National Institute of High-Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD)

The National Institute of High-Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) is a premier research institute in India dedicated to the study, diagnosis, and control of highly infectious and exotic animal diseases. Operating under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), the institute plays a crucial role in protecting the country’s livestock sector from transboundary animal diseases (TADs) and zoonotic pathogens. Located in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, NIHSAD is the only facility in India equipped with high biocontainment laboratories (BSL-3 and BSL-4) for handling high-risk animal pathogens.

Background and Establishment

The foundation of NIHSAD is rooted in India’s need for advanced infrastructure to tackle emerging and re-emerging animal diseases that threaten livestock health, public safety, and the agricultural economy. The institute was established in 1987 as the High Security Animal Disease Laboratory (HSADL) with technical collaboration from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations.
In 2014, recognising its expanded scientific mandate and national importance, the institute was renamed as the National Institute of High-Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD). It functions under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Government of India.
The institute serves as a national reference and coordinating centre for the diagnosis, surveillance, and research on exotic and highly contagious animal pathogens.

Mandate and Objectives

NIHSAD’s primary mandate revolves around the prevention and control of high-risk animal diseases through research, diagnostics, and biosecurity management. Its key objectives include:

• Conducting advanced research on exotic, emerging, and re-emerging animal diseases.
• Developing and standardising diagnostic techniques for transboundary and high-risk pathogens.
• Serving as a national referral laboratory for confirmatory diagnosis of major livestock diseases.
• Acting as a biosafety and biosecurity training centre for professionals in veterinary and allied sciences.
• Supporting national disease surveillance and monitoring programmes.
• Undertaking vaccine development, molecular epidemiology, and pathogen characterisation.
• Maintaining diagnostic capability for zoonotic pathogens of public health significance.

Through these functions, NIHSAD contributes directly to India’s animal health security and indirectly supports food safety, trade, and public health.

Infrastructure and Biosafety Facilities

NIHSAD is one of the few institutions in Asia equipped with high-level biosafety laboratories, enabling the safe handling of infectious animal pathogens that pose a risk to both livestock and humans.

• BSL-3 (Biosafety Level-3) Laboratory: Designed for work on high-risk but treatable pathogens such as avian influenza virus, foot-and-mouth disease virus, and bluetongue virus.
• BSL-4 (Biosafety Level-4) Laboratory: India’s first and only animal BSL-4 facility, capable of handling pathogens that cause severe disease and have no available treatment or vaccine, such as certain hemorrhagic fever viruses.
• Animal Experimentation Units: Facilities for controlled infection studies in livestock, poultry, and laboratory animals.
• Molecular and Serological Diagnostic Laboratories: Equipped with PCR, ELISA, sequencing, and bioinformatics capabilities for rapid and precise pathogen detection.
• Biorepository and Cryogenic Storage: Maintains reference strains, viral isolates, and genetic materials under secure conditions.

The institute adheres strictly to international biosafety and biosecurity standards, ensuring containment of pathogens and preventing accidental release into the environment.

Major Research Areas

Research at NIHSAD encompasses a wide range of animal diseases that have significant economic and public health implications. Major research areas include:

1. Avian Influenza (AI):
   • Surveillance and characterisation of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5 and H7 subtypes).
   • Development of molecular diagnostic kits and vaccine candidates.
   • Studies on virus evolution, host adaptation, and zoonotic potential.
2. Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD):
   • Molecular epidemiology and characterisation of circulating FMD virus strains.
   • Research on vaccine matching and antigenic variation.
3. Bluetongue and African Horse Sickness:
   • Identification and molecular typing of bluetongue virus serotypes.
   • Development of diagnostics and vaccines for vector-borne viral diseases.
4. Classical Swine Fever (CSF):
   • Genomic studies and development of rapid molecular assays.
5. Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR):
   • Genetic characterisation and epidemiological mapping to support eradication programmes.
6. Zoonotic Pathogens:
   • Studies on pathogens such as Nipah virus, rabies virus, and Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV).
   • Risk assessment and preparedness strategies for potential zoonotic outbreaks.

The institute also engages in molecular virology, vaccine development, bioinformatics, and pathogenesis studies to understand host–pathogen interactions and disease mechanisms.

Diagnostic and National Reference Functions

As a national reference laboratory, NIHSAD provides confirmatory diagnostic services for high-risk animal diseases submitted by state veterinary laboratories, universities, and other research organisations.
Its functions include:

• Virus isolation and identification using advanced molecular tools.
• Serological testing for disease surveillance and monitoring.
• Proficiency testing and quality assurance to strengthen diagnostic networks across India.
• Training programmes for laboratory personnel on biosafety and molecular diagnostic techniques.

NIHSAD also collaborates closely with international organisations such as the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH/OIE), FAO, and WHO in the global monitoring of transboundary diseases.

Achievements and Contributions

Over the years, NIHSAD has made significant contributions to animal health research and national biosecurity:

• Played a pivotal role in India’s response to avian influenza outbreaks, including virus characterisation, diagnosis, and containment strategies.
• Developed and validated indigenous diagnostic assays for multiple diseases, reducing reliance on imported kits.
• Contributed to genomic sequencing and molecular epidemiology of emerging viral strains.
• Established India’s first animal BSL-4 facility, enhancing national preparedness against highly infectious pathogens.
• Provided scientific input for the National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP) and other government initiatives.
• Supported disease surveillance networks under the National Animal Disease Reporting System (NADRS).
• Published numerous peer-reviewed research papers and developed national disease databases.

Collaboration and Capacity Building

NIHSAD maintains extensive collaborations with national and international agencies, including:

• ICAR institutes, such as the Directorate of Foot and Mouth Disease (DFMD) and the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI).
• State Animal Husbandry Departments for disease monitoring and control.
• FAO and WOAH for global health surveillance and capacity building.

The institute conducts regular training workshops, biosafety courses, and research fellowships for veterinarians, postgraduate students, and researchers to strengthen national expertise in high-containment disease research.

Significance and Future Prospects

The strategic importance of NIHSAD lies in its role as a bioshield for India’s livestock sector. The institute safeguards the nation’s agricultural economy where livestock contributes substantially to GDP by preventing the introduction and spread of exotic animal diseases that could disrupt food security, trade, and livelihoods.