Chintu RavishankarBINDYA A.2020-07-232020-07-232017http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810149672In India, TB is a highly prevalent disease, which causes high mortality among humans. This study was undertaken to detect the presence of MTBC and MAC organisms in free ranging Indian Grey Mongoose (Herpestes edwardsii) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Twenty one faecal samples were collected from free-ranging mongoose in Zoological Garden, Thiruvananthapuram. The DNA from the faecal samples was extracted by Qiagen stool minikit. The extracted DNA was subjected to PCR to detect any mycobacterium (PCR targeting 16S rRNA gene), MTBC (PCR targeting IS6110 and MAC (PCR targeting IS1311). Out of 21 samples, 16 (76.19 percent) were found positive for mycobacteria. None of the samples were positive for bacteria belonging to MTBC and MAC. Therefore it was concluded that the mongooses in the selected area are free from any pathogenic mycobacteria of MTBC and MAC.ennullThesis