Seroprevalence and distribution of serogroup-specific pathogenic Leptospira antibodies in cattle and buffaloes in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India

Research (Published online: 08-08-2019)

6. Seroprevalence and distribution of serogroup-specific pathogenic Leptospira antibodies in cattle and buffaloes in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India

Anusha Alamuri, Sushma R. A. Thirumalesh, S. Sowjanya Kumari, K. Vinod Kumar, Parimal Roy and V. Balamurugan

Veterinary World, 12(8): 1212-1217

ABSTRACT

Aim: In this study, the prevalence and the distribution status of Leptospira serogroup-specific antibodies among cattle and buffaloes in enzootic districts of Andhra Pradesh, a South Indian state was carried out.

Materials and Methods: A total of 426 serum samples were randomly sampled from various villages from Prakasam, Kurnool, Guntur, Chittoor, Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam, and Godavari districts of Andhra Pradesh between 2016 and 2017. Serum samples from cattle (n=106) and buffaloes (n=320) having a history of pyrexia, and reproductive problems such as agalactia, infertility, abortions, and stillbirth. The serum samples were screened for Leptospira-specific antibodies by microscopic agglutination test using a reference panel of 18 live cultures of pathogenic Leptospira serovars.

Results: The overall seropositivity of 68.08% (290/426) was observed with 70.8% (75/106) in cattle and 67.18% (215/320) in buffaloes. The frequency distribution of predominant serogroup-specific Leptospira antibodies in the sampled areas was determined against the employed serovars as follows: Icterohaemorrhagiae - 21.38%, Hebdomadis - 18.97%, Australis - 18.62%, Pomona - 17.24%, Sejroe - 15.86%, Tarassovi - 15.86%, Autumnalis - 15.52%, Panama - 14.83%, Shermani - 12.07%, Javanica - 11.38%, Hurstbridge - 11.03%, and Pyrogenes - 10.69%.

Conclusion: It was evident that bovines had a role in maintaining several predominant Leptospira serovars with the change in the trend over a period. The results from this study would also help in strategizing and mitigating the disease burden in cattle and buffaloes of the enzootic area.

Keywords: buffaloes, cattle, distribution of serovars, leptospirosis, microscopic agglutination test, seroprevalence.

Current therapeutic applications and pharmacokinetic modulations of ivermectin

Review (Published online: 08-08-2019)

5. Current therapeutic applications and pharmacokinetic modulations of ivermectin

Khan Sharun, T. S. Shyamkumar, V. A. Aneesha, Kuldeep Dhama, Abhijit Motiram Pawde and Amar Pal

Veterinary World, 12(8): 1204-1211

ABSTRACT

Ivermectin is considered to be a wonder drug due to its broad-spectrum antiparasitic activity against both ectoparasites and endoparasites (under class of endectocide) and has multiple applications in both veterinary and human medicine. In particular, ivermectin is commonly used in the treatment of different kinds of infections and infestations. By altering the vehicles used in the formulations, the pharmacokinetic properties of different ivermectin preparations can be altered. Since its development, various vehicles have been evaluated to assess the efficacy, safety, and therapeutic systemic concentrations of ivermectin in different species. A subcutaneous route of administration is preferred over a topical or an oral route for ivermectin due to superior bioavailability. Different formulations of ivermectin have been developed over the years, such as stabilized aqueous formulations, osmotic pumps, controlled release capsules, silicone carriers, zein microspheres, biodegradable microparticulate drug delivery systems, lipid nanocapsules, solid lipid nanoparticles, sustained-release ivermectin varnish, sustained-release ivermectin-loaded solid dispersion suspension, and biodegradable subcutaneous implants. However, several reports of ivermectin resistance have been identified in different parts of the world over the past few years. Continuous use of suboptimal formulations or sub-therapeutic plasma concentrations may predispose an individual to resistance toward ivermectin. The current research trend is focused toward the need for developing ivermectin formulations that are stable, effective, and safe and that reduce the number of doses required for complete clinical cure in different parasitic diseases. Therefore, single-dose long-acting preparations of ivermectin that provide effective therapeutic drug concentrations need to be developed and commercialized, which may revolutionize drug therapy and prophylaxis against various parasitic diseases in the near future. The present review highlights the current advances in pharmacokinetic modulation of ivermectin formulations and their potent therapeutic applications, issues related to emergence of ivermectin resistance, and future trends of ivermectin usage.

Keywords: ivermectin, ivermectin resistance, pharmacokinetic modulation, therapeutic applications.

Antimicrobial resistance of Escherichia coli isolates from cattle in Eastern Algeria

Research (Published online: 07-08-2019)

4. Antimicrobial resistance of Escherichia coli isolates from cattle in Eastern Algeria

Djanette Barour, Amine Berghiche and Nadji Boulebda

Veterinary World, 12(8): 1195-1203

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Lack of information about the antibiotic resistance in commensal Escherichia coli from Algerian livestock prompted us to do this study to determine the different levels of antimicrobial susceptibility, antibiotic multidrug resistance (MDR) rates, and phenotypical patterns of E. coli strains isolated from healthy cattle to control the spread of animal-resistant strains to humans and the environment.

Materials and Methods: A total of 198 cattle were sampled (swabbed in the rectum), reared in the farms of Souk Ahras, Tebessa, and Oum el Bouaghi governorates of Eastern Algeria. Isolation of E. coli strains was performed on MacConkey agar and then the different strains were identified to the species level using an API 20E identification kit. Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined using a panel of 13 antibiotic disks by disk diffusion method on Mueller-Hinton agar. The double-disk synergy test with cefotaxime and amoxicillin-clavulanate disks was used for the screening of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase phenotypes. For colistin susceptibility, the minimum inhibitory concentration was examined using broth microdilutions technique.

Results: The results showed that among the 198 E. coli isolates, elevated resistance rates were observed for ampicillin (59.09%) and tetracycline (43.43%), and moderate resistance rates for cephalothin (16.16%), trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (15.15%), and amoxicillin/clavulanate (11.62%); however, low resistance rates were found for nalidixic acid (8.08%), ciprofloxacin (7.07%), kanamycin (6.56%), cefotaxime (4.54%), chloramphenicol (4.04%), nitrofurantoin (2.52%), cefoxitin (2.02%), gentamycin (1.01%), and no resistance to colistin. However, nine extended-spectrum β-lactamases producing E. coli strains were identified. Forty-four different patterns were determined, indicating a wide variety of resistance, ranging from one antimicrobial to a combination of 10. Analysis of coresistances revealed that 63 isolates (31.82%) were susceptible to all antibiotics used in the study, 42 isolates (21.21%) were resistant to one antibiotic, 43 isolates (21.72%) were resistant to two antibiotics, 24 isolates (12.12%) resistant to three antibiotics, 26 isolates (13.13%) were resistant for more than three agents, and 45 isolates (22.73%) were MDR (which means resistant to three or more families of antibiotics).

Conclusion: This study demonstrates that commensal E. coli remains a potential source of antibiotic resistance in view of the high prevalence of antimicrobial resistance. The vast range of MDR phenotypes, especially extended-spectrum β-lactamases producing strains, emphasizes the urgent requirement to adopt measures to control the use of antimicrobials, in particular, by private veterinarians, as well as the strengthening of veterinary surveillance networks for antimicrobial resistance to control the spread of MDR bacteria from animals to humans and the environment.

Influence of intensive rearing, continuous and rotational grazing systems of management on parasitic load of lambs

Research (Published online: 07-08-2019)

3. Influence of intensive rearing, continuous and rotational grazing systems of management on parasitic load of lambs

M. S. Ram Prasad, S. Meenakshi Sundaram, P. Tensingh Gnanaraj, C. Bandeswaran, T. J. Harikrishnan, T. Sivakumar, and P. Azhahiannambi

Veterinary World, 12(8): 1188-1194

ABSTRACT

Aim: A trial was conducted to assess the influence of parasitic load on the lambs reared under the intensive system, continuous grazing, and rotational grazing systems of management.

Materials and Methods: A total of thirty numbers of the undetermined breed of ewe lambs around 4-5 months of age were randomly selected and allotted to three treatment groups: T1 (intensive system - control), T2 (rotational grazing), and T3 (continuous grazing). The T1 group lambs were raised under a stall-fed system of management, the T2 group lambs were grazed under rotational grazing strategy in four paddocks of plot-A, while the T3 group lambs were continuously grazed in plot-B.

Results: At the end of the study, there was a highly significant difference (p=0.01) in the fortnightly strongyle egg count per gram (EPG) of feces among the lambs pertaining to the three treatment groups; the lambs in T3 had a higher strongyle EPG compared to T2 lambs. With regard to the overall reduction in EPG from the initial count, lambs under rotational grazing showed the maximum decrease of 54.52% compared to lambs under T3 (continuous grazing). There was a strong positive correlation noticed between the mean temperature of the day at each fortnight and the subsequent EPG at each fortnight with R2=0.87. There was a strong positive correlation noticed between mean FAMACHA® scores and the EPG with R2=0.84, R2=0.83, and R2=0.83 for T1, T2, and T3, respectively.

Conclusion: The grazing management with pasture rotation should be considered as a viable option for sustainable parasitic control in case of grazing-dependent livestock husbandry in India.

Seroprevalence and molecular characterization of Mycobacterium bovis infection in camels (Camelus dromedarius) in the Delta region, Egypt

Research (Published online: 05-08-2019)

2. Seroprevalence and molecular characterization of Mycobacterium bovis infection in camels (Camelus dromedarius) in the Delta region, Egypt

Yasser F. Elnaker, Mohmed S. Diab, Nermin A. Ibrahim, Attia El-Gedawy, Rania Samir Zaki and Adel Radwan

Veterinary World, 12(8): 1180-1187

ABSTRACT

Aim: This study aimed to determine the prevalence rates of Mycobacterium infection in camel sera collected before slaughter and gross lesion tissue collected at postmortem (PM) using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), bacteriological culture, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In addition, serum samples from humans who had occupational contact with camels were tested by ELISA and sputum sample by culture.

Materials and Methods: ELISA was performed on serum samples antemortem. In addition, bacteriological culture and PCR were conducted after PM. Tuberculosis infection was identified in humans who had contact with camels using ELISA for serum samples and culture for sputum samples.

Results: Tuberculous lesions were detected in 184 of 10,903 camels (1.7%). The ELISA results revealed that of the 184 examined camel serum samples, 124 (67.39%) were positive and all 20 camel serum samples that had no associated tuberculous lesions were negative. Moreover, only one of 48 (2.08%) human serum samples was positive by ELISA. Mycobacterial culture revealed 112 isolates from the 184 examined camel samples (60.87%), while human sputum sample cultures were all negative. PCR analysis identified the mpb70 gene in three of seven randomly tested samples.

Conclusion: Gene sequencing was performed on two samples and the sequences were submitted to the National Center for Biotechnology Information GenBank (accession numbers MF990289 and MG59479). A phylogenetic tree was constructed based on the partial DNA sequences of the mpb70 gene; the similarity between the isolates was 98.1%. The similarities between the two isolates and the standard strains of Mycobacterium bovis in GenBank were 98.1% and 100%, respectively. Further investigation on the antemortem detection of M. bovis infection in camels is needed to decrease public risk.

Keywords: camel, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, Mycobacterium bovis, polymerase chain reaction, tuberculosis.

Detection of parasitic helminths in cattle from Banda Aceh, Indonesia

Research (Published online: 05-08-2019)

1. Detection of parasitic helminths in cattle from Banda Aceh, Indonesia

Muhammad Hanafiah, Dwinna Aliza, Mahdi Abrar, Fadrial Karmil and Didy Rachmady

Veterinary World, 12(8): 1175-1179

ABSTRACT

Aim: The objective of this research was to identify the parasite species found in the gastrointestinal tract and pancreas of Aceh cattle slaughtered in a Banda Aceh slaughterhouse using lactophenol and semichon carmine staining.

Materials and Methods: Each sample out of 50 samples of gastrointestinal tract and pancreas from Aceh cattle slaughtered in a Banda Aceh slaughterhouse was separated by organ. Each organ was examined for the presence of worm. Then, the parasitic worms found were subsequently collected and separated based on class and species, followed by staining using lactophenol and semichon carmine. The worms were then identified and their prevalence was determined.

Results: The results showed that three species of parasites were successfully identified, all belonging to the nematode class, namely, Oesophagostomum radiatum, Oesophagostomum columbianum, and Setaria labiatopapillosa with the prevalence of 12%, 10%, and 6%, respectively. In addition, there was one species of parasite from the trematode class, namely, Eurytrema pancreaticum with prevalence of 0.4%.

Conclusion: The nematode class worms, such as O. radiatum, O. columbianum, and S. labiatopapillosa, can be stained by lactophenol, while the trematode class worm such as E. pancreaticum can be stained by semichon's carmine.

Keywords: Aceh cattle, gastrointestinal parasites, Oesophagostomum, Setaria.

Fasciola infection in goats slaughtered from Port Harcourt metropolis Rivers State, Nigeria

Research (Published online: 03-08-2019)

11. Fasciola infection in goats slaughtered from Port Harcourt metropolis Rivers State, Nigeria

A. E. Abah, G. N. Wokem and I. I. Sounyo

International Journal of One Health, 5: 76-80

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Fascioliasis is a zoonotic disease of public importance that affects animals and man. This study was aimed at assessing Fasciola infection among goats slaughtered in Port Harcourt metropolis.

Materials and Methods: A total of 323 gallbladder and fecal samples were collected from three different abattoirs (Mile 3, Rumuokwurusi, and Trans-Amadi) between September 2015 and June 2016 and analyzed using standard parasitological method.

Results: Of the 323 fecal samples, 20 (6.19%) were found to be positive for Fasciola egg. Mile 3 abattoir 17 (5.26%) had higher prevalence than Trans-Amadi abattoir 3 (0.93%) while Rumuokwurusi had no infection (Chi-square=0.11; p=0.001). Gallbladder infection was 5.57%. Trans-Amadi abattoir had the highest prevalence of 11 (3.41%) followed by Mile 3 abattoir 7 (2.17%) and Rumuokwurusi abattoir had none (Chi-square=0.91; p=0.339). Infection based on gender showed that 5.88% of female animals and 0.31% of males were ova positive. At Trans-Amadi, 0.93% of females against 0.0% of males were infected (p>0.05). At Mile 3, it was 4.95% of females against 0.31% of males (p=0.001). Rumuokwurusi abattoir had no infection. Gallbladder infection showed Trans-Amadi 2.79% of females and 0.62% of males; Mile 3, 2.17% of females and 0.0% of males and Rumuokwurusi had no infection.

Conclusion: Fasciola infection is prevalent in goats in Port Harcourt. The health implication of these findings is that humans are at risk as fascioliasis is a zoonotic disease. There is a need to intensify effort to create more awareness of the possible consequence of this infection.

Keywords: fascioliasis, goats, infection, Nigeria, prevalence, zoonotic disease.