The Institute of Animal Health & Veterinary Biologicals is located at Palode, Thiruvananthapuram District. The antecedent of this institute was established in the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, Thrissur, in 1956 by the name Veterinary Biological Institute, which produced a limited quantity of veterinary vaccines. With the ever-increasing demand for a higher quantity of good quality vaccines and other biologicals, the facility was shifted to Palode, Thiruvananthapuram, in December 1978 and rechristened as the Institute of Animal Health and Veterinary Biologicals.
The institute is currently engaged in the production and supply of veterinary biologicals required for the prophylaxis of livestock and poultry diseases in the state in the Animal Husbandry Sector. The campus extends over 46.526 acres of land and consists of the Main Laboratory Complex, Standardization Laboratory, Research and Development Division, Administrative Block, Animal Breeding Station, Observation Sheds, Incinerator, and Residential Quarters. This institute plays a major role in protecting domestic animals and birds against major infectious diseases that can be controlled by vaccination.
At present, the institute is producing the following bacterial vaccines:
- Anthrax Spore Vaccine
- Hemorrhagic Septicemia Oil Adjuvant Vaccine
- Black Quarter Vaccine
- Enterotoxemia Vaccine
- Duck Pasteurella Oil Adjuvant Vaccine
Additionally, the institute produces the following viral vaccines:
- Ranikhet Disease F strain Vaccine
- Ranikhet Disease K strain Vaccine
- Ranikhet Disease Mukteshwar strain Vaccine
- Duck Plague Vaccine
- Fowl Pox Vaccine
- Lapinised Classical Swine Fever Vaccine
- Peste-des-petits Ruminants Vaccine
- The institute also produces diagnostic antigens:
- Salmonella Pullorum Coloured Antigen (SPCA)
- Rose Bengal Plate Test Antigen (RBPT)
And reagents:
- California Mastitis Test Reagent (CMT)
Additionally, the institute provides test kits:
Antibiotic Sensitivity Testing Kit (ASK)
It is worth mentioning that the Tissue Culture Rinderpest (TCRP) vaccine manufactured and released from the year 1987 onwards paved the way for eradicating the dreaded scourge of Rinderpest disease in cattle from the state by 1997. The immuno-biologics are subjected to rigorous in vitro and in vivo testing protocols in line with current international standards and supplied to the farming community free of cost through a strong network of Veterinary Service Institutions under the Department of Animal Husbandry throughout the state. The institute has CCSEA registration for breeding and testing. Laboratory animals like guinea pigs, rabbits, Swiss albino mice, chicks, ducks, and small ruminants are maintained here for testing the safety and efficacy of these products strictly in line with CCSEA protocols.
Objectives
- Production and distribution of vaccines, diagnostics, reagents, and kits.
- Quality control of all the products produced in the institute.
- Research on animal diseases, immunology, and vaccinology.
- Extension and training.
Facilities
The institute has 14,000 square feet of clean area designated for the production of biologicals, a media preparation unit, a centralized washing facility, walk-in incubators and freezers, refrigerators, and ultra-low temperature freezers. The imported freeze dryers of the institute have a combined capacity to lyophilize around 8,000 vials of 2 ml capacity in a single cycle. The separately located standardization laboratory along with the animal testing unit is capable of testing and assuring the quality of all the vaccines and biologicals produced here. The CCSEA-certified animal house has an attached small animal breeding unit and an incinerator for the scientific disposal of biological waste. The erstwhile tissue culture rinderpest vaccine production unit was later converted into the Research and Development wing that provides backup support for maintaining seed organisms for production and standardization work, introducing new biologicals as per the demand of the sector, and improving the quality of the existing conventional products.
Staff
The Director, who is in the cadre of Additional Director in the department, heads the institute. The Senior Research Officer and the Standardization Officer control the Production Unit and the Standardization Units, respectively. Teams of veterinarians under these unit heads perform and supervise the work in different subsections. Other than these officers, the employees here comprise Laboratory Technicians, Attendants, and other administrative support staff.
Schemes
Supply of poultry vaccines under the ASCAD Scheme.
Distribution of mastitis kits to livestock farmers at subsidized rates as a part of the Clean Milk Production drive.
Research
Production and standardization of Calfhood vaccine – Brucella abortus Strain 19 Live attenuated vaccine
Development of vaccines for Rabies, Marek’s Disease, and Infectious Bursal Disease
Adaptation of Pasteurella multocida and Rimerella anatipestifer to bioreactors
Adaptation of production protocols for the manufacture of cell culture-based Classical Swine Fever vaccine
The institute is a collaborative center for the manufacture of oral bait vaccine against rabies; the basic work for which is being undertaken at the Institute of Advanced Virology, Tonnakkal.
Training
The institute is a mandatory station for all final-year students studying for the degree of B.V.Sc and A.H for an internship training program as a part of their curriculum.
The institute offers paid internship programs for three months and six months in various areas of vaccine production in accordance with G.O (P) No. 29/2023/AGRI (AHE) dated 18-01-2023.
The institute offers training and project work in subjects relating to vaccine production and research to graduate students of Microbiology and Biotechnology.
Contact Address
Director
Institute of Animal Health & Veterinary Biologicals,
Palode, Pacha (P O)
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695562
email:- dirvbi.ker@nic.in
Phone No:- 0472 2840262