DETECTION OF FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE VIRUS ANTIBODIES IN CAPTIVE ASIAN ELEPHANTS (Elephas maximus indicus) IN KERALA

Abstract

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is the most contagious viral disease of mammals and it is endemic in India.Apart from ungulates, more than 70 wildlife species including elephants are susceptible to FMD.Serum samples from eighteenunvaccinated captive elephants in Kerala were screened for the presence of antibodies against FMD virus serotypes O, A and Asia-1 using Liquid Phase Blocking (LPB) ELISA.Antibody titres varying from 0.61 to 0.76b log 10 against all the three serotypes were detected in all the sera samples of elephantsbunder study, suggesting previous exposure to the pathogen.

Keywords

• captive elephants
• fmd
• lpb elisa