequencies of testing performance were described over time and by place. We described cases by time (epidemic curve by date of specimen collection; seven-day moving average), place (area map) and person (attack rate by age, sex and contact status), and trends were represented along with public health measures and events.
Results: Between January 22 and April 30, 2020, a total of 1,021,518 individuals were tested for severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Testing increased from about 250 individuals per day in the beginning of March to 50,000 specimens per day by the end of April 2020. Overall, 40,184 (3.9%) tests were reported positive. The proportion of positive cases was highest among symptomatic and asymptomatic contacts, 2-3-fold higher than among those with severe acute respiratory infection, or those with an international travel history or healthcare workers. The attack rate (per million) by age was highest among those aged 50-69 yr (63.3) and was lowest among those under 10 yr (6.1). The attack rate was higher among males (41.6) than females (24.3). The secondary attack rate was 6.0 per cent. Overall, 99.0 per cent of 736 districts reported testing and 71.1 per cent reported COVID-19 cases.
Interpretation & conclusions: The coverage and frequency of ICMR's laboratory surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 improved over time. COVID-19 was reported from most parts of India, and the attack rate was more among men and the elderly and common among close contacts. Analysis of the data indicates that for further insight, additional surveillance tools and strategies at the national and sub-national levels are needed.
Childhood cancers are emerging as an essential concern in India where there is lack of a specific programme component or policy to address childhood cancer control. There is limited information on ...the status and quality of childhood cancer care services in India. This paper describes the childhood cancer care services available at secondary and tertiary-level hospitals in India through a cross sectional study design.
The survey was conducted in 137 tertiary-level and 92 secondary-level hospitals in 26 states and 4 Union Territories (UTs), ensuring a uniform representation of public and private care hospitals. The study tool collected data on the organisational infrastructure, type of oncology services, health workforce, equipment, treatment and referral protocols, and treatment guidelines. Descriptive statistics was used to primarily present the health service status and data on childhood cancer care services in proportions and mean.
A dedicated pediatric oncology department was available in 41.6% of the public, 48.6% of private, and 64% Non Government Organization (NGO) managed tertiary-level hospitals. In 36 (39%) of the 92 hospitals providing secondary care, childhood cancer care was provided. The availability of bone (41.5%) and positron emission tomography (PET) scans (25.9%) was lower in public tertiary hospitals, whereas histopathology, computerised tomography (CT scan), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were lower in public secondary hospitals than private and NGO managed hospitals for the corresponding level of care. Most tertiary hospitals had the required supportive care facilities except for play therapy and hospice care. Less than 50% of the public tertiary hospitals had stocks of the four categories of cancer-treating drugs and essential infrastructure for radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Most secondary-level hospitals not treating childhood cancer had referral linkages with tertiary hospitals.
The situational analysis of childhood cancer care services in India showed the concentration of availability of childhood cancer care services at the tertiary level of health care. There were gaps in the availability of specialised pediatric oncology care in all the tertiary hospitals. The availability of childhood cancer care services was higher in private and NGO-managed hospitals than in public hospitals. Integration of childhood cancer as a part of the national cancer control response should be taken up as a matter of priority. The need of the hour is to formulate a childhood cancer policy that will enable timely access to care universally.
World Health Organization, India provided funding and technical support.
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