The position of ground electrode affects electrocardiographic parameters in horses

Research (Published online: 27-04-2022)

37. The position of ground electrode affects electrocardiographic parameters in horses

Wootichai Kenchaiwong, Pamika Sangpo, Anawach Kusol, Theerapong Pontaema and Wichaporn Lerdweeraphon

Veterinary World, 15(4): 1107-1112

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Improper attachment of the grounding lead is one of the artifacts and causes difficulty in interpretation of ECG. This study aimed to examine the effects of the position of a ground electrode on electrocardiographic (ECG) parameters in horses.

Materials and Methods: Sixteen Arabian horses without any cardiac problems were included in this study. The animals were divided into two groups, the base-apex lead method 1 (BA1 method) and the base-apex lead method 2 (BA2 method) with the reposition of the ground limb electrode to the xiphoid. ECG recordings (paper speed=25 mm/s and calibration=10 mm/ mV) were performed to obtain six limb leads (leads I, II, III, aVR, aVL, and aVF). The amplitude and duration of P waves and QRS complexes, PR interval, QT interval, and T duration were analyzed. T wave morphology was observed. Heart rate was evaluated by using R-R interval in each recording.

Results: Heart rate, P duration and amplitude, PR interval and T duration, and QRS duration and amplitude were not significantly different between the BA1 and the BA2 method, except that the BA2 method had a significantly higher QT interval than did the BA1 method (p<0.05). A higher significance of the percentage of coefficient of variation was seen on the P wave amplitude and the ORS amplitude in the BA1 method when compared to BA2 method (p<0.05).

Conclusion: These data indicated that base-apex lead method with reposition of the ground limb electrode to the xiphoid can decrease variation of ECG configuration and might be useful for routine ECG evaluation and monitoring in horses. The limitation of this study was the evaluation of cardiac morphology and function by echocardiography to exclude cardiac problems. In further, the studies should examine the effect of breed, age, body weight, and sex on electrocardiography parameters in horses.

Keywords: electrocardiogram, ground electrode, horses, position.

Persistent detection of Tilapia lake virus in wild tilapia and tinfoil barbs

Research (Published online: 27-04-2022)

36. Persistent detection of Tilapia lake virus in wild tilapia and tinfoil barbs

Azila Abdullah, Afzan Muntaziana Mohd Pazai, Mohd Syafiq Mohammad Ridzuan, Fahmi Sudirwan, Shahidan Hashim, Adnan Abas, Munira Murni, Zuraidah Roli, Rimatulhana Ramly and Mohd Firdaus-Nawi

Veterinary World, 15(4): 1097-1106

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: One of the emerging viral diseases in freshwater fish is Tilapia lake virus (TiLV), which infects all stages of fish and results in mass mortalities. Previously, a TiLV case was detected in the wild environment in Malaysia that involved tilapia and tinfoil barb. Hence, this study aimed to determine the presence of TiLV in wild tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) as well as tinfoil barbs (Barbonymus schwanenfeldii) at the similar lake after the initial outbreak in year 2017.

Materials and Methods: Both fish species were sampled from this lake at a month interval for two years and subjected to TiLV detection using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and cell culture isolation. Concurrently, bacterial isolation and water quality measurements were performed to deduce their correlation with TiLV occurrence. Other wild fish species and mollusk were also occasionally sampled during the fish inventory activity at this lake. The fish's weight, length, and associated clinical signs were noted throughout the entire study period.

Results: Mortality was not observed throughout the whole study period, and results indicated a moderate to high prevalence of TiLV infection in both tilapia and tinfoil barbs. There was no correlation between TiLV infection with the isolation rate of opportunistic bacteria such as Aeromonas spp., Plesiomonas spp., and Edwardsiella spp. in the study site. At the same time, the Pearson correlation test revealed a moderate negative correlation between the water pH with the presence of TiLV (R=–0.4472; p<0.05) and a moderate positive correlation between the water iron content with the monthly detection of Aeromonas spp. in wild tilapia. This is contrary to tinfoil barbs, where there was a moderate negative correlation between the water iron content with the monthly isolation of Aeromonas spp. (R=–0.5190; p<0.05). Furthermore, isolation of TiLV on cell culture-induced viral invasion was resulted in the cytopathic effects.

Conclusion: Our results suggest that the wild fish may harbor TiLV for an extended period following a massive die-off event in 2017 without any obvious clinical signs and mortality. The persistency of viruses in the wild may need continuous and effective control as well as prevention strategies.

Keywords: Malaysia, Tilapia lake virus, tinfoil barbs, wild tilapia.

Antimicrobial resistance in Staphylococcus pseudintermedius on the environmental surfaces of a recently constructed veterinary hospital in Southern Thailand

Research (Published online: 26-04-2022)

35. Antimicrobial resistance in Staphylococcus pseudintermedius on the environmental surfaces of a recently constructed veterinary hospital in Southern Thailand

Punpichaya Fungwithaya, Narin Sontigun, Worakan Boonhoh, Kanpapat Boonchuay and Tuempong Wongtawan

Veterinary World, 15(4): 1087-1096

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Staphylococcus pseudintermedius is a zoonotic bacterium commonly found in animals, especially dogs. These bacteria can survive on environmental surfaces for several months. The infection of S. pseudintermedius from the environment is possible, but properly cleaning surface objects can prevent it. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of methicillin-resistant S. pseudintermedius (MRSP) in the environment of a recently constructed veterinary hospital in Southern Thailand, where we hypothesized that the prevalence of MRSP might be very low.

Materials and Methods: At three different time points, 150 samples were collected from different environmental surfaces and wastewater across the veterinary hospital. The collection was done after the hospital's cleaning. Bacteria were purified in the culture before being identified as species by biochemical tests and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Next, the antimicrobial-resistant profile was performed using an automated system (Vitek 2). Finally, the antimicrobial resistance genes were identified using PCR.

Results: Fifteen colonies of S. pseudintermedius were isolated from the surfaces of eight floors, four tables, two chairs, and one rebreathing tube. Fourteen colonies (93.3%) were multidrug-resistant (MDR) and carried the blaZ gene (93.3%). The majority of colonies were resistant to benzylpenicillin (93.3%), cefovecin (93.3%), ceftiofur (93.3%), kanamycin (93.3%), and neomycin (93.3%). Notably, only four colonies (26.7%) were methicillin-susceptible S. pseudintermedius, whereas 11 colonies (73.3%) were MRSP and carried both the mecA and blaZ genes. Five MRSP (45.5%) were resistant to at least 14 antimicrobial drugs, represented as extensively drug-resistant (XDR) bacteria. Ten of eleven MRSP (90.9%) were Staphylococcal chromosomal mec type V, while another displayed untypeable. Despite the routine and extensive cleaning with detergent and disinfectant, MRSP isolates were still detectable.

Conclusion: Many isolates of MRSP were found in this veterinary hospital. Almost all of them were MDR, and nearly half were XDR, posing a threat to animals and humans. In addition, the current hospital cleaning procedure proved ineffective. Future research should be conducted to determine the bacterial biofilm properties and bacterial sensitivity to certain detergents and disinfectants.

Keywords: antimicrobial resistance, cleaning, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius, veterinary hospital.

The amount of ghrelin-immunoreactive cells in the abomasum and intestines of 13-14-week-old calves supplemented with Jerusalem artichoke flour alone or in combination with Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast

Research (Published online: 26-04-2022)

34. The amount of ghrelin-immunoreactive cells in the abomasum and intestines of 13-14-week-old calves supplemented with Jerusalem artichoke flour alone or in combination with Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast

S. Jonova, A. Ilgaza, A. Ilgazs, M. Zolovs and L. Gatina

Veterinary World, 15(4): 1080-1086

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: The use of antibiotics in animals for disease prevention and productivity has been banned in the European Union since 2006. Possible alternatives can be used prebiotics, probiotics, and synbiotics. These compounds can improve feed digestion and absorption in the gastrointestinal tract with identical nutrient uptake, while imparting the feeling of satiety, which reduces the activity of ghrelin-immunoreactive (IR) cells. The number of studies performed on the activity of ghrelin-IR cells in ruminants is insufficient. In particular, there are few such studies in calves during the transition period from being a relatively monogastric animal to a ruminant. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of Jerusalem artichoke flour (containing ∼50% prebiotic inulin) and a new, commercially unavailable synbiotic (combination of Jerusalem artichoke flour and Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain 1026) on the amount of ghrelin-IR cells in the abomasum and intestines of 13-14-week-old calves.

Materials and Methods: Fifteen crossbreed, Holstein Friesian and Red Holstein calves (Bos taurus) (32±4 days, 72.1±11.34 kg) were used. Calves were allocated into three groups: Control group (CoG, n=5) received the standard diet, prebiotic group (PreG, n=5) received 12 g of flour of Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus) per head containing 6 g of prebiotic inulin in addition to the standard diet, and synbiotic group (SynG, n=5) received a synbiotic in addition to the standard diet which consisted of two different products: 12 g of flour of Jerusalem artichoke per head containing 6 g of prebiotic inulin and probiotic 5 g of a yeast S. cerevisiae strain 1026. Feed additives were added to the concentrate once a day for 56 days. On days 1, 28, and 56, the live weight of the calves was determined. On day 56 of the experiment, three calves from each group were slaughtered. Histological samples were collected from the two parts of each calf abomasum: Pars pylorica and pars fundalis and the middle part of the duodenum and jejunum. Immunohistochemical tissue staining methods were used to detect ghrelin-IR cells.

Results: The live weight of the slaughtered calves on day 56 was 115.3±21.73 kg in CoG, 130.0±17.32 kg in PreG, and 119.0±7.94 kg in SynG. Ghrelin-IR cells were more abundantly localized in the cytoplasm of the abomasum muscle gland cells in pars fundalis and pars pylorica, and to a lesser extent in the duodenum and jejunum. The number of ghrelin-IR cells in the abomasal fundic gland area was significantly higher in the CoG, than in the PreG and SynG (p=0.0001), while the difference between the PreG and SynG was not significant (p=0.700).

Conclusion: The addition of Jerusalem artichoke flour and its combination with the yeast S.cerevisiae stain 1026 in calves resulted in a lower number of ghrelin-IR cells in the abomasum, duodenum, and jejunum and, although insignificantly, increased live weight (p=0.491), suggesting that calves in these groups with the same feed intake as the CoG had a better breakdown of nutrients, thus having a longer feeling of satiety.

Keywords: calves, ghrelin, inulin, Jerusalem artichoke, Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Methodology for laboratory-based antimicrobial resistance surveillance in animals

Review (Published online: 25-04-2022)

33. Methodology for laboratory-based antimicrobial resistance surveillance in animals

Md. Al Amin, Monirul Haque Pasha, M. Nazmul Hoque, Amam Zonaed Siddiki, Sukumar Saha and Md. Mostofa Kamal

Veterinary World, 15(4): 1066-1079

ABSTRACT

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a crucial and emerging multifactorial "One Health" problem involving human and animal health, agriculture, aquaculture, and environment; and posing a potential public health hazard globally. The containment of AMR justifies effective surveillance programs to explicate the magnitude of the problem across the contributing sectors. Laboratory-based AMR testing and characterization is the key component of an AMR surveillance program. An AMR surveillance program should have a "top management" for fund mobilization, planning, formulating, and multilateral coordinating of the surveillance activities. The top management should identify competent participating laboratories to form a network comprising a reference laboratory and an adequate number of sentinel laboratories. The responsibilities of the reference laboratory include the development of standardized test methods for ensuring quality and homogeneity of surveillance activities, providing training to the laboratory personnel, and in-depth AMR characterization. The sentinel laboratories will take the responsibilities of receiving samples, isolation and identification of microbes, and initial AMR characterization. The sentinel laboratories will use simple antimicrobial susceptibility test (AST) methods such as disk diffusion tests, whereas the reference laboratories should use automated quantitative AST methods as well as advanced molecular methods to explicit AMR emergence mechanisms. Standard guidelines set by Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute or the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing, should be followed to bring about conformity and harmonization in the AST procedures. AMR surveillance program in animals is eventually similar to that in human health with the exception is that veterinary antibiotics and veterinary pathogens should be given preference here. Hence, the review study was envisaged to look deep into the structure of the AMR surveillance program with significance on laboratory-based AMR testing and characterization methods.

Keywords: animal health, antimicrobial resistance, antibiotic susceptibility test, laboratory, methodology, surveillance.

Designing prototype rapid test device at qualitative performance to detect residue of tetracycline in chicken carcass

Research (Published online: 25-04-2022)

32. Designing prototype rapid test device at qualitative performance to detect residue of tetracycline in chicken carcass

Mochamad Lazuardi, Eka Pramyrtha Hestianah and Tjuk Imam Restiadi

Veterinary World, 15(4): 1058-1065

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Human health problems due as a microbial resistance or tumors and cancers because consumption of the carcasses containing residues of tetracycline are main global problems in the context of fight against antimicrobial resistance phenomena. Explanation of the sustainable development goals, particularly point 3, is well recognized that all animal products for human consumption must be safe to live a healthy life. This study aimed to design a prototype of rapid test devices (RTD) based on principles of precipitate to obtain a specific color change after the process of reactions as an indicator to determine tetracycline residues in the carcass.

Materials and Methods: Five samples of tetracycline-containing poultry carcasses using artificial add the tetracycline at pharmaceutics grade were examined using a prototype of a strong reaction solution for tetracycline fixation based on the concept bonded by ion Fe(III) at atom O in position atom C-1 at the ring of tetracycline and ion N+ as the functional branch of tetracycline. RTD detection was evaluated using a yellow color presentation and an absorbance spectrometric technique at a wavelength of 273 nm.

Results: The following chemicals were used to create the best-fixed tetracycline residue: HCl and H2SO4 dissolved in H2O, chromatographic grade of 0.1 N and 0.5 N of HNO3, and 1% Fe (III) Cl. The RTD had a higher limit of detection (LOD) than the ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometer.

Conclusion: The results of this study revealed that RTD, as constructed in this study, can be used to detect residue at LOD 44.764 μg/mL during 120 min of exposure through a light-emitting diode at 980 nm wavelength (p<0.05). The necessity for using RTD was because of the apparent limitations of conventional devices.

Keywords: antimicrobial resistance, color indicator, health lifestyle, light-emitting diode, precipitate principles.

First study on assessments of farmers' benefits under a payment program based on dairy milk quality in Thailand

Research (Published online: 24-04-2022)

31. First study on assessments of farmers' benefits under a payment program based on dairy milk quality in Thailand

Veerasak Punyapornwithaya, Katechan Jampachaisri, Orapun Arjkumpa, Methanon Moonpho, Kunnanut Klaharn, Naovarat Kampoosiri and Chalutwan Sansamur

Veterinary World, 15(4): 1051-1057

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: To improve overall milk quality in Thailand, dairy farmers and milk collection centers employ a payment program based on milk quality (PPBMQ) for milk trade. This study aimed to determine and compare the proportion of dairy farmers receiving benefits from the PPBMQ using data from selected dairy cooperatives located in northern and central regions in Thailand.

Materials and Methods: Monthly data on milk components (n=37,077), including fat, solids not fat (SNF), and somatic cell counts (SCC) were collected from the two regions in 2018 and 2019. Based on the PPBMQ, farmers were classified into benefit-gain, benefit-loss, and no-benefit groups. A mixed-effects logistic regression model was used to compare the number of farmers in northern and central regions who received monthly benefits from the PPBMQ.

Results: More than 70% of dairy farmers benefited from the PPBMQ. The proportion of dairy farmers in the benefit-gain group was higher in the northern region (88.7%) than in the central region (57.1%). A high percentage of dairy farmers in the central region lost their benefits mainly due to SCC (40%) and SNF (44%).

Conclusion: The PPBMQ benefited the vast majority of dairy producers in the northern region and approximately two-thirds of those in the central region. Thus, the efforts of authorities and stakeholders should be enhanced to support dairy farmers in the central region in improving milk quality.

Keywords: benefits, bulk tank milk, milk compositions, milk quality, payment program, somatic cell counts.