Department of Veterinary Pathology bags a major research project to the tune of about Rs. 50 Lakhs for a duration of three years form Ministry of Food Processing Industry on diagnosis of Major Food borne Pathogens and toxicants by using immuno-histopathological and molecular techniques- A step towards One Health Concept”.
The project was conceptualized by involving faculty from different departments in a consortium mode for their input on deciphering the food borne pathogens and their diagnosis aspects. Dr. Harmanjit Singh Banga (Professor cum Head, Pathology) is the PI of the Project, and co-PIs Dr. Sidhartha Deshmukh, Dr. Rajinder Singh Brar, Dr. Sandip Sodhi, Dr. Nitin Dev Singh, Dr V Mahajan, Dr. Apminderpal Singh Brar, Dr. J.P.S. Gill, Dr. P. Dwivedi, and Dr. Nitin Mehta.
It is hypothesized that research emanating out of this project by employing proper identification and determination of pathogen extent at various tissues of the carcass can help us to avoid in selecting the most vulnerable tissue/organ for consumptions. By applying latest techniques like RT-PCR, the probable pathogen load in circulating blood of an affected animal at ante-mortem stage can be estimated, thus may limit killing of diseased animals and their products getting into food chain. Further, evidences of certain gross lesions at slaughter house/abattoir level can be approximately equated with the probable pathogen load in different tissues through PCR techniques specific to a disease, which will be a step towards generating lesion specific registry in quantification of pathogen. Such a registry could be utilized in permitting the slaughtering of animals for better public health safety.
Further, this project would also decipher the pathogenetic pathways and empower us in having a blue print taking/advocating necessary steps to evade probable sinister of genetic bio-transformation occurring between closely related species of pathogen evolving out of incessant usage of antibiotics in food animals. Infections and environmental toxicants in food animals has not only affected the economic output of the industries but also largely inflicted human health.
Dr. H.S. Banga, Head of the department was quite ecstatic about the other 2 projects (Dr. S Deshmukh –PI of DBT Project and Dr. Nittin Dev Singh- PI of DST Project) also earlier received by the department, with the total research funding received to the tune of about more than 1 crore in the department.
The Vice-Chancellor Dr. A.S. Nanda congratulated the team for their winning the prestigious extramural research project at the National Level. Dr. S. S. Randhawa, Director of Research and Dr. Harpal Singh Sandhu, Dean College of Veterinary Science appreciated the team.
