Centre for Animal Health Studies, Tamilnadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Madhavaram Milk Colony, Chennai-600051, India.
Abstracts of the papers presented at the International Conference of Indian Virological Society on “Emerging and Re-emerging viral Diseases of the Tropics and Subtropics” at Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India, December 11–14, 2007.
Tamilnadu is located in the southeastern side of Indian Peninsula, and has Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Pondichery as the bordering states/territories. In the southern coast, the Srilanka island country is present. Its location in the world map is between 8003/and 13015/North latitude and 7600/and 79015/East longitude.According to 17th Livestock and Poultry census of 2004, Tamilnadu has a sheep population of 5.6 millions with a density of 43/sq.km. Sheep population has increased by 6.35% from 5.3 millions in 1997. Sheep husbandry contributes significantly in supplementing the income of small, marginal farmers and landless labourers and is providing employment opportunities and is an important source for providing nutritious protein in the form of meat. Among the various disease problems affecting the sheep husbandry, the bluetongue is considered as most significant disease in sheep. Bluetongue disease was first reported in sheep during 1986 in Pasumpan Thevar and Ramanathapuram districts of Tamilnadu. During 1989 –90,there was widespread occurrence of bluetongue in Tamilnadu and during 1997 – 1998, bluetongue occurred in severe form resulting in the death of more than three lakh sheep. There after bluetongue is occurring regularly. So far three BTV serotypes are isolated from the outbreaks of bluetongue in Tamilnadu viz. BTV 1, BTV 2 and BTV 23. Inactivated trivalent adjuvanted bluetongue vaccine (containing BTV 1, 2 and 23) has been successfully developed by Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University during the year 2005 with the funds from Government of Tamilnadu. Tamilnadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University is also currently involved in the development of inactivated pentavalent bluetongue vaccine (containing BTV serotypes 1,2,15,18 and 23) through ICAR funded All India Network Programme on bluetongue so that the vaccine can be used throughout the country. Guidelines for the development and validation of inactivated bluetongue vaccines will be discussed.
