K Rinzin

Publications (5)7.94 Total impact

• Article: Isolation and characterization of influenza A virus (subtype H5N1) that caused the first highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak in chicken in Bhutan.

  S C Dubey, N Dahal, S Nagarajan, C Tosh, H V Murugkar, K Rinzin, B Sharma, R Jain, M Katare, S Patil, R Khandia, Z Syed, S Tripathi, P Behera, M Kumar, D D Kulkarni, Lal Krishna
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  ABSTRACT: We characterized Influenza A/H5N1 virus that caused the first outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in chickens in Bhutan in 2010. The virus was highly virulent to chicken, killing them within two days of the experimental inoculation with an intravenous pathogenicity index (IVPI) of 2.88. For genetic and phylogenetic analyses, complete genome sequencing of 4 viral isolates was carried out. The isolates revealed multiple basic amino acids at their hemagglutinin (HA) cleavage site, similar to other "Qinghai-like" H5N1 isolates. The receptor-binding site of HA molecule contained avian-like amino acids ((222)Q and (224)G). The isolates also contained amino acid residue K at position 627 of the PB2 protein, and other markers in NS 1 and PB1 proteins, highlighting the risk to mammals. However, the isolates were sensitive to influenza drugs presently available in the market. The sequence analysis indicated that the Bhutan viruses shared 99.1-100% nucleotide homology in all the eight genes among themselves and 2010 chicken isolate from Bangladesh (A/chicken/Bangladesh/1151-11/2010) indicating common progenitor virus. The phylogenetic analysis indicated that the Bhutan isolates belonged to sub-clade 2.2.3 (EMA 3) and shared common progenitor virus with the 2010 Bangladesh virus. Based on the evidence of phylogeny and molecular markers, it could be concluded that the outbreaks in Bhutan and Bangladesh in 2010 were due to independent introductions of the virus probably through migratory birds.
  Veterinary Microbiology 08/2011; 155(1):100-5. · 3.33 Impact Factor
• Article: Risk factors for foot-and-mouth disease in sedentary livestock herds in selected villages in four regions of Bhutan.

  K Dukpa, I D Robertson, J R Edwards, T M Ellis, P Tshering, K Rinzin, N Dahal
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  ABSTRACT: To identify livestock husbandry practices important for transmission of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in the herds and villages of four regions in Bhutan. To consider using this information to enhance the current prevention and control programme, a consideration arising from the failure to control FMD in spite of a control programme in place. Between March and May 2009, 383 livestock farmers originating from 80 villages in four districts of Bhutan were interviewed, using a structured questionnaire, about the livestock management practices and incidence of FMD in their herds. Multivariable logistic regression was used to quantify the risk factors that predicted the outcome variable 'farmer-diagnosed FMD in Bhutan'. Sixty-two percent (49/79) of the villages and 87/355 (24%) of herds surveyed had at least one outbreak of FMD within the 5 years preceding the survey. The odds of having FMD in a herd increased substantially (OR=39.2; p<0.0001) when cattle mixed with herds from other nearby villages compared with those where mixing did not occur. Those cattle herds mixing with six or more other herds within the same village were 5.3 times (p<0.0001) more likely to have had FMD than those mixed with fewer than six herds. Farmers who fed kitchen waste to cattle were 14.1 times (p<0.0001), and those who sent their animals for grazing in the forest were 3.1 times (p=0.014), more likely to report FMD in their herds than those who did not. Farmers who kept their cattle always housed in a shed during the day (OR=0.033) or at night (OR=0.29) were less likely to report FMD than those who did not (p<0.04). Mixing of cattle at grazing areas was identified as a risk factor for FMD. This indicates that spread from infected herds and villages, through close contact, could be an important source of disease for non-infected herds in Bhutan. Therefore, quarantining of early cases in affected herds or villages could reduce the spread of disease within and between villages. This study also highlights the potential role of feeding kitchen waste to cattle as a risk factor for FMD. The findings from this study could be considered for strengthening of the FMD control programme in Bhutan.
  New Zealand veterinary journal 03/2011; 59(2):51-8. · 0.89 Impact Factor
• Article: Rabies virus strains circulating in Bhutan: implications for control.

  Tenzin, S Wacharapluesadee, J Denduangboripant, N K Dhand, R Dorji, D Tshering, K Rinzin, V Raika, N Dahal, M P Ward
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  ABSTRACT: We report a molecular epidemiological study of rabies virus (RABV) strains circulating in animal populations in Bhutan, and investigate potential origins of these viruses. Twenty-three RABV isolates originating from dogs and other domestic animals were characterized by sequencing the partial nucleoprotein (N) gene (395 bp). Phylogenetic analysis was conducted and the Bhutanese isolates were compared with rabies viruses originating from other parts of the world. Phylogenetic analysis showed that Bhutanese isolates were highly similar and were closely related to Indian strains and South Asian Arctic-like-1 viruses. Our study suggests that the rabies viruses spreading in southern parts of Bhutan have originated from a common ancestor, perhaps from the Indian virus strain.
  Epidemiology and Infection 11/2010; 139(10):1457-62. · 2.84 Impact Factor
• Article: Free-roaming and surrendered dogs and cats submitted to a humane shelter in Wellington , New Zealand , 1999--2006.

  K Rinzin, Ma Stevenson, Dw Probert, Rg Bird, R Jackson, Np French, Ja Weir
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  ABSTRACT: To describe submissions of dogs and cats to an animal welfare shelter over a 6-year period, and to evaluate the association between the numbers of dogs and cats submitted per square kilometre, human population density, and standardised measures of socioeconomic deprivation. Details of free-roaming and surrendered dogs and cats presented to the Wellington shelter of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) for the period 01 July 1999 to 28 February 2006 were recorded in a relational database. Data were plotted as counts of animals presented to the shelter each month as a function of calendar time. Kernel-smoothing techniques were used to describe the spatial distribution of capture location. The association between the number of dogs and cats submitted per square kilometre, human population density (both estimated at the mesh-block level), and mesh-block socioeconomic deprivation index were quantified using the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient (r). The data comprised submission details for 3,709 dogs and 13,563 cats. There was a progressive decline in the number of dogs and cats submitted to the shelter over the study period, and a marked seasonal variation in submissions of cats. Submission density of dogs and cats was positively associated with human population density (Pearson's r=0.12; 95% CI=0.06-0.20 and 0.39; 95% CI=0.33-0.45, respectively) and socioeconomic deprivation (Pearson's r=0.12; 95% CI=0.05- 0.19 for both dogs and cats). Active approaches to free-roaming cat control by the Wellington SPCA should focus on the period June to September, prior to the feline breeding season, in population-dense and socioeconomically deprived areas. Composite analyses of submission details from all animal shelters in the Wellington region should allow factors associated with the distribution of free-roaming dogs and cats to be more precisely estimated.
  New Zealand veterinary journal 01/2009; 56(6):297-303. · 0.89 Impact Factor
• Article: Isolation and characterization of influenza A virus (subtype H5N1) that caused the first highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak in chicken in Bhutan

  S.C. Dubey, N. Dahal, S. Nagarajan, C. Tosh, H.V. Murugkar, K. Rinzin, B. Sharma, R. Jain, M. Katare, S. Patil, R. Khandia, Z. Syed, S. Tripathi, P. Behera, M. Kumar, D.D. Kulkarni, Lal Krishna
  [show abstract] [hide abstract]
  ABSTRACT: We characterized Influenza A/H5N1 virus that caused the first outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in chickens in Bhutan in 2010. The virus was highly virulent to chicken, killing them within two days of the experimental inoculation with an intravenous pathogenicity index (IVPI) of 2.88. For genetic and phylogenetic analyses, complete genome sequencing of 4 viral isolates was carried out. The isolates revealed multiple basic amino acids at their hemagglutinin (HA) cleavage site, similar to other “Qinghai-like” H5N1 isolates. The receptor-binding site of HA molecule contained avian-like amino acids (222Q and 224G). The isolates also contained amino acid residue K at position 627 of the PB2 protein, and other markers in NS 1 and PB1 proteins, highlighting the risk to mammals. However, the isolates were sensitive to influenza drugs presently available in the market. The sequence analysis indicated that the Bhutan viruses shared 99.1–100% nucleotide homology in all the eight genes among themselves and 2010 chicken isolate from Bangladesh (A/chicken/Bangladesh/1151-11/2010) indicating common progenitor virus. The phylogenetic analysis indicated that the Bhutan isolates belonged to sub-clade 2.2.3 (EMA 3) and shared common progenitor virus with the 2010 Bangladesh virus. Based on the evidence of phylogeny and molecular markers, it could be concluded that the outbreaks in Bhutan and Bangladesh in 2010 were due to independent introductions of the virus probably through migratory birds.
  Veterinary Microbiology. 155(1):100-105.