Scientists from the National Institute of Animal Biotechnology (NIAB) have developed a new generation of budget-friendly in-vitro diagnostic kits for detecting brucellosis, an infectious zoonotic disease. A team led by Dr. Girish Radhakrishnan has identified a protein candidate from Brucella-infected animals with promising diagnostic potential, based on which an in-vitro diagnostic kit was developed. The IVD kits can be used to detect animal and human Brucellosis.

Dr. Taru Sharma, Director, NIAB stated that, unlike other assays, the protein/peptide-based IVD kits developed at their institute have exhibited excellent DIVA capability where they could differentiate vaccinated cattle from naturally infected animals. She added that the NIAB has not only filed a patent for the DIVA-capable assays but has transferred the technology to Engrave Bio Labs, Hyderabad, for its commercialization.

Brucellosis is endemic in different parts of the world, including Latin America, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and the Mediterranean basin, with the disease posing a serious threat to public health and accounting for huge losses in the livestock sector. It is a bacterial disease caused by the intracellular pathogen Brucella that infects different cell populations in the body, hijacking the immune system and manifesting in reproductive health issues in animals such as abortion, dead offspring, low milk yield, and sterility. Meanwhile, in humans, brucellosis can be multi-symptomatic with fever and chills and can cause severe systemic failure in untreated cases. 

(Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/low-cost-diagnostic-kit-developed-for-brucellosis/articleshow/94125987.cms )