Veterinary College and Research Institute, Namakkal

Department of Veterinary Microbiology

The Department of Veterinary Microbiology was started in the year 1985 to teach Veterinary Microbiology to the under graduate students. Post graduate degree (M.V.Sc.) and Ph.D. degree programme are being offered from 1994 and 1996 respectively.

Objectives

Education

To offer quality education to undergraduate and post graduate students

Research

To provide laboratory facilities and guidance to Masters and PhD students
Molecular disease diagnosis of livestock and poultry

Extension

To analyse and give result to the samples submitted to the Department
To offer continuing veterinary education programme to field veterinarians

Courses Offered

Under-Graduate

Veterinary Microbiology - (Credit Hours: 3+2)

UNIT-1 (General & Systematic Veterinary Bacteriology)
UNIT-2 (Veterinary Mycology)
UNIT-3 (Microbial Biotechnology)
UNIT-4 (Veterinary Immunology and Serology)
UNIT-5 (General and Systematic Veterinary Virology)

Post-Graduate (M.V.Sc.,)

This department offers a 2-year Master degree programme in Veterinary Microbiology. The programme consists of four semesters including two semesters of course work (40 credits) and two semesters of research work (20 credits), which is evaluated by an external examiner before award of the degree.

VMC 601 - Bacteriology I (3+1)
VMC 602 - Bacteriology- II (3+1)
VMC 603 - Veterinary Mycology (1+1)
VMC 604 - General Virology (2+1)
VMC 605 - Systematic Animal Virology (3+1)
VMC 606 - Principles of Immunology (2+1)
VMC 607 - Vaccinology (2+0)
VMC 608 – Diagnosis of Infectious Diseases (1+2)
VMC 609 - Microbiology and Immunological Techniques (0+3)
PGS 604 – Fundamental Concepts in Laboratory Techniques (0+1)

Ph.D.

The Ph.D. programme consists of two semesters of course work (30 credits) and research work (45 credits) registered over a period of 3-4 years. So far, 13 Ph.D. students have completed

VMC 801 - Advances in Bacteriology (2+1)
VMC 802 - Advances in Mycology (2+1)
VMC 803 - Bacterial Genetics (2+1)
VMC 804 - Microbial Toxins (2+1)
VMC 805 - Molecular Determinants of Bacterial Pathogenesis (2+1)
VMC 806 - Advances in Virology (2+1)
VMC 807 - Molecular and Genetic Aspects of Viral Pathogenesis (2+1)
VMC 809 - Oncogenic Viruses (2+0)
VMC 810 - Slow Virus Infection and Prions (2+0)
VMC 811 - Molecular Immunology (2+1)
VMC 812 - Advances in Cellular Immunology (2+1)
VMC 813 - Cytokines and Immunomodulators (2+0)
VMC 814 - Advances in Vaccinology (2+0)
VMC 815 - Advances in Immunodiagnostics (1+1)
VMC 816 - Modern Immunology (1+2)
VMC 817 - Current Topics in Infection and Immunity (3+0)
VMC 818 - Veterinary Microbial Biotechnology (2+1)

Infrastructure

Department of Veterinary Microbiology

Hertel Reuss Modular Trinocular Research Microscope
Horizontal Laminar Flow Clean Air Work Station
NIKON inverted microscope with accessories
Digital Incubator
Bacteriological Incubator
Hot Air Oven
Deep Freezer (-20°C) Horizontal
Deep freezer (-80°C) Vertical
REMI C -24 Centrifuge
Analytical Balance
Orbital shaking incubator
BOD incubator
ELISA Reader & ELISA strip washer
Gradient PCR machine
Real Time-PCR machine
Gel documentation system
Nano drop
Ultra centrifuge
UV Spectrophotometer
Luminometer

Centralized Research Laboratory

The idea of providing all laboratory equipment under one roof for the use of Post-graduate students and Research workers resulted in creation of the Centralised Research Laboratory.

AXIO PLAN High Power Microscope
CO2 Incubator
Inverted microscope
Bio-Safety Cabinet Class II Model
Quartz all distillation unit
Homogeniser
Ultrafiltration system
Vacuum concentrator
Vacuum oven
UV Transilluminator
Digital balance

Achievements / Excellence

Providing laboratory facilities and guidance for post- graduate and doctoral students.
Education – 14 - Ph.D., and 46 - M.V.Sc., students have completed their post graduate research from this department.
Forty five Arts and science college students completed their research project in this department.
So far 17 TNSCST sponsored student research schemes have been completed.
Obtained Dr. B.V.Rao / WPC'96 Research Grants for four Ph.D. research projects and for six M.V.Sc. research projects.

Research

Completed Research Schemes

Title of the project / Scheme	Fund (Rs.)	Funding Agency	Completion year
Establishment of a central tissue culture laboratory for isolation, identification and adaptation of avian viruses	10,00,000	Part II Scheme, T.N.Govt.	24.08.1996
Monitoring surveillance and control of important diseases of poultry at Namakkal	10,93,656	DST & TNSCST	02.04.2003
Animal Health Information System through disease monitoring and surveillance	23,98,000	NATP-ICAR	31.12.2004
Establishment of Biotechnology Laboratory	14,80,283	Tamil Nadu Planning Commission	01.08.2005 linked with CRL
Establishment of Centralized Research Laboratory	19,81,936	TANUVAS, Chennai	Continuous
Monitoring, surveillance and control of emerging and re-emerging diseases of poultry at field level in Tamilnadu	1,59,64,000	NADP	2012
Evaluation of efficacy of poultry live vaccines in commercial chickens	2,00,000	Hester Biosciences Pvt Ltd. Gujarat	2011
Validation of antimycoplasma agents against pathogenic mycoplasmas of chicken	3,52,820	Timo Eva Wellness Private Limited, No11, Sneha Nagar First Cross, Amruthahalli, Bangalore - 560092	2021
Genotyping of Newcastle disease virus from pea fowls	20,000	TANUVAS sub project	2020
Online Pest & Disease Management for Crops and Livestock-Development of Image Database for Artificial Intelligence (AI) based Mobile App	5,83,335	World Bank funded project under NAHEP-Component 2A	2022

On-going Research Schemes

Sl. No.	Title of the scheme	Name of the funding agency	Outlay (Rs.)
1.	Development and Evaluation of serotype specific PseudoVirus Based Serum Neutralization Assay (PBNA) for Foot and Mouth Disease Virus (FMDV)”	DST- SERB- SURE	24,72,320
2.	Antibacterial efficacy of Bacteriophage Product with special reference to Salmonella species, E.coli and Clostridium species affecting commercial layer chicken	M/s. Sunways Bioscience LLP., Mumbai	2,90,095

Research Findings

Created an Avian molecular laboratory which is a state of art facility for molecular diagnosis of poultry diseases.
Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale was isolated for the first time in India and inactivated vaccines were developed.
Seroprevalence of Bovine Brucellosis and Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis has been confirmed in 12 districts (Coimbatore, Dharmapuri, Dindigul, Virudunagar, Madurai, Vellore, Erode, Pudukkottai, Salem, Cuddalore, Thanjavur, Trichy) of Tamil Nadu.
Mycoplasma gallisepticum and Mycoplasma synoviae were isolated and characterized.
Nephropathogenic IB viruses were isolated from broiler birds and developed inactivated vaccnine.
Developed Clostridium perfringens toxoid vaccines against necrotic enteritis.
Molecular diagnosis and Serosurveillance of Chicken infectious anaemia virus was carried out.
Molecular characterization of oncogenic genes, pathotyping and protectotyping of Marek's disease virus was carried out.
Infectious laryngotracheitis virus, avian metapneumovirus (aMPV) and Fowl adeno virus were isolated and characterized.
Brachyspira species associated swine dysentery in Namakkal district of Tamil Nadu was isolated in an outbreak and characterized.
Disease forecasting for Marek’s disease was developed by studying the serotype 1 MDV and vaccine virus copy numbers by Real time PCR.
Ante-mortem diagnosis of Rabies virus in saliva sample by PCR was standardized.
Developed Autogenous vaccine for ORF
Developed autogenous wart vaccine for bovine and canine papilloma virus
Investigated the parvoviral infection and found CPV 2b virus.
In vitro antiviral efficacy of Andrographis panniculata extracts against PPR virus affecting small ruminants
Molecular detection and characterization of Infectious laryngotracheitis virus, avian reo virus, velogenic genotype XIII Newcastle disease virus in poultry
Nano vaccine for Infectious laryngotracheitis virus was developed Validation of antimycoplasmal drugs
Validation of antimycoplasmal drugs
Development of rapid diagnostic kits (LAMP/PSR) against Mycoplasmosis in small ruminants
Molecular characterization of antimicrobial resistance patterns among poultry pathogens
Molecular detection and characterization of Bovine viral diarrhoea virus in cattle
In vitro antiviral efficacy of chitosan nanoparticles coupled curcumin against NDV affecting poultry

Extension

Various clinical samples are regularly tested for detection of livestock and poultry diseases and recommendations are made for control and prevention.
Farmers are routinely advised on biosecurity, vaccination schedule, disease prevention and control measures to control and prevent poultry diseases.
Helping the line departments- Dept. of Animal Husbandry and Aavin in disease investigation.
Providing diagnostic services to the Department of Clinics, VC&RI, Namakkal, Aavin, Dept. of Animal Husbandry and others.
Providing molecular diagnostic services to the poultry farmers and pharmaceutical companies across India on payment basis.
Offering Animal Tissue Culture and Molecular diagnostic techniques training to the Arts and Sciences Colleges of Tamil Nadu.
Delivering guest lectures, Radio and TV talks for the benefit of farmers, students and academicians.
Lecture on diagnosis of bacterial diseases of poultry to Ethiopian student.
Participating in the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) meeting of poultry farmers.

Seminar/Symposium/Training Organized

Organized ICAR sponsored winter school on molecular diagnosis and modern trends in the control of poultry diseases from 19.11.2001 to 09.12.2001.
Organized 15 days training programme on Animal tissue culture for Vivekananda Arts and Science College students during 2006.
Organized 30 days training programme on “Animal Tissue Culture” to the Arts and Science College from 09.05.2007 to 07.06.2007.
Conducted VCI sponsored CVE training programme on diagnosis and control of bird flu was given to twenty VAS in two batches from 10.11.2008 to 13.11.2008.
Organized 21 days training programme on “Animal Tissue Culture” conducted between 04.05.2009 and 24.05.2009.
Organized 21 days training programme on “Molecular Diagnostic Techniques” between 25.05.2009 and 14.06.2009.
Organized XVI Annual Convention of Indian Society for Veterinary Immunology and Biotechnology and National Symposium on "Novel biotechnological and immunological interventions in mitigation of climate changes on production and protection of livestock and poultry from 8th April to 10th April 2010.
Have been organizing International and national training programme on “Molecular diagnosis of Poultry diseases” to the Veterinarians and microbiologists working in different breeding farms of India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal since 2020.

Current Focus

Surveillance of antibiotic usage and antimicrobial resistance in bovine mastitis, bacterial diseases of livestock and poultry
Antibacterial efficacy of nanoparticle coupled essential oils against poultry bacterial pathogens
Molecular diagnosis of poultry and livestock diseases

Faculty

Name of the Faculty	Designation	E-mail	Mobile#
SUKUMAR,K	PROFESSOR AND HEAD	drksugu@gmail.com	9443338542
BALASUBRAMANIAM,A	PROFESSOR	ballasubramaniam72@gmail.com	8903452580
PONNUSAMY,P	ASSISTANT PROFESSOR	ponsvhl@gmail.com	9789623764
SANTHOSH KUMAR,S	ASSISTANT PROFESSOR	santhoshkumar.s@tanuvas.ac.in	9659490520

The Head of the Department,
Department of Veterinary Microbiology,
Veterinary College and Research Institute, Namakkal - 637 002.
Phone: +91-4286-266491
E-mail: vmc-vcri-nkl@tanuvas.org.in