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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 × End date: 1996 × Thesis Type: M.V.Sc. ×
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Now showing 1 - 9 of 14
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Trematodes of Paramphistomatidae Infecting Domestic Ruminants
    (Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, 1987) Tarun Shankar, Nath; KAU; George Varghese, C
    The thesis embodied the results of an investigation on the prevalence of amphistome infection and their specific identity in different domestic ruminants (cattle, buffaloes, sheep and goats) of Kerala state. A total of 1490 faecal samples from domestic ruminants were collected from different places of Kerala State during a period from April 1985 to March 1986. These samples were examined by sedimentation technique to detect infection with amphistomes and their prevalence. Viscera of 780 slaughtered/ dead ruminants from different parts of Kerala were examined in addition and the available amphistomes were collected for the study and specific identification. The flukes were studied alive, flattened and stained and in certain cases by microtomy sections. Result of the study indicated that the prevalence of infection was far more in cattle and buffaloes than in sheep and goats. The rate of prevalence in cattle, buffaloes and goats was 20.16%, 28.57% and 3.22% respectively. In slaughtered/dead animals the prevalence was 33.09%, 34.67%, 4.17% and 5.81% respectively in cattle, buffaloes, sheep and goats. The highest prevalence was recorded during the rainy season and lowest in dry/summer season. Prevalence during south west monsoon was 38.08% and 20.73% during North East monsoon. The seasonal prevalence hardly varied between cattle and buffaloes but it was consistently low in sheep and goats. Most of the prevalence in all animals were of mixed origin. A total number of 17 species belonging to eight genera of amphistomes were identified. Cevlonocotyle spinicephalus (Tandon, 1955) was recorded from new hosts i.e, cattle and goats, cotylophoron chauhani from goats, in addition to the already reported hosts, buffaloes and sheep respectively. The following conclusions are drawn on the basis of the results of this study: Amphistomes are most prevalent in cattle and buffaloes. Though the infection with amphistomes exists throughout the year, it is definitely more in monsoon seasons. Ceylonocotyle spinicephalus (Tandon, 1955) occurs in cattle and goats and cotylophoron chauhani (Gupta and Gupta, 1972 ) in goats also.
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    ThesisItemOpen 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 K
    Controlled 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.
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    ThesisItemOpen 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, K
    The 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.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Pathogenicity of acuaria hamulosa to chicken
    (Department of parasitology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1980) Ganeswara Rao, Y; KAU; Kalyanasundaram, R
    Controlled 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.
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    ThesisItemOpen 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, C
    Five 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.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Immune response of cattle to Boophilus annulatus (Acari : Ixodoidea)
    (Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1992) Sreekrishnan, R; KAU; Rajamohanan, K
    A study was undertaken to assess the nature and degree of development of acquired resistance in calves against the cattle tick Boophilus annulatus. Observations were made mainly on the development of natural resistance against repeat infestations and the effect of artificial immunization using the tick antigen. Tissue reactions induced by the ticks at the site of bite were also studied. The results indicated the development of resistance in the host, which was gradual and varying in degrees. Immunodiffusion test failed to reveal the presence of tick antibodies in the sera of calves after repeated infestations, indicating that easily demonstrable quantities of antibodies are not developed even after repeated infestations. The cellular reactions at the site of tick – bite revealed the development of a resistant reaction at the site of bite. Studies made on artificial immunization using the whole – tick extract gave varying results. However, the immunodiffusion test using sera of immunized calves revealed that there is a steady maintenance of antibody level throughout the infestation period. Thus, the results obtained in the present study indicate that antibodies are developed against the tick Boophilus annulatus in calves on natural infestations and using the tick antigen, and that there is a clear possibility of immunizing calves against B. annulatus artificially.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Intertransmissibility of the common nematode parasites of pigeon (Columbolivio domestico) and domestic fowl (Gollus gollus domesticus)
    (Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1996) Senthilvel, K; KAU; Madhavan Pillai, K
    An investigation was made on the prevalence of nematode infections in pigeons for a period of one year by faecal and postmortem examinations and the percentage prevalence was 35.24 and 46.74 respectively. The species of nematodes collected from pigeons were Ascaridia columbae, Capillaria obsignata, Ornithostrongylus quadriradiatus, Acuaria spiralis and Strongyloides avium. Capillaria obsignata had the highest prevalence. The development of egg and the time taken to reach the infective stage in egg cultures of Ascaridia galli, Heterakis gallinae, Syngamus trachea, Ascaridia columbae, Capillaria obsignata and Ornithostrongylus quadriradiatus maintained at different room temperature were studied and recorded. The cross transmission trials with fowl nematodes; A. galli, H. gallinae and S. trachea and pigeon nematodes; A. columbae, C. obsignata and 0. quadriradiatus were conducted in pigeons and chicks respectively. Syngamus trachea and C. obsignata were found to be transmissible between pigeons and chicks. The detailed life cycles of A. columbae, S. trachea and 0. quadriradiatus in pigeons were worked out in detail. The prepatent period for these species was 46, 28 and 7 days respectively. The infective larvae of 0. quadriradiatus were seen to be phototropic and hydrotactic. They remained viable for 47 to 52 and 60 to 67 days in dry and wet seasons respectively. The clinical signs, gross and histopathological lesions produced by the nematodes in pigeons were recorded. Moderate infections of O. quadriradiatus produced anaemic changes in pigeons.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Pathogenesis and treatment of immature Ascaridia galli infection in experimentally infected chicken
    (Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1992) Padmaja, P B; KAU; Sathianesan, V
    In a study conducted on the pathogenesis and treatment of Ascaridia galli in experimentally infected chicken at different developmental stages of the worm, it had been found that droopiness, whitish diarrhoea, marked reduction in body weight gain, haemorrhage and congestion at different parts of the intestinal mucosa and frothy or blood tinged intestinal contents were the main clinico pathological changes. Histopathological observations in the small intestine were signs of enteritis, jcatarrhalj changes, villar proliferation, desquamation of sub epithelium and villar tips and mild congestion and haemorrhage. A tissue phase was observed in the life-cycle of the nematode at 20th day post infection indicated by the presence of cut sections of the larvae-in the mucosal and submucosal regions. Haematologically, a decrease in the total erythrocyte count, an initial leucopenia followed by leucocytosis, reduction in packed cell volume and percentage of haemoglobin, an increase in the erythrocyte sedimentation rate, percentage of heterophils, eosinophils, mean corpuscular volume and mean corpuscular haemoglobin values and a reduction in the percentage of lymphocytes, monocytes and "mean corpuscular .haemoglobin concentration and an initial basopenia followed by basophilia were observed in infected chicks. For treatment, out of the four anthelmintics tried, namely piperazine hydrate, albendazole, morantel citrate and ivermectin against the infection, albendazole at 50 mg/kg body weight was found to be the most effective, closely followed by morantel citrate at 50 mg/kg body weight and then piperazine hydrate at 500 rag/kg ' body weight. I I Ivermectin at 1 mg/kg body weight subcutaneously was found to be the least effective. The present study with morantel citrate appeared to be the first of its kind as far as it's use against ascairidiasis in poultry was concerned
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Effect of anthelmintic treatment on milk production in subclinical nematode infections of cows
    (Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1994) Rajasekharan, Nair K G; KAU; Rajmohan, K
    A study was conducted on the incidence of subclinical gastrointestinal namatodiasis in diary cows and heifers, and the effect of anthelmintic treatment on their milk production. It was found that all the animals examined in the two livestock farms of Kerala Agricultural University were harbouring the infection. Faecal culture was found to be the method of choice for detection of nematode infection when compared to microscopical examination of faeces.