Clinical signs, prevalence, and hematobiochemical profile associated with Anaplasma infections in sheep of North Iraq

Research (Published online: 08-08-2020)

5. Clinical signs, prevalence, and hematobiochemical profile associated with Anaplasma infections in sheep of North Iraq

Donea Abdulrazak Abdullah, Fawwaz Fadhil Ali, Afrah Younis Jasim, Shola David Ola-Fadunsin, Fufa Ido Gimba and Moeena Sadeq Ali

Veterinary World, 13(8): 1524-1527

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Anaplasma infection is a worldwide prevalent condition that causes significant economic losses in affected flocks. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence and clinical signs associated with ovine anaplasmosis as well as the hematological and biochemical changes associated with the disease in natural infection in North Iraq.

Materials and Methods: A total of 420 sheep were appropriately examined, and the clinical signs were documented accordingly. Blood samples were collected and subjected to parasitological, hematological, and biochemical analyses.

Results: Anaplasma-infected sheep displayed the following clinical signs: Paleness of the mucous membrane, bloody diarrhea, emaciation, pyrexia, jaundice, nasal discharge, coughing, loss of wool, nervous signs, hemoglobinuria, and lacrimation. The prevalence of Anaplasma infection was 66.19%, and female sheep were significantly (p<0.05) more infected than male sheep. The hematological and biochemical parameters were significantly different between Anaplasma-positive and Anaplasma-negative sheep.

Conclusion: Anaplasma infection among sheep is a significant concern in North Iraq considering its prevalence, clinical signs, and hematological and biochemical findings, which entirely causes significant debilitating effects on sheep productivity. It is important to pay more attention toward managing tick infestation among sheep to reduce the occurrence of this rickettsial disease for a more robust livestock sector of the Iraqi economy.

Keywords: Anaplasma species, biochemical, hematological, prevalence, sheep.

Production, immunogenicity, stability, and safety of a vaccine against Clostridium perfringens beta toxins

Research (Published online: 07-08-2020)

4. Production, immunogenicity, stability, and safety of a vaccine against Clostridium perfringens beta toxins

Mohamed J. Saadh, Issam J. Sa'adeh, Moeen F. Dababneh, Ammar M. Almaaytah and Mohammad F. Bayan

Veterinary World, 13(8): 1517-1523

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: The beta toxin is causing the most severe Clostridium perfringens-related diseases. This work was dedicated to developing a vaccine against beta toxin using C. perfringens type C (NCTC 3180).

Materials and Methods: The crude toxoid harvest contained 710 limits of flocculation (Lf)/mL. The vaccine was formulated. Each 1 mL of the final vaccine product contained at least 50 Lf/mL of beta toxoids, 0.2 mL 3% aluminum hydroxide gel (equivalent to 5.18 mg of aluminum), <0.001% W/V thiomersal, formaldehyde <0.05% W/V, and ∼0.7 mL phosphate-buffered saline (pH 7.2). The efficacy of the vaccine was evaluated by potency, stability, and safety tests.

Results: The vaccine demonstrated 24.36 IU/mL (standard deviation, ±0.56) and 14.74 IU/mL (±0.36) of neutralizing antibodies in rabbits and cattle, respectively. Indeed, these levels were above the minimum recommended by international protocols since the obtained antibody levels had 2.43- and 1.47-fold increase in both rabbits and cattle, respectively, over the minimum antitoxin level suggested by the United States Department of Agriculture. Interestingly, our formulation was capable of inducing 1.65-fold higher immune responses in rabbits than that stimulated in cattle (65% increase) with a significant difference (p<0.0001). The vaccine was stable up to 30 months. The vaccinated rabbits were suffered from a temporarily slight increase in temperatures in the first 10 h without any significant difference (p>0.05).

Conclusion: The research showed a procedure for the manufacturing process of the vaccine against C. perfringens beta toxins with a feasible quantity and the vaccine described here showed to be effective in eliciting levels of neutralizing antibodies higher than required by international standards. In addition, The vaccine was stable up to 30 months. Thus, it may represent an effective and safe for preventing C. perfringens-related diseases in rabbits and cattle, although further studies to prove its efficacy in the field on other farm animals are still needed.

Keywords: beta toxin, cattle, Clostridium perfringens type C, potency, safety, stability, toxoid.

Tempe extract reduces cell damage in the liver and kidneys after intensive physical exercise in rats

Research (Published online: 07-08-2020)

3. Tempe extract reduces cell damage in the liver and kidneys after intensive physical exercise in rats

I. Nyoman Suarsana, Iwan Harjono Utama and I. Made Kardena

Veterinary World, 13(8): 1510-1516

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Cells of the liver and kidneys are perpetually exposed to free radicals from endogenous and exogenous sources. High-intensity physical exercise can induce oxidative stress. This study aimed to determine the effects of tempe extract on cell damage in the liver and kidneys of rats after intensive physical exercise.

Materials and Methods: This study used five experimental groups: T0 (non-exercised control rats), T1 (rats made to exercise by swimming), and T2-T4 (rats made to exercise by swimming treated with 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg body weight tempe extract). The biochemical parameters that were analyzed included blood glucose, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatinine levels. The morphology of liver and kidney tissues was histopathologically and immunohistochemically analyzed.

Results: Tempe extract treatment reduced cell damage in the liver and kidney tissues of rats, characterized by decreased expression of caspase-3. In addition, the ALT, AST, ALP, creatinine, and BUN levels of rats were significantly lower in tempe extract-treated rats than in rats after swimming exercise alone.

Conclusion: Tempe extract is capable of reducing cell damage and apoptosis in the liver and kidney cells of rats after intensive physical exercise and maintaining biochemical properties similar to the normal physiological state.

Keywords: apoptosis, caspase-3, kidney, liver, physical exercise, tempe.

Seroprevalence of brucellosis in sheep and goats in the Arabian Gulf region

Research (Published online: 06-08-2020)

2. Seroprevalence of brucellosis in sheep and goats in the Arabian Gulf region

M. Ebid, A. El Mola and F. Salib

Veterinary World, 13(8): 1495-1509

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Brucellosis is a zoonosis that occurs worldwide. There were more efforts to control brucellosis in all countries. This study was performed to determine the seroprevalence of brucellosis in sheep and goats in some areas in the Arabian Gulf.

Materials and Methods: The study analyzed 8500 sera from non-vaccinated sheep and goats. Animals included 6441 sheep (3420 from farms and 3021 from quarantine) and 2059 goats (1580 from farms and 479 from quarantine). Sera were tested using the Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT) and confirmed with an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (i-ELISA) test. Final confirmation analyzed blood samples from confirmed infected animals (n=30, 23 sheep and seven goats) using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and culture.

Results: The serological examination showed that 62/8500 of animals (0.729%, confidence interval [CI] 95% 0.57-0.94) were seropositive for brucellosis. Thirteen of 5000 (0.26%, CI 95% 0.15-0.45) and 49/3500 (1.4%, CI 95% 1.1-1.8) of animals from farms and quarantine were seropositive, respectively. Out of the 6441, 46 (0.71%) sheep and 16/2059 (0.78%) goats were seropositive. i-ELISA confirmed 41/62 RBPT-positive animals – 41/8500 (0.482%, CI 95% 0.36-0.65). Eight of 5000 of these animals (0.16%, CI 95% 0.08-0.32) and 33/3500 (0.94%, CI 95% 0.67-1.3) were confirmed positive in farms and quarantine, respectively. Thirty of 6441 (0.466%) and 11/2059 (0.534%) cases were positive in sheep and goats, respectively. PCR confirmed 18 of 41 positive animals (0.212% of all sera, CI 95% 0.13-0.34) identified by both RBPT and i-ELISA. Three of 5000 (0.06%, CI 95% 0.019-0.19) and 15/3500 (0.429%, CI 95% 0.26-0.71) from farms and quarantine were confirmed positive. Tissue samples (uterine, supra-mammary, testicular, and accessory glands lymph node) were collected from positive animals, as detected by RBPT and i-ELISA, at culling or slaughtering. Using in vitro culture, 14/30 were confirmed positive – 3/7 from farms (two sheep and one goat) and 11/23 from quarantine (nine sheep and two goats). Biovar 1 was dominant. PCR confirmed 23/30 tissue samples, 4/7 from farms (three sheep and one goat), and 19/23 from quarantine (15 sheep and four goats).

Conclusion: The overall brucellosis rate in sheep and goats is 0.48%, with fewer animals from farms testing positive (0.16%) in this area of the Arabian Gulf. The infection appears to be well controlled, and continuous effort is still needed to maintain control and completely eradicate brucellosis. Additional support is needed for testing and slaughterhouse monitoring. In quarantine (imported animals), brucellosis infection in the slaughterhouse (0.94%) could pose a risk for transmission and spread of infection. The effort is needed to monitor this threat, and PCR is a sensitive and time-saving test for brucellosis diagnosis. All 14 confirmed positive samples were Biovar 1 dominant.

Keywords: Arabian gulf, Brucellosis, goats, indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, polymerase chain reaction, Rose Bengal, seroprevalence, sheep.

Prevalence and risk factors of bovine viral diarrhea in Colombian cattle

Research (Published online: 06-08-2020)

1. Prevalence and risk factors of bovine viral diarrhea in Colombian cattle

Diego Ortiz Ortega, Rodrigo Alfredo Martínez Sarmiento, Julio César Tobón Torreglosa and Juan Felipe Rocha

Veterinary World, 13(8): 1487-1494

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is present in most cattle-raising countries around the world, and it has a negative economic impact in cattle herds. In Colombia, previous studies have estimated the prevalence of BVDV in specific locations. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of BVDV in cattle herds located at several municipalities across the country and to identify the associated risk and protective factors.

Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out to investigate the prevalence of BVDV in Colombian cattle populations at farm and animal-levels. A total of 387 herds and 8110 animals located in seven different departments were included in this study.

Results: An animal- and farm-level prevalence of 36% and 69%, respectively, were estimated. A high variation for the farm-level prevalence was found among the municipalities studied. Moreover, seropositive cattle to the infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus (odds ratio (OR)=2.38, p=0.0479) and Neospora caninum (OR=3.15, p=0.0122) were more likely to be seropositive for BVDV, while the practice of burning dead animals at the farm was identified as a protective factor (OR=0.17, p=0.014).

Conclusion: The prevalence of BVDV varied more at farm-level compared to animal-level. Two risk factors and one protective factor were identified. The results of the current study are essential to understand the epidemiology of BVDV in Colombia, and to formulate strategies in the region to mitigate the impact of this virus on the productive and reproductive indicators of cattle farms at the regional level.

Keywords: bovine, bovine viral diarrhea virus, protective factors, risk factors, seroprevalence.

Characterization and identification of charcoal of inedible Kerandang fish (Channa pleurophthalmus Blkr) body parts and potential antiallergenic properties

Research (Published online: 30-07-2020)

31. Characterization and identification of charcoal of inedible Kerandang fish (Channa pleurophthalmus Blkr) body parts and potential antiallergenic properties

Aryani Aryani, Eddy Suprayitno, Bambang Budi Sasmito and Hardoko Hardoko

Veterinary World, 13(7): 1480-1486

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: The study about the antiallergenic properties of inedible fish body parts is still limited. Therefore, this study aimed to characterize the charcoal from the body parts of Kerandang fish (Channa pleurophthalmus Blkr) and identify its antiallergenic properties.

Materials and Methods: This study used some non-edible body parts extracted from the Kerandang fish (i.e., the scalp, scales, and dorsal, pectoral, ventral, anal, and caudal fins) using a maceration method with different solvents (ethanol, ethyl acetate, and chloroform). The identification of active compounds in the extract was carried out using liquid chromatography– high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) analysis, while the antihyaluronidase activity was determined using the antihyaluronidase test. The highest charcoal antihyaluronidase activity-extract was applied to ovalbumin-induced mice for 7 days with various doses (10, 15, and 20 mg/kg). The specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay on day 8.

Results: Our LC-HRMS analysis showed that the active compound of charcoal in the caudal fins of Kerandang fish was hexadecanamide. The highest inhibition (IC50) of hyaluronidase was found in the ethyl acetate extract of fish caudal fins at a concentration of 4 mg/mL. We found that 15 mg/kg body weight of charcoal of fish caudal fins suppressed IgE expression in male mice.

Conclusion: Our findings indicate that the charcoal of non-edible body parts of Kerandang and one of its constituent, hexadecanamide, may have strong antiallergic effects.

Keywords: anti-allergy, charcoal, hyaluronidase, Kerandang fish.

Emergence of Raoultella ornithinolytica isolated from chicken products in Alexandria, Egypt

Research (Published online: 29-07-2020)

30. Emergence of Raoultella ornithinolytica isolated from chicken products in Alexandria, Egypt

Sara M. El-Shannat, Ashraf A. Abd El-Tawab and Wafaa M. M. Hassan

Veterinary World, 13(7): 1473-1479

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Raoultella ornithinolytica is one of the emerging gram-negative bacteria, which associated with foodborne illness. Researches affirmed that distinguish between R. ornithinolytica and Klebsiella oxytoca are difficult, as they are phylogenetic related. The evolution of multidrug resistance of Raoultella strains gained more concern for recognition of the pathogen which supports in controlling the disease and minify its threat. This study sought to find a reliable tool for the identification of Raoultella ornithinolytica, isolated from chicken product samples, and assessed the resistance profile of R. ornithinolytica using antibiogram sensitivity tests.

Materials and Methods: Forty samples of chicken products were collected between January and September 2019 from different markets in Alexandria Governorate, Egypt. The products included nuggets, strips, burgers, luncheon meats, pane, frankfurters, and minced chicken meat. The samples were transferred to the Reference Laboratory. The samples were subjected to isolation, biochemical reaction testing, phenotypic system analytical profile index (API) E20, and a detection of antimicrobial susceptibility test. Phenotypic identification was confirmed through matrix-assisted laser-desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS).

Results: Thirty-three bacterial isolates (82.50%) out of 40 samples were isolated into pure cultures from the chicken samples. Three isolates (9.09%) were positive for R. ornithinolytica, while 30 isolates (90.91%) exhibited growth characters for different pathogens (Escherichia coli, Enterobacter aerogenes, Proteus vulgaris, R. ornithinolytica, and Klebsiella pneumoniae). The isolates of R. ornithinolytica were resistant to five types of antibiotics and sensitive to two types of antibiotics.

Conclusion: This study reported the first case of R. ornithinolytica found in chicken products in Egypt. Phenotypic system API 20E and MALDI-TOF MS were found to be reliable tools for confirming the diagnosis of R. ornithinolytica. As it provides rapid identification with high sensitivity and specificity for R. ornithinolytica, which often do not require a molecular procedure for confirmation.

Keywords: analytical profile index 20E, matrix-assisted laser-desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry, phenotypic system, Raoultella ornithinolytica.