Contact information
Professor
Roll of Honor (Queen Mary College, Lahore), DVM (Silver medalist), SOP (Gold medalist), M.Phil (Silver medalist), PhD (UVAS and University of Michigan, USA)
Biography
Dr Raheela is working as a Tenured Professor at Department of Pathology, UVAS, Lahore, Pakistan. The young professor joined department of Pathology in 2005 as a teaching assistant and has 18 years research and teaching experience. She was a merit scholarship holder throughout her career and won silver medal (second position) in her DVM, silver medal in M.Phil, gold medal from Society of Physiology, UVAS. 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 four research projects as Principal Investigator from various funding agencies of total cost about 15 millions PKR. Dr Raheela has about 56 international and national impact factor publications. She was the first Pakistani who got first position and cash prize (Rs 50,000) for “All Pakistan Pitching Research Competition 2018” organized by University of Queensland, Australia for presenting best research proposal.
She is associate member of Royal society of veterinary pathologists, UK since 2019. Dr Raheela is the first female Professor in the Department of Pathology, UVAS, Lahore.
Area of Interest
Diagnostics, Point of Care Diagnostics, Zoonotic and Food borne Pathogens, Microfluidics
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=fIbZNVkAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao
Publications
- 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.
- Ahmad Naeem Sajed, Sana khan, Aneeqa Shamshad Butt, Abid Srwar, 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
- 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
- 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.
- 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: 7727/wimj.2015.327. IMPACT FACTOR: 0.33.
- 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 103.
- 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.
- 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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Raheela Akhtar, Muhammad Zaheer Iqbal, Azmat Ullah, Muhammad Muddassir Ali*, Beenish Zahid, Muhammad Ijaz, Arif Ullah and Muhammad Sulman Ali Taseer. Comparative association of slc11a1 (Nramp1) gene with susceptibility and resistance to brucellosis in various cattle and buffaloes breeds of Pakistan. 2019. Pakistan Veterinary Journal. , 39(4): 612-614. ISSN: 0253-8318 (PRINT), 2074-7764 (ONLINE) DOI: 10.29261/pakvetj/2019.091 15 August 2019 IF: 360.
- Saher Islam, Wasim Shehzad*, Amna Arshad Bajwa, Muhammad Imran, Muhammad Yasir Zahoor, Muhammad Abdullah, Muhammad Imran Rashid, Kamran Ashraf, Yung-Fu Chang, Asif Nadeem, Muhammad Younas, Sayed Aamir Mehmood Bukhari, Muhammad Muzzammil Hassan, Zafar Iqbal Qureshi and Raheela Akhtar Molecular Detection of Brucellosis, Leptospirosis and Campylobacteriosis by Multiplex PCR and Screening by ELISA Assays in Buffalo Breeding Bulls. Pakistan Veterinary Journal. 40(1): 81-87. ISSN: 0253-8318 (PRINT), 2074-7764 (ONLINE) DOI: 10.29261/pakvetj/2019.092 15 August 2019 – IF: 1.360.
- Lateef, R.Akhtar, B.Zahid, U.F. Durani, A.Qadry, N.Afzal, Y.G Yuan, M.Farhab. Prevalence of trichostrongylus in sheep in the district Zhob, Balochistan, Pakistan. 2021. Arquivo Brasileiro de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia 73(2):522-524. March 2021 IF: 0.316
- Raheela Akhtar , Muhammad Muddassir Ali , Asad Ullah, Abdul Muttalib , Kashan Mehboob , Arif Ullah , Nasim Ahmad , Tahir Zahoor Chohan.. 2021. Genotyping of Brucella strains isolated from humans and cattle of different geographical regions of Pakistan using MLVA-15. Veterinary Medicine and Science. 1-8. PMID: 34245235.PMCID: PMC8464260. DOI: 10.1002/VMS 3.550. IF: 1.9
- M Zahir, H Akbar , R Akhtar , S Imran , N Hussain , H Rasheed , T Sajjad , M Asif . 2021 Comparison of conventional methods with commercially available topical hemostat surgical snow (oxidized cellulose) for achieving hemostasis in canine model of partial splenectomy. Pol J Vet Sci. 2021 Jun;24(2):281-286. doi: 10.24425/pjvs.2021.137663. IF: 0.516
- Zahid*, Raheela Akhtar, Q. A. Ahmed, Q. Akrama , R. Yasmeen, M. K. Ateeq, M. Raza, H. M. Rizwan , Z. Iqbal, M. M. Saleem , M. Imran. 2022. Clinico-pathological assessment of virulent Newcastle Disease Virus in ducks. Brazilian Journal of Biology. ISSN 1519-6984 (Print) ISSN 1678-4375 (Online). 2024, vol. 84, e250607 https://doi.org/10.1590/1519-6984.250607. IF: 1.651.
- Muhammad Naveed Anwar , Raheela Akhtar , Muhammad Abid , Shahzad Akbar Khan , Zaib Ur Rehman , Muhammad Tayyub , Muhammad Irfan Malik , Muhammad Khurram Shahzad , Hadia Mubeen , Muhammad Shahzad Qadir, Muddassar Hameed , Abdul Wahaab , Zongjie Li , Ke Liu , Beibei Li , Yafeng Qiu, Zhiyong Ma,, Jianchao Wei, 2022. The interactions of flaviviruses with cellular receptors: Implications for virus entry. Virology. 569(2022): 77-85.IF: 3.969
- 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.
- Mushtaq, I., A. Aslam., M. Y. Rana., A. Maqbool and 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.
- Naz, S., A .A. Anjum., A. Maqbool., M.D. Ahmad., A. Hanif., G. Nadeem., 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.
- Akhtar, R., I.Mushtaq and A. Aslam. 2012. Assessment of protective doses of Nigella sativaagainst chlorine toxicity in broiler chicken. Second International Conference on Holistic Medicine. Page 33.
- Akhtar, R.,Study on immunogenicity of in vitro propagated HPS virus in broilers. Third international poultry summit and 6th international poultry conference. Page 81.
- 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.
- Zahid, B., Muti-ur Rehman., 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.
- Zahid B., A. Aslam., Z.I. Chaudhary., T.Yaqub., M. Rehman., M.Younus., 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.
Publications in Magazines and Newspapers
- Saleem, G., Akhtarand N. Mumtaz. “Recent Out Breaks of New Castle Disease”. Agro Veterinary News. October, 2005.
- Saleem, G., Akhtarand 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
- Effect of Smooth and Rough Strain Brucella abortusLPS (Lipopolysaccharides) on Immune Stimulation of Bovines.VDM Verlag Dr. Muller GmbH & Co. KG.2011.
- 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.
Projects Completed
-
- “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.
- “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.
- “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
Labs Supervised by Dr Raheela
- Laboratory of hematology and serum chemistry
- Quality operation laboratory No. 06 for ongoing projects
Students Supervised
- Phil………… 26
- 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.
- Organized a two days National workshop on “Brucella Diagnostics and an Insight to Right Write” on 7-8th October, 2019 at University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore.
- Organized a seminar on “Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology” at 21-03-2023 at Department of Pathology, UVAS,
International Trainings and Travel Grants
- 8th congress of Association of Public Health Veterinarians and Global Meet on Veterinary Public Health 19th - 21st November, 2008 at Lucknow, India.
- Paper presentation in Brucellosis conference at Chicago, USA. Dec 2009.
- Paper presentation in International conference on agricultural, food and animal sciences, Singapore. 25th to 27th August, 2010.
- 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.
- Mevlana faculty exchange program from Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey w.e.f. 15th to 30th April 2017.
- Poster presentation in IVVN conference 24th to 27th March 2018 in Nairobi, Kenya.
- 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