Effects of sweet almond (Prunus amygdalus) suspension on blood biochemical parameters in experimentally induced hyperlipidemic mice

Research (Published online: 14-12-2019)

12. Effects of sweet almond (Prunus amygdalus) suspension on blood biochemical parameters in experimentally induced hyperlipidemic mice

Afaf A. Tarmoos and Lubna A. Kafi

Veterinary World, 12(12): 1966-1969

ABSTRACT

Aim: The present study aimed to examine the effects of sweet almond (Prunus amygdalus) suspension (SAS) on the measurements of blood biochemical parameters in male albino mice, in which hyperlipidemia was induced experimentally.

Materials and Methods: Seventy male albino mice were divided randomly into seven groups (10 mice/group). The first group was the untreated control group (negative control). The second group comprised hyperlipidemic mice that did not receive SAS treatment (positive control). The other five groups consisted of hyperlipidemic mice that were orally administered five different doses of SAS (285, 571, 857, 1128, and 1428 mg/kg body weight). Hyperlipidemia was induced in mice by adding 1% cholesterol to the diet along with 0.5% H2O2 to the drinking water, with ad libitum access to both food and water for 60 consecutive days. Prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time, clotting time, and platelet count were measured. Serum lipid profile (total cholesterol [TC], triacylglycerol [TAG], low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C], very LDL-C [VLDL-C], and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C]) was also determined.

Results: Prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time, and clotting time significantly increased only in groups treated with SAS, especially at the dosage of 1428 mg/kg compared with the positive control group. Blood platelet count significantly decreased in SAS-treated groups. The serum levels of TC, TAG, LDL-C, and VLDL-C in the SAS-treated groups (857, 1128, and 1428 mg/kg) significantly decreased, whereas the serum level of HDL-C significantly increased compared with that of the positive control group.

Conclusion: SAS administered orally at 1428 mg/kg body weight was the dose that most significantly decreased platelet count and serum levels of TC, TAG, LDL-C, and VLDL-C and increased prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time, and clotting time as well as serum level of HDL-C in experimentally induced hyperlipidemic mice.

Keywords: coagulation factors, hyperlipidemia, lipid profile, mice, Prunus amygdalus, sweet almond.

An in vitro and in silico evaluation of the antibacterial activity of the bioactive compounds in Majapahit (Crescentia cujete L.) fruit

Research (Published online: 13-12-2019)

11. An in vitro and in silico evaluation of the antibacterial activity of the bioactive compounds in Majapahit (Crescentia cujete L.) fruit

Sri Rahmaningsih and Hernik Pujiastutik

Veterinary World, 12(12): 1959-1965

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Majapahit (Crescentia cujete L.) fruit extract acts as a natural antibacterial agent due to its bioactive constituents such as tannins, flavonoids, triterpenoids, and saponins. The aim of this study was to determine the antibacterial activity of Majapahit fruit against Vibrio harveyi both in vitro and in silico.

Materials and Methods: Column chromatography, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) determination, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used for in vitro analysis. In silico analysis was performed using PubChem® database, Pass Online (Way2Drug.com©), Search Tool 17 Interacting Chemicals (STITCH), and UNIPROT database (https://www.uniprot.org/).

Results: The MIC was found to be 0.313 mg/mL. Within the concentration range of 0.313 mg/mL-10 mg/mL, Majapahit fruit extract could inhibit the growth of V. harveyi, while lower concentrations of 0.078 mg/mL and 0.165 mg/mL indicated the presence of bacterial growth. The pathogenic mechanism of V. harveyi on vannamei shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) involved targeting cytochrome P450, cyclin-dependent kinase 6, and caspases 3 and 8. This was indicated by cell damage observed through TEM.

Conclusion: This study provides comprehensive results on the potential of Majapahit fruit as a natural antibacterial agent. Thus, Majapahit fruit can be considered for functional food applications.

Keywords: antibacterial, Crescentia cujete, in silico, in vitro, Majapahit fruit.

In vitro assessment of antibacterial activity from Lactobacillus spp. strains against virulent Salmonella species isolated from slaughter animals in Benin

Research (Published online: 13-12-2019)

10. In vitro assessment of antibacterial activity from Lactobacillus spp. strains against virulent Salmonella species isolated from slaughter animals in Benin

Alidehou Jerrold Agbankpe, Tamegnon Victorien Dougnon, Roubaya Balarabe, Esther Deguenon and Lamine Baba-Moussa

Veterinary World, 12(12): 1951-1958

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Salmonella spp. are among the world's leading foodborne pathogens, found naturally in the intestines of many animals. Lactic acid bacteria, mainly Lactobacillus, are a promising alternative to antibiotics for animal and human health. This study aimed to assess the in vitro antibacterial activity of Lactobacillus spp. strains against virulent Salmonella spp. isolated from slaughter animals in Benin.

Materials and Methods: Eleven samples of raw cow's milk, five samples of breast milk, and six infant stool samples were taken. From these samples, strains of Lactobacillus were isolated and identified. The probiotic potential of each of the identified strains was characterized, and finally in vitro antibacterial activity of these strains was evaluated against three virulent strains of Salmonella spp. and a reference strain of Salmonella Typhimurium ATCC 14028.

Results: Out of the 22 samples collected, 20 strains of Lactobacillus spp. were isolated and identified. These strains included Lactobacillus plantarum (30%), Lactobacillus delbrueckii (25%), Lactobacillus casei (25%), Lactobacillus salivarius (15%), and Lactobacillus acidophilus (05%). Characterization of the probiotic potential of these strains showed that only 16 strains were resistant to pH=1.5. Fourteen of them were able to withstand the simulated gastric juice (pH 1.5+pepsin). The 14 probiotic strains showed very good antibacterial activity against virulent strains of Salmonella spp. with inhibition zone diameters ranging from 12.36±0.03 mm to 35.33±0.05 mm (R values>6 mm).

Conclusion: From this study, Lactobacillus strains isolated from raw cow milk, breast milk, and infantile stool might be used as some valid candidates for probiotics. It also represents good alternatives for antibiotics in the fight against animal and human salmonellosis.

Keywords: antibacterial activity, Benin, Lactobacillus spp., probiotic, Salmonella spp.

Q fever: A neglected disease of camels in Giza and Cairo Provinces, Egypt

Research (Published online: 12-12-2019)

9. Q fever: A neglected disease of camels in Giza and Cairo Provinces, Egypt

Hend H. A. M. Abdullah, Hany A. Hussein, Khaled A. Abd El-Razik, Ashraf M. A. Barakat and Yousef A. Soliman

Veterinary World, 12(12): 1945-1950

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Q fever is a zoonotic disease caused by Coxiella burnetii. Cattle, sheep, and goat are the main reservoir of C. burnetii. In Egypt, the epidemiological data about C. burnetii in camels are limited. Therefore, the current study was conducted to identify C. burnetii infection in camels by different molecular tools and to estimate its seropositivity through the detection of anti-C. burnetii antibodies in camel sera.

Materials and Methods: Blood samples were collected 112 from camels in Giza and Cairo Provinces, Egypt. All blood samples were screened by trans-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (trans-qPCR) for C. burnetii and positive samples subjected to standard PCR using the superoxide dismutase enzyme coding gene of C. burnetii. Sera of studied camels were examined for the presence of antibodies against C. burnetii using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results: Out of 112 camels, 19 were positive for C. burnetii by qPCR with an overall prevalence of 16.9% (18.6% in Giza and 15.1% in Cairo Provinces, respectively). The seroprevalence of anti-C. burnetii IgG antibodies in the examined camels was 4.5% (5/112).

Conclusion: Trans-qPCR assay is a rapid and sensitive tool for the detection of C. burnetii in acute stage. Camels should be considered one of the major reservoirs for C. burnetii in Egypt.

Keywords: camel, Coxiella burnetii, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, standard polymerase chain reaction, trans-quantitative polymerase chain reaction.

Staphylococcus argenteus: An emerging subclinical bovine mastitis pathogen in Thailand

Research (Published online: 12-12-2019)

8. Staphylococcus argenteus: An emerging subclinical bovine mastitis pathogen in Thailand

Natapol Pumipuntu

Veterinary World, 12(12): 1940-1944

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Staphylococcus argenteus is an emerging species of the Staphylococcus aureus complex. It has usually been misidentified as S. aureus by conventional methods and its characteristics. S. argenteus is potentially emerging in both humans and animals with an increasing global distribution. This study aimed to differentiate and identify S. argenteus from S. aureus collected and isolated from milk samples of subclinical bovine mastitis cases in Maha Sarakham Province, Northeastern Thailand.

Materials and Methods: Forty-two isolates of S. aureus were studied from 132 individual milk samples collected from subclinical bovine mastitis cases of 15 dairy farms in three districts of Maha Sarakham, Thailand. The identification was confirmed by conventional and immune-agglutination methods. Fifteen representative isolates which were suspected as being S. argenteus were analyzed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS).

Results: The result from MALDI-TOF MS confirmed that seven from 15 isolates were S. argenteus and eight isolates were S. aureus.

Conclusion: This study indicated that MALDI-TOF MS used as an identification and classification method could accurately differentiate the novel species, S. argenteus, from the S. aureus complex which is usually misdiagnosed. In addition, the identification of S. argenteus seems to be very limited in technical difficulty despite the fact that it may be the important causative pathogen in bovine mastitis as well as a pathogenic bacterium in food and milk. Therefore, it is essential for both bovine medicine and veterinary public health to emphasize and recognize this bacterial pathogen as an emerging disease of staphylococcal bacteria that there is a need for further study of S. argenteus infections.

Keywords: mass spectrometry, Staphylococcus argenteus, Staphylococcus aureus complex, subclinical bovine mastitis.

Characterization and molecular epidemiology of Staphylococcus aureus strains resistant to beta-lactams isolated from the milk of cows diagnosed with subclinical mastitis

Research (Published online: 11-12-2019)

7. Characterization and molecular epidemiology of Staphylococcus aureus strains resistant to beta-lactams isolated from the milk of cows diagnosed with subclinical mastitis

Geziella Áurea Aparecida Damasceno Souza, Anna Christina de Almeida, Mauro Aparecido de Sousa Xavier, Lívia Mara Vitorino da Silva, Cintya Neves Sousa, Demerson Arruda Sanglard and Alessandra Rejane Ericsson de Oliveira Xavier

Veterinary World, 12(12): 1931-1939

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: The term ESKAPE, recognized by the WHO, is an acronym, which refers to the pathogens Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter spp., which is extremely virulent and multidrug-resistant. Although the term is used to designate nosocomial pathogens, in a milking environment, strains of Methicillin-resistant S. aureus have been isolated from cattle diagnosed with clinical and subclinical mastitis. Resistant strains may be involved in the transfer of genes conferring resistance to beta-lactam antimicrobials among the species of microorganisms related to mastitis etiology. This study aimed to trace the phenotypic and genotypic profiles of susceptibility to beta-lactams in S. aureus isolated from milk of cattle diagnosed with subclinical mastitis obtained from different rural properties located in the North of Minas Gerais State, Brazil.

Materials and Methods: Sixteen microorganisms previously identified as S. aureus isolated from milk of cattle diagnosed with subclinical mastitis were submitted to matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF), mass spectrometry, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis for microbial species confirmation. The S. aureus beta-lactams antimicrobial phenotypic resistance profile was investigated by disk diffusion method. PCR methods were also performed to investigate the S. aureus genotypic beta-lactams resistance profile. For this purpose, blaZ, mecA, mecALGA251, blaOxa23, and blaKPC genes were screened among S. aureus isolates. The genetic diversity of S. aureus by fingerprint random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD)-PCR was also performed in this study.

Results: All isolates showed phenotypic resistance to at least three beta-lactams, among which was meropenem. None of the isolates tested positive for the genes mecALGA251, blaOxa23, and blaKPC; however, the presence of the genes blaZ and mecA was detected among the isolates. The fingerprint analysis divided isolates into two distinct groups and 15 different subgroups. Despite the presence of clonality among the isolates, the PCR-RAPD analysis unveiled a heterogeneous profile with genetic diversity among the S. aureus isolates.

Conclusion: In this study, we identified beta-lactams resistant S. aureus strains isolated from the milk of cows diagnosed with subclinical mastitis. The S. aureus beta-lactams resistance was investigated using a phenotypic and genotypic approach. We believe that molecular epidemiology, improved knowledge, and genetic basis of resistance to beta-lactams might assist in asserting guidelines for better management practices of dealing with subclinical mastitis and mapping of origin of resistant pathogens in the studied Brazilian area.

Keywords: beta-lactams, genetic diversity, infection, resistance genes, Staphylococcus aureus.

Capripoxviruses: Exploring the genetic relatedness between field and vaccine strains from Egypt

Research (Published online: 11-12-2019)

6. Capripoxviruses: Exploring the genetic relatedness between field and vaccine strains from Egypt

Sherin Reda Rouby, Abdel-Hamid Bazid, Momtaz Wasfy and Magdy El-Sayed

Veterinary World, 12(12): 1924-1930

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Lumpy skin disease (LSD) and sheep pox are economically important Capripoxvirus-induced diseases of cattle and sheep, respectively. Despite the extensive vaccination program adopted by Egyptian veterinary authorities, LSD and sheep pox are still prevalent and spread throughout the whole country. The current study was designed for molecular characterization and phylogenetic analysis of LSD virus (LSDV) and Sheep pox virus (SPPV) recovered from field cases in Egypt along with vaccinal strains to assess their genetic relatedness.

Materials and Methods: Skin biopsies were collected from naturally infected cases of LSD in Ismailia (n=3 farms) and Beni-Suef (n=2 farms) Governorates and sheep pox in Beni-Suef (n=1 flock). Virus isolation was carried out on primary ovine fetal kidney and heart cell cultures. DNA was extracted from infected materials (skin lesions, infected cell cultures) as well as LSDV Neethling vaccine strain and Romanian SPPV vaccine strain. Polymerase chain reaction was performed using oligonucleotide primers targeting the entire open reading frame of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) gene and gene sequences were analyzed.

Results: Virus isolation on primary ovine fetal kidney and heart cell culture revealed a cytopathic effect at the third passage characterized by rounding of infected cells and margination of nuclear chromatin. Comparative sequence analysis of GPCR gene revealed that Egyptian LSDV isolated from Ismailia and Beni-Suef shared 99:100% nucleotide and amino acid (AA) identities with each other. In comparison to the vaccinal strains, Egyptian LSDV isolates shared 98:99 nucleotide and AA identities with LSDV Neethling vaccine strain and 93:94% with SPPV Romanian vaccine strain. No differences at the nucleotide or AAs were observed between the SPPV vaccine and virulent strains (100% identity). Phylogenetic analyses revealed that LSDV Neethling vaccine strain is more related to field Egyptian LSDV and clustered within the LSDV group while Romanian SPPV vaccine strain clustered in a separate clade with SPPV field isolates.

Conclusion: Comparative sequencing and phylogenetic analyses of the GPCR gene reveal a minimal genetic variation between LSDV field isolates from different locations and a close relationship between virulent field strains and homologous vaccines.

Keywords: Capripoxvirus, G protein-coupled receptors gene, phylogenetic, Romanian.