The objectives of the division is to provide technical support to State Governments for outbreak investigations, operational research and trained manpower development in the field of zoonotic diseases and their control.The division also participates in teaching and training activities organised by the Institute from time to time in connection with various National Health programmes.

The Division has National Reference Laboratories for Plague, Kala-azar and Arboviral infections. It has also been recognized by the World Health Organisation as WHO Collaborative Centre for Rabies Epidemiology for South East Asia Region.

Currently the work is being carried out on following Zoonotic diseases: Plague, Rabies, Kala-azar, Arboviral infections, Toxoplasmosis, Brucellosis, Leptospirosis, Rickettsiosis, Hydatidosis, Neurocysticercosis and Anthrax.

1. Rabies Laboratory

The Laboratory is functioning as WHO Collaborative Centre for Rabies epidemiology for SEA Region since 1985.

1. It provides diagnostic services to the public and veterinary hospitals for diagnosis of rabies in animals

2. The laboratory provides anti-mortem diagnosis of rabies in suspect hydrophobia cases.

3. It carries out isolation and characterisation of virus from samples of suspected rabid animals.

4. The division is involved in development and standardisation of newer diganostic techniques

5. Seroconversion studies are being carried out after pre and post-exposure prophylaxis both in human and animals.

6. It provides advise to the persons bitten by animals

7. The laboratory runs a quality assurance scheme for routine diagnostic procedures for rabies in which different institution laboratories from the country participate.

8. The laboratory is constantly engaged in finding out the alternative routes/dosages for economical anti rabies immuno prophylaxis

9. The laboratory carries out outbreak investigations in cases of bite to multiple victims by a single rabid animal

2. Arboviruses Laboratory

1. The laboratory provides serological diagnosis of arboviral infections like JE, Dengue, WN and Chikungunya.

2. It provides laboratory support for investigation of outbreaks of JE and Dengue in the country.

3. For isolation of the Dengue, JE virus the laboratory has facilities of C6/36 cell lines and vero cell lines.

4. It undertakes standardization of advanced laboratory techniques for use in serological diagnosis.

3. Leishmania Laboratory

1. It provides diagnostic services to all Hospitals and Dispensaries in Delhi. The laboratory has facilities for both parasitological and serological diagnosis.

2. It is engaged in isolation, cryopreservation and maintenance of Leishmania strains.

3. The laboratory is self sufficient in preparation and standadisation of antigen and reagents for serological procedures like ELISA, DOT-ELISA, IFA and CIEP.

4. It supplies antigen on request to other laboratories in India as well as to other countries like Nepal.

5. L. donovani strains are being supplied to other laboratories on request.

6. It provides laboratory support for investigation of various outbreaks in the country.

7. Provides consultation services for the treatment of kala-azar patients.

8. It is constantly engaged in development of rapid field tests or the diagnosis of kala-azar

4. Toxoplasma Laboratory

1. It provides diagnostic services to all Hospitals and dispensaries in Delhi.

2. It is maintaining Rh strain of Toxoplasman gondii in Swiss albino mice. The strain is being supplied to institutions on request.

3. The laboratory prepares its own antigen and reagents for the serological procedures.

4. It provides consultation services for the treatment of Toxoplasmosis and follow-up of the patients.

5. Central Plague Laboratory

It is QP-2 level laboratory. The laboratory is well equipped for carrying out work on all aspects of plague.

1. The laboratory co-ordinates the activities of plague control units of the states.

2. It maintains surveillance of plague in country in collaboration with the State Plague Control units.

3. It is involved in the bacteriological, serological and entomological studies for surveillance of plague.

4. It carries out investigation of any suspected outbreak of plague in the country.

5. It identifies all the suspected Y. pestis like organisms isolated from the field specimens.

6. It is maintaining the isolates of Y.pestis.

7. The laboratory is involved in development of newer serological techniques like ELISA, IgM capture ELISA, etc.

8. It runs a programme for maintenance of quality assurance between the laboratories.

9. To keep informed the Government of India and State Governments regarding plague Surveillance and Control activities in the country.

10. It organises and conducts periodic meetings of the Interstate co-ordination committee on plague.

11. The laboratory collaborates with WHO Collaborative Centre for exchange of information and procurement of reagents/biological material

6. Leptospira Laboratory

1. The laboratory provides diagnostic services to all Hospitals of Delhi.

2. It provides laboratory support for outbreak investigations.

3. It is undertaking multicentric study on sero-surveillance of Leptospirosis.

7. Hydatid and Rickettsia Laboratory

1. The laboratory deals with Rickettsia and Hydatid infections and provides diagnostic services to all Hospitals in Delhi.

2. It carries out serological diagnosis for hydatid disease and rickettsial infections.

8. Brucella Laboratory

1. It provides diagnostic services to all Hospitals in Delhi.

2. It undertakes sero-surveillance studies on a contained population.

9. Cysticercosis Laboratory

1. The laboratory undertakes studies to find out the prevalence of cysticercosis in patients with epilepsy. It is engaged in evaluation of serological tests like ELISA in the diagnosis of neurocysticercosis.

10. Anthrax

1. It provides laboratory support for investigation of suspected outbreaks of anthrax in various parts of the country.

11. Plague Surveillance Unit, Bangalore

The activities of the unit are being co-ordinated and supervised by the Central Plague Laboratory at Zoonosis Division, NICD, Headquarters, Delhi

1. It carries out studies on seasonal prevalence of wild rodents.

2. It performs bacteriological & serological examination of wild rodents for evidence of plague infection.

3. It undertakes investigation of rat falls to exclude plague etiology.

4. It carries out entomological studies including susceptibility studies of fleas to insecticides.

5. It co-ordinates the plague surveillance and control activities of the state plague control units.

12. Development of trained manpower

The division conducts training courses from time to time on various zoonotic diseases. The following training courses are being organised regularly.

1. Hands on training in laboratory techniques in rabies.

2. Training course for surveillance and control of plague and leptospirosis.

3. Hands on training course in diagnostic technique for various zoonotic diseases.

4. Training course for laboratory diagnosis of arboviral infections.

The division has developed manuals and booklets on various diseases like JE, Rabies, Kala azar, Plague, Leptospirosis. These are being updated regularly recently the following manuals have been developed.

1. Rabies Manual - Laboratory diagnostic techniques

2. Manual on "Zoonotic diseases of public health importance".

The Animal Facility of Institute of Communicable Diseases is spread over the total area of 1000 sq. m. and consists of breeding facility (800 sq.m.) and an experimental facility (200 sq.m.)

The facility has been registered with the committee for the purpose of control and supervision of experiments on animals (CPCSEA), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, New Delhi with registration no. 16/1999/CPCSEA.

1. Breeding facility

The mice and rats are raised in a three tier colonies namely foundation stock, pedigreed expansion stock and production stock. In addition to these, genetically undefined stocks of rabbits, guinea, pigs, sheep, geese and pigeons are also bred.

2. Experimental facility

This facility is seperate from the breeding area so as to protect the animals from any possible infections. It is attached with the main research block and is directly accessible to the scientific staff of the institute.

3. Service area

It includes dirty and clean washing sections, storage area for feed, bedding, cages and the waste disposal unit.

Commercial pellet diet is used which is supplemented by bengal grams as well as carrots and leafy vegetables specially for guinea pigs and rabbits.

The chlorinated water supplied by MCD for human consumption is given to all the laboratory animals which protects them from the enteric diseases.

4. Animal health quality control

Health of the healthy experimental animals is taken care with the help of the veterinarian. The sick animals are seperated and treated.

5. Disposal of dead animals

The dead animals are incinerated.

6. Staff strength

1. Scientific staff - Incharge - Staff Scientist (Dy. Director)

2. Technical staff

7. Strength of normal animals as on 24.4.2001

Attached as Table-I.

STRENGTH OF NORMAL ANIMALS AS ON 24.04.2001

F - FEMALE       NB- NEW BORN        M - MALE