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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 PREVALENCE OF GASTROINTESTINAL NEMATODOSIS IN CATTLE WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO Strongyles AND ITS THERAPEUTIC MANAGEMENT(College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University Khanapara, Guwahati-781022, 2016-12) Rai, Astuti; Kalita, D. N.The present study was conducted on prevalence of Gastrointestinal Nematodosis in cattle with special reference to Strongyles and its therapeutic management in different places of Assam, during the period from May 2015 to April 2016 for a period of one year with the objectives (i) to study prevalence of Gastrointestinal nematodes specially Strongyle infection in cattle, (ii) to study the haemato-biochemical changes in affected cattle and (iii) to find out comparative efficacy of some anthelmintics against Strongyle infection. A total of 1154 faecal samples collected from cattle of different places of Assam, were examined for detection of nematodes eggs, of which 271 cattle resulted positive for nematode eggs and the overall prevalence was recorded as 23.46 per cent. Out of 23.46 per cent, the percent prevalence of different nematodes i.e. Strongyle spp., Strongyloides spp., Trichuris spp. and Toxocara vitulorum were recorded as 9.27, 1.55, 1.99 and 10.65 per cent respectively. The season-wise prevalence was found to be highest (13.62 %) in monsoon season and lowest (5.47%) in pre-monsoon season. The highest prevalence of 15.23 per cent was recorded in cattle below 1 years and lowest prevalence of 5.35 per cent was recorded in cattle of 3 year above. A significant difference (P<0.05) in the variation in season-wise and age-wise prevalence was revealed The sex-wise prevalence was higher (10.46%) in female cattle than in male (7.73%).The breed-wise prevalence higher (10.59%) in local cattle than cross-bred (7.31%) cattle. There were no significant (P>0.05) difference in variation of sex and breed-wise prevalence. Out of the Strongyle positive cattle, 18 cattle, irrespective of breed, age and sex, were selected randomly and divided into 3 groups viz., Grpup I, Group II and Group III, each consisting 6 cattle. Another 6 healthy cattle were kept as healthy control and named as Group IV. In group I, cattle were treated with albendazole at the dose rate of 7.5 mg/kg body weight .orally for single dose, in group II, cattle were treated with ivermectin at the dose rate of 0.2 mg/kg body weight subcutaneously for single dose and in group III, cattle were treated with fenbendazole at the dose rate of 7.5 mg/kg body weight for single dose. Supportive therapy with mineral mixure (Minfa powder), antidiarrhoel (Diaroak) and 5 % dextrose were given to all the cattle in group I, II and III. During pre-treatment period, the haemato-biochemical study revealed a significant decrease in the levels of Hb, PCV, TEC, Lymphocytes and Monocyte in the affected cattle which increased gradually after anthelmintics treatment whereas an increase in the levels of TLC, Eosinophils and Neutrophils were observed in the affected cattle which also decreased gradually after treatment and reached normal level Based on reduction of EPG count, haemato-biochemical changes and recovery from clinical signs, the therapeutic efficacy was found to be highest (91.53%) with albendazole followed by fenbendazole (86.93%) and ivermectin (82.78%) in this study.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 PATHOLOGY OF HEPATO-RENAL DYSFUNCTION IN DOGS (Canis lupus familiaris)(College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University Khanapara, Guwahati-781022, 2016-07) Umesh, Tari Chubita; Tamuli, Sarojini MahantaAn investigation was carried out in naturally occurring hepatic and renal dysfunctions in dogs from in and around Guwahati city; to study the prevalence, clinical symptoms, hemato-biochemical changes, urine pathology, gross and histopathology and histoenzymic activity. During the period from June, 2015 to May, 2016; a total of 9564 dogs were surveyed for incidence of hepato-renal dysfunction; 511(5.34%) were recorded as positive out of which 148 (1.55%) were positive for hepatic, 182 (1.82%) for renal and 181 (1.89%) for hepato-renal dysfunction. This revealed that hepato-renal dysfunction is prevalent in the dogs of Guwahati region. In a detailed examination of 155 dogs, 87 (56.13%) were reported positive for both hepatic and renal dysfunctions, out of which 31 (20%) were positive for hepatic, 35 (22.58%) for renal and 21 (13.54%) were positive for hepato-renal dysfunctions. Hepatic dysfunction showed highest prevalence in pre-monsoon season (21.95%); renal dysfunction showed highest prevalence in winter season (27.02%) and hepato-renal dysfunction showed highest prevalence in post-monsoon (23.08%) season. The age-wise prevalence for hepatic dysfunction was highest in dogs belonging to age group of 1-˂3 years of age (33.33%), for renal dysfunction it was the age group of 9 years and above (37.04%) and in hepato-renal dysfunction highest prevalence was seen in the age group of 6-˂9 years (23.53%). Sex wise prevalence of hepatic dysfunction was higher in males (22.47%) whereas prevalence of renal dysfunction was higher in females (25.76%). But the prevalence of hepato-renal dysfunction was found to be almost equal in both males (13.48%) and females (13.64%). Breed wise prevalence of hepatic dysfunction was highest in German Shepherd breed, for renal dysfunction it was highest in Pug breed and for hepato-renal dysfunction, highest prevalence was also seen in German Shepherd breed. Mortality due to hepatic, renal and hepato-renal dysfunction was found to be 18.06%, with 3.87% mortality for hepatic dysfunction, 3.22% mortality for renal dysfunction and 10.96% mortality for hepato-renal dysfunction. The clinical symptoms observed were elevated body temperature, anorexia, dehydration, dull and depressed appearance, rough body coat, pale mucous membrane, rapid pulse rate, shallow breathing, emaciation, anaemia, vomiting, diarrhoea, edema, melena, dark yellow to coffee colored urine. Some cases showed exclusive hepatic dysfunction signs of jaundice, ascites and abdominal pain. Some cases showed signs of renal dysfunction like stranguria, oliguria, urea breath and ulcers in the mouth. Giemsa’s stain and Modified Knott’s method were used for detecting hemoparasites like Babesia gibsoni, Babesia canis, Ehrlichia canis and Dirofilaria immitis in the blood of affected dogs. Hematological parameters like hemoglobin, packed cell volume, total erythrocyte count, mean corpuscular volume and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration revealed that dogs suffered from normocytic and normochromic anaemia. Biochemical markers included in liver and kidney function tests revealed that affected dogs showed mild to severe dysfunction of liver and kidneys. Postmortem study revealed several changes in liver like centrilobular necrosis, bridging necrosis, steatosis, acute hepatitis, portal cirrhosis, Glissonian cirrhosis, biliary cirrhosis, cholangitis, hemosiderosis and glucocorticoid hepatopathy; and also in kidneys like acute interstitial nephritis, acute glomerulonephritis, chronic interstitial nephritis, membranous glomerulonephritis, membrano-prolifereative glomerulonephritis, sclerotic glomerulonephritis, protein losing nephropathy, oxalate nephrosis, amyloidosis and calcification of tubules and glomeruli. Other organs like spleen, lungs, heart, stomach, intestine and brain were also observed to be affected. Three dogs revealed neoplastic changes like hepatocellular carcinoma, renal carcinoma and metastatic cancer of liver, kidneys and lungs. Special stains like Masson’s Trichome, Periodic acid Schiff’s, Von Kossa’s and Prussian blue stains were used to differentiate the specific changes in the affected tissues which did not appear very pronounced by routine staining methods. Histoenzymic study revealed mild to no activity of LDH in degenerated cells and AKP enzyme showed moderate to high activity in the degenerated cells and sinusoidal spaces of the liver and kidneys.ThesisItem Open Access MARKETING PRACTICES OF GOAT AND CHEVON IN KAMRUP (METRO) DISTRICT OF ASSAM(College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University Khanapara, Guwahati-781022, 2016-01) Ekka, Sushil; Roychoudhury, R.A study entitled “Marketing practices of goat and chevon in Kamrup (Metro) district of Assam”was conducted in order to explore the marketing of goats in kamrup (Metro) district and to asses the status of marketing of goat meat /chevon in an around Guwahati city. For the first purpose four goat markets viz Bhoothnath, Panikheti, Chandrapur and Sonapur were selected .From each of these four markets 30 buyers and 30 sellers were taken to make the sample size 240 and data were collected from them with the help of a specially prepared interview schedule. Similarly for the second purpose four meat markets were selected viz. Khanapara, Six mile, Beltola and Narengi. From each of these four meat markets 15 number of butchers were selected and from them data regarding identifying the marketing procedure of meat, edible and inedible by-products yield and value were collected. The study revealed that majority of the sellers sold goats of age groups of 6-12 months in all the markets as the consumers preferred meat of this age category due to tenderness of meat. The average market weight was found to increase with the advancement of age. In respect of seller category majority of the sellers were middlemen in Bhoothnath market whereas in other markets producers dominated the seller categories. On the other hand butchers were the majority buyers who visited the market regularly to meet their day-to-day demand of meat supply. So far as the transportation of animals was concerned mini truck/pickup van was used for transporting goats in the Bhoothnath market where goats were brought from different districts. Except this, Auto van was the most frequently used mode of transport in all the markets. In case of Bhoothnath and Panikheti market river route was also used. However in other markets bicycle/rickshaw was also a frequently used mode of transportation. Regarding marketing channel the most prevalent channel was producer-middleman-butcher-consumer in all the markets except Sonapur where the popular channel was producer-butcher-consumer. In respect of the criteria of price fixation of goats, the study revealed that majority of the sellers cited muscle thickness as the most important criterion for price fixation although a small number of them also mentioned status of castration as the basis of price fixation. The educational level of the sellers was also studied in the present study and it revealed that majority of the sellers read upto M.E. School and this business was yet to attract the educated unemployed youths. In the present study the average value for live weight, carcass weight; edible offals, head, shank and skin were significantly higher (P<0.01) in adult goats compared to the young group. The average live weights of young and adult goats were found to be 7.97±0.26 and 12.58±0.38 kg. The percent value of edible offals in adult group was found to be significantly higher (P < 0.01) than the young group of goats. The percent value of head was significantly higher (P < 0.01) in young groups of goats compared to the adult goats. The average live animal price of adult goats was significantly higher than the young animals. The study also revealed that 85.68 to 86.55 percent of the total sale proceeds were obtained from the carcass meat and 6.15 to 6.52 percent were obtained from edible offals. Therefore it was evident that only > 10% sale proceeds came from inedible offals.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 GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND NUTRIENT UTILIZATION OF CROSSBRED CALVES ON FEEDING OF PADDY AND STOVER BASED FEED BLOCK(College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University Khanapara, Guwahati-781022, 2016-07) Terangpi, Sangmirlin; Bhuyan, R.Eighteen male cross bred calves of about 9 to 10 months of age weighing average 72.2 kg body weight were randomly distributed into three treatment groups as T1, T2 and T3 respectively with 6 animals in each group by using randomized block design (RBD). T1 was fed with 100% paddy stover, concentrate mixture in the ratio 60:40 and green roughage as total mixed ration (TMR), T2 was fed with feed block consisting of 100% paddy stover, concentrate mixture and molasses in the ratio 60:30:10 and green roughage separately and T3 was fed with feed block consisting of 50% paddy stover, 50% paddy straw, concentrate mixture and molasses in the ratio 60:30:10 and green roughage separately. The three treatment groups were fed the same concentrate mixture containing 17.07 per cent DCP and 79.04 percent TDN for 90 days. Towards the end of the experiment a metabolism trial was conducted for 5 days. The average daily gain and FCE of different treatment groups were 94.44±3.18, 140.0±1.07 and 250.4±2.38 g; 19.32±0.74, 14.46±0.18 and 8.69±0.16 in T1, T2 and T3 groups respectively. Highly significant (P<0.001) difference were observed among the treatment groups in respect of gain per day and FCE. DM intake was highest in T3 followed by T2 and T1 (P<0.001). Digestibility coefficient of OM, CP and NDF were higher in T2 and T3 groups when compared with T1 (P<0.01). The digestibility coefficient of DM, CF and ADF in T2 and T3 higher (P<0.01) when compared with T1, however, no significant difference were observed between T2 and T3 groups. Digestibility coefficient of NFE was highest in T3 and lowest in T1 group (P<0.05) but no significant difference was observed between T1 and T2 and T2 and T3 groups. The EE digestibility were 62.99% in T1 and 67.91% in T3 and differences were non significant (P>0.05). All the animals of different treatment groups were in positive nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus balance. The blood constituent viz. serum glucose, serum total protein, serum albumin, serum globulin were within the normal range for crossbred calves but were highest in T3 followed by T2 and T1 (P<0.001). The serum cholesterol level was highest in T1 (P<0.001). The albumin/globulin ratio which was non significant (P>0.05) among the treatment groups. Plane of nutrition revealed that protein and energy received by the different treatment groups of animals (T1, T2 and T3) were adequate for maintenance on the basis of metabolic body weight. The cost per kg gain in body weight was lowest (Rs. 91.96) in T3 group in comparison to T1 (Rs. 133.40) and T2 (Rs. 137.42). The result suggested that crossbred calves can be reared on feeding of complete feed block having 50% paddy straw, 50% paddy stover (out of 60% roughage) and concentrate with molasses in the ratio 60:30:10, plus ad lib green roughage with economic advantage.ThesisItem Open Access SEX SEPARATE REARING IN RELATION TO THE PERFORMANCE OF COMMERCIAL BROILER CHICKEN(College of Veterinary Science Assam Agricultural University Khanapara, Guwahati-781022, 2016-07) Kalita, Sanghamitra; Kalita, Kula PrasadAn experiment was carried out on the topic “Sex separate rearing in relation to the performance on commercial broiler chicken”. 210 day-old commercial broiler chicks (Cobb-400 Y) having similar body weight from a single hatch was procured. The straight run commercial broiler chicks were reared from day-old to 21 days of age under standard managmental practices. Sex separation was done by observing the early appearance of comb in case of male birds. At 22 days of age, 180 birds were randomly selected from the flock and it was categorized into three treatment groups viz., T0 (60 Straight run or mixed sex i.e. 30 males and 30 females), T1 (60 males) and T2 (60 females). Each group was divided into 3 replicates with 20 chicks each. The chicks were wing banded and reared under deep litter system of management throughout the experimental period following standard managmental practices. All the birds were offered ad libitum drinking water and commercial feed throughout the experimental period. During the 6 weeks’ trial period following parameters were studied: body weight, body weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, broiler performance efficiency index, cost of production, uniformity, survivability, carcass characteristics and organoleptic evaluation. The final body weight per broiler was highest in T1 (male) group (2509.17 ± 22.24 g) followed by T0 (mixed-sex) group (2322.11 ± 33.38 g) and T2 (female) group (2226.67 ± 19.64 g). The highest weight gains at 6th week was observed in T2 (female) group (281.50 ± 15.41 g) followed by T1 (male) (254.50 ± 18.31g) group and T0 (mixed-sex) (230.87 ± 12.07 g) group. At 4th and 5th week of age the weekly average feed intake was highest in T1 (male) group (915.66 and1509.55 g) followed by T0 (mixed-sex) group (888.83 and 1410.5g) and T2 (female) group (824.66 and 1234.5 g). At 6th week of age the highest feed intake was observed in T2 (female) group (607.166g) followed by T0 (mixed-sex) (495.33g) and T1 (male) (488 g) group. The overall F.C.R was best in T1 (male) group (1.77, 1.90 and 1.91) followed by T0 (mixed-sex) (1.77, 1.92 and 2.11) and T2 (female) (1.83, 1.94 and 2.15) group. Broiler performance efficiency index was found to be highest in T1 (male) group (108.15) followed by T0 (mixed-sex) (98.81) and T2 (female) group (87.26). The livability was cent percent in T1 (male) and T2 (female) group. In T0 (mixed-sex) livability was 85 percent. The cost of production per broiler was higher in T1 (male) group compared to T2 (female) and T0 (mixed-sex) respectively. However, the gross profit per broiler was higher by Rs. 23.21 in T1 (male) group and Rs.14.53in T0 (mixed-sex) as compared to T2 (female) group. At the final body weight the highest uniformity was observed in T1 (male) (90%) group compared to T2 (female) (80%) and T0 (mixed-sex) (70.17 %) respectively. The carcass quality traits namely live weight, gizzard percent yield and heart percent yield of different treatment groups did not differ significantly and dressed percent yield, liver percent yield and gizzard percent yield was differed significantly. The dressed percent yield was significantly higher in T1 (male) group (71.56 ± 0.01) compared toT0 (mixed-sex) (70.22 ± 0.05) and T2 (female) (69.31 ± 0.07). The highest liver percent yield was observed in T1 (male) group (1.74 ± 0.13), T2 (female) (1.66 ± 0.03) and T0 (mixed-sex) (1.33 ± 0.03). Significantly higher value of giblet was observed in T1 (male) group (3.17 ± 0.14) compared to T2 (female) (3.06 ± 0.07) and T0 (mixed-sex) (2.70 ± 0.05). Among the cut up parts the neck and breast percent yield showed the significant difference. The highest neck percent yield was observed in T0 (mixed sex) (5.43± 0.24) compared to T1 (male) (4.82 ± 0.10) and T2 (female) (4.54 ± 0.12) compared to T0 (mixed-sex) (36.02 ± 0.58) and T1 (male) (33.75 ± 0.79). The average score for organoleptic character such as tenderness, juiciness, and overall acceptability of meat of broilers observed no significant difference (P<0.05) except flavor. The flavor was significantly higher in T1 (male) group (7.26 ± 0.09) as compared to T0 (mixed-sex) (7.16 ± 0.07) and T2 (female) (6.89 ± 0.08) group.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.