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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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2016 - 20192
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Subject: Veterinary Parasitology × Author: SAIKIA, MUNMI × End date: 2019 × Start date: 2016 × Type: Thesis ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    DIGESTIVE TRACT PROTOZOAN PARASITISM IN DOMESTIC BIRDS WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO Trichomonas gallinae IN ASSAM
    (College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University, Khanapara, Guwahati, 2019-07) SAIKIA, MUNMI; Bhattacharjee, Kanta
    The present study was undertaken to ascertain the prevalence of protozoan parasites inhabiting the digestive tract of domestic birds which included pigeon (Columba livia domestica), chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus), duck (Anas platyrhynchos domesticus) and quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) in the state of Assam, India. The study was conducted for a period of two years w.e.f. April 2017 to March 2019 in 8 districts of Assam viz. Kamrup (Rural and Metro), Dhubri, Barpeta, Nalbari, Darrang, Baksa, Lakhimpur and Dhemaji. A total of 1278 pooled faecal samples and 1207 throat swabs were collected for study. Faecal examination by floatation method for the presence or absence of oocyst of coccidia and by Modified Ziehl- Neelsen staining and Kinyoun’s staining method for detection of Cryptosporidium infection was carried out in domestic birds and overall prevalence of digestive tract protozoa was recorded as 34.66%. Identified species were Eimeria labbeana (26.35%), E. columbarum (8.69%) and E. columbae (3.53%) from pigeon; Eimeria tenella (19.13%), E. acervulina (9.46%), E. necatrix (6.88%), E. maxima (2.36%) and Cryptosporidium baileyi (3.01%) from chicken; Eimeria battakhi (19.86%) from duck and Eimeria tsunodai (13.29%), E. bateri (5.69%), E. uzura (3.16%) and Cryptosporidium meleagridis (4.43%) from quail. Season wise, highest prevalence was recorded from pigeon in pre monsoon (58.33%) and lowest in monsoon (27.17%); in chicken highest in monsoon (57.00%) and lowest in pre monsoon (28.69%); in duck highest in winter (52.45%) and lowest in post monsoon (17.28%); in quail highest prevalence was seen during monsoon (61.11%) and lowest in winter season (14.28%). District wise, highest prevalence (80%) was recorded from Kamrup (rural and metro) and lowest from Dhemaji (22.22%) in pigeon; in chicken highest (82.60%) from Dhubri and lowest from Lakhimpur (28.16%); in case of duck and quail highest prevalence was recorded from Dhubri (51.72%) in duck and (45%) in quail and lowest percentage was recorded from Baksa (22.22%) and (17.85%) from Darrang respectively. Observation on the prevalence of T. gallinae was done by Giemsa staining and culture and overall prevalence was recorded as 28.91%. In pigeon, the prevalence was recorded as high as 71.12% and in chicken it was 6.25% but T. gallinae was not recorded from both duck and quail in natural condition. In pigeon, prevalence was found in squab as 79.47% which was the highest. In young bird, it was 61.11% and in adult, prevalence was 70.00%. Female birds showed a prevalence rate of 75.51% while in male, it was 66.36%. In chicken prevalence rate was 6.73% in females and 6.00% in males. Season wise, highest number of cases (87.12%) in pigeon was recorded in winter and lowest in monsoon (60.58%). In chicken, T. gallinae infection was recorded only in two seasons; post monsoon showed slightly higher prevalence (15.49%) than winter (13.79%). District wise, maximum number of positive samples (78.65%) was recorded from Kamrup (rural and metro) in pigeon and in chicken, highest prevalence of Trichomonas infection was reported from Baksa district (34.78%). Comparative evaluation of direct smear (Giemsa staining) and culture methods (Wet mount) for detection of T. gallinae revealed culture method to be sensitive and superior to direct smear method. Five media, viz. modified Diamond’s media, Medium199, Minimum Essential Medium (MEM), RPMI 1640 and Nutrient broth were used for culture and maintenance 3 of T. gallinae parasite. Medium 199 showed the highest growth of organism upto 144-168 hours with motile trophozoites in comparison with other four media in the present study. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) employed for amplification of Fe hydrogenase gene of Trichomonas gallinae from positive cultured materials of pigeon and chicken showed clear 290 bp band fragment. Molecular characterization of T. gallinae from pigeon and chicken isolate of Assam in the present study showed 100% similarity with isolates of Iran and Austria. To determine the virulent nature of the trichomonads and its transmissibility to different hosts, experiment was performed with or without immunosuppressive drugs in chicken, duck, quails and mice taking pigeon as its natural host. Pigeon strain of T. gallinae orally inoculated at concentration of 4x104 trophozoites in birds and intra peritoneal inoculation in mice revealed presence of parasites in all bird species while mice developed abscess which is an indicator of T. gallinae infection. Pathological lesions like yellowish to whitish masses of caseous necrotic materials were seen in the beak, oral cavity, oeosophagus, crop and proventriculus of pigeon and mild gross alterations were observed in other experimental host. Histopathological alterations were also found more in pigeon than other infected birds. In the present study, five different drugs used for in vitro and in vivo efficacy against T. gallinae were Flagyl 400 (Metronidazole), Ornida (Ornidazole), Tiniba 300 (Tinidazole), Sulcoprim (sulphadiazine and trimethoprim) and Vetfur-TL (Metronidazole, Furazolidone and Loperamide). Concentration of drugs @10, 20 and 30 mg/ml for in vitro study and 20 and 30 mg/kg for in vivo study revealed 100% efficacy of the drugs Metronidazole, Ornidazole and combination of Metronidazole, Furazolidone and Loperamide at 30mg/ml in vitro and 30mg/kg in in vivo condition.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    STUDIES ON PROTOZOAN INFECTION OF DOMESTIC PIGEON (Columba livia domestica) IN ASSAM
    (Assam Agricultural University, Khanapara, Guwahati, 2016-07) SAIKIA, MUNMI; Bhattacharjee, Kanta
    To understand the pattern of protozoan disease in domestic pigeon of Assam, a systematic study was conducted for a period of one year. A total of 324 blood samples of pigeons were screened for detection of haemoprotozoan infection and 173 birds were found positive by microscopic examination of blood smear, the overall percentage being 53.39%. Three different species of haemoprotozoa viz. Haemoproteus columbae, Plasmodium relictum and Leucocytozoon sp. were identified in pigeons of Assam. Prevalence of haemoprotozoan infection was analyzed on the basis of age and sex of birds and season of the year. Examination of body of pigeons for the presence of pigeon fly, Pseudolynchia canariensis, the proven vector of Haemoproteus columbae showed 15.12% prevalence. Among the haemoprotozoan parasites, Haemoproteus columbae was predominant (29.93%) followed by Plasmodium relictum (21.29%) and Leucocytozoon sp. (2.16%) was recorded least. Morphologically, the three species were identified and confirmed. Age wise, infection was recorded highest in adults (61.81%) and least in squab. Sex wise, female (58.22%) showed more infection as compared to male birds. According to season infection rate was highest (72.55%) in premonsoon season. Microfilaria of Bhalfilaria ladamii was also detected during examination of a heart blood smear. Examination of a blood smear also revealed trophozoites of Trichomonas gallinae as an accidental case. Haematological parameters recorded in infected and non infected birds due to haemoprotozoan parasites showed significant differences in Hb, PCV, TEC, MCV, MCH, heterophils, lymphocytes, eosinophil values between the two groups. The prevalence of Trichomonas gallinae infection based on throat swab smear examination was recorded as 26.85%. Age wise highest prevalence was found in squab (56.25%) and lowest percentage in adult (10.90%). Sex wise prevalence was higher in female (33.54%) than male birds. Season wise highest prevalence of Trichomonas gallinae was found in winter season (34%) and least infection was observed in post monsoon season (21.44%). Prevalence of mixed infection of Haemoproteus columbae and Trichomonas gallinae were highest (12.34%). A total of 438 fresh pooled faecal samples were collected from pigeons irrespective of age and sex from four different districts of Assam viz. Kamrup (R), Kamrup (M), Lakhimpur and Dhemaji district for detection of coccidia and other associated helminthic infection. Overall prevalence of coccidia infection was found to be 38.81%. Species wise highest prevalence was recorded due to Eimeria labbeana (28.08%), followed by Eimeria columbarum (6.84%), Eimeria columbae (2.86%), Isospora sp.(0.22%). One unidentified Eimeria sp. (1.14%) was also put on record having morphological similarity to E. duculai. Mixed infection of coccidia and Capillaria sp. egg was detected highest (5.93%), followed by Heterakis gallinarum (3.19%), Ascaridia columbae (1.82%) and Strongyloides avium (0.91%). Season wise prevalence rate was recorded highest in premonsoon season (61.22%), followed by monsoon (34.78%), post monsoon (34.73%) and least in winter (28.46%). Experimental infection of coccidia and Trichomonas gallinae done for establishment of pure infection revealed clinical symptoms and presence of parasites. Pathological alterations and the microscopical changes induced by Trichomonas gallinae and coccidia were studied on 55 carcasses of pigeons collected from temple premises and households of the present study area. At post mortem, 10 nos. of carcasses (18.18%) showed positive lesion due to coccidia and 14 nos. of carcasses (25.45%) showed lesions due to Trichomonas gallinae. Gross pathological changes due to coccidia were haemorrhagic and necrotic lesion in the intestinal mucosa, thickening of intestine and excessive mucus production and in case of Trichomonas gallinae, there was accumulation of greenish- white necrotic haemorrhagic lesions in the crop and oesophagus, and areas of necrosis in liver and gizzard. Histopathology of intestinal mucosa revealed diffuse areas of haemorrhages and detection of oocysts of coccidia. In case of Trichomonas gallinae infection, microscopical changes seen in liver were coagulative necrosis and inflammatory reaction. Crop showed areas of moderate haemorrhage and congestion and varying amount of inflammation. In the lung, parenchyma showed thickening, congestion of blood vessels and haemorrhage. Myocardium of heart also showed congestion and focal areas of haemorrhage. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed for identification of cyt b gene of Haemoproteus columbae using oligonucleotide primers. The positive blood samples produced amplification of 207bp. PCR for amplification of mt-cyt b gene of Haemoproteus spp. and Plasmodium spp. was also carried out and positive samples showed the clear band at 525 bp. Amplification of ITS-1 gene for detection of Eimeria genus was also performed and the positive samples showed clear band at 510 bp. Similarly, amplification of ITS1/5.8SrRNA/ITS2 gene was done for identification of Trichomonas gallinae and clear band at 290 bp was seen in positive samples. On the basis of phylogenetic analysis, local isolate (Haemoproteus columbae) is highly dissimilar from reported isolates of nearby and distant countries.