A cross sectional study on molecular prevalence of Orientia tsutsugamushi in household rat population of South India.

This study aimed to assess the molecular prevalence of mite-borne zoonotic pathogen O. tsutsugamushi in household rats of South India through nested polymerase chain reaction amplification of O. tsutsugamushi 47-kDa htrA gene and to determine the most suitable sample type for screening of O.

Growth inhibitory effect of selected quinones from Indian medicinal plants against Theileria annulata.

Tropical Bovine Theileriosis, caused by the protozoan parasite Theileria annulata, poses a significant threat to cattle populations. Currently, Buparvaquone is the sole effective naphthoquinone drug commercially available for its treatment. In our research, we delved into the potential of naturally occurring quinones as alternative treatments.

In vitro growth inhibitory effect of selected 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid esters on Theileriaannulata.

Glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) is one of the important Pentacyclic Triterpenoids (PT) found in the roots of licorice. This study aimed to evaluate the in vitro growth inhibitory effect of 18β-GA (18β-Glycyrrhetinic acid) and C-30 esters against Theileria annulata, the causative agent of Tropical Bovine Theileriosis. C-30 esters of 18β-GA were synthesized and their structures were elucidated using spectroscopy.

Successful treatment of severe form of bovine tropical theileriosis in dairy cattle and genotyping of Theileria annulata isolates of Tamil Nadu, India.

Bovine tropical theileriosis (BTT) is a tick-borne protozoan disease of cattle and responsible for major economic losses to the dairy farmers in India. This report describes diagnosis, genotyping and successful treatment of heavy infection of Theileria annulata in an organized dairy farm at Kattupakkam, Chennai. Four cross bred cows of 2 to 5 years of age showed clinical signs i.

Screening for the "Achilles Heel" of Hyalomma anatolicum Ticks by RNA Interference Technology and an Update on Anti-Tick Vaccine Design.

Over the years, RNA interference (RNAi) has evolved as a valuable tool to study the tick gene function, screening and preliminary characterization of tick-protective antigens in a relatively short time, with a minimal use of laboratory animals before conducting expensive vaccine trials for the development of improved vaccine composition. In this process, a double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) of gene of interest is introduced into the tick system which specifically suppresses expression of a target gene. The results of RNAi-based gene silencing were interpreted by reduction in targeted gene transcript, changes in phenotypic data and anatomical/ biochemical changes in ticks; thereby, providing a clue to the probable role played by the gene in the tick biological system.

Dirofilaria hongkongensis - A first report of potential zoonotic dirofilariosis infection in dogs from Tamil Nadu.

Dirofilariosisis, is a mosquito borne anthropo-zoonotic disease caused by the filarial nematodes of the genus Dirofilaria. The current paper reports a species of Dirofilaria, which has not been recorded in Tamil Nadu, in addition to differentiating it from the existing species of Dirofilaria spp. through morphological and molecular techniques.

Evaluation of multiplex PCR assay for detection of Babesia spp, Ehrlichia canis and Trypanosoma evansi in dogs.

A multiplex PCR test was evaluated to detect the DNA of three important dog haemoparasites by comparing with singular PCR counterpart on clinical blood samples of dogs in and around Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. Initial screening of samples was done by microscopic examination of peripheral blood smear and singular PCR and those found exclusively positive for Babesia spp, Ehrlichia canis and Trypanosoma evansi and concurrent infections were used to standardize multiplex PCR. Amplicons of 619 bp, 377 bp and 227 bp corresponding to Babesia spp (18S rRNA gene), E.

Laboratory Scale Production of Recombinant Haa86 Tick Protein in Pichia pastoris and in Escherichia coli System.

The commercial recombinant Bm86-based vaccines against Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus in Australia (TickGARD™, TickGARD plus™) and in Cuba (Gavac™) provided significant impetus to researchers globally to work on anti-tick vaccines. The Bm86 homologue of Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum Izatnagar isolate, rHaa86, is considered a potent vaccine candidate against Hyalomma tick species, transmitting animal and human diseases. The two expression systems, prokaryotic, using bacterial expression plasmid vectors and Escherichia coli, and eukaryotic, using methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris and yeast expression plasmid vectors, are used in the laboratory level production of rHaa86.

Occurrence of the pentastomid Porocephalus crotali (Humboldt, 1811) in an Indian rat snake (Ptyas mucosus): a case report.

The occurrence of the pentastomid Porocephalus crotali in an Indian rat snake (Ptyas mucosus) at Chennai, India is reported. The worms were found in the lungs and they were identified as females. The worms were cylindrical and annulated with a centrally located mouth surrounded by four hooks.

Comparative efficacy of rHaa86 and rBm86 against Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum and Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus.

Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum and Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus are the most economically important tick species in India and other tropical and subtropical regions of the world and transmit pathogens causing animal and human diseases. We demonstrated that vaccination of animal by rHaa86 could be used for the control of both H. a.

Efficacy of rHaa86, an orthologue of Bm86, against challenge infestations of Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum.

In an attempt to develop vaccine against Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum, the protective efficacy of rHaa86 was evaluated against experimental challenge infestations of homologous tick species and lethal dose of Theileria annulata. Following challenge, a significant difference of 20.9% (P < 0.

Cloning, expression and immunoprotective efficacy of rHaa86, the homologue of the Bm86 tick vaccine antigen, from Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum.

The Bm86 homologue of Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum Izatnagar isolate was cloned and expressed in methylotropic yeast Pichia pastoris as intracellular, glycosylated and particulated form. It was named as rHaa86, the first recombinant protein of H. a.

Progress in development of vaccine against Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum-Indian scenario.

Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum, a three host tick vector transmitting the causative agent of bovine tropical theileriosis, is widely distributed throughout India. As a component of integrated control measures against the tick vector, attempts have been made to identify candidate protein molecules for development of an anti-tick vaccine in the different stages of this tick species. By strategic methods of isolation of the targeted molecules using affinity purification of proteins showing reactivity with immunoglobulins of animals previously immunized with different sources of tick antigen, six proteins were isolated in a significantly pure form.

Vaccine Efficacy of Bm86 Ortholog of H. a. anatolicum, rHaa86 Expressed in Prokaryotic Expression System.

The use of tick vaccine in controlling ticks and tick borne diseases has been proved effective in integrated tick management format. For the control of H. a.

Cost effectiveness of colony lysis and colony PCR methods for screening of recombinant Escherichia coli colonies--a comparative study.

Economizing the research protocols by using low cost technologies is the need of laboratories of developing world. Screening of recombinant E. coli colonies is the crucial step in gene cloning and expression studies.

Efficacy of Azadirachta indica extracts against Boophilus microplus.

Extracts were prepared from leaf, bark, and seed of Azadirachta indica, leaf and seed of Prunus persica, bark of Mangifera indica, and leaf of Psidium guajava and were evaluated against Boophilus microplus. Of the eight extracts screened, the extracts prepared from the A. indica seed showed very high level of efficacy (80%) after 5 h of treatment.

Effect of surface area to weight ratio of egg masses on the hatchability of Boophilus microplus eggs.

Background & Objectives: On global basis, ticks transmit a number of pathogens than any other arthropod vector, and are among the most important vectors of diseases affecting humans, livestock and companion animals. Control of the vector has been focused on integrated management involving strategic use of insecticides, use of vaccines, use of herbal acaricides and breed resistance. It has been established that tick vaccine is working on limiting the egg laying potentiality and subsequent hatchability of the ticks fed on immunized animals.

Laboratory rearing of Theileria annulata-free Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum ticks.

Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum is a three-host tick which transmits Theileria annulata infection in Indian cattle. Laboratory rearing of ixodid ticks is an essential requirement of any laboratory engaged with research on ticks and tick borne diseases. The Entomology laboratory of Indian Veterinary Research Institute is fully equipped with all the facilities and skilled manpower to maintain a homogenous H.

Upcoming and future strategies of tick control: a review.

Ticks are distributed worldwide and significantly impact human and animal health. Due to severe problems associated with the continuous use of acaricides on animals, integrated tick management is recommended. Increasing public health concern over the tick-borne diseases demands the strategic control of ticks on animals that transmit diseases to human beings.

Control of ticks of ruminants, with special emphasis on livestock farming systems in India: present and future possibilities for integrated control--a review.

India is predominantly an agricultural country with about 70% of her population dependent on income from agriculture. Although India accounts for a significant share of world's livestock resources, livestock production is greatly affected by ticks and tick-borne diseases (TTBDs). Therefore, India represents a particularly interesting scenario for the study of TTBDs.