Rajesh Chandra

The hydropericardium syndrome and inclusion body hepatitis in domestic fowl.

Hydropericardium syndrome, an emerging disease of poultry, has recently been detected in some countries of Asia and America, particularly in broiler birds aged 3–6 weeks. The disease is characterized by its sudden occurrence with high mortality of up to 80% in broilers and low mortality of under 10% in layers, associated with hydropericardium. Its course is of 7–15 days under natural conditions. The causative agent is probably fowl adenovirus serotype 4, belonging to group I aviadenovirus genus of the family adenoviridae, which can be cultivated in primary cell cultures of chicken kidney and embryo liver cells. The transmission of disease occurs laterally by the oral–faecal route. The livers of affected birds show necrotic foci, and basophilic intranuclear inclusion bodies fill the entire enlarged nucleus of some of the hepatocytes. The disease can be diagnosed from its gross lesions, histopathological changes in the liver and by serological tests, such as agar gel diffusion, counter immunoelectrophoresis, indirect haemagglutination and ELISA. It has been brought under control by inactivated liver organ vaccines (0.25 ml/bird) or inactivated cell culture vaccines (103.5 LD50/bird) given by the subcutaneous route at 10–15 days of age. The vaccine is effective in the face of an outbreak and significantly reduces the mortality.

Molecular docking studies with rabies virus glycoprotein to design viral therapeutics

The genome of rabies virus encodes five proteins; the nucleoprotein, the phosphoprotein, the matrix protein, the glycoprotein, and the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. Among these, the glycoprotein is the most important as it is the major contributor to pathogenicity and virus neutralizing antibody response. Keeping in mind that glycoprotein is the only protein exposed on the surface of virus and is thought to be responsible for the interaction with the cell membrane, it was attempted to target glycoprotein by a ligand polyethylene glycol 4000, which blocks its active site, as seen by molecular operating environment software, so that it may be possible to prevent the spread of virus into the host. The ligand polyethylene glycol 4000 was retrieved from Research Collaboratory for Structural Bioinformatics protein data bank by providing the glycoprotein sequence to the databank. In this study it was observed that the ligand was successfully docked on a major portion of antigenic site II of glycoprotein by mimicking the virus neutralizing antibodies. This knowledge may be important for the development of novel therapies for the treatment of rabies and other viral diseases in the future.

Coagglutination test: a simple and rapid diagnostic technique for goat pox.

SummaryThe coagglutination test was standardised usingStaphylococcus aureus strain Cowan I (containing Protein A) coated with anti-goat pox serum for the detection of goat pox antigen of infected goat skin or kid kidney cell culture antigen. Agglutination was observed within 10 seconds in virus dilutions up to 10−6. As the test is easy to perform it can be used for rapid diagnosis of goat pox.RésuméLépreuve de la coagglutination a été standardisée en utlisant une souche Cowan I deStaphylococcus aureus (contenant la protéine A) recouverte avec du sérum variolique anti-caprin pour la détection de lantigène caprivariolique à partir dune peau de chèvre infectée, ou dun antigène provenant dune culture cellulaire de rein de chevreau. Lagglutination a pu être observée en moins de 10 secondes dans la dilution virale allant jusquà 10. Etant donné sa facilité de mise en oeuvre, le test peut être utilisé pour un diagnostic rapide de la variole caprine.ResumenSe estandarizó la prueba de coaglutinación usando la cepa Cowan I (conteniendo proteína A) deStaphylococcus aureus, cubierto con suero antiviruela caprina, para la detección de antígeno de viruela caprina de la piel infectada o cultivos antigénicos de rinón de cabritillo. Se observó aglutinación a los 10 segundos en dilución de virus hasta 10-6. Como la prueba es fácil de llevar a cabo, ésta puede usarse para el diagnóstico rápido de viruela caprina.

Isolation and identification of a fowl adenovirus from wild black kites (Milvus migrans).

A fowl adenovirus was isolated from wild Black Kites (Milvus migrans) that died around Kashipur, Uttarakhand, India. This virus isolate produced cytopathic effects in chicken embryo liver (CEL) cells and reacted with fowl adenovirus 4 (FadV-4) antiserum in agar gel immunodiffusion and immunofluorescence tests. The virus isolate was neutralized by FadV-4 antiserum with a neutralization titer of 800. Electron microscopy of infected CEL cells showed the presence of hexagonal virion particles measuring in size about 80–100 nm. An amplicon of 1,223 base pairs was detected using polymerase chain reaction with primers designed to target the hexon gene of FadV-4.

Studies on Pathogenesis of Buffalo Pox Virus in Rabbits: Quantitative Assay of Virus in Different Organs

The buffalo pox virus was found to multiply in the skin, the primary site of inoculation with an eclipse phase of 12 hr. The virus was then detected in the skin after 15 hr followed by its appearance in regional lymph nodes 36 hr postinoculation. Primary viremia was detected 48 hr postinoculation, followed by detection of virus in the lungs, liver, and spleen. The virus multiplied in the lungs on day 4 and in the liver and spleen on day 5 postinoculation and its release led to secondary viremia. In a follow‐up from day 7 to 14 postinoculation, the virus was detected in the kidneys, stomach, intestines, and gonads.