Nipah Virus (NiV)

Nipah Virus (NiV)

Subject : Science & tech

Context : Recently, a cross-sectional survey by ICMR- National Institute of Virology has picked up samples with the presence of antibodies against the Nipah virus in some bat species from a cave in Mahabaleshwar.

Concept :

• The new study focussed on detection of possible Nipah virus infection in Rousettusleschenaultii and Pipistrelluspipistrellus bats in Maharashtra.
• Blood, throat and rectal swab samples were collected onsite from anaesthetised bats and the throat and rectal swab specimens were collected from all the bats.
• The RNA was extracted from samples and Anti-NiV IgG antibodies were detected in a number of the samples.
• The cross-sectional survey was initiated to study the prevalence of NiV in bats of India by random sampling of P medius, R leschenaultii and P pipistrellus bats that have wide prevalence in India.
• The exposure of R leschenaultii bats to NiV warrants further investigation as roosting and breeding habitats of the Rousettus and Pteropus vary greatly.
• The NiV detection in P pipistrellus bats, an insectivorous species, and their role in virus spill-over to humans appears remote.

What is Nipah Virus?

• The Pteropusmedius bats, which are large fruit-eating bats, are the incriminated reservoir for NiV in India.
• It is a zoonotic virus which implies that it can spread between animals and people.
• The NiV is a member of the family Paramyxoviridae, genus Henipavirus.
• It is on the top-10 priority list pathogens identified by the World Health Organization.
• The infection with NiV is associated with encephalitis (swelling of the brain) and can cause mild to severe illness and even death.
• It was first discovered in 1999 following an outbreak of disease in pigs and people in Malaysia and Singapore.

Transmission of Nipah Virus

• The Nipah virus (NiV) can spread to people from:
• Direct contact with infected animals, such as bats or pigs, or their body fluids (such as blood, urine or saliva);
• Consuming food products that have been contaminated by body fluids of infected animals (such as palm sap or fruit contaminated by an infected bat); and
• Close contact with a person infected with NiV or their body fluids (including nasal or respiratory droplets, urine, or blood)
• The person-to-person spread of NiV is regularly reported in Bangladesh and India which is most commonly seen in the families and caregivers of NiV-infected patients, and in healthcare settings.

Diagnosis of Nipah Virus

• The laboratory testing can be conducted using real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) from throat and nasal swabs, cerebrospinal fluid, urine, and blood.
• The testing for antibodies is conducted using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).