Japanese encephalitis (JE) lab
The lab was established in Division of Veterinary Public Health after large epidemic of JE in the state of Uttar Pradesh in the year 2005 which claimed more than 1000 human lives. Since its inception, the JE lab is involved in development of rapid and reliable diagnostics besides deciphering the epidemiology of JE in different agro-climatic zones of India. The lab provides diagnostic services of JE to Animal Husbandry Departments of various states through CADRAD.The timely detection of JE virus using in-house developed diagnostics in swine population of different states of the country, have helped authorities to take suitable measures to prevent transmission of virus to humans. As a result lives of several children were saved from the deadly JE virus.
Thematic area of lab
Diagnosis and epidemiology of vector borne zoonoses with special emphasis on Japanese encephalitis
Infrastructure and facility in lab
- Sero-diagnosis: ELISA reader
- Molecular diagnosis: Thermal cycler
- Cell culture facility: Biosafety cabinet class II, CO2 Incubator, Inverted Microscope
- Other equipments: Cooling centrifuge, Incubator, Deep freezers, Shaker Incubator, PCR Work station, electrophoresis assembly and Laminar flow.
Major Achievement of Lab
- IgG ELISA kit for diagnosis of JE in swine: This is the first ever indigenous kit developed for sero-diagnosis of JE in swine. The kit was released by ICAR-IVRI on Nov. 11, 2016. Till date more than 11,000 swine sera samples have been screened from 18 states of India.
- IgM ELISA kit for sero-diagnosis of JE in Swine: Indirect IgM ELISA kit was developed to assess the active infection of JE virus. Over 6000 swine sera from 12 states have been screened. The kit was released on Oct. 15, 2019, at ICAR, New Delhi .
- Three rapid assays - Lateral flow assay, Latex agglutination test and dipstick IgG ELISA were developed as on-site assays for sero-diagnosis of JE in swine
- IgG and IgM ELISA kits for detection of JE in equines: Kits have been used for screening of 1696 equine serum samples from across the country and have also been used for diagnosis of ailing horses from army establishments.
- Nucleic acid- based assays: Real-time RT-PCR, conventional RT-PCR and LAMP assays have been developed for detection of JE RNA, using which more than 3000 blood samples have been screened till date.
List of projects going on in lab
- Development of immunochromatographic strip assay for on-site sero-diagnosis of Japanese encephalitis in swine.
- Genomics assisted pathobiology to identify novel targets for diagnosis and therapeutic intervention(s) of Japanese encephalitis and Leptospirosis
- Establishment of a Consortium for One Health to address Zoonotic and Transboundary Diseasesin India, including the Northeast Region
Name and contact details of Lab in-charge
- Dr Himani Dhanze, Scientist (SS), (email: hdhanze@yahoo.co.in)
Foodborne Infection lab
The FBI lab is involved in the development of rapid and reliable diagnostics for detection of foodborne infections and intoxications. The lab also involved in the surveillance of foodborne infections transmitted through foods of animal origin and antimicrobial resistance in foodborne pathogens.
Thematic area of lab
Detection and AMR in foodborne pathogens
Infrastructure and facility in lab
- Molecular diagnosis: Thermal cycler
- Bacterial culture facility: Laminar flow
- Other equipments: Cooling centrifuge, Incubator, refrigerator, Deep freezers, PCR Work station, electrophoresis assembly.
Major Achievement of Lab
- PCR method was optimized and evaluated for detection of nuc, coa, spA, clfa, mecA genes of S. aureus and antimicrobial resistance genes viz. blaTEM, blaCTXM, blaampC, tetA, tetB, sul1, and virulence genes such as stx1, stx2, eae, and lt genes of E. coli
- PCR protocols for Salmonella, Aeromonas, Listeria, Brucella, Campylobacter, Staph. aureus, Arcobacter and diarrhoeagenic Escherichia coli pathotypes
List of projects going on in lab
- Indo-UK collaborative project on “Does antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in livestock contribute to AMR in people in NE India? An interdisciplinary study investigating antibiotic use, drivers of AMR, and transmission dynamics”.
- Indian Network on Fisheries and Animal Antimicrobial Resistance (INFAAR)
Name and contact details of Lab in-charge
- Dr Z. B. Dubal, Pr. Scientist, (email: drzunjar@yahoo.co.in)
Viral zoonoses lab
The lab was established in Division of Veterinary Public Health for research work on viral zoonotic diseases which includes development of rapid and reliable diagnostics and surveillance studies.
Thematic area of lab
Diagnosis and epidemiology of viral zoonoses
Infrastructure and facility in lab
- Molecular diagnosis: Thermal cycler& Real Time PCR machine
- Cell culture facility: Biosafety cabinet class II, Incubator
- Other equipments: Cooling centrifuge, -20°C Deep freezers, PCR Work station, electrophoresis assembly, magnetic stirrer, weighing balance etc.
Major Achievement of Lab
- RT-PCR for detection & genotyping of human, porcine & bovine rotaviruses was standardized
- Real time PCR assay for detection of human, porcine & bovine rotaviruses was standardized
- ELISA for detection of human, porcine & bovine rotaviruses was standardized
- Latex agglutination test for detection of human & bovine rotaviruses
- Several rotaviral genotypes were documented
Name and contact details of Lab in-charge
- Dr Z. B. Dubal, Pr. Scientist, (email: drzunjar@yahoo.co.in)
Brucella Laboratory
Brucella Laboratory of the Division of VPH has been one of the pioneering centres for VPH activities in the country. The lab has the distinction of being recognised as a FAO/WHO Reference Centre for the Southeast Asia region in 1954. The achievements of the Laboratroy have received worldwide acclaim, the most notable being the discovery of a novel “Izatnagar phage” (Group 6) of Brucella.
Thematic area of lab
Research on various aspects of Brucellosis; Maintenance and supply of reference strains and national reference sera.
Infrastructure and facility in lab
- Facilities for isolation, biotyping and genotyping (MLVA, MLST) of Brucella spp. isolates – CO2 Incubator, Biosafety Cabinet class III, Thermal cycler, Gel documentation system, Refrigerated centrifuge, electrophoresis assembly and other miscellaneous equipment
- Facilities for serodiagnosis of brucellosis
Major Achievement of Lab
- Discovered a new and potent Brucella phage – Izatnagar (Iz) phage Gr 6
- ELISA, macro and micro complement fixation tests was standardized for the serodiagnosis of human and animal brucellosis
- Indirect hemolysis test was standardized for diagnosis of bovine brucellosis
- Molecular characterization of Brucella antigens were carried out
- MLVA (MultilocusVNTR analysis) and MLST analysis of Brucella isolatesfrom India has been carried out
- An indirect-ELISA for diagnosing brucellosis was developed using LPS of Brucella as an antigen
- Draft genome sequence of field isolates of Brucella melitensis from India have been completed.
List of projects going on in lab
- Establishment of a Consortium for One Health to address Zoonotic and Transboundary Diseases in India, including the Northeast Region (Start: 2021; End: 2024; Funding agency: DBT; Role: Co-Project Investigator)
- Herbal antimicrobial and antibiotic resistance in animal and human Brucella isolates (Start: 2020; End: 2022; Funding agency: Institute; Role: Co-Project Investigator)
Name and contact details of Lab in-charge
- Dr. M Suman Kumar, Scientist, (email: suman.kumar@icar.gov.in)
Bacterial Zoonoses lab (BZL)
The BZL is involved in the development of rapid and reliable diagnostics for detection of bacterial zoonotic disease. The lab also involved in the surveillance of zoonotic infections transmitted through animals and humans.
Thematic area of lab
Detection of bacterial zoonotic pathogens
Infrastructure and facility in lab
- Molecular diagnosis: Thermal cycler
- Bacterial culture facility: Laminar flow
- Other equipments: Incubator, refrigerator, PCR Work station, electrophoresis assembly.
Major Achievement of Lab
- PCR assay standardized for detection of biofilm associated genes (flaAB, peb1A, peb4, luxS and cj0511) of Campylobacter spp.
- Improvised enrichment broths/media for isolation of Salmonella, Listeria, Aeromonas, and Campylobacter jejuni.
- Modified Agglutination Test (MAT) for sero-diagnosis of animal and human toxoplasmosis
- IS1111/com1 gene and Trans-PCR/Com1/ Real Time PCR & Com1 based LAMP PCR for detection of Coxiella burnetii.
Name and contact details of Lab in-charge
- Dr R.S. Rathore, Pr. Scientist, (email:rsrvph1@rediffmail.com)