Academic Programs

Head of Department: Dr. Muhammad Raza Hameed
Official WhatsApp No.: +923026093663
Official Contact No.: +3026093663
Official Email Address: pathobiology@bzu.edu.pk
Departmental Student Advisor: Dr. Muhammad Irfan Ullah
Departmental Examination Incharge: Dr. Irtaza Hussain

The Department of Pathobiology was established in August, 2015 under the umbrella of Faculty of Veterinary Sciences. Pathobiology is a basic and fundamental segment of FVS and comprises of four major sections including;

• Parasitology
• Microbiology
• Pathology
• Epidemiology

The Department is committed to provide professional skills and technical knowledge relevant to veterinary sciences and animal welfare to undergraduate and postgraduate students.Different research activities of the Department address complex problems in biomedical and veterinary sciences through its multidisciplinary approach. Research emphasizes multi-host disease systems, with the goal of improving animal health at the individual and population levels in a broad social and environmental context.The excellence in professional expertise of the students is generated through innovative teaching, learning and laboratory provision, which enables graduates at the forefront of veterinary and animal sciences. The Department of Pathobiology is actively engaged in research, teaching, and implementation of modern diagnostic tools and advanced molecular techniques for the diagnosis, treatment, control and immune-prophylaxis of contagious diseases of Livestock and Poultry.

Facilities Available

The Department has various labs for Microbiology, Pathology, Parasitology, Bacteriology &Mycology, Virology & Immunology, Clinical Pathology, Histopathology, Epidemiology, Molecular Immunoparasitology and One Health Research Lab. In addition, two Commercial Labs viz. University Diagnostic Lab and Prof.Dr. Masood Akhtar Hi-Tech Lab have also been developed by the department.

Prof. Dr. Masood Akhtar Hi-Tech Laboratory

Recent advancements in molecular biology/biotechnology have provided tremendous insights for disease diagnosis and significantly advanced the diagnostic capabilities since last few years. To effectively utilize and transform these modern/latest diagnostic tools and techniques in field application, A well-equipped Hi-Tech Laboratory has been recently established in the Department of Pathobiology. This lab has been named as “Prof. Dr. Masood Akhtar Hi-Tech Laboratory” by university administration in recognition to the services of Prof. Dr. Masood Akhtar (Dean, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, BZU Multan) in veterinary profession and development of veterinary faculty at BZU-Multan and his sincere efforts recognition of FVS-BZU at national and international level. The lab is equipped with standardized techniques/protocols and comprised of following three sections:

•  Molecular Biology Section: The molecular section of the lab offers rapid and highly sensitive detection of RNA and DNA for diagnosis of infectious diseases using Conventional/Real Time PCR.
•  Chromatographic Section: This section has facilities for qualitative and quantitative analysis of intoxicants, drugs/chemicals important foranimal/poultry health care system using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC).
• Microscopy Section: This section extends support for demonstration of different cellular abnormalities and inclusions using state of the art immunofluorescence and histopathological facilities with the help of latest inverted and Fluorescence Microscopy facilities with live CCD camera.

Livestock and poultry sector is the major component of agriculture and playing a pivotal role in the national economy even in the presence of different constraints. Lack of Accurate disease diagnosis and awareness to use quality input services (feed/supplementation/medicine) is one of the major constraint in livestock production. Prof. Dr. Masood Akhtar Hi-Tech Laboratory is a valuable platform in this regard not only for academician, researcher and students but also for field veterinarians through hands on training of different Hi-tech equipment, interpretation of results and their field application to provide timely disease diagnosis, its cure and prevention in order to maximize the production and safeguarding the interest of farmers and national economy.

University Diagnostic Laboratory (UDL)

Appropriate and timely diagnosis of a disease can ensure successful treatment of any ailment. Keeping in view, the demand of livestock and poultry farmers of southern Punjab and to provide hands on training to the veterinary graduates, UDL was established in 2015. Within short period, UDL emerged as a commercial entity providing an array of diagnostic tests which are based on quality and cost effective testing to enhance the production potential of livestock and poultry in the region. The UDL is also recognized as analyst institution of Livestock and Dairy Development Department Government of the Punjab. Diagnostic services include microscopy, serology, serum biochemistry, histopathology and molecular diagnostic techniques for different diseases as per international standards. The laboratory is equipped with highly sophisticated diagnostic tools for hematology, cytology, urinalysis, ELISA testing, PCR, necropsy examination, environmental testing, culture sensitivity and rapid plate agglutination test etc.

Diagnostic Lab is run by qualified veterinary professionals with diverse expertise in animal disease diagnosis and health monitoring. Apart from providing diagnostic andanimal healthcare facilities, UDL is also providing advisory/consultative services to the poultry/livestock stakeholders. UDL is an excellent source for the training of undergraduate and postgraduate students to learn the advanced knowledge in veterinary diagnostics.

Facilities Available at UDL

• Consultative and Advisory services for
• Diagnosis of veterinary Diseases
• Complete Blood Count (CBC) with
• Hematology analyzer
• ELISA testing for Animal and Poultry Diseases
• HA/HI test for Newcastle disease
• HA/HI test for Avian Influenza disease
• Detection of Salmonella pullorum and
• Salmonella gallinarum (RPA-SP)
• Detection of Mycoplasma gallisepticum (RPA-MG)
• Detection of Endoparasites (Fecal examination)
• Detection of Ectoparasites (Skin Scrapping)
• Blood test for Haemoparasite
• Urinalysis
• Surf Field Mastitis test
• Milk testing with Milk Analyzer
• Infectious disease diagnosis including  Brucellosis and Tuberculosis
• Antibacterial Susceptibility (Culture sensitivity test)
• Liver Function Test (Alkaline phosphatase, ALT, AST, Billirubin)
• Renal Function Test (Serum/plasma creatinine, Blood urea nitrogen)
• Total Serum/Plasma Protein/ Mineral Profiling
• pH of water
• Plate exposure for bacteria (Environmental testing)/Swab Testing
• Necropsy examination of poultry
• Visit to poultry farm for Disease investigation
• Necropsy examination of small animals
• Necropsy examination of large animals
• Diagnosis of venereal diseases in bovine

Research Groups

• Zoonoses and One Health
• Immunomodulation and disease control
• Toxico-pathology
• Epidemiology and chemotherapy
• Immunology and vaccination