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ICMR seeks tie ups of cos to further improving technologies developed by ICMR institutes
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Ramesh Shankar, Mumbai
December 26 , 2014
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The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has sought the
collaboration of potential agencies and companies interested in further
modifying technologies developed by ICMR institutes. Presently, two
technologies---- Anti-KFD IgG ELISA for Kyasanur forest disease and
Anti-CCHF Human IgG ELISA assay are available for collaboration.
Kyasanur
Forest disease virus (KFDV) is a member of the genus Flavivirus and
family Flaviviridae. It causes seasonal outbreaks during the months of
January to June. The symptoms of the human disease include a high fever
with frontal headaches, followed by hemorrhagic symptoms. KFD virus is a
high risk group of pathogen (BSL-4) for other countries and a risk
group-3 pathogen for India. It has its unique existence in five
districts of Karnataka State. The disease has a fatality rate of 2-10
per cent and annually affects 100-500 people in these districts.
During
a recent study human and monkey infection were noticed in Wyanad [year
2013] and Malapuram area in Tribe population [year 2014] of Kerala state
and Nilgiri area in Tamil Nadu State [year 2013]. KFD virus has also
caused outbreak in human and death in monkeys in Bandipur National park
in Chamarajanagar district of Karnataka state which is 300 km far from
endemic area [year 2012-13]. Due to lack of Anti-KFD IgG screening kit
clear idea of human exposure with this virus could not clarified, though
vector (ticks) are existing all through the country.
Salient
features of this technology include, the ELISA uses inactivated KFDV
antigen and hence can be used at BSL2 level testing; it can be used as
screening test for Anti –KFD IgG antibodies; the differential reactivity
among flaviviruses can be differentiated using clinical presentation;
the assay requires 2.5 hours and its user friendly; and this assay can
be used for sero-survey of human in adjoining sates of Karnataka and
other different states of country to understand the seroprevalance of
KFD virus in India and other places too. The kit stability testing is
under progress.
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a
severe acute febrile illness caused by CCHF virus (CCHFV, family
Bunyaviridae, genus Nairovirus), with overall case fatality rate of 3–50
per cent. Person-to-person transmission of CCHFV occurs through direct
exposure to blood or other secretions and instances of nosocomial
transmission are well documented. The virus is transmitted to human
either by bite of infected tick or by direct contact with blood or
tissues of viremic patients or livestock. Although the virus had been
identified nearby in Pakistan and western China it was recently detected
and confirmed for the first time in India during a nosocomial outbreak
in 2011 in Gujarat State. Subsequently, many episodes of sporadic cases
were recorded in seven districts of Gujarat State. Recently in March
2014, a CCHF human case was also reported from the adjoining Rajasthan
State.
Serological screening of humans allows CCHFV affected
areas to be identified, as antibody prevalence in human is a good
indicator of local virus circulation.
Salient features of this
technology include, the ELISA uses inactivated CCHF antigen and hence
can be used at BSL2 level testing; it can be efficiently used to detect
IgG antibody against human; test compared with CDC kit, commercial
Vector best IgM ELISA kit and found comparable; the assay requires 2.5
hours and is user friendly; and it can be used for screening of as
Anti-CCHF IgG antibody for serosurvey studies to find out the presence
of CCHF virus in unknown unreported areas of country. The kit stability
testing is under progress. ICMR has invited interested parties for
collaboration by January 19, 2015.
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