Serum biochemistry of Trachemys scripta elegans and Trachemys dorbignyi (Testudines: Emydidae) bred in captivity in the Northeastern semiarid region of Brazil

Research (Published online: 13-06-2020)

10. Serum biochemistry of Trachemys scripta elegans and Trachemys dorbignyi (Testudines: Emydidae) bred in captivity in the Northeastern semiarid region of Brazil

A. Gradela, V. N. Souza, M. M. Queiroz, A. C. Constantino, M. D. Faria, I. C. Pires and F. M. Correa

Veterinary World, 13(6): 1083-1090

ABSTRACT

Aim: This study aimed to assess fundamental biochemical values of healthy animals and to provide useful data on comparative physiologies of Testudines, being assessed the serum biochemistry profiles, and body and tail biometry of Trachemys scripta elegans and Trachemys dorbignyi bred in interaction in the semiarid region of the São Francisco river valley.

Materials and Methods: Serum biochemistry variables (urea, creatinine, glucose, total serum protein, albumin, globulin, and albumin/globulin ratio), and biometry values of the body (mass [body mass (BM)], maximum curvilinear length [carapace length (CL)], and width [carapace width (CW)] of the carapace, maximum curvilinear length [plastron length (PL)], and width [plastron width PW] of the plastron), and the tail (total length of the tail [TLT], pre-cloacal tail length [PrCL], post-cloacal tail length [PoCL]) were measured after 24 h fasting.

Results: T. s. elegans displayed higher BM, CL, CW, PL, PW, AST, TP, albumin, and globulin values. T. dorbignyi displayed higher values of glucose, TLT, and PrCL. Variables aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and total protein (TP) in T. s. elegans and glucose in T. dorbignyi explained most of the variance between the species and could serve to distinguish them.

Conclusion: We conclude that most of the differences between T. s. elegans and T. dorbignyi shall be explained by biometric variables, AST, TP, and glucose, which characterize interspecific differences. Our results point out terms of reference for these species bred in captivity in the semiarid region of Brazilian Northeastern region and serve as a model for the comparative intra- and inter-species physiology and as a base for the health assessment of these species.

Keywords: albumin, biometry, creatinine, glucose, urea.

Assessment of water source availability and quality for small ruminant consumption in the Northern Badia region of Jordan

Research (Published online: 12-06-2020)

9. Assessment of water source availability and quality for small ruminant consumption in the Northern Badia region of Jordan

J. Al-Khaza'leh, A. Abdelqader, M. Abuajamieh and F. M. F. Hayajneh

Veterinary World, 13(6): 1073-1082

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Water is the most important nutrient for the production of healthy livestock. Water scarcity bottlenecks livestock production in arid and semi-arid regions, particularly during the dry season. This study aimed to assess water availability and quality for small ruminants, and to identify major challenges of meeting their water requirements in two major small ruminant production systems in Jordan.

Materials and Methods: Transhumant and sedentary production systems in the Northern Badia region of Jordan were the focus of this study. A questionnaire was distributed to 120 sheep and goat farmers (62 transhumant farmers and 58 sedentary farmers) and a water quality assessment was completed.

Results: Results showed that the two production systems varied their water source use seasonally. Water provision was perceived as one of the major constraints for Bedouins, particularly during the dry season in transhumant production systems, when longer distances to water sources and the high costs of fetching water daily aggravated the problem. The mean distance and travel times to the boreholes were less in the sedentary system. Watering frequency was significantly lower in the transhumant system compared to the sedentary system (p<0.05). Although the values of water quality parameters complied with guidelines for livestock consumption, low water quality was the main concern expressed by some of the survey households.

Conclusion: Technical support to properly design, manage, and rehabilitate surface water harvesting systems is required for the sustainable use of water resources in the study region. Moreover, systematic water quality monitoring is necessary to ensure its suitability for livestock use. Further investigations on the microbiological quality of water and its effect on the health and performance of livestock are recommended.

Keywords: Jordan, livestock, water access, water quality, water scarcity.

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.