ELISA kits developed by National Research Centre for Glanders and EIA Released

Shri Radha Mohan Singh, Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, released the recombinant ELISA kits - one for Glanders and other for Equine Infectious Anemia, developed by National Research Centre on Equines, Hisar. Both the diseases are notifiable diseases in India and require a special diagnosis to control and eradicate Anemia in the country. He also released a technology Bulletin, NRCE Profile and Research Outcome of NRCE. 

Smt. Krishna Raj, Union   Minister of State for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare; Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra , Secretary (DARE) & Director General (ICAR); Dr. J.K. Jena, Deputy Director General (Animal Science); Dr. Ashok Kumar, Assistant Director-General (Animal Health); Dr. S. Honnappagol, Animal Husbandry Commissioner and Dr. B.N. Tripathi, Director, ICAR-NRCE also graced the occasion. 

Glanders is a fatal infectious and notifiable disease of equines that includes horses, donkeys and mules. The disease is caused by a bacterium known as Burkholderia Mallei and has zoonotic potential. The organism is also considered as potential bio-weapon and categorized under “Tier 1 Select Agent”. After continuous research efforts of more than 8 years, NRCE has been able to develop a recombinant Hep1 antigen ELISA as an alternate to Complement-Fixation Test (CFT). The ELISA has been duly validated in India and the OIE Reference Laboratory, Germany and showed excellent sensitivity (97.2%) and specificity (99.6%). This technology has been transferred to 8 State Disease Diagnostic Laboratories following approval of DADF, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and commercialized for transformation into ready to use it. The ELISA has a huge potential of international commercialization as recombinant protein-based ELISA is not available in any other country. This technology will prove to be a milestone in controlling and eradicating Glanders from India. 

The Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) is a chronic, debilitating and persistent infectious disease of equines caused by a retrovirus. It is an OIE notifiable disease. NRCE has also developed recombinant p26 protein-based ELISA as an alternative to Coggin’s test. This technology will provide a sustainable and homogeneous source of antigen and harmonized protocol for ensuring regular surveillance of EIA. Both kits are highly economical as compared to imported kits.