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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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20054
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Subject: Veterinary Medicine × End date: 2005 × Start date: 2005 ×
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Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Assessment of post exposure anti-rabies therapy in cattle
    (Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2005) Rishi Keshavan; KAU; Saseendranath, M R
    The immune response and efficacy of two different anti-rabies vaccines in two different post exposure schedules were studied in rabies exposed cattle. An inactivated tissue culture anti-rabies vaccine (Raksharab) and a DNA combined tissue culture inactivated anti-rabies vaccine (Dinarab) were used. The study animals were grouped in to four groups. Animals of group I and III were vaccinated with inactivated tissue culture anti-rabies vaccine (Raksharab) with schedule I (injection of vaccine on 0, 3rd, 7th, 14th and 28th days) and schedule II (administration of five doses of vaccine on 0, 1st, 2nd,3rd and 4th days continuously) respectively and animals of group II and IV were vaccinated with DNA combined tissue culture inactivated anti-rabies vaccine (Dinarab) with schedule I and schedule II respectively. The rabies virus neutralizing antibody titers were assessed on day zero, 7th, 14th, 28th, 60th and 90th days of post vaccination by employing Rapid fluorescent focus inhibition test - (RFFIT). In all the four groups the peak antibody titer level were observed on 14th day of post vaccination and protective level of rabies virus neutralizing antibody titer were maintained up to the 90th day of study period. Group I and group II animals which were vaccinated with schedule-I with inactivated tissue culture anti-rabies vaccine (Raksharab) and a DNA combined tissue culture inactivated anti-rabies vaccine (Dinarab) respectively, obtained the high mean rabies virus neutralizing antibody titers than that of group III and IV during the study period. Among these two groups, group I obtained the highest antibody titer than group II on day zero, 14th, 28th and 60th days of study period. Whereas group II obtained the highest antibody titer than group I on day seven and 90th day of study period. All the animals were found to be healthy in the monitoring period of six months in all four groups vaccinated with two antirabies vaccines with two different post exposure schedules. Both the inactivated tissue culture anti-rabies vaccine (Raksharab) and DNA combined tissue culture inactivated anti-rabies vaccine (Dinarab) were providing protective titre (>0.5 IU/ml) from 14th to 90th day of observation in cattle. Both the schedules I and II were providing protective titre from 14th to 90th day of observation in cattle. Early and high antibody titers were observed in schedule II where five consecutive injections were given. Though above protective titre, the fall in antibody level was also drastic in schedule II. In schedule I, protective antibody titre was observed on 14th day and maintained at a fairly good level till 90th day. It is concluded that the post exposure anti-rabies therapy in cattle could be conducted in both schedules using any of these vaccines. From farmers’ practical point of view, continuous five doses of injections will be of much use.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Epidemiological and clinico-therapeutic studies on bovine trypanosomosis
    (Department of Veterinary Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2005) Smitha, P S; KAU; Tresamol, P V
    The present study was undertaken to assess the epidemiological and clinico-therapeutic aspects of Trypanosoma evansi infection in bovines. A total of 530 animals (510 cattle and 20 buffalo) from various University farms, University Veterinary hospitals and farm households were screened for trypanosomosis using parasitological and serological techniques. Wet film examination of blood, Giemsa stained blood smears and micro-haematocrit centrifugation technique could detect parasitaemia only in one animal (0.19 per cent). Dot-ELISA detected anti-Trypanosoma evansi antibodies in twelve cattle and six buffalo screened for trypanosomosis. Buffalo showed a higher rate of infection (6 per cent) than cattle (2.35 per cent). No breed predisposition was observed among cattle for trypanosomosis. A higher prevalence of infection was observed among animals of one to three years of age. The mean packed cell volume, haemoglobin and total erythrocyte counts of the sero-positive animals (17.667 ± 5.156 per cent, 6.600 ± 1.124 g/dl and 3.467 ± 1.234 x106/mm3 respectively) were significantly lower than that of the control group (32.600 ± 4.719 per cent, 10.860 ± 2.133 g/dl and 6.230 ± 1.772 x106 /mm3 respectively). Significant lymphopaenia and neutrophilia were observed in the infected animals. The clinically positive animal exhibited snoring, inappetance, reduced milk yield, emaciation and anaemia. Quinapyramine prosalt at the dose rate of 7.4 mg/kg body weight sub-cutaneously provided effective clinical cure and marked improvement in haemato-biochemical parameters a week after therapy. The study revealed dot-ELISA to be a highly sensitive, cost-effective and easy to perform test that can be adopted as a diagnostic tool in trypanosomosis.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Assessment of post-exposure anti-rabies therapy in goats
    (Department of Veterinary Epidemology and Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary and Animal Science, Mannuthy, 2005) Raji James; KAU; Saseendranath, M R
    The effectiveness of post-exposure therapy against rabies in goats, with two different vaccines viz., inactivated tissue culture anti-rabies vaccine (Raksharab®) and DNA combined tissue culture anti-rabies vaccine (Dinarab®), was studied with different schedule of vaccination, in Thrissur, Kerala. The rabies virus neutralizing antibody titres were assessed by using rapid fluorescent focus inhibition test (RFFIT). Sixty unvaccinated goats exposed to rabid animal bite were selected for study. Group I animals were given inactivated tissue culture anti-rabies vaccine and group II animals were given DNA combined tissue culture anti-rabies vaccine in schedule I (“Essen”). Group III and group IV were treated with inactivated tissue culture anti-rabies vaccine and DNA combined tissue culture anti-rabies vaccine in schedule II whose five injections were given on 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4th day. By day 14, all animals in-group I had achieved rabies antibody titre above the protective level recommended by WHO (>0.5 IU/ml) and reached peak titre on day 28. Group II animals that received DNA combined tissue culture anti-rabies vaccine elicited protective titre on day seven and reached peak titre on day 28. All the goats in group I and group II were maintaining the protective titre till 90th day and none had developed rabies for a period of 180 days. Though both vaccines in schedule I (“Essen”) produced geometric mean rabies virus neutralizing antibody titre above 0.5 IU/ml up to 90th day of study period, DNA combined tissue culture anti-rabies vaccine induced earlier and higher virus neutralizing antibody titre. Both vaccines under schedule II produced good protection on seventh day. Inactivated tissue culture anti-rabies vaccine under schedule II elicited earlier and higher neutralizing antibody response than schedule I. Out of two vaccines used, DNA combined tissue culture anti-rabies vaccine induced higher geometric mean rabies virus neutralizing antibody titre in a rapid manner in both schedules. Animals were monitored monthly for six months after exposure and all treated groups were alive and no vaccine related serious adverse events occurred. It is concluded that DNA combined tissue culture anti-rabies vaccine in schedule I and schedule II or inactivated tissue culture anti-rabies vaccine in schedule II were observed as the best for recommending to the field for post-exposure anti-rabies therapy in goats.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Clinico-therapeutic studies on downer cows
    (Department of Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2005) Prasanna, K; KAU; Ajithkumar, S
    The study entitled “Clinico-therapeutic studies on downer cows” was carried out in twelve cows, which did not respond to the treatment by local Veterinarians. Two of the cows presented at Veterinary Hospital, Mannuthy and other ten field cases from Trissur district formed the subjects for this study. All the animals were subjected to detailed clinical examination and all parameters under study viz., signalment, history, physical examination haematology, serum biochemistry and treatment response were carried out. The data obtained were analysed statistically. Highest percentage of occurrence was seen in cross bred Jersey cows and in old age group. Seventy five percentage of cows were with in first week of lactation, eight percentage at eighth month of gestation and sixteen percentage in mid lactation. Occurrence was recorded during the period from May 2004 to May 2005. All the cows were fed on a compounded concentrate ration and quantum of feed were not proportional to the milk production. They were maintained on concrete floors and had no history of a fall or exposure to adverse climatic condition. All the cows were in sternal recumbency at the time of presentation and were alert without other clinical signs. Frequent attempts to rise and changing the sides by their own was common in most cows. All the physiological parameters were with in the normal range. Feed in take, urination, defecation and rumination were normal. Bruises over hock, elbow and tuber coxae were seen as common complications. One cow that developed mastitis and cows with Amphistome infestation were concurrently treated. Statistically significant (P<0.05) increase in total leukocyte count and neutrophilia were recorded in cases with traumatic injuries and subsequent inflammation over elbow joint, hock, tuber coxae and stifle. Mild lymphopenia was also seen. Biochemical alterations included hypocalcaemia and hypophosphatemia and the calcium phosphorus ratio was found to be reduced to 1.69 before the treatment. The general line of treatment adopted for downer cows in the present study were administration of calcium magnesium borogluconate 450-900ml intravenously, inorganic phosphorus-40% (10 –20 ml) either intravenously or intramuscularly, vitamin AD3E combination having Vitamin D3 @ 2.5 lakh IU intramuscularly, and multivitamin preparation 10 ml intramuscularly to all animals. In addition supportive treatment with non steroidal anti inflammatory analgesic drugs of meloxicam group (@ 0.5 mg/kg BW) 30ml intravenously or salicylate phenylbutazone combination (@ 4 mg /kg BW) 15ml intravenously or intramuscularly (six cases each) were administered. Dextrose 25% was also administered intravenously for clinically weak animals. Dosage and frequency varied according to biochemical profile, clinical picture and response to therapy. Out of twelve cows, seven cows recovered from downer state. Three cows were under treatment for 4 to 5 days, two cows for 3 days and seven cows for two days. Serum calcium, phosphorus ratio in the recovered animals returned to normal of 2.1: 1. After treatment five cases were either slaughtered due to severe traumatic injury or owners were unwilling to treat the animal.