Indian Veterinary Research Institute
भारतीय पशुचिकित्सा अनुसंधान संस्थान

Divison of pathology

Major Achievements

  • Mortality Pattern in animals:
    • A total of 337 buffalo, 765 cattle, 567 sheep, 750 goat, 764 pig, 28 canine, 17 equine and 153 wild animals’ carcasses (2001-2007) were necropsied and diagnoses provided.
    • Morbid/biopsy specimens of bovine, ovine, canine, equine and wild animals were processed and histopathological diagnoses provided. Some of specimens revealed rare pathological conditions including tumours.
    • Young calves up to 1 month of age revealed higher mortality due to pneumonia and gastro-enteritis mostly of bacterial origin.
    • Important causes of mortality in goats were due to enteritis followed by non specific, debility, pneumonia, haemonchosis, debility, toxemia, trauma/bloodloss, pneumo-enteritis, testicular degeneration, fascioliosis, pericarditis, pyometra, amphistomiasis, cholecystitis, listeriosis, septic wound and coccidiosis.
    • The major diseases diagnosed were ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma, fasciolosis, pneumonia and gastro-enteritis (including parasitic), hepatic amphistomiasis, gastro-esophageal intussusceptions and aflatoxicosis.
    • In pigs age-wise mortality indicated maximum losses in the perinatal stage mainly due to trauma, birth of weaklings, septicaemia and pneumonia. In unweaned piglets, causes of death were due to trauma, anemia, pneumonia and fibrinous serositis. In weaners, the mortality was lowest and porcine circovirus 2 associated diseases being the significant cause of death. In growers the causes of death were pneumonia, septicemia and vegetative endocarditis. In adult pigs, causes of death included hemorrhagic gastroenteritis, metritis and toxemia.
    • Certain rare conditions were recorded in wild life like- ICH in wolf and sloth bear, rabies in elephant, sloth bear and rhinoceros, Johnes disease in mithun, parasitic hepatitis and gastro-enteritis in turtle, Dirofilaria immitis infestation in tiger, etc.
  • Mycotoxicosis:
    • Ochratoxin-A (OT-A) and aflatoxin B1 (AT-B1) either alone or in combination were found to be quite common in feeds/ ingredients in various States (0.05 to 3 ppm levels).
    • Both the toxins produced teratogenic effects in rats and rabbits causing several gross, visceral and skeletal anomalies in fetuses/neonates.
    • OT-A either alone or in combination with AT-B1/citrinin caused severe testicular damage leading to cessation of spermatogenesis in rats and rabbits, thus adversely affecting male reproductive performance.
    • Interaction of AT-A with P. multocida in rabbits and S. Typhimurium in Guinea pigs was found to be additive/synergistic.
    • Minimum effective single teratogenic dose in rats was evaluated to be 2.75 mg/kg body wt. with critical period being 6-7 days of gestation for OT-A.
    • The toxin binder Mannan oligosaccharide and antioxidant (Ascorbic acid) when given with AT-A were found to ameliorate the toxic effect (including teratogenicity) up to 85-90% suggesting their field application.
    • In a comparative evaluation of the methods for detection of ochratoxin-A in feed/tissue, HPLC was found to be more sensitive followed by ELISA, TLC and spectrophotometry. However, ELISA was more convenient, practicable and economical for toxin detection in large number of samples.
    • Aflatoxin-B in very low doses (0.2-0.4 ppm) induced hepatic cancer in 70 weeks, with precancerous stages detected from 30 weeks onward.
    • Citrinin was found to cause more severe teratogenic effect than endosulfan in rats. Citrinin was nephrotoxic whereas endosulfan was hepatotoxic. Their combined treatment caused an additive effect.
  • T-2 toxin
    • Various clinicopathological, immunological and pathomorphological parameters were studied in T-2 toxin fed Wistar rats.
    • T-2 toxin was found highly immunotoxic, nephrotoxic and hepatotoxic. Oxidative stress was found one of the mechanisms to induce such changes.
    • T-2 toxin and virus interaction caused immunosuppression and aggravated the pathology and pathogenesis of IBV in broiler chickens.
  • Enzootic Bovine Haematuria:
    • Prevalence of EBH was found to vary from 0-10% depending upon altitude, bracken fern vegetation and level of toxin ptaquiloside.
    • Toxic principle of bracken fern, ptaquiloside, varied from 0-1026 mg/kg (mean 149 mg/kg).
    • Quercetin, a potential carcinogen was also detected in certain ferns along with ptaquiloside. These may have additive effects.
    • Attempts failed to induce EBH/neoplasia experimentally in hill cattle by long term feeding of shed-dried fern, suggesting the role of other factors.
    • Fresh green bracken fern and Christella dentata induced acute toxicity including cystitis and haematuria in guinea pigs.
  • Bovine Papillomatosis
    • Field survey in organized farms revealed cases of cutaneous warts in cattle and buffaloes.
    • BP/EBH was further characterized using conventional (H/P, histochemical and EM) and molecular tools (PCR and FACS) and experimental transmission in hamsters and cattle/buffaloes.
    • BPV-1 & 2 and their mixed infections were identified by PCR and confirmed by cloning and gene sequencing. Q Real time PCR revealed varying load of BPV-1 in CWs while urinary bladder tumors of EBH showed low virus load of BPV-2.
    • BPV were demonstrated in cases of teat papilloma in cows and in buffalo cutaneous warts by TEM for first time in India. BPV-10 by DNase-SISPA and BPV-5 by PCR was confirmed in these samples..
    • Cutaneous warts were successfully transmitted in hamsters after 3 months post inoculation while urinary bladder tumour of EBH failed to transmit.
    • Bovine papillomatosis was established a separate disease entity in buffaloes caused by BPV-2.
    • BEI inactivated-saponified BPV-1&2 vaccine developed, was tested with encouraging results in CWs and EBH.
  • BPV-fern interaction
    • Fern fed and BPV exposed hill cows showed higher prevalence of transitional cell papillomas.
    • Experimentally Onychium contiguum fern feeding in hamsters induced loss of body weight, testicular disorders and alterations in tissue enzyme.
  • Diseases of Laboratory Animals:
    Identified disease spectrum of laboratory mice, rats, hamsters, guinea pigs and rabbits and a number of new diseases/ pathological conditions - like polycystic disease liver in hamsters, splay leg in rabbits / guinea pigs, balantidiosis in rats / hamsters, hepato-cellular carcinoma in hamsters, sarcocystis in rats etc. were reported for the first time in India. Prevalence and pathology of parasitic diseases in rats was studied in great detail.
  • Johne’s disease:
    • Determined prevalence of JD in cattle, buffaloes, sheep and goats were found to vary between 2 and 22 per cent.
    • Experimental paratuberculosis was studied in sheep, goats, rabbits and mice models. Sheep was proved to be a better model.
    • M. avium paratuberculosis (MAP) enters through both Payer’s patch and non-Payer’s patch areas.
    • Indian MAP strains are different from European strains on molecular basis.
    • Bacterial culture, AGID and c-ELISA tests were developed for the diagnosis.
    • PCR, RE-analysis and DNA probe were developed for molecular identification and diagnosis of MAP infection.
  • Classical Swine Fever (CSF):
    • An ultra modern National CSF Referral Laboratory was set up to provide diagnostic services and conduct molecular epidemiology of CSF in India.
    • Highly specific and sensitive molecular diagnostics (RT-PCR, Real time PCR and DNA/RNA probe based in situ hybridization) were developed to provide early diagnosis of CSF.
    • Using above techniques, disease was diagnosed even in formalin preserved/archival tissue.
    • CSFV isolates were phylogenetically analyzed and their pathogenicity evaluated, facilitating referral lab settings for diagnosis, surveillance and monitoring of CSF.
    • Active surveillance for classical swine fever virus (CSFV) infection in pigs was conducted in 12 districts of Uttar Pradesh and CSF outbreaks were confirmed in western and central UP.
    • For quick and confirmatory diagnosis of CSF, a new real time assay using CSFV NS5B specific primers was standardized on Cepheid Smart Cycler. So far 45 field samples have been tested and the results corroborated with those obtained by conventional RT-PCR targeting 5’UTR and E2 genes of CSFV.
    • Phylogenetic analysis of Indian isolates of CSFV showed that viruses belonging to genotypes 1 and 2 are co-circulating in India. One recent field isolate from Mizoram (Aizwal/09) showed close homology to Indian lapinized vaccine strain with very few nucleotide changes. In a herd vaccinated with the lapinized vaccine CSF outbreak occurred and the isolated virus was found to belong to genotype 2.2.
  • Swine influenza
    • Swine influenza was confirmed by virus isolation in chicken embryos, MDCK cell line, HA test, electron microscopy, RT-PCR for detection of viral genome and cloning and sequencing of all eight genes of the virus.
    • The phylogenetic analysis revealed that the virus was H1N1 subtype with very close homology to the H1N1 virus that caused the human H1N1 pandemic.
  • Porcine hepatitis and nephritis in piglets:
    • Porcine circovirus (PCV-2) and Porane Parovirus (PPV) associated reproductive disorders in sows and neonatal piglet mortality, was diagnosed for the first time in country.
    • Post weaning multi systemic wasting syndrome (PMWS), an emerging disease of swine caused by PCV-2 was diagnosed based on presence of compatible clinical signs, characteristic microscopic lymphoid lesions and detection of PCV-2 by immunohistochemistry, PCR and in situ hybridization.
    • A PCR/ real-time PCR based diagnostic tests were also developed.
    • PCV2 recombinant capsid protein (22.5 kDa) expressed in prokaryotic system was confirmed by Western blot analysis and the same was used in ELISA for detection of PCV2 specific antibodies in pig serum. A total of 132 of 197 sera collected from different parts of the country were found positive for PCV2 antibodies.
  • Calf Viral Enteritis
    • The information and data available on calf mortality in India has been compiled and documented in the form of a book.
    • Isolation, electron microscopy, molecular detection and clinico-pathological studies were conducted for rota and coronaviruses.
    • Among the infectious causes of neonatal calf enteritis, E. coli, rota and corona virus were identified as main causes.
    • Prevalence rate of rota and coronaviruses in clinical cases were 21.24 and 9.84 % as screened by ELISA.
  • Registry of Veterinary Pathology & Oncology:
    • System-wise (10) cataloguing of pathological specimens was adapted.
    • Species-wise (bovine, bubaline, ovine, caprine, equine, canine and swine) categorization of specific/important pathological specimens and tumours were done.
    • New specimen additions, documentation & improvement, replenishment of repository and development of educational aids for supply to Veterinary Colleges etc. are continuous activities.
    • Currently, Registry of Pathology museum maintains more than 870 gross specimens, 124 renovated, 1163 colour transparencies and 216 histopathological slides supplied to various Veterinary Colleges.
    • A total of 565 referred human biopsies were examined and diagnoses provided.
  • Oncology:
    • Studies on molecular tumour markers in naturally occurring neoplasms in animals as well as in DMBA-induced chemical carcinogenesis in rats were undertaken.
    • Cell proliferation markers (AgNORs, PCNA and Ki67) were found promising for evaluation of proliferation rate in benign and malignant tumours, especially in canines.
    • For tumour progression, molecular markers such as p53, c-Myc, PCNA, hTERT, cadherins and fibronectin were found promising in identification of different stages of cutaneous tumour development. These markers were successfully identified in spontaneous animal tumours.
    • Telomerase activity was determined in canine tumours by TRAP, Immunohistochemistry (using hTERT mAb) and in situ hybridization (using a 311 bp DIG-labeled DNA probe to detect cTERT mRNA) with 88%, 100% and 84.6% of sensitivity, respectively.
    • Nuclear morphometry (nuclear area, perimeter & shape) showed significant difference between malignant and benign mammary tumours (p>0.01).
    • In progressive Rous sarcoma, SEM study revealed rough tumour cell surface with numerous projections whereas regressor tumour showed smooth cell surface and infiltration of lymphocytes.
    • Detection of molecular tumour markers including PCNA, Ki-67, c-Myc, c-erbB2 and ER-α in spontaneously occurring canine mammary tumours as well as in experimentally induced rat mammary tumours.
  • Avian Disease Investigation and diagnosis:
    • Poultry and other birds ( pigeon, wild/zoo-birds, etc.) were necropsied and major causes of deaths diagnosed were Marek’s disease, lymphoid leucosis, CRD, colibacillosis, coccidiosis, aflatoxicosis, penumonitis, cage-layer fatigue, heat stroke, visceral gout, avitaminosis-A etc.
    • Morbid specimens received from 419 Private and Govt. farms for histopathological diagnosis revealed IBD, RD in pigeons, IBH-HPS, MD, colibacillosis, coccidiosis, aflatoxicosis, aspergillosis, ascites, hypovitaminosis-A etc.
    • Aetiological isolation of RDV, MDV, IBV, IBHV, reovirus, E. coli, Salmonella, Coccidia and Aspergillus were carried out.
    • Development of inactivated oil-emulsified duck virus hepatitis vaccine, live attenuated and inactivated oil-emulsified vaccine for reovirus infection, inactivated oil-emulsified vaccine for IBH-HPS (Litchi heart disease), combine inactivated vaccine for RD and IBD.
    • Developed multivalent oil adjuvant vaccine for fowl cholera and E. coli infection which provided 100% protection with homo– and heterologous serotypes and recommended for field application.
    • Developed diagnostics- like Dot-ELISA for RD, antigen capture ELISA for EDS-76 & FAV-4, AGPT, FAT, SNT Hi etc., and PCR, RT-PCR, RE mapping, cloning, sequencing for differentiation of various pathotypes of IBDV, pigeon paramixovirus, avian reovirus, EDS-76, IBV, MDV and IBH-HPS virus.
  • Avian Diseases:
    • Maintenance of vaccine seeds/ challenge strains and standard viral strains and their supply.
    • Diagnosis, routine health coverage and management of diseases in poultry and captive birds.
    • Reported EDS-76 virus infection and quail pox for the first time in Japanese quails.
    • Isolation, identification, molecular and antigenic characterization of EDS-76 virus (chicken and quail origin), pox viruses (turkey, fowl, quail and pigeon) were done employing PCR, RE mapping, cloning and sequencing.
    • Inactivated vaccine for EDS-76 and live attenuated vaccine for turkey pox were developed.
    • Standardized and applied molecular diagnostic tools (FAT, VNT/SNT, AGPT, HA/HI, ELISA, PCR, RE) for detecting and differentiating various avian pathogens (CAV, FAV, FPV, TPV, IBV, DPV, NDV, pigeon RDV, ARV, IBDV).
    • Avian viruses isolated and their pathogenicity was studied in susceptible host systems—cell cultures, embryonated chicken eggs and susceptibles hosts.
    • Characterized poultry viruses at antigenic/molecular levels by employing PCT/RT-PCR, RE analysis, cloning and gene sequencing.
    • Genomic variations and phylogenetic analysis reported and 53 sequences were submitted to gene bank.
    • Immunogenicity of avian viruses studied and immunoprophylactics (vaccine strains) for CAV, IBV, pigeon RDV and ARV were developed.
  • Infectious Bronchitis
    • Molecular characterization (with Nested RT-PCR utilizing the highly conserved UTR of IBV) of 6 IBV isolates was done to determine the differences at genomic level by using RT-PCR.
    • Pathogenicity studies showed isolate, India/LKW/56/IVRI/08 was pathogenic for young chicks showing tissue tropism for respiratory tract and kidneys both indicating nephro-pathogenic strain.
    • The S1 gene product of IBV genome of all the isolates were subjected to RE analysis which failed to differentiate from Mass. 41 strain and it was concluded that these isolates broadly fall into the same genetic lineage.
    • The existence of 4/91 type (739B) was confirmed by isolation and genotyping.
  • Chicken Infectious Anaemia (CIA):
    • Occurrence of CIA in India was reported, CIAV was isolated and found to be of pathogenic and immunosuppressive nature.
    • Diagnostic techniques (PCR & IIFT) for detection of CIAV infection in chicken were developed.
    • Molecular characterization of CIAV was done by PCR, RE analysis, cloning and sequencing; VP1, VP2 and VP3 genes were sequenced, submitted to gene bank and 18 Accession Nos. were obtained.
    • Inactivated vaccine for CIA was developed.
    • CIAV-VP3 gene cloned and expressed and its in vitro revealed anti-neoplastic effects in NBT-II tumor cells, induction of apoptosis; In vivo anti-neoplastic potential of VP3 gene was not revealed in BPV-2-induced fibromas model.
    • CIAV VP1 & VP2 gene cloned in pTARGET vector, expression of both genes verified in vitro; cloned genes bulk purified for development of DNA vaccine; and exp. immunogenicity studies carried out in SPF chicks.
    • Humoral immune response for developed DNA vaccine assayed by ELISA post immunization revealed a moderate protective antibody titer in vaccinated chicks along with good CMI responses by FACS.

Awards & Honours:

  • International
    • Certificate of Appreciation to team working on “Lymphosarcoma/leukemia in Indian buffaloes” by the USDA to a team member N.S. Parihar.
    • Nine months training/ SIDA Fellowships to O.P. Paliwal, S.C. Mukherjee, Lal Krishna, A.S. Panisup and R. Somvanshi at Uppasala, Sweden.
    • FAO-Fellowship, University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada to J.M. Kataria for training in the area of molecular biology.
    • UNDP Fellowship to A.S. Panisup for training on immunobitechnology in Canada.
    • TOMBIT sponsored 9 months molecular biology training to B.N.Tripathi and G. Saikumar at Institute of Animal Health Compton, UK.
    • Four months molecular characterization of Indian Mab training to B.N. Tripathi at Moredun Research Institute, Edinburgh, Scotland.
    • Three months training to Ram Kumar on slow viral infection at UK.
  • National
    • ICAR Professor of Eminence to B.S. Rajya.
    • National Fellow Award of ICAR, New Delhi to R. Somvanshi with a research grant of Rs. 35.00 lakhs on “Enzootic Bovine Haematuria” (1995-2000). Fellowship extended for another five years (2000-2005) with a grant of Rs. 50.00 lakhs.
    • Rafi Ahmad Kidwai Award (ICAR) to J.M. Kataria.
    • Bharat Ratna Dr. C. Subramaniam ICAR Best Teacher Award to J.M. Kataria.
    • UP Council of Science & Technology, Lucknow Vigyan Ratan Award to R. Somvanshi
    • Dr. Rajendra Prasad Award (ICAR) to
      • S. C. Dubey and R. Somvanshi for book " Bher aur bkairyon ke rog aur unki roktham" .
      • R. Somvanshi for book "Madhya aur adhunik kaleen Bharat me pashu palan evam chikitsha vigyan" .
    • Jawaharlal Nehru Award (ICAR) to
      • R.N. Sharma on his doctoral thesis entitled “Pathogenesis and pathologic features of Marek’s disease in vitro and in vivo” under the guidance of Dr. G.C. Mohanty, submitted to Agra University.
      • R.V.S. Pawaiya on his doctoral thesis entitled “Pathology of chemically induced neoplasms and evaluation of molecular markers in diagnosis of animal tumours” under the guidance of Dr. Ram Kumar, Deemed University, IVRI, Izatnagar.
    • Dr. C.M. Singh Endowment Trust best Ph.D. thesis Award to R.V.S. Pawaiya.
    • Dr. N.C. Jain and J.L. Vegad Award of IAVP to B.N. Tripathi.
    • Professor P.K.R. Iyer was appointed as an independent panel member to examine tissues of animals and man exposed to Methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas poisoning occurred at Bhopal in 1986.
    • IVRI Award of Merit to O.P. Paliwal, P. Dwivedi and R. Somvanshi.
    • Dr. Meghnad Saha Award of Ministry of science and Technology, Govt. of India, for writing original books in Life Sciences in Hindi to
      • R. Somvanshi on book “Prachin Bharat mein Pashu Palan evam Pashu Chikitsa Vigyan”
      • R. Somvanshi on book “Himalaya ke Upyogi Pashu”
      • S. C. Dubey and R. Somvanshi on book “Bher bakriyon ke rog aur unki roktham”
    • Faculty Best Teacher Award of Deemed University, IVRI, Izatnagar to N.S. Parihar, O.P. Paliwal, J.M. Kataria, A.K. Sharma and B.N. Tripathi
    • Dr. C.M. Singh Award of Indian Association of Veterinary Pathologists (IAVP) for best research papers published in the Indian Journal of Veterinary Pathology more than 12 times.
    • Dr. C.M. Singh Award for best research papers published in the Indian Journal of Comparative Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases more than 2 time.
    • Dr. G.A. Sastry Award for best research papers published in the discipline of Veterinary Pathology in the Indian Veterinary Journal more than 4 time.
    • Mrs. Ramani Ramchandran Award of Indian Veterinary Association for best papers published in Cancer Research in the Indian Veterinary Journal to K. Charan.
    • K. Bhaskar Medal best research papers published in the discipline of Veterinary Surgery in the Indian Veterinary Journal to O.P. Paliwal and K. Charan.
    • Dr. M.N. Menon Memorial Award for best research article published in the Indian Veterinary Journal to K. Dhama.
    • Dr. Shyam Singh and Balamati Devi Memorial Award of Indian Association for Advancement in Veterinary Research (IAAVR) for best Ph.D. Research work on animal health to (Mrs.) S. Mishra.
    • Young Scientists Award of IAVP to
      • C. Ramkrishna and M.C. Prasad
      • V. Krishnamurthy and O.P. Paliwal
      • V. Krishnamurthy, O.P. Paliwal, P. Joshi, A. Tomar and Ram Kumar
    • Fellowships of National or International Academy/Association/Society etc.:
      • Fellowship of Indian Association of Veterinary Pathology to O.P. Paliwal, P. Dwivedi, B.N. Tripathi & R. Somvanshi.
      • Diplomat of Indian College of Veterinary Pathologists (ICVP) to R. Somvanshi, P. Dwivedi, A.K. Sharma and B.N. Tripathi.
      • Fellowship of National Academy of Veterinary Science to R. Somvanshi, J.M. Kataria, B.N. Tripathi, P. Dwivedi, A.K. Sharma, R.B. Rai
      • Fellowship of Society of Toxicology, India to R. Somvanshi.
      • Fellowship of Plant Research Society to R. Somvanshi.
      • Fellowship of DADD under Indo-German Exchange programme to O. P. Paliwal.
      • Membership, of National Academy of Science, Allahabad to R. Somvanshi.
      • Membership of the National Academy of Veterinary Science to R.V.S. Pawaiya.
      • Fellowship of Indian Society for Advancement of Canine practice to A.K. Sharma.
    • Best Poster Presentation Award of IAVP and Indian Science Congress more than 17 time.
    • Best Research Paper Award of Intas Polyvet to K. Dhama.
    • Dr R.R.K. Shukla Award of IAVP for best M.V. Sc. Thesis in Veterinary Pathology. –
      • K. Prasanna (M.V.Sc. Thesis; Student of O.P. Paliwal)
      • Vidya Singh (M.V.Sc. Thesis; Student of R. Somvanshi
    • Dr. Patri Rama Rao Award of IAVP for best Ph.D. Thesis in Veterinary Pathology.
      • A. Anand Kumar (Ph.D. Thesis; Student of Dr. B.N. Tripathi).
      • Rinku Sharma (Ph.D. Thesis; Student of Dr. G. Saikumar).
    • K. Dhama – Member of Institute Management Committee (IMC), CARI, Izatnagar.
    • B.N. Tripathi – Chief Editor of Indian Journal of Veterinary Pathology.
    • R.V.S. Pawaiya – Remained Editor of Indian Journal of Veterinary Pathology.
    • K. Dhama –Editor of Indian Journal of Comparative Microbiology Immunology and Infectious Diseases.
    • K. Dhama – Nodal Officer of World Trade Organization (WTO), Technical Barrier to Trade (TBT), Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Govt. of Inda.
    • R. Somvanshi – Remained Member, Board of Management, IVRI.