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Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur

The history of agricultural education in Kerala can be traced back to the year 1896 when a scheme was evolved in the erstwhile Travancore State to train a few young men in scientific agriculture at the Demonstration Farm, Karamana, Thiruvananthapuram, presently, the Cropping Systems Research Centre under Kerala Agricultural University. Agriculture was introduced as an optional subject in the middle school classes in the State in 1922 when an Agricultural Middle School was started at Aluva, Ernakulam District. The popularity and usefulness of this school led to the starting of similar institutions at Kottarakkara and Konni in 1928 and 1931 respectively. Agriculture was later introduced as an optional subject for Intermediate Course in 1953. In 1955, the erstwhile Government of Travancore-Cochin started the Agricultural College and Research Institute at Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram and the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences at Mannuthy, Thrissur for imparting higher education in agricultural and veterinary sciences, respectively. These institutions were brought under the direct administrative control of the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Animal Husbandry, respectively. With the formation of Kerala State in 1956, these two colleges were affiliated to the University of Kerala. The post-graduate programmes leading to M.Sc. (Ag), M.V.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees were started in 1961, 1962 and 1965 respectively. On the recommendation of the Second National Education Commission (1964-66) headed by Dr. D.S. Kothari, the then Chairman of the University Grants Commission, one Agricultural University in each State was established. The State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) were established in India as an integral part of the National Agricultural Research System to give the much needed impetus to Agriculture Education and Research in the Country. As a result the Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) was established on 24th February 1971 by virtue of the Act 33 of 1971 and started functioning on 1st February 1972. The Kerala Agricultural University is the 15th in the series of the SAUs. In accordance with the provisions of KAU Act of 1971, the Agricultural College and Research Institute at Vellayani, and the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, were brought under the Kerala Agricultural University. In addition, twenty one agricultural and animal husbandry research stations were also transferred to the KAU for taking up research and extension programmes on various crops, animals, birds, etc. During 2011, Kerala Agricultural University was trifurcated into Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU), Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS) and Kerala Agricultural University (KAU). Now the University has seven colleges (four Agriculture, one Agricultural Engineering, one Forestry, one Co-operation Banking & Management), six RARSs, seven KVKs, 15 Research Stations and 16 Research and Extension Units under the faculties of Agriculture, Agricultural Engineering and Forestry. In addition, one Academy on Climate Change Adaptation and one Institute of Agricultural Technology offering M.Sc. (Integrated) Climate Change Adaptation and Diploma in Agricultural Sciences respectively are also functioning in Kerala Agricultural University.

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Subject: Microbiology × Author: KAU × Author: Manju Soman × End date: 2004 × Start date: 2000 × Thesis Type: M.V.Sc. ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Prevalence of leptospirosis in animals in and around Thrissur
    (Department of Microbiology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2004) Manju Soman; KAU; Jayaprakasan, V
    A study was undertaken to assess the prevalence of leptospirosis in animals and man, in and around Thrissur. A total of 501 sera samples, collected from dogs, cattle, pigs, rodents (bandicoots and rats) and human beings were subjected to serologic testing, for detection of Leptospira specific antibodies, by MAT, PHA and indirect IgG ELISA. Isolation of Leptospira was tried from blood of clinically suspected cases of human and canine leptospirosis and from kidney tissues of rodents. The study revealed the presence of antibodies against Leptospira in human beings and all the four species of animals examined by the three tests employed. The prevalence rates detected by MAT in canines, bovines, porcines, murines and human beings were 36.36 per cent, 47 per cent, 23.8 per cent, 21.42 per cent and 54.54 per cent respectively. Out of 30 human blood samples subjected to isolation trials in Fletcher'slEMJH semisolid media with enrichment, Leptospira could be isolated from a single human patient, in Fletcher's semisolid medium with 10 per cent rabbit serum. Of the 35 rodent kidney tissues tried for isolation in Fletcher's semi solid media, leptospires were isolated from three bandicoots and two rats. Indirect ELISA was found to be most sensitive, of the three tests,for rapid screening of the population for leptospirosis, while PHA was found to be a fairly good test for diagnosis of acute leptospirosis. The MAT proved to be the most specific test which could also identify the serogroup identity of the infecting Leptospira. Leptospira pomona and L. australis were detected by MAT as the common serogroups prevalent in man, animals and rodents in this area. The prevalence of common leptospiral serovars in animals and man, indicated that human beings which were the end hosts for Leptospira could have acquired the infection mostly from animals like dogs, cattle and pigs, while the isolation ofleptospires from rodents revealed the carrier status of these animals.