History

        The Department of Veterinary Microbiology was established in the year 1974. The postgraduate programme was started in the year 1976 and Ph.D (by research) was initiated in the year 1980. Total 70 students have completed their M.V.Sc. degree. Four students have been awarded Ph.D (by research).

        The department of Veterinary Microbiology offers courses in veterinary bacteriology, veterinary virology, veterinary immunology and veterinary mycology. The department consists of well established laboratories, such as bacteriology laboratory, immunology laboratory, tissue culture laboratory and well equipped postgraduate laboratory and undergraduate laboratories. Animal Biotechnology Education and Research cell was established in the year 2008. The important contribution of this department is isolation and identification of bluetongue virus. The bluetongue disease (BT) outbreak was recorded in the  sheep population of Marathwada region in the year 1985. The causative virus was isolated and typed from South Africa, as BTV serotype 9 and 18.

This department is having well equipped Animal Cell Culture laboratory for virological work. The Animal Biotechnology Education and Reserach Cell is offering molecular characterisation of viruses prevailing in the region. Till date 9 sequences of  partial VP1 parovirus, 5 sequences of B2L gene of contageous ecthyama and 38 sequnces comprising of 3 complete rotavirus and 5 VP7 genes were submitted to NCBI.

    The Department offers diagnostic services to the field veterinarians and the farmers for the diagnosis of diseases. The scientist visit the reported outbreaks for collection of morbid specimens and provides rapid diagnosis for saving mortality in animals and further suggest suitable biosecurity measures and vaccination programmes. The department has successfuly diagnosed outbreaks of HS, BQ, Anthrax, PPR, FMD, Newcastle disease and many other infectious diseases.