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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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Author: Jini, Jeorge × Author: KAU × End date: 2009 × Thesis Type: M.V.Sc. ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Bacteria associated with respiratory tract infections in rabbits
    (College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2009) Jini, Jeorge; KAU; Koshi, John
    A study was undertaken to isolate the bacteria associated with respiratory tract infections in rabbits. In this study, isolation, identification and antibiotic susceptibility of the isolates as well as determination of their pathogenicity to mice were carried out. Samples were collected from ailing and dead rabbits. Nasal swabs from the ailing rabbits showing clinical signs such as nasal discharge and respiratory distress, tracheal and lung samples of the dead rabbits with post mortem lesions such as pneumonia, congestion of lungs and haemorrhages of trachea were collected for the isolation trials. These samples were collected from rabbit farm attached to Kerala Agricultural University, commercial farms in Malapuram district, dead rabbits brought to Centre of Excellence in Pathology for post mortem and ailing animals brought for microbiological examination to the Department of Veterinary Microbiology. A total of 62 samples were collected, comprising of 30 nasal swabs, 25 lung samples and 7 tracheal swabs, for the isolation of the organisms. Brain Heart Infusion Agar (BHIA) and Blood Agar were used for the primary isolation of the organisms. In the present study 32 isolates were obtained in which Staphylococcus sp. contributed 59.56 per cent of the total isolates, E. coli contributed 25 per cent, Klebsiella sp. 9.43 per cent, Streptococcus uberis 3.31 per cent and Pasteurella multocida 3.13 per cent. The bacteria were isolated and identified based on morphology, cultural and biochemical tests. In Staphylococcus sp. 19 isolates were obtained, comprising of Staphylococcus aureus-11, Staphylococcus scuri -2 , Staphylococcus xylosus- 1, Staphylococcus intermedius-2, Staphylococcus cohnii -2 and Staphylococcus lentus- 1. Other isolates were Streptococcus uberis -1, Pasteurella multocida -1, E. coli -8, Klebsiella pneumoniae -2 and Klebsiella ozaenae-1. Most of the Staphylococcus sp. showed resistance to sulphadiazine, polymyxin B, co-trimoxazole, amoxycillin and oxytetracycline. The antimicrobial susceptibility pattern shown by the isolates exhibited multi-drug resistance. Multi drug resistance was also observed for E. coli isolates to amoxycillin, cefuroxime, gentamicin, carbenicillin, methicillin, chloramphenicol, enrofloxacin, oxytetracycline, penicillin G, nitrofurantoin, cefotaxime, oxacillin, streptomycin and erythromycin. Klebsiella sp. only showed sensitivity to enrofloxacin, gentamicin, cefotaxime, streptomycin and ciprofloxacin and highly resistant to amoxycillin, carbenicillin, methicilin, oxytetracycline, co-trimoxazole, penicillin G, nitrofurantoin, sulphadiazine, polymyxin B, bacitracin, erythromycin and ciprofloxacin. On pathogenicity testing in mice only four isolates of S. aureus, five isolates of E. coli, two isolates of K. pneumoniae and one isolate of Pasteurella multocida caused death of the mice. The other isolates of S. aureus didn’t cause death of mice but could be re-isolated from the sacrificed mice after completion of the observation period. The S.scuri, S. xylosus, S. intermedius, S. cohnii and S. lentus isolates didn’t cause death in mice and the organisms were not re -isolated from lungs, liver, spleen and heart of the mice on sacrifice after 14 days observation period. The Streptococcus uberis isolate also didn’t cause death in mice and the organisms could not be re-isolated from lungs, liver, spleen and heart of the sacrificed mice.