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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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1992 - 199912
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Subject: Veterinary Parasitology × End date: 1999 × Start date: 1990 ×
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Now showing 1 - 9 of 12
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Effect of certain biopesticides and irradiation on the developmental stages of myiasis producing flies
    (Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences,Mannuthy, 1998) Subramanian, H; KAU; Rajamohanan, K
    A study was undertaken on the prevalence of cutaneous myiasis in domestic animals and its control using bio-pesticides and gamma irradiation. The prevalence of cutaneous myiasis in domestic animals was found to be 205 (2.08 per cent) among .the 9861 animals screened. The peak of infestation was noted in the month of January. In host-wise and parasite-wise the highest incidence was noted in cattle (63.41 per cent) and the majority of infestation was produced by Chrysomya bezziana larvae (90.73 per cent). Methoprene at 1 to 50 ppm concentration caused only moderate mortality on larvae but significantly increased the mortality rate on eggs, prolonged the larval phase, increased the formation of larval pupal intermediaries and adult deformities and reduced the adult emergence. Diflubenzuron at 0.5 to 5 ppm caused 55 to 100 per cent larvicidal effect due to lowered chitin content of 18.42 to 52.11 per cent in larval cuticle. Bacillus thuringiensis var israelensis produced only moderate larval mortality at 160 to 800 ppm in myiasis producing flies. Azadirachtin at 10.5 to 15 ppm produced 100 per cent mortality in eggs and larvae. Significant antifeedant, ovipositional deterrent and repellant effects were also produced by Azadirachtin. Among the extracts of Acarus calamus, studied, petroleum ether extract at 2.5 per cent concentration gave 82.5 to 100 per cent mortality of the larvae. Moderate antifeedant, ovipositional deterrent and repellant effects were also noticed. The petroleum ether extract produced 100 per cent sterility at 0.1 to 1 per cent concentration by preventing the development of ovarian follicles. Three day old pupae of myiasis producing flies exposed to r-rays gave excellent sterility effect at 2000 to 4000 rads radiation exposure without any other deleterious effect in the flies. Diflubenzuron at 5 ppm concentration showed the highest larvicidal effect (88.5 per cent) in natural cases of cutaneous myiasis.
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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
    Helminth parasites of mammals in Thrissur Zoo
    (Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1999) Varadharajan, A; KAU; Pythal, C
    An investigation on the prevalence of helminthic infections among the wild mammals in captivity in the Thrissur Zoo and also the variations thereof on account of season, age and sex were carried out by regular faecal examination using the concentration method of centrifugation-cum-sedimentation technique, over a period of one year from May-'98 to April-'99. Non-specific symptoms like general ,weakness, debility, occasional diarrhoea, dehydration and respiratory distress with cough were observed in a variety of mammals. The overall prevalence of the helminthic infection among the mammals was 68.05 per cent. Carnivores had the highest prevalence of infection (75.34%) when compared to herbivores (67.47%) and omnivores (65.35%). Strongyle, Strongyloides spirurid, ascarid, amphistome, Fasciola, Trichuris and Parascaris infections in a variety of herbivores; strongyle, Strongyloides, spirurid, Ancylostpma, Capillaria, Toxocara, Trichuris, Metagonimus, Artyfechinostomum and Hymenolepis infections in a variety of omnivores and Ancylostoma, Toxocara, Toxascaris, Strongyloides, Capillaria, spirurid, Diphyllobothrium, Hymenolepis and Paragonimus infections in a variety of carnivores were observed. A few specimens of Haemonchus contortus were recovered from the abomasum of a 6 year old female balckbuck during post-mortem examination. The overall prevalence of infection among the mammals was higher in the rainy seasons (South-West and North-East monsoons) than in the dry season. The prevalence of, infection was higher in the adults of herbivores and omnivores than in the young ones of both the groups. The prevalence was also higher in the males of herbivores and carnivores than in the females and was more or less equal in both sexes of omnivores. Treatments with Fenbendazole and Pyrantel Pamoate were effective against gastro-intestinal nematodes in camels and in Asiatic lions respectively. Control measures for the helminthic infections in the zoo < mammals have also been suggested.
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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.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Pathogenicity of Ascaridia Galli infection in broiler chicken with special reference to weight gain
    (Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1995) Arunachalam, K; KAU; George, Varghese C
    A study carried out to assess the pathogenic effect of the developmewntal stages of Ascaridia galli in broiler chicks for a period of eight weeks, revealed clinical signs like general weakness, unthriftiness, ruffled feathers and loss of appetite, besides the delayed development of comb, wattles and feathers. On post – mortem examination of the experimentally infected chicks, large numbers of larvae were recovered from 2nd day PI onwards and the lumen larvae were detected from 14th day PI. The intestinal contents were frothy, mucus mixed and had many immature worms. In the small intestine the worms embedded in the mucosa with their anterior extremities. Histopathological studies revealed disruption of villi, desquamation of epithelium, infiltration with monocular cells, focal necrosis, congestion and haemorrhage in the mucosa and cystic changes of mucosal glands. Sections of larvae in the mucosa at different histological locations were detected on 4th, 10th, 14th and 17th days PI. In addition, cut sections of degenerated larvae were also observed. Haematological studies indicated a statistically significant increase in erythrocyte sedimentation rate, total leucocyte count, total heterophil and eosinophil counts. Packed cell volume, haemoglobin content and total erythrocyte count were significantly decreased. Lymphocyte count was significantly decreased (P < 0.01) in all the infected groups upto 37th day PI; later the count was gradually increased in all the infected groups. The mean body weight and mean body weight gain in the infected groups of chicks were significantly lesser than the control group chicks (P <0.01). The mean weekly feed intake and mean weekly feed conversion ratio were lesser in the infected groups of chicks than control ones, although the difference was not statistically significant. The morbidity rate was high in all the infected chicks, but mortality was not recorded during the experimental period. Coprological study confirmed the maturation period for A. galli in groups A, B, C and D as 59, 59,50 and 44 days respectively.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Assessment of paratenic hosts in the transmission of Ancylostoma caninum to dogs
    (Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1997) Deena Antony, U; KAU; George Vargese, C
    An investigation into the “Assessment of paratenic hosts in the transmission of Ancylostoma caninum to dogs” was carried out during the period from October 1996 to September 1997. The experimental animals comprised of 24 day old chicks, 15 one month old albino mice, 60 cockroaches collected locally and 10 pups of 6 to 8 weeks old. Larvae obtained from faecal cultures set in room temperature were used for infecting paratemic hosts. The migration and distribution of A. caninum larvae in the tissues of chicks infected orally with 1000 larvae were studied. Larval yield at necropsy from different organs after digestion with artificial gastric juice revealed a 50.1 per cent recovery at 4hr after inoculation followed by a sharp decline to 4.5 percent at 72hr. Larvae were detected in the lungs and liver at the rate of 67 and 63 respectively. The gastro intestinal tract yielded the maximum number of larvae (215) at 4hr after infection. Migration in the muscles of neck and thorax was detected at 12 hr after infection. But no larvae were recovered from heart, spleen and kidney. Migration and distribution of A.caninum larvae in the tissues of mice orally infected with 1000 larvae and the establishment of patent infection from mice to definite host were studied. Highest larval recovery was at 4 hr post infection (48.6%) and lowest was (13.6%) at 30 days post infection. Migration of larvae to the liver and lungs occurred within 24 hr. No larvae were recovered from spleen, kidney and heart. Migration in the muscles of throax and head and neck occurred within 4 days. In the infected cockroaches, living larvae were found in the muscles, wall and lumen of the gut region and haemocele. Histopathological lesions included mild disruption of the villi with mild infilteration of the inflammatory cells in the intestine, areas of congestion, haemorrhage and necrosis were noticed in the liver and lungs with sections of larvae found rupturing the wall of the alveoli. Patent infection was established in hookworm free pups . Infected with larvae, recovered from infected chicks, mice and cockroaches and the pre-patent period was found to be 18 to 19 days. The present observation established that chicken, mice and insects like cockroaches might act as paratenic hosts for A.caninum, thus serving as natural sources of infection to pups.
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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.