Tami Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (Tanuvas) Vice-Chancellor C. Balachandran on Monday expressed serious concern at the alarming presence of parasitic diseases not only among the livestock and poultry but also among public health, denting global economy to the tune of billions of dollars annually.
In his inaugural address at the 28th National Congress on Veterinary Parasitology (NCVP) organised at Sri Venkateswara Veterinary University (SVVU) here, Prof. Balachandran said that due to parasitic diseases, the overall production at various fronts in veterinary, agriculture and allied areas had led to a drop in global economy believed to be $2 lakh billion. He said that the production rate of food has also come down by 3.3%.
He said that though the menace of parasitic diseases were brought under control in human beings to a large extent, it could not be effectively arrested among the livestock, poultry and other allied fronts. “The young minds have to come forward with a unique approach to fight out the menace,” he said.
SVVU Vice-Chancellor, Y. Hari Babu said that an advanced laboratory to study the parasitic diseases among oceanic organisms would be coming up at Undi in Vizianagaram district at a cost of ₹6 crore. He observed that India suffers an annual loss of ₹8,621 crore due to damage caused by parasitic diseases. Prof S.C. Parija, Vice-Chancellor of Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth (Pondicherry), Dr D. Venkateswarulu , Director (Animal Husbandry), Prof T. Chandrasekhar Rao, Dean (SVVU) and others spoke.
Newsletters released
Earlier, the dignitaries had released a compendium of newsletters of various distinguished veterinary universities. Retired faculty of the Department of Parasitology were also honoured on the occasion.
