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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: Aparna, S × End date: 2005 × Start date: 2005 ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Detection of pathogenic haemolytic bacteria in respiratory tract infections of livestock
    (Department of Veterinery Microbiology, College of Veterinary and Animal Science, Mannuthy, 2005) Aparna, S; KAU; Krishnan Nair, G
    A study was undertaken to elucidate the role of haemolytic bacteria in respiratory tract infections of livestock. This envisaged the isolation and identification of the haemolytic bacteria, determining their antibiogram patterns and testing the pathogenicity of the isolates in mice. The study also envisaged the detection of Mannheimia haemolytica by polymerase chain reaction, determining the genetic relationship of Staphylococcus aureus isolates from different animal hosts using RAPD-PCR technique and also analysis of plasmid profiles of Escherichia coli isolates. Samples were collected from clinically ill livestock and at random from apparently healthy animals from in an around Thrissur district. A total of 309 samples were taken which consisted of nasal swabs, tracheal swabs, lung samples and blood samples. Samples were cultured on blood agar and on Mannheimia haemolytica selective medium. Mannheimia haemolytica could not be isolated from any of the samples. But pooled nasal swabs when cultured on blood agar gave an isolate with characteristics almost similar to Mannheimia haemolytica, but showed variations for ornithine decarboxylase activity and utilization of sugars like trehalose and salicin. As, no reference strain was available it was not possible to make a comparison and confirm the isolate as Mannheimia haemolytica. From the samples cultured on ordinary blood agar medium a total of 20 haemolytic bacterial isolates could be obtained. The different bacterial isolates were Staphylococcus aureus (40 per cent), Staphylococcus epidermidis (10 per cent), Escherichia coli (30 per cent), Klebsiella pneumoniae (5 per cent), Streptococcus pyogenes (5 per cent), Streptococcus agalactiae (5 per cent) and Arcanobacterium pyogenes (5 per cent). The haemolytic bacteria were identified based on morphology, cultural characteristics and biochemical tests. Antimicrobial sensitivity pattern of the isolates showed that almost all the isolates had high sensitivity to pefloxacin and ampicillin. Antimicrobial resistance was shown maximum to erythromycin. The three Staphylococcus aureus isolates, all the E. coli isolates and Klebsiella isolate caused death of mice. Rest of the five Staphylococcus aureus isolates, Streptococcus pyogenes , Streptococcus agalactiae and Arcanobacterium pyogenes did not cause death of mice but produced internal lesions and could be re-isolated. Staphylococcus epidermidis isolates could neither cause death, nor produce internal lesions and could not be re-isolated. None of the nasal and tracheal swabs, lung samples and blood samples gave a positive result for Mannheimia haemolytica specific PCR. A pooled sample of nasal swabs from cattle with respiratory infection gave a positive result for it. But PCR of the culture could not yield a positive result. Moreover, no reference strain was available to make a comparison and confirm the result. RAPD-PCR of the Staphylococcus aureus isolates showed that there was considerable genetic relationship between Staphylococcus aureus isolates of different species and also there was noticeable genetic diversity of the isolates within the host species. Plasmids could be isolated only from two of the six isolates of Escherichia coli studied. Plasmid profile analysis of the isolates could not ascertain any correlation between the virulence, antibiotic resistance and presence of plasmids.