Ectoparasites of brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) in Grenada, West Indies

Research (Published online: 13-09-2019)

6. Ectoparasites of brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) in Grenada, West Indies

Katelyn Noelle Thille, Nia Francesca Rametta, Daniel Mark Fitzpatrick, Camille Coomansingh Springer, Keshaw Tiwari, Rhonda Denise Pinckney and Ravindra Nath Sharma

Veterinary World, 12(9): 1390-1394

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Arthropod ectoparasites (mites, lice, ticks, and fleas) on common house rats or brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) are known to transmit zoonotic pathogens and diminish rat health. To the best of our knowledge, there is no published information regarding the prevalence of ectoparasites on R. norvegicus in Grenada. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and types of ectoparasites present on brown rats from Grenada.

Materials and Methods: One hundred sixty-eight rats were collected live from the parishes of St. George and St. David, Grenada, from May to July 2017. Following euthanasia, external parasites were collected using fine combs, thumb forceps, and paper tape. Tape samples and free specimens were placed in containers with 70% ethanol. External parasites were evaluated using dissection microscopy.

Results: Over 2000 ectoparasites were collected from 149 of the 168 trapped rats (88.7%). Ectoparasites identified included mesostigmatid mites (found on 84.6% of infested rats), fur mites in the families Atopomelidae and Listrophoridae (67.1%), Polyplax spp. lice (6.7%), fleas (3.4%), an unidentified larval tick (0.7%), and a mite in the family Myobiidae (0.7%). Infestation rates were higher in St. David Parish (86/89; 96.6%) than in St. George Parish (63/79; 79.7%) (p=0.001). When comparing sex and age, males had a marginal increase in infestation rate (83/89; 93.3%) compared to females (66/79; 83.5%) (p=0.054), and adults had an infestation rate of 90.7% (97/107) compared to juvenile rats who had a 66.7% (14/21) infestation rate.

Conclusion: Brown rats in Grenada are heavily infested with ectoparasites, including known vectors of pathogens. Future studies will examine the prevalence of zoonotic pathogens in these arthropods.

Keywords: brown rats, ectoparasites, Grenada.

Bactericidal and virucidal efficacies of food additive grade calcium hydroxide under various concentrations, organic material conditions, exposure duration, and its stability

Research (Published online: 13-09-2019)

5. Bactericidal and virucidal efficacies of food additive grade calcium hydroxide under various concentrations, organic material conditions, exposure duration, and its stability

Sakchai Ruenphet, Kornkamon Paditporn, Darsaniya Punyadarsaniya, Tippawan Jantafong and Kazuaki Takehara

Veterinary World, 12(9): 1383-1389

ABSTRACT

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the bactericidal and virucidal activity of food additive grade calcium hydroxide (FdCa(OH)2) under various concentrations, organic material conditions, and exposure duration including its stability.

Materials and Methods: The FdCa(OH)2 powder as well as the 0.17% and 3% solutions were evaluated for bacteria and virus inactivating efficacies against Salmonella infantis (SI), Escherichia coli, Newcastle disease virus (NDV), and avian influenza virus (AIV), in the absence or presence of organic materials. In addition, the stability of FdCa(OH)2, was also examined using wet-dry conditions and under sunlight.

Results: The FdCa(OH)2 powder could inactivate both NDV and AIV in the absence and presence of organic materials within a 3 min exposure period. The bactericidal efficacy using solution form revealed that 0.17% and 3% of FdCa(OH)2 could inactivate SI in the absence and presence of organic materials within 3 min of exposure. However, 3% of FdCa(OH)2 inactivated E. coli both with and without organic materials within 3min, while 0.17% required 5 min to be efficacious. The virucidal efficacy also showed that 0.17% FdCa(OH)2 could inactivate NDV in the absence and presence of organic materials within 10 min and 30 min, respectively. However, AIV inactivation was achieved within 30 sec under all conditions. In addition, under wet and dry conditions, FdCa(OH)2 powder demonstrated high efficacy when re-suspended at least 16 times for NDV and 7 times for AIV. Simultaneously, the FdCa(OH)2 powder retained its efficacy under the sunlight during up to 4 months for NDV and at least 6 months for AIV.

Conclusion: The present study indicates that FdCa(OH)2 powder and solutions could inactivate SI, E. coli, NDV, and AIV while retaining good stability under challenging environmental conditions. Finally, the FdCa(OH)2 is safe for consumers because it is of food additive grade and can be useful as an alternative disinfectant, especially for biosecurity enhancement on and around poultry farms.

Keywords: bactericidal, biosecurity, food additive grade calcium hydroxide, virucidal.

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Molecular and phylogenetic study of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from human and cattle of Al-Qadisiyah Governorate, Iraq

Research (Published online: 12-09-2019)

4. Molecular and phylogenetic study of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from human and cattle of Al-Qadisiyah Governorate, Iraq

Ahmed Jasim Neamah, Hayder Naji Ayyez, Saba Falah Klaif, Yahia Ismail Khudhair and Muthanna Hadi Hussain

Veterinary World, 12(9): 1378-1382

ABSTRACT

Aim: This study was designed to detect the prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus, to estimate the frequency of methicillin resistance gene (mecA), femA (specific gene for S. aureus), and lukS gene, and the prevalence of urinary tract infection (UTI) in human and bovine mastitis caused by S. aureus.

Materials and Methods: A total of 102 cases of S. aureus were included in this study; 72 specimens were isolated from human with UTIs and 30 specimens were isolated from milk of cattle with acute mastitis. Diagnosis was done by VITEK 2 Compact after subculture and purification. All isolates were examined for the presence of mecA, femA, and lukS (Panton- Valentine leukocidin) using multiplex polymerase chain reaction.

Results: Culture and biochemical evaluation of the samples revealed the presence of S. aureus, among which the genes mecA, femA, and lukS were positively detected in 68 (94.4%), 36 (50%), and 20 (27.7%) of S. aureus isolates from methicillin-resistant humans, respectively. In the same manner, the genes mecA, femA, and lukS were positively detected in 27 (90%), 14 (46.7%), and 11 (36.7%) of S. aureus isolates from methicillin-resistant cattle. Sequencing of partial order of femA gene isolated from human isolate and from cattle with mecA isolated from human revealed high sequence identity with the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI)-Basic Local Alignment Search Tool. S. aureus isolates and the phylogenetic analysis showed that there was a significant genetic similarity (0.5 genetic change) between human and animals isolates, and then, the gene sequences were deposited into NCBI-Genbank accession numbers MG696860.1 for mecA and femA from human, MG696861.1 for mecA and femA from cattle, MK474469.1 for mecA and femA gene from human, and MG696862.1 for mecA and femA gene from cattle.

Conclusion: The study represents the first report of genetic relationship between S. aureus from humans and cattle of Iraq. Therefore, it is essential to define the role of animals as an important source of the distribution of pathogen related to public health. The continuous monitoring of methicillin susceptibility pattern of S. aureus isolates that have high standards of infections might prevent methicillin-resistant S. aureus transmission in either direction between human and cattle, the risk of dairy milk on humans, or self-direction between the same species.

Keywords: antibiotic, leukotoxin, methicillin, Panton-Valentine, resistance, Staphylococcus aureus.

Identification of carbon nanotube particles in liver tissue and its effects on apoptosis of birds exposed to air pollution

Research (Published online: 12-09-2019)

3. Identification of carbon nanotube particles in liver tissue and its effects on apoptosis of birds exposed to air pollution

Ahmed Mahdi Al-Badri, Ali Fayadh Bargooth, Jafar Ghazi Al-Jebori and Esraa Abdul Khaliq Zegyer

Veterinary World, 12(9): 1372-1377

ABSTRACT

Aim: This study aimed to distinguish carbon nanotube (CNT) particles and their pathological effects on the liver of birds in areas with carbon emissions.

Materials and Methods: Twenty-one domestic ducks were collected from pure farmers and exposed to different sources of air pollution. Histological stains were used to detect the accumulation of carbon particles. In addition, acridine orange/ ethidium bromide staining was used to detect apoptosis, and scanning electron microscope (SEM) technique was used to determine the morphological design of carbon particles.

Results: Light microscope results showed that the liver sections contain multiwalled CNTs (MWCNTs) which appear as black spots in the hepatic parenchyma. The histopathological changes of parenchyma include sinusoidal dilatation, infiltration, and congestion with frequently high number of macrophages. In general, early destruction of hepatic parenchyma was observed. Moreover, SEM results showed two morphological types of CNTs: The ball-shaped nanoparticles scattered as ultrafine carbon black and fiber form of carbon particles were recognized as MWCNTs in the hepatic tissue. Fluorescence microscopy results showed the early and progressive stages of apoptosis in the hepatic cells of birds in polluted areas, which can be related to the degree and exposure period to pollutants.

Conclusion: The study indicates that liver morbidity of birds living in the farms affected by the pollution of brick factories is higher than the birds living in farms affected by the pollution of oil fields.

Keywords: air pollution, apoptosis, carbon nanotube.

Administration of Streptococcus bovis isolated from sheep rumen digesta on rumen function and physiology as evaluated in a rumen simulation technique system

Research (Published online: 11-09-2019)

2. Administration of Streptococcus bovis isolated from sheep rumen digesta on rumen function and physiology as evaluated in a rumen simulation technique system

Durgadevi Aphale, Aamod Natu, Sharad Laldas and Aarohi Kulkarni

Veterinary World, 12(9): 1362-1371

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Little information about the stability and changes of sheep ruminal microbiota due to pathogen intervention in the rumen simulation technique (RUSITEC) is available. This study aimed to investigate the effect of administration of a novel isolated Streptococcus bovis strain on rumen microbiology and physiology. In addition, the isolation of pigment-producing Streptococcus lutetiensis is described.

Materials and Methods: Microbial strains were isolated from sheep rumen digesta. An isolated strain of S. bovis was evaluated in the RUSITEC system fed with mixed cattle feed and compared with an in-house developed probiotic formulation (PF), PF 1, containing Bacillus amyloliquifaciens, Bacillus subtilis, and Propionibacterium freudenreichii. The parameters of volatile fatty acid, lactic acid, pH profiling, and the coliform anti-pathogenicity were evaluated to determine the effect of S. bovis on rumen function and physiology.

Results: Administration of S. bovis reduced the coliform count by 31.20% from 7.2×1010 colony-forming units (CFU)/ mLto 1.7×106 CFU/mL. Agar diffusion assays revealed the extracellular antimicrobial activity of S. bovis against coliforms; Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica with 12 and 14 mm zones of inhibition, respectively. Simultaneously, an increase of 61.62% in the rumen yeast count was noted. The physiological changes resulted in a 5% reduction in acetic acid concentration from 431 to 405 mg/L.

Conclusion: The present research indicates that S. bovis is highly capable of altering rumen physiology and function on colonization and is a key transition microbe to be studied during rumen intervention studies. A decrease in the coliform count could be attributed to extracellular production of a bacteriocin-like substance, as illustrated through agar diffusion assays.

Keywords: bacteriocin, probiotic, rumen simulation technique, rumen, Streptococcus bovis.

Correlation between hematological profile and theileriosis in Bali cattle from Muara Bulian, Jambi, Indonesia

Research (Published online: 11-09-2019)

1. Correlation between hematological profile and theileriosis in Bali cattle from Muara Bulian, Jambi, Indonesia

N. Aziz, M. Maksudi and Y. A. Prakoso

Veterinary World, 12(9): 1358-1361

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Theileriosis is a parasitic disease caused by the hemoprotozoan Theileria spp. The main transmission route of this disease is through tick vector bite. Theileriosis causes economic losses in livestock such as Bali cattle. This study aims to analyze the prevalence of theileriosis and its correlation with the hematological profile of Bali cattle from the subdistrict of Muara Bulian, Batang Hari, Jambi, Indonesia.

Materials and Methods: Ninety-four blood samples were collected through jugular vein of Bali cattle. The presence of Theileria spp. was determined using blood smear. Routine blood tests and double-staining immunohistochemistry against CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes were conducted on all blood samples.

Results: A total of 34.04% of the samples were infected by Theileria spp. Theileriosis affected only hemoglobin level (p<0.05); it did not affect the other parameters of the hematological profile (p>0.05). However, it also decreased CD4+ and CD4+/CD8+ ratio (p<0.05), besides increasing CD8+ (p<0.05).

Conclusion: Theileriosis does not change the hematological profile of Bali cattle except for the hemoglobin levels. Moreover, it promotes T-cell depletion.

Keywords: Bali cattle, CD4+/CD8+ ratio, correlation, hematological profile, prevalence, theileriosis.

γ-Aminobutyric acid production by selected lactic acid bacteria isolate of an Indonesian indigenous fermented buffalo milk (dadih) origin

Research (Published online: 30-08-2019)

26. γ-Aminobutyric acid production by selected lactic acid bacteria isolate of an Indonesian indigenous fermented buffalo milk (dadih) origin

Harnentis Harnentis, Nurmiati Nurmiati, Yetti Marlida, Frederick Adzitey and Nurul Huda

Veterinary World, 12(8): 1352-1357

ABSTRACT

Aim: This study aimed at optimizing γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) production using lactic acid bacteria (LAB) of an Indonesian indigenous fermented buffalo milk (dadih) origin. This study utilized LAB previously cultured from dadih that has the ability to produce GABA.

Materials and Methods: The study started with the identification of selected LAB by 16S rRNA, followed by optimization of GABA production by culture conditions using different initial pH, temperature, glutamate concentration, incubation time, carbon, and nitrogen sources. 16S rRNA polymerase chain reaction and analysis by phylogenetic were used to identify Lactobacillus plantarum (coded as N5) responsible for the production of GABA.

Results: GABA production by high-performance liquid chromatography was highest at pH of 5.5, temperature of 36°C, glutamate concentration of 500 mM, and incubation time of 84 h. Peptone and glucose served as the nitrogen and carbon sources, respectively, whereas GABA was produced at optimum fermentation condition of 211.169 mM.

Conclusion: Production of GABA by L. plantarum N5 was influenced by initial pH of 5.5, glutamic acid concentration, nitrogen source, glucose as carbon source, and incubation temperature and time.

Keywords: fermented buffalo milk, Indonesian indigenous product, lactic acid bacteria, γ-aminobutyric acid.