Molecular characterization of the 2018 outbreak of lumpy skin disease in cattle in Upper Egypt

Research (Published online: 04-07-2020)

3. Molecular characterization of the 2018 outbreak of lumpy skin disease in cattle in Upper Egypt

Ahmad M. Allam, Mohamed Karam Elbayoumy, Eman H. Abdel-Rahman, Ahmed G. Hegazi and Tarek Korany Farag

Veterinary World, 13(7): 1262-1268

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Lumpy skin disease (LSD), an infectious disease of cattle, is characterized by raised nodules on the skin. Although the morbidity rate of LSD is low, it has a considerable fatality rate. Despite the annual mass vaccination of livestock with sheep pox vaccine (Veterinary Serum and Vaccine Research Institute, Egypt) enforced by Egyptian authorities, the LSD virus (LSDV) continues to circulate almost every summer. The present study aimed to discover the cause of cows naturally infected with LSDV circulating in Upper Egypt during the summer of 2018 using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay and to analyze their phylogenetics against reference genome sequences.

Materials and Methods: We cultured LSDV in specific pathogen-free embryonated chicken eggs (SPF-ECE) and used conventional PCR to identify fusion and P32 genes, previously deposited in GenBank (MN694826, MN694827, and MN954664). Sequencing and phylogenetic analyses were performed on these two highly conserved viral genes.

Results: LSDV infection of SPF-ECE resulted in characteristic white pock lesions. PCR products were identified on 1.5% agarose gel after electrophoresis at the expected positions for the fusion and P32 genes at 472 and 587 bp, respectively.

Conclusion: The present study revealed that the two viral genes were identified from the Beni Suef and Sohag Governorates in all clinical cases and confirmed the circulation of LSDV in this outbreak. After sequencing, these genes were identical to those of the LSDV that had been identified and recorded in GenBank for the past 3 years.

Keywords: fusion gene, lumpy skin disease, P32 gene, phylogeny, Upper Egypt.

Chemical composition, antioxidant activity, and diuretic effect of Moroccan fresh bee pollen in rats

Research (Published online: 03-07-2020)

2. Chemical composition, antioxidant activity, and diuretic effect of Moroccan fresh bee pollen in rats

Asmae El Ghouizi, Nawal El Menyiy, Soraia I. Falcão, Miguel Vilas-Boas and Badiaa Lyoussi

Veterinary World, 13(7): 1251-1261

ABSTRACT

Aim: This study investigated the chemical composition, antioxidant activity, and diuretic effect of Moroccan aqueous extract of fresh bee pollen (AEFBP) in normal rats.

Materials and Methods: The chemical composition of the extracted bioactive compounds was assessed using liquid chromatography with diode array detection coupled to electrospray ionization (ESI) tandem mass spectrometry (LC/DAD/ ESI-MSn). 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and the reducing power were used to assess the antioxidant properties of the extract, together with the determination of total phenols and flavonoids. To assess the diuretic effect, 20 normal rats were divided into five groups: The first was a control group administered by distilled water (10 mL/kg body weight), the second group received furosemide (10 mg/kg body weight), the third group received 100 mg/kg body weight of AEFBP, the fourth group received 250 mg/kg body weight of AEFBP, and the fifth group received 500 mg/kg body weight of AEFBP for 30 days. Toward the end of this experiment, urine output was measured, and plasma and urine were sampled to analyze creatinine, potassium, chloride, and sodium levels.

Results: N1,N5,N10-tri-p-coumaroylspermidine is a spermidine derivative and was the main compound in this sample, in a total of 19 compounds identified, including flavonoids, glucoside flavonoids, and methylated derivatives. Force feeding with the AEFBP induced a significant increase in urine output and urinary electrolyte levels with a dependent dose-effect without changes in plasma electrolytes, whereas furosemide decreased plasma potassium.

Conclusion: Moroccan fresh bee pollen extract contains flavonols and spermidines that induce a potential antioxidant activity related to significant diuretic effect without changes in plasma composition.

Keywords: antioxidant activity, diuresis, fresh bee pollen, liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry, phenolamides.

Effect of soybean expeller supplementation during the final phase of sow gestation on litter birth weight

Research (Published online: 02-07-2020)

1. Effect of soybean expeller supplementation during the final phase of sow gestation on litter birth weight

Santiago Masi Mignaco, Ana Alba-Casals, Alicia Carranza and Julián Parada

Veterinary World, 13(7): 1245-1250

ABSTRACT

Aim: Nutrition plays a key role in the production of pigs, especially in pregnant sows, where modifications in nutritional requirements can affect their productive performance. The aim of this study was to evaluate nutritional supplementation with soybean expeller in sows during the last third of the gestation period and its effect on litter birth weight.

Materials and Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted on a farrow-to-finish farm, where 192 sows were equally assigned to treatment and control groups. Several variables were recorded at both the sow and piglet level. The treatment group consisted of piglets from 95 sows supplemented with soybean expeller during the final phase of gestation (20 days), and the comparison group consisted of piglets from 97 sows fed only with a commercial balanced ration (control group).

Results: Soybean expeller supplementation increased individual piglet weight by 190-270 g, and the increased number of live piglets could decrease the weight of each piglet. Moreover, the number of piglets weighing <900 g decreased by 10% as compared to the control group, indicating that supplementation could improve pre-weaning mortality.

Conclusion: Our results suggest that soybean expeller supplementation in sows during the last third of the gestation period could improve production performance, especially on organic farms.

Keywords: organic farms, piglet weight, production performance, sow nutrition.

Supplementation of a low-protein diet with tryptophan, threonine, and valine and its impact on growth performance, blood biochemical constituents, immune parameters, and carcass traits in broiler chickens

Research (Published online: 30-06-2020)

30. Supplementation of a low-protein diet with tryptophan, threonine, and valine and its impact on growth performance, blood biochemical constituents, immune parameters, and carcass traits in broiler chickens

Reham Abou-Elkhair, Hamada Ahmed, Sara Ketkat and Shaimaa Selim

Veterinary World, 13(6): 1234-1244

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the effects of protein reduction with supplementation of limiting amino acids (AA, tryptophan, threonine, and valine) on growth performance, blood biochemical, immunity parameters, and carcass traits in broiler chickens.

Materials and Methods: Three hundred one-day-old broiler chicks were randomly allotted into three treatment groups, with five replicates per treatment and 20 broiler chickens per replicate. The three experimental diets were formulated with different dietary crude protein (CP) %, (control [CON] and CON with 1% [CP-1%] or 2% [CP-2%] less CP units) during the starter, grower, and finisher phases. The CP of the experimental diets were 22, 21, and 20% for the starting period (day 1-14); 20, 19, and 18% CP for the growing period (day 15-28); and 18, 17, and 16% CP for the finishing period (day 29-35) in CON, CP-1%, and CP-2%, respectively. The low-CP diets (CP-1% and CP-2%) were supplemented with combined AA, threonine+tryptophan+valine, to meet the respective levels of the CON diet.

Results: The CP-2% group had greater (p<0.05; linear, p<0.05) final body weight and gain and better feed conversion ratio. The combined AA inclusion in the low-CP diet (CP-1% and CP-2%) increased (p<0.001; linear, p<0.001) carcass and breast meat yield as well as CP% of breast meat. The reduction of CP% with AA supplementation (CP-2%) decreased (p<0.05; linear, p<0.05) serum triglycerides, glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, glutamate pyruvate transaminase, and alkaline phosphatase, while increased (p<0.01; linear, p<0.01) phagocytic activity and phagocytic index. The mRNA expression of splenic and cecal tonsil interleukin 4 and interferon gamma was upregulated (p<0.001; linear, p<0.001) in the low-CP diets supplemented with AA (CP-1% and CP-2%). Dietary supplementation with AA to low-protein diets improved (p<0.01; linear, p<0.01) the economic returns of broiler chickens.

Conclusion: A reduction of dietary CP and increased synthetic AA such as threonine, valine, and tryptophan should be considered to improve performance, health, and immunity in broiler chickens.

Keywords: amino acids, broiler chickens, immune-related genes, meat composition, performance.

Assessment of cardiac variables using a new electrocardiography lead system in horses

Research (Published online: 29-06-2020)

29. Assessment of cardiac variables using a new electrocardiography lead system in horses

Worakij Cherdchutham, Kanoklada Koomgun, Suchanan Singtoniwet, Napattra Wongsutthawart, Napass Nontakanun, Wipasitnee Wanmad and Soontaree Petchdee

Veterinary World, 13(6): 1229-1233

ABSTRACT

Aim: The objective of this study was to assess a new lead system method to improve electrocardiographic measurement in horses.

Materials and Methods: Twenty-two horses with an average age of 8.8±0.8 years were enrolled in this study. Horses were divided into two groups, consisting of a control group (n=11) and athlete group (n=11). Electrocardiography (ECG) and echocardiography were performed to provide information on the structure and function of the heart. Two lead systems, base apex and modified precordial leads, were used for the electrocardiogram to assess the cardiac electrophysiological functions.

Results: PR interval, QT interval, and QRS-T angle presented significant differences between the control and athlete groups when the modified precordial lead system was used. However, significant variations in the mean electrical axis were found when the base apex lead system was used. The modified precordial lead system resulted in more significant differences in cardiac electrophysiological parameters than the base apex lead system. In the athlete group, echocardiography showed cardiac adaptations such as increases in the left atrial and left ventricular dimensions and stroke volume and a decrease in heart rate in response to exercise and training. The observed differences in cardiac morphology and function between groups suggested differences in health performance in the athlete group.

Conclusion: These data provided the first evidence that the modified precordial lead system improved statistical variation in ECG recording and provided the most reliable method for health screening in horses.

Keywords: echocardiography, electrocardiography, horse, non-invasive cardiac evaluation.

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.