Dr. D.Raghunatha Rao.

Scientist ‘F’, 
Extension & Training

Email:  drr_rao@yahoo.com
Contact:  to be added

Brief Profile

Dr. D.Raghunatha Rao completed post graduation in zoology in 1978 and continued his studies with ICAR Senior and obtained Ph.D from Osmania University in 1984, Hyderabad. Later he worked as a Post Doctoral Fellow in Department of Chemistry, Osmania University During 1978-85, he carried out research on the evaluation of natural products such as plant extracts, their principles and synthetic chemicals as insecticides, anti-feedants and juvenomimics against different crop pests under laboratory and field conditions. He has also worked on Integrated Pest Management and Water management in rice cropping systems in one of the ICAR’s Institute in Hyderabad. He also worked on histopathological effects of natural products and pesticides.  After a brief stint of Post Doctoral Fellow at Osmania University he joined the Centre for Research in Medical Entomology, one of the ICMR Institutes in 1986 and worked till 1999. During this period he conducted laboratory bio-assays to study the susceptibility and resistance to various groups of insecticides of natural, synthetic and biological origin. He also conducted small and large scale field trials in controlling mosquito vectors of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) in rice fields. He developed a farmers’ and eco-friendly strategy for the control of Japanese encephalitis mosquito vectors using neem and intermittent irrigation (water management). He developed a cost effective strategy to control JEV vectors in JE endemic areas which was adopted by Tamilnadu Government between 1996 and 98 for the control of Japanese encephalitis disease in the villages. In 1999 he joined the Extension and Training Division of the National Institute of Nutrition and at present he is holding Scientist E.  In 2003, he served as an Expert Committee Member of The Research and Analysis Cell, Department of Health, Medical & Family Welfare, Govt. of Andhra Pradesh, India and studied Outbreak of Viral Encephailtis-2003. He suggested various vector control strategies for controlling man-mosquito contact to interrupt the disease transmission. After joining NIN he conducted various Nutrition extension programmes to different groups of communities in association with various Government organizations such as Power Generation, Railways, Indian Airlines etc., and Non-Government organizations viz., Confederation of Voluntary Associations, World vision, STARS etc, He is also involved in organizing various exhibitions at the community level and organizing training to frontline workers in nutrition and health. In 2009 he obtained Post Graduate Diploma in Nutrition and Food Security from Wageningen University/Wageningen International, The Netherlands in 2009.
Publications
  1. Aruna Kumari., Thakur, S.S., Kishen Rao.B.  & Rao.D.Raghunatha. (1982). The effect of Dimilin R as an IGR on cotton stainer Dysdercus similis (F). Proceedings of the Indian Academy of Parasitology, 3(1&2):35-39
  2.   Rao.D.Raghunatha ., Thakur.S.S. & Krishnamurthy Rao, B.H. (1983)  On the action of carbamate analogue as a juvenile hormone mimic . Current Science , 52(3),142-143
  3. Sita,V., Aruna  Kumari. & Rao.D.Raghunatha. (1983) Insect growth regulating activity of a steroid nandralone decanoate on Dysdercus similis F. Heteroptera: Pyrrhocorrideae). Proceedings of the Indian Academy of Parasitology 4(1 & 2), 11 -15
  4. Rao.D.Raghunatha., Thakur.S.S., Kishen Rao .B. & Ramakrishna Reddy , ch. (1983) Effect of Mesua ferrea (Fam. Guttiferaceae), seed oil on the morphogenisis and reproduction of Dysdercus Similis F. Journal of Environmental Research ,4(1&2), 7-11
  5. Maruthi  Ram,G.,  Simgekar,  A & Rao.D.Raghunatha. (1985) Effect of the juvenoid hydroprene on the oviposition and hatchability in the sweet potato weevil, Cylas formicarius F. (Coleoptera : Curculionidae). Current Science, 54(6),296-7
  6.   Sita, V.,Thakur,S.S., Kishen Rao,B. & Rao.D.Raghunatha. (1986) Comparative effectiveness of different anabolic and sex steroids on the development of mosquitoes Anopheles stephensi. Indian Journal of Malariology 23:161-4
  7. Maruthi  Ram,G.,Kishen  Rao, B.,  Thakur,S.S.,  Rao.D.Raghunatha. & Subba Rao,L.(1987) Effect of juvenoid hydroprene on the pupae  of sweet potato weevil, Cylas formicarius F. Journal of Animal Morphology and Physiology,34(1&2),45-54
  8. Rao.D.Raghunatha &  Gita paul. (1988) Growth regulatory activity of Dimilin       against  Mesocyclops thermocyclopoides, Current Science, 57(7), 399-400.
  9. Rao.D.Raghunatha .,Reuben,R.,Gitanjali,Y. & Srimannarayana, G. (1989) Evaluation of four azadirachtin rich fractions as mosquito larvicides. Indian Journal of Malariology , 25:6-12
  10. Rao.D.Raghunatha . & Amarjit Kaur. (1989)  Effect of the essential oil from the gum oleoresin of Boswellia serrata Roxb. on the gonads of  Dysdercus similis F.   Current Science , 58(14):822-4
  11. Rao.D.Raghunatha. (1992) Effect of neem , Azadirachta indica  A Juss on the mosquito fish, Gambusia affinis. Neem Newsletter, 14:28
  12. Poopathi, S.,  Mani, T.R.,  Raghunatha Rao.D., G. Baskaran and  Lalitha Kabilan (1999)  Evaluation of synergistic interaction between Bacillus sphaericus and Bacillus thuringienisis var. israelensis against Culex quinquefasciatus resistant and susceptible to B. sphaericus 1593 M.  Journal of Ecobiology, 11(4), 289 –298
  13. Poopathi, S., Raghunatha Rao.D., Mani, T.R., G. Baskaran and  Lalitha Kabilan (1999) . Investigations on cross-resistance to Bacillus thuringiensisvar israelensis H14 in the Bancroftian filariasis vector, Culex quinquefasciatus resistance to Bacillus sphaericus. J. Parasitic Diseases 23 : 121 -124 
  14. Poopathi, S., Lalitha Kabilan, Mani, T.R., Rao, D.R. and G. Baskaran (1999) A comparative ultrastructural studies on the midgut of Bacillus sphaericusresistant and susceptible Culex quinquefasciatus Say.,  Insect Environment  5 (3) : 129-130
  15. Poopathi, S., Mani, T.R., Raghunatha Rao, D., Baskaran, G. and Lalitha Kabilan (1999) Effect of Bacillus sphaericus and Bacillus thuringiensis var israelensis on the ultrastructural changes in the midgut of Culex quinquefasciatus Say (Diptera : Culicidae).  Journal of  Entomological Research 23(4) : 347 – 357
  16. Poopathi, S., Mani, T.R., Raghunatha Rao, D., Baskaran, G. and Lalitha Kabilan (2000) Susceptibility levels of resistance of Culex quinquefasciatus to the insecticidal toxin of Bacillus sphaericus (strain 2362)  Environment & Ecology 18(3) : 703 – 710    
  17. Poopathi, S., Lalitha Kabilan .,Mani, T.R., Raghunatha Rao, D., Baskaran, G (2000) Observation of low tolerance to Bacillus thuringiensis var israelensis is Culex quinquefasciatus resistant to Bacillus sphaericus. Entomon 25 (3) : 201-208
  18. Poopathi, S., Mani, T.R., Raghunatha Rao, D., Baskaran, G. and Lalitha Kabilan (2000). A need to study ultra structural changes in the tissues of Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera : Culicidae) resistant and susceptible to Bacillussphaericus toxin. J. Nature Conservation 12 (2) : 171 - 179 
  19. Poopathi, S., Raghunatha Rao.D., Mani, T.R., G. Baskaran and Lalitha Kabilan (2001) Evaluation of deltamethrin treated coconut leafmat against mosquitoes. Insect Environment. 6 (4) : 159-161

    		20.

    PAPERS PUBLISHED IN THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE SYMPOSIUM AND BULLETINS:
    A) INDEXED
    1. Srimannarayana, G. & Rao.D.Raghunatha. (1985) Insecticidal plant chemicals as  antifeedants In :  Proceedings of Behavioural and Physiological Approaches in   Pest Management. Eds. A.Reghupathy and S.Jayaraj, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, pp. 18-22.

    2. Rao.D.Raghunatha , Reuben, R., & Hellpap,C (1993) Evaluation of neem products for the control of Japanese encephalitis virus in rice fields  - A five year study (1987-92). In: Proceedings of World Neem Conference Eds. A.K.Raheja and R.P.Singh , Winsor Manor Sherton Hotel, Bangalore , Feb, 24-28. pp 530 – 540.

    B) NOT INDEXED
    1. Rao.D.Raghunatha  (1987)  Assessment of Neem (Azadirachta indica A Juss)   cake  powder as a mosquito larvicide . In: Proceedings of Alternatives to Synthetic          Insecticides in Integrated Pest Management Systems . Eds R.Reuben and P.Sundarbabu ,CRME and M.K.University , Madurai, pp.163-7.

    2. Gita Paul , Rao.D.Raghunatha & Krishnaswamy,S. (1987) Effect of  Ivth generation  candidate  pesticide of biology on Mesocyclops thermocyclopoides - A  pollution indicator   in aquatic ecosystems . In: Proceedings of Alternatives toSynthetic Insecticides in Integrated pest management Systems . Eds. R.Reuben and P.Sundarbabu , CRME and Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, 177-9.

    3. Reuben,R., Rajendran,R & Rao.D.Raghunatha (1992) Appropriate technology for  the control of rice field breeding vectors of Japanese encephalitis. ICMR Bulletin 22(8):87-91.

    4. Anuradha.V., M.Sakthivadivel., Rao.D.Raghunatha., and Thilagavathy Daniel(1996). Larvicidal effects of leaf extracts of Andrographis paniculatea (Burm. F) and Swietenia mahagoni(L.) Jacq. on Culex quinquefasciatus Say. (Diptera: Culicidae) pp. 158 – 160. pp.  
                                       
    5. Sakthivadivel.M., Anuradha.V., Rao.D.Raghunatha., and Thilagavathy Daniel(1996). Larvicidal properties of Melia azadirach L., Azadirachta  indica A. juss  and Pongamia glabra L Vent seeds on Culex quinquefasciatus Say. In:  Biological and Cultural control of Insect Pests, an Indian Scenario Ed Dunston P. Ambrose, Adeline Publishers Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, India. pp 201 – 203.
    PAPERS PUBLISHED IN INTERNATIONAL JOURNALS

    1. Rao.D.Raghunatha, Thakur,S.S., Sita, V., Prasada Rao, Ch. & Sunderamurthy,V. (1986) Development inhibitory effect of a pyrethrum analogue   against ovaries in Dysdercus similis F. International Pest Control, London, 28:46-7. 

    2. Rao.D.R., Reuben,R. & Saxena,R.C. (1989) Larvicidal activity of neem seed bitters (NSB) against Culex quinquefasciatus Say in flooded rice fields. International Rice Research Newsletter, Philippines, 14(5):28.  

    3. Rao.D.R., Reuben,R., Venugopal,M.S., Nagasampangi, B.A. & Schmutterer,H. (1992) Evaluation of neem, Azadirachta indica, with and with out water management, for the control of culicine mosquito larvae in rice fields. Medical and Veterinary Entomology, London, 6: 318-24.

    4. Rao.D.R., Reuben,R., Venugopal,M.S., Nagasampangi, B.A. & Schmutterer,H. (1992) Evaluation of neem, Azadirachta indica, with and with out water management, for the control of culicine mosquito larvae in rice fields. Medical and Veterinary Entomology, London, 6: 318-24.      

    5. Sundararaj,R. & Rao.D.Raghunatha. (1993) Field evaluation of  a microgel droplet formulation of Bacillus sphaericus 1593M (Biocide-S) against Anopheles culicifacies and Anopheles subpictus in South India. Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health, Thailand, 24(2):363-368. 

    6. Poopathi,S. & Rao.D.Raghunatha (1995) Inexpensive pyrethroid impregnated hessian curtains for protection against mosquitoes indoors in South India.   Medical & Veterinary Entomology, London, 9(2): 169-175.

    7. Rao, D.R., Reuben, R & Nagasampagi, B.A. (1995)  Development of combined use of  neem (Azadirachta indica) and water management for the control of  culicine mosquitoes in rice fields.  Medical and Veterinary Entomology, London, 9 (1) : 25 - 33

    8. Rao. D. Raghunatha., Thangavel, C., Lalitha Kabilan., Suguna, S., Mani, T. R and S. Shanmugasundaram (1999) Larvicidal properties of the cyanobacterium Westiellopsis sp. (blue-green algae) against mosquito vectors. Transactions of The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, London 93(1) : 232.

    9. Poopathi,S. & Rao.D.Raghunatha (1995) Inexpensive pyrethroid impregnated hessian curtains for protection against mosquitoes indoors in South India.   Medical & Veterinary Entomology, London, 9(2): 169-175. 

    10. Rao.D.R., Mani, T.R., Rajendran,R., Joseph,A.S., Gajanana,A. & Reuben,R. (1995) Development of a high level of resistance to Bacillus sphaericus in a field  population of Culex quinquefasciatus from Kochi, India. Journal of the American  Mosquito Control Association, USA 11(1): 1-5.         

    11. Kabilan, L., Vani, S., Rao, D.R., Mani, T.R. and Pitchappan, R.M (1999) Proteins synthesized by mosquito larvae in response to Bacillus sphaericus infection. Tropical Biomedicine, Malaysia

    12. Rao. D. Raghunatha., Thangavel, C., Lalitha Kabilan., Suguna, S., Mani, T. R and S. Shanmugasundaram (1999) Larvicidal properties of the cyanobacterium Westiellopsis sp. (blue-green algae) against  mosquito vectors.  Transactions of  The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, London 93(1) : 232.

    13. Christina-Neilsen LeRoux, Raghunatha Rao. D., Jittawadee Rodcharoen Murphy, Alexandre Carron, T.R. Mani., Sylviane Hamon and Mir S. Mulla (2001) Various levels of cross-resistance to Bacillus sphaericus strains in Culex pipens (Diptera : Culicidae) colonies resistant to B. Sphaericus strain 2362 Applied and Environmental Microbiology, USA 67(11): 5049 – 5054

    14. Poopathi, S., Mani, T.R. ,Rao. D.R., Baskaran, G.B and L Kabilan(1999)  Evaluation of synergistic interaction between Bacillus sphaericus and Neem based biopesticide on BSPH-Susceptible Culex quinquefasciatus.  Insect Science and its application (Kenya) 22 (4):303-306

    PAPERS PUBLISHED IN REFERENCE BOOKS (INDEXED)

    1. Reuben R., Rao.D.Raghunatha, Anthony,S., Corbet, P.S., Wu Neng & Liao Guohou (1990) Biological control methods suitable for community use. Appropriate technology in Vector Control Ed. C.F.Curtis, CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, pp.139-158.      

    2. Rajagopalan,P.K., Das,P.K., Panicker,K.M., Reuben,R., Rao.D.Raghunatha,       Self.S. & Lines,J.D. (1990) Environmental and water management for mosquito control. Appropriate Technology in Vector Control Ed. C.F.Curtis, CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, pp.121-138.

    PAPERS PUBLISHED IN INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM PROCEEDINGS (NOT INDEXED)

    1. Rao.D.Raghunatha & Reuben,R. (1989) Evaluation of neem cake powder and neem cake coated urea as mosquito larvicides in rice fields. In: Proceedings of fifth symposium of Arbovirus Research in Australia. Eds. M.F.Uren. J. Block and L.H.Manderson, Brisbane, Australia, August 28-Sep 1,. 1989, pp. 138-142.

    INDEXED

    1. Rao.D.Raghunatha (1997) Prospects of using neem  (Azadirachta indica) A Juss     for rice field mosquitoes in an Integrated Vector Control (IVC) programmes. In :   Proceedings of 1st International symposium on Toxicity, Safety and proper use of  pesticides, 27th to 31st October 1996 held at Phitsanulok, Thailand. pp.

    Nutrition:

    1. Vijayapushpam., Krishna Kumari Menon, Raghunatha Rao.D., and Grace Maria Antony (2003). A qualitative assessment of nutrition knowledge levels and dietary intake of school children in Hyderabad. Public Health Nutition 6(7), 683-688

    2. .Raghunatha Rao, D.,  Vijayapushpam,  T. Grace Maria Antony, Subba Rao, G.M and Rameshwar Sarma, K.V. (2004). Nutrition knowledge and dietary habits of school going adolescent girls in Hyderabad. Proceedings of the UGC Sponsored National Conference on Human Health and Nutrition: A Biotechnological Approach. BN Bandodkar College of Science, Thane, Maharashtra. Pp.84-89.

      Received the Certificate of Merit for best presentation (oral) of the above mentioned   paper. 

    3. Subba Rao GM, Raghunatha Rao D, Venkaiah, K., Dube, A.K. and Rameshwar Sarma, K.V (2004). Nutrition education for school children using FAO’s Global School -Based programme – Feeding Minds and Fighting Hunger (FMFH).
      Proceedings of the UGC Sponsored National Conference on Human Health and Nutrition: A Biotechnological Approach. BN Bandodkar College of Science, Thane, Maharashtra.  pp.94-100.

    4. Subba Rao GM, Raghunatha Rao D, Venkaiah K, Anil Kumar D & Rameshwar Sarma KV (2006). Evaluation of the Food and Agriculture Organization’s global school-based nutrition education initiative, Feeding Minds, Fighting Hunger (FMFH), in schools of Hyderabad, India.
      Public Health Nutrition.       Vol. 9. No.8, 991-995.

    5. Raghunatha Rao D, Vijayapushpam T, Subba Rao GM, Grace Maria Antony and Rameshwar Sarma KV (2007). Dietary habits and effect of two different educational tools on Nutrition knowledge of school going adolescent girls in Hyderabad, India. 
       European Journal of Clinical Nutrition  61, 1081–1085 

    6. Vijayapushpam. T, Subba Rao, GM, Antony, GM and  Raghunatha Rao, D (2008)Nutrition education for student community volunteers: A comparative study of two different communication methods Food and Nutrition Bulletin, 29(2), 108 -112
      7.   
    7. Padmaja .R. Jonnalagadda , R.V. Sudershan , N.S. Raji and D. Raghunatha       
      Rao(2009) Identification of critical control points in the two selected HACCP-certified prawn  Processing units 
      Journal of Food Quality 32) 177–189
      8.    
    8. T. Vijayapushpam, Grace Maria Antony , G.M. Subba Rao , D. Raghunatha Rao  (2010)  Nutrition and health education intervention for student community:   Topic-wise assessment of impact using non-parametric test Public Health Nutrition,UK, 13(1),131-136

    9. Padmaja R. Jonnalagadda,1* A.Y.E. Prasad,1 Katla Ashok Reddy,1 Challa Suresh, 1  M     Vishnu Vardhana Rao1,  Goparaju Ramya,1   and D. Raghunatha Rao(2010)  Biochemical alterations of certain health parameters in cotton growing farmers exposed to organophosphorous and pyrethroid insecticides 
      African Journal of Biotechnology,9(49) :8369-8377

    10. M. Maheshwar and D.Raghunatha Rao (2010) A Matter of Looks :The Framing of Obesity in Popular Indian News Papers 
      US-China Medical Science 7(12)

    SCIENTIFIC REJOINDERS (INDEXED)

    1. Raghunatha Rao, D. and A. Gajanana (1998) 
      Pyrethroid impregnated curtains for Japanese encephalitis control.
           Current Science 74 (9) : 722.

    2. Sunish, I.P., Raghunatha Rao. D. and A. Gajanana (1998)
      Nitrogenous  fertilizers,   neem and vectors of Japanese encephalitis virus.    Current Science, 75(11) – 1107.

    PAPERS ABSTRACTED/PRESENTED AT INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIA

    1. Rao.D.Raghunatha, Thakur,S.S., Krishnamurthy Rao,B.H. Dennis,T.J. & Srimannarayana,G. (1984) Antifeedant activity of the essential oil from the gum oleoresin Boswellia serrata (Fam.Burseraceaae) against tobacco caterpillar Spodoptera litura F. Abstracted and accepted for short lecture (Oral presentation) in Seventeenth International Congress of Entomology, held at Hamburg, Federal Republic of Germany, August 20-26.

    2. Rao.D.Raghunatha & Srimannarayana,G. (1988) Natural Insecticidal Chemicals from certain plants as feeding deterrents (1988) Accepted for presentation in Fifth Annual ISCE Meeting, Athens, Georgia, USA June 24-27.

    3. Rao.D.Raghunatha & Reuben,R. (1989) Evaluation of neem cake powder and neem cake coated urea as mosquito larvicides in rice fields. Participated and presented in Fifth Australian Arbovirus Symposium, CSIRO-QIMR, held at Brisbane, Australia.

    PAPERS PRESENTED / ABSTARCTED AT VARIOUS NATIONAL SYMPOSIA

    1. Rao.D.Raghunatha, Thakur,S.S. & Srimannarayana,G (1983) Effect of essential oil from the gum oleoresin Boswellia serrata (Fam. Burseraceae) on the growth and development of the tobacco caterpillar Spodoptera litura Fabri.

    2. Rao.D.Raghunatha, Thakur, S.S. & Srimannarayana,G.(1983) Juvenomimetic activity of the essential oil from the gum oleoresin Boswellia serrata(Fam.Burseraceae) against mosquito larvae.

      The above two papers were abstracted in Second All India Symposium on Invertebrate reproduction and National seminar on Recent Trends in Entomological Researches, Department of Zoology, University of Calcutta, Calcutta.

    3. Rao.D.Raghunatha, Thakur,S.S., Krishnamurthy Rao,B.H. & Srimannarayana,G. (1986) Neem Azadirachta indica A. Juss (Meliaceae) seed oil residue and its essential oil as feeding inhibitors against IVth instar larvae of Spodoptera litura F. (Lepidoptera:Noctuidae). Abstracted in National Symposium on Insect Physiology, Ecology and behaviour held at Trivandrum, during February 19-20. Abstracted in Neem Newsletter, Vol.1.  1988.

    POPULAR ARTICLES

    1. Rao.D.Raghunatha & Reuben, R. (1994). Appropriate technology for the control of Japanese encephalitis vector mosquitoes by neem. Bulletin of Pest Management, London, Vol.4:3.

    2. John Victor & Rao. D. Raghunatha (1998) Integrated management of mosquito       vectors of Japanese encephalitis.  Bulletin of Pest Management, London Vol 9 : 5

    3. Rao. D. Raghunatha (2000) Coping with encephalitis.  Health Action 13(2) :35 – 37

    4. Rao. D. Raghunatha (2000) Of cabbages and cauliflowers.  Nutrition Vol. 34 (2) :10 – 20.

    5. Rao, D. Raghunatha  & K. V. Radha Krishna (2000)  Japanese encephalitis and its public health importance.  Andhra  Pradesh Veterinarian  vol 3 (4) :14-16

    6. Rao, D. Raghunatha (2001) Green Amaranth for pink health.  Nutrition vol . 35 (1) : 14 – 26

    7. Rao, D. Raghunatha (2002) Antioxidants in Human health. Nutrition vol . 36 (2):  3-13

    8. Rao, D. Raghunatha (2002) How safe is your food.  Nutrition vol . 36 (4) : 3-16


Awards and Honours
  1. To be updated