Division of Virology, Indian veterinary Research Institute, Mukteswar-263 138, Nainital, India.
Abstracts of the papers presented at the XVIII National Conference of Indian Virological Society at Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India, December 11–13, 2008.
Buffalopox (BPX) is a zoonotic and contagious viral disease, which affects buffaloes, rarely cows and human beings. Buffalopox is caused by buffalopox virus (BPXV), classified in Orthopoxvirus genus of Poxviridae family. Occurrence of outbreaks is accompanied with 80% morbidity and significant productivity losses. The disease is being reported throughout buffalo rearing states of India, including Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Karnataka. Recently (September, 2008), an outbreak of buffalopox in domestic buffaloes with high morbidity and significant productivity losses covering many villages in Ahemadabad, Gujarat has been reported. Pox lesions were observed on the udder and teats of the majority of the affected animals while few animalsexhibited generalized infection with a significant reduction in milk yield in lactating buffaloes. A total of 25 clinical scab materials were collected in 50% glycerol saline and sent to pox virus disease laboratory for further diagnostic investigation. These samples were further processed and initially checked employing ounterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIE), a routine screening test. Those samples which were found positive in this test were further tested in BPXV specific C18L gene based conventional PCR. Of the random ten samples tested in this PCR, seven found positive. Out of these seven samples, two random samples were inoculated on to Vero cell and the virus was successfully recovered. Total DNA from cell culture adapted viruses was extracted and used for amplification of selected genes of BPXV like A-type inclusion (ATI), B23R and haemagglutinin (HA) genes. These genes also successfully cloned in to PGMT easy vector and the clones have been submitted for sequencing.
