Preliminary study of coronavirus disease 2019 on pets in pandemic in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia

Research (Published online: 26-11-2021)

19. Preliminary study of coronavirus disease 2019 on pets in pandemic in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia

Hamong Suharsono, Ali Ghufron Mukti, Ketut Suryana, I. Wayan Masa Tenaya, Dilasdita Kartika Pradana, Guy Daly and Mochamad Panji Pujasakti

Veterinary World, 14(11): 2979-2983

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an acute infectious respiratory disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) and has spread rapidly globally, resulting in a pandemic. In humans, the main routes of transmission are respiratory droplets and close contact with infected individuals or through contact with an object infected with the virus, followed by touching mouth, nose, or eyes. It is assumed that SARS-CoV-2 was originated in wild animals and was then transmitted to humans. Although some wildlife and domestic animals can be naturally or experimentally infected with the virus, the intermediate hosts that transmitted it to humans are still unknown. Understanding the dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 associated with possible zoonotic transmission of intermediate hosts is considered critical. Reportedly, cats or dogs living with COVID-19-positive humans tested positive for the disease, suggesting that the virus was transmitted to the animals from humans. Information regarding the epidemiological investigation and comprehensive studies is limited. Therefore, it is still unclear how high is the correlation of infection in humans and pet animals, especially those living together. The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the pets of patients with COVID-19 who were hospitalized at the Wangaya hospital, Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia.

Materials and Methods: A total of seven clinically asymptomatic pets (six dogs of different races and sexes and a cat [age, 360-2920 days]) were included in this study. These animals belonged to patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection from August to November 2020. Nasal swab and nasopharyngeal samples were collected from the pets individually under anesthetic condition and were collected 6-12 days after confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection in owners and hospitalization at the Wangaya Hospital. The swab samples were then processed for RNA isolation and tested using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for SARS-CoV-2, in accordance with the World Health Organization manual 2020.

Results: RT-PCR results for all seven RNA samples, prepared from the swab samples, were negative. For the samples, all PCR products were below the threshold limit, suggesting no genetic material belonging to the samples tested.

Conclusion: This was the first preliminary study of COVID-19 on pets in pandemic using RT-PCR. The study tested a very limited quantity of samples, and all of them were negative. However, the way in which the samples were prepared was considered appropriate. Therefore, in further studies, testing of more samples of pets of more individuals with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection is required.

Keywords: pets, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2, viral detection.

Evaluation of secondary metabolites of herbal plant extracts as an antiviral effect on infectious bursal disease virus isolates in embryonated chicken eggs

Research (Published online: 25-11-2021)

18. Evaluation of secondary metabolites of herbal plant extracts as an antiviral effect on infectious bursal disease virus isolates in embryonated chicken eggs

Rawaa Saladdin Jumaa, Dhuha Ismael Abdulmajeed and Abdulkarim Jafar Karim

Veterinary World, 14(11): 2971-2978

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Infectious bursal disease attacks the poultry industry, mainly young chickens, causing immunosuppression, and death with high economic losses. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the monoextract, diextracts, and triextracts of Quercus infectoria (QI), Citrus aurantifolia (CiA), and Coffea arabica (CoA) on infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) in embryonated chicken eggs (ECEs).

Materials and Methods: The experimental design consisted of three sets of ECEs at 11 days of age, and each set included seven groups (G1-G7). The extracts of QI, CiA, and CoA were inoculated to ECEs by the chorioallantoic membrane method before, in concomitant (mixed) with, and after IBDV infection to the first, second, and third sets, respectively. The monoextract, diextracts, and triextracts of QI, CiA, and CoA were given at 1%, 2%, 5%, and 10% concentrations to G1-G3, G4-G6, and G7, respectively. Real-time polymerase chain reaction identified and confirmed the virus in accordance with the pathological changes.

Results: The monoextract (5-10% concentrations) inhibited IBDV and had no effect on viral infection preinoculation, whereas the monoextract (10% concentration) inhibited IBDV during mixed inoculation and post-inoculation. Diextracts (2-10% concentrations) inhibited IBDV and had no effect on viral infection preinoculation, whereas diextracts (5-10% concentrations) inhibited IBDV during mixed inoculation and post-inoculation. Triextracts (1%, 2%, 5%, and 10% concentrations) inhibited IBDV by ameliorating the pathological changes of the virus and preventing the death of ECEs.

Conclusion: The inoculation of herbal extracts, particularly triextracts, alleviates the pathological changes in ECEs infected with IBDV. This study recommends the oral route in evaluating plant extracts against IBDV in poultry.

Keywords: chick embryo, herbal plant, infectious bursal disease virus, Iraq.

The ability of probiotics to ameliorate blood and gonad damage caused by copper toxicity in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Research (Published online: 25-11-2021)

17. The ability of probiotics to ameliorate blood and gonad damage caused by copper toxicity in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Alfiah Hayati, Manikya Pramudya and Hari Soepriandono

Veterinary World, 14(11): 2964-2970

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Industrial waste, such as heavy metals, is a major source of water pollution; at high levels, such pollution can reduce river water quality to the extent that it becomes unsuitable for aquaculture of freshwater fish. This study aimed to focus on the effects of copper (Cu) exposure in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and specifically the ability of Lactobacillus-based probiotics supplementation in fish feed to ameliorate damage to gonads and negative effects on red blood cells (RBCs), whole blood cells (WBCs), hematocrit (HCT) levels, hemoglobin (HGB) levels, and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels following such exposure.

Materials and Methods: Thirty-two Nile tilapia fish were divided into eight groups: A negative control (without probiotics or Cu), a positive control (with probiotics but without Cu), three treatments with probiotics in feed, and one of three Cu concentrations (0.75, 1.50, or 3.00 mg/L), and three treatments with these three Cu concentrations but without probiotics in feed. The probiotics concentration in feed was 25 mL/kg (1×108 CFU/mL). Feeding was for 15 days, after which the hematological parameters, gonadal (testis) structure, and MDA levels of fish were analyzed.

Results: Exposure to Cu significantly (p<0.05) affected fish hematology (decreased HGB, HCT, RBC, and WBC levels) and altered the structure of the testes. However, the addition of probiotics to fish feed significantly (p<0.05) ameliorated these effects on hematology and maintained the histological structure of the gonads.

Conclusion: Cu exposure at ≥1.5 mg/L affected the hematologic parameters, gonadosomatic index, MDA levels, and testicular cells and tissue of Nile tilapia. However, probiotics supplementation in fish feed helped ameliorate the negative effects of Cu on these parameters. Thus, the Lactobacillus-based probiotics used in this study were apparently able to neutralize Cu toxicity in Nile tilapia.

Keywords: copper, fisheries, fresh water, hematology, probiotics, testis structure.

Inactivated vaccine against Aujeszky's disease

Research (Published online: 24-11-2021)

16. Inactivated vaccine against Aujeszky's disease

Zhanat B. Kondibaeva, Bolat A. Yespembetov, Khairulla B. Abeuov, Assiya K. Mussayeva, Sarsenbek T. Siyabekov, Saltanat T. Nussupova, Elmira K. Akmatova, Yerlan K. Pazylov, Kydyrbay T. Maikhin and Nazym S. Syrym

Veterinary World, 14(11): 2957-2963

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: The Aujeszky's disease, also known as Pseudorabies, remains one of the most problematic fulminant diseases in domestic animals, affecting the central nervous system. The study aimed to investigate the effect of an inactivated vaccine against Aujeszky's disease based on "Kordai" virus strain.

Materials and Methods: To test the inactivation of the "Kordai" strain (grown by the roller method in VNK-21/13 cell culture with an infectious titer of at least 7.5 lg TCD50/ml) which is causative of Aujeszky's disease, next-generation teotropin and propolis preparations were used in concentrations of 0.1%, 0.08%, and 0.04%.

Results: As a result of comparative studies on the optimization of parameters for inactivating the "Kordai" virus strain, it was established that teotropin is a more effective inactivant than propolis. At the same time, the optimal final concentration of teotropin for inactivation was 0.1%, along with a reaction medium temperature of 37°C, pH of 7.4-7.6, and duration of inactivation of 14 h. The titer of virus-neutralizing activity (VNA) of antibodies at the pH (neutralization reactions) in vaccinated sheep of 10-12 months of age was 7.5±0.3, Ig TCID50/ml (tissue culture infectious dose 50%), and 3.5±0.3 in the cell culture VNK-21/13 (culture of Syrian hamster kidney cells).

Conclusion: To determine colostral immunity in newborn lambs, the method of metabolic status correction was used to vaccinate lambs obtained from immune sheep 4 months after birth. The results showed that lambs obtained from immune sheep had high VNA titers. A sustained immune response in vaccinated animals was obtained after double vaccination.

Keywords: adjuvant, Aujeszky's disease virus, colostral immunity, immunogenicity, strain "Kordai."

Seasonal content of heavy metals in the "soil–feed–milk–manure" system in horse husbandry in Kazakhstan

Research (Published online: 24-11-2021)

15. Seasonal content of heavy metals in the "soil–feed–milk–manure" system in horse husbandry in Kazakhstan

Nazym Kozhanova, Nurzhan Sarsembayeva, Bozena Lozowicka and Zhassulan Kozhanov

Veterinary World, 14(11): 2947-2956

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: The quality of food, especially animal-based food, is crucial for human health. However, the quality of milk and other animal products has become an acute cause for concern in Kazakhstan . Technogenic dispersion of heavy metals (HMs) causes adverse effects on living organisms and creates unfavorable conditions for the existence of humans, animals, and plants. The purpose of this study was to analyze the content of several HMs in samples of soil, horse feed (hay, mixed feed, and bran), mare's milk, and manure to assess bioaccumulation and possible adverse effects on the bodies of horses. An additional purpose was to identify areas with acceptable conditions for obtaining environmentally safe horse breeding products in the agricultural zones of the Almaty region, Kazakhstan.

Materials and Methods: Samples were obtained from two farms in the Almaty region in 2020 (spring, summer, and autumn). In total, 72 soil samples were analyzed, which were taken from the upper humus horizon to the depth of the arable layer. Eighty-six samples were taken from the feed of horses. Green feed was represented by perennial and annual grasses (alsike clover, Medicago sativa, sweet yellow clover, as well as pea and oat mix). Barley and wheat bran stored in the warehouses of the farm were sampled for the research as feed supplements. The mixed feed comprised components such as maize and sunflower. In addition, 46 samples of mare's milk and 28 samples of horse manure were collected. The HM analysis was performed in the laboratory of the Kazakh-Japanese Innovation Center. The residual amounts of HMs were determined using an absorption spectrometer with a voltammetric analyzer. The content of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), and arsenic (As) in all the studied samples of soil, feed, mare's milk, and manure did not exceed the threshold limit values (TLVs), suggesting that the intake of these toxic elements into the human body with food was low.

Results: The average Cd concentration was in the range of 0.29-0.31 mg/kg in soil samples and in the range of 0.20-0.27 mg/kg in feed samples. In milk, the Cd concentration varied from 0.01 to 0.02 mg/L and was lower in summer and higher in fall. The total average Cd content in horse manure was 0.1844 mg/kg. The concentration of Pb in soil samples ranged from 1.09 to 1.30 mg/kg with the lowest value in spring and the highest in fall. In the feed, the concentration of Pb varied from 0.14 to 0.76 mg/kg and in milk from 0.03 to 0.15 mg/L. The average concentrations of Hg and As in soil samples averaged 0.022 and 0.019 mg/kg, respectively, and were within the TLVs.

Conclusion: In the study areas, the calculated transition rates in the soil–feed–milk–manure system revealed that the greatest transition of HMs was observed for Pb and Cd, and a smaller migration was observed for Hg and As. The tendency of accumulation of trace elements continued in the feed.

Keywords: feed, heavy metals, milk, soil.

A survey of the usage (frequency and pattern) of antibiotics at the University of Maiduguri Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria

Research (Published online: 24-11-2021)

14. A survey of the usage (frequency and pattern) of antibiotics at the University of Maiduguri Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria

Nubwa Daniel, Kefas David Malgwi, Bukar Umaru, Isaac John Omeh and Ladi Sanya

Veterinary World, 14(11): 2941-2946

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Veterinary antibiotics are widely used to treat bacterial diseases in various species of animals. However, despite the importance of these chemotherapeutic agents, their indiscriminate or extensive use can pose dangers to the animals or humans that consume edible tissues from animals contaminated with antibiotic residues. Therefore, concerns regarding their appropriate and judicious use in animals are of public health significance. This is because of the tendencies of developing resistance to targeted microbes and the ability of the parent compound or its metabolites to persist as residues in the animal tissues. This study aimed to determine the frequency and pattern of antibiotic usage and ascertain the level of awareness of clinicians on the judicious use of antibiotics at the University of Maiduguri Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria.

Materials and Methods: Data related to the administration of antibiotics in all species of animals presented for treatment from January 2009 to December 2018 were obtained from the hospital archives, with permission from the office of the hospital directorate. The diseases, hospital units, antibiotics used, and years were parameters that were recorded for each case. Furthermore, 47 questionnaires were administered to clinicians who render services to the hospital.

Results: A total of 63.9% of all cases brought to the hospital within the 10 years under study were infectious, and as such, were treated with antibiotics. The highest recorded use of antibiotics was observed in the poultry unit (38.4%), followed by the large animal unit (24.1%), with the lowest used recorded in the ambulatory unit (9.3%). Furthermore, regarding the antibiotics used, oxytetracycline had the highest occurrence (55%), followed by penicillin-streptomycin combination (12.2%), with the lowest being metronidazole (0.30%). The highest number of cases treated with antibiotics was recorded in 2018 (22.5%), and the lowest was recorded in 2014 (1.3%). Regarding the questionnaire administered to the clinicians, 78.7% of the respondents preferred oxytetracycline as their drug of choice, whereas only 2.1%, 4.3%, 2.1%, and 4.3% preferred amoxicillin, penicillin, streptomycin, and penicillin-streptomycin, respectively. Moreover, 65.9% of the respondents used a particular antibiotic because of its availability at the hospital, 8.5% because of cost, and 27.7% because of clinician preference. Furthermore, 74.5% of the clinicians offered palliative intervention while awaiting laboratory reports, whereas 8.5% treated the animals without requesting laboratory analyses.

Conclusion: In this study, oxytetracycline was found to be the most used antibiotic for treating infectious diseases at the hospital because of its availability. The observed pattern appeared in the following order of frequency: Oxytetracycline, penicillin-streptomycin combination, neomycin, erythromycin, amoxicillin, tylosin, streptomycin, and gentamicin with metronidazole being the least frequent. There might also be antibiotic resistance, which requires a change to another antibiotic because of the lack of response to the initial antibiotic. Non-judicious antibiotic use can also have a negative impact on public health because of the development of multidrug-resistant "superbugs" and the problem of drug residue.

Keywords: antibiotics, frequency, pattern, survey, usage.

Antibiotic resistance pattern of uropathogenic Escherichia coli isolated from children with symptomatic urinary tract infection in Moscow, Russia

Research (Published online: 23-11-2021)

9. Antibiotic resistance pattern of uropathogenic Escherichia coli isolated from children with symptomatic urinary tract infection in Moscow, Russia

Souadkia Sarra, Mbarga Manga Joseph Arsene, Volina Elena Grigorievna, Podoprigora Irina Victorovna, Yashina Natalia Vyacheslavovna and Borechova Marina Nikolaïevna

International Journal of One Health, 7(2): 212-219

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) is commonly involved in urinary tract infections (UTIs), which are generally treated with antibiotics. However, the emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains of UPEC has made the treatment difficult. There is thus a need to continuously assess their sensitivity to antibiotics. This study aimed to determine the antibiotic resistance patterns and MDR phenotypes of UPEC strains isolated from children diagnosed with UTIs at the Russian Children's Clinical Hospital in Moscow, Russia.

Materials and Methods: Kirby–Bauer's disc diffusion method was used to study the sensitivity to antibiotics of 106 UPEC isolates from urine specimens from children (aged from 9 months to 18 years old) diagnosed with UTIs. The results were interpreted in accordance with the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines and the correlations of variables with the degree to which each antibiotic inhibited the UPEC strains in terms of diameter on the disc were determined using Spearman's rank correlation test. A t-test and principal component analysis were performed to visualize the correlations of the susceptibility of UPEC to antibiotics with the age and sex of the patients. Statistical significance was set at p≤0.05.

Results: Among the 106 UPEC strains tested, none (0%) showed resistance to fosfomycin (FO), while 84 (79.2%) were resistant (R) to at least one antibiotic. The highest rates of resistance were observed to amoxicillin (69.8%), ampicillin (62.3%), cefazolin (39.6%), trimethoprim (TR) (37.7%), ceftriaxone (34.9%), and tetracycline (33.0%). Interestingly, 22 (20.8%) strains were R to imipenem. UPEC isolates from males aged 1-6 years were more R to antibiotics than those from the other groups, with the exception of TR, to which UPEC isolates from females aged 13-18 years old were less sensitive (S). The multidrug-resistance (MDR) index ranged between 0.00 and 0.75 and we found that more than a quarter of UPEC (31/106) had an MDR index ≥0.5 and only 22 (20.7%) strains were S to all antibiotics tested (MDR index=0). Finally, Spearman's rank correlation test showed that, with the exception of FO, there were correlations between the inhibition diameters of all other antibiotics.

Conclusion: FO is the only antibiotic to which all UPECs were S and may be suggested as the first line of treatment for UPEC. Further research is needed to continue monitoring antibiotic resistance and to investigate the genetic features associated with such resistance observed in this study.

Keywords: antibiotics, multidrug resistance, urinary tract infections, uropathogenic Escherichia coli.