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Aims: E. coli are ubiquitously present bacterial pathogens that cause septicaemia, diarrhoea and other clinical illness in farm animals. Many pathogen factors can be associated with disease conditions. Currently, studies inferring E. coli genetic factors associated with infection in bovines are limited. Hence, the present study envisaged to determine the pathogen genetic factors associated with bovine disease conditions. Method and Results: The comparative genomic analysis involved genome sequence data of 135 diseased and 145 healthy bovine origin E. coli strains. Phylogroups A and C, as well as pathotypes ExPEC and EPEC, were found to have a strong connection with bovine disease strains. STEC strains, including EHEC, seem to play a less important role in bovine disease. Sequence types (STs) predominant among strains from diarrhoeal origin were ST 301 (CC 165) and ST 342. Correlation of core genome phylogeny with accessory gene-based clustering, phylogroups and pathotypes indicated lineage-specific virulence factors mostly associated with disease conditions.Conclusions: Comparative genomic analysis was applied to infer genetic factors significant in bovine disease origin E. coli strains. Isolates from bovine disease origin were enriched for the phylogroups A and C, and for the pathotypes ExPEC and EPEC. However, there was minimal evidence of STEC involvement. The study also indicated predominant genetic lineages and virulence genes (pap, sfa and afa) associated with disease origin strains. Significance and impact of study:The study revealed significant pathotypes, phylogroups, serotypes and sequence types associated with bovine disease conditions. These identified genetic factors can be applied for disease diagnosis, implementing vaccines and therapeutic measures. In addition, E. coli isolates from the bovine species revealed a complex pattern of disease epidemiology.

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Brucellosis is one of the most common contagious and neglected bacterial zoonotic diseases. The disease has been reported in ruminants in almost all Indian states. But there is a lack of comprehensive information on the seroprevalence of brucellosis in the Indian subcontinent. A systematic review and meta-analysis on the seroprevalence of brucellosis among ruminants of India was conducted from the published articles (January 1970 - June 2020) by including 172 studies screened from 567 publications. The estimated brucellosis seroprevalence of cattle, buffalo, sheep, goat, yak and mithun was 14% (95% CI: 12% - 16%), 8% (95% CI: 6% - 9%), 8% (95% CI: 7% - 10%), 8% (95% CI: 7% - 9%), 16% (95% CI: 7% - 28%) and 26% (95% CI: 12% - 42%), respectively. Sub-group analysiswas performed based on diagnostic tests, regions, publication year, and sample size. The estimated seroprevalence of brucellosis in cattle and goats was found to be higher in the central region compared to other regions. Similarly, the western region showed a higher seroprevalence for brucellosis in buffalo and sheep. Given the estimated animal population of 2021, the meta-analysis estimated that the total number of seropositive animals would be 26.95 million cattle (95% CI: 23.09–30.78), 8.78 million buffaloes (95% CI: 6.59–9.89), 5.94 million sheep (95% CI: 5.20–7.43), 11.91 million goats (95% CI: 10.42–13.40), 9.6 thousand yaks (95% CI: 0.0042–0.0168), and 100 thousand mithun (95% CI: 0.05–0.16). Further, the comprehensive picture of the brucellosis seroprevalence may help the decisionmaking authorities in formulating better prevention and control strategies for brucellosis in India.

Brucellosis is one of the most common contagious and neglected bacterial zoonotic diseases. The disease has been reported in ruminants in almost all Indian states. But there is a lack of comprehensive information on the seroprevalence of brucellosis in the Indian subcontinent. A systematic review and meta-analysis on the seroprevalence of brucellosis among ruminants of India was conducted from the published articles (January 1970 - June 2020) by including 172 studies screened from 567 publications. The estimated brucellosis seroprevalence of cattle, buffalo, sheep, goat, yak and mithun was 14% (95% CI: 12% - 16%), 8% (95% CI: 6% - 9%), 8% (95% CI: 7% - 10%), 8% (95% CI: 7% - 9%), 16% (95% CI: 7% - 28%) and 26% (95% CI: 12% - 42%), respectively. Sub-group analysiswas performed based on diagnostic tests, regions, publication year, and sample size. The estimated seroprevalence of brucellosis in cattle and goats was found to be higher in the central region compared to other regions. Similarly, the western region showed a higher seroprevalence for brucellosis in buffalo and sheep. Given the estimated animal population of 2021, the meta-analysis estimated that the total number of seropositive animals would be 26.95 million cattle (95% CI: 23.09–30.78), 8.78 million buffaloes (95% CI: 6.59–9.89), 5.94 million sheep (95% CI: 5.20–7.43), 11.91 million goats (95% CI: 10.42–13.40), 9.6 thousand yaks (95% CI: 0.0042–0.0168), and 100 thousand mithun (95% CI: 0.05–0.16). Further, the comprehensive picture of the brucellosis seroprevalence may help the decisionmaking authorities in formulating better prevention and control strategies for brucellosis in India.