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ANIMAL HEALTH


The Animal Health wing of NDDB's Biotechnology Laboratory is internationally recognised for its contribution to the development of  biologicals.  Research focuses on the development of diagnostics and vaccines for identification and prevention of infectious diseases as well as drug delivery devices for control of worms in ruminants.

Significant among the Laboratory's contributions is the development of an attenuated "vaccine against Tropical Theileriosis", now commercially available to farmers.  Beginning in 1986, the Laboratory has implemented a Foot & Mouth Disease (FMD) Virus Cataloguing and Strain Differentiation Project. This has enabled the selection and incorporation of appropriate strains of virus, as well as monitoring the quality of FMD vaccines produced in the country.
 













 Diagnostic Services


Infectious Diseases
Using state-of-the-art technology, the Laboratory has developed methods for the diagnosis of Bovine Brucellosis, a disease causing abortion at the advanced stage of pregnancy in cows and buffaloes; confirmation of Bovine Tuberculosis; Johne's Disease; and Bluetongue, an insect-borne viral disease of sheep and other ruminants. 

Mastitis
For Indian farmers, Mastitis in dairy animals causes the greatest economic loss.  The Laboratory has developed easy-to-use, sensitive Mastitis Detection Strips for sub-clinical mastitis.   The strips are marketed under the brand name "Mastect", by Indian Immunologicals Limited, Hyderabad.

Clinical Pathology
The Laboratory receives more than 4,000 clinical specimens each year for diagnosis/confirmation of diseases in dairy animals as well as for serological screening for various infectious agents.  Diagnostic services are provided to farmers, milk producers' cooperative unions, dairy farms and state animal husbandry departments.

 
 













 Vaccine Development


Tropical Theileriosis
The Laboratory has developed the technology for the production of an effective vaccine against Tropical Theileriosis, a deadly protozoan disease of exotic cattle and their crosses. Immunisation with the vaccine has enabled the farmers to keep crossbred and exotic cows in areas where the disease is endemic.  The vaccine  is marketed under the name Rakshavac-T by the Indian Immunologicals Limited. at Hyderabad.

FMD
The Laboratory plays a vital role in monitoring and updating the Foot & Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccine - Raksha.  It is a recognised centre of the Indian Council of Agriculture Research's All India Coordinated Research Project for Epidemiological Studies on FMD and also serves as  the FMD Virus Typing Centre for the states of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. 

In 1983, NDDB established Indian Immunologicals Limited (IIL) at Hyderabad, Asia's largest FMD Vaccine plant with an installed annual capacity of 25 million doses of quadrivalent vaccine.  Beginning in 1986, the Biotechnology Laboratory has implemented the FMD Virus Cataloguing and Strain Differentiation Project.  On the basis of the project's findings, it has been possible to incorporate the most appropriate FMD virus strains in Raksha FMD Vaccine, ensuring it remains effective against the Indian isolates of FMD virus.

Diarrhoea
The Laboratory has developed a Sensitive Test for identification of the pathogenic enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli, a causative agent of diarrhoea in calves.  Efforts are now underway to develop a recombinant vaccine against rotavirus, another agent involved in calf diarrhoea.

Haemorrhagic Septicaemia (HS)
Presently, alum precipitated vaccine is widely used in India to prevent Haemorrhagic Septicaemia, an acute bacterial disease caused by two serotypes (B&E) of Pasteurella multocida.  As the duration of the immunity produced by this broth vaccine is very short and the acceptability of the oil adjuvant vaccine is low among the farmers, the Laboratory is developing a Recombinant Vaccine using gene coding for outer membrane proteins of the organism. 

Brucellosis
Technology for the commercial scale production of diagnostic reagents has been transferred. Facilities for confirmation of brucellosis using polymerase chain reaction have been created.

A strain of Brucella abortus that would be able to provide protection against field challenge, at the same time not interfere in testing is being developed. Genetic markers associated with virulence of Brucella abortus strains are being developed.

 

 
 
Medicated Feed Pellets

 Control of Worms


Medicated Feed Pellets
Gastrointestinal worms cause retarded growth, reduced production and poor reproduction in dairy animals. Commonly available drugs are expensive and require forceful drenching or injections. Medicated Feed Pellets, developed by the Laboratory, have made it possible to prolong the therapeutic levels of the drug in the animal system, killing even the drug-resistant worms. The pellets are easy to administer and are more effective than the conventionally used de-worming drugs. The medicated feed pellets are marketed by Indian Immunologicals Limited, Hyderabad under the trade name Vetfen-600.

Biological Control
A chlamydospore forming fungus, Dudduingtonia flagrans that has the ability to destroy nematode parasites in faeces and on pasture, has been isolated. Further studies for its molecular characterisation and use for control of worm infestation in ruminants are in progress.

 

 
   

 

 
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