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Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat
Assam Agricultural University is the first institution of its kind in the whole of North-Eastern Region of India. The main goal of this institution is to produce globally competitive human resources in farm sectorand to carry out research in both conventional and frontier areas for production optimization as well as to disseminate the generated technologies as public good for benefitting the food growers/produces and traders involved in the sector while emphasizing on sustainability, equity and overall food security at household level.
Genesis of AAU -
The embryo of the agricultural research in the state of Assam was formed as early as 1897 with the establishment of the Upper Shillong Experimental Farm (now in Meghalaya) just after about a decade of creation of the agricultural department in 1882. However, the seeds of agricultural research in today’s Assam were sown in the dawn of the twentieth century with the establishment of two Rice Experimental Stations, one at Karimganj in Barak valley in 1913 and the other at Titabor in Brahmaputra valley in 1923. Subsequent to these research stations, a number of research stations were established to conduct research on important crops, more specifically, jute, pulses, oilseeds etc. The Assam Agricultural University was established on April 1, 1969 under The Assam Agricultural University Act, 1968’ with the mandate of imparting farm education, conduct research in agriculture and allied sciences and to effectively disseminate technologies so generated. Before establishment of the University, there were altogether 17 research schemes/projects in the state under the Department of Agriculture. By July 1973, all the research projects and 10 experimental farms were transferred by the Government of Assam to the AAU which already inherited the College of Agriculture and its farm at Barbheta, Jorhat and College of Veterinary Sciences at Khanapara, Guwahati.
Subsequently, College of Community Science at Jorhat (1969), College of Fisheries at Raha (1988), Biswanath College of Agriculture at Biswanath Chariali (1988) and Lakhimpur College of Veterinary Science at Joyhing, North Lakhimpur (1988) were established. Presently, the University has three more colleges under its jurisdiction, viz., Sarat Chandra Singha College of Agriculture, Chapar, College of Horticulture, Nalbari & College of Sericulture, Titabar. Similarly, few more regional research stations at Shillongani, Diphu, Gossaigaon, Lakhimpur; and commodity research stations at Kahikuchi, Buralikson, Tinsukia, Kharua, Burnihat and Mandira were added to generate location and crop specific agricultural production packages.
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ThesisItem Open Access Evaluation of immune response in broiler chicks immunized with a minimum cold chain dependent Newcastle disease virus formulation(College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University, Khanapara Campus, 2022-09) Ahmed, Rofique; Nath, Mrinal KrAmong the infectious diseases of poultry, Newcastle disease (ND) is considered one of the most economically fatal viral diseases causing morbidity and mortality of about 90-100% in its velogenic form. Only through vaccination the economic menace and clinical condition caused by NDV can be controlled. But commercially available vaccines against ND are generally thermolabile and lose their potency if kept at room temperature (25°C) for 1-2 hours. The recent COVID-19 pandemic clearly showed the weakness of the vaccine supply chain and its maintenance. The lack of thermostable formulations is one of the major limitations that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought to light. Addressing the need for thermostable vaccine development, the present study was carried out with the study of the thermal stability of a thermostable NDV vaccine formulation (As/Km/19/44) and its immunogenic potential in broiler chicks. In the present study, after receiving the thermoadapted ND seed virus (As/Km/19/44) confirmation was done by haemagglutination test (HA) and by Reverse Transcription- Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) by the amplification of the 363 bp partial F gene. After confirmation, a thermal stability test of the seed virus (As/Km/19/44) was done by subjecting the isolate at 40°C and 56°C for 120 minutes respectively. The thermoadapted ND seed virus (As/Km/19/44) retained its HA activity and infectivity at 40°C up to 120 minutes without any decay in virus titre and at 56°C, the thermoadapted ND seed virus (As/Km/19/44) retained its half-life for 83.13 and 96.60 minutes in terms of HA activity and infectivity respectively. Further, lyophilization of the seed virus (As/Km/19/44) was done using chemical excipients viz., Pullulan (10% w/v), Trehalose (0.5M) and Inulin (45mg/ml) to prepare the immunogenic formulation. After formulation, the comparative HA activity and infectivity before and after lyophilization showed no significant difference at P<0.05. The lyophilized NDV immunogenic formulations (As/Km/19/44) were grouped and kept at different temperatures viz., 4ºC for six months, room temperature (about 25°C) for six months, 37ºC for one month, and 56ºC for 15 days for evaluating the thermal stability. At 4ºC, no fall of virus titer in terms of HA activity and infectivity were recorded for up to 6 months. The estimated half-life period of the live NDV immunogenic formulation exposed at room temperature (around 25°C), 37°C and 56°C in terms of HA activity and infectivity was found to be 1008 and 1037; 50.03 and 71.51; 2.194 and 2.764 days respectively. For evaluation of humoral immune response, the minimum cold-chain dependent NDV formulation (As/Km/19/44) was administered in experimental chicks through an intra-nasal route with a standard dose of 106EID50 per chick and compared with the commercial LaSota® vaccine. The HI (log2) and I-ELISA (log10) antibody titers in the serum samples of the experimental chicks at different days post-immunization revealed that there was no significant difference between overall humoral immune response in immunized chicks with minimum cold chain dependent live NDV immunogenic formulation As/Km/19/44 and commercially available LaSota® vaccine strain at P<0.001. Therefore, the minimum cold-chain-dependent NDV immunogenic formulation As/Km/19/44 can be recommended as a suitable live thermostable ND vaccine candidate for prevention and control of ND in areas where cold chain facilities are usually unreliable and can lead to the reduction of vaccine wastage, increase in vaccine efficacy, reduction in cost, ease of application and transportability.ThesisItem Open Access Transmission of Newcastle disease virus at domestic-wild bird interface(College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University, Khanapara Campus, 2022-09) Sharma, Abhilasha; Dutta, Jyoti BWild birds have been known to be reservoirs of Newcastle disease virus and the disease has been identified as one of the endemic diseases in India despite vaccination. Moreover, wildlife-livestock interfaces have come into light as the most overlooked areas of disease emergence. In that context, to demonstrate and establish spillover and spillback of Newcastle disease virus in wild and domestic birds as well to identify epidemiological means facilitating transmission at interface areas, a study was undertaken to detect and characterize NDV in the pool maintained in wild and domestic birds along with some epidemiological studies. Samples were collected from a total of 321 birds, both wild (n=81) and domestic (n=240) and subjected to haemagglutination inhibition (HI) and RT-PCR. The apparent prevalence of NDV in wild birds was found to be 22.2% (95% CI: 13.2-31.3%) and 14.6% (95% CI: 10.1-19.1%) in domestic birds at the sampled areas in this study from April, 2021 to August, 2022 revealing that wild birds had a higher likelihood of being affected with NDV than that of domestic (OR=1.67, 95% CI: 0.89-3.16, P=.101). The highest proportion of NDV positive wild birds were from the interface areas of Kaziranga National Park (32.21%) and in domestic birds from the interface areas of Assam State Zoo (25%). The study revealed that NDV positive cases in were highest among the raptors in wild (56.3%) and granivores (7.78%) in case of domestic birds. 14.3% and 4% of the sampled swabs collected from wild (n=56) and domestic birds (n=151) respectively to be positive for NDV thereby illuminating the dominant shedding nature of the virus. Similarly, 23.9% and 12.6% of the sampled tissues collected from wild (n=67) and domestic birds (n=261) were found to be positive for the virus. Additionally, it was found that in wild birds, highest proportion of NDV detection was seen in winter (44.44%) whereas in domestic birds, it was seen highest in pre-monsoon season (31.42%). Furthermore, detection of NDV was found to be significantly correlated with species and colony of birds as well as with the type of samples collected. A total of 11 NDV isolates from wild (n=6) and domestic birds (n=5) were subjected to biological and molecular pathotyping on the basis of MDT and FPCS respectively. MDT for NDV isolates of wild birds ranged between 31.02±2.98 to 48.56 ±2.79 and 40.67±2.03 to 59.01±0.77 for NDV isolates of domestic rendering them to be of velogenic nature. Molecular pathotyping based on F protein cleavage site motif revealed the 11 isolates from both wild and domestic birds to be of the virulent nature with 112RRQKRF117 amino acid sequence at their F protein cleavage site. Representative NDV isolates from wild (n=6) and domestic (n=5) were sequenced and subjected to phylogenetic analysis which revealed all the wild isolates to be clustered under genotype VII in class II NDV, whereas isolates from wild birds were grouped under both genotype VII and XIII. A questionnaire survey was conducted to evaluate the risk factors enabling transmission of Newcastle disease virus at interface areas. Analysis of risk factors associated with NDV transmission showed that change in weather had 37 times significantly higher risk of mass mortality of Newcastle disease than that of no changes in weather, OR=37 95% CI :9.34- 146.65, P<.001. Similarly, farms in close proximity significantly had higher chances of ND affection, OR=3.96 95% CI :1.38-11.36, P=.008. The presence of waterbody nearby had a 5.11 times higher risk of being exposed to NDV than absence of waterbody nearby, OR=5.11 95% CI :1.78-14.67, P=.002. Other animals housed in the premises was also a significant risk factor, OR=3.87 95% CI :1.45-10.33, P=.006. Linear regression analysis revealed risk factors including mortality after weather change, presence of water body nearby, unavailability of clean drinking water, unavailability of chlorinated water, not practising all-in-all-out system; not practising down-time, interaction of other birds while feeding, mixing with neighbourhood ducks and geese, being housed with pigeons, deworming not carried out, no use of foot-baths, biosecurity not followed, being housed with pigeons, presence of bamboo groves in the farm, crows visiting the farm, predation by rodents, wild birds interacting while feeding and seasonal migration of wild birds observed nearby to be significant risk factors at flock level. Knowledge and attitudes were found to have positive correlations with practices adopted by bird owners. A statistically insignificant link was found between knowledge and attitudes, but a positive trend line was observed between the two. The derived data base regression explained about 36.82% of total variation in practice.ThesisItem Open Access Epidemiology of rabies in Assam(College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University, Khanapara Campus, 2022-09) Boro, Prasanta Kumar; Dutta, Jyoti BIn an epidemiological study on rabies in 11 districts in Assam, 65 post-mortem brain samples belonging to nine species were collected by foramen magnum approach from clinically suspected domestic and wild animals and tested at the WOAH Reference Laboratory for Rabies, Hebbal, Bengaluru – 560 024, Karnataka. Simultaneously, a questionnaire survey on the community was undertaken to evaluate the epidemiological determinants on rabies transmission. Forty two (64.61 %) samples tested positive by LFA and DFA. Of the nine species, five species i.e. cattle 27 (41.53%), dog 9 (13.85%), goat 4 (6.15%), pig 1(1.53%) and pony 1(1.53%) were confirmed for rabies. Aggression in 41 (97.62%) cases was the most common signs exhibited by the affected animals before death with only one positive case (2.38%) showing paralytic signs. There was no dog bite history in 33 (78.57%) cases while 9 (21.43%) cases had. Most of the livestock were free ranging and grazed nearby protected areas where presences of wild carnivores were evident. Seasonal distribution revealed similar numbers of cases (45.24%) during rainy and flood season (July-September) and post-harvesting (December-February) winter season. Gender-wise, 20 (47.62%) positive cases of cattle and goats were either pregnant or recently calved. Prevalence of rabies was found to be highest (64.29%) in the animals more than 3 years of age, followed by the animals between 1 to 3 years (23.81%) and below one year of age (11.90%). In rural areas distribution of rabies was highest (52.31%), semi-urban (9.32%) and urban (3.08%). Distribution maps of rabies in different parts of Assam were generated based on the GPS locations of the positive cases and heat map revealed a high risk zone in the Golaghat district. The areas adjoining the tea gardens had higher rabies cases (23, 54.76%). The questionnaire survey revealed a very low level of community awareness regarding rabies and its transmission. Lack of proper information from the field staff, immediate collection of samples from field and transportation of samples to the laboratory maintaining cold chain were the major constraints found during the study.ThesisItem Open Access HORMONAL AND MINERAL STATUS OF CAPTIVE ASIAN ELEPHANTS (Elephas maximus) UNDER STRESS CONDITION AND ITS MANAGEMENT”(College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University, Khanapara, Guwahati, 2021-12) CHANU, NIKITA THINGOM; Mahato, G.The present study was conducted to know the hormonal and mineral status of captive Asian elephants of Assam under stress condition by evaluating the stress hormones and related haemato-biochemical parameters. The study areas were Kaziranga National Park, Manas National Park, Orang National Park, Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary as well as captive elephants of Sonapur (Guwahati-metro district) area. The captive elephants under different National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuary were considered as apparently healthy and their physiological parameters were considered as baseline values for the study. Those captive elephants maintained by private owners of Sonapur area were considered as stressed animals and the stress hormones were evaluated and compared with the free ranging captive elephants of different National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries. The serum cortisol (nmol/L), T3 (nmol/L) and T4 (nmol/L) concentrations were estimated using radioimmunoassay. Haematological parameters such as haemoglobin (g/dl), PCV (%), RBC (106/mm³), TLC (10³/mm³) and DLC (%) were also studied manually using standard protocols. Likewise, blood biochemical profiles viz. blood glucose (mg/dl), cholesterol (mg/dl), AST (U/L), ALT (U/L), total protein (g/dl), iron (μg/dl) and phosphorus (mg/dl) were estimated using different diagnostic kits. The mean cortisol concentration was higher and T₃ and T₄ were in low level in elephants of experimental group (captive elephants of private owners) in comparison to the baseline values of free ranging captive elephants of different National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries. Increase in haemoglobin, PCV, RBC and neutrophils and decrease in lymphocytes were also recorded in experimental group of elephants in comparison to baseline value. Blood biochemical profiles revealed higher level of blood glucose, cholesterol and low level of total protein and iron in privately owned captive elephants. Therapeutic management of stressed elephants was done with Vitamin C injection along with B-complex and liver tonics as supportive therapy. Following treatment, there was significant improvement (p<0.05) in the level of cortisol, T₃ and T₄ hormones. Haematological parameters viz, haemoglobin, PCV, RBC, TLC, neutrophils and lymphocytes showed significant differences (p<0.05) after treatment. Likewise, significant difference (p<0.05) were recorded in blood biochemical values of blood glucose, cholesterol, total protein, iron and phosphorus after treatment. The findings in the present study revealed that management of stress in captive elephants with vitamin C, B-complex vitamins and liver tonics were found to be effective.ThesisItem Open Access NON-CEREBRAL COENUROSIS WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO EPDEMIOLOGY AND MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF Coenurus gaigeri IN GOATS(College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University, Khanapara, Guwahati, 2019-07) LAHKAR, DEEPA; Das, Bipin ChandraAn epidemiological investigation was carried out to study the occurrence of noncerebral coenurosis in few goat rearing areas of undivided Kamrup district of Assam during the period from August, 2016 to July, 2018. In the present study, a total of 981 number of goats examined and out of which 53 animals were positive (5.40%), while the occurrence of cerebral coenurosis was recorded only 1.33 per cent. The area wise survey under undivided Kamrup district, revealed highest (7.23%) occurrence of non-cerebral coenurosis in Hajo area while goats from Khanapara area recorded maximum (2.61%) cases of cerebral coenurosis. Non-cerebral coenurosis was significantly (p<0.01) highest (10.27%) among goats of 2-3 years of age as compared to other age groups while none of the cases could be recorded in goats below 6 months of age. Similarly, the occurrence of cerebral coenurosis was also recorded highest in the age group of 2-3 years (2.66%). Sex wise, the occurrence of non-cerebral coenurosis was significantly (p<0.01) higher (8.10%) in female goats as compared to males (1.69%) in the present study. Similarly, a higher percentage of females were also affected with cerebral coenurosis than the male goats. A significantly (<0.01) higher occurrence of non-cerebral coenurosis was recorded in female goats in the age group of 2 to 3 years (14.10%) as compared to males of the same age group. Likewise the occurrence of cerebral coenurosis was also found to be the highest in adult females in the age group of 2 to 3 years than the male goats. Thigh region was found to be the most common site (26.42%) for predilection of non-cerebral coenurus cysts from where maximum number of cysts were recovered which had significantly (p<0.05) higher cyst volume, significantly (p<0.01) larger diameter with significantly (p<0.01) maximum number of protoscolices per coenurus cyst, as compared to other body locations while brain was the common site of predilection for cerebral coenurus cysts in goats. Both non-cerebral and cerebral coenurus cysts found in the present study was characterized by a thin transparent wall filled with a transluscent fluid of varying volume with presence of numerous invaginated protoscolices, were arranged in clusters and found to attach to the germinal membrane of the cyst wall. However, non-cerebral cyst was additionally enclosed by an outer fibrous connective tissue capsule. Based on the keys and guidelines of Soulsby (1982), the coenurus cysts recovered from the subcutaneous and muscle tissues of goats and from brain in the present study, were tentatively identified as Coenurus gaigeri and Coenurus cerebralis, respectively. The mean (± SE) prepatent period of adult taeniids following experimental infection of dogs with non-cerebral and cerebral coenurus cysts from goats, was found to be 60.20 ± 1.06 days (ranging between 57 to 63 days) and 56.80 ± 1.91 days (52 to 61 days), respectively. Dogs infected with non-cerebral coenurus cyst resulted in development of adult taeniids in the jejunum of small intestine from where, 32 numbers of parasites were recovered with intact scolex with evidence of hyperaemia on the mucosa. Similarly, dogs infected with cerebral cysts, also showed evidence of adult taeniids in the small intestine particularly in the jejunum and ileum. The adult taeniids of dogs derived from both noncerebral and cerebral origin, were whitish in colour, and measured 70 to 85 cm and 45 to 62 cm in length, respectively. The number of segments per worm from non-cerebral and cerebral origin was ranging from 61 to 102 numbers and 45 to 73 numbers respectively. The scolex of taeniid parasites derived from non-cerebral and cerebral origin was found to be globular in shape with four cup shaped suckers along with a prominent rostellum with double rows of rostellar hooks. The length of the large hooks in taeniids derived from cerebral origin was significantly (p<0.05) higher as compared to the large hooks of taeniids derived from non-cerebral origin. Similarly, the length of the blade of large rostellar hooks of taeniids from cerebral origin was also significantly (p<0.05) higher as compared to the blade length of taeniids from non-cerebral origin. The PCR reaction targeting amplification CO1 and NAD1 gene of Taenia multiceps yielded the expected 444 bp and 530 bp products in the present study. The pair wise alignment of both the mitochondrial CO1 gene (CC_CO1, NC_CO1) sequences of cerebral and non-cerebral cysts showed a similarity of 98-99% and 99-100%, respectively. The phylogenetic analysis based on CO1 gene sequences revealed that the present isolates (CC_CO1 and NC_CO1) were closely related to an isolate of Taenia multiceps reported from China (Accession No. KX 547641.1) and showed 99.76% and 100% similarity, respectively which they formed a single clad and thereby confirmed that both the isolates belonged to Taenia multiceps. The NAD1 gene (CC_NAD1, NC_NAD1) sequences of both type of cysts also showed similarity of 97-99% and 98-99%, respectively to the identical sequences of Taenia multiceps in the GeneBank database and confirmed the identity of the query sequence to be Taenia multiceps. The phylogenetic analysis of NAD1 sequences revealed that the present isolate CC_NAD1 was closely related with a Greece isolate (Acc. No. KR 604804.1), an Iranian isolate and two isolates from Turkey showing 99.22, 98.92, 98.60 and 98.00% similarity, with which it formed a single clad and thereby confirmed the present isolate to be of Taenia multiceps. The other isolate, NC_NAD1, although showed 99.59% similarity with an isolate of T. multiceps from Greece (KR 604804.1) but it formed a separate clad within the same cluster in the phylogenetic tree. Based on the phylogenetic analysis of CO1 and NAD1 gene sequences, it can be concluded that Taenia multiceps is the single valid species and the origin of both non-cerebral (Coenurus gaigeri) and cerebral (Coenurus cerebralis) coenurus cysts in goats in the present study. The molecular data based on CO1 and NAD1 sequences of both non-cerebral and cerebral coenurus cysts in goats was reported for the first time from Assam, India.ThesisItem Open Access PREVALENCE OF BAT LYSSAVIRUS IN ASSAM(College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University, Khanapara, Guwahati, 2022-01) DAS, TINKU; Dutta, Jyoti B.Rabies is one of the oldest known tropical viral zoonotic diseases caused by Lyssavirus of the family Rhabdoviridae, affecting all warm-blooded mammals. Annually ~ 60,000 people succumb to rabies every year, out of which, India alone bears the burden of 36 per cent of the global cases. Even though most of these cases are canine-mediated, but there is no dearth of data regarding bats being one of the primary reservoirs of the virus. Several species of bat Lyssavirus have been documented and bat-transmitted rabies in humans has been regularly reported since the last century. In the present study, 34 bat samples belonging to nine species of bats were collected from eight districts of Assam, namely, Kamrup (M), Baksa, Chirang, Barpeta, Kokrajhar, Golaghat, North Lakhimpur and Dhemaji, and tested for the presence of bat Lyssavirus as per the OIE guidelines. The samples were subjected to Lateral Flow Assay (LFA), Direct Fluorescent Antibody Technique (DFA), One-step PCR. None of the samples were positive for lyssavirus indicating absence of an active lyssaviral infection in the bats during the study period.ThesisItem Open Access OUTER MEMBRANE VESICLE (OMV) OF Pasteurella multocida AS POTENTIAL IMMUNOGEN FOR PIG(Assam Agricultural University, Khanapara, Guwahati, 2016-07) MUKHERJEE, SHYAMANANDA; Mahato, G.The present study was undertaken to evaluate the immunogenic potential of Outer Membrane Vesicles (OMVs) and bacterin vaccine and their comparison. Extractions were made from a highly pathogenic pig isolate of Pasteurella multocida of capsular type A. For the study, isolation of P. multocida was attempted from apparently healthy, ailing and dead pigs. Following screening of the 171 field samples collected from various places, 17 (9.94 %) were found to be positive for P. multocida. Fourteen of the 17 isolates subjected to PCR targeting species-specific gene revealed a distinct band of 460 bp, which was a confirmation of the isolates as P. multocida. Among the confirmed P. multocida isolates, nine were identified as capsular type A (1044 bp), while the remaining five were capsular type D (657 bp), based on multiplex cap-PCR results, targeting hyaD-hyaC and dcbF genes, respectively. Both OMVs and bacterin were extracted from the most pathogenic porcine isolate of P. multocida capsular type A selected on the basis of pathogenicity trial in mice. Vaccines were prepared from the OMVs extract and bacterin of P. multocida and immunized to pigs. Following immunization with vaccines prepared from both the extracted OMVs and bacterin in natural host, pig through intramuscular (i/m) route, a gradual increase in the mean serum antibody titre was observed in both the immunized groups. The vaccine prepared from the OMVs extract showed peak antibody titre on 60th day (6.40± 0.19) post-vaccination. On the other hand, the vaccine preparation with the bacterin extract showed peak titre on 28th day (6.10± 0.14) of post-immunization and no significant difference was observed between the vaccine preparations throughout the study period (upto 90 days). Based on the statistical analysis of the mean serum antibody titre at different days post-immunization with the two preparations, no significant difference was observed between the two vaccine preparations of P. multocida. The post vaccinated serum samples collected on different days were subjected for protection test in mice. The result of passive mouse protection test revealed that the 21st and 28th day post vaccination serum sample (OMV vaccine) and 28th day serum sample (bacterin vaccine) produced (100%) protection in mice.
