Latest news with #KeralaOneHealthCentreforNipahResearchandResilience
The Hindu
a day ago
- Health
- The Hindu
Kerala to launch antibody surveillance studies on Nipah virus
Nipah virus (NiV) has surfaced in Kerala yet again, making this the eighth appearance in as many years. Whether virus spillovers (single index case, with no secondary cases in the community), or outbreaks (spillover with subsequent cases), Kerala has primed its response to the virus, seamlessly managing early detection, limiting the transmission and successfully saving lives. However, in all these encounters with NiV, researchers have identified several missing links or knowledge gaps. These pertain to the exact virus spillover mechanism from bats ( the fruit bats of the Pteropus species are the proven natural reservoir hosts of NiV) to humans; the recurrence of the spillover events/outbreaks in a specific geographic belt in northern Kerala and how exactly human behaviour, land use and bat ecology interactions are facilitating the virus spillovers. 'We have toyed with several hypotheses regarding the spillover mechanism. Are direct spillovers possible in areas near bat colonies , such as through droplet transmission from bat secretions or poop? Can individuals be indulging in high-risk behaviours, such as consuming bat meat (evidence of NiV in internal organs of bats has been reported)?,' said T.S. Anish, a public health expert who heads the Kerala One Health Centre for Nipah Research and Resilience, Kozhikode. The possibility that NiV transmission to humans could be through fruits bitten by bats has remained conjecture at best because NiV has never been isolated in any fruit samples collected and tested during outbreak investigations in Kerala. NiV RNA has been detected in date palm sap in Bangladesh but live virus has never been isolated from any field samples. But the link between consumption of raw date palm sap in Bangladesh and human NiV infections is strongly supported by epidemiological and experimental evidence. Also, as NiV is an enveloped virus, its ability to remain infectious on a fruit in an outdoor environment is extremely fragile, said Dr. Anish Intermediate hosts? 'Our current thinking about NiV spillovers strongly leans to the fact that there is an indirect transmission route to humans, involving an indirect host. Ephrin B2, the main cell receptor used by NiV for infecting host cells is highly conserved in all mammals, which means that all animals like dogs or cattle or pigs could harbour the virus, as has been demonstrated in Malaysia and Bangladesh,' he pointed out. None of the animal samples sent so far to the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases in Bhopal have so far turned out to be NiV positive. However, it is also a fact that NiV research is relatively nascent and that the research institutions in the country, including the National Institute of Virology, are still in the process of developing antibody markers and testing assays specific to NiV. PVNT platform Thus, while Kerala's public health response against NiV infections has been effective, the development of a novel pseudovirus neutralization test (PVNT) platform, based on a Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV) system at the State's Institute of Advanced Virology (IAV), Thonnakkal has opened up new research possibilities on Nipah. IAV has developed a novel way of generating non-infectious Nipah virus-like particles (VLPs) as well as pseudovirions in the laboratory, which mimic the wild type NiV. These engineered 'ghost viruses' carry most of the characteristics of the virus, including the NiV structural proteins G, F, and M, except their ability to replicate (because it lacks the viral genome). VLPs and pseudovirions have long been recognised as effective platforms for studying cell binding and entry kinetics of the virus. These VLPs and pseudovirions mimic viral entry but can only undergo a single round of infection and cannot replicate and reproduce infectious viruses, making them safe to handle in standard Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2) facilities. PVNT-based serological survey 'We are proposing a pseudovirus neutralisation assay-based serological survey among potential intermediate animal hosts and high-risk human populations in areas of previous NiV spillovers, with the collaboration of various stakeholders, including the departments of Health, Animal Husbandry, Forests and wildlife. The proposal is to collect healthy domestic animal blood samples (cattle, pigs, goats, dogs and cats) and human samples from within a few km radius of Nipah hotspots,' E. Sreekumar, the Director of IAV, told The Hindu. Serum samples will be tested using the IAV's VSV-based PVNT assays. The assay measures the ability of IgG antibodies in human/animal serum to neutralise these pseudovirions, thereby preventing infection of target cells. Infectivity and neutralisation, is quantified by measuring the expression of a reporter gene incorporated into the pseudovirus genome Positive PVNT results will indicate the potential of those animal species as intermediary hosts and such samples will be further tested against live Nipah virus in a BSL-4 facility with the help of NIV, Pune. This study is expected to provide robust data on NiV seroprevalence in high-risk human and animal populations in Kerala and open the doors to the mystery of NiV disease spillover and transmission pattern in the State. Futuristically, the successful validation of serological data and its integration with geo-spatial analysis will enhance Kerala's diagnostic and surveillance capabilities for NiV, it is hoped
Time of India
2 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Nipah: Experts seek deeper eco studies
Kozhikode: Over the past year, four Nipah infections were reported in Malappuram, including the suspected death of an 18-year-old girl at Makkaraparamba on July 1. Now, deeper studies are being sought to examine whether repeated spillovers of the virus are being caused by ecological factors such as disturbances in bat habitats. Experts have stressed the need for better monitoring of Pteropus fruit bats, the natural carriers of the virus, along with efforts to protect their habitats and raise awareness to reduce human-bat contact. A study published in PLOS Global Public Health in December 2024 pointed out some key findings. It was led by experts including TS Anish, nodal officer of Kerala One Health Centre for Nipah Research and Resilience. The study said that four of the six Nipah outbreaks in Kerala (2018, 2019, 2023, July 2024) happened during El Nino years. All six took place between May and Sept, which is the fruit ripening season. It said that these patterns showed how environmental factors affect man-animal interactions and may lead to Nipah outbreaks. The study also noted that fear during Nipah outbreaks in Kerala led to harmful social behaviour. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo It often caused conflicts between people and animals and ended with more bat habitats being damaged. People were found cutting trees used by bats and using firecrackers to scare them away. Another study in Malaysia said such actions could increase chances of human-bat contact and may cause infected bats to migrate to new areas. Faculty at Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University's centre for wildlife studies (CWS) Dr George Chandy said that field studies conducted by the centre found evidence of destruction of bat roosts in Kozhikode and Wayanad. Dr Chandy said that the exact way Nipah spreads from bats to humans is still unclear. He said it is important not to disturb bat roosts. After every outbreak, it was seen that people destroyed bat habitats in many areas. During student fieldwork, some roosts found in pilot studies were found affected. Dr Chandy said that people had cut tree branches with bat roosts at Pazhassi Park in Mananthavady. Crackers and other methods were used to scare bats which might cause stress and increase virus spread. He said the two main actions needed now are to protect bat habitats and raise awareness to reduce interactions between humans and bats. Prejith K, Associate Professor at KVASU, said that ecological factors in the region should be studied more and added that climate change might be causing stress in bats. "Recurring cases highlight the need to examine if ecological factors including deforestation or land use changes are contributing to habitat loss of bats and inducing stress among bat populations," he said. He added that the growing number of fruit trees in house compounds, including non-native ones, could attract more bats. He said this needs to be studied to understand if it is leading to more human-bat contact.
New Indian Express
12-05-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
Kerala government sharpens Nipah detection readiness
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Early alerts and sensitisation efforts, in place from February, have helped the health department prepare for potential Nipah outbreaks during the high-risk period from April to September. This was indicated in an advisory released after a top-level meeting convened by Health Minister Veena George to review preparedness against various communicable diseases. This timely alert played a crucial role in identifying recent Nipah cases that initially presented as dengue. The state remains on high alert during the Nipah transmission season, which aligns with the mating period of fruit bats (Pteropus medius), believed to be the natural reservoirs of the virus. The state has historically recorded Nipah cases between May and September, with the first occurring in May 2018. A 42-year-old woman from Valanchery in Malappuram tested positive for Nipah earlier this month. In both this case and previous ones, transmission is believed to have started by mid-April, with symptoms appearing towards the end of the month. Similarly, cases were recorded in July and September last year. 'We began issuing alerts early to ensure both the public and healthcare workers are prepared and aware,' said Dr T S Anish, professor and nodal officer at the Kerala One Health Centre for Nipah Research and Resilience, Kozhikode Government Medical College. The Centre launched awareness campaigns in March across five districts identified as hotspots: Kozhikode, Malappuram, Kannur, Wayanad, and Ernakulam.
