Prevalence, seasonality, and antimicrobial resistance of thermotolerant Campylobacter isolated from broiler farms and slaughterhouses in East Algeria

Research (Published online: 28-06-2020)

28. Prevalence, seasonality, and antimicrobial resistance of thermotolerant Campylobacter isolated from broiler farms and slaughterhouses in East Algeria

Mohamed Baali, Mohamed Lounis, Hanan Laidouci Al Amir, Ammar Ayachi, Ahcen Hakem and Ahmed Kassah-Laouar

Veterinary World, 13(6): 1221-1228

ABSTRACT

Aim: The current study was carried out to determine the prevalence, seasonality, and antimicrobial profile of thermotolerant Campylobacter isolated from broiler chickens in Batna, East Algeria, from June 2016 to June 2018.

Materials and Methods: A total of 960 samples, including 480 cloacal swabs, 240 cecal contents, and 240 neck skin samples collected from 6 poultry farms and 12 slaughterhouses, were included in this study. After isolation and identification, susceptibility to seven antimicrobial agents was tested by the disk diffusion method. The seasonality of Campylobacter infection at broiler farms was statistically analyzed.

Results: The data showed that 65%, 55%, and 70% of the cloacal swab, neck skin, and cecal content samples were contaminated with thermotolerant Campylobacter strains, respectively (p<0.05). Among the isolated campylobacteria, Campylobacter jejuni was the predominant species (73.5%). Sampling season exhibited a significant impact on the prevalence of Campylobacter (p<0.01), with peak occurrence in summer. All of the isolates were susceptible to gentamicin and resistant to ampicillin and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, while 83.3% of them were resistant to erythromycin. Interestingly, 16 different resistance profiles were noted, with the combination of "ampicillin, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, chloramphenicol, erythromycin, and tetracycline" being the most common, identified in 20.7% of isolated strains.

Conclusion: This study demonstrates the presence of a high contamination rate of multidrug-resistant Campylobacter in farms and slaughterhouses in East Algeria. These findings underscore the need to apply strict control measures to avoid any associated public health hazard among Algerian consumers. This initial finding of the contamination of poultry with this zoonotic pathogen in East Algeria suggests the value of periodic comprehensive evaluation of associated disease in poultry as well as in humans in this region.

Keywords: antimicrobial resistance, broilers, poultry farms, slaughterhouses, thermotolerant Campylobacter.

Genetic characterization and phylogenetic study of Lakor goat from Southwest Maluku Regency based on mitochondrial COI gene

Research (Published online: 28-06-2020)

27. Genetic characterization and phylogenetic study of Lakor goat from Southwest Maluku Regency based on mitochondrial COI gene

Maman Rumanta, Rony Marsyal Kunda, Slamet Diah Volkandari, Indriawati Indriawati and Pieter Kakisina

Veterinary World, 13(6): 1209-1220

ABSTRACT

Aim: This study is aimed at characterizing the genetic and phylogenetic structure of Lakor goats as indigenous livestock from the Southwest Maluku Regency based on mitochondrial COI gene sequences.

Materials and Methods: The genomes of 103 follicle samples from Lakor goats, collected from Lakor Island, were analyzed. The polymerase chain reaction was used to amplify 1548 bp of the mitochondrial COI gene using two primer pairs (COIA and COIB). Following sequencing, genetic variation and phylogenetic relationship were established using MEGA version X software.

Results: The results of multiple COI gene alignment of the total sequences identified four polymorphic nucleotides that function as genetic markers between individual animals within the Lakor goat population. These correspond to positions 228 (A-G), 519 (G-A), 900 (C-T), and 1266 (T-C). Phylogenetic signals based on the COI gene showed that Lakor goat breed is a monophyletic group or single clade with a bootstrap value of 100% by the neighbor-joining (NJ) and maximum likelihood (ML) evolutionary models. This data indicated that evolutionarily, the Lakor goat breed has a very close kinship with three goat breeds from China: The Meigu goat (KM 244714.1), Chinese Tibet (Capra hircus) (KJ 940969.1), and C. hircus (KP 677510.1). Phylogenetic information based on the cladistics system classified the Lakor goat as a single clade (monophyletic group). The low-genetic diversity within populations indicates that there has been an inbreeding depression occurring at a very high frequency.

Conclusion: We conclude that the Lakor goat may be divided into a single clade or monophyletic group based on the COI gene sequence. Four nucleotides were identified that can be used as genetic markers among individual animals within the Lakor goat population, as well as C. hircus and others as derived from GenBank data. The Lakor goat population has a high level of inbreeding depression as a result of geographical isolation, which supports the formation of a monophyletic group with different genetic characteristics, and does not allow the introduction of males from other breeds. Phylogenetic signals indicated that Capra aegagrus (bezoar) is the ancestor of the native goats in Indonesia, including the Lakor goats.

Keywords: artiodactyla, CO1 gene, Lakor goat, mitochondrial, phylogenetic study.

Occurrence of Vibrio spp. along the Algerian Mediterranean coast in wild and farmed Sparus aurata and Dicentrarchus labrax

Research (Published online: 26-06-2020)

26. Occurrence of Vibrio spp. along the Algerian Mediterranean coast in wild and farmed Sparus aurata and Dicentrarchus labrax

Sonia Arab, Luca Nalbone, Filippo Giarratana and Ali Berbar

Veterinary World, 13(6): 1199-1208

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Vibrio bacteria are autochthonous inhabitants of aquatic and marine environments. Certain strains are responsible for important seafood-borne outbreaks in developed nations. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of Vibrio spp. along the Algerian Mediterranean coast in several samples of two prominent wild and farmed marine fishes, Sparus aurata and Dicentrarchus labrax.

Materials and Methods: A total of 350 S. aurata (n=280 farmed and n=70 wild) and 340 D. labrax (n=250 farmed and n=90 wild) were sampled among three different locations along the Algerian Mediterranean coastal area. The samples were processed for Vibrio research according to the ISO methods. Isolated colonies were identified utilizing biochemical tests and consecutively confirmed with matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry, combined with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis when appropriate, or confirmed with PCR analysis alone.

Results: A total of 42 Vibrio spp. were detected only among the farmed fishes. Taking into account, all 690 fishes sampled, the incidence of Vibrio spp. was 6.08% (with peaks up to 7.92%) among the total number of farmed fishes. Overall, 25 strains were isolated from S. aurata and 17 strains were isolated from D. labrax. The isolated strains belonged to four different species and were represented as follows: Vibrio alginolyticus (n=20), Vibrio cholerae (n=15), Vibrio fluvialis (n=5), and Vibrio hollisae (n=2). The incidence of Vibrio was higher in places characterized by greater levels of anthropogenic contamination of seawater.

Conclusion: Considering the growing production and consequent rising consumption of farmed fish in Algeria, the reported incidence of Vibrio and the presence of potentially pathogenic strains of Vibrio such as V. cholerae cause particular concern for food safety matters. Even if innovative and natural techniques are desired in aquaculture, proper hygiene and manufacturing practices are essential for the correct management of Vibrio infection risk in farmed fishes at both industrial and domestic levels.

Keywords: Algeria, gilt head sea bream, Mediterranean sea, sea bass, Vibrio spp.

Prevalence of enterotoxins and other virulence genes of Staphylococcus aureus caused subclinical mastitis in dairy cows

Research (Published online: 26-06-2020)

25. Prevalence of enterotoxins and other virulence genes of Staphylococcus aureus caused subclinical mastitis in dairy cows

Rania M. Ewida and Amira A. T. Al-Hosary

Veterinary World, 13(6): 1193-1198

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Milk production is one of the main props for the national economy. One of the crucial problems in this industry is subclinical mastitis, which harms this industry that considered the backbone of the economy. It is an infectious and zoonotic disease; the infection can spread between dairy animals through milkers' hands, and milking machines, while the human infection occurs due to the consumption of apparently hygienic milk. Staphylococcus aureus is one of the main causative agents of clinical and subclinical mastitis. It is also considered one of the bacteria incriminated in food intoxication of humans due to its virulence factors as enterotoxins and toxic shock syndrome. The current study was designed to assess the prevalence of S. aureus and its enterotoxins, as well as, its other virulence factors in milk collected from cows that suffer from subclinical mastitis.

Materials and Methods: Sixty cows were collected from different dairy farms located in Assiut Governorate, Egypt. These cows were subjected to the clinical examination of the udder and its lymph nodes before sampling. Milk samples were collected from clinically healthy udders. All the milk samples were examined by California mastitis test (CMT), polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for confirmation subclinical mastitis, presence of S. aureus and its enterotoxins genes and other virulence factors in the examined milk samples.

Results: The cows included in the current study had healthy udders. The sixty collected milk samples were tested by CMT. 48/60 (80.0%) were positive samples; from the 48 positive samples, 46 (95.83%) samples were confirmed positive by S. aureus 16s rRNA PCR assay. Multiplex PCRs confirmed the presence of staphylococcus enterotoxin gene C (sec) in one sample, staphylococcus enterotoxin gene D (sed) in 23 samples, while ELISA assay confirmed the presence of the same enterotoxin in only two samples. On the other hand, other groups of genes responsible for some other virulence factors of S. aureus like the extracellular thermostable nuclease (nuc) gene were found in 33 samples, while toxic shock syndrome (tsst) gene and methicillin restraint S. aureus (mecA) gene were not detected in this study.

Conclusion: Subclinical mastitis is one of the hidden factors that adversely affect the health of both animals and humans. The milk is usually appeared good and may be consumed by humans especially children; however, it causes severe public health problems. In addition, the infected animals with this form of mastitis can spread the infection to other dairy animals and may be turned to a clinical case of contagious mastitis that may be ended by animal culling or death. S. aureus is one of the main causes of subclinical mastitis in cattle. In addition to extracellular thermostable nuclease (nuc) gene, staphylococcus enterotoxin gene C (sec) and staphylococcus enterotoxin gene D (sed) are the most common virulence genes confirmed in subclinical mastitis milk. These results highlighted the need to apply more hygienic measures in the dairy farms to avoid spreading the infection between animals to ensure the production of safe and healthy food to humans.

Keywords: enterotoxins, mecA, nuc, polymerase chain reaction, Staphylococcus aureus, subclinical mastitis.

Effects of different sterilization methods of herbal formula on phytochemical compounds and antibacterial activity against mastitis-causing bacteria

Research (Published online: 25-06-2020)

24. Effects of different sterilization methods of herbal formula on phytochemical compounds and antibacterial activity against mastitis-causing bacteria

Dian Wahyu Harjanti, Fajar Wahyono and Vincentia Rizke Ciptaningtyas

Veterinary World, 13(6): 1187-1192

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: The current phytobiotic industry is struggling to determine a proper sterilization method for an herbal formula that comprises multiple plant extracts. Hence, this study aims to investigate the effects of two sterilization methods of herbal formula on phytochemical compounds and antibacterial activity against mastitis-causing bacterial isolates.

Materials and Methods: The herbal formula comprised the extracts of Piper betle leaves, Curcuma domestica, and Curcuma zanthorriza. We applied two sterilization methods – sterilization using 0.45 μM syringe filter and sterilization using an autoclave at 121°C for 15 min. After sterilization, we measured phytochemical contents (phenol and flavonoid) of the herbal formula. Using the disk diffusion method, the antibacterial susceptibility test of the sterilized herbal formula against mastitis-causing bacterial isolates was conducted. Tetracycline, erythromycin, and penicillin – common antibiotics for mastitis therapy in dairy farms – were used as standard antibiotics.

Results: Compared with autoclave sterilization, syringe filter sterilization resulted in less (p<0.05) phenolic and flavonoid contents. Against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, the filter sterilized herbal formula (E. coli: 65.9%-73%; S. aureus: 6.2%-18.1%) markedly reduced the antibacterial activity than the autoclave-sterilized herbal formula (E. coli: 2.1%- 3%; S. aureus: 4.5%-10.7%).

Conclusion: This study establishes that autoclave sterilization of the herbal formula is the best sterilization method that exerts minimal adverse effects on the phytochemical compounds and could sustain the antibacterial efficacy against mastitis-causing bacteria. Hence, the herbal formula could be used as an alternative treatment for bovine mastitis.

Keywords: herbal extract, mastitis, phytobiotic, phytochemical compound, sterilization method.

Evaluation of lower urinary tract disease in the Yogyakarta cat population, Indonesia

Research (Published online: 25-06-2020)

23. Evaluation of lower urinary tract disease in the Yogyakarta cat population, Indonesia

Alfarisa Nururrozi, Yanuartono Yanuartono, Prisyarlinie Sivananthan, Soedarmanto Indarjulianto

Veterinary World, 13(6): 1182-1186

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: This paper reports a retrospective study performed in 185 cats diagnosed with feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD). The analyzed population involved feline patients at the Veterinary Clinic of Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia. This research aimed to evaluate the clinical indications and causes of FLUTD in the Yogyakarta cat population.

Materials and Methods: The medical data of all feline patients were obtained to conduct this study. FLUTD diagnoses were based on physical examinations, urinalyses, ultrasound examinations, and bacterial cultures. Only cats with a complete examination were used in the study. The clinical signs were evaluated and accompanied by the results of laboratory tests in cats that showed symptoms of FLUTD. The medical history of all feline patients was analyzed thoroughly. Most of the feline's urine samples were collected by catheterization.

Results: The most commonly diagnosed of FLUTD in the Yogyakarta cat population were: feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC) (56%), urinary tract infection (UTI; 25%), urolithiasis (13%), urethral plugs (UP) (4.9%), and neoplasia (0.4%), respectively. The prevalence of UTI is higher than that reported in Europe or the US. Older cats more often show symptoms of UTI and neoplasia, whereas young cats more often show symptoms of FIC and UP. The prevalence of male cats experiencing FLUTD in Yogyakarta is much higher than female cats.

Conclusion: The incidence rate of FLUTD cases in Yogyakarta is related to age and sex. The results of this study are similar to those of the previous research studies conducted in other countries.

Keywords: cats, feline lower urinary tract disease, Yogyakarta.

Profile of antibiotic-resistant and presence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus from nasal swab of dogs from several animal clinics in Surabaya, Indonesia

Research (Published online: 24-06-2020)

15. Profile of antibiotic-resistant and presence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus from nasal swab of dogs from several animal clinics in Surabaya, Indonesia

Vega Decline, Mustofa Helmi Effendi, Reina Puspita Rahmaniar, Sheila Marty Yanestria and Nenny Harijani

International Journal of One Health, 6(1): 90-94

ABSTRACT

Aim: The research was to investigate the antibiotic resistance profile and to screen for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) from nasal mucosa swab of dogs.

Materials and Methods: The samples were collected from three pet clinics, three K9 units, one veterinary teaching hospital, and one kennel in Surabaya. Of the 50 total samples, 24 confirmed S. aureus strains, which were used for antibiotic sensitivity tests using a disk diffusion method and screening of MRSA used oxacillin resistance screening for base (ORSAB).

Results: This study showed that there were differences in antibiotic resistance patterns among different locations. Fourteen isolates were screened for MRSA by culture on ORSAB.

Conclusion: MRSA carriage was found on nasal swab of dogs, and dogs can act as reservoir of MRSA for spreading to human health.

Keywords: antibiotic-resistant, dogs, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus aureus.