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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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ThesisItem Open Access Immunogenicity of an indigenous isolate of newcastle disease virus and Its usefulness as a vaccine strain(Department of microbiology, College of veterinary and animal sciences, Mannuthy, 1983) Murugan, M R; KAU; Suloohana, SThe newly isolated mesogenic strain of Newcastle disease virus (NT) from an ailing mynah was studied in detail with particular reference to its biological characteristics, pathogenicity and immunogenicity. The results of various studies were compared with that of Komorov strain, a known mesogenic strain. The titer attained in developing chick embryos, mean death time of inoculated chick embryos at terminal dilutions, neuropathogenicity index in day old chicks and intravenous pathogenicity index were 109.5 /0.2 ml, 87 hours 0.63 and 0.00 respectively for the MT strain. The above values in order were 1010.5/0.2 ML, 76.5 hours, 1.16 and 0.000 for the Komorov strain. The infectivity of MT strain was labile at 560C for 10 minutes and the haemagglutinin was completely lost within five minutes. On the other hand the infectivity and haemagglutinin of K strain were comparatively resistant. Strain MT was pathogenic to day old chicks in which 26.6% mortality was noticed. In recovered chicks sufficient HI antibodies were seen and all of them withstood challenge. Although comparable results were obtained for Komarov strain, it was less pathogenic to day old chicks. Though 23.3% of chicks manifested clinical symptom only 3.3% died and the remaining birds recovered. In three weeks old chicks MT and K strain were found to be nonpathogenic either by S/C or oculonasal route. The inoculated chicks were immune when challenged six weeks later. Even in six weeks old chicks having no base immunity no post-inoculation reactions could be detected. All the chicks showed a rise in antibody titer reaching the peak level by the end of the third week and were resistant to challenge after six weeks. In chicks aged six weeks having a base immunity with strain were also free from any post infection reaction either by I/M or S/C route or inoculation. Chicks in both the groups produced HI antibodies and was always higher in those received infection by I/M route. The peak titers were obtained at the end of the third week and then declined. Though the titers were low by the end of the 6th week all the chicks were resistant to ND when exposed to a virulent virus. 2.9% of the chicks that received K strain by I/M route showed post inoculation reaction and died of ND. The remaining chicks and those in the S/C group behaved the same way as those received NT strain. Though the antibody response of chicken to MT and K were not statistically significant in all the three experiments, MWU test revealed that MT has a significantly higher immunogenic effect than K as the former always had a higher means than the latter. The ability to infect in contact chicks was also investigated. Strain MT was less efficient in this property giving only 25% to 28% transmission. On the other hand K strain revealed significantly higher transmissibility as it could spread to 62.5 to 75% of the inoculated in contact chicks. The mesogenic strain MT is quite safe in chicks of three weeks of age and above. It is also a good immunogen producing HI antibodies which protected the chicks from challenge even after six weeks. However the strain can be recommended as a vaccine strain only after further field trials and its effects on egg production are worked out.ThesisItem Open Access Comparison of serological tests for the detection of leptospira antibodies in immunised animals(Department of microbiology, College of veterinary and animal sciences, Mannuthy, 1980) Ravikumaran Nair, R; KAU; Abdulla, P KLeptospirosis is a widespread disease of man and animals and is of considerable economic importance besides being a public health problem. The leptospira infection in man and animals may be confirmed either by isolation of the organisms or by detection of specific antibodies in the serum and tissues of infected animals. Isolation of Leptospira is time consuming and beyond the scope of many diagnostic laboratories. In the present study the sensitivity of passive haemagglutination test was compared with the established microscopic agglutination test utilizing rabbit hyperimmune serum as the source of antibody. Leptospira serotypes were grown in Korthof’s medium enriched with 10% haemolysed rabbit serum. By 7 – 10 days satisfactory concentration of the organisms was obtained and was used for MA test. Passive haemagglutination test was carried out employing ethanol extracted antigen from concentrated leptospiral cultures. The PHA test was carried out after determining the optimum dilution of antigen required to sensitize sheep erythrocytes. Hyper immune sera to both serotypes were raised in rabbits by a series of intravenous inoculations. Serum samples for antibody titration was collected at weekly intervals from seven days following the first injection till the 49th day. Antibody titration by MA and PHA tests have shown that all the three animals inoculated with L. autumnalis had a uniform titre of 1:400 on the seventh day whereas the other three animals inoculated with L. pyrogenes showed a low titre of 1:100 by MA test. The PHA titre of both the groups remained the same ie 1:5. The maximum titre of 1:28000 for L. autumnalis was attained on the 21st day and remained unchanged until 35th day. The maximum PHA titre was attained only on 35th day (1:160). The rabbits inoculated with L. pyrogenes showed a maximum titre of 1:3200 by MA and 1:80 by PHA. The results obtained tend to show that PHA titres after reaching the maximum level remained detectable for longer period when compared to MA titres. Erythrocyte sensitizing substance from both the serotypes and the sera samples collected periodically from immunized rabbits were preserved at – 200 C at varying length of time upto three months. There was no deterioration in the stability or potency of ESS or sera on storage.ThesisItem Open Access Seroprevalence and Restriction enzyme analysis of Egg Drop Syndrome virus(Department of Microbiology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2000) Priya, P M; KAU; Krishnan Nair, GIn the present study, seroprevalence of EDS-76 was conducted in five districts of Kerala in duck and' chicken flocks using HI and ELISA. Out of 322 chicken and 281 duck sera samples screened, an overall incidence of 14.91 per cent and 26.69 per cent respectively were recorded. The high proportion of birds showing antibodies to EDS-76 reveals that the infection is widespread in Kerala and may be the major etiological factor associated with drop in egg production in poultry. Among the two serological tests namely, HI and ELISA employed for the detection of EDS-76 viral antibody, HI was found to be simple, sensitive and reliable. It is concluded that HI test could be used for the detection of EDS-76 infection in poultry flocks. Restriction DNA fingerprinting of the three indigenous strains were carried out in conjunction with the reference strain to check for any genetic variation between the strains. Comparison of the DNA fingerprint of all the four strains digested with restriction endonucleases BamHI, EcoRI and HindIII revealed identical banding pattern thereby conforming the genetic similarity of the strains.ThesisItem Open Access Characterisation of virus isolates from lesser whistling teals and channa species of fish(Department of Microbiology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2000) Pradeep, V; KAU; Krishnan Nair, GCharacterisation of virus isolates (T18 and T22) from lesser whistling teals (Dendrocygna javanica) and Channa species of fish (Fe and F12) was carried out to determine the similarities if any between the isolates and to identify the role of waterfowls in dissemination of these viruses. The virus isolates. preserved in the Department of Microbiology were revived by passaging through embryonated chicken! duck eggs through allantoic route. After the third passage, all the isolates were found to produce death of the embryos and the allantoic fluid collected agglutinated one percent chicken RBC. The isolates T18, Fs and F12 produced congestion of the embryo and CAM and the embryos showed sub-occipital and interdigital haemorrhages. Isolate T 22 also produced congestion of the embryo and CAM and the embryos were stunted. Liver of the embryos had yellowish brown patches. The EID50 of isolates were 3.2x10s, 5.6 x 105 , 1.65x 107 and 3.16 x 105 respectively for the isolates T18, T22. Fs and F12. The infectivity and haemagglutinating activity of all the isolates were retained at pH 7.2, but were completely lost at pH 3.2 and 9.0 and also by treatment at 56°C for 30 min. All the isolates were sensitive to chloroform indicating their enveloped nature. Pretreatment of chicken embryo fibroblast cultures with 1 OO~g! ml of luDR did not inhibit the multiplication of any of the isolates indicating they all had RNA genomes. All the isolates were resistant to treatment with brine indicating that they were capable of survlvinp at high salt concentration. The isolates T18 and Fa produced marked CPE in chicken embryo fibroblast culture with rounding and clumping of cells and syncytia formation. Marked cytoplasmic vacuolation was also observed. Inclusion bodies could not be detected either in nucleus or cytoplasm. For isolates T22 and F12, CPE developed later only and was not as prominent as for T18 and Fa. Rounding of cells and their fusion forming syncytia was noticed by 72 h. Cytoplasmic vacuolation though present was much less marked. Inclusion bodies were absent. Large polykaryocytes were produced by the isolates T18, T 22 and F12 in BHK-21 cell line within 24h after inoculation. Between 48-72h large syncytia were formed. Intracytoplasmic inclusions could be observed by 24h after infection, which were quite prominent by 96h. The isolate Fa failed to produce any CPE in BHK-21 cell line. Pathogenecity tests in day old and six-week-old chicken and ducklings showed that all the four isolates were non-pathogenic when given by the oral Isubcutaneous route or by both. Neither clinical signs or mortality could be observed in the birds. Virus isolation was possible from the cloacal swabs of six-week-old chicken for the isolates T18 and T22 up to the 14th and th day respectively. Antigenic relationship between the isolates was tested by gel diffusion and haemagglutination inhibition tests, which showed that the isolate T18 did not have any similarity with any of the other three isolates. The isolate T 22 showed antigenic similarity by both the tests. Fa showed similarity to T18 by HI test but not by immunodiffusion test. Isolate F12 was found to be distinct from the other three by HI test, but showed some similarity with them by immunodiffusion test. By sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis on 10 percent gels, 7-11 bands could be resolved for the different isolates. Three of the bands were common for all the four isolates and were having molecular weights similar to the three major proteins HN, NP and MP of avian paramyxoviruses, suggesting that the isolates belonged to the paramyxovirus group. Monoclonal antibody typing of the isolates T18 and T 22 at the Central Veterinary Laboratory, Surrey, England confirmed that both belonged to the paramyxovirus group with T18 belonging to group C (velogenic) and T 22 to group E (B1 and LaSota) viruses. The isolates Fe and F12 need to be further typed. It was concluded from the study that all the isolates were enveloped RNA viruses with T18 and T 22 being paramyxoviruses belonging to Group I. The properties of the isolates Fs and F12 resembled the paramyxoviruses and from the similarly in protein profile with the other two viruses can also be concluded to be paramyxoviruses.ThesisItem Open Access Enzyme immuno assay based seromonitoring and detection of canine rabies antigen(Department of Microbiology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1999) Biju, K G; KAU; Krishnan Nair, GIn the present study an attempt was made to measure the serum neutralizing antibodies against rabies virus in the sera of both vaccinated and unvaccinated dogs, employing ELISA. A long with this special emphasis was given to compare the results of diagnostic techniques used for yaJ.i.es namely Seller's staining and IP test. Four hundred and thirty-four sera samples from dogs of different age groups were screened. Enzyme immuno assay of sera of 83 unvaccinated pups revealed that under the age group of 0-3 months 59.1 percent antibody titre of 1: 50 or above indicating the presence of maternal antibodies. Out of 116 sera samples from primarly vaccinated group only eight had antibody titre below 1:50. Among the booster vaccinated 94 sera samples tested only four samples showed antibody titre below 1:50 .. The assay revealed that during diseases the immune systems of the dogs will be suppressed. It was found that the age of first vaccination could be decided as third month. The present study revealed that primary vaccination might not produces higher antibody titres in dogs. The study showed advantages of booster vaccination over primary vaccination. All the rabies suspected cases were subjected as two diagnostic tests namely Seller's staining and IPT. Out of 20 rabies suspected cases, there were detected by demonstration of Negri bodies and four were by IPT. The present study showed plate ELISA is a sensitive method for titration of rabies virus neutralizing antibodies and IPT can be successfully used for the detection of rabies antigen in impression smears taken from hippocampus.ThesisItem Open Access Molecular characterisation of salmonellae isolated from poultry(Department of Microbiology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2000) Tressa Mary, G; KAU; Punnose, K TFive serotypes of salmonellae from avian sources were examined for biochemical properties, serology, drug resistance, plasmids, restriction enzyme pattern of plasmid as well as genomic DNA and pathogenicity. The biochemical characters are in confirmity with the characters described for the serotypes by the earlier workers. The study of antibiogram with 20 antibiotics/chemotherapeutic agents revealed the presence of multiple drug resistance in all the five serotypes. In the plasmid analysis, S enteritidis and S. branderup were found to be plasmid free. The number of plasmids in other serotypes ranged from two to three and the size ranged from 1.75 kb to 48.32 kb. Identical low molecular weight plasmids were present in both S. gallinarum. The presence of large plasmid in one of the S. gallinarum did not confer any additional detectable resistance character. S. typhimurium contained two plasmids of sizes 13.62 kb and 4.2 kb. Restriction enzyme analysis of plasmid DNA from three salmonellae with EcoRl and Hindlll yielded three different restriction pattern with each enzyme. Ethidium bromide and exposure to elevated temperature cured the plasmids present in the salmonellae within two days and 14 days respectively. Acridine orange and sodium dodecyl sulphate were found to be ineffective in curing the plasmid DNA. The elimination of plasmids resulted in the loss of resistance to antibiotics was demonstrated in S. typhimurium. In tests to assess the differences in pathogenicity between wild and cured isolates of S. typhimurium in day old chicks, only intraperitoneal route was found to be effective when compared to oral route. A relation of plasmids to virulence was noted only in S. typhimurium. Day old chicks were refractory to infection to S. gallinarum by both the routes. Plasmids encoding both resistance and virulence were observed in S typhimurium. Plasmid negative serotypes of S. enteritidis and S. branderup were found to be equally virulent as wild strains of S. typhimurium. So a definite correlation between virulence and plasmids could not be made. Restriction enzyme analysis of chromosomal DNA yielded bands which were indistinct and so uncomparable. Hence of the tests based on the analysis of genetic content plasmid profile was found ,to be efficient in typing the isolate rather than restriction enzyme analysis of genomic DNA.ThesisItem Open Access Homology between corynebacterium psedotuberculosis isolates from goats and standard reference strain(Department of Microbiology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2000) Mohan, P; KAU; Jayaprakasan, VCorynebacterium pseudotuberculosis was isolated in pure culture on blood agar from pus collected from lymph nodes of goats, which suffered from caseous lymphadenitis. Three field isolates of C pseudotuberculosis were characterized and compared with standard reference" strain based on cultural, biochemical, toxigenicity, protein profile and restriction endonuclease digest analysis of chromosomal DNA. The morphological and cultural characters of all the field isolates and reference strain were similar and characteristics to the species. Biochemical reactions employed were also similar for all the strains except isolate F3, which fermented lactose. The biochemical characters were in confirmity with the characters described by the earlier workers. Three different types of toxin viz., culture filtrate (CF), whole cell lysate (WCL) and sodium chloride extract (SCE) were tested for dermonecro toxicity in rabbit skin. Among the preparations, the whole cell lysate produced a definite necrosis at the point of intradermal injection followed by culture filtrate and sodium chloride extract. The toxin preparations of the isolates invariably produced inflammatory and necrotic changes, the degree and severity of the reactions varied between samples. When the three toxin preparations of the isolates and reference strain were tested for synergistic haemolytic activity with Rhodococcus equi, the whole cell lysate produced maximum zone of haemolysis followed by culture filtrate and sodium chloride extract. The proteins presented in the different preparations were analyzed by SDS-P AGE. The protein profiles discerned by whole cell lysate, culture filtrate and sodium chloride extract were 25,9 and 9 protein bands with ranged on masses approximately 8-200KDa, 20-200KDa and 19-191KDa respectively. The 31.6KDa and 68 KDa proteins were found to be consistent in three toxin preparations. The DNA extracted from the isolates and reference strain were subjected to restriction endonuclease digestion employing Eco RI, Barn HI, BgI II, Eco RV and Pst I. The enzyme digest of DNA varied between the enzymes employed. There are no observable differences between the field isolates and reference strain, when the DNA digested with these five restriction enzymes. The enzymes Eco RI, Barn HI and BgI I presented similar restriction pattern whereas the DNA fragments generated by Eco RV and Pst I were different from the other three enzymes.ThesisItem Open Access Prevalence of yeast and yeast like fungi in bovine mastitis and their in vitro drug sensitivity(Department of Microbiology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1996) Sukumar, K; KAU; James, P CA total of 200 milk samples from clinical cases of bovine mastitis were culturally screened during a period of six months. Pathogenic fungal organisms could be isolated only from 26 samples. Out of this 26 positive samples, yeast and yeast like fungal organisms were isolated from 20 samples and mould from six cases. The major pathogen isolated were candida spp namely C. tropicalis, C. parapsilosis and C. guillermondi. The other organisms were Geotrichum candidum, Trichosporon cutaneum, Sacharomyces cerevisiae, Torulopsis spp and Rhodotorula rubra. The filamentous fungi isolated were Sepedonium spp, Aspergillus ochraceous group, Cladosporium carrionii, Penicillium spp and Trichophyton verrucosum. In majority of the cases yeast and yeast like fungi produced chronic mastitis in which hardness of udder and reduction in milk yield with watery milk containing flakes were noticed. In cases of mastitis where in mould was involved, chronic mastitis characterized by hardness of udder and reduction in milk yield with straw yellow coloured milk, viscid in consistency. Sensitivity pattern of the fungal isolates to the commonly employed antifungal chemotherapeutic agents like Amphotericin B, Clotrimazole, Fluconazole, Griseofuivin, Itraconazole, Ketocanazole, Nystin and Pimaricin (Natamycin) was elucidated. Among the above agents Clotrimazole and Itraconazole exhibited maximum inhibitory activity. All the isolates were found to be resistant to Griseofulvin. In vitro drug sensitivity pattern of fungal isolates employing the discs impregnated with essential oils of cinnamon, clove and lemon grass and alksloids of Cassia alata was studied. Cinnamon leaf oil possessed maximum antifungal activity and the extracts of Cassia alata failed to evince the ability to inhibit the growth of fungal isolates. The antifungal activity of plant extracts were compared with the commonly antifungal chemotherapeutic agents.ThesisItem Open Access Characterization of Campylobacter jejuni isolated from pigs and man(Department of Microbiology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1994) Raju, P V; KAU; Madhusoodanan Pillai, RTwenty six rectal swabs collected from piglets below two months of age with diarrhoea/enteritis when culturally screened yielded 11 isolates of Camplobacter jejuni. Thirty two rectal swabs from children below five years of age with diarrhoea/enteritis when processed for the isolation of etiological agent, resulted in the recovery of one strain of C. jejuni. Sonicated C. jejuni antigen prepared from the selected strains of C. jejuni from porcine and human origin were found suitable for sensitization of gluteraldehyde stabilized sheep RBC for serum antibody monitoring. The sonicated antigen retained its affinity to sheep RBC even after six months of storage at – 600 C. Gluteraldehyde stabilization was found to be a suitable method for the preservation of SRBC. Gluteraldehyde stabilized SRBC stored at 40 C upto a period of three months did not show any reduction in the sensitization property, as evidenced from the PHA titre. One hundred and fifty microliters of C. jejuni antigen whose protein concentration adjusted to 2 mg/ml was found to be the optimum level for sensitisation of a suspension made from three millilitres of packed SRBC. The optimum level of SAPA cells required in the seromonitoring of C. jejuni specific antibodies by SAPA – AMHA test was found to be 0.1 per cent. Cross titration assay employing homologous and heterologous antigens of C. jejuni and the hyperimmune sera indicated that there was antigenic relationship between porcine and human strains. The results also point to the probable prevalence of different antigenic components in varying proportions in different strains from various sources. In the present investigation, 50 serum samples from pigs were monitored for the presence of C. jejuni specific antibodies by PHA and SAPA – AMHA. PHA detected 48 per cent cases as positives compared to 54 per cent by SAPA – AMHA. Statistical analysis clearly indicated that SAPA – AMHA is superior to PHA in screening C. jejuni specific antibodies. The result of the present study indicated that SAPA – AMHA test could advantageously replace the conventional PHA for serological diagnosis of animal and human Campylobacteriosis. Efforts were also made in this study to find out the change in PHA titre with homologus and heterologous antigens employing sera before and after adsorption with unsensitised SRBC to remove the non specific antibodies. Statistical analysis of the results showed that for performing PHA, homologous antigen should be preferred over heterologous antigen and when homologous antigen were used, adsorption of sera with stabilized unsensitised SRBC had no significant effect of PHA titre. Attempts were also made to study the in vitro antimicrobial sensitivity patterns of the 12 C. jejuni isolates by standard disc diffusion technique. The results indicated all the C. jejuni isolates were sensitive to chloramphenicol, gentamicin and nalidixic acid, irrespective of their source/origin. Eventhough none of the C. jejuni isolated in this study was resistant to erythromycin, only 83.3 per cent of the isolates showed a sensitive zone of inhibition, while, 16.7 per cent showed an intermediary zone of inhibition. C. jejuni isolates recorded 83.3 per cent sensitivity to furazolidone, 75 per cent to streptomycin and 58.3 per cent to ampicillin. Fifty per cent of the isolates showed resistance to oxytetracycline. Of the ten antibiotics tested, 16.6 per cent of the organism were sensitive to penicillin. C. jejuni recorded highest resistance to sulphadiazine as only 8.3 per cent of the organisms were sensitive to sulphadiazine.