Characterizing the antimicrobial resistance profile of Escherichia coli found in sport animals (fighting cocks, fighting bulls, and sport horses) and soils from their environment

Research (Published online: 25-11-2022)

19. Characterizing the antimicrobial resistance profile of Escherichia coli found in sport animals (fighting cocks, fighting bulls, and sport horses) and soils from their environment

Tuempong Wongtawan, Ruethai Narinthorn, Narin Sontigun, Chalutwan Sansamur, Yotsapat Petcharat, Punpichaya Fungwithaya, Phirabhat Saengsawang, Patrick J. Blackall, and Thotsapol Thomrongsuwannakij

Veterinary World, 15(11): 2673-2680

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a significant threat to global health and development. Inappropriate antimicrobial drug use in animals cause AMR, and most studies focus on livestock because of the widespread use of antimicrobial medicines. There is a lack of studies on sports animals and AMR issues. This study aimed to characterize the AMR profile of E. coli found in sports animals (fighting cocks, fighting bulls, and sport horses) and soils from their environment.

Materials and Methods: Bacterial isolation and identification were conducted to identify E. coli isolates recovered from fresh feces that were obtained from fighting cocks (n = 32), fighting bulls (n = 57), sport horses (n = 33), and soils from those farms (n = 32) at Nakhon Si Thammarat. Antimicrobial resistance was determined using 15 tested antimicrobial agents - ampicillin (AM), amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, cephalexin (CN), cefalotin (CF), cefoperazone, ceftiofur, cefquinome, gentamicin, neomycin, flumequine (UB), enrofloxacin, marbofloaxacin, polymyxin B, tetracycline (TE), and sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (SXT). The virulence genes, AMR genes, and phylogenetic groups were also examined. Five virulence genes, iroN, ompT, hlyF, iss, and iutA, are genes determining the phylogenetic groups, chuA, cjaA, and tspE4C2, were identified. The AMR genes selected for detection were blaTEM and blaSHV for the beta-lactamase group; cml-A for phenicol; dhfrV for trimethoprim; sul1 and sul2 for sulfonamides; tetA, tetB, and tetC for TEs; and qnrA, qnrB, and qnrS for quinolones.

Results: The E. coli derived from sports animals were resistant at different levels to AM, CF, CN, UB, SXT, and TE. The AMR rate was overall higher in fighting cocks than in other animals, with significantly higher resistance to AM, CF, and TE. The highest AMR was found in fighting cocks, where 62.5% of their isolates were AM resistant. In addition, multidrug resistance was highest in fighting cocks (12.5%). One extended-spectrum beta-lactamase E. coli isolate was found in the soils, but none from animal feces. The phylogenetic analysis showed that most E. coli isolates were in Group B1. The E. coli isolates from fighting cocks had more virulence and AMR genes than other sources. The AMR genes found in 20% or more of the isolates were blaTEM (71.9%), qnrB (25%), qnrS (46.9%), and tetA (56.25%), whereas in the E. coli isolates collected from soils, the only resistance genes found in 20% or more of the isolates were blaTEM (30.8%), and tetA (23.1%).

Conclusion: Escherichia coli from fighting cock feces had significantly higher resistance to AM, CF, and TE than isolates from other sporting animals. Hence, fighting cocks may be a reservoir of resistant E. coli that can transfer to the environment and other animals and humans in direct contact with the birds or the birds' habitat. Programs for antimicrobial monitoring should also target sports animals and their environment.

Keywords: antimicrobial resistance, beta-lactamase, bulls, Escherichia coli, trimethoprim.

Application of multivariate discriminant analysis for differentiation between Saudi sheep (Ovis aries) breeds based on physical and histochemical meat characteristics

Research (Published online: 22-11-2022)

18. Application of multivariate discriminant analysis for differentiation between Saudi sheep (Ovis aries) breeds based on physical and histochemical meat characteristics

Gamaleldin M. Suliman, Raed Mahmoud Al-Atiyat, Khaled H. Abu-Alruz, Amer M. Mamkagh, Firas A. Al-Zyoud, Abdullah N. Al-Owaimer, and Faisal A. Alshamiry

Veterinary World, 15(11): 2665-2672

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: The multivariate discriminant (MVD) analysis was a successful statistical tool with a discriminatory capacity for tracing sheep breeds based on meat characteristics. Thus, this study aimed to identify three Saudi sheep breeds based on the physical and histochemical aspects of meat using MVD analysis.

Materials and Methods: Eight male lambs from each breed, Najdi, Neami, and Harri, were selected randomly at 90 days of age and allocated into three groups for breeding in a completely randomized design. The feeding and rearing management were similar for an experimental period of 90 days. The experimental diet consisted of a concentrated mixture with identical amounts of calories and nitrogen. Fifty-one meat characteristics were measured in the preliminary MVD, representing hot and cold carcass weight, meat cuts and quality measures, body component weights, fat deposit weights, and histochemical characteristics.

Results: Out of the total meat characteristics measured, only 19 characteristics had significant discriminant power. The most powerful characteristics were temperature, empty intestinal weight, pH24, external carcass length, heart weight, and L1, based on partial R-square and Wilks' lambda values. The phenotypic associations between the characteristics had strong associations. The obtained principal components efficiently classified the eight individuals of each breed into distinct groups using robust discriminant characteristics.

Conclusion: This method allowed us to determine the breed of sheep carcasses and cuts by considering the physical characteristics of the meat. Therefore, butchers and consumers should use scientific techniques for assigning carcasses and meat to their sheep breed after slaughtering.

Keywords: discriminant, histochemical, multivariate, sheep meat, traceability.

Preparation and evaluation of a lateral flow immunochromatographic nanogold diagnostic kit for brucellosis in sheep

Research (Published online: 21-11-2022)

17. Preparation and evaluation of a lateral flow immunochromatographic nanogold diagnostic kit for brucellosis in sheep

Zainab Mohammed Aboelqassem, Hazem Mohammed Ibrahim, Rafik Hamed Sayed, Hassan Mohamed Sobhy, and Sahar Hussein Abdalla Hekal

Veterinary World, 15(11): 2658-2664

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease with a worldwide distribution. It has a serious impact on the health of humans and animals, along with a negative impact on the economy. This study aimed to prepare and evaluate the diagnostic performance of a lateral flow immunochromatographic test (LFIT) nanogold diagnostic kit for detecting brucellosis in sheep.

Materials and Methods: A rapidly developed LFIT, in which lipopolysaccharide conjugates with nanogold molecules, was placed on the conjugate pad. One hundred ovine serum samples were tested to detect Brucella antibodies (Ab) using the prepared lateral flow immunochromatography assay (LFA) kit and Rose Bengal test. The evaluation of specificity, sensitivity, and accuracy for LFIT and Rose Bengal plate test was conducted using the P04310-10 IDEXX brucellosis ovine/ caprine Ab enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test (gold standard).

Results: The lower amount of Brucella Ab in the ovine serum samples was detected and was 1.58 S/P ratio ELISA titer/100 μL using LFIT and with Rose Bengal to detect 1.86 S/P ratio ELISA. The results showed that the developed LFIT had high specificity with no cross-reactivity with other tested bacteria. The calculated sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of LFIT and Rose Bengal test using the P04310-10 IDEXX brucellosis ovine/caprine Ab ELISA test (gold standard) were 74% and 89%, 81% and 59%, and 76.9% and 66%, respectively.

Conclusion: The present results showed interesting results implying that the LFIA strip test could be used as a substantial diagnostic tool for field screening ovine Brucella as an essential step in the control of brucellosis. However, further studies for the validation of the present findings are necessary.

Keywords: brucellosis, diagnosis, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, lateral flow assay, lateral flow immunochromatographic test, Rose Bengal plate test.

Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry in veterinary medicine: Recent advances (2019–present)

Review (Published online: 21-11-2022)

16. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry in veterinary medicine: Recent advances (2019–present)

Jonathan E. Thompson

Veterinary World, 15(11): 2623-2657

ABSTRACT

Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry (MS) has become a valuable laboratory tool for rapid diagnostics, research, and exploration in veterinary medicine. While instrument acquisition costs are high for the technology, cost per sample is very low, the method requires minimal sample preparation, and analysis is easily conducted by end-users requiring minimal training. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight MS has found widespread application for the rapid identification of microorganisms, diagnosis of dermatophytes and parasites, protein/lipid profiling, molecular diagnostics, and the technique demonstrates significant promise for 2D chemical mapping of tissue sections collected postmortem. In this review, an overview of the MALDI-TOF technique will be reported and manuscripts outlining current uses of the technology for veterinary science since 2019 will be summarized. The article concludes by discussing gaps in knowledge and areas of future growth.

Keywords: biotyping, imaging, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight, microorganism identification, proteomics, veterinary diagnostics.

Mortality and culling of adult dairy cows in Jordan: A 3-year study (2016–2018) based on a single intensively managed dairy farm

Research (Published online: 19-11-2022)

15. Mortality and culling of adult dairy cows in Jordan: A 3-year study (2016–2018) based on a single intensively managed dairy farm

Zuhair Bani Ismail and Mohammad Musab Muhaffel

Veterinary World, 15(11): 2617-2622

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Dairy cow mortality and culling are important parameters reflecting on cow health, productivity, and welfare as well as important determinants of herd sustainability, growth, and profitability. There are no published reports on the causes and rates of mortality and culling of dairy cows in Jordan. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to determine the most common causes and rates of mortality and culling of adult dairy cows in Jordan using a single well-managed dairy farm as a model over 3 years.

Materials and Methods: Data extracted from the farm management record software over 3 years (January 2016–December 2018) were used in this study. Cow-specific data included the date and month of sale, death or euthanasia, age, parity, reproductive status, and daily milk yield. Cow health-specific data included physical examination findings, presumptive diagnosis, medical or surgical treatments, postmortem findings, and any available laboratory findings. Descriptive analysis was performed to determine means (± standard deviation) and frequencies of various variables using Excel Spreadsheets of Microsoft Word 10.

Results: The 3-year rolling cow population in the farm used in the study was 500 ± 35. The overall mortality and culling rates were 5.9% and 28.5%, respectively. The mean age of died and culled cows was 3 ± 1.2 and 4 ± 1.5 years, respectively. The mortality rates were highest in the colder months (January through April). The most frequent causes of mortality were infectious diseases (28%), followed by non-infectious gastrointestinal diseases (25%), udder and teat diseases (mastitis 22%), and other diseases/accidents (25%). Of the infectious diseases, the most frequently diagnosed were enterotoxemia (12%), tuberculosis (TB) (8%), enteric salmonellosis (7%), and paratuberculosis (1%). The most frequently diagnosed non-infectious gastrointestinal diseases were traumatic reticulitis (11%), vagal indigestion (9%), and abomasal ulcer (5%). The most frequently diagnosed diseases causing mortality involving other body systems were reproductive diseases (acute puerperal metritis 6%), respiratory diseases (pneumonia 5% and pulmonary embolism 1%), metabolic diseases (fatty liver 3%), musculoskeletal diseases (septic arthritis 3% and downer cow syndrome 4%), neurologic diseases (unspecified causes 2%), and finally accidents (electrocution 1%). The most frequent causes of culling were old age/low milk production (39%), followed by the poor reproductive performance (31%), diseases/accidents (24%), and unidentified causes (6%). The most frequent diseases/accidents causing culling were udder diseases (mastitis 32%), followed by non-infectious gastrointestinal diseases (28%) (vagal indigestion [15%], rumen tympany [7%], and abomasal ulcer [6%]), musculoskeletal diseases (23%) (foot and claw diseases [7%], downer cow syndrome [7%], hip luxation [5%], septic arthritis [2%], and gastrocnemius rupture [2%]), respiratory diseases (pneumonia 10%), and finally infectious diseases (9%) (paratuberculosis [3%], hemorrhagic bowel syndrome [2%], and TB [2%]).

Conclusion: Results of this study showed that the majority of deaths and culling of dairy cows in Jordan are due to infectious diseases followed by non-infectious gastrointestinal diseases and mastitis. More efforts aiming at improving biosecurity standards, nutritional management, and mastitis prevention measures are required to limit the impact of disease on farm economy, animal health and productivity, and animal welfare in Jordan.

Keywords: animal welfare, culling rate, dairy cows, Jordan livestock, mortality rate.

Natural high ambient temperature-induced respiratory hypocapnia without activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in lactating goats

Research (Published online: 19-11-2022)

14. Natural high ambient temperature-induced respiratory hypocapnia without activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in lactating goats

Sapon Semsirmboon, Dang Khoa Do Nguyen, Narongsak Chaiyabutr, Sutthasinee Poonyachoti, and Sumpun Thammacharoen

Veterinary World, 15(11): 2611-2616

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Activation of breathing, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, and plasma antioxidant defense are adaptive mechanisms in lactating dairy goats fed during the summer season. However, an excess of these responses can interfere with the gas exchange. This study aimed to investigate the effect of natural high ambient temperature (HTa) on blood gas parameters and their relation to the HPA axis and antioxidant defense.

Materials and Methods: Six mid-lactating goats were included in this study and were fed in individual pens for 2 weeks. The data on ambient conditions, physiological responses, and blood chemistry were measured for two sampling days (D7 and D14), 1 week apart during the late summer season. On this two-sampling day, the main physiological responses to HTa, including respiration rate (RR), rectal temperature (Tr), blood gas, and blood chemistry, were measured in the morning and afternoon.

Results: Goats from both D7 and D14 increased RR and Tr significantly according to morning and afternoon periods. In addition, goats were at the hypocapnia stage during afternoon panting without a change in blood pH and bicarbonate levels. Interestingly, HTa-induced hypocapnia was not accompanied by an increase in plasma cortisol levels. Finally, ΔTa was negatively correlated with changes in glutathione peroxidase activity.

Conclusion: The natural HTa (ΔTa; 5–8°C) in this study activated evaporative heat dissipation and was high enough to induce respiratory hypocapnia. Importantly, this ΔTa did not activate the HPA axis but was correlated with a change in antioxidant defense. Therefore, under natural HTa in tropical conditions, respiratory hypocapnia is the first line of physiological response in goats within a specific range of natural ΔTa (5–8°C).

Keywords: acid-base imbalance, lactation, Saanen goat, thermal panting, tropical climate.

Comparative study of electrocardiographic parameters in calves born after eutocia versus dystocia

Research (Published online: 18-11-2022)

13. Comparative study of electrocardiographic parameters in calves born after eutocia versus dystocia

Julia Nowak, Jessica Joerling, Marlene Sickinger, and Axel Wehrend

Veterinary World, 15(11): 2603-2610

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: The mortality rate of perinatal calves is high, particularly in dystocia cases. Besides detectable conditions such as trauma or amniotic fluid aspiration, the potential salience of cardiological diseases in neonatal bovine deaths has received little attention. This study aimed to compare the electrocardiographic parameters of calves born under conditions of dystocia and eutocia.

Materials and Methods: Electrocardiographic, clinical, and laboratory diagnostic examinations were performed during the first 5 days of life on 40 calves. Of them, 20 calves were born under conditions of dystocia and 20 of eutocia.

Results: Electrocardiograms (ECGs) did not show detectable arrhythmias in all calves. Both groups exhibited tachycardia on their first ECGs. The QT and ST interval durations developed differently over time in both groups, suggesting that these may be related to conditions of birth.

Conclusion: The electrocardiographic differences between calves born of dystocia and eutocia could be a factor in the increased mortality rate of calves born of dystocia.

Keywords: birth, bovine, electrocardiogram, neonate.