Diagnostic Kits Developed By ICAR Under Make In India Initiative

Economic Affairs Make in India

Release of two diagnostic kits developed under Make in India initiative by Indian Council of Agricultural Research(ICAR)

Two diagnostic kits developed by ICAR- Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) under the ‘Make in India’ initiative, namely the Bluetongue sandwich ELISA (sELISA) and the Japanese Encephalitis IgM ELISA kit were released today.

Japanese Encephalitis IgM ELISA kit

The kit is really helpful for assessing the active infection of the JE virus in the swine population which predicts the outbreak of JE in humans.
This indigenous technology will not just help save foreign exchange as the newly developed kits cost ten times less than the imported ones but also has the potential to earn foreign exchange.

As compared to the commercial kit available at a price of Rs. 52,000; the ICAR-IVRI developed is available for the farmers at a minimal price of Rs. 5,000 only.

Bluetongue sandwich ELISA (sELISA)

With the help of the Kit, Bluetongue Virus can be controlled with the vaccination of susceptible animals, vector control and quarantine of infected animals with good management practices.
Apart from the vaccination, the early diagnosis and isolation of the infected animals are one of the commonly suggested preventive methods for controlling the spreading of the disease.
he Bluetongue (BT) virus is an insect-transmitted viral disease of domestic and wild ruminants that includes the camelid species.
The disease is widespread among the sheep, goats, cattle, buffaloes, and camels in the country.

ELISA Test:

- The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is a commonly used analytical biochemistry assay, first described by Engvall and Perlmann in 1971.
- The assay uses a solid-phase enzyme immunoassay (EIA) to detect the presence of a ligand (commonly a protein) in a liquid sample using antibodies directed against the protein to be measured.
- ELISA has been used as a diagnostic tool in medicine, plant pathology, and biotechnology, as well as quality control, check-in in various industries.

Types of ELISA test:

Direct ELISA Test: Antigens are immobilized and enzyme-conjugated primary antibodies are used to detect or quantify antigen concentration.
Sandwich ELISA Test: Primary antibodies are not labeled, but detected instead with enzyme-conjugated secondary antibodies that recognize the primary antibodies.
Competitive ELISA Test: The antigen to be measured is bound between a layer of capture antibodies and a layer of detection antibodies. The two antibodies must be very critically chosen to prevent cross-reactivity or competition of binding sites.
Reverse ELISA Test: The antigen of interest from the sample and purified immobilized antigen compete for binding to the capture antibody. A decrease in signal when compared to assay wells with purified antigen alone indicates the presence of antigens in the sample.

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV)

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is a flavivirus related to dengue, yellow fever, and West Nile viruses, and is spread by Culex mosquitoes.
JEV is the main cause of viral encephalitis in many countries of Asia.
Although symptomatic Japanese encephalitis (JE) is rare, the case-fatality rate among those with encephalitis can be as high as 30%.
24 countries in the WHO South-East Asia and Western Pacific regions have endemic JEV transmission.
There is no cure for the disease. Treatment is focused on relieving severe clinical signs and supporting the patient to overcome the infection.
Safe and effective vaccines are available to prevent Japanese Encephalitis.

Culex Mosquitoes:

Culex is a genus of mosquitoes, several species of which serve as vectors of one or more important diseases of birds, humans, and other animals.
The diseases they vector include arbovirus infections such as West Nile virus, Japanese encephalitis, or St. Louis encephalitis, but also filariasis and avian malaria.

Bluetongue Disease

Bluetongue disease is a non-contagious, insect-borne, viral disease of ruminants, mainly sheep and less frequently cattle
It is caused by Bluetongue virus (BTV).
The virus is transmitted by the midges Culicoides imicola, Culicoides variipennis, and other culicids.
Major signs are high fever, excessive salivation, swelling of the face and tongue and cyanosis of the tongue.
Bluetongue is caused by the pathogenic virus, Bluetongue virus (BTV), of the genus Orbivirus, of the Reoviridae family.

ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute(IVRI)

Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) is located at Izatnagar, Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh state.
It is India’s premier advanced research facility in the field of veterinary medicine and allied branches.
It has regional campuses at Mukteshwar, Bangalore, Palampur, Bhopal, Kolkata and Srinagar.
Objective: Research and Development in veterinary and animal science to promote livestock and poultry health and production, generate human resources, develop and transfer technologies to ensure livestock production systems.