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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 Parasitology × Author: KAU × Author: Regu Ravindran × End date: 1999 × Start date: 1996 ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Prevalence, immune response and treatment of mite infestation in rabbits
    (Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1998) Regu Ravindran; KAU; Subramanian, H
    The prevalence, immune response and treatment of mite infestation in rabbits of Mannuthy and Thrissur, Kerala were studied in detail during a one year period from August 1997 to July 1998. The total prevalence of mange in rabbits was 56.9 per cent. The prevalence increased as temperature decreased, humidity and rainfall increased. The mite infestation was more prevalent during rainy months of the year. Notoedres cuniculi, Psoroptes cuniculi, Listrophorus gibbus and Cheyletiella parasi tivorax were identified as the four species of mites infesting rabbits. N. cuniculi showed maximum prevalence while C. parasitivorax the least. The New Zealand White rabbits were more prone to mite infestation while crossbreds/local breeds showed least prevalence rate. Whole body extract of P. cuniculi was used for immunization of rabbits. Agar gel precipitation and counter immuno electrophoresis revealed a maximum of three clear strong precipitation lines with the sera from immunized animals. The majority of sera from infested animals produced only single precipitation line. The passive haemagglutination assay revealed a maximum mean serum antibody titre of 1: 12513 against sera from immunized animals while sera from chronically infested animals showed a very low mean titre of1:22. Dermal reaction of the inoculated antigen into the skin of normal, infested and immunized rabbits showed increased skin thickness in all the three groups which was maximum by 12 to 24 hours after inoculation of antigen. The increase in skin thickness was significantly less in normal groups compared to the other two groups. Treatment trials conducted against Notoedric and Psoroptic mange showed that topical application of Karanji oil and single subcutaneous administration of Ivermectin at the dose of 0.3 mg/kg were highly effective in curing mange. Dimilin (Diflubenzuron) was not only ineffective against mange but also increased the severity of lesion and mite number. Ektodex{amitraz) was not 100 per cent effective on single application at 0.6 per cent concentration. Karanji oil which is cheaper and effective than Ivermectin is suitable for small scale farmers in curing rabbit mange.