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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: Veterinary Medicine × Author: Ambily, V R ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Clinico-therapeutic studies on canine microfilariasis
    (Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2009) Ambily, V R; KAU; Usha, Narayanapillai
    etc. A study on canine microfilariosis was conducted in the Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy during the period of 2007-2009. Hundred dogs of both sexes belonging to various breeds and above 6 months of age presented to Veterinary College Hospital, Mannuthy and University Veterinary Hospital, Kokkala from different parts of Kerala with clinical signs suggestive of microfilariosis were screened for microfilaria by wet film examination. Wet film examination revealed that 80% of dogs were positive for microfilaria. Staining of blood smear with giemsa (1:10) demonstrated that 16 out of 80 dogs were positive for sheathed microfilaria and remaining were nonsheathed. Out of these 50 (nonsheathed) microfilaremic dogs were selected and treated at random with five schedules of treatment so that each schedule consisted of ten animals each (Group I, II, III, IV and V). Sheathed microfilaraemic animals were considered as a separate group for treatment trial. All these animals were subjected to periodic wet film examination on 2nd, 4th and 7th day of treatment to assess the treatment response. High infestation rates were recorded in male dogs of 2-4 years of age than females irrespective of the type of microfilariae. High incidence of microfilariosis with non sheathed and sheathed microfilariae was observed in GSD and Labrador breeds respectively. Diagnosis was made by parasitological studies, immunological and molecular techniques, clinical investigations and haematobiochemical analysis. In wet film examination distinct patterns of motility was observed with the type of microfilariae present. The speciation of microfilariae were done based on morphological characteristics in giemsa stained smears, acid phosphatase enzyme activity, immunospot test and PCR analysis and sequencing of amplicon. The different species of microfilariae identified were that of Dirofilaria repens, Dipetalonema reconditum, Brugia malayi and Brugia pahangi. Of which Brugia malayi and Brugia pahangi were sheathed. Results of micrometry, staining, immunospot test and molecular studies revealed that the newly identified parasite were similar to that of Brugia malayi in human beings. This is the first report of detection of Brugia malayi in dogs for which no previous reports were available in pubmed or other literature data bases. Infact this is also the first report of Brugia pahangi in a dog from India and Dipetalonema reconditum from dogs of Kerala. Detailed clinical investigations included ECG, ultrasonography and radiography were conducted to visualize the abnormalities encountered with vital organs. Haematobiochemical studies of dogs affected with both non sheathed and sheathed microfilariae revealed mild anaemia with severe leucocytosis, neutropenia, lymphocytosis, eosinophilia, elevated ESR and severe thrombocytopaenia, hyperproteinemia with hyperglobulinaemia and non significant reduction in AG ratio, increased serum ALT, AST, ALP , BUN and creatinine values could be observed when compared to healthy controls. Qualitative urinalysis revealed proteinuria with reduced specific gravity. Quantitative analysis of urinary markers revealed elevation of NAG, UPC, γGT and ALP in microfilaraemic dogs. The elevated levels of serum total protein, globulin, serum enzymes like ALT and ALP and nonsignificant reduction in AG ratio suggestive of liver pathology in microfilaraemic dogs. Elevated levels of BUN, creatinine, urine protein creatinine ratio, NAG, ALP, proteinuria with low specific gravity confirmed the renal involvement in microfilaraemic dogs irrespective of the type of microfilaria involved in the disease process. This multiorgan pathology in canine microfilariosis suggested the involvement of toxic and immunological effects of these parasite in the pathogenesis of the disease. The treatment response was evaluated by the periodic clearance of microfilariae on wet blood film examination, remission of clinical signs and the improvement in haematobiochemical alterations. Single oral dose of ivermectin @ 100 µg/kg body weight can be selected as a treatment modality for microfilariosis due to Dirofilaria repens and Dipetalonema reconditum in dogs. Levamisole hydrochloride @ 10 mg/kg body weight for seven days was the only effective treatment for microfilariosis due to Brugia malayi in dogs. Result of post treatment values of hepatic and renal function test revealed that many of the parameters like ALT, ALP and BUN were still in elevated level. Two animals died during the course of treatment were subjected to post mortem examination. The gross and hispathological examination revealed lesions in heart, lungs, liver and kidneys in microfilaraemic dogs. Myofibrillar fragmentation, atlectasis, thromboemboli formation, portal hepatitis and chronic interstitial nephritis were the major lesions observed. Based on above studies it concluded that follow-up evaluation of these parameters could be a relevant approach to find out the therapeutic effectiveness. A therapeutic plan should consists of both specific and clinically supportive treatments to improve hepatic and renal function. A study on canine microfilariosis was conducted in the Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy during the period of 2007-2009. Hundred dogs of both sexes belonging to various breeds and above 6 months of age presented to Veterinary College Hospital, Mannuthy and University Veterinary Hospital, Kokkala from different parts of Kerala with clinical signs suggestive of microfilariosis were screened for microfilaria by wet film examination. Wet film examination revealed that 80% of dogs were positive for microfilaria. Staining of blood smear with giemsa (1:10) demonstrated that 16 out of 80 dogs were positive for sheathed microfilaria and remaining were nonsheathed. Out of these 50 (nonsheathed) microfilaremic dogs were selected and treated at random with five schedules of treatment so that each schedule consisted of ten animals each (Group I, II, III, IV and V). Sheathed microfilaraemic animals were considered as a separate group for treatment trial. All these animals were subjected to periodic wet film examination on 2nd, 4th and 7th day of treatment to assess the treatment response. High infestation rates were recorded in male dogs of 2-4 years of age than females irrespective of the type of microfilariae. High incidence of microfilariosis with non sheathed and sheathed microfilariae was observed in GSD and Labrador breeds respectively. Diagnosis was made by parasitological studies, immunological and molecular techniques, clinical investigations and haematobiochemical analysis. In wet film examination distinct patterns of motility was observed with the type of microfilariae present. The speciation of microfilariae were done based on morphological characteristics in giemsa stained smears, acid phosphatase enzyme activity, immunospot test and PCR analysis and sequencing of amplicon. The different species of microfilariae identified were that of Dirofilaria repens, Dipetalonema reconditum, Brugia malayi and Brugia pahangi. Of which Brugia malayi and Brugia pahangi were sheathed. Results of micrometry, staining, immunospot test and molecular studies revealed that the newly identified parasite were similar to that of Brugia malayi in human beings. This is the first report of detection of Brugia malayi in dogs for which no previous reports were available in pubmed or other literature data bases. Infact this is also the first report of Brugia pahangi in a dog from India and Dipetalonema reconditum from dogs of Kerala. Detailed clinical investigations included ECG, ultrasonography and radiography were conducted to visualize the abnormalities encountered with vital organs. Haematobiochemical studies of dogs affected with both non sheathed and sheathed microfilariae revealed mild anaemia with severe leucocytosis, neutropenia, lymphocytosis, eosinophilia, elevated ESR and severe thrombocytopaenia, hyperproteinemia with hyperglobulinaemia and non significant reduction in AG ratio, increased serum ALT, AST, ALP , BUN and creatinine values could be observed when compared to healthy controls. Qualitative urinalysis revealed proteinuria with reduced specific gravity. Quantitative analysis of urinary markers revealed elevation of NAG, UPC, γGT and ALP in microfilaraemic dogs. The elevated levels of serum total protein, globulin, serum enzymes like ALT and ALP and nonsignificant reduction in AG ratio suggestive of liver pathology in microfilaraemic dogs. Elevated levels of BUN, creatinine, urine protein creatinine ratio, NAG, ALP, proteinuria with low specific gravity confirmed the renal involvement in microfilaraemic dogs irrespective of the type of microfilaria involved in the disease process. This multiorgan pathology in canine microfilariosis suggested the involvement of toxic and immunological effects of these parasite in the pathogenesis of the disease. The treatment response was evaluated by the periodic clearance of microfilariae on wet blood film examination, remission of clinical signs and the improvement in haematobiochemical alterations. Single oral dose of ivermectin @ 100 µg/kg body weight can be selected as a treatment modality for microfilariosis due to Dirofilaria repens and Dipetalonema reconditum in dogs. Levamisole hydrochloride @ 10 mg/kg body weight for seven days was the only effective treatment for microfilariosis due to Brugia malayi in dogs. Result of post treatment values of hepatic and renal function test revealed that many of the parameters like ALT, ALP and BUN were still in elevated level. Two animals died during the course of treatment were subjected to post mortem examination. The gross and hispathological examination revealed lesions in heart, lungs, liver and kidneys in microfilaraemic dogs. Myofibrillar fragmentation, atlectasis, thromboemboli formation, portal hepatitis and chronic interstitial nephritis were the major lesions observed. Based on above studies it concluded that follow-up evaluation of these parameters could be a relevant approach to find out the therapeutic effectiveness. A therapeutic plan should consists of both specific and clinically supportive treatments to improve hepatic and renal function. Further studies are warranted to elucidate the possible role of dogs in the transmission of human filariasis and to develop a suitable therapeutic approach to treat canine microfilariosis in the increasing ewe of chronic renal diseases in dogs.