Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University abbreviated as KVAFSU is a public university, established by an Act of Karnataka Legislative Assembly which was passed on 10 February 2004. This university has its headquarters in the Bidar district of Karnataka state, India.As the name says this university was created for the education and control of veterinary, animal and fisheries science education in the state of Karnataka.As many as 21 allied institutions including colleges, research institutions, veterinary hospitals among others and the employees are transferred to the new university. These include Veterinary College, Bangalore; College of Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry (Shimoga and Hassan) and Veterinary College, Bidar; Veterinary College Hospital, Hebbal; Dairy Science College, Bangalore; Rural Veterinary Hospital at Yelahanka; District Veterinary Hospital, Bidar of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services Department.Institutions relating to fisheries which are transferred under the new university include College of Fisheries at Mangalore; Fisheries Research Station, Hesaraghatta; Fisheries Research Station, Ankola; Fish Seed Production farms at Munirabad and Shivapura, in Koppal district.Other institutions under the university are the Institute of Animal Health and Veterinary Biologicals, Bangalore; livestock farm at Hesaraghatta; Livestock Breeding and Training Centre, Kurikuppe, Bellary; Devani Cattle Breeding Station, Hallikhed, Bidar; Killar Breeding Station, Arabhavi; Sheep Breeding, Bandoor, Malavalli; Main Research Station, Hebbal; Agriculture Research Station (ARS) at Mangalore and Nagamangala and Zonal ARS at Konnehally, Tiptur..
This study investigates the seasonal dynamics of phytoplankton and zooplankton diversity in the Batapady mangrove estuary, southwest India, from October 2023 to June 2024. Monthly sampling across five stations captured variations in environmental parameters (temperature, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen, biological oxygen demand, and nutrients) and plankton community metrics. A total of 21 phytoplankton and 11 zooplankton genera were identified, with Bacillariophyceae and Copepoda as dominant groups, respectively. Diversity indices Shannon–Wiener (H′), Margalef’s richness (d), and Pielou’s evenness (J′) peaked in March, corresponding to stable hydrographic conditions and nutrient availability. Redundancy Analysis (RDA) revealed that plankton communities respond linearly to environmental forcing, with Water Temperature and Salinity identified as the primary active drivers of succession. While phytoplankton dynamics were strongly coupled with hydrography (Adj. R2 = 0.147), zooplankton exhibited weaker abiotic associations (Adj. R2 = -0.022), suggesting the influence of unmeasured biotic interactions. The findings suggest seasonal hydrography, particularly salinity and nutrient dynamics appear to influence plankton succession patterns in this estuarine ecosystem. This work highlights the ecological significance of mangrove-estuarine interfaces and advocates plankton-based monitoring for establishing ecological baselines in tropical coastal waters.
Porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) is a significant pig disease causing high mortality in suckling pigs and high morbidity across all age groups. It is highly prevalent in Southeast Asia, posing a threat of transboundary transmission to India. Although antibodies were detected as early as 2003 in Assam, there was no evidence of viral detection or molecular characterization until this study. This study reports the first clinical outbreak of PED in India, followed by the detection and genetic characterization of PED virus (PEDV) during 2022-23. The outbreak was characterized, and fecal samples (n = 21) were collected from affected pigs. These samples were screened for PEDV using RT-PCR, targeting the N, S, and M genes. Serosurveillance was conducted in eight districts, and serum samples (n = 339) were tested for PEDV antibodies using ELISA. Partial N, S, and M gene sequencing, followed by phylogenetic analysis using MEGA v11.0.13, was performed to identify the prevailing genotype and variations in the coding region. This study identified the first clinical outbreak of PEDV in India, with morbidity rates of 55-57.1
The ornamental fish trade plays a critical role in global aquaculture, with endemic species like the Canara pearlspot (Etroplus canarensis) contributing to the industry’s economic and ecological significance. This study reports the first documented case of co-infection of infectious spleen and kidney necrosis virus (ISKNV) with Aeromonas hydrophila and Aeromonas dhakensis in Canara pearlspot from the Western Ghats, India. Clinical signs observed in the infected fish included skin darkening, hemorrhages, fin rot, splenomegaly, and nephromegaly. Histopathological analysis revealed necrosis and vacuolar degeneration in the liver, spleen, and brain tissues. Molecular diagnostics confirmed ISKNV and bacterial infections, with ISKNV showing 100
This study examines the seasonal and spatial variability of nutrient concentrations in the Batapady mangrove ecosystem (Dakshina Kannada, India), based on monthly surface water sampling from five stations between October 2023 to June 2024. Four key nutrients ammonia-nitrogen (NH₃-N), nitrite-nitrogen (NO₂-N), nitrate-nitrogen (NO₃-N), and phosphate-phosphorus (PO₄-P) were measured alongside environmental parameters including salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), biological oxygen demand (BOD), and temperature. NH₃-N and PO₄-P exhibited peaks during the summer (NH₃-N 85.15 µg-at/l at S1), while NO₃-N concentrations were highest during early post-monsoon. Nutrient levels and BOD, DO, and salinity were found to be significantly correlated by Spearman correlation analysis, which shows that nutrient release and retention are influenced by hydrological fluctuations and redox conditions. Spatial differences between stations reflected anthropogenic activities and variable flushing. Our findings demonstrate the vulnerability of small, fragmented mangrove stands to nutrient surges and underscore the need for targeted management interventions. Incorporating these monitoring insights into long-term nutrient management will help safeguard mangrove health and ensure estuarine water quality under growing human pressure.
This research study focuses on the potential utilization of Malabar grouper fish (Epinephelus malabaricus) skin for chrome-free leather production. The skin was subjected to treatment with calcium carbonate (CaCO3) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) followed by non-chrome tanning using isopropyl alcohol (IPA) and glycerin (Gly) at three different ratios of 1:0.5 (T1), 1:1 (T2) and 0.5:1 (T3) for 4, 7, 14 and 30 days respectively. The proximate composition of the skin was 65.12
