Genetic variability of the Avian leukosis virus subgroup J gp85 gene in layer flocks in Lower Egypt

Research (Published online: 12-06-2020)

8. Genetic variability of the Avian leukosis virus subgroup J gp85 gene in layer flocks in Lower Egypt

Nahed Yehia, Hemat S. El-Sayed, Sabry E. Omar and Fatma Amer

Veterinary World, 13(6): 1065-1072

ABSTRACT

Aim: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of layer flock tumor disease in Lower Egypt during the period of 2018- 2019 and to undertake molecular characterization and determine the genetic diversity of all identified viruses.

Materials and Methods: Forty samples were collected from layer chicken located in six governorates of Lower Egypt during the period of 2018-2019. Samples were taken from tumors in different organs. Tumor tissues were identified by histopathological sectioning and then further confirmed by a reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. Finally, genetic evolution of Avian leukosis virus (ALV-J) gp85 gene was studied.

Results: All the study samples were negative for Marek's disease virus, reticuloendotheliosis virus A,B,C and D and 20 samples were positive for ALV-J in backyard in six governrates. Sequencing of ALV-J gp85 gene was performed for six representative samples (one from each governorate), and they were found to be genetically related to prototype virus HPRS-1003 (identity percentage: 91.2-91.8%), but they were from a different group that was similar to the AF88-USA strain (first detected in 2000) with specific mutations, and they differed from a strain that was previously isolated in Egypt in 2005, forming two different subgroups (I and II) that had mutations in the hr1domain (V128F, R136A) and hr2 domain (S197G, E202K).

Conclusion: The ALV-J virus was the main cause of neoplastic disease in layer chickens from Lower Egypt in the period of 2018-2019. We found that the genetic evolution of ALV-J gp85 gene was related to prototype virus HPRS-1003 but in a different group with a specific mutation. Further studies are needed to evaluate the antigenicity and pathogenicity of recently detected ALV-J strains.

Keywords: Avian leukosis (J), gp85 gene, Marek's disease, reticuloendotheliosis virus, tumor viruses.

Occurrence of oxytetracycline residues in milk samples from Palakkad, Kerala, India

Research (Published online: 11-06-2020)

7. Occurrence of oxytetracycline residues in milk samples from Palakkad, Kerala, India

M. Asif Hebbal, C. Latha, K. Vrinda Menon and Jolly Deepa

Veterinary World, 13(6): 1056-1064

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Food of animal origin such as milk is vital for nutritional security and should be free of any antibiotic residues due to its public health significance. We designed a study aiming to determine the occurrence of antibiotic residues and in further levels of oxytetracycline residues in pooled raw milk samples from Palakkad district, Kerala.

Materials and Methods: We collected pooled raw milk samples were collected from Alathur, Chittoor, and Palakkad blocks of Palakkad district, Kerala. A total of 215 samples were screened for antibiotic residues by microbial inhibition assay (MIA) and the positive samples were subjected to enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to determine oxytetracycline residues, this was further confirmed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

Results: We found that out of the 215 pooled raw milk samples screened for antibiotic residues using MIA, 22 samples (10.23%) were positive for antibiotic residues from Palakkad, Kerala. Out of these 22 samples, five (2.33%) were positive for oxytetracycline residues. We further calculated the mean concentration of oxytetracycline residues in these five samples and estimated it to be 201.00±41.25 ng/mL and 272.11±53.21 ng/mL using ELISA and HPLC, respectively. On analyzing these five samples, we found that four samples (1.86%) exceeded the maximum residue limits level of 100 ng/mL for oxytetracycline residues in milk as specified by Codex Alimentarius Commission/Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

Conclusion: This study revealed that the occurrence of oxytetracycline residues in pooled raw milk samples in the Palakkad district of Kerala. Hence, there is a need for surveillance and monitoring of antibiotic residues in milk due to its impact on public health to ensure consumer safety.

Keywords: enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, high-performance liquid chromatography, microbial inhibition assay, oxytetracycline residues, Palakkad, pooled milk.

Dietary supplementation of Neem (Azadirachta indica) leaf extracts improved growth performance and reduced production cost in broilers

Research (Published online: 11-06-2020)

6. Dietary supplementation of Neem (Azadirachta indica) leaf extracts improved growth performance and reduced production cost in broilers

Torun Kumar Paul, Md. Mehedi Hasan, Md. Anowarul Haque, Sudipta Talukder, Yousuf Ali Sarker, Mahmudul Hasan Sikder, Mohammad Abu Hadi Noor Ali Khan, Mohammed Nazmus Sakib and Alip Kumar

Veterinary World, 13(6): 1050-1055

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Global trend to remove the antibiotic growth promoter (AGP) from animals contributes to the exploration of successful measures to sustain production and reduces the intestinal diseases in the post-AGP era. Plant extracts, therefore, have been used to improve performance and intestinal health. Here, we conducted a study to evaluate the effects of neem (Azadirachta indica) leaf extracts (NLE) as alternatives to AGPs in broiler chickens.

Materials and Methods: Sixty day-old broiler chicks were assigned to 12-floor pens, each stocked with five birds and divided into three treatment groups of four pens per treatment. The groups were: Negative control, basal diet without additives; positive control, basal diet with antibiotics and vitamins; and NLE treated group, basal diet supplemented with 0.1% aqua extract of neem leaves.

Results: Overall feed intake was significantly (p≤0.05) highest in the positive control. Higher body weight, higher dressing percentage, and lower feed conversion ratio were observed in birds treated with NLE compared to the negative control group (p≤0.05) but not the positive control group (p>0.05). There was no significant variation in hematology between different groups. Furthermore, the economic evaluation indicated that the NLE treatment was found cheaper than control and antibiotic treatment in cost-benefit analysis.

Conclusion: We suggest NLE might be a cheaper alternative to antibiotics in broiler production as indicated by improved body weight and feed efficiency.

Keywords: alternatives to antibiotics, broiler chickens, growth performance, neem leaf extracts, production cost.

Histopathological evaluation of latex of Bellaco-Caspi, Himatanthus sucuuba (Spruce) Woodson on wound healing effect in BALB/C mice

Research (Published online: 10-06-2020)

5. Histopathological evaluation of latex of Bellaco-Caspi, Himatanthus sucuuba (Spruce) Woodson on wound healing effect in BALB/C mice

Lisbeth Lucia Calero-Armijos, Oscar Herrera-Calderon, Jorge Luis Arroyo-Acevedo, Juan Pedro Rojas-Armas, Renán Dilton Hañari-Quispe and Linder Figueroa-Salvador

Veterinary World, 13(6): 1045-1049

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Himatanthus sucuuba (Spruce) Woodson (Apocynaceae) is a medicinal plant known as "Bellaco- Caspi" widely distributed in Loreto, Peru. In the Peruvian traditional medicine, the latex of the plant is used for the treatment of wounds, inflammation, ulcers, and other ailments. This study aims to evaluate the wound healing effect of the latex of H. sucuuba in BALB/C albino mice.

Materials and Methods: Thirty BALB/C male mice were used for wound healing study. In the experimental procedures, wound skin incision was performed at 2.0 cm in length until subcutaneous on the paravertebral of each animal. Under locally anesthetized with procaine cream, the treatment was conducted. All the mice were divided into three groups, the control group (A), zinc oxide cream (B), and H. sucuuba latex (C). The entire surface of the wound was treated for all the groups, and the treatments were performed daily for 15 days. The experiments were stopped on days 1, 7, and 15, respectively.

Results: The histopathological study of tissues revealed significant changes in wound healing effect in H. sucuuba latex compared to the control and B groups. Consequently, the mice treated with latex showed a significant reduction in epithelialization time and collagen formation. Furthermore, the latex showed a dose-dependent significant reduction of inflammation in the first 24 h of treatment.

Conclusion: BALB/C mice treated with the latex of H. sucuuba possess a wound healing effect that can scientifically prove the traditional use of the plant as a wound healing agent.

Keywords: Apocynaceae, BALB/C mice, latex, pathology, regeneration, wound healing.

Antibiotic resistance and extended-spectrum β-lactamase in Escherichia coli isolates from imported 1-day-old chicks, ducklings, and turkey poults

Research (Published online: 10-06-2020)

4. Antibiotic resistance and extended-spectrum β-lactamase in Escherichia coli isolates from imported 1-day-old chicks, ducklings, and turkey poults

Mona A. A. AbdelRahman, Heba Roshdy, Abdelhafez H. Samir and Engy A. Hamed

Veterinary World, 13(6): 1037-1044

ABSTRACT

Aim: Antimicrobial resistance is a global health threat. This study investigated the prevalence of Escherichia coli in imported 1-day-old chicks, ducklings, and turkey poults.

Materials and Methods: The liver, heart, lungs, and yolk sacs of 148 imported batches of 1-day-old flocks (chicks, 45; ducklings, 63; and turkey poults, 40) were bacteriologically examined for the presence of E. coli.

Results: We isolated 38 E. coli strains from 13.5%, 6.7%, and 5.4% of imported batches of 1-day-old chicks, ducklings, and turkey poults, respectively. They were serotyped as O91, O125, O145, O78, O44, O36, O169, O124, O15, O26, and untyped in the imported chicks; O91, O119, O145, O15, O169, and untyped in the imported ducklings; and O78, O28, O29, O168, O125, O158, and O115 in the imported turkey poults. The E. coli isolates were investigated for antibiotic resistance against 16 antibiotics using the disk diffusion method and were found resistant to cefotaxime (60.5%), nalidixic acid (44.7%), tetracycline (44.7%), and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (42.1%). The distribution of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) and ampC β-lactamase genes was blaTEM (52.6%), blaSHV (28.9%), blaCTX-M (39.5%), blaOXA-1 (13.1%), and ampC (28.9%).

Conclusion: Imported 1-day-old poultry flocks may be a potential source for the dissemination of antibiotic-resistant E. coli and the ESBL genes in poultry production.

Keywords: Escherichia coli, extended-spectrum β-lactamase, imported, multidrug resistance, poultry.

Teaching One Health: Animal husbandry in a post-graduate interdisciplinary curriculum

Research (Published online: 09-06-2020)

12. Teaching One Health: Animal husbandry in a post-graduate interdisciplinary curriculum

Djibo Idrissa Sidikou, Yannick Caron, Catherine Delguste, Abdoulkarim Issa Ibrahim, Maman Laminou Ibrahim, Hassane Adakal, Jean-Luc Hornick and Nicolas Antoine-Moussiaux

International Journal of One Health, 6(1): 69-75

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: This work presents the implementation of a course on animal husbandry in an interdisciplinary curriculum based on the One Health concept. The study describes learners' viewpoints about the course and its insertion in the curriculum. The study aimed at identifying avenues for improvement.

Materials and Methods: Fourteen learners (health professionals) participated to individual semi-structured interviews lasting for 25-35 min each. Learners' opinions were extracted from the transcribed interviews and analysis themes were identified from recurrent narratives.

Results: The learners perceived animal husbandry as relevant for One Health and potentially useful for their future practice. More precisely, learners were considering a future use of the newly acquired knowledge and skills in the advising of communities facing malnutrition and for the strategic planning at wider levels. Teaching methods were appreciated thanks to the active learning style. Unmet expectations concerned the coverage of impacts and relationships to other disciplines, the inclusion of viewpoints from other disciplines into the teaching, and the degree of contextualization of contents, e.g. through case studies. Accordingly, the main avenues for improvement, as identified by learners, were to give a prior focus on impacts (especially on human health) for all contents and to increase the number of case studies, but also to better address the questions of the usefulness of animal products in the management of malnutrition.

Conclusion: The analysis of learners' expectations (met and unmet) and their recommendations regarding the future of the course helped identifying both successes and important challenges for teachers. Two main challenges are highlighted. First, increased interdisciplinarity is needed within the course to better cover the notion of impact of animal husbandry on health, society and environment. Second, the complexity of the domain under consideration will call for important efforts of clarification of the course structure and objectives in terms of skills acquisition.

Keywords: animal husbandry, curriculum, interdisciplinarity, one health.

Evaluation of some food additives and heavy metals in Egyptian meat products

Research (Published online: 09-06-2020)

11. Evaluation of some food additives and heavy metals in Egyptian meat products

Mohamed Abdelfattah Maky, Mohamed A. A. Abd-ElRasoul and Mohammed Salah

International Journal of One Health, 6(1): 61-68

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Contamination of processed meat by chemicals, either by their addition for enhancing the product quality or as a result of contamination during the manufacturing process, is a crucial food safety issue that threatens human health. This research was conducted to estimate the contamination levels by harmful chemical contaminants, including nitrite, lead, cadmium, and phosphate in the Egyptian processed meats.

Materials and Methods: In our study, 20 samples of each frozen sausage, pastirma, and luncheon were collected and prepared for the detection of chemical contaminants, including nitrite, lead, cadmium, phosphorus, and phosphate.

Results: Pastirma showed the highest nitrite and lead levels (163.65±22.633 and 0.805±0.173 ppm) and the lowest levels in phosphorus and phosphate (2.294±0.19 and 9.084±0.755 g/kg) whereas sausage recorded the highest concentration of cadmium (0.073±0.008 ppm), phosphorus and phosphate (13.268±1.129 and 52.54±4.472 g/kg, respectively). However, the estimation of nitrite, lead, cadmium, and phosphate levels in sausage, pastirma, and luncheon was considered within the acceptable daily intake. Moreover, target hazard quotient and hazard index of all analyzed chemical contaminants in different processed meat were below one, indicating the safety of these meat products without any danger to human health. The probability of developing cancer was measured using carcinogenic risk (CR) where pastirma and luncheon recorded satisfactory levels away from developing cancer because of lead (4.59E-04 and 1.87E-04, respectively) and cadmium (7.60E-04 and 3.80E-04, respectively) contamination. Surprisingly, the cadmium level in sausage samples represented a relevant CR for consumers (1.90E-03).

Conclusion: Periodical surveillance of meat chemical contaminants is a vital issue for human health maintenance.

Keywords: carcinogenic risk, chemical contaminants, hazard index, meat products, target hazard quotient.