Chennai THE incidence of infections spreading from animals to humans is on the rise and even while researchers are working on ways to tackle the microbes, the government regulations are falling slack. This view emerged at the international conference on 'Emerging infectious diseases of animals and biotechnological applications,' jointly organised by Tamil Nadu Vet erinary and Animal Sciences University (TANUVAS) and Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in the city on Monday. Dr S K Dwivedi, director, National Research Centre for Equines, Hisar, said that the research and development in the area of infections among cattle and poultry were not in pace with the speed in which the microbes were adapting to changing climate, pollution and evolving geographical conditions. ''While researchers are still tackling with the problem, diseases that they thought had disappeared have made an appearance in a more potent combination,'' he said and gave the example of the infection glender among horses that used to attack either the nasal organs, throat or tendons but now targeting all of these, making diagnosis of the disease really difficult. Researchers say that since these infections start at the grassroot level, the diagnosis of these newer infections in this country is not satisfactory, especially when the need of the hour is quick and early diagnosis. ''Regulations in the country, be it inter-country movement or inter-state movement of animals, are dismal. If they exist, then they are not being implemented. This only leads to spreading of diseases,'' Dr Dwivedi added. Minister for Rural Industries and Animal Husbandry Pongalur N Palanisamy and others spoke.