Faculty Profile

Prof. Dr. Rebanta Kumar Bhattarai is renowned academician and poultry consultant and widely recognized for his significant contributions to veterinary education and poultry disease diagnosis. He completed his undergraduate studies in Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry from Tribhuvan University in Nepal. Dr. Bhattarai obtained his master's degree in Veterinary Microbiology from the Tribhuvan University, and later he competed PhD in veterinary microbiology from the Agriculture and Forestry University, Nepal.

He is working as Professor in Department of Microbiology, FAVF, and Director of Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Agriculture and Forestry University, Nepal and actively involved in teaching, research since last 23 years. He is also working as consultant veterinarian in different breeder, layers farm, hatchery and feed mills in different parts of Nepal. He is actively involved in diagnosis of poultry disease. His research interest in zoonotic bacteria, antimicrobial drug resistance and diagnostic development. Additionally, he has contributed extensively to policy formulation in Nepal, advising various governmental and non-governmental organizations on veterinary science and poultry health.

His scholarly work has been published in leading academic journals and has received international recognition.

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS IN PEER REVIEWED JOURNALS (PAST 5 YEARS)

1. Khanal, S., Luitel, H., Adhikari, S., Marasini, A., & Bhattarai, R. K. (2025). Molecular characterization, antimicrobial resistance profiling, and biofilm analysis of Salmonella isolates from dead-in-shell embryonated eggs. Poultry Science, 105773.

2. Parajuli, S., Basnet, H. B., Raut, R., & Bhattarai, R. K. (2025). Molecular Characterization and Antimicrobial Resistance of Salmonella from Chicken Meat and Water in Retail Markets of Chitwan, Nepal. Applied Microbiology, 5(3), 81.

3. Khanal, S., Luitel, H., Adhikari, S., Marasini, A., & Bhattarai, R. K. (2025). Molecular characterization, antimicrobial resistance profiling, and biofilm analysis of Salmonella isolates from dead-in-shell embryonated eggs. Poultry Science, 105773.

4. Aryal, S., Bhattarai, R. K., & Thapa, K. (2025). Comprehensive study of ticks and tick-borne diseases in dogs in Nepal: molecular identification, risk analysis and hematological alterations. BMC Veterinary Research, 21(1), 309.

5. Ranabhat, G., Subedi, D., Karki, J., Paudel, R., Luitel, H., & Bhattarai, R. K. (2024). Molecular detection of avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) in broiler meat from retail meat shop. Heliyon, 10(15).

6. Bhattarai, R. K., Basnet, H. B., Dhakal, I. P., & Devkota, B. (2024). Antimicrobial resistance of avian pathogenic Escherichia coli isolated from broiler, layer, and breeder chickens. Veterinary World, 17(2), 480.

7. Bhattarai, R. K., Basnet, H. B., Dhakal, I. P., & Devkota, B. (2024). Detection and association of selected virulence associated genes and antibiotic resistance genes with phylogenetic group in avian pathogenic Escherichia coli from commercial chickens in Nepal. Xi'an Shiyou Daxue Xuebao Ziran Kexue Ban)/ Journal of Xi'an Shiyou University, Natural Sciences Edition, 67(8), 480. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.13269442.

8. Bhattarai, R. K., Basnet, H. B., Dhakal, I. P., & Alocilja, E. C. (2023). Virulence genes of avian pathogenic Escherichia coli isolated from commercial chicken in Nepal. Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis, 95, 101961. doi:10.1016/j.cimid.2023.101961.

9. Bhattarai, R. K. (2017). Hatchery Hygiene Mapping Based on Microbial Load Assessment in Chitwan, Nepal. Journal of Agriculture and Forestry University, 1, 161-169.

10. Chaudhary B., Dahal A., Bhattarai R.K. and Pandey D.P. (2023). News Media Coverage of Snakebite Incidence in Nepal during 2010–2022. 022. Adv Clin Toxicol 2023, 8(4): 00028

11. Pal, P., Bhatta, R., Bhattarai, R., Acharya, P., Singh, S., & Harries, A. D. (2022). Antimicrobial resistance in bacteria isolated from the poultry production system in Nepal. Public Health Action, 12(4), 165-170.

12. Lambrou, A. S., Innes, G. K., O'Sullivan, L., Luitel, H., Bhattarai, R. K., Basnet, H. B., & Heaney, C. D. (2021). Policy implications for awareness gaps in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and antimicrobial use among commercial Nepalese poultry producers. Glob Health Res Policy, 6(1), 6. doi:10.1186/s41256-021-00187-2.

13. Lambrou, A. S., Luitel, H., Bhattarai, R. K., Basnet, H. B., & Heaney, C. D. (2020). Informing influenza pandemic preparedness using commercial poultry farmer knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) surrounding biosecurity and self-reported avian influenza outbreaks in Nepal. One Health, 11, 100189. doi:10.1016/j.onehlt.2020.100189.

14. Ghimire, L., Singh, D. K., Basnet, H. B., Bhattarai, R. K., Dhakal, S., & Sharma, B. (2014). Prevalence, antibiogram and risk factors of thermophilic Campylobacter spp. in dressed porcine carcass of Chitwan, Nepal. BMC Microbiology, 14(1), 85. doi:10.1186/1471-2180-14-85.          

15. Ranabhat, G., Subedi, D., Karki, J., Paudel, R., Luitel, H., & Bhattarai, R. K. (2024). Molecular detection of avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) in broiler meat from retail meat shop. Heliyon, 10(15).

16. Regmi, S., Mahato, P. L., Upadhayaya, S., Marasini, H., Neupane, R. P., Shrestha, J., Bhattarai, R. K., & Dhakal, S. (2022). Screening for Escherichia coli in Chopping Board Meat Samples and Survey for Sanitary and Hygienic Practices in Retail Meat Shops of Bharatpur Metropolitan City, Nepal. Microbiology Research, 13(4), 872-881.

17. Sankhi, S., Bhattarai, R. K., Basnet, H. B., Marasine, N. R., Luitel, H., Nayak, M., & Sankhi, S. (2020). Identification of Antibiotic Resistance Pattern, and Detection of Virulence Genes iss, and ompT in Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli from Broiler Chickens in Chitwan, Nepal. Journal of Pharmaceutical Research International, 32(23), 1-12.

18. Shrestha, A., Bhattarai, R. K., Luitel, H., Karki, S., & Basnet, H. B. (2021). Prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and pattern of antimicrobial resistance in mastitis milk of cattle in Chitwan, Nepal. BMC Vet Res, 17(1), 239. doi:10.1186/s12917-021-02942-6.

19. Subedi, M., Bhattarai, R. K., Devkota, B., Phuyal, S., & Luitel, H. (2018). Correction to: Antibiotic resistance pattern and virulence genes content in avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) from broiler chickens in Chitwan, Nepal. BMC Vet Res, 14(1), 166. doi:10.1186/s12917-018-1453-9.