VETERINARY COLLEGE AND RESEARCH INSTITUTE, NAMAKKAL

DEPARTMENT OF VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY

The Department of Veterinary Parasitology at VC & RI, Namakkal was established in the year 1985. On staff are one Professor, three Associate Professors, two Assistant Professors and two attendants. The department offers undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Veterinary Parasitology. Undergraduate courses are offered in the second year of B.V.Sc course. During 1993, this department was recognized as a post graduate department for the award of M.V.Sc. degree and in 2006, this department started offering Ph.D., degree courses.

Objectives

  • To fulfill the curriculum needs of UG and PG courses
  • To undertake external funded/ private agency sponsored/ self financing research projects on parasitic diseases
  • Screening of clinical samples received from Veterinary Hospitals and Veterinary University and Training Centres for parasite
  • To advise farmers on the importance of parasitic infections and the methods to be adopted for effective control of the same

Modified Objectives

  • Evaluation of plant extracts for control of parasitic diseases

Courses Offered

Undergraduate

  • VPA 211     General Veterinary Parasitology and Helminthology   (3 + 1)
  • VPA 221     Veterinary Entomology and Acarology   (1+1)
  • VPA 222     Veterinary Protozoology (2+1)

Postgraduate

  • VPA 601         Platyhelminthes of livestock  2+1
  • VPA 602         Nemathelminthes and Acanthocephala of livestock 2+1 
  • VPA 603         Arthropods as vectors and pathogens of livestock 3+1         
  • VPA 604         Protozoan parasites of domestic        animals 3+1
  • VPA 605         Immunoparasitology 1+1   
  • VPA 606         Animal parasites transmissible to man 2+1 
  • VPA 607         Parasites of poultry 2+1 
  • VPA 608         Clinical Parasitological techniques 1+1 

Ph.D.

  • VPA 801           Advances in Helminthology (2 +1)
  • VPA 802          Advances in Entomology and Acarology(2+1)
  • VPA 803           Advances in Protozoology (2+1)
  • VPA 804           Advances in Immunoparasitology (2 +1)
  • VPA 805           Tick borne blood Protista (1+1)
  • VPA 806           Parasite Vaccines (1 +2)  

Infrastructure

  • Fly Control lab was created under Part II Scheme for carrying out research in housefly control
  • A shed with tick proof conditions was created for carrying out research on ticks and tick- borne diseases.
  • Anthelmintic resistance laboratory was created for carrying out research on anthelmintic resistance against gastrointestinal nematodes of small ruminants.
  • Departmental museum was strengthened

Equipmenst available

  • One Binocular Research Microscope with photomicrography attachment (LEICA )
  • One Binocular Research microscope ( Nikon )
  • One Stereozoom microscope
  • Deep freezer (-35° C)
  • BOD incubator
  • Sonicator
  • Triple distilled water apparatus (QUARTZ)
  • Incubator
  • Hot air oven
  • Electrophoresis apparatus
  • Electronic balance
  • Laminar air flow
  • Liquid nitrogen container
  • Projection Microscope with CCTV (Plasma TV) and LCD projector

Achievements

Education

  • Reference Charts
    • Reference charts have been prepared for the course General Parasitology and Helminthology Veterinary Entomology & Acarology and Veterinary protozoology
  • Computer aided teaching
    • Computer aided teaching is imparted to undergraduate students for teaching Veterinary Helminthology, Veterinary Entomology and Acarology and Veterinary Protozoology. 3 CD ROM’s were prepared for each subject comprising parasite photos, lesion, Lifecycle stages etc.
  • Colour Atlas
    • A Colour Atlas of Veterinary Protozoology was compiled by the Department of Veterinary Parasitology, VC & RI, Namakkal using funds allotted under ICAR Development Grant. The Atlas is used by faculty in the Department of Veterinary Parasitology in Veterinary Colleges in India as a reference guide for teaching Veterinary Protozoology.
    • A digital atlas of Veterinary Protozoology was created by the Department of Veterinary Parasitology, VC & RI, Namakkal using funds allotted under ICAR Development Grant (2006). The same is available in the University, for sale. The atlas is the first of its kind in India.

Research

Some of the major research programmes in the department include house fly control, anthelmintic resistance in gastrointestinal nematodes of small ruminants, chicken coccidiosis and control of poultry ectoparasites. Nine research projects were completed and the details are given below.

Research Projects undertaken in the department

Title of the project / Scheme Funding Agency Year
Use of low cost technology for control of parasitic gastroenteritis in small ruminants Govt. of Tamil Nadu 2001-03
Studies on the coccidia of fowls in Tamil Nadu” Govt. of Tamil Nadu 2001-03
Efficacy of Diflubenzuron as an insect growth regulator in the control of muscids in poultry manure Private agency sponsored (Crompton Uniroyal Chemicals, Mumbai) 2002-04
Evaluation of herbal product Dharsini as an ectoparasiticide S.K.A. Marketing division, Salem 2004
Anticoccidial efficacy of Herbal product AV/CPP/12 and AV/CPP/22 in broilers Ayurvet (Dabur) Limited, Uttar Pradesh 2004-05
Biological control of flies in poultry farms Govt. of Tamil Nadu 2004-08
Efficacy of recombinant tick vaccine (Bm95) against ticks infesting cattle Indian Immunologicals Ltd, Hyderabad 2008-09
Evaluation of INDISPRON–D110 against ectoparasites in commercial birds PNP Associates Pvt. Ltd., Faridabad, Haryana 2008-10
Effect of INDISPRON–D110 on ticks infesting sheep PNP Associates Pvt. Ltd., Faridabad, Haryana 2008-10
Epizootiology and control of goat coccidiosis in Namakkal Tamil Nadu State Council for Science and Technology Student Projects 1998-99
Use of Cyromazine and neem as insect growth regulator in the control of Muscids -do- 2000-01
Biological control of flies in poultry farms using entomopathogenic fungal baits -do- 2006-07
Novel usage of karanj (Pungal pongamia glabra) as an acaricide in the control of sheep ticks -do- 2008-09

Outreach

In addition to teaching and research, the department provides clinical diagnostic services for the Teaching Veterinary Hospital, University Research and Training Centres, Veterinary Hospitals and Dispensaries located in Western Tamil Nadu.

Faculty from the department also give guest lectures regularly to academicians attending trainer’s training programme at Centre for faculty training in poultry at VC & RI, Namakkal, field veterinarians and to farmers during training Programmes organized by KVK and NSS unit of the College.

The department has published a Colour Atlas on Veterinary Protozoology for circulation among Parasitologists working in various Veterinary Colleges and a “Digital atlas of Veterinary Protozoology’ for the benefit of students.

The department has organized an ICAR sponsored Summer School in 2004 and a National Seminar on “Integrated Management of arthropod pests of livestock and poultry in the aftermath of global warming and climate change on 21st and 22nd, April 2004. The department has also organized training programmes to field veterinarians in 2002.

Current Focus

  • Development of Entomopathogenic fungi incorporated baits for house fly control
  • Neem as an alternative non chemical insect growth regulator for control of house flies
  • Anthelmintic resistance detection assays
  • Phytochemicals for anthelmintic resistant nematodes of  small ruminants
  • Herbal anticoccidial for control of chicken coccidiosis

Faculty

  • Dr. G.Ponnudurai, Professor and Head
  • Dr. N.Rani, Assistant Professor
  • Dr. K.Thangavel, Assistant Professor
  • Dr. P.Anbarasi, Assistant Professor
  • Dr. M.Sasikala, Assistant Professor