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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 Sero-prevalence and molecular detection of leptospires in dogs of peri-urban livestock farms and urban households of Guwahati(College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University, Khanapara Campus, 2022) Saikia, Ritrisha; Hazarika, R ALeptospirosis is a zoonotic disease found in multiple wild and domestic species including dogs. A study on the sero-prevalence of leptospirosis in dogs of peri-urban livestock farms and urban households of Guwahati was carried out from September 2021 to August 2022. The work was envisaged to collect baseline data from respondents by interview method using a questionnaire, to detect the pathogenic leptospires with serological assay and molecular technique and to map the prevalent areas of leptospirosis in dogs in Guwahati. A total of 240 dogs were selected randomly from peri-urban livestock farms (120 dogs) and urban households (120 dogs). The study recorded higher secondary as the main level of education in both peri-urban farmers (40.00%) and urban household owners (60.00%). Majority of the dogs in peri-urban farms were non-descript (98.33%) compared with maximum of descript dogs (60.00%) in urban households. Female dogs were more common in urban households (55.83%) in contrast to maximum male dogs in peri-urban farms (71.67%). Overall, majority of the dogs aged 1-5 years in both peri-urban farms (38.34%) and urban households (44.17%). Vaccination in dogs was mostly followed by urban households (84.17%). Dogs were provided mainly tap water (56.67%) in peri-urban farms compared to with filtered water in urban households (96.67%). The study recorded peri-urban farms (50.83%) to be moderately clean. Practice of disinfection procedure in peri-urban farms recorded 28.33%. History of no abortion was recorded in peri-urban farms (67.50%) as well as in urban households (85.83%) for both livestock and dogs. Dogs from peri-urban farms (79.17%) and urban households (55.00%) were apparently healthy. Most of the farmers and dog owners were not aware of leptospirosis in both peri-urban livestock farms (96.67%) and urban households (84.17%). Leptospirosis of dogs showed an overall 10.42% sero-prevalence in peri-urban cattle and pig farms and urban households of Guwahati. Sero-prevalence was higher in peri-urban farms (15.83%) compared to urban households (5.00%). It was recorded higher in farms and households where farmers and dog owners were illiterate (30.76%) with non-descript (12.65%) as well as in male dogs (12.94%) and in dogs aged up to 1 year (14.54%). Non-vaccinated dogs (18.39%) were recorded with higher sero-prevalence. Higher sero-prevalence was more in farms providing stored water (52.17%), in dirty farms (29.27%) and farms which don‟t follow disinfection practices (20.93%). It was recorded to be higher in livestock farms having the history of abortion (13.52%), and farmers and dog owners those were not aware (10.56%) of the disease. The samples collected from IgG positive and negative samples from blood, which were subjected to PCR for the detection of 16S rRNA and Lipl32 genes of Leptospira showed their presence (8% each).ThesisItem Open Access Sero-prevalence and molecular detection of canine brucellosis in urban and peri-urban areas of Guwahati(College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University, Khanapara Campus, 2022) Goud, Malela Saikrishna; Talukdar, ArchanaBrucellosis is an important neglected lingering zoonotic disease of increasing veterinary and public health concern particularly in developing countries which is highly underreported in India. In Assam, the abundance of non-confined free roaming dogs in peri-urban livestock farms and enormous increase in dog ownership in metropolitan city of Guwahati has become a significant threat rendering the owners vulnerable to various zoonotic diseases including canine brucellosis. The present investigation was carried out from January, 2022 to June, 2022 to collect baseline data on dog owners, study the sero-prevalence of brucellosis in dog, detect the presence of Brucella spp. in dogs using molecular technique and prepare canine brucellosis prevalence map in peri-urban and urban areas of Guwahati. A total 24 locations comprising of 12 locations each for peri-urban areas viz., Sonapur Rewa NC, Mirza, Khankar Gaon, Kahikuchi, Digaru Gaon, Shanti Basti, Bonda, Gorol, Gomoria Gaon, Birkuchi, Jorabat, Hatisila, and urban areas of Guwahati viz., Khanapara, Six Mile, Hatigaon, Uzan Bazar, Zoo Road, Hengrabari, Ganeshguri, Chandmari, Beltola, Bharalumukh, Boragaon and Kahilipara were selected. From each peri-urban location 10 livestock farms having in-contact dogs and from each urban location 10 households keeping dogs were selected. Baseline data revealed that most of the peri-urban farmers were educated up to secondary (78.34%) level and below 50 years (92.507%), having moderately clean or dirty farms (82.50%) and reared non-descript (85.00%) local or cross breed dogs which were fed on garbage and homemade food (50.83%). Majority of the farmers did not consult veterinarian and used unsafe method of waste and carcass disposal. Contrary to this, in urban areas the dog owners were highly educated, reared descript pure breed dogs, fed commercial and homemade food to dogs (93.33%), but 94.17% owners were unaware about brucellosis. Dogs were showing various symptoms of brucellosis viz., infertility (11.25%), scrotal dermatitis (2.90%), still birth (2.50%), fetal maceration (2.50%), fetal mummification (1.25%), fetal resorption (1.67%), vaginal discharges (12.09%), abortion (7.91%) and lymphadenopathy (5.41%) in both urban and peri-urban areas of Guwahati. Screening of a total of 240 serum samples of dog by RBPT and further confirmation by STAT and LFA revealed the overall sero-prevalence of canine brucellosis to be 4.16%, with 2.50% sero-positivity in urban compared to 5.83% in peri-urban areas. Highest sero-prevalence of brucellosis was recorded in Sonapur Rewa NC (2.50%) of peri-urban Guwahati. Association between sero-prevalence of canine brucellosis with respect to the feeding habit of dogs and cases of abortion in livestock were found to be very highly significant (P<0.001). Significant association (P<0.05) between sero-prevalence of canine brucellosis was recorded with respect to the educational qualification of the farmers, sex of dogs, health status of dogs, method of disposal of farm waste and hygienic status of farms. Molecular detection of genus specific BCSP31 gene in dog blood samples indicated the presence of Brucella organism, which were confirmed as Brucella abortus by species specific AMOS, Bruce Ladder and a multiplex PCR. GIS maps were prepared to visualize the topographic distribution of canine brucellosis in urban and peri-urban areas of Guwahati on the basis of Brucella sero-prevalence in dogs, which will be of immense support in future for strategic disease control at the interface of human, animal and environment.ThesisItem Open Access SERO-PREVALENCE, MOLECULAR DETECTION AND ASSESSMENT OF FARM LEVEL RISK FACTORS OF JAPANESE ENCEPHALITIS VIRUS INFECTION IN PIGS OF LAKHIMPUR DISTRICT OF ASSAM(College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University Khanapara, Guwahati-781022, 2016-07) Rajkhowa, Uttam; Barua, A. G.An investigation was carried out in the Department of Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University, Khanapara, Guwahati-22, to study the Sero-prevalence, molecular detection and assessment of farm level risk factors of Japanese encephalitis virus infection in pigs of Lakhimpur district of Assam. The samples were collected from 145 pig farms both organized and unorganized in 9 blocks of Lakhimpur district with a total 58 numbers of samples per block of the district, during the year 2015-16 . Out of 522 serum samples collected, 20 (3.83%) were found to be sero-positive by Indirect ELISA for Japanese encephalitis virus infection. Among the 9 blocks the highest prevalence was found in Boginadi block (8.62%) followed by North Lakhimpur (6.90%), Nowbachia (6.90%), Dhokuakhana (5.17%), Bihpuria (3.45%), and Karunabari (3.45%). No prevalence was found in Telahi and Narayanpur blocks (0%). Age wise higher prevalence (4.46%) was recorded in the age group above 12 months, sex wise in female (4.41%) pigs and breed wise slightly higher prevalence was observed in local pigs (4.11%). however there was no significant association in sero-prevalence of Japanese encephalitis with respect to age , sex , and breed of pigs. All the samples subjected for RT-PCR were found to be negative for E gene of JEV by RT-PCR. Assessment of the farm level risk factors included in the present study viz. closeness to rice fields, standing water sources, exposure of wild bird to pig farms, mosquito exposure to pig sheds showed that all the risk factors were significantly associated with sero-positiviy of JE in pig farms.ThesisItem Open Access QUALITY EVALUATION AND DETECTION OF ADULTERANTS IN RAW AND PASTEURIZED MILK MARKETED IN AND AROUND GUWAHATI CITY(College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University Khanapara, Guwahati-781022, 2016-07) Kakati, Smita; TALUKDAR, ARCHANAMilk in its natural form is a unique food for the nourishment of human being since time immemorial as it provides immunogenic protection and supplies nutrients in an easily digestible form than any other single food. With growing consumer concern for their daily consumables, there is increased awareness regarding safety and quality issues of milk and dairy products. The presence of adulterants, preservatives and pathogens of zoonotic importance is of primary concern in the effort of achieving a safe milk supply to the consumers. The present investigation was undertaken to study the quality, to determine the presence of different adulterants and preservatives as well as to assess the microbial load of raw and pasteurized milk marketed in and around Guwahati city. A total of 200 pooled milk samples were collected comprising of 8 samples each from 25 different locations in and around Guwahati city. Five different pasteurized packaged milk samples were collected from different dairies viz. Purabi Dairy, Amul Taaza, Central Dairy, Mother Dairy and Nandini. Physical evaluation of raw milk samples revealed mean titratable acidity of 0.14 - 0.20% lactic acid, pH of 5.60 - 6.91, specific gravity of 1.024 - 1.030, fat content of 1.57 - 3.55% and solids-not-fat (SNF) content of 6.634 - 8.350%; the respective values of which in packaged milk samples were 0.14 - 0.19% lactic acid, 6.10 - 6.70, 1.024 - 1.029, 3.00 - 3.05% and 8.515 - 8.580. Both raw and packaged milk samples showed negative result on clot-on-boiling test. Presence of added water, neutralizers, ammonia and salt were recorded in raw milk while the packaged milk samples were found to be properly pasteurized and free from any type of adulterant and preservative. Methylene blue reduction test of raw milk indicated more than 50% of the samples to be of poor and very poor quality in contrast to good quality in all the packaged milk from dairies. The viable bacterial count and coliform count of raw milk were 10.59 - 14.62 and 6.34 - 7.50 log cfu/ml, respectively, while no coliform could be isolated from the packaged milk. Based on physical evaluation, chemical analysis and microbial assessment, the raw milk marketed in and around Guwahati city was found to be of poor quality whereas all the packaged milk samples were found to be properly pasteurized and free from any coliform organism and harmful adulterants and preservatives.ThesisItem Open Access PREVALENCE OF BRUCELLOSIS IN ANIMALS AND MAN USING CONVENTIONAL AND MOLECULAR TECHNIQUES(College of Veterinary Science Assam Agricultural University Khanapara, Guwahati-781022, 2016-07) GOGOI, SAMIR BIKASH; Hussain, P.Brucellosis is an infectious, economically ravaging reproductive disease of animal and one of the re-emerging major zoonoses with world-wide distribution. The present work was conducted (i) to screen the animals and human being of different age groups against brucellosis and (ii) to compare the different tests used for diagnosis of the disease. The study was conducted from February, 2015 to May, 2016. A total of 174 milk samples (152 milk sample from cattle and 22 from goat) and 773 serum samples (520, 138 and 115 serum samples from cattle, goat and pig respectively) were collected randomly from animals having history of clinical symptoms suspected to brucellosis as well as from apparently healthy animals of different age groups, from different districts of Assam were screened by MRT, RBPT, STAT and I-ELISA tests. The prevalence of brucellosis was recorded, 10.53%, 12.69%, 13.08% and 13.84% in cattle by MRT, RBPT, STAT and I-ELISA respectively and 1.45% prevalence rate was recorded in goat by all the three serological tests. All the serum samples from pig found negative by serological tests. Sex-wise higher prevalence rate was recorded in female cattle (14.06%), Age-wise highest prevalence recorded in the age group of 3-7 year (15.09%), breed-wise higher prevalence in crossbred cattle (20.00%) and cattle from organized farm recorded higher prevalence (15.65%) than unorganized farm by I-ELISA. In case of goat, sex-wise prevalence rate was recorded in female was 2.15%, age-wise in the age group of 9-18 months of age was 4.76%, breed-wise prevalence found in indigenous breed of goat was 1.56% and prevalence rate recorded from unorganized farm was 1.82% by I-ELISA. Prevalence rate on the basis of previous history or clinical symptoms recorded highest in case of aborted cattle (64.24%) followed by retention of placenta (47.13%) in cattle. In case of goat, prevalence rate recorded only in aborted goat by I-ELISA was 16.67%. The comparative efficacy of the different tests showed that maximum positive reactors was detected by I-ELISA (13.85%) followed by STAT (13.08%), RBPT (12.69%) and MRT (10.53%). All the serum samples collected from human were showed negative by RBPT and STAT. Brucella organism has been demonstrated in clinical samples of vaginal swab, uterine discharge and placenta by modified Ziehl Neelsen Stain. In genus specific PCR, out of 47 clinical samples 6 showed amplification of Brucella bacterial nucleic acid, at 223bp for BCSP31 gene using gene specific primers.ThesisItem Open Access ISOLATION AND MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF Escherichia coli AND Salmonella SPECIES FROM FOOD ANIMALS(College of Veterinary Science Assam Agricultural University Khanapara, Guwahati-781022, 2016-01) Debbarma, Sabita; Hazarika, R. A.The present study was carried out for isolation and molecular characterization of Escherichia coli and Salmonella species from faecal and meat samples of food animals viz. cattle, pigs and poultry. Among the samples of 3 species of food animals examined, highest recovery of E. coli and Salmonella was made from faecal and meat samples of pigs. All the 66 E. coli and 14 Salmonella isolates were confirmed by PCR using genus specific uidA and hisJ genes, respectively. On serotyping, out of 66 E. coli isolates, 42 (63.64%) were typed into 13 different ‘O’ serogroups, 13 (19.70%) untypable and remaining 11 (16.67%) were identified as rough. Serogroup O84, O101, O118, O120 and O147 were predominant and serogroup O118 was recorded to be common in the samples of all 3 species of food animals. Out of the 14 Salmonella isolates, 10 (71.43%) were recorded to be Salmonella Typhimurium and 2 (14.29% each) S. Enteritidis and S. Miami. S. Typhimurium was the most predominant serovar encountered in food animals and recorded to be the common serovar in pigs and poultry. Twenty representative E. coli isolates from 20 different locations and 10 representative Salmonella Typhimurium isolates from 10 different locations were subjected for molecular typing by PCR targeting Repetitive Extragenic Palindromic (REP) sequences. On visual comparison, the multiple DNA fragments of E. coli, ranged in sizes between 100 to 1800 bp. Whereas, multiple DNA fragments of Salmonella Typhimurium, ranged in sizes between 100 to 1250 bp. On analysis of dendrogram of E. coli isolates, the 17 band profiles were grouped into 2 major clusters viz. cluster A and cluster B at 4.88% similarity. The isolates that belonged to cluster A were specific for cattle and pigs while the cluster B were found to consist of only E. coli of poultry and pig origin. Likewise, dendrogram analysis of Salmonella Typhimurium isolates depicted 3 band profiles, which were grouped into two major clusters viz. cluster A and cluster B. The isolates that belonged to cluster A were specific for pigs and poultry while the cluster B were found to consist of only Salmonella Typhimurium of pig origin. Virulent stx2 and est genes were detected from 5 and 3 E. coli isolates, respectively. Out of 5 stx2 positive E. coli isolates, 2 belonged to serotype O2 and O126 and 3 belonged to serotype O84 and untypable (2) which were recovered from cattle and pig faecal samples, respectively. Out of 3 est positive E. coli isolates, 2 each belonged to serotype O147 and untypable and 1 belonged to serotype O101 which were recovered from cattle faecal and pork samples, respectively. All the 14 isolates of Salmonella showed to bear invA gene indicating that all the isolates are invasive in nature. Antimicrobial sensitivity pattern of all the 66 E. coli and 14 Salmonella isolates against 7 different antimicrobial agents showed highest sensitivity to chloramphenicol and ciprofloxacin and least sensitivity to ampicillin and cloxacillin.ThesisItem Open Access SERO-PREVALENCE OF JAPANESE ENCEPHALITIS IN PIGS AND ITS CORRELATION WITH MOSQUITO DENSITY AND ITS HUMAN OCCURRENCE IN SOME ENDEMIC LOCALITIES OF ASSAM(Assam Agricultural University, Khanapara, Guwahati, 2016-07) BARUAH, ADITYA; HAZARIKA, R. A.Japanese encephalitis (JE) is a re-emerging mosquito-borne flaviviral zoonotic disease and a major cause for concern to childhood mortality and morbidity in countries of Southeast Asia including India. The disease has appeared in sporadic as well as epidemic forms since 1976 in Assam. The present study was envisaged to study the sero-prevalence of JE in pigs, the density pattern of mosquito vectors in JE endemic localities and to draw an association between the occurrence of JE in humans with serological studies in pigs and mosquito density. A total of 335 blood samples of pigs were collected during the study period from 8 districts of Assam with special reference to Sivasagar district and Hajo area of Kamrup (Rural) district. Out of these many samples screened, 31.34% were found positive for antibodies against JEV. The highest sero-prevalence of JEV was observed during monsoon (50.40%) and no sero-prevalence was recorded in the months of December, January, February and March. Sex-wise sero-prevalence showed higher sero-prevalence in males (39.84%) than females (35.38%). Large Black cross breed of pigs (26.00%) were found to carry JEV infection. Based on the topography of the pig farms, the sero-positivity was recorded significantly higher in wet land (47.79%) than that of dry land (23.67%). JEV sero-prevalence of pigs in farms, which were located nearer to the rice fields and stagnant water showed significantly higher sero-positivity (39.77%) than the farms located away from the rice fields and stagnant water (22.01%). Based on rearing practices of pigs, the sero-positivity was recorded highest in free-range system (47.37%) and least in tethering (21.00%) practice. Distribution of JEV infection in pigs was recorded highest in Sivasagar district (35.20%) and least in Hajo area (9.89%) of Kamrup (Rural) district. An additional study on sero-prevalence of JEV in other domestic animals including horses, cattle and goats recorded a very high sero-positivity (60.00%) in horses. Densities of Cx. gelidus (26.13%), Cx. tritaeniorhynchus (24.12%), Armigeres spp. (19.41%), Cx. vishnui (12.06%), Mansonia spp (8.54%) and Cx. quinquefasciatus were categorized as dominant species whereas, Cx. whitmorei and Anopheles spp (4.52 each) were categorized as sub-dominant species in the study area. A positive correlation was observed among human JE cases, JEV sero-prevalence in pigs and mosquito density in Sivasagar district and Hajo area of Kamrup (Rural) district of Assam indicating an association existed among them.
