VCRC - Kottayam, Kerala

ICMR-VCRC Field Station, Kottayam, Kerala

Office In Charge: Dr. Prasanta Saini, Scientist-B

The Field station was established during 2008, on the wake of the widespread outbreak of chikungunya fever in Kerala, as requested by the Govt. of Kerala and Rubber Board, Govt. of India. Since then, VCRC Field Station, Kottayam is carrying out research studies on the biology and control of different Vector-borne diseases, prevalent in Kerala. With this mandate, this field station is currently carrying out its following research activities in collaboration with the state health department, Govt. of Kerala.

Investigations on the entomological and epidemiological risk factors involved in the transmission of arbo-viral diseases, leishmaniasis and malaria in Kerala
Demonstration of IVM strategies for the control of Dengue/Chikungunya in Kerala
Studies on the ecology and distribution of Aedes aegypti and Ae.albopictus complex in Kerala
Genomic studies on dengue, chikungunya, leishmaniasis and malaria as well as their vectors
Investigations on disease outbreaks of dengue and chikungunya
Training on vector borne disease control activities to staff from State Health Dept., different Medical Colleges in Kerala (Govt. MC, TVPM; AIMS, Kochi; AMS, Kannur) and to different Universities in Kerala

Staff List

Sr. No.	Name of the staff	Designation
1	Dr. Prasanta Saini	OIC & Scientist B
2	Mrs. Abidha	Principal Technical Officer
3	Mr. P. M. Ajith Lal	Technical Officer-B
4	Mrs. Jessu Mathew	Technical Officer-B
5	Smt. T. Sonia	Technical Assistant
6	Mrs. K. P. Amju	Technical Assistant
7	Mr. M. Balamurugan	Technician-1
8	Shri. C.P. Prasad	Laboratory Assistant-1
9	Mr. T. V. Srirajan	Assistant

Research Activities

> Successfully demonstrated community oriented IVM strategy for the control of Chikungunya/Dengue vectors in the rubber plantation sector of Kerala
> Constructed DNA Barcodes (short gene sequences to identify species) for 150 common species of mosquitoes) and other vector species prevalent in India
> DNA barcoding methodology standardized for taxonomic identification of medically important insects including sandflies. DNA Barcodes described for Phlebotomus argentipes and Ph. papatasi, vector species of leishmaniasis in India, for the first time
> Reported a crucial mutation in the envelope gene of Chikungunya Virus (A226V), which enabled the virus to multiply and disseminate in Aedesalbopictus, the predominant Aedes species in Kerala, causing a widespread outbreak of Chikungunya fever in the Western region of Western Ghats. Also, incriminated Ae. albopictus as the main vector of CHIKV during the CHIKV outbreaks during 2006 -2011 from Kerala State, India
> Description of a new species, Platynectessahyadriensis(Coleoptera: Dytiscidae), predatory to Ae.albopictus(Diptera: Culicidae) from the foothills of Western Ghats, Kerala- a biological control agent
> Simple PCR tool developed for identification of Culexvishnui species complex
> Recorded and genetically characterized all the 4 serotypes of dengue from Kerala (DENV4 recorded for the first time in Kerala)
> Reported of serotype and genotype shift of DENV (from American/African to Asian type of DENV1) during the unprecedented outbreak of Dengue in Thiruvananthapuram District during 2017
> Characterization of Leishmaniadonovanias the parasite involved in the cutaneous leishmaniasis from human, vector and reservoir hosts from the endemic Kani tribal population of Western Ghats, Kerala, India
> Characterized Orientiatsutsugamushiin mite samples (Leptotrombidiumdeliense), human and rodent samples from Gorakhpur, U.P., reporting AES syndrome cases

on-going projects

On-going Projects

1.Clinical, epidemiological, entomological and virological features of dengue fever outbreak in Thiruvananthapuram District, Kerala-Collaborative with Govt. Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram (EM 1803;2017-2019).
2. Entomological and epidemiological investigations on leishmaniasis among the tribal populations in the Western Ghats, Kerala (IM 1905; 2019-2022).
3. Studies on the vector susceptibility of Aedesaegyptiand Ae. albopictusto four different serotypes of Dengue virus, circulating in Kerala (IM 1904; 2019-2021).
4. Molecular and genetic analysis of dermatropy/viscerotropy of Leishmaniadonovani(EM 1923; 2019-2022).

Infrastructure (Labs)

VCRC Field Station Kottayam has well established research laboratories in molecular biology and entomology. Following major instrumental facilities are available at the field station- Deep Freezers -80oC and -40oC, Micro-centrifuges, Fine balance, BSL 2 Bio-safety cabinets, Thermal cyclers, Gel electrophoresis units with power packs, PCR enclosure cabinets, Real time PCR machine, Autoclave, Programmable digital control water bath, Lyophilizer, Water purifiers, Ice flaking machine, Dry baths, Hybridization ovens, UV transilluminators, Gel Documentation System, Cell disrupters, Air purifiers, Computer Workstations for genetic analysis, Compound microscope, stereo microscopeetc.

Photo Gallery

Group Kottayam

VCRC Field Station Kottayam

Bsl 2 Cabinet

Entomology Lab

Molecular Biology Lab 2 1

Storage Facility

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Kottayam, Kerala