Dr Raheela Akhtar

Associate Professor (TTS)
Roll of Honor (Queen Mary College, Lahore), DVM (Silver medalist), SOP (Gold medalist), M.Phil (Silver medalist), PhD (UVAS and University of Michigan, USA)

Tel: 92-42-99211449-50, 92-312-4287296

HEC Approved supervisor

Biography

Dr Raheela is working as an Associate Professor (TTS) in Department of Pathology, UVAS, Lahore, Pakistan. She joined department of Pathology in 2005 as a teaching assistant. She was first female in UVAS to win HEC indigenous scholarship for her PhD studies. Later she also won HEC-IRSIP scholarship for her PhD research and conducted her research in University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA that was among top 10 universities of the world. She presented her work in seven countries and was the first Pakistani ever to win G.P Sen Young Scientist award in 2008 from India. After accomplishing her PhD at very young age of 28 she was keen to establish a lab at department of Pathology. She upgraded hematology and molecular pathology lab at Department of Pathology, UVAS. She introduced new techniques of LPS extraction, purification, isolation and culturing of immune cells, RFLP and lateral flow assay at the department. She successfully completed two research projects from HEC and dairy industry. Currently she has two ongoing projects on brucellosis. Dr Raheela has 36 international and national impact factor publications. She is associate member of Royal society of veterinary pathologists, UK since 2019.

Areas of interest

  • Lateral flow assay
  • Diagnosis of brucellosis
  • Milk borne pathogens of zoonotic importance

Publications

  1. Effect of Smooth and Rough Strain Brucella abortus LPS (Lipopolysaccharides) on Immune Stimulation of Bovines.VDM Verlag Dr. Muller GmbH & Co. KG.2011.
  2. Dr Raheela Akhtar, DR Gulbeena Saleem, Prof. Dr. Asim Aslam Prof Dr Muhammad Younus Dr Qamar Un Nisa (2014). “MANUAL OF FOOD BORNE DISEASES IN PAKISTAN”-Published by: Pak Book Corp. ISBN No.978-969-7517-08-4.

 

 

  1. Akhtar, R*., Y.O.He., C.B.Larson., Z.I.Chaudhary and M.D.Ahmad. 2012. Differential stimulatory activities of smooth and rough Brucella abortus lipopolysaccharides in murine macrophages. Pakistan Veterinary Journal 32(3): 339-344. IMAPCT FACTOR 1.365.
  1. Majeeda RasheedShafqat Fatima RehmaniMunir IqbalArfan Ahmad, Fariha AkhtarRaheela AkhtarTasra BibiHassaan bin AslamSuliman Qadir AfridiNadia Mukhtar. 2013. Seropositivity to Avian Influenza Virus Subtype H9N2 among Human Population of Selected Districts of Punjab, Pakistan. Journal of Infection and Molecular Biology 1 (2): 32 – 34. IMPACT FACTOR: 0.26
  2. Ahmad Naeem Sajed, Sana khan, Aneeqa Shamshad Butt, Abid Srwar, Dr. Raheela Akhtar, Dr. Imran Ahmad, Muhammad Naeem Mukhtar, Dr. Sadaf Imran, Dr. Hamid Akbar, Shan Ali, Muhammad Usman. Rapid detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Rifampicin Resistance in extra pulmonary samples using Gene Xpert MTB/RIF assay. IOSR Journal of Dental and Medical Sciences (IOSR-JDMS). e-ISSN: 2279-0853, p-ISSN: 2279-0861.Volume 13, Issue 11 Ver. IV (Nov. 2014), PP 50-53. IMPACT FACTOR: 1.576
  3. R. Akhtar*, M. Sardar, N. Saima, G. Saleem, S. Imran and A. Aslam. Responses of Nili-Ravi buffalo to aflatoxin B1 with and without toxin adsorbents. Journal of Animal and Feed Sciences, 23, 2014, 317–323. IMPACT FACTOR: 0.639
  4. Muhammad Younus, Raheela Akhtar* and Shaukat Ali. 2015. Comparative lethality of Salmonella Enteritidis and Salmonella Typhimurium in broiler chickens. Indian Journal of Animal Sciences 85 (5): 472–474. IMPACT FACTOR: 0.1.
  5. Raheela Akhtar͙* Iahtasham Khan,, Falk Melzer, Heinrich Neubauer, Aftab Ahmad Anjum, Muhammad Younus, Asim Aslam, Sadaf Imran. 2016. Differential anti-Brucella activity of bovine and murine macrophages. Indian Journal of Experimental Biology. 54: 452-456. IMPACT FACTOR: 1.165.
  6. Gulbeena saleem, Rukhshanda Ramzaan, Farina Malik Khattak, Raheela Akhtar. 2016. Effects of acetic acid supplementation in broiler chickens orally challenged with Salmonella pullorum. Turkish Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences. doi:10.3906/vet-1505-66. IMPACT FACTOR: 0.24.
  7. R Akhtar*, H Ahmed, MN Afzal, HR Rehman, I Rashid, S Imran. 2016. Comparative Evaluation of Dyslipedemia in Obese and Diabetic Patients of Rural and Urban Areas in Lahore, Pakistan. West Indian Medical Journal. DOI:  10.7727/wimj.2015.327. IMPACT FACTOR: 0.33.
  8. Hira Anjum, Shehla Gul Bokhari, Muhammad Arif Khan, Muhammad Awais, Ziaullah Mughal, Hafiz Kashif Shehzad, F.Ijaz, Mazhar Iqbal, Imdadullah Khan, Ayesha Safdar, Raheela Akhtar, Sadaf Aslam etc. 2016. Comparative efficacy of Prolene and prolene vicryl composite mesh for experimental ventral hernia repair in dogs. Accepted in Iranian Journal of Veterinary Research. IMPACT FACTOR: 0.253.
  9. M. Younus, T. Abbas, M. Zafar, S. Raza, A. Khan, A.H. Saleem, M.A. Idrees, Q.U. Nisa, R. Akhtar & G. Saleem. 2016. Assessment of heavy metal contamination in raw milk for human consumption. South African Journal of Animal Sciences. ISSN: 0375- 1589 (print) ISSN: 2221-4062 (online) 46(2): 1-4. IMPACT FACTOR:  0.504.
  10. Muhammad Umair Khan, Saher Islam, Amna Arshad Bajwa, Imran Rashid Raheela Akhtar*, Haroon Akbar, Wasim Shehzad and Muhammad Lateef. 2016. Optimization of single step multiplex PCR for detection of Eimeria tenella and Eimeria necatrix from commercial broilers. Indian Journal of Animal Sciences 86 (6): 671–672. IMACT FACTOR: 0.1.
  11. Muhammad Kashif Iqbal, Muhammad Ijaz, Hassaan Bin Aslam, Shahid Hussain Farooqi, Syed Saleem Ahmad, Raheela Akhtar. 2016. Prevalence and antibiotic trials against Salmonella enterica isolated from Diarrheic Lambs and Kids. Pakistan Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. 30(6):2265-2269. IMPACT FACTOR 1.103.
  1. Hafiz Atif Munir, Haroon Akbar, Muhammad Lateef, Imran Rashid, Raheela Akhtar*, Jawad Nazir, Shahid Hussain Farooqi. 2016. Anticoccidial Activity of Different Forms of Aloe Vera. Indian Journal of Animal Research. 52(3):470-473. IF 0.044.
  2. F. Akhtar , M. Rabbani , K. Muhammad, M. Younus, A. A. Sheikh, R. Akhtar, J. Muhammad and A. Rasool. 2016. Phylogenetic grouping of the pathogenic E. Coli isolated from commercial broiler chicken in Pakistan. The Journal of Animal & Plant Sciences, 26(5): 1242-1246. IF 0.422.
  3. Muhammad Awais Salim, Raheela Akhtar*, Muhammad Lateef, Imran Rashid, Haroon Akbar, Wasim Shehzad, Fareeha Akhtar, Saher Islam, Shahid Hussain Farooqi, Uzma Farid Durrani.. 2016. First Report on Optimization of Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) for the Diagnosis of Babesia felis. Indian Journal of Animal Research. 52(3): 401-404. IF 0.044.
  4.  S. A. Taseer, A. Aslam, Z. I. Chaudhary, K. Ashraf, R. Akhtar*, G. Mustafa. 2017. The Effect of Omega 3 and Vitamin E against Avian Influenza in Broiler Chickens. Hellenic Journal of Veterinary Medical Society. 68(3): 363-368. IF 0.326
  5. Shaukat Ali, Raheela Akhtar*, Muhammad Younus, Iahtasham Khan, Heinrich Neubauer, Hafez Mohamed Hafez, Hosny El-Adawy, Shehla Gul Bokhari, Muhammad Ijaz. 2016. Evaluation of various molting methods with perspective of post-molting performance in Japanese quails. Accepted in Indian Journal of Animal Research IF 0.044.
  6. W. Akhter, A. Aslam, M. U. Rehman, H. U. Rehman, I. Rashid, R. Akhtar*. 2016. Comparative pathological changes in sheep infected with Theileria ovis and non-infected control. Hellenic Journal of Veterinary Medical Society. 68(4), 629-634. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.12681/jhvms.16064. IF 0.326.
  7. Uzma Farid Durrani, Sagar Mal Goyal, Asim Khalid Mahmood, Cathleen Hanlon, Susan Moore, Muhammad Waqas and Raheela Akhtar “Determination of maternal rabies virus neutralizing antibody in young puppies”. 2017. Pakistan Journal of Zoology. 49(3): 1147-1149.  IF 0.478.
  8. Beenish Zahid,* Asim Aslam, Zafar Iqbal Chaudhry and Raheela Akhtar. 2017. Biochemical and histopathological changes in immuned and non immuned broilers after inoculation of field infectious bursal disease virus. Pakistan Journal of Zoology. 49(4): 1279-1283. IF 0.478.
  9. S. Naveed, K. A. Chohan, M. A. Jabbar, Y. A. Ditta, S. Ahmed, N. Ahmad and R. Akhtar*3. 2017. Aflatoxin M1 in Nili-ravi buffaloes and its detoxification using organic and inorganic toxin binders. Accepted in Hellenic Journal of Veterinary Medical Society. IF 0.326.
  10. Tausif Ahmad, Iahtasham Khan, Saddaf Razzaq, Saeed-ul-Hassan Khan* and Raheela Akhtar. 2017. Prevalence of Bovine Brucellosis in Islamabad and Rawalpindi Districts of Pakistan. Pakistan Journal of Zoology 49(2): 2017. IF 0.478.
  11. R Akhtar*, MN Anwar, I Khan, H El-Adawy, A Aslam, G Mustafa, SF Rehmani, MZ Saleem, Sarwat Naz. 2017. Pathological Investigations of Organ Affinity of Brucella Species and their Cross Species Transmission. Pakistan Veterinary Journal.37(3): 372-374. IF: 0.813
  12. B. Zahid*, A. Aslam, Habib-ur-Rehman, J. I. Qazi, N. Ahmad, Chaman Ara, R. Akhtar, U. Bacha. 2017. Pathogenicity and immunosuppressive effect of different vaccines of infectious bursal disease virus. The J. Anim. Plant Sci. 27(4):2017. IF: 0.381
  13. M Younus, T Abbas, M Zafar, S Raza, A Khan, I Khan, M A Idrees, Q U Nisa, R Akhtar and G Saleem. 2017. Quantification of enrofloxacin residues in broiler chicken tissues using competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Indian Journal of Animal Sciences 87 (5): 659–661, May 2017/Short communication. IF: 0.185.
  14. M. Waqas, R. Akhtar*, H. Akbar, M. Lateef, I. Rashid, M. Ijaz. 2017. Evaluation of Anti-Coccidial Activity of Different Extraction Products of Allium sativum (Garlic) in Broilers. Accepted in Hellenic Journal of Veterinary Medical Society. IF: 0.085
  15. A.Rehman, R. Akhtar*, H.Akbar, F.Riaz, I.Rashid, W.Shehzad, S.Islam, A.A. Bajwa, M.Waqas. 2017. First report on molecular detection of Ancylostoma caninum in Lahore, Pakistan: A threat from pet. Accepted in Veterinarni Medicina.62(10): 559-564. IF: 0.489.
  16. Muhammad Ijaz, Muhammad Arfan Zaman, Fariha Mariam, Shahid Hussain Farooqi, Amjad Islam Aqib, Sehrish Saleem, Awais Ghaffar, Ahmad Ali and Raheela Akhtar. 2017. Prevalence, hematology and chemotherapy of gastrointestinal helminthes in camels. PVJ. 38(1): 81-85. IF: 0.813.
  17. Hadia Mubeen, Iahtasham Khan, Muhammad Hassan Saleem, Raheela Akhtar*, Shahzad Ali, Muhammad Saqib, Aman Ullah Khan6, Sajid Umar. Brucellosis in Mirpur, Azad Kashmir Pakistan: a livestock threat for neighboring zones. 2018. Accepted in Medycyna Weterynaryjna. IF=0.161.
  18. Muhammad Shahid Tahir, Uzma Farid Durrani, Asim Khalid Mahmood, Raheela Akhtar* Rashid Hussain, Abid Hussain, Muhammad Hashim Raza. Evaluation of autologous and homologous platelet rich plasma as a surgical wound healing promoter in rabbits. Accepted in Indian Journal of Animal Research. IF: 0.147.
  19. Serug Akhtar, Uzma Farid Durrani, Asim Khalid Mahmood, Haroon Akbar, Rashid Hussain, Khizer Matloob, Raheela Akhtar, Waseem Yaqub, Abid Hussain. 2018. Compartive efficacy of ivermectin and Fibronil spot on against knemidocoptes pilae in budgerigars. Accepted in Indian Journal of Animal Research. IF.0.147.
  20. Muhammad Zain Saleem, Raheela Akhtar, Asim Aslam, Imran Rashid, Zafar Iqbal Chaudhary, Muhammad Adeel Manzoor, Rais Ahmad, Bilal Ahmed Shah, Muhammad Yasin. 2018. Evidence of Brucella abortus in Non-preferred Hosts (Caprine and Ovine) by Real-time PCR Assay. Pakistan Journal of Zoology. IF 0.478.
  21. Rana Waqas Arshad, Asim Aslam, Muhammad Saeed Imran, Kamran Ashraf, Raheela Akhtar. 2019. Comparative evaluation of live vector, immune complex and intermediate plus vaccines of infectious bursal disease in broiler chicken. Pakistan Journal of Zoology. IF 0.478.
  22. Raheela Akhtar*, Maryam Sadiqa,  Muhammad Yasin Tipu, Muhammad Rizwan Khan, Asim Aslam, Muhammad Ijaz, Ghulam Mustafa and Beenish Zahid. 2019. Use of Molecular Probes for Presumptive Diagnosis of Tuberculosis Associated with Mycobacterium Tuberculosis and Mycobacterium Bovis Infection in Antelopes in Pakistan. Pakistan Veterinary Journal. IF 1.217.

 

 

  1. Akhtar, R., Z.I Chaudhary, A.R.Shakoori. A.Aslam and M.U Ahmad. Comparative studies on the sensitivity of Polymerase chain reaction and conventional diagnostic methods for the diagnosis of bovine brucellosis (Abstract in Global Meet on Veterinary Public Health and symposium on “New horizons in food security with special reference to veterinary public health and hygiene- evolving strategies with global perspective”  Nov 2008.
  2. Mushtaq, I., A. Aslam., M. Y. Rana., A. Maqbool and R. Akhtar. (2011). Effect of sodium hypochlorite on hematology, histology and liver function of broilers. National seminar and workshop on environmental toxicology and health. Page 33.
  3. Naz, S., A .A. Anjum., A. Maqbool., M.D. Ahmad., A. Hanif., G. Nadeem., R. Akhtar. (2011). Evaluation of larvicidal effect of local isolates of bacillus thuringiensis against mosquito vectors. National seminar and workshop on environmental toxicology and health. Page 43.
  4. Akhtar, R., I.Mushtaq and A. Aslam. 2012. Assessment of protective doses of Nigella sativa against chlorine toxicity in broiler chicken. Second International Conference on Holistic Medicine. Page 33.
  5. Akhtar, R., Study on immunogenicity of in vitro propagated HPS virus in broilers. Third international poultry summit and 6th international poultry conference. Page 81.
  6. Akhtar, R., Comparative efficacy of recombinant avian influenza H9N2 vectored vaccine in poultry. Third international poultry summit and 6th international poultry poultry conference. Page 82.
  7. Zahid, B., Muti-ur Rehman., R.Akhtar. 2012. Effect of LIVOL (herbal supplement) on the growth performance and antibody response against IBD virus in broiler chicks. International Poultry Summit & 6th International poultry conference. Page 149.
  8. Zahid B., A. Aslam., Z.I. Chaudhary., T.Yaqub., M. Rehman., M.Younus., R. Akhtar., S.Alam., N.Sabir and N. Mukhtar. 2013. Detection of Mycobacterium Avium subsp. Paratuberculosis in fecal samples of cattle and buffaloes from Lahore (Pakistan) by acid fast staining, fecal culture and PCR amplification. Page 246. The 10th World Buffalo Congress, Thailand.

 

 

Projects Completed:

  1. “Isolation and Identification of Brucella species from aborted bovine samples using AMOS PCR and immunohistochemistry” funded by Higher Education Commission, Pakistan worth 0.5 million.
  2. “Brucellosis Research, Diagnosis and PCR Commercialization at UVAS, Lahore” at total cost of Rs. 568,925/- (Rs. Five lac sixty eight thousand nine hundred and twenty five rupees only) for a period of 12 months from Al- Abrish Livestock and Dairy Farm, Islamabad.

Research Projects ongoing:

  • “One health approach for molecular diagnosis, epidemiology and control of brucellosis in Pakistan” funded by ALP Islamabad worth 3.6 millions PKR .
  • “Development, validation and commercialization of rapid screening diagnostic strip for cutaneously transmitted bovine zoonoses in Pakistan: A step towards control of occupational hazards in dairy industry” funded by TDF-HEC, Pakistan worth 9.898 million PKR

Publications in Magazines and Newspapers

  • Saleem, G., R. Akhtar and N. Mumtaz. “Recent Out Breaks of New Castle Disease”. Agro Veterinary News. October, 2005.
  • Saleem, G., R. Akhtar and N. Mumtaz. Early Chick Mortality “Economic Challenge to Poultry Farmer”. Agro Veterinary News. December, 2005.
  •  Akhtar, R. A. Idress and I. Mushtaq. “Miracles of Honey”. News and Views April 2009.
  • Akhtar, R., Z.I. Chaudhary., Y. O. He. Rough Brucella LPS is a magical immune stimulator.  Pakistan Today, 1st March, 2011.

Labs Supervised  

  • Laboratory of hematology and serum chemistry
  • Quality operation laboratory No. 06 for ongoing projects

Students Supervised

M.Phil………… 12
PhD ----------------01

Workshops/Trainings Organized

  • Deliver a lecture and acted as a resource person in “National Necropsy Workshop 2011” organized by Department of Pathology in collaboration with Higher Education Commission, Pakistan w.e.f. 19th to 24th September, 2011. As a resource person in Practical training on “Basic Laboratory techniques in clinical pathology & parasitology, w.e.f. 30th July to 9th August, 2012.
  • Presented and organized a workshop “Recent advances in necropsy practice in livestock and poultry and its vetrolegal implications” at Department of Pathology, UVAS, w.e.f. 25-27th Feb, 2015.
  • Organized a training on “Hands on training/workshop on histopathology for postgraduates and teachers” w.e.f. 12-06-17 to 16-06-17 at department of Pathology, UVAS.
  • Organized “Hands on training on Necropsy Practice” at Department of Pathology, UVAS, w.e.f. 23rd  to 24th April, 2018 organized by Department of Pathology, UVAS.
  •  

International Trainings

  1. 8th congress of Association of Public Health Veterinarians and Global Meet on Veterinary Public Health 19th - 21st November, 2008 at Lucknow, India.
  2. Paper presentation in Brucellosis conference at Chicago, USA. Dec 2009.
  3. Paper presentation in International conference on agricultural, food and animal sciences, Singapore. 25th to 27th August, 2010.
  4. Poster presentation in “International Conference of Bacterial Waterborne and Emerging Diseases in North Africa and the Middle East from 30th  Jan 2011 to 4th February, 2011 in Nicosia, Cyprus.
  5. Mevlana faculty exchange program from Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey w.e.f. 15th to 30th April 2017.
  6. Poster presentation in IVVN conference 24th to 27th March 2018 in Nairobi, Kenya.
  7. Hand on training for “development of monoclonal antibodies and lateral flow based assay for differentiating vaccinated and infected animals for zoonotic pathogens” w.e.f. 11-15th June, 2019 at Hangzhou city, Zhejiang Province, China.

Services Provided

  • Postmortem examination
  • Focal Person IT
  • Physical verification of dead stock
  • Member Departmental Board of Studies, Department of Pathology