Veterinary Public Health & Epidemiology

     Veterinary public health has a long and distinguished history of contributing to the maintenance and promotion of public health. It acts as a link between human and animal populations and with the surrounding environment. The core domains of VPH include the diagnosis, surveillance, epidemiology, control, prevention and elimination of zoonoses, food protection, management of health aspects of laboratory animal facilities and diagnostic laboratories, biomedical research, health education and extension, production and control of biological products and medical devices, protection of drinking-water and the environment and management of public health emergencies.
Department of Veterinary Public Health was created in the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Udgir with adoption of curriculum of Veterinary Council of India for under-graduate teaching by the Maharashtra Animal and Fishery Sciences University, Nagpur since 2004. Alternate arrangements were made for teaching under-graduate courses at college level till appointment of concerned staff by the University.
Since April 2008, Dr. V.S. Waskar has taken over the full-fledged responsibility of establishment of Department of Veterinary Public Health along with Dr. P.P. Gosavi (Assistant Professor), Dr. V.M. Vaidya & Dr. S.G. Bhandare (Assistant Professors) also contributed for the development of the department for short period of time. Since August 2010, it was managed single-handedly by Dr. Waskar as Dr. Gosavi has resigned from the post. Dr. R.D. Suryawanshi has joined as Assistant Professor since July 2015 and developmental activities have been geared up due to increase in staff strength.
Initially the department shared the laboratory space of Department of Livestock Products Technology but now it is shifted on first floor of “B” block of newly constructed building. With this shifting, the work of establishing the department is geared up with purchase of many essential equipments/ instruments along with procurement of necessary chemicals, glassware, plasticware and other contingent material.

Infrastructure Available in the Department:

• Milk and Meat Hygiene Laboratory: A separate milk and meat hygiene laboratory has been established furnished with all necessary equipments/instruments along with necessary chemicals/media/ glassware etc. to carry out post-graduate research.

• Zoonoses and Epidemiology Laboratory: Zoonoses and epidemiological laboratory has been separately established for isolation and identification of important zoonotic agents and is equipped with separate media preparation room and isolation room with biological safety cabinet.

• Environmental Hygiene Laboratory: This laboratory has also been established separately for analysis of sources of contamination of water, air, soil etc. for various parameters. The department regularly receives the water samples from various sources for its potability testing. Besides, few research projects also have been undertaken on effects of quality of drinking water on health of humans and animals.

      The departmental intra-mural project on “Enhancement of keeping quality of milk using low cost technology” was awarded FIRST Prize during “Avishkar 2012” (Inter-University Research Competition) in “Agriculture and Animal Husbandry” category surpassing 22 universities from the state. An under-graduate student Shri. U.A. Surwase, who worked in this project under the guidance of Dr. V.S. Waskar, Professor & Head of the department was bestowed with cash prize of Rs. 5000 and merit certificate in the function held at Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli on 9.1.2013.

      Department of Veterinary Public Health has successfully organized a 8 days Model Training Course on “Quality Control and Value Addition of Milk and Milk Products” for Livestock Development Officers, Veterinary Officers and Technical Officers of Government Dairy Organizations from different parts of country during 23^rd to 30^th November, 2015.

Extension Activities:

• Participation in the agricultural, industrial and animal exhibitions, farmer’s rallies, seminars, symposia etc. for popularization of VPH activities.
• Consultancy is given to industry personnel for hygienic processing of animal origin foods, by-product utilization, product development and allied aspects.
• Participation in awareness programmes on television and radio.
• Publication of research/technical articles and reading material in Marathi for the benefit of the farmers.
• Interaction with medical practitioners for exchange of ideas, knowledge and expertise in prevention and control of zoonotic diseases.
• Interaction with farmers in adopted villages (Dongarshelki and Kodali) for clean milk production, hygienic milk handling practices, proper disposal of animal excreta, prevention and control of contamination of water sources, etc.
• Awareness campaigns among school children and college students about environmental (water, air, soil) pollution, their sources, effects, prevention and control as well as importance of maintaining clean and green surrounding.

Research Activities:

Projects completed :
Agency/Intramural projects

Sr. No.	Title of the project	PI & Co-PI	Funding Agency	Grants Received	Year
1	Effect of herbal formulations on meat quality attributes in broilers.	PI -V.S. WaskarCo-PI –A.A. DevangareA.B. KanduriG.R. Gangane	M/s. Dabur Ayurvet Ltd., Solan (HP).	0.70 lakhs	2008

Outcome : Herbal preparations were incorporated in the diets of broilers and various growth parameters such as FCR, weight gain, average feed consumption etc. were recorded. Post-slaughter parameters including carcass attributes and meat traits such as pH, color, tenderness, flavour, meat bone ratio, carcass yield/dressing percentage, leg meat yield and fillet yield were analysed. Fillets and tender separated from breast of birds were marinated and cooked using microwave cooking and grilling as well as by ordinary pressure cooking. Cooked material was estimated for various parameters such as (a) yield, moisture, protein and fat% and (b) organoleptic and sensory evaluation for appearance, colour, odour, juiciness, texture, tenderness, flavour, overall palatability and acceptability by a sensory panel. All the parameters of birds fed with herbal products were found to be superior as compared to control.

Rearing and management of broilers using herbal feed supplements	Fillet and tenders separated from dressed carcass of poultry	Microwave cooked and grilled tenders

Departmental Projects

Sr. No.	Title of the project	Research Co-ordinator	Year of start	Duration in years
1	Enhancement of keeping quality of milk using low cost technology.	Research co-ordinator -V.S. Waskar, Research worker -U.A. Surwase (4th year student)	2013	One year

Outcome :  The model utilizing the locally available low cost/waste material such as broken out pieces/entire slabs of bricks, mud, lime powder, cooler net and straw was prepared. Two rectangular structures of desired size with one nested in another were prepared using bricks and mud. The keeping quality of milk was stored in the inner chamber of the model padded with wet straw found to be enhanced by 4 hours at ambient temperature, thus enhancing shelf life of milk without the use of electricity.

Model prepared using locally available material	Milk stored in the model	Low temperature achieved after storage in model

Projects on-going/Proposed Extramural projects

Sr. No.	Title of the project	PI & Co-PI	Funding Agency	Grants proposed	Duration	Status
1	Enhancement of Family Income through Value Addition of Milk and Milk Products for Sustainable Livelihood and Rural Development In Latur Region	V.S. Waskar & M. Raziuddin	Rashtriya Krishi Vikas YojanaDepartment of ADF,Mantralaya, Mumbai	145.73 lakhs	5 years	Submitted for approval
2	Establishment of Livestock Origin Food-borne Pathogen Monitoring Laboratory	V.S. Waskar, A.V. Bhonsle & M.M. Pawade	12th Five Year Plan Government of India,New Delhi	1.06 crores	5 years	Submitted for approval
3	Setting up / Upgradation of Milk and Meat Hygiene and Quality Control Laboratory	V.S. Waskar	National Food Processing Mission of Min. of Food Processing Industries, Govt. of India	74.43 lakhs	2 years	Submitted for approval

 Departmental Projects:

Sr. No.	Title of the project	Research Co-ordinator	Year of start	Duration in years
1	Studies on seasonal influence and adaptability of developed low cost technology for enhancing keeping quality of milk.	V.S. Waskar	2013-2014	Two years
2	Monitoring of microbiological and chemical quality of milk and milk products marketed in and around Udgir area	V.S. Waskar	2013-2014	Two years
3	Isolation, pathogenicity and verocytotoxicity studies of E.coli O157:H7 from retail fresh meats and poultry.	V.S. Waskar A.V. Bhonsle M.M. Pawade	2013-2014	Two years
4	Molecular characterisation of Listeria monocytogenes and other Listeria spp. from dairy products and freshwater fish.	V.S. Waskar A.V. Bhonsle M.M. Pawade	2013-2014	Two years
5	Evaluation of seasonal variation in hardness of drinking water supplies in and around Udgir area and its public health impact.	V.S. Waskar	2014	One year

Departmental Activities :

(1) Infrastructure available in the department

(a) Milk and Meat Hygiene Laboratory:

A separate milk and meat hygiene laboratory has been established furnished with all necessary equipments/instruments alongwith necessary chemicals/media/ glassware etc. to carry out post-graduate research.

(b) Zoonoses and Epidemiology Laboratory:

Zoonoses and epidemiological laboratory has been separately established for isolation and identification of important zoonotic agents and is equipped with separate media preparation room and isolation room with biological safety cabinet.

(c) Environmental Hygiene Laboratory:

This laboratory has also been established separately for analysis of sources of contamination of water, air, soil etc. for various parameters. The department regularly receives the water samples from various sources for its potability testing. Besides, few research projects also have been undertaken on effects of quality of drinking water on health of humans and animals.

(2) Activities of the Department / Facilities available / Services:

The department in collaboration offers following services/facilities to the farmers and general public –

• Assessment of potability of water in terms of hardness and MPN index.
• Risk assessment and guidance to the consumers about their water sources.
• Detection of adulteration in milk and milk products.
• Qualitative analysis of milk and milk products for their composition.
• Hygienic monitoring of milk, meat and their products.
• Assessment of pathogenicity profile and virulence characteristics of pathogens.
• Molecular characterization of food-borne isolates.
• Monitoring and assessment of environmental sources of contamination.

(3) Achievements of the Department:

The departmental intra-mural project on “Enhancement of keeping quality of milk using low cost technology” was awarded FIRST prize during “Avishkar 2012” (Inter-University Research Competition) in “Agriculture and Animal Husbandry” category surpassing 22 universities from the state. A under-graduate student Shri. U.A. Surwase, who worked in this project under the guidance of Dr. V.S. Waskar was bestowed with cash prize of ` 5000 and merit certificate in the function held at Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli on 9.1.2013.

Extension Activities: 

• Participation in the agricultural, industrial and animal exhibitions, farmer’s rallies, seminars, symposia etc. for popularization of VPH activities.
• Consultancy is given to industry personnel for hygienic processing of animal origin foods, by-product utilization, product development and allied aspects.
• Participation in awareness programmes on television and radio.
• Publication of research/technical articles and reading material in Marathi for the benefit of the farmers.
• Interaction with medical practitioners for exchange of ideas, knowledge and expertise in prevention and control of zoonotic diseases.
• Interaction with farmers in adopted villages for clean milk production, hygienic milk handling practices, proper disposal of animal excreta, prevention and control of contamination of water sources, etc.
• Awareness campaigns among school children and college students about environmental (water, air, soil) pollution, their sources, effects, prevention and control as well as importance of maintaining clean and green surrounding.

Services Provided:

The department in collaboration offers following services/facilities to the farmers and general public –

• Assessment of potability of water in terms of hardness and MPN index.
• Risk assessment and guidance to the consumers about their water sources.
• Detection of adulteration in milk and milk products.
• Qualitative analysis of milk and milk products for their composition.
• Hygienic monitoring of milk, meat and their products.
• Assessment of pathogenicity profile & virulence characteristics of pathogens.
• Molecular characterization of food-borne isolates.
• Monitoring and assessment of environmental sources of contamination.

Future Plans:

• Establishment of Livestock Origin Food-borne Pathogen Monitoring Laboratory
• Upgradation of Milk and Meat Hygiene and Quality Control Laboratory
• Establishment of Departmental Educational Museum

 

Faculty

	Dr. Archana R. Patil M.V.Sc., Ph.D Assistant Professor Email: archanapatil@mafsu.in
	Dr. R.D. Suryawanshi M.V.Sc., Ph.D Assistant Professor Email: rahulvph@gmail.com More details….

Important  Information:

Developed e-Learning aids for various courses in veterinary public health for under-graduate teaching.

Assisted the Department of Livestock Products Technology in conducting model training course in “Utilization of waste of livestock origin” sponsored by Directorate of Extension, Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India, New Delhi.

Contributed specimens/models/charts for the University Museum.

Active participation in academic, co-curricular and developmental activities of the college.

Annual organization of “World Zoonoses Day” on 6th July by conducting awareness programmes about zoonoses among farmers, youths, students, para-medical and medical professionals.