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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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1975 - 19783
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Subject: Veterinary Microbiology × End date: 1978 ×
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Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Survey on the incidence of Salmonellae in meat animals
    (Department of Microbiology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1977) James, P C; Abdulla, P K
    Prior to this “Survey on the Incidence of Salmonellae in Meat Animals” the information on the serotypes of Salmonella prevalent and the magnitude of their occurrence in livestock in Kerala had been meagre except for the reports by Sulochana et al. (1973) and Balakrishna Pillai (1975). The work carried out during the present investigation has gathered more information on the prevalence of Salmonella in livestock in Kerala. In this study the prevalence of Salmonella serotypes in the different species of animals was probed. A total of 823 biomaterials, besides 50 drain samples were subjected to cultural screening. This venture resulted in the recovery of 56 strains of Salmonella. Serological identification of many of these strains proved the prevalence of S. typhimurium, S. weltevreden and S. urbana. The preponderatingly prevalent serotypes were found to be the former two. Pathogenicity studies employing S. typhimurium culture in mice, guinea pigs, rabbits, calves and piglets were conducted. All these animals were found to be susceptible to infection by S. typhimurium evincing varying degrees of clinical manifestations. The advantages of employing modified McConkey’s medium (Sharma, 1961) containing Mannitol instead of lactose and composite medium 1 and 11 developed by Chitin is et al. (1972) to differentiate Salmonella at primary screening level have been discussed
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Investigation on the aetiology of plague -like disease in ducks In Kerala
    (Department of Microbiology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1978) Krishnan Nair, G; KAU; Sulochana, S
    An investigation was carried out to isolate, characterize and identify the agent responsible for the outbreak of duck plague – like disease in ducks in Kerala. Specimens (liver and spleen) from field cases, were processed for virus isolation and were inoculated into either developing duck or chick embryos, by chorio – allantoic (C.A.M.) or allantoic cavity method. Virus isolation was possible only by C. A. M. inoculation of duck embryos and was confirmed by inoculation of the C.A.M. extracts into duck embryo fibroblast (D.E.F.) cell cultures. The cytopathic changes produced by the field isolate DPV – N; its physico – chemical characteristics such as sensitivity to chloroform and 5 – iodo – 2 deoxyuridine; and the effect of exposure to various pH values such as 4.7, 7.2 and 9.1, were compared with that of a known duck plague virus DPV – K, received from the Veterinary Biological Institute, Mannuthy. In D.E.F. cell cultures, the cytopathic changes produced by DPV – N and DPV – K were rounding and clumping of cells, with characteristic basophilia and granulation of the cytoplasm. Although the initial titers of both DPV - N and DPV - K were only 105 and 106.25, they increased to 107.5 and 108.25 respectively, on further passages. The field isolate DPV – N and the known duck plague virus DPV – K were sensitive to 5% chloroform, with complete inactivation in ten minutes. Similarly, both the strains failed to multiply and produce cytopathis changes in cells treated with IUdR, at the rate of 100 micrograms per ml. However, differences were observed in their thermostability and pH sensitivity. Although DPV – K was inactivated completely at 560 C. in 30 minutes, DPV – N was only partially reduced in titer. DPV – N was also found to be resistant, when both the strains were exposed to pH 4.7, for a period of four hours at room temperature. But both were unaffected at pH 7.2 and got inactivated at pH 9.1. Both the strains also failed to produce any haemagglutination reaction with chicken R.B.C or precipitation reaction in agar gels. Although duck plague specific antiserum neutralized homologous strain DPV – K and the newly isolated strain DPV – N, the serum titers obtained with the latter was only less. Experimental infection studies have shown that one to six week – old ducklings were equally susceptible to DPV – N and DPV- K, either with the spleen extract or with tissue culture passaged sample. The symptoms and lesions produced in both cases, were similar to those described for duck plague and also to those seen during the disease outbreak in Kerala. The virus that caused an outbreak of duck plague - like disease in Kerala is found to be indistinguishable from that of duck plague. It is also strongly felt that the lack of complete protection of birds vaccinated with duck plague vaccine is due to t possible strain variation between the classical duck plague virus DPV – K and the virus as it occurred during this outbreak. However, it needs thorough in vitro cross neutralization and in vivo cross protection tests before any definite conclusions can be made on the strain variation of duck plague virus.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Studies on the bacterial species associated with digestive disturbance in pigs
    (Department of Microbiology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1975) Balakrishna Pillai, K P; KAU; Abdulla, P K
    Prior to this investigation, limited studies conducted in the department of Bacteriology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, have revealed the association of pathogenic strains of E. coli and Salmonella with enteric disorders of pigs. Therefore, a detailed study of the incidence and magnitude of prevalence of those pathogens was carried out. A total of 274 specimens collected from sick as well as dead animals were examined. Faecal materials collected from living as well as dead animals, mesentric lymphnode, spleen, liver, lungs and heart blood formed the materials for isolation studies. Both enrichment and selective media like selenite and tetrathionate broth, D. H. S. broth and D.H.S. agar, modified MacConkey medium 1 & 11, and composite medium 1 & 11 were employed for isolation of pathogens. A total of 75 strains of E. coli and 24 strains of Salmonella were isolated and studied. Most of the isolations were made from piglings ages 3 – 8 weeks. Out of 75 strains of E. coli only 5 strains were found pathogenic based on various tests like haemolysin, necrotoxin and enterotoxin production and pathogenicity to mice. These isolates belonged to serogroup 05, 017 and 039. Salmonella strains belonged to two serotypes, S. weltevreden and S. typhimurium var coCopenhagen The identity of the isolates were confirmed biochemically and serologically. Pathogenicity studies conducted with two strains of Salmonella weltevreden and Salmonella typhimurium Var Copenhagen have revealed that they were pathogenic to laboratory animals like mice, guinea pigs and rabbits. It has also been observed that these serotypes could produce enteric form of the disease in primary hosts. Invitro drugsensitivity studies were carried out to determine the effectiveness of antibiotic to gastrointestinal disorders the effectiveness of antibiotic to gastrointestinal disorders caused by these species. It has been observed that all E. coli and Salmonella strains tested were sensitive to chloramphenicol. However multiple resistance was observed to penicillin, streptomycin, tetracycline, erythromycin and nitrofurantoin. The significance, possible role of infection by these species and their drug sensitivity reactions are discussed.