Keerthana Kissanthomas
Project Title: Characterisation of air microbiome in pre-weaning dairy-calf-to-beef (DCB) calf housing and its association with Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) prevalence/incidence via longitudinal and cross-sectional studies
Overview: Keerthana will be conducting her research on the microbiome of calf housing air and its relationship to respiratory health in pre-weaning dairy beef calves via longitudinal and cross-sectional studies. BRD is a key cause of morbidity and mortality in dairy to beef calves. In Ireland, it was diagnosed in 38.8% of calves aged between 1 and 5 months submitted to regional veterinary laboratories. Analysing air microbiome could provide crucial insights into pathogen transmission and the role of air quality in BRD risk. Keerthana aims to characterise the shed air microbiome and examine calves accommodated in these sheds, in hopes to establish an evidence base for housing design recommendations and ultimately benefiting Irish dairy-to-beef farmers with improved housing and management strategies for BRD control.
Keerthana has a first-class honour in BSc (Hons) in Microbiology from the Technological University of the Shannon, Athlone. During her under-graduate studies, she went on an ERASMUS+ programme to Hochschule Emden/Leer, Germany for her placement in 3rd year to do a research project and worked in a Microbiology department to do her summer internship in St. Vincent’s University Hospital in Dublin over the summer in 2nd year.
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/keerthana-kissanthomas-b96a44251
Teagasc Programme: Animal and Bioscience
Research Location: Teagasc, Animal & Grassland Research Centre, Grange, Dunsany, Co. Meath
University: University College Dublin
Teagasc Supervisor: Dr. John Denis Donlon
Funding Source: Teagasc Walsh Scholars Programme