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We conducted a cross-sectional serosurvey of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) among livestock in 22 states and 1 union territory of India. A total of 5,636 samples from bovines, sheep, and goats were screened for CCHF virus IgG. IgG was detected in 354 samples, indicating that this virus is widespread in this country.

The present manuscript deals with experimental infections of bonnet macaques ( Macaca radiata ) to study disease progression for better insights into the Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD) pathogenesis and transmission. Experimentally, 10 monkeys were inoculated with KFD virus (KFDV) (high or low dose) and were regularly monitored and sampled for various body fluids and tissues at preset time points. We found that only 2 out of the 10 animals showed marked clinical signs becoming moribund, both in the low dose group, even though viremia, virus shedding in the secretions and excretions were evident in all inoculated monkeys. Anti-KFDV immunoglobulin (Ig)M antibody response was observed around a week after inoculation and anti-KFDV IgG antibody response after two weeks. Anaemia, leucopenia, thrombocytopenia, monocytosis, increase in average clotting time, and reduction in the serum protein levels were evident. The virus could be re-isolated from the skin during the viremic period. The persistence of viral RNA in the gastrointestinal tract and lymph nodes was seen up to 53 and 81 days respectively. Neuro-invasion was observed only in moribund macaques. Re-challenge with the virus after 21 days of initial inoculation in a monkey did not result in virus shedding or immune response boosting.

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) of agents causing idiopathic human diseases has been crucial in the identification of novel viruses. This study describes the isolation and characterization of two novel orthobunyaviruses obtained from a jungle myna and a paddy bird from Karnataka State, India. Using an NGS approach, these isolates were classified as Cat Que and Balagodu viruses belonging to the Manzanilla clade of the Simbu serogroup. Closely related viruses in the Manzanilla clade have been isolated from mosquitos, humans, birds, and pigs across a wide geographic region. Since Orthobunyaviruses exhibit high reassortment frequency and can cause acute, self-limiting febrile illness, these data suggest that human and livestock infections of the Oya/Cat Que/Manzanilla virus may be more widespread and/or under-reported than anticipated. It therefore becomes imperative to identify novel and unknown viruses in order to understand their role in human and animal pathogenesis. The current study is a step forward in this regard and would act as a prototype method for isolation, identification and detection of several other emerging viruses.

Background & objectives: Varicella zoster virus (VZV) strains are classified into six different clades based on the sequencing of its genome. Clades 4 and 5 are reported from India based on the single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP). Till now, multiple clade circulations using partial sequences have been reported from India due to the lack of availability of the full VZV genome sequence. This study conducted a genome sequencing of VZV in India to identify circulating clade. Methods: Four clinical samples obtained from symptomatic patients tested positive for VZV by real-time PCR were used. These four samples were preferred to retrieve the genomic VZV sequence using the next-generation sequencing method. A reference-based assembly method was used to retrieve the genome of VZV, which was further analyzed. Results: At the least, 98 per cent of the whole-genome sequences were recovered from the four samples. The VZV sequences obtained in this study formed a separate monophyletic branch with clade 5, indicating it to be evolved from a distinct ancestor. The nucleotide-based analysis revealed 13 different SNP mutations and one multiple nucleotide variation in the VZV sequences when compared to one of the clade 5 genomes having accession number: DQ457052.1. Interpretation & conclusions: The present study described approximately 98 per cent of the genome sequence of VZV from India. The availability of these genomic sequences will lead to enrichment in the clinical genomic data set from India. The available data would help in the development of diagnostic methods along with evolutionary analysis. We hypothesize the existence of a new sub-clade that belongs to clade 5 and propose further experiments to confirm these results.