INTRODUCTION

HAZARA REGION

Hazara is a region in the North-Eastern part of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. It is located East of the Indus River and comprises seven districts namely Abbottabad,  Battagram,  Haripur,  Mansehra,  Upper Kohistan,   Lower Kohistan and Torghar.

Hazara is bounded on the North and East by the Northern Areas and Azad Kashmir. To the South are the Islamabad Capital Territory and the province of Punjab, whilst to the West lies the rest of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The river Indus runs through the division in a North-South line, forming much of the western border of the division. The total area of Hazara is 18,013 km². Because it lies immediately South of the main Himalaya Range, and is exposed to moist winds from the Arabian Sea, Hazara is the wettest part of Pakistan. At Abbottabad, annual rainfall averages around 1,200 millimeters but has been as high as 1,800 millimeters, whilst in parts of Mansehra District such as Balakot the mean annual rainfall is as high as 1,750 millimeters. Due to the high altitude, temperatures in Hazara are cooler than on the plains, though Abbottabad at 1,200 meters (3,900 ft) still has maxima around 32 °C with high humidity in June and July. Further up, temperatures are cooler, often cooler than the Northern Areas valleys due to the cloudiness. In winter, temperatures are cold, with minima in January around 0 °C and much lower in the high mountains. Snowfalls are not uncommon even at lower levels.

Hazara division has diversified topography and climate. It has vast plans and highest mountain. Plain with rich in fertility, established irrigation system and high altitude alpine pastures.

VETERINARY RESEARCH & DISEASE INVESTIGATION CENTER

Preamble

            Veterinary Research Institute, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Peshawar is the pioneer Research Organization of its own kind in the country. It was established in the year, 1949 to undertake essential research on livestock and poultry diseases, production of Veterinary Biologics and diagnostic agents to meet the demands of the country as well as defense services and supply to neighboring countries of Afghanistan and Iran, in cases of emergency. With the restoration of the old provinces in the year, 1970, majority of the equipment and trained manpower were shifted to Veterinary Research Institute, Lahore. The Veterinary Research Institute, NWFP, Peshawar (VRI) was placed under the administrative control of Government of NWFP and efforts were started to establish the Institute on modern scientific lines. During 1981-85 the Dutch Government provided assistance in the shape of some equipment and training of technical staff.

            With a view to extend research and diagnostic facilities to the remote areas, during 1985-91, four Veterinary Research and Diagnostic Laboratories (VR&DL) were established at D.I.Khan, Swat, Kohat & Dhodial, Mansehra. Veterinary Research & Diagnostic Laboratory was established in 1985 at Dhodial, District Mansehra on the recommendations of Kashtkar conference.

            In September 2001, due to the establishment of Hazara University at Dhodial, this lab was shifted to the defunct Government Poultry Farm, Mandian Abbottabad. Keeping in view the importance of live stock and poultry industry in the area, it was direly needed to have a well established and well equipped laboratory to diagnose the day to day disease problems and to guide the farmers. In 2007, this laboratory was renamed as, Veterinary Research and Disease Investigation Center, Mandian Abbottabad and was shifted to its new building.

            Veterinary Research and Disease Investigation Center (VR&DIC) is one of the regional center of Veterinary Research Institute, Peshawar, conducting basic veterinary research, disease diagnosis, its prevention by vaccine dissemination and control throughout the region by its outreach/public service activities. It is also playing a vital role in providing the research facilities to the students of different veterinary as well as other universities of the country since 1985.

MAJOR SERVICES

A.    Disease Diagnosis (Animal & Poultry Disease Surveillance)

B.    Research Activities

C.    Advisory Services (Out-reach activities)

D.    Vaccine Dissemination

E.    Collaboration with National Organization

FACILITIES

1.     Microbiology Lab

2.     Virology Lab

3.     Parasitology Lab

4.     Pathology Lab

5.     Animal Nutrition Lab

6.     Milk Hygiene Lab

7.     Water Quality Lab

8.     Necropsy Examination of Livestock & Poultry

9.     Out-reach research activities

HISTORY

·         Veterinary Research & Diagnostic Laboratory was established in 1985 at Dhodial District Mansehra on the recommendations of Kashtkar conference.

·         In 2001, due to the establishment of Hazara University at Dhodial, this lab was  shifted to the defunct Government Poultry Farm, Mandian Abbottabad.

·         Keeping in view the importance of livestock and poultry industry in the area, it was direly needed to have a well established and well equipped laboratory to diagnose the day to day disease problems and to guide the farmers.

·         In 2007, this laboratory was renamed as, Veterinary Research and Disease Investigation Center, Mandian Abbottabad and was shifted to the new building.

·         In 2007-08, due to the up gradation of the service structure, one post of Regional Director/ PRO (BPS-19) was created.

OBJECTIVES

1.     Research on field oriented diseases of Livestock and Poultry

2.     Diagnostic facility for field vets and poultry farmers

3.     Training and education of professionals and farmers

4.     Storage and dissemination of vaccines

5.     Technical collaboration with national organizations

FUNCTIONS

·         Applied and basic research to improve health and production

·         Attend /investigate outbreak of diseases in livestock & poultry

·         Use of appropriate biotechnologies for animal health and reproduction

·         Provision of biologics for the prevention and control of diseases

·         Surveillance, Laboratory diagnosis and recommendations for early control of diseases

·         Conduct postmortem examinations for disease diagnosis in livestock & poultry

·         Provide advisory services/trainings to the farmers on various managemental practices for prevention and control of diseases

·         Provision of disease diagnostic services to livestock and poultry farmers and Pet keeping public.

·         Provision of Milk and water quality testing services to farmers and Public

ORGANOGRAM

 HUMAN RESOURCE

ROUTINE ACTIVITIES

1.     DISEASE DIAGNOSIS

·         Samples processing for disease diagnosis

(Blood/Serum, Urine, Feces, Morbid Tissues, smears, Milk, Sputum, Feed, Water etc.)

·         To conduct postmortems (Poultry, Livestock, Pet animals/birds, wildlife etc.)

·         To attend disease outbreaks

2.     RESEARCH ACTIVITIES

·         Annual Technical Research Programs

·         To publish research articles

·         To supervise research/thesis work

·         To attend/organize seminar/workshop/training

·         To conduct field visits

3.     ADVISORY SERVICES

·         To train/advise farmers

·         To organize veterinary camps

·         To train veterinarian/Students

·         To publish urdu articles

4.     VACCINE DISSEMINATION

·         Foot & Mouth Disease Vaccine

·         Hemorrhagic Septicemia Vaccine

·         Enterotoxaemia cum Lamb Dysentery Vaccine

·          Black Quarter Vaccine

·         Anthrax Spore Vaccine

·         Newcastle Disease Vaccine

5.     COLLABORATION WITH NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

·         Livestock & Dairy Development Extension Wing

District Haripur, Abbottabad, Mansehra, Torghar, Kohistan, Diamir & Battagram

·         Universities/Institutes

                          i.    Hazara University Mansehra

                         ii.    Comsats Institute of Information Technology Abbottabad

                        iii.    Agriculture University Peshawar

                        iv.     Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam

                         v.    University of Poonch, Rawalakot, AJK

                        vi.    University of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, Lahore

·         Military Institutes

                          i.    Military Dairy Farm Abbottabad

                         ii.    6-Field Remount Abbottabad

                        iii.    AT Regiment Abbottabad

·         NARC, Islamabad

                          i.        NRLPD, Islamabad

                         ii.        NVL, Islamabad

·         Poultry Research Institute, Mansehra

·         Livestock Experimental Station, Jaba Mansehra

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES UNDER ANNUAL TECHNICAL PROGRAM

1.     Hematological and Serum Biochemical Profiling of Kaghani Sheep in Hazara Region

2.     Isolation, identification & characterization of Streptococci spp related to Mastitis in Domestic Dairy Animals in District Haripur

3.     Evaluation of effect of Newcastle Disease on Hematological and Biochemical Parameters in broiler

4.     Nutritional assessment of fodder tree leaves in Hazara region

5.     Drinking water status of Commercial Poultry farm at District Abbottabad

FACILITIES PROVIDING TO THE PUBLIC/FARMERS

1.     Poultry & Livestock postmortem & Disease Diagnosis

2.     Isolation & Identification of Pathogenic Bacteria from morbid Material, Swabs etc

3.     Antibiogram test/ Antibiotic Sensitivity

4.     Blood Complete Picture (Blood CP)

5.     Liver Function Test (LFTs)

6.     Renal Function Tests (RFTs)

7.     Antibody Titration (HAI) for Newcastle Disease & Avian Influenza

8.     Mastitis & Milk adulteration test

9.     Specific Gravity  Milk Fat Determination

10.  Brucellosis (B. abortus & B. Melitensis) identification Test

11.  Proximate Feed analysis

12.  Feed toxin analysis

13.  Fecal Examination

14.  Blood protozoa identification

15.  Water Quality Analysis & Microbial contamination detection

16.  Homogenized auto vaccine for Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia (CCPP)

17.  Homogenized auto vaccine for Hydropericardium syndrome (HPS) of Poultry

18.  Homogenized auto vaccine for Infection Bursal Disease (IBD) of Poultry 

19.  Diagnosis of TB and Johne’s Disease

20.  Pregnancy Diagnosis through blood sample

MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS

1.     Diagnostic facility for brucellosis

2.     Diagnostic facility for tuberculosis

3.     Pregnancy diagnosis through blood sample

4.     Haematology & blood chemistry analysis

5.     Milk adulteration test

6.     Milk fat determination

PROPOSED PROJECTS UNDER ANNUAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR 2016-17

1.     Strengthening of Feed Analytical Laboratory at Veterinary Research and Disease Investigation Centre Abbottabad.

2.     Mycotoxin Detection in Poultry/Animal Feed

3.     Establishment of Laboratory Facilities for Surveillance and Monitoring of Zoonotic diseases

FIELD DAYS/VETERINARY CAMPS/SEMINARS/WORKSHOP HELD

1.     Veterinary Camps organized/Field visits                      134

2.     Seminar/Training/Workshops                           10

TRAINING FACILITIES PROVIDED TO THE PUBLIC/FARMERS

1.     Students trained                                                         33

2.     Farmers Trained/Advised                                            1894

FUTURE PLAN

·         Research based innovative approach in the development of Quality Standards of   Diagnosis are highly sought attributes of progress in animal health care and animal feed technology. To utilize contemporary methods in the biological and life sciences to elucidate mechanisms controlling health and disease in livestock and Poultry by the development of methods to diagnose, moderate and eliminate diseases.

·         Modern Efficient Quality Diagnostics services on Advance Molecular Level, introduction of latest diagnostic tools and techniques.

·         Establishment of  regulatory programs for zoonotic diseases like Salmonellosis, Brucellosis & Tuberculosis.

·         Development of modern diagnostic methods and therapeutic   management of non?infectious diseases like metabolic and deficiency diseases.

·         Advisory Services and training to the Poultry and Livestock Farmers.

·         Major thrust on human resource development, especially, preparing specialists in frontier areas of research and sharpening the skills in newer techniques/ technologies through continuing education.  

·         Further development and strengthening of Animal Nutrition Section through Complete Proximate Analysis, Mineral estimation in feed, Ochratoxin detection in feed, quantitative estimation of Nitrate, Nitrite and Residual effect of Afla Toxin in feed on chicken meat.

·         Formulation of Comprehensive study and submission of  Project on High Altitude Pastoral Systems of Alpine Pasture in Hazara Division.

PUBLICATIONS

1.     Seasonal prevalence of eimeriosis in broiler chicken. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL “Advancements in Life Sciences” Date Published Online: 25/05/2014

2.     Shabbir et.al. 2013 Genetic diversity of Newcastle disease virus in Pakistan: a countrywide perspective, Virology Journal 2013, 10:170 (Impact Factor 2.35)

3.     Safirullah, Khurshaid Anwar, Muhammad Sajid, Abdur Raziq, Muhammad Mujtaba, Khisrao Kalim, Sartaj Khan, Anwar Ali and Tariq ullah. Effect of Human Resource Development on Livestock production in District Chitral, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Pakistan Journal of Nutrition 12(9):821-826, 2013.

4. Muhammad Sajid, Mansur-ud-DinAhmad, Muhammad Athar Khan, Muhammad Aftab Anjum and Muhammad Hassan Mushtaq. Investigation of equine influenza virus in two geographical regions of Pakistan 2012, DOI: 10.1007/s11250-012-0247-5, Tropical Animal Health and Production (Impact Factor 1.15)

5.     Muhammad Ayaz, Muhammad Sajid, Sarzamin Khan, Muhammad Subhan Qureshi, Altaf Ur Rehman, Naeem Khawaja, Muhammad Rafiq and Muhammad Maqbool. Prevalence of Avian Influenza and its economic impact on poultry population of Hazara region Pakistan. Sarhad Journal of Agriculture Vol (26) No. 4, 2010.

6.     Ayaz. M, K. Naeem, A. Qayyum, M. Sajid, I. Ahmad, A. Hussain, M. Hussain, 2009. Sero prevalence of Avian Influenza infection in wild birds in Northern Pakistan, Pakistan Journal of Livestock Sciences pp 45-49, Vol (1) No. 1-2009.

ARTICLES

1.     Newcastle Disease (Urdu Article, Zaratnama).

2.     Crimean Congo Virus (Urdu article Monthly Farming Links).