1Astt.Comdt. (VAS) Frontier, HQ BSF Paloura, Jammu (J&K)
2Department of Vet Microbiology & Biotechnology, Rajasthan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Bikaner-334001
3Department of Veterinary Surgery and Radiology, College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University, Khanapara, Guwahati- 781022
4Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar-125004
Online published on 19 December, 2013.
The Asian elephant is an endangered animal having both domestic and wild life patterns. The animals remain in constant touch with the domestic and wild animals and can act as critical vehicles for the bidirectional spread of the infections. Elephants have been reported to be susceptible to various infectious diseases like Haemorrhagic septicaemia, Foot and Mouth disease, tuberculosis, pox, bluetongue etc. Most of the infections encountered in the elephants are similar to the domestic herbivores thus there is an active need for continuous monitoring of the infections and vaccinations in the elephants. In the present study seven animals were vaccinated against HS and FMD and tested for post vaccinalseroconversion on 30 and 90 days post vaccination using indirect heamaglutination test for haemorrhagic septicemia and liquid phase blocking ELISA for Foot and Mouth disease. The doses of vaccines were the one which are usually used to vaccinate elephants in the region and are similar to that of cattle. The animals responded to the vaccines to some extent but the response were not similar within the animals and overall response was below the protective limits. It was concluded that standardization of vaccine and vaccination schedule are required to invoke protective immune responses in elephants.
