To keep pace with the latest methodologies of diagnosis of animal diseases, a State referral laboratory is going to be set up at the Animal Diseases Research Institute (ADRI) soon with assistance from the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF).
The ADRI is run under the Directorate of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services. Fisheries and ARD Secretary Bishnupada Sethi held a review meeting on the ADRI’s activities here last week.
The ADRI is basically meant for prompt diagnosis of different contagious diseases of livestock and poultry so as to make an immediate strategy for control and containment. The ADRI Incident Response Teams have attended the emerging situations in face of any natural calamities and notification /declaration of disease such as bird flu.
Apart from collection, compilation and dissemination of disease-related information to different quarters, the institution imparts need-based training on disease control to the veterinarians and para-veterinarians of the State. Diagnosis of avian Influenza is undertaken at a newly-established BSl-II laboratory at the ADRI.
Brucellosis has serious implications for the animal breeding programme. So, a brucellosis control programme has been launched in the State during 2014-15 to bring down the incidence and vaccinate AI female calves in the first year directly benefiting 50,000 farmers.
It has been decided that further surveillance and screening of bovine serum samples by ElISA, Anti Brucella Milk Ring test (ABR) and Rose Bengal Plate test (RBPT) along with awareness camps will be taken up. Besides, PPR, theileria, anthrax and rabies control programmes are proposed to be launched shortly. A study on fluorosis and trace element poisoning would also be undertaken soon, said sources.