Ashok Kumar Panda

CSK HPKV Palampur · Department of Veterinary Public Health and Epidemiology and Department of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Extension Education

Aeromonas spp. are normal inhabitants of aquatic environments and are emerging foodborne bacterial pathogens. Aeromonas spp. contamination is frequent in ready-to-eat (RTE) seafood and can also occur in products prepared from milk or meat. The study determined the enterotoxin and antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of Aeromonas spp. isolates reco...

Salmonella is one the leading food-borne zoonotic infection worldwide. Detection and isolation of Salmonella is greatly influenced by the selection of enrichment and selective plating media which also plays an important role in the recovery of different serovars. The objective of this study was to compare the recovery of Salmonella from poultry clo...

In India, rabies in cattle is under-reported. Religious sentiments hamper its diagnosis, discouraging post-mortem examination, particularly opening the cranium. Specimens of peripheral tissue innervated by the cranial nerves could potentially be used as alternative diagnostic specimens to the brain. Herein, we present a case study of a novel approa...

In India, rabies in animals is under reported and its diagnosis is further hampered by religious sentiment towards cattle that discourages post mortem examination and particularly opening of the cranium. Specimens of peripheral tissue innervated by cranial nerves may be alternative diagnostic specimens when brain tissue is unobtainable. Here, we pr...

Role of cow dung, cow urine and other cow products in Natural and Organic farming

In India, rabies in cattle is under-reported. Religious sentiments hamper its diagnosis, discouraging post-mortem examination, particularly opening the cranium. Specimens of peripheral tissue innervated by the cranial nerves could potentially be used as alternative diagnostic specimens to the brain. Herein, we present a case study of a novel approa...

Rabies is a highly infectious and zoonotic disease with highest case fatality rate resulting in average 59000 annual human deaths .Classical rabies diagnosis method uses brain tissue samples which is possible only in naturally died or euthanized animals. Rabies is under diagnosed in rabies endemic countries like India due to religious attachment of...

We reported first case of rabies diagnosis from cow muzzle tissue (from nasolabial plate) as diagnostic material for rabies confirmation using RT-PCR. First of its kind report from India.

Rabies is a highly infectious and zoonotic disease with highest case fatality rate resulting in average 59000 annual human deaths .Classical rabies diagnosis method uses brain tissue samples which is possible only in naturally died or euthanized animals. Rabies is under diagnosed in rabies endemic countries like India due to religious attachment of...

Rabies is a 100% fatal zoonotic disease and is preventable through timely and adequate Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP). World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) haven’t issued any guidelines for PEP for rabies in animals, still in certain Indian states like Himachal Pradesh (HP) PEP regimen with active immunization on 0,3,7,14 and 28 days mostly...

Rabies is a fatal zoonosis and also an acute disease of the central nervous system in almost all mammals including domestic and wild animals. 99% of the rabies in India is caused by dog bite. In present study we selected 12 unvaccinated healthy dogs of 3months to 2 yr of age. We used 0.2 ml intra-dermal rabies vaccination (IDRV) in pre-scapular reg...

Rabies is a fatal zoonosis and also an acute disease of the central nervous system in almost all mammals including domestic and wild animals. 99% of the rabies in India is caused by dog bite. In present study we selected 12 unvaccinated healthy dogs of 3months to 2 yr of age. We used 0.2 ml intra-dermal rabies vaccination (IDRV) in pre-scapular reg...

Rabies is a 100% fatal zoonotic disease and is preventable through timely and adequate post-exposure prophylaxis. In India dogs (99%) are the main reservoir of the disease. Controlling and eliminating the deadly zoonosis means, combating it at its animal source. There are many incidences of rabies deaths among domestic animals and pets in HP and th...

Organic agriculture/natural farming has become popular among farmers since last decade. This can be attributed to health awareness in consumers who wanted to have healthy food products. The farmers involved in organic agriculture/natural farming or allied agriculture occupation (horticulture and animal husbandry) are fetching higher prices for thei...

Rabies is a 100% fatal zoonotic disease and is preventable through timely and adequate post-exposure prophylaxis. In India dogs (99%) are the main reservoir of the disease. Controlling and eliminating the deadly zoonosis means, combating it at its animal source. There are many incidences of rabies deaths among domestic animals and pets in HP and t...

Antibiotic residues in milk affects economics of dairy industry and poses health risks to consumers. This study aimed to assess health risks associated with presence of antibiotics in 173 raw and pasteurized milk sampled from northwestern Himalayan state of India. The oxytetracycline and amoxicillin were quantitatively analyzed using validated HPLC...

This research aimed to evaluate Staphylococcus aureus contamination from milk and its derivatives available in local dairy sale centers around the Kabul University located in Kabul city. Samples were included caw`s raw and pasteurized milk, cheese, ice cream, yogurt, custard, and dough (native product). The mentioned products were collected and the...

Synthetic acaricides pose problems of resistance, environmental issues, public health problems and institutional dependence. Herbal medications offer viable alternatives for tick control. We conducted on farm trials on 87 animals and tested crude extracts of plants locally available in the region. The technological know-how was shared by National I...

Sprawling of antibiotics: from animal husbandry to human health

The study determined incidence, enterotoxigenecity and antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of Bacillus cereus isolated from ready-to-eat (RTE) milk products (n = 80), RTE meat products (n = 40), beverages (n = 40) and water samples (n = 60, from food preparing and serving outlets/restaurants) collected from eight different tourist places of Himac...

Zoonotic diseases are an important public health problem. Keeping this in way, a panel reviewed the discussion around “one health” strategy of the WHO in combating zoonotic diseases during Seventh annual conference of Consortium Against Rabies (CAR) with the theme of “Zoonoses: Thinking beyond Rabies” held on 14th and 15th June 2019. The panel came...

In this preliminary study, we quantified bacteria present in dung of ten (pahari, indigenous and exotic) cattle. Total viable counts and nitrogen fixing bacterial counts in dung samples of pahari cows were ranged from 6 million to 14 million cfu/gm and 0.1 million to 1.75 million cfu/gm, respectively. In indigenous breeds of cattle reared in Himach...

This study was aimed to determine the incidence of Staphylococcus aureus in ready-to-eat (RTE) milk (n = 120) and meat (n = 120) products from various tourist places in north western Himalayas, Himachal Pradesh, India. S. aureus isolates and its enterotoxins; A, B, D and E were characterized by conventional and molecular methods. Antimicrobial susc...

A study was conducted to ascertain the prevalence of bovine tuberculosis in cattle of different breeds reared under different farming systems and agro-climatic zones of Himachal Pradesh. Tuberculin reactors (17) were detected only in organized dairy farms. Prevalence (15/595, 2.5%)of the disease was highest in animals aged between 5–10 years with 8...

The increasing human population and rising incomes across the globe proportionally increases the demand for food and other livelihood resources. The requirements for wholesome and nutritious food are everincreasing and animal husbandry sector has contributed much to the needs of people. Several measures have been applied to increase the productivit...

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a worldwide 'One Health' problem. The spread of AMR has limited the treatment options against infectious diseases. Inappropriate use of antimicrobials, is a major contributor for the development of AMR and its spread. In animal husbandry, antimicrobials are used for treating infectious diseases and in sub-therapeut...

The present study investigated the prevalence of Listeria monocytogenes from ready-to-eat milk (n=120) and meat (n=120) products sampled from various tourist destinations of Himachal Pradesh. The isolates were characterized and identified as L. monocytogenes by culture and biochemical tests. The isolates were reconfirmed as L. monocytogenes by poly...

In the present study, a total of 265 ready to eat milk and milk products were collected from 11 tourist’s places of Himachal Pradesh to examine the prevalence of Salmonella spp. and Escherichia coli during May 2010 till April 2011. 4 out of 65 (6.15%) sample of Burfi , 3 out of 54 (7.40%) Paneer samples, 1 out of 47 (2.12%) Ice cream samples, 26 sa...

Animal husbandry plays a vital role in the development of agriculture and is an integral component of rural economy especially in the hilly mountainous terrains of the country. Disasters, whether caused by unavoidable natural events or by avoidable, man-made events, always have been a part of human life. Hilly areas because of their geo-physical an...

In the present study, the effect of Agnihotra practices was observed on the microbiological quality of air in organic environment at Palampur. Air quality of Agnihotra and Non-Agnihotra rooms were compared by collecting samples at three different time interval viz. half an hour before, at the time of Agnihotra and half an hour after Agnihotra using...

Bacteriological quality assessment of marketed raw milk and milk products was undertaken by evaluating 35 samples from urban and rural areas of Palampur, Himachal Pradesh. Among the 35 samples processed for the present study, bacteriological examination revealed 12 (34.28%) samples to be unsatisfactory for human consumption. However, the raw milk a...

A total of 50 samples of (10 fresh and 40 old) of cow urine were evaluated for the presence of coliforms, Escherichia coli and total viable count. The presence of coliforms was found to be highest in fresh samples(70%) than in comparision to old samples(50%). The most probable number was found to be highest in fresh samples i.e. ≥2400 per 100ml of...

Cow urine and cow faeces is used in many bioformulations used in organic agriculture due to its amazing germicidal power to kill varieties of germs and a cheapest alternative source of pest control, soil enrichment and seed treatment to increase agricultural yield and save human beings from the residual effects of harmful pesticides and fertilizers...

Drinking water supplies are liable to be contaminated with sewage and other excreted matter resulting in outbreaks of intestinal infections. The demonstration of pathogenic bacteria constitute direct proof of impurity. Presence of these pathogens in very low quantity make it difficult to isolate and characterize in routine test. Hence, we rely on t...

Brucellosis is an important zoonotic animal disease, transmissible to man. Brucella research recently has been marked with the discovery of a number of novel species and hosts therein. Isolation of newer Brucellalike bacteria in recent years from marine mammals became a significant new development. These bacteria were shown to cause a wide variety...

The focus of this study is to evaluate the bacteriological quality of meat and meat products from palam valley over a period of 5 years. Out of 171 samples comprising of raw (143), ready to eat meat/ meat products (22) and wooden scrapings from the meat cutting surface (6), a total of 128 (89.51%), 17 (77.27%) and 6 (100%) samples were found to be...

In the present study, a total of 85 ready to eat meat and meat products were collected from 11 tourist's places of Himachal Pradesh to examine the prevalence of Salmonella spp. and Escherichia coli during May 2010 till April 2011. Out of 33 samples, meat curry and 25 samples of non-veg momo, 4(12.12%) and 1(4.0%) were found to be positive for Esche...

The chief objective of respective study was to investigate the seroprevalence of brucellosis among occupationally exposed human beings in Himachal Pradesh. A total of 165 serum samples that were obtained from human beings from various regions of the state were screened through a battery of serological tests which included RBPT, STAT, 2-MET, dot-ELI...

A total of 70 drinking water sources including piped water supply (n = 36), ground water sources (n = 24, hand pumps and bore wells) and natural water sources (n = 10, springs/step-wells) from various parts of district Kangra, Himachal Pradesh were investigated for their suitability for drinking purpose by presumptive coliform test. Three samples w...

In recent years, there have been heightened concerns about food safety, amongst scientists with an interest in food toxicology or microbiology, economists and other social scientists that focus on the wider socio-economic issues associated with the safety of a country’s food supply and also the impact of food safety regulations on global trade in f...

The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of brucellosis among animals in Himachal Pradesh. A total of 210 serum samples that were obtained from animals(110 from cattle and 100 from sheep and Goat) from various regions of the state were screened through a battery of serological tests, which included RBPT, STAT, 2-Met, Dot- ELIS...

The focus of this study is to evaluate the bacteriological quality of meat and meat products from palam valley over a period of 5 years. Out of 171 samples comprising of raw (143), ready to eat meat/ meat products (22) and wooden scrapings from the meat cutting surface (6), a total of 128 (89.51%), 17 (77.27%) and 6 (100%) samples were found to be...

Gloria Biosol is a liquid manure prepared out of cow urine, vermicompost, fresh bovine manure, agnihotra ash, agnihotra solution and Shri Yantra. It is obtained after biodegradation of organic matter, warm humus fresh bovine manure and water until the mineral grade as a result of anaerobic process in bio-digester. It is a powerful reconstituent bio...

A total of five ready to eat salad samples were collected from restaurants and road side eatable vendors from the local market from the Palam Valley, Himachal Pradesh, Northwestern Himalayas. The ready to eat salad samples were processed for bacterial isolation and characterization as per Cowan and Steel,1977. Out of the five samples were processed...

Stray animals not only pose serious threat to the traffic on roads, it also causes serious hazard to the human health by direct injuries caused by bite etc.. The feces and other excreta of these animals also contaminate the soil , water and vegetations. Hence, there is a chance of transmission of parasitic diseases of zoonotic importance to human b...

A total of twenty two samples of milk and its products, Raw Milk(4), Pasteurized/ Packet Milk(3),boiled milk (9),Milk powder (1),Cream milk(1), Tea stall milk (3) and cold milk (1) sold in the local market and road side vendors were collected to asses its bacteriological quality from the Palam Valley, Himachal Pradesh, Northwestern Himalayas. The s...

Meat and meat products serve as an excellent medium for the growth and transmission of disease causing organisms. Man gets infection through the consumption of contaminated meat and meat products . Therefore, microbial quality control of meat and meat products is essential to provide the public with safe and wholesome food. The present study was un...

Rabies remains to be one of the most important direct zoonosis and is invariably fatal once the clinical symptoms appear. The disease can be prevented but still people continue to die of infection. India alone accounts to 81 per cent of the total deaths occurring due to rabies across the world. Dog is major reservoir of the infection, although othe...

This study was aimed to detect bacterial contamination of foods of animal origin in and around Palampur town, Himachal Pradesh. A total of 51 meat samples [chevon (23), mutton (12) chicken (11) and cooked meat (5)] and 65 milk samples [raw milk (52), boiled milk (9) and pasteurized milk (4)] were collected from different sources and screened for ba...

Neem-oil, turmeric powder, neem oil and turmeric powder and need Oil and clove oil were evaluated against Salmonella, Enterococci, Staphylococcus, Listeria and Escherichia coli. Neem oil and neem oil with clove oil were found effective against most of these pathogens.

Microorganisms thrive in air (either free floating or attached to the dust particles) and are more prevalent in humid and warm climate. Since, Palampur is located in Mid-Hills of Northwestern Himalayas where there is high humidity ( > 70%) all through the year. The present study was undertaken to evaluate both outdoor and indoor air quality of publ...

Eighteen Gaddi sheep of either sex between 6 to 12 months of age were infected with 2000 infective larvae of Haemonchus contortus. The sheep were randomly divided into three groups viz. I, II and III of six animals each. The animals of group I and II were administered mebendazole at 10 and 15 mg/kg body weight, respectively. The animals of group II...

One hundred seventy water samples were collected asceptically in sterilized containers from surface water (36), ground water (42) and tap water supply (92) and subjected to bacteriological and parasitic examination. Bacteriological examination revealed 91.6%, 38% and 63% infectivity of coliform in surface, ground and tap water, respectively. It fur...

Two isolates of Listeria monocytogenes and 32 of L. innocua isolated from poultry meat and fish were examined for pathogenicity in mice. Both the isolates of L. monocytogenes were pathogenic and caused mortality in mice in 2-3 days. Pathological changes were recorded in liver, spleen, kidney and brain. The microorganisms were recovered from the liv...

Isolates of Listeria monocytogenes (70) isolated from different sources were differentiated into 4 electrophoretic types (ETs) by multilocus enzyme electrophoresis. Isolates (12) of serogroup 4/4b were discriminated into 3 ETs, while 5 isolates of serogroup 1/2 were divided into 2 ETs. Mean genetic diversity within the species was 0.173 and the gen...

The prevalence of Listeria was investigated in 330 samples comprising poultry meat (50), chevon (50), raw milk (35), mastitic milk (75) and fish (120). In all, 34 (10.3%) samples were contaminated with Listeria spp. L. monocytogenes was detected in 2(0.6%) and L. innocua in 32 (9.6%) samples. Only 20% (6/50) samples of poultry meat showed the prese...

25% of the personnel were found to carry infection some time during the investigation period of one year.But the frequency of infection became lower when repeated samples were examined, 8.33%.

Ascaris lumbricoides infection in captive monkeys and zoo personnel including their families was detected in 10.06 % and in 18.3 percent samples respectively