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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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ThesisItem Open Access Studies on certain gastro-intestinal nematodes with special reference to those found in goats(Department of parasitology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1980) Sathianesan, V; KAU; Kalyanasundaram, RLife history of Triohuris globuloss has been elucidated for the fist time using kids !q as experimental animals. Both free living and parasitic stages have been described in detail with illustrations. The prepatent period of Triohuric globuloss was found to be 85-89 days. T.globulosa failed to develop in guniea pig on experimental transmission. Haematology and histopathology of trichuriacis in kids experimentally infected with T.globulosa have been studied for the first time and heavy infection with the worm was found to cause anaemia and pathology changes in cacum of the host. Prepatent period of Strongyloides napillosus in kids infected orally with 7000 larva has been determined for the first time to be 6-7 days. Neoasoais vitulorum of calves has been found to be not transferable to oat either transplacentally or orally. In gunia pigs M.Vitulorum failed to attain sexual maturity. Calves could not be infected with infected with M.vitulorum post-nataly. Oesphagostomum colubianum of goats has been found to be not transferable to calves. Prepatent period of O.colusbionum in kids infected experimentally was found to be 40 days. Comparative efficacy of 4 anthelminties viz., Oxibendazole, thiophanate, Albendazole and Parbendazole was increased by conducting treatment trials. Against monospecific infection of Trichuris globulosa in experimentally infected kids the efficacies of Oxibendazile, thiophanate, Albendazole and Parbendazole at the recommended doses of 10mg.50mg, 10mg and 30 mg/kg body weight respectively were found to be 48.6%, 41%,47.3% and 49.3% respectively. Even at double the recommended doses the anthelminations were found to be well tolerated by the kids. Oxibendazole and Albendazole at the rate of 10mg and 10mg/kg body weight respectively were found to be 100% found to be 100 % effective against colubriformise, effective against respectively were Haemonohus contortue, trichostrongylus .Thiopanate at the recommended dosage (59mg/kg body weight) was also 100% effective against all he nematodes mentioned above except Haemonous contortus against which it was only 97% effective at that dosage. Parbendazole at the recommended dosage shedule (30mg/kg body weight) was 100% effective against the nematodes with the exception of .against which only 86.6% efficacy was noticed. Against in nature nematodes in the gastro-intestinal tract Oxibendazole and Albendazole were 100% effective whereas the efficacies of P`arbendazole and thiophanate were 85% and 74% respectively at their recommended doses. In in vitro studies the anthelmintic efficacy of Oxibendasole against Haemonchus contortus was found to be superior to that of the remaining anthelminties. In ovicidal property also, Oxibendazole was better than all the others, since it was ovicidal in 6 hours after administration whereas albendazole, thiophanate and Parbendazole were ovicidal in 8 hours, 9 hour and 11 hours respectively. Albendazole was found to be superior to al the other 3 anthelmintion in their influences on the body weight gain of treated animals closely followed by Oxibendazole. Perbendazole and thiophanate were inferior to others Judging on the basis of over all efficacies Oxibendazole and Albendazole were found to be superior to thiophanate and Parbendasole. Treatment trials with Oxibendazole, Albendazole and thiophanate against gastro-intestinal nematodes of goats have not been attempted earlier than the present study.ThesisItem Open Access Studies on the pathogenicity of tetrameres mohtedai and acuaria spiralis of fowl(Department of parasitology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1977) Ramaswamy, K; KAU; Sundaram, R KControlled experiments were conducted at three levels of monospecific and dispecific infections with two commonly occurring spirurid worms of fowls viz. Tetrameres mohtedai and Acuaria spiralis. The blood studies conducted in monospecific T. mohtedai infection revealed a normocytic normochromic anaemia and eosinophilia during the initial phase and later a macrocytic anaemia, heterophilia and slight monocytosis by 66th day post infection. The infected birds lost considerable amount of their body weight. In layers there was a great delay in sexual maturity and poor feed efficiency as indicated by greatly reduced egg production. The percentage of establishment of worms in these experiments were found to be inversely proportional to the number of juveniles administered. The pathological changes in the affected proventriculi indicated an acute inflammation during the invasive phase of juveniles, followed by a chronic reaction which by 55th day post infection was well established indicating the development of a host – parasite balance towards the later stages of infection. Among the blood changes in monospecific A. spiralis infection, eosinophilia was evident initially followed by a marked leucopenia and development of a macrocytic hypochromic anaemia. Other effects due to parasitism were, delayed maturity, reduced rate of egg production, poor feed efficiency, loss of weight, emaciation and a mortality rate of 25% in chicks. The gross pathological changes in Acuariasis included the appearance of an irregular whitish patch on the serosa and formation of nodular growths in the mucosa which in heavy infections occupy the whole of the mucous membrane. Juveniles of A. spiralis were found to invade the compound glands in very heavy infections. The microscopic changes indicate a severe acute inflammation during the initial stages. Later as the disease became chronic pedunculated fibro – adenamatoid growths were evident on the mucous membrane. In dispecific infections with T. mohtedai and A. spiralis the haematological changes observed were eosinophilia during the early stages followed by a l eucopenia and heterophilia. As the disease progressed a macrocytic hypochromic anaemia developed. There was a great decrease in the live body weight of the infected birds. A mortality of 33.33% were observed in chicks with heavy infection. In layers the sexual maturity was delayed and egg production was greatly suppressed with consequent poor feed utilization. The gross and microscopic changes found in the affected proventriculi indicated a combination of lesions observed under monospecific infections of both the parasites. The results obtained show that the loss due to morbidity (mainly as a result of decreased body weight and reduced rate of egg production) was considerable. These facts indicate that both T. mohtedai and A. spiralis are economically important.ThesisItem Open Access Studies on the biology, pathogenicity and treatment of important nematodes of domestic duck(Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences,Mannuthy, 1977) Chandrasekharan, K; KAU; Kalyanasundaram, RStudies on the incidence of nematode infections in 340 domestic ducks indicated that 67.94% of birds harboured one or more species of the following nematodes viz., Amidostomum globocaudata skrjabini , capillaria contorta, capillaria , Echinuria uncinate, Epomidiostum uncinatum, Eustrongylides papilosus, Strongyloides avium and tetramers antis. The rate of infection was highest in the case of Epomidiostomum uncinatum (41.86% ) and lowest in the case of strongyloides avium (0.59%). The lifecycles of Echinuria uncinata and Tetramers anatis were worked out in detail. It was established that Tetramers anatis was distinct from Tetramers Fissispina. The complete details of the morphology of juveniles both within the intermediate and final hosts were given. The juveniles of Echinuria uncinata completed the first and second moultings on the third and fifth day respectively and the stage juveiles reached infective stage on the seventh day following infection in Daphnia pulex at a room temperature ranging from 25 to 30C0. In ducklings the juveniles underwent the third and fourth moultings on the third and seventh day respectively and the eggs of the parasite were first found in the droppings on the thirty- third day. The juveniles of Tetramers anatis completed first mopulting on the third day, the second moulting on the fifth day and the third stage encysted in fat bodies of the grasshopper, Spathosternum prasiniferum. The third stage juveniles attained infective stage on the sixth day following infection. Within the ducklings, the parasite underwent the third moulting on the third day. The fourth moulting in respect of males was seen on the nineth day and in the case of females on the tenth day. The prepatent period of the parasite was found to be 24 days. Development of the juveniles was also noticed in five other species of grasshoppers viz., Oxya nitidula, Oedaleus abruptus, Conocephalus maculatus, Ducetia Japonica and Atractomorpha crenulata. No development of Tetrameres anatis, beyound the first stage was observed inDaphnia Pulex and Daphnia Magna on experimental infection. Anaemic changes with significant reduction in weight gain and haematological values were observed in experimental infections of Tetrameres anatis, Amidostomum skrjabini and Epomidiostomum uncinatum. Histopathological changes like haemorrahage, desquamation of cells, catarrbal inflammation and necrosis were seen in experimental tetramerosis. Ulceration and atrophy were also evident in amidostomiasis and epomidiostomiasis. The anthelmintic efficacy of 9 drugs against adult worms of Tetrameres anatis, Amidostomum skrjabini and Epomidiostomum uncinatum under experimental infections were determined. The efficacies against tetramerosis, amidostomiasis and epomidiostomiasis were 79.23%,32.15% and 79.88% with Tetramisole by drochloride at 50 mg/kg body weight; 70.36%, 52.42% and 50.23% with phenothiazine at 500 mg/kg; 26.85%, 74.8% and 65.68% with Morantel tartrate at 40mg/kg; 45.70% 67.29% and 57.84% with Parbendazole at 100 mg/kg; 41,0%’63/93% and 43.13% with Thiabendazole at 200 mg/kg; 59.28%,61.06% and 52.66% with Carbontetrachloride at 2ml/kg; 35.94%, 30,12% and 13.13% with Methyridine at 200 mg/kg; 28.87% 20.17% and 11.32% with Disophenol at 10 mg/kg and 31.02%, 39.04% and 12.66% with Cashewnut shell oil at 10 g/kg body weight respeectively. The drug Rametin at 200 mg/kg was found to be fatal to ducklings. In a cross infection trial delyed development and lesser percentage of establishement of Ascaridia galli of fowl origin were observed in ducklings as compared to chicks.ThesisItem Open Access Studies on the common ticks affecting live-stock in Kerala(Department of parasitology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1980) Rajamohan, K; KAU; Kalyanasundaram, RAn investigation was conducted for a period of 5 years from 1974 to 1979 in to the incidence of ticks on domestic animals in Kerala, the biology of the most common species, and their susceptibility to four commonly available organo phosphorus compounds.. Nine different species of ticks belonging to 5 genera were collected from cattle, buffaloes, goats and dogs in different localities of the eleven districts of Kerala. The species of ticks identified were boophilus annulatus, rhipicephalus sanguineus, R.haemaphusaloides, R.turanicus, haemaphysalis bispinosa, H. turturis, H.spinigera, Hyalomma anatolicum and Amblyomma integrum. The commonest among them was boophilus annulatus, which was found mainly on cattle. The incidence of this tick was very high in the hilly areas and in the western ghat regions. The other common ticks found on cattle were Rhipicephalus haemaphysaloides and Haemaphysalis bispinosa. Tick infestation was found to be rare in buffaloes and goats and the common species found on them were Haemaphysalis bispinosa and B. annulatus. IN dogs the species recorded in the present study were Rhipicephalus sanguienus and R. turanicus. Variations in incidence was evidenced from the present study. The maximum incidence was found in the months of July, August, September, October and November. The life-cycle of B.annulatus was completed experimentally in a period 44 days. The maximum number of eggs produced by one tick was 1420 and minimum 680. The incubation period was dependent on the room temperature and variation in humidity had little influence. The larvae were found to prefer hairy areas of the body for attachment, and they did not attach at the hairless and exposed areas. The engorged females were found to drop off quickly when green grass was spread on the floor of the experimental animal’s shed. The life-cycle patter could be summarised as: Pre-oviposition : 1 to 6 days Oviposition : 5 to 9 days Incubation period : 16 to 30 days Larval fasting : 2 to 5 days Larval feeding : 4 to 7 days Larval moulting : 8th to 12th day of infection Nymphal feeding : 3 to 6 days Moulting of Nymph : 15 to 19th day of infection Adult feeding : 5 to 10 days Detatchment of female : From 20th day of infection onwards Four organophosphorous compounds viz. Malathion, Fenitrothion, Dichlorvos and Phosalone were tested for their action on ticks. The ovicidal and larvicidal actions and the lethal effects on nymphas and engorged females of B. annulatus, R sanguinius and H. bispinosa were studied in the laboratory. Cythion (malathion 50%) 0.5 to 1%, Sumithion (Fenitrothion 50 %) 0.5 to 1%, Dichlorvos (Nuvan) 0.1 to 0.2%, and Zolone (Phosalone 35 %) 0.2 to 0.3% were found effective at different degrees. The efficacy was directly proportional to the concentration of compound and the duration of treatment. Phosalone showed maximum efficacy followed by Dichlorvos. In field trials, all the four compounds gave satisfactory results. But phosalone showed maximum efficacy and least toxicity to animals. Nuvan was also effective but was the most toxic among the four compounds. Thus the acaricide of choice for routine use in Kerala was determined to be Phosalone (35%) at a concentration of 0.3% to be used as a spray or wash.ThesisItem Open Access Studies on the incidence , pathogenicity and control of gastro- intestinal nematodes In crossbred calves in Kerala with special reference to strongyloidosis(Department of parasitology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1980) Sukumara Pillai, G; KAU; Chandrasekharan, KThe non – descript and cross bred Calves of Kerala were infected with eight species of gastro – intestinal nematodes viz. Strongyloides papillosus, Neoascaris vitutorum, Cooperia sp., Haemonchus contortus, Bunostomum phlebotomum, Oesophagostomum radiatum, Trichostrongylus colubriformis, and Trichuris globulosa and of which Strongyloides papillosus was the commonest. Incidence of namatodes was more in cross bred calves (64.8 per cent) as compared to non – desctipt calves (51.52 per cent). Out of the cross bred calves, Jersey cross bred calves were found to more susceptible to nematodiasis. Nematodiasis was observed more during the rainy season of the State (June to August). Morphological features of adult worms and infective larvae were redescribed in detail. Strongyloides papillosus produced catarrhal enteritis and frequent diarrhoea in naturally infected cross bred calves. Thiophanate at 100 mg per kg body weight, Mebendazole at 15 mg per kg body weight, Levamisole at 15 mg per kg body weight., Thiabendazole at 100 mg per kg body weight, Tetramisole hydrochloride at 20 mg per kg body weight, Morantel tartrate at 15 mg per kg body weight and parbendazole at 45 mg per kg body weight exerted 100 per cent efficacy against Strongyloides papillosus, whereas, Fenbendazole at 5 mg per kg body weight showed only 83 to 100 per cent efficacy against Strongyloides papillosus, 78 to 100 per cent against ascariasis, 85 to 100 per cent against Strongylosis and 50 to 100 per cent against Trichuriasis.ThesisItem Open Access Pathogenicity of acuaria hamulosa to chicken(Department of parasitology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1980) Ganeswara Rao, Y; KAU; Kalyanasundaram, RControlled experiments were conducted with commonly occurring spirurid worm of chicken, Acuaria hamulosa, in two breeds of chicken, namely the White Leghorn (an egg strain) and the White Plymouth Rock (a broiler strain). The blood changes conducted revealed an initial leucocytosis from 14th day to 36th day, followed by heterophilia from 43rd day to 70th day post infection, and a mild eosinophilia throughout the experimental period. The infected White Plymouth Rock birds lost considerable amount of their body weight. In White Leghorn layers, there was great delay in sexual maturity and poor feed efficiency as indicated by reduced egg production. The percentage of establishment in the experiment was found to be not correlated to the infective dose. The pathological changes in the affected gizzards indicated an acute inflammation during the invasive phase of juveniles, followed by a chronic reaction, which by 60th day post infection was well established indicating the development of a host – parasite balances, towards the later stages of infection.ThesisItem Open Access Incidence and treatment of cestodes of dogs in Kerala with special reference to the taenid species(Department of parasitology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1982) Narendran Nair, P; KAU; Pythal, CFive species of cestodes, viz., dipylidium cenium, Taenia hydatigens, Echinococcus granulosus, Joyeuxiella pasqualei and Diphyllobothrium latum were encountered in dogs in Kerala, of which diphylidium ceninum was the commonest. The incidence of Dipylidium caninum was the highest in animals of the age group of above 5 years, while that of joyeuxiella pasqualei was highest in animals of the age group of above 6 months and upto one year. Echinococcus granuloscus and Taenia hydatigens were most prevalent in the age group of above 5 years. Examination of faecal samples of dogs also revealed that Dipylidium caninum was the most prevalent cestode of dogs. Albendazole at 25 mg/kg body weight. Fenbendazole at 10mg/kg body weight. Hexachlorphene at 15mg/kg body weight, mebendazole at 15 mg/kg body weight repeated for 3 days , niclosamide at 62.5 per Kg body weight and praziquantel at 2.5 mg/kg body weight could remove taenia hydatigena completely. Fenbendazole at 20 mg/kg body weight had an efficacy of only 40% against Ecinococcus granulosus. Fenbendazole at 10mg/kg bodyweight, Mebendazole at 15 mg/kg body weight repeated for 3 days. Niclosamide at125 mg/kg body weight and praziquantel at 5 mg/kg body weight had also 100% efficacy against Dipylidium caninum.ThesisItem Open Access Studies on the flies producing cutaneous myiasis in domestic animals in Trichur(Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, 1978) Subramanian, H; KAU; Raja Mohanan, KA detailed study on the incidence of cutaneous myiasis among domestic animals in Trichur, the morphology and biology of the causative flies and the efficacy of indigenous oils and chemicals as repellents against these flies were undertaken. Cutaneous myiasis was found common among domestic animals in Trichur during the months of October to May, the maximum number being, during January to March. The cases were observed in cattle, buffaloes, goats and dogs. The most common causative fly was Chrysomyia bezziana, but other flies such as Chrysomyia megacephala, Chrysomyia rufifacies and Lucilia cuprina were also observed. In cattle and buffaloes, the lesions were noted mostly in vulval lips and nasal septa where as in goats and dogs the cases were observed on the body skin. The flies of Chrysomyia megacephala, Chrysomyia rufifacies, Chrysomyia nigripes, Lucilia cuprina and Sarcophaga ruficornis were reared in the laboratory to study their morphology and biology. The larvae of Lucilia cuprina and Sarcophaga ruficornis were smooth. Chrysomyia bezziana, Chrysomyia megacephala and Chrysomyia nigripes were spiny and Chrysomyia rufifacies hairy. Chrysomyia rufifacies had the shortest life cycle period of 16 days and Sarcophaga ruficornis had the longest of 26 days. Lucilia cuprina could be reared in the laboratory for 71 days. The invitro development of the larvae, the development of the pupae and the process of fly emergence of Chrysomyia megacephala and Sarcophaga ruficornis were studied in detail. Among the fly repellents tested, lemongrass oil proved to be the best one in possessing fly repellent potentially followed by camphor in oil and Eucalyptus oil against blowflies and Sarcophaga species. Kerosine oil and Turpentine oil possessed the maximum larvicidal action on the larvae of Chrysomyia megacephala and Sarcophaga ruficornis. Turpentine oil and pine oil possessed excellent ovicidal action on Lucilia cuprina eggs even on smearing.ThesisItem Open Access Fresh water cercarial fauna of Trichur(Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1982) Ambika Prasad, Sarmah; KAU; Raja Mohan, KAn investigation on the cercarial fauna of fresh water snails in Trichur was conducted for a period of one year (1981 – 1982). Three species of snails viz. Indoplanorbis exustus (Deshayes), Lymnaea luteola f. australis and Thiara (Melanoides) tuberculata were collected from different areas in Trichur. Snails were found to thrive throughout the year if water is available. Seven different types of cercariae could be identified in the present study. They were – 1. An amphistome cercaria of the pigmentata group referable to Cercaria indica XXVI Sewell, 1922 2. An echinostomatid cercaria, further confirmed as cercaria of Hypoderaeum conoideum 3. A xiphidiocercaria resembling Cercaria indica X Sewell, 1922 4. A brevifurcate, non – ocellate, apharyngeal cercaria referable to cercaria of Schistosoma spindale 5. A longifercate cercaria referable to Cercaria hardayali Dutt, 1970 6. A gymnocephalous cercaria resembling Cercaria indica XIV Sewell, 1922 7. Amonostome cercaria comparable to Cercaria indica VII Sewell, 1922 The maximum incidence of cercarial infection in snails was found in the month of August, Mixed infection of cercariae was observed in one Indo plannorbis exustus (Deshayes) and one Lymnaea luteola f. australis snails. The emergence character and detailed morphology of all these cercariae were studied and compared with the available literature. Experimental infection to raise the adults from the larval stage of a trematode was successfully carried out using cercaria of Hypoderaeum conoideum.
