Factors associated with total coliform and total viable bacterial count in camel milk from Isiolo County, Kenya

Research (Published online: 18-08-2022)

7. Factors associated with total coliform and total viable bacterial count in camel milk from Isiolo County, Kenya

George Karuoya Gitau, Peter Kimeli, Davis Ikiror, Willy Mwangi, Douglas Machuchu, Moses Irungu Gakuru, and Genevieve Owuor

Veterinary World, 15(8): 1954-1960

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Camels have adaptive features to harsh climatic conditions, which make them a valued stable source of livelihood in arid lands. This study estimated the total bacterial and coliform counts (CCs), their associated factors in raw camel milk from the pastoral camel keepers, and the entire milk value chain in Isiolo County and Nairobi, Kenya. This study elucidates the bacterial load in camel milk and its potential risk. Moreover, this study provides recommendations on how to avert a human health hazard.

Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study targeted the camel pastoralists in Isiolo County, in the northern central part of Kenya. The study was conducted in July and August 2021. In addition, camel milk samples were collected along the value chain key points, including the producers, transporters, one bulker, and small traders in Isiolo town, and other retailers in Nairobi City. Eight camel herds were purposively selected and visited for a sample collection from pooled milking containers (10 mL each). In addition, milk was collected from pooled milk through the transporters, two milk bulkers, and several milk retailers in Isiolo town. Milk was further collected from retailers in Eastleigh town, Nairobi City. At each sampling point, 20 mL of milk sample was collected aseptically. The milk samples were assessed for total viable bacterial counts (TVBC) and CCs using the plate count and digital colony count, respectively.

Results: A total of 76 respondents were selected and 213 milk samples were collected in this study. The respondents included the 1 (1.3%) bulker, 32 (42.1%) producers, 26 (34.2%) traders, and 17 (22.4%) transporters. Most respondents were male (62%), with most being over 40 years old. Overall, the TVBC had a mean of 2436835 ± 9276636 and a median of 3600. Furthermore, the multivariable multilevel mixed-effects linear regression model indicated that gender and practice of smoking milk-handling containers were positively and negatively associated with high counts of the natural logarithm of total viable bacteria, respectively. Of the milk samples evaluated for the CC, 10.3% (22/213) had counts greater than or equal to (≥) 100,000, where some also indicated extreme outliers of about 9.3 million.

Conclusion: This study reports a low proportion of camel milk samples with high total viable bacterial and CCs. The material of the milk container and level of education interactively affected the total viable bacteria.

Keywords: camels, coliform counts, milk, pastoralists, total bacterial count.

Prevalence and tick loads in Nguni cattle reared in different environmental conditions across four provinces of South Africa

Research (Published online: 17-08-2022)

6. Prevalence and tick loads in Nguni cattle reared in different environmental conditions across four provinces of South Africa

Ntanganedzeni O. Mapholi, C. Banga, K. Dzama, O. Matika, V. Riggio, N. Nyangiwe, and A. Maiwashe

Veterinary World, 15(8): 1943-1953

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: In tropical and subtropical countries, ixodid ticks are among livestock's most economically important ectoparasites. Although Nguni cattle from South Africa have adapted to harsh environments, it is unknown whether they will be resistant to ticks, and the diseases carried by ticks under various climatic conditions. Therefore, this study aimed to compare tick load and estimate the prevalence of different tick species among Nguni cattle under different environmental conditions.

Materials and Methods: Tick counts were conducted monthly under natural challenges over 2 years on 586 Nguni cattle located at ARC-Roodeplaat and Loskop farms (warmer climate), Mukhuthali Nguni Community and the University of Fort Hare farms (cooler climate). The generalized linear model procedure of the Statistical Analysis System was used to analyze the data. It fitted the location (farm), sex, year, month or season, and animal age as covariates.

Results: The tick species (relative prevalence) observed were as follows: Amblyomma hebraeum (42%), Rhipicephalus evertsi (22%), Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) spp. (16%), Rhipicephalus appendiculatus (11%), Hyalomma marginatum (5%), and Rhipicephalus simus (4%). Tick infestation was significantly affected by location, season, year, month of the tick counting and age of the animal. Loskop farm had the highest tick count (μ = 30.69) and showed the largest variation in tick count. Compared to the other seasons, higher tick counts were seen during the hot-dry (September–November) and hot-wet (December–February) seasons. A. hebraeum was the dominant tick species across all four farms, followed by R. evertsi. The perianal region (under the tail head), the perineum and the belly body locations were the most preferred tick attachment sites.

Conclusion: These results provide useful information for developing appropriate control strategies for ticks and tick-borne diseases in these provinces of South Africa. Further work must investigate the feasibility of genetic improvement for tick resistance.

Keywords: Amblyomma hebraeum, Nguni cattle, South Africa, tick count, tick prevalences, warmer climate.

Ultrasonographic diagnosis of clinical and subclinical bovine respiratory disease in Holstein calves

Research (Published online: 17-08-2022)

5. Ultrasonographic diagnosis of clinical and subclinical bovine respiratory disease in Holstein calves

Ahmed E. Mahmoud, Ahmed Fathy, Eman Abdelhakim Ahmed, Asmaa O. Ali, Ahmed M. Abdelaal, and Mamdouh M. El-Maghraby

Veterinary World, 15(8): 1932-1942

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is the main cause of death in calves, and early BRD diagnosis saves lives. This study aimed to diagnose clinical and subclinical BRD in calves by assessing some biochemical alterations and ultrasonography (USG).

Materials and Methods: Fifty-four Holstein dairy calves in Al-Sharqiyah Province, Egypt, were used in the study. They were divided into three groups. The first control group consisted of 10 clinically healthy calves. The second group consisted of 34 calves suffering from clinical lower respiratory tract disorders. The third group consisted of 10 subclinical BRD-affected calves. Ultrasonographic examinations of chest and thoracic ultrasound scoring were performed once per 2 weeks for each calf. Blood samples were collected for serum separation to measure albumin (ALB), total protein (TP), ALB, globulin, and haptoglobin (HP).

Results: The USG revealed small consolidation areas within an aerated lung lobe, a hypoechoic parenchyma of the entire distal lung lobe, and a hypoechoic-circumscribed structure surrounded by an echogenic wall appeared within the lung tissue in calves that suffered from lobular pneumonia, lobar pneumonia, and lung abscess, respectively. However, subclinical cases showed a small consolidation area in the cranial aspects of the right cranial lung lobe. The ultrasound lung score (ULS) was greater in clinical than in subclinical cases. The BRD-affected calves recorded significant increases in serum TP, globulin, and HP. Meanwhile, serum ALB decreased significantly.

Conclusion: Thoracic ultrasound had a reliable tool in the BRD diagnosis, especially in the early prediction of subclinical cases in newborn calves. In addition, the ULS appeared to be a better classifier than the clinical respiratory score (CRS) for BRD diagnosis. On the other side, it was found that regression models were very useful in assessing the prediction of biochemical blood parameters based on the ULS and CRS in diseased cases.

Keywords: bovine respiratory disease, calves, haptoglobin, thoracic ultrasound.

Risk-associated factors associated with the bovine viral diarrhea virus in dromedary camels, sheep, and goats in abattoir surveillance and semi-closed herd system

Research (Published online: 16-08-2022)

4. Risk-associated factors associated with the bovine viral diarrhea virus in dromedary camels, sheep, and goats in abattoir surveillance and semi-closed herd system

Abdullah I. A. Al-Mubarak, Jamal Hussen, Mahmoud Kandeel, Anwar A. G. Al-Kubati, Baraa Falemban, Abdullah Skeikh, and Maged Gomaa Hemida

Veterinary World, 15(8): 1924-1931

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is one of the most important viral pathogens causing high economic losses in cattle of all ages. Despite the active vaccination campaigns against BVDV, many outbreaks are still detected in various populations of cattle worldwide. Other species of animals such as dromedary camels, sheep, and goats may harbor BVDV infection and cause variable clinical syndromes. Thus, they may act as a source of infection to the cattle population around them. However, little is still known about the roles of these animals in the viral transmission and sustainability of BVDV in the environment. This study aimed to explore if the dromedary camels, sheep, and goats may seroconvert against BVDV and to study some associated risk factors for BVDV in these species of animals.

Materials and Methods: We tested 1012 serum samples from dromedary camels, 84 from goats, and 21 from sheep for BVDV antibodies using commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. Meanwhile, we selected 211 serum samples from dromedary camels to be tested for the BVDV antigen using the commercial ELISA kits.

Results: Our results show that 49/1117 serum samples were positive for the BVDV antibodies in dromedary camels (46/1012), goats (3/84), and none of the tested sheep samples were positive. However, none of the collected serum samples tested positive for the BVDV antigen.

Conclusion: Seroconversion of some dromedary camels, sheep, and goats to the BVDV with no history of vaccination against BVDV strongly suggests the potential roles of these species of animals in the virus transmission cycle. The main limitations of the current study are (1) the lack of samples from other species of animals that lived close by these animals, particularly cattle. (2) lack of follow-up samples from the same animal over a long period. We believe the long-term longitudinal study of BVDV in various species of animals, particularly dromedary camels, goats, and sheep, is one of our future research directions. This will provide more information about the dynamics of BVDV antibodies in these species of animals.

Keywords: antibody, antigen, bovine viral diarrhea virus, dromedary camel, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, goats, risk factors, serosurveillance, sheep.

Oxidative stress, biochemical, and histopathological changes associated with acute lumpy skin disease in cattle

Research (Published online: 15-08-2022)

3. Oxidative stress, biochemical, and histopathological changes associated with acute lumpy skin disease in cattle

Ahmed Kamr, Hany Hassan, Ramiro Toribio, Anis Anis, Mohamed Nayel, and Ali Arbaga

Veterinary World, 15(8): 1916-1923

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is a highly infectious endemic viral disease of cattle in Africa and the Middle East. The objectives of this study were to assess histopathological changes in cattle infected with LSD and measure serum malondialdehyde (MDA – oxidant) and total anti-oxidant capacity (TAC – anti-oxidant), trace elements (zinc, copper, and iron), cytokines (interleukin [IL]-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-α]), haptoglobin (Hp), serum amyloid A (SAA), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), creatine phosphokinase (CPK), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatinine concentrations.

Materials and Methods: Blood samples were collected from a total of sixty native and mixed breed cattle; (healthy; n = 25) and (LSD diseased; n = 35). Serum concentrations of MDA and TAC were measured by colorimetric methods. Serum IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, Hp, and SAA concentrations were determined using human-specific enzyme-linked immunoassay kits.

Results: Serum MDA, cytokine (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α), Hp, SAA, AST, ALT, CPK, BUN, and creatinine concentrations were significantly higher, while TAC, IL-10, zinc, copper, and iron concentrations were significantly lower in LSD compared to healthy cattle (p < 0.05). Cows and exotic mixed breed cattle were at higher risk of LSD oxidative stress than bulls and local breeds (p < 0.05). Age was not associated with the risk of LSD (p > 0.05). Histologically, there was extensive tissue necrosis, severe vasculitis, mononuclear cell infiltration, and intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies.

Conclusion: LSD is associated with pro-oxidative and pro-inflammatory states from imbalances that favor pro-oxidant and pro-inflammatory factors in the detriment of anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory factors, leading to organ dysfunction and ultimately death. Oxidative stress is more frequent in cows and mixed breed cattle than in bulls and local breeds.

Keywords: acute phase proteins, cytokines, lumpy skin disease, malondialdehyde, total anti-oxidant capacity.

A review of horses as a source of spreading livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus to human health

Review (Published online: 11-08-2022)

2. A review of horses as a source of spreading livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus to human health

Aswin Rafif Khairullah, Sri Agus Sudjarwo, Mustofa Helmi Effendi, Sancaka Chasyer Ramandinianto, Agus Widodo, and Katty Hendriana Priscilia Riwu

Veterinary World, 15(8): 1906-1915

ABSTRACT

Livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (LA-MRSA) was first discovered in horses in 1989. Since then, LA-MRSA has begun to be considered an important strain of pathogenic bacteria in horses, which can cause LA-MRSA infection and colonization in humans with public health impacts. The anterior nares are the primary site of LA-MRSA colonization in horses, although LA-MRSA colonization may also occur in the gastrointestinal tract in horses. LA-MRSA-infected horses typically exhibit clinical infection or may not exhibit clinical infection. There are two potential risks associated with LA-MRSA colonization in horses: The possibility of disease development in horses infected with LA-MRSA and the possibility of LA-MRSA transfer to humans and other horses. The diagnosis of LA-MRSA in horses can be made by conducting in vitro sensitivity testing for oxacillin and cefoxitin, and then followed by a molecular test using polymerase chain reaction. LA-MRSA transmission in animal hospitals and on farms is most likely due to contact with horses infected or colonized by LA-MRSA. The history of prior antibiotic administration, history of prior LA-MRSA colonization, and length of equine hospitalization were described as risk factors in cases of infection and colonization of LA-MRSA in horses. Nebulized antibiotics may be a viable alternative to use in horses, but nebulized antibiotics are only used in horses that are persistently colonized with LA-MRSA. Controlling the spread of LA-MRSA in horses can be done by regularly washing horses, eradicating vectors in horse stalls such as rats, and maintaining the cleanliness of the stable and animal hospital environment. Meanwhile, cleaning hands, using gloves, and donning protective clothes are ways that humans can prevent the transmission of LA-MRSA when handling horses. This review will explain the definition of LA-MRSA in general, LA-MRSA in horses, the epidemiology of LA-MRSA in horses, the diagnosis of LA-MRSA in horses, the transmission of LA-MRSA in horses, risk factors for spreading LA-MRSA in horses, public health impact, treatment of LA-MRSA infection in horses, and control of the spread of LA-MRSA in horses.

Keywords: horse, LA-MRSA, public health, risk factors.

Potency of bacterial sialidase Clostridium perfringens as antiviral of Newcastle disease infections using embryonated chicken egg in ovo model

Research (Published online: 06-08-2022)

1. Potency of bacterial sialidase Clostridium perfringens as antiviral of Newcastle disease infections using embryonated chicken egg in ovo model

Ryan Septa Kurnia, Simson Tarigan, Christian Marco Hadi Nugroho, Otto Sahat Martua Silaen, Lily Natalia, Fera Ibrahim, and Pratiwi Pudjilestari Sudarmono

Veterinary World, 15(8): 1896-1905

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Clostridium toxins are widely used as medicinal agents. Many active metabolic enzymes, including sialidase (neuraminidase), hyaluronidase, and collagenase, contribute to the mechanism of action of these toxins. Sialidase from Clostridium perfringens recognizes and degrades sialic acid receptors in the host cell glycoprotein, glycolipid, and polysaccharide complexes. Sialic acid promotes the adhesion of various pathogens, including viruses, under pathological conditions. This study aimed to investigate the potential of C. perfringens sialidase protein to inhibit Newcastle disease virus (NDV) infection in ovo model.

Materials and Methods: C. perfringens was characterized by molecular identification through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and is cultured in a broth medium to produce sialidase. In addition, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis was conducted to characterize the sialidase protein. In contrast, enzymatic activity and protein concentration were carried out using a neuraminidase assay kit and Bradford to obtain suitable active substances. Furthermore, embryonated chicken egg models were used to observe the toxicity of several sialidase doses. Then, the hemagglutination (HA) titer was obtained, and absolute quantitative reverse transcription–PCR assay was performed to measure the viral replication inhibitory activity of sialidase against NDV.

Results: Each isolate had a specific sialidase gene and its product. The sialidase derived from C. perfringens could hydrolyze the sialic acid receptor Neu5Ac (2,6)-Gal higher than Neu5Ac (2,3)Gal in chicken erythrocytes, as observed by enzyme-linked lectin assay. A significant difference (p = 0.05) in the HA titer in the pre-challenge administration group at dosages of 375 mU, 187.5 mU, and 93.75 mU in the competitive inhibition experiment suggests that sialidase inhibits NDV reproduction. Quantification of infective viral copy confirmed the interference of viral replication in the pre-challenge administration group, with a significant difference (p = 0.05) at the treatment doses of 750 mU, 375 mU, and 46.87 mU.

Conclusion: The potency of sialidase obtained from C. perfringens was shown in this study, given its ability to reduce the viral titer and copy number in allantoic fluids without adversely impacting the toxicity of the chicken embryo at different concentrations.

Keywords: Clostridium perfringens, lectin, polysaccharide, sialidase, viral replication.