Severity assessment of single-dose Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccinated individuals infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 in Southeast Bangladesh

Research (Published online: 04-12-2021)

10. Severity assessment of single-dose Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccinated individuals infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 in Southeast Bangladesh

Eaftekhar Ahmed Rana, Pronesh Dutta, Md. Sirazul Islam, Tanvir Ahmad Nizami, Tridip Das, Sharmin Chowdhury and Goutam Buddha Das

International Journal of One Health, 7(2): 220-226

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: A vaccine program for coronavirus illness (coronavirus disease [COVID-19]) is currently underway in numerous regions of the world, including Bangladesh, but no health data on those who have been vaccinated are available at this time. The study aimed to investigate the health condition of people who had received their first dose of the Oxford- AstraZeneca vaccine and were infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

Materials and Methods: To detect SARS-CoV-2, a standard virological approach, real-time reverse transcriptase-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), was used. Several health indicators from vaccinated patients were collected using pre-structured questionnaires during the infection phase.

Results: A total of 6146 suspicious samples were analyzed, and 1752 were found to be positive for SARS-CoV-2, with 200 people receiving the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. One hundred and sixty-five (82.5%) were not hospitalized among the vaccinated people, and 177 (88.5%) did not have any respiratory problems. Only 8% of patients required further oxygen support, and 199 (99.5%) did not require intensive care unit intervention. Overall, oxygen saturation was recorded at around 96.8% and respiratory difficulties did not extend more than 5 days during the infection period. Among the vaccinated COVID-19-positive people, 113 (56.5%) and 111 (55.5%) had typical physiological taste and smell. Surprisingly, 129 (64.5%) people had diverse comorbidities, with high blood pressure (27.9%) and diabetes (32 [24.8%]) being the most common. The major conclusion of the current study was that 199 (99.5%) of vaccinated patients survived in good health and tested negative for RT-qPCR.

Conclusion: According to the findings of this study, administering the first dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine considerably reduces health risks during the COVID-19 infection period.

Keywords: assessment, comorbidity, coronavirus disease, health risk, Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine.

In vitro experiments of Pediculus humanus capitis (Phthiraptera: Pediculidae) resistance to permethrin and 6-paradol in East Jakarta: Detoxification enzyme activity and electron microscopic changes in lice

Research (Published online: 30-11-2021)

29. In vitro experiments of Pediculus humanus capitis (Phthiraptera: Pediculidae) resistance to permethrin and 6-paradol in East Jakarta: Detoxification enzyme activity and electron microscopic changes in lice

Rizal Subahar, Lisawati Susanto, Rachmanin Aidilla, Annisa Putri Aulia, Yulhasri Yulhasri, Rawina Winita, Nadar S. Lubis and Ika Puspa Sari

Veterinary World, 14(11): 3065-3075

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Pediculus humanus capitis, the human head louse, remains a global health problem. This study evaluated the resistance of head lice to permethrin and 6-paradol mediated by in vitro detoxification enzyme activity experiments and to describe physical changes in the lice using scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

Materials and Methods: The adult stages of P. h. capitis were collected from patients exposed to 1% permethrin and three different concentrations of 6-paradol (0.00005%, 0.0001%, and 0.00015%) using a filter paper diffusion bioassay. Healthy P. h. capitis adults served as the control. The in vitro bioassays were conducted after 10, 20, 30, and 60 min of exposure. The activities of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and oxidase were analyzed. Physical changes in the lice were analyzed using SEM.

Results: Permethrin and 6-paradol exhibited low toxicity against the lice. At 60 min, 1% permethrin had killed 36.7% of the lice present, while 6-paradol had killed 66.7-86.7%. Permethrin induced significantly elevated AChE, GST, and oxidase activity; 6-paradol also caused significantly elevated AChE, GST, and oxidase activity. Permethrin did not cause any ultrastructural morphological changes on the lice, while 6-paradol severely damaged the head, thorax, respiratory spiracles, and abdomen of the dead lice.

Conclusion: This in vitro experimental of P. h. capitis is the first study to report P. h. capitis in East Jakarta shows complete resistance to permethrin and 6-paradol, and to describe the associated increase in AChE, GST, and oxidase activity. It was observed that 6-paradol severely damaged the head, thorax, respiratory spiracles, and abdomen of the dead lice.

Keywords: 6-paradol, detoxifying enzyme, electron microscopy, Pediculus humanus capitis, permethrin, resistance.

Effectiveness of mesenchymal stem cells cultured under hypoxia to increase the fertility rate in rats (Rattus norvegicus)

Research (Published online: 30-11-2021)

28. Effectiveness of mesenchymal stem cells cultured under hypoxia to increase the fertility rate in rats (Rattus norvegicus)

Erma Safitri and Hery Purnobasuki

Veterinary World, 14(11): 3056-3064

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) transplanted into the testes of rats with testicular failure can help rescue fertility. However, the low viability of transplanted MSCs limits the success of this treatment. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of MSCs cultured under hypoxia to increase the fertility rate in rats (Rattus norvegicus).

Materials and Methods: Bone marrow-derived MSCs (200 million cells/rat) were transplanted into male rat models with induced infertility (10 rats/treatment group) after 4 days of culture in 21% O2 (normoxia) and 1% O2 (hypoxia). Ten fertile and 10 untreated infertile rats served as controls. In the infertile male rats that had been fasted from food for 5 days, the fasting condition induced malnutrition and then resulted in testicular failure.

Results: The results indicated that the MSCs cultured under hypoxic conditions were more effective than those cultured in normoxic conditions as a treatment for testicular failure in infertile male rats based on the increased number of cells expressing p63 as a quiescent cell marker and ETV5 as a transcription factor expressed in Sertoli and germ cells. Furthermore, the structure of the seminiferous tubules, which contain spermatogonia, primary and secondary spermatocytes, and spermatid, Sertoli, and Leydig cells, was improved in infertile male rats treated with the MSCs cultured under hypoxic conditions.

Conclusion: The testicular transplantation of MSCs cultured under hypoxic conditions was an effective treatment for testicular failure in rats.

Keywords: fertility, hypoxia culture, malnutrition, stem cell, testicular failure.

Evaluation of the phytochemical content, antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of Cocos nucifera liquid smoke, Garcinia mangostana pericarp, Syzygium aromaticum leaf, and Phyllanthus niruri L. extracts

Research (Published online: 29-11-2021)

27. Evaluation of the phytochemical content, antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of Cocos nucifera liquid smoke, Garcinia mangostana pericarp, Syzygium aromaticum leaf, and Phyllanthus niruri L. extracts

Tiurma Pasaribu, Arnold P. Sinurat, Elizabeth Wina and Triwardhani Cahyaningsih

Veterinary World, 14(11): 3048-3055

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Many plants contain bioactive substances with antibacterial and antifungal properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial and antifungal activity of Cocos nucifera shell liquid smoke (CSL), clove leaf extract (CLE), and mangosteen pericarp extract (MPE) alone and in combination against Escherichia coli and Candida utilis. The antioxidant activity, phenol, saponin, and tannin of CSL, CLE, MPE, and Phyllanthus niruri L. extract were also measured.

Materials and Methods: The agar well-diffusion method was used to determine the antimicrobial and antifungal activities of CSL, methanolic MPE, and CLE and their combination CSL+MPE+CLE (COMBI) on bacteria E. coli and fungus (C. utilis). Antioxidant activity was measured by the diphenylpicrylhydrazyl method. Total phenol and total tannin were measured by the Folin–Ciocalteu method and total saponin was measured by the vanillin-sulphate method.

Results: The results indicated that phenolic and tannin levels were greater in MPE than in CLE, whereas the saponin content was higher in CLE compared with MPE. Undiluted (100%) MPE exhibited lower antibacterial activity (p<0.05) than chloramphenicol against E. coli, however, undiluted CLE and COMBI showed similar activity compared with chloramphenicol against E. coli. COMBI caused significantly (p<0.05) higher inhibition compared with virginiamycin against E. coli. CSL, MPE, and COMBI exhibited significantly lower antifungal activity (p<0.05) than that of ketoconazole against C. utilis. In contrast, CLE showed improved antifungal activity (p<0.05) compared with ketoconazole.

Conclusion: Cocos nucifera liquid smoke, Garcinia mangostana pericarp extract, and Syzygium aromaticum leaf extract, either alone or in combination, have the potential to be used as antibacterial and antifungal agents.

Keywords: antibacterial, antifungal, Cocos nucifera, extract, Garcinia mangostana, Phyllanthus niruri L., Syzygium aromaticum.

Microbiological, sensory, and physicochemical quality of curd cheeses originating from direct sales

Research (Published online: 29-11-2021)

26. Microbiological, sensory, and physicochemical quality of curd cheeses originating from direct sales

Ewa Januś, Piotr Sablik, Małgorzata Jakubowska and Klaudia Wróbel

Veterinary World, 14(11): 3038-3047

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Curd cheeses are characteristic elements of the dairy assortment, mainly in Central and Eastern European countries, and constitute a numerous and diverse group of dairy products. The aim of the study was to assess the physicochemical, microbiological, and sensory quality of curd cheeses available in marketplaces in Lublin, where they were purchased through direct sales from producers.

Materials and Methods: The research material was household-produced curd cheese purchased 4 times (at 2-week intervals) from three producers. The physicochemical parameters (i.e., the total protein and fat content, active acidity, and titratable acidity) were determined in the cheeses. Microbiological assays were performed to evaluate the total number of bacteria (on milk agar), the number of yeasts and molds (on Sabouraud medium), and the number of coliform bacteria (on MacConkey medium). A general sensory evaluation was performed by a five-person panel, who assessed the appearance and color, texture, flavor, and aroma of the samples.

Results: The cheeses exhibited significant differences in their protein and fat contents, but these values were within the allowable limits. Most of the evaluated cheeses had normal levels of active and titratable acidity; substantially lower titratable acidity and higher pH values were detected only in the samples from supplier A. The total number of bacteria in the curd cheese samples was high (3.2×108 colony-forming units [cfu]×g-1 cheese) and varied substantially (from 3.6×107 to 8.6×108 cfu×g-1). The growth of Gram-negative bacterial colonies on MacConkey medium was observed in the samples from suppliers B and C (5.5×103 and 1.7×104 cfu×g-1, respectively), which is an undesirable phenomenon. The number of colonies cultured on Sabouraud medium and identified as yeast-like microorganisms ranged from 1.8×104 (product from supplier A) to 4.9×105 cfu×g-1 (cheese from supplier C). The scores in the sensory evaluation of the tested curd cheeses were low. The highest mean scores were achieved for appearance and color (4.25-4.45 points). Conversely, flavor and aroma received the lowest score (3.17 points). The highest scores for both the overall assessment and each parameter separately were awarded to the curd cheese produced by supplier A.

Conclusion: Our results suggest poor hygienic conditions during milk collection and processing, as well as during the distribution of these dairy products. Altogether, the purchase of products from direct sales may be associated with risks related to poor consumer health and food quality.

Keywords: curd cheese, microbiology, physiochemistry, sensory quality.

Increasing the efficiency of the herd reproduction system by introducing innovative technologies into dairy farming in Northern Kazakhstan

Research (Published online: 28-11-2021)

25. Increasing the efficiency of the herd reproduction system by introducing innovative technologies into dairy farming in Northern Kazakhstan

Vitaly Anatolevich Raketsky, Askar Myrzakhmetovich Nametov, Vasily Arkadyevich Sozinov and Abdrakhman Abdybekuly Baisakalov

Veterinary World, 14(11): 3028-3037

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: In recent years, Kazakhstan has increasingly imported breeding cows for dairy and beef production. To maintain and improve their breeding qualities of reproductive function, it is necessary to constantly monitor the herd reproduction system. The aim of this study was to increase the level of herd reproduction by introducing innovative technologies into dairy farms in Northern Kazakhstan. To achieve this goal, the AlphaVision visual insemination system (IMV Technologies, France) was used, aiding to improve the artificial insemination method in farms in Northern Kazakhstan and increased the breeding rate using sexed semen to inseminate cows. In addition, the AlphaVision device was used in the differential diagnosis of certain diseases of the reproductive organs of cows.

Materials and Methods: The object of the study was 200 cows (3-5-year-old) and 100 heifers (16-18-month-old) of Holstein breed. The authors carried out a comparative analysis of biotechnological methods of reproduction – the cervical method insemination with rectal fixation of the cervix (traditional method of insemination) and the AlphaVision visual insemination system, and the effectiveness of AlphaVision for diagnosing some reproductive tract abnormalities in cows was studied. In the experiment on conducting artificial insemination through AlphaVision, we have used both normal (two-sex) and sexed semen.

Results: When using the AlphaVision visual insemination system, a higher percentage of fruitful insemination was noted (20.7%) than when using the traditional method. The images obtained with AlphaVision made it possible to identify cows with abnormal sexual cycles, signs of vaginitis, endometritis, cervicitis, and differentiate them by the nature of the exudate. In many cases, visual examinations of the vagina and cervix are not carried out before the traditional method of artificial insemination. For this reason, some vaginal and cervical abnormalities are not diagnosed, resulting in reduced fertility in cows. We have found that the number of genital abnormalities has increased by 30% with the increasing age of cows. Obstetric and gynecologic pathologies in high-yielding cows are noted in more than 50% of the herd. A comparative assessment of clinical manifestations of cervicitis and other pathologies of reproductive organs, using the AlphaVision visual insemination system, has been carried out for the identified diseases. With the traditional method of insemination with conventional semen, the calf yield per 100 cows for the period 2016-2019 has been 65-80% and with sexed semen 30-50%. With AlphaVision in 2020, the insemination rate was 85% conventional and 60% sexed, respectively, which was 5% and 10% higher than with conventional insemination. This was due to the improved diagnosis of some reproductive diseases in cows.

Conclusion: The introduction of innovative technology, namely, the visual insemination system AlphaVision, into the practice of dairy farms in Northern Kazakhstan increased the level of the herd reproduction system.

Keywords: AlphaVision visual insemination system, biotechnological reproduction methods, cervicitis, diseases of the reproductive organs of cows, fertility rate, sexed semen.

Occurrence of Marek's disease in vaccinated Algerian broiler breeder flocks: A histopathological survey

Research (Published online: 28-11-2021)

24. Occurrence of Marek's disease in vaccinated Algerian broiler breeder flocks: A histopathological survey

Abdelaziz Lounas, Mohamed Besbaci, Madjid Akkou and Oumennoune Tali

Veterinary World, 14(11): 3021-3027

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Marek's disease (MD) is a lymphoproliferative disease that occurs in chickens. In the absence of control measures, MD causes devastating losses to commercial poultry flocks. Vaccination has enabled dramatic success in the prevention and control of MD. However, the MD vaccination program has failed frequently, and occasional clinical outbreaks have been reported in the vaccinated flocks as well. The present study aimed to describe the clinical and histopathological characteristics of the field cases of MD in broiler breeder flocks.

Materials and Methods: A survey on the update of MD occurrence in Algerian broiler breeder flocks was conducted from June 2020 to September 2020. Ten vaccinated broiler breeder flocks located in Central Algeria and having progressive tumors in different visceral organs were evaluated for MD virus infection by conducting a histopathological examination of the birds.

Results: The age of the birds affected with MD ranged from 13 to 22 weeks. The mortality rate varied sensitively from 4% to 10%. The clinical symptoms reported in the affected flocks included locomotor, nervous, digestive, and respiratory symptoms. Necropsy of the dead or euthanized birds revealed visceral lymphomatosis in several organs and macroscopic changes in the peripheral nerves (including loss of longitudinal striation, color change [grayish], and volume increase). The histopathological findings included the infiltration and proliferation of lymphocytes and blast cells (lymphoblasts) in various organs of the birds, which are the typical characteristics of MD and, therefore, confirmed the field infection of MD in these birds.

Conclusion: The present study provided evidence for the high prevalence of MD in the broiler breeder flocks vaccinated with a bivalent vaccine (turkey herpesvirus+Rispens) at the hatchery. The findings of the present study may indicate highlevel failure of vaccination in these birds.

Keywords: Algeria, broiler breeder flocks, histopathological findings, Marek's disease, Tumors.