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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 Microbiology × Author: Ambily, R × Author: KAU × Start date: 2001 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: M.V.Sc. ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Detection of rotavirus in the faeces of diarrhoeic calves by reverse transcriptase- polymerase chain reaction and silver staining
    (Department of Veterinary and Microbiology, College of Veterinary and Animal Science, Mannuthy, 2007) Ambily, R; KAU; Koshy John
    A study was undertaken to detect the presence of rotavirus in the faeces of diarrhoeic calves by RT-PCR and RNA-PAGE. Agar Gel Immune Diffusion was performed to detect the presence of rotaviral antigens in faecal samples using hyperimmune serum raised in rabbits. The protein profile of BRV was analyzed using SDS-PAGE. Attempts were made to isolate BRV from faecal samples in MDBK cell line. One hundred and twenty four faecal samples of diarrhoeic calves were collected from University Livestock Farm, Mannuthy, Veterinary Hospitals of Kerala Agricultural University, some dairy farms in Thrissur district and also from individual farmers in and around Thrissur. Twenty samples each were collected from adult cattle above one year of age with diarrhoea and normal healthy calves. All these samples were screened for the presence of BRV by RNA-PAGE, RT-PCR and AGID. Among 124 faecal samples collected 29 (23.39 per cent) samples were detected as positive by RNA-PAGE. The clustered arrangement of the 11 segments of the genome showed a 4:2:3:2 migration pattern, typical of group A bovine rotavirus. Reverse Transcriptase – Polymerase Chain Reaction could detect BRV in 35 (28.23 per cent) samples. By using AGID, only 16 (12.90 per cent) samples were found positive. Among the various tests employed, RT-PCR was found to be more sensitive in the diagnosis of BRV infections. All the 20 faecal samples from adult cattle with diarrhoea were tested negative by the three methods. Rotavirus could not be detected in the faeces of healthy calves by any of the tests employed. The protein profile of BRV revealed nine polypeptides having molecular weight in the range of 16.5 to 131 kDa. The age-wise distribution of BRV infection in calves was studied. It was found that the occurrence of infection was most common in zero to two weeks of age (39.39 per cent) followed by two to four weeks of age (37.04 per cent). The faecal samples which were found positive by RNA-PAGE was inoculated into MDBK cell line. But the attempts to isolate BRV were found unsuccessful.