First identification of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in wild ruminants in a zoo in Mexico

Research (Published online: 23-03-2022)

15. First identification of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in wild ruminants in a zoo in Mexico

A. L. Hernández-Reyes, G. Chávez-Gris, E. Maldonado-Castro, L. E. Alcaraz-Sosa and M. T. Díaz-Negrete

Veterinary World, 15(3): 655-661

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Paratuberculosis (PTB) is an infectious disease that induces chronic enteritis in ruminants. It is caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP). In this study, we evaluated the presence of MAP using bacteriological, molecular, and anatomopathological studies, based on the clinical suspicion of PTB in a zoo, in an area housing 10 scimitar-horned oryx (Oryx dammah), five giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis), and three blue wildebeests (Connochaetes taurinus).

Materials and Methods: From November 2016 to June 2017, fecal samples were collected from individuals of the three species on four occasions, resulting in a total of 56 fecal samples. In addition, five small intestine samples were collected from the necropsies of three adult scimitar-horned oryx females and two oryx calves. MAP identification was performed through isolation in Herrold's medium with egg yolk, mycobactin, and sodium pyruvate, Ziehl–Neelsen staining, IS900 polymerase chain reaction (IS900 PCR), and anatomopathological examination of intestine samples.

Results: Diffuse granulomatous enteritis with abundant acid-fast bacilli was found in two out of five intestine samples from adult scimitar-horned oryx females. MAP was isolated in 7/56 (12.5%) of the fecal samples from four scimitar-horned oryx, one giraffe, and two wildebeest samples. Two out of 5 (40%) samples obtained from scimitar-horned oryx tested positive. IS900 PCR yielded five positive samples (two fecal samples and three small intestine samples). MAP isolates were classified as Type C (Cattle) using type-specific PCR.

Conclusion: These results demonstrated the presence of MAP in the area evaluated and indicated the importance of both sampling live animals and conducting postmortem examinations. The use of bacteriological and histopathological diagnostic techniques demonstrated in this study will provide insight into the health status and prevalence of paratuberculosis in wild ruminants under human care.

Keywords: histopathology, IS900, isolation, paratuberculosis, scimitar-horned oryx, zoo animals.

Study of fecal glucocorticoid metabolites in captive Asian elephants in Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand

Research (Published online: 23-03-2022)

14. Study of fecal glucocorticoid metabolites in captive Asian elephants in Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand

Weerapun Nokkaew, Apiradee Intarapuk, Apichaya Sakulthai, Worawidh Wajjwalku and Nikorn Thongtip

Veterinary World, 15(3): 647-654

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Over the past two decades, the number of elephant camps in Thailand has increased considerably, and captive elephants have become more popular within the tourism industry. Tourist activities involving elephant exhibitions and trekking potentially affect animal health and welfare. This study aimed to investigate the relationships between a novel stress biomarker, fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (fGCM), and various factors (sex, age, weather season, tourist season, and elephant usage patterns), monitoring the fGCM concentration during and after trekking activities ceased.

Materials and Methods: Fecal samples of 20 captive Asian elephants from two camps in Kanchanaburi Province were collected monthly for 1 year. The fGCM concentrations were measured using enzyme immunoassay and evaluated relative to individual demography, season, and tourist trekking activity. The mean differences of fGCMs concentrations were compared by analysis of variance and t-test statistics according to data types with p<0.5.

Results: Significant differences in mean fGCM concentrations were found between age categories (p=0.001), trekking and non-trekking animals (p=0.039), and during and after trekking (p=0.023). The mean fGCM concentration of elephants aged during 0-44 years (136.7 ng/g) was significantly higher than for animals over 44 years old (107.7 ng/g), and the elephant trekking group (144.9 ng/g) was significantly higher than the other group (124.7 ng/g). Within the trekking group, the mean fGCM concentrations gradually declined to 129.13 ng/g within 8 months of trekking cessation.

Conclusion: Elephant's ages and activities co-influenced the variance of fGCM concentrations. In addition, permanent tourist activity, especially trekking, can increase elephant stress. This study's findings can be applied to the health status monitoring of captive elephants and result in improved animal welfare.

Keywords: captive elephant, fecal glucocorticoid, hormone, stress, trekking.

Palatability assessment of prescribed diets on domestic shorthair cats

Research (Published online: 23-03-2022)

13. Palatability assessment of prescribed diets on domestic shorthair cats

Nazhan Ilias, Ahmad Harris Hakim Zaki, Awang Hazmi Awang Junaidi, Lau Seng Fong, Ikhwan Saufi and Mokrish Ajat

Veterinary World, 15(3): 640-646

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: The value of the pet food industry, which is majorly the prescribed diet, exponentially increased over the years due to increased awareness among pet owners to provide a healthy lifestyle for their pets. However, several factors such as aroma, flavor, texture, and shape of prescribed diets greatly influenced the palatability in cats. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the palatability of the prescribed diet for domestic shorthair (DSH) cats.

Materials and Methods: The two-bowl method was employed to determine the palatability of prescribed diets on five DSH cats for 6 days. Furthermore, the four types of prescribed diet assessed in this study were struvite, renal, hypersensitivity, and intestinal. Furthermore, the pet food palatability was analyzed using “First Approached,” “First Consumed,” “Total Consumption,” and “Intake ratios.”

Results: Our findings revealed that “Total Consumption” and “Intake Ratios” were significantly different in struvite, renal, and intestinal diets compared to the hypersensitivity diet. In addition, this result indicates that the hypersensitivity diet is the most unpalatable compared with other diets.

Conclusion: A detailed investigation of the diet ingredients showed that a hypersensitivity diet lacks herbs and spices than the other diets. Therefore, these ingredients lacking in the hypersensitivity diet influence the palatability of pet foods.

Keywords: aroma, domestic shorthair cats, flavor, palatability, prescribed diet.

Identification of Streptomyces spp. from garbage dump soils in Surabaya, Indonesia

Research (Published online: 22-03-2022)

12. Identification of Streptomyces spp. from garbage dump soils in Surabaya, Indonesia

R. Kurnijasanti and S. A. Sudjarwo

Veterinary World, 15(3): 634-639

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Streptomyces is a well-known agent of secondary metabolite production. This study aimed to identify Streptomyces spp. from garbage dump soils in Surabaya based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence. Moreover, the structure of new chemical compounds used for treating infectious diseases in humans, animals, and plants was elucidated.

Materials and Methods: We isolated Streptomyces spp. from garbage dump soils in Surabaya. In this study, all isolates were characterized according to phenotype, and they were also confirmed by 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Multiple sequence alignment and molecular phylogeny analyses were conducted using the MEGA 5.0 software, and then the TREE VIEW program was used to display the phylogenetic tree. The level of DNA similarity was also evaluated using the basic local alignment search tool (BLAST) program and then compared with nucleotide sequences stored in the GenBank database using National Center for Biotechnology Information BLAST.

Results: The eight Streptomyces spp. showed different nucleotide sequence lengths in gel electrophoresis and photography, which is in accordance with the results observed in the phylogenetic tree. New types of Streptomyces spp., Sp-C, Sp-D, Sp-Ep, Sp-G, and Sp-I, were found from the waste heap in Surabaya. Of these, Sp-Ep was very closely related to Streptomyces indonesiasis and Streptomyces nashvillensis. Sp-F was identified as Streptomyces levis strain NRRL B-24299, and Sp-C was identified as Synodontis filamentosus. Sp-D was related to Sida javensis and Staphylococcus roseus. Sp-G was related to Streptomyces roseoviridis strain NBRC 12911 and Streptomyces thermocarboxydovorans strain AT52. Sp-I was related to Streptomyces cangkringensis and Streptomyces asiaticus. Finally, Sp-A was related to Sansevieria laurentii strain LMG 19959.

Conclusion: Based on the phylogenetic tree, new strains of Streptomyces isolate, namely, Sp-D, Sp-Ep, Sp-G, and Sp-I, were found in the garbage dump soils of Surabaya. This new strain can produce antibiotics to be used as an alternative to antibiotics; however, further research is needed to confirm the activity.

Keywords: identification, infectious disease, the garbage dump soil, the new type of Streptomyces.

Effects of testosterone and exercise training on bone microstructure of rats

Research (Published online: 22-03-2022)

11. Effects of testosterone and exercise training on bone microstructure of rats

Catarina Jota-Baptista, Ana I. Faustino-Rocha, Margarida Fardilha, Rita Ferreira, Paula A. Oliveira, Marta Regueiro-Purriños, José A. Rodriguez-Altonaga, José M. Gonzalo-Orden and Mário Ginja

Veterinary World, 15(3): 627-633

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Male hypogonadism results from failure to produce physiological levels of testosterone. Testosterone in men is essential in masculine development, sperm production, and adult man's health. Osteoporosis is one of the consequences of hypogonadism. Regular physical exercise and exogenous testosterone administration are frequently used to prevent or treat this condition. This study aimed to understand the effects of lifelong exercise training and testosterone levels (isolated and together) in the main bone structure parameters.

Materials and Methods: A total of 24 rats were used and randomly divided into four groups: Control group (CG; n=6), exercised group (EG, n=6), testosterone group (TG, n=6), and testosterone EG (TEG, n=6). A micro-computed tomography equipment was used to evaluate 15 bone parameters.

Results: Both factors (exercise training and testosterone) seem to improve the bone resistance and microstructure, although in different bone characteristics. Testosterone influenced trabecular structure parameters, namely, connectivity density, trabecular number, and trabecular space. The exercise promoted alterations in bone structure as well, although, in most cases, in different bone structure parameters as bone mineral density and medullar mineral density.

Conclusion: Overall, exercise and testosterone therapy seems to have a synergistic contribution to the general bone structure and resistance. Further studies are warranted, comparing different individual factors, as gender, lifestyle, or testosterone protocols, to constantly improve the medical management of hypogonadism (and osteoporosis).

Keywords: bone, exercise training, hypogonadism, micro-computed tomography, osteoporosis, testosterone.

Exploration of double-dart injection technique as a supplemental application for remote drug delivery system for zoo and wild animals

Research (Published online: 19-03-2022)

10. Exploration of double-dart injection technique as a supplemental application for remote drug delivery system for zoo and wild animals

Rattapan Pattanarangsan, Pawinee Kulnanan, Watcharapong Mitsuwan and Tuempong Wongtawan

Veterinary World, 15(3): 622-626

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Remote drug delivery has become an essential tool for safely delivering medication and vaccines to free-ranging, non-domestic, or dangerous animals. All dart guns currently use a single dart per injection, and it might occasionally be not practical with large animals. Shooting the dart more than once on an animal may cause flight, injury, stress, and ultimately unsuccessful delivery. Furthermore, purchasing many dart guns and hiring and training more staff may be unfeasible in developing countries. Therefore, employing the double-dart injection technique may help reduce the cost of operation, save time for capturing animals, minimize stress and injury, and improve animal welfare. The objectives of this study were to test the possibility of using the double-dart injection technique and optimizing the guidelines for this procedure.

Materials and Methods: A standard brand-calibrated darting rifle was used to deliver the darts to the target board constructed from paper, polypropylene, and ethylene-vinyl acetate foam. The shot stage and shooter were fixed, and the shooting range was 5-20 m. The pressure of the gun was varied according to a company's recommendation. The single dart (control dart) was first shot to the target point, and then the double darts were shot 3 times for each condition. The experiment was done in the field with no wind. The inclusion criteria were that two darts must hit the target and not penetrate the target board deeply. The distances between the control dart and double darts (first and second darts) and between each dart of the double darts were measured, and the standard curve graphs and formulas were created.

Results: The results showed that the distance between the control dart and the double darts was shortened as the pressure was increased. All double-dart injections hit the target below the control dart. We were able to create many formulas to predict the optimal gun pressure and aim point for double-dart injection in each shot range. It usually requires more pressure settings than a single-dart injection, particularly the long shot range. It also needs to aim the target point above the original point.

Conclusion: Double-dart injection technique can be used efficiently in 5-20 m distance, and it usually requires increasing the pressure from the company's recommendation and adjusting the injecting point.

Keywords: double-dart technique, free-ranging animals, remote drug delivery, wildlife.

Antimicrobial resistance of commensal Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium from food-producing animals in Russia

Research (Published online: 18-03-2022)

9. Antimicrobial resistance of commensal Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium from food-producing animals in Russia

Dmitry A. Makarov, Olga E. Ivanova, Anastasia V. Pomazkova, Maria A. Egoreva, Olga V. Prasolova, Sergey V. Lenev, Maria A. Gergel, Nataliya K. Bukova and Sergey Yu Karabanov

Veterinary World, 15(3): 611-621

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Although Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium are common members of human and animal gut microbiota, their resistance to different antimicrobials makes them important pathogens. Multidrug-resistant enterococci often contaminate foods of animal origin at slaughterhouses. The World Health Organization and the World Organization for Animal Health recommend including animal-derived enterococci in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) monitoring programs. This study aimed to fill a literature gap by determining the current AMR prevalence of E. faecalis and E. faecium from different food-producing animals in Russia.

Materials and Methods: Samples of biomaterial were taken from chickens (n=187), cattle (n=155), pigs (n=49), turkeys (n=34), sheep (n=31), and ducks (n=31) raised at 28 farms in 15 regions of Russia. Isolates of E. faecalis (n=277) and of E. faecium (n=210) (487 isolates in total; 1 isolate per sample) were tested for resistance to 12 antimicrobials from 11 classes using the broth microdilution method. Three criteria were used for the interpretation of minimum inhibitory concentration: Epidemiological cutoff values (ECOFFs) from the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) and Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) clinical breakpoints. The AMR cloud online platform was used for data processing and statistical analysis.

Results: A difference of >10% was found between E. faecalis and E. faecium resistance to several antimicrobials (erythromycin, gentamycin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin, and streptomycin). In total, resistance to most antimicrobials for enterococci isolates of both species taken from turkeys, chicken, and pigs was higher than cattle, sheep, and ducks. The highest levels were found for turkeys and the lowest for ducks. Among antimicrobials, resistance to bacitracin and virginiamycin was 88-100% in nearly all cases. High levels of clinical resistance were found for both bacteria species: Rifampicin (44-84%) from all animals, tetracycline (45-100%) from poultry and pigs, and erythromycin (60-100%), ciprofloxacin (23-100%), and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (33-53%) from chickens, turkeys, and pigs. No vancomycin-resistant isolates were found. Most isolates were simultaneously resistant to one–three classes of antimicrobials, and they were rarely resistant to more than three antimicrobials or sensitive to all classes.

Conclusion: Differences in resistance between enterococci from different farm animals indicate that antimicrobial application is among the crucial factors determining the level of resistance. Conversely, resistance to rifampicin, erythromycin, tetracycline, and ciprofloxacin found in enterococci from farm animals in our study was notably also found in enterococci from wild animals and birds. Our results may be partly explained by the intrinsic resistance of E. faecium and E. faecalis to some antimicrobials, such as trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole and bacitracin.

Keywords: animals, antimicrobial resistance, enterococci, Enterococcus faecium, Enterococcus faecalis, livestock.