Armed conflict and the proliferation of antimicrobial resistance: The situation in war-ravaged Afghanistan

Review (Published online: 21-04-2022)

5. Armed conflict and the proliferation of antimicrobial resistance: The situation in war-ravaged Afghanistan

Mohammad Aman Ahmadzai, Qiamudin Shinwari, Agharid A. Al-Rasheed and Bashiru Garba

International Journal of One Health, 8(1): 43-47

ABSTRACT

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) constitutes a serious impediment to the attainment of the World Health Organization's Sustainable Development Goals, which seek to ensure and promote healthy living among humans and animals. Studies have identified the vulnerability of conflict-affected populations to exposure to antimicrobial-resistant pathogens. Resource-limited countries like Afghanistan have suffered for long periods from armed conflicts, and this situation is exacerbated by the already poor or dilapidated healthcare delivery services. The country has suffered human and economic losses due to antimicrobial-resistant bacterial infections driven by the prolonged war, as well as a limited number of antimicrobials and frequent under dosage. Most reports point to the overuse of broad-spectrum antibiotics as the main reason for building up resistant strains. There is a need for more efforts toward identifying the major contributors and enlightening the public on the importance of AMR. This review aimed to provide a critical appraisal regarding the current situation of AMR in Afghanistan.

Keywords: Afghanistan, antimicrobial resistance, armed conflict, hospital-acquired infection, public health.

Knowledge and perception of veterinary students on One Health: A first nationwide multi-institutional survey in Nepal

Research (Published online: 21-04-2022)

4. Knowledge and perception of veterinary students on One Health: A first nationwide multi-institutional survey in Nepal

Deepak Subedi, Anil Gautam, Deepak Sapkota, Sanju Subedi, Shreeya Sharma, Madinat Abdulkareem, Milan Kandel, Harischandra Ghimire and Ismail A. Odetokun

International Journal of One Health, 8(1): 34-42

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: One Health (OH) is a collaborative, multisectoral, and holistic approach for the prevention and control of emerging and re-emerging zoonotic diseases affecting animals and humans. In Nepal, the OH concept remains rudimentary. However, the recently formed "One Health Strategy" is a ray of hope. Veterinary students are the future of animal health, a major component of OH. This study aimed to determine the knowledge and perception of Nepalese veterinary students toward OH.

Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted among veterinary students in all four veterinary colleges in Nepal to obtain knowledge on OH and zoonotic disease and understand the perception of the benefits of OH obtained using an online survey tool through a convenience sampling technique. Data collected were subjected to descriptive statistics, Chi-Square test, and logistic regression analysis.

Results: A total of 333 participants, including recent graduates (mean age: 22.3±2.2 years) participated in this study. The mean knowledge score was 19.8±3.8 and about half of the respondents, 185 (55.6%) demonstrated satisfactory scores on OH. Most of the respondents have a positive perception of the benefits of OH as participants largely agreed that the OH approach needs to become a regular, routine, and institutionalized process at the project, program, and policy levels; is useful in addressing complex challenges that threaten human and animal health, food security, poverty, and the environments where diseases flourish; and it creates added value in terms of human and animal health, financial savings or social and environmental benefits from closer professional cooperation. Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that age, educational, and academic levels were significant factors influencing satisfactory knowledge on OH among respondents.

Conclusion: Nepalese veterinary students demonstrated satisfactory knowledge of OH and a good level of perception of the benefits of OH. An apprehensive understanding of the current status of the OH approach in Nepal through studies like this is crucial for the future improvement of public and animal health.

Keywords: knowledge, Nepal, One Health, veterinary students.

Effect of a probiotic containing lactobacilli and bifidobacteria on the metabolic processes, litter microbiocenosis, and production indicators of broiler Pekin ducklings

Research (Published online: 20-04-2022)

25. Effect of a probiotic containing lactobacilli and bifidobacteria on the metabolic processes, litter microbiocenosis, and production indicators of broiler Pekin ducklings

Ayrat Khabirov, Ruzil Avzalov, Gulnara Tsapalova, Alexandra Andreeva and Almaz Basharov

Veterinary World, 15(4): 998-1005

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: The use of antibiotics is prohibited in poultry feeding in many countries worldwide, which has resulted in the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Therefore, probiotic supplements are a good alternative in these circumstances. Probiotics, including Bifidobacterium adolescentis and Lactobacillus acidophilus, can reduce the development of resistance and stimulate the growth of broiler ducklings. This study aimed to evaluate properties of the probiotic supplement containing these bacteria.

Materials and Methods: We studied the response of broiler ducklings to the addition of a dietary probiotic supplement containing lactobacilli and bifidobacteria until they reached 7 weeks of age. All birds participating in the experiment received probiotic supplements on days 1-7, 15-21, 29-35. The state of the ducklings was assessed on day 21. At the age of 21 and 42 days, 4-5 ml of blood was drawn from the wing vein of 10 randomly selected birds (5 in each group). Blood samples were analyzed for total protein, concentration of glucose, hemoglobin, calcium and inorganic phosphorus, as well as the number of erythrocytes and leukocytes. Enzymatic calorimetric method, molybdate method, and haemocytometry according to Nutt method and haemoglobin cyanide method were used to analyze blood samples.

Results: The live weight of the experimental ducklings increased by 5.0%, showing a positive effect of probiotic supplementation, whereas their feed consumption per kilogram of weight gain decreased. Their hemoglobin content and red blood cell count increased. Although the number of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria increased, the number of Escherichia coli cells decreased 2.15-fold (p<0.05). The addition of the probiotic supplement contributed to improving the digestibility of protein and fat by 1.6%, fiber by 3.4%, and nitrogen-free extractive substances by 4.7%. The broiler ducklings had high meat quality indicators, including dressing percentage, which increased by 5.4%, whereas the fat content decreased by 1.3%.

Conclusion: The introduction of the probiotic supplement in the diet of broiler ducklings improved their growth indicators and increased the number of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria while decreasing the number of E. coli cells in the intestine. It not only improved the meat quality but also increased the profit from $0.392 per bird in the control group to $0.472 per bird in the experimental group. Therefore, this probiotic supplement is a good alternative for raising ducklings in large enterprises and farms. The study limitations may be that the results are only applicable to broiler ducklings. The use of lactobacilli may yield different results in other bird breeds or broiler ducklings in different age groups.

Keywords: metabolism, microbiocenosis, Pekin ducks, probiotic supplementation, production.

The first study on the effect of crocodile oil from Crocodylus siamensis on hepatic mitochondrial function for energy homeostasis in rats

Research (Published online: 19-04-2022)

24. The first study on the effect of crocodile oil from Crocodylus siamensis on hepatic mitochondrial function for energy homeostasis in rats

Kongphop Parunyakul, Krittika Srisuksai, Pitchaya Santativongchai, Urai Pongchairerk, Sumate Ampawong, Phitsanu Tulayakul and Wirasak Fungfuang

Veterinary World, 15(4): 986-997

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Consumption of fatty acids (FA) can alter hepatic energy metabolism and mitochondrial function in the liver. Crocodile oil (CO) is rich in mono-and polyunsaturated FAs, which have natural anti-inflammatory and healing properties. In rat livers, we investigated the effect of CO on mitochondrial function for energy homeostasis.

Materials and Methods: Twenty-one male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups at random. Group 1 rats were given sterile water (RO), Group 2 rats were given CO (3% v/w), and Group 3 rats were given palm oil (PO) (3% v/w). For 7 weeks, rats were given sterile water, CO, and PO orally. The researchers looked at body weight, food intake, liver weight, energy intake, blood lipid profiles, and mitochondria-targeted metabolites in the liver. The liver's histopathology, mitochondrial architecture, and hydrolase domain containing 3 (HDHD3) protein expression in liver mitochondria were studied.

Results: Body weight, liver weight, liver index, dietary energy intake, and serum lipid profiles were all unaffected by CO treatment. The CO group consumed significantly less food than the RO group. The CO group also had significantly higher levels of oxaloacetate and malate than the PO group. CO treatment significantly ameliorated hepatic steatosis, as evidenced by a greater decrease in the total surface area of lipid particles than PO treatment. CO administration preserved mitochondrial morphology in the liver by upregulating the energetic maintenance protein HDHD3. Furthermore, chemical-protein interactions revealed that HDHD3 was linked to the energy homeostatic pathway.

Conclusion: CO may benefit liver function by preserving hepatic mitochondrial architecture and increasing energy metabolic activity.

Keywords: crocodile oil, energy metabolism, liver, mitochondria, rat.

Effect of a single meloxicam administration on newborn Holstein–Friesian dystocia calves: Field results from the first 10 days of life

Research (Published online: 19-04-2022)

23. Effect of a single meloxicam administration on newborn Holstein–Friesian dystocia calves: Field results from the first 10 days of life

Fabian Kunz, Sait Sendag, Mehmet Yildiz, Klaus Failing and Axel Wehrend

Veterinary World, 15(4): 981-985

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Calves have increased morbidity and mortality rates after dystocia. One cause is pain during birth, which reduces their colostrum intake. The administration of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may break this causality. This study aimed to determine the consequences of a single administration of the NSAID meloxicam to dystocia calves after birth.

Materials and Methods: Fifty Holstein–Friesian calves born with dystocia from four dairy cattle farms were included in this study. The animals were randomized into two groups. The animals in Group I (n=25, treatment group) received subcutaneous 0.5 mg meloxicam/kg body weight 2-8 h after birth. The animals in Group II (n=25, control group) received a control substance (Amynin®, bovine infusion solution, Merial) with the same volume. The newborn calves were clinically examined on the 1st and 10th days of life. The information regarding the days in between was gathered by questioning the farmer.

Results: There was a significant difference (p=0.04) only in calves with thin, mushy fecal consistency on the 10th day in the treatment group compared with the control group. Moreover, meloxicam had no effect on dystocia calves.

Conclusion: Since NSAID administration did not produce a significant clinical effect, its necessity is questionable. Further studies should examine how modifying its application time would have an effect. The primary indicators of well-being, such as pain indicators in the blood, were not measured; however, these should be considered in subsequent studies.

Keywords: calf, dystocia, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Development of a multiplex polymerase chain reaction technique for detection and discrimination of Eimeria spp. in cattle in Indonesia

Research (Published online: 18-04-2022)

22. Development of a multiplex polymerase chain reaction technique for detection and discrimination of Eimeria spp. in cattle in Indonesia

Fitrine Ekawasti, Raden Wisnu Nurcahyo, Mukh Fajar Nashrulloh, Dwi Priyowidodo and Joko Prastowo

Veterinary World, 15(4): 975-980

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Bovine eimeriosis is a disease caused by apicomplexan parasites of the genus Eimeria. It is one of the most important and widespread bovine illnesses in the world. Some of the identified species of bovine eimeriosis have morphologically similar oocysts that are difficult to differentiate. For the identification of particular Eimeria spp., diagnostic laboratories are increasingly turning to DNA-based technology. This study aims to develop a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (mPCR) technique based on the internal transcribed spacer-1 (ITS-1) gene for the simultaneous identification of pathogenic Eimeria spp. in cattle from Sulawesi Island, Indonesia.

Materials and Methods: Genomic DNA was extracted by the DNAzol reagent from the purified Eimeria oocysts. Species-specific primers targeting the ITS-1 region were used to amplify the distinct Eimeria spp.

Results: Using PCR ITS-1, this study showed that 36 of 120 fecal samples (30%) were infected by Eimeria spp. The multiplex PCR assay allowed for the simultaneous identification of six major Eimeria spp. in a single-tube reaction. The proportion of mixed Eimeria spp. infections was 100% (36/36). The maximum number of Eimeria spp. was five, and the minimum number was two.

Conclusion: Identification of six pathogenic Eimeria spp. in cattle was successfully carried out by nested multiplex PCR using ITS-1 gene. In the future, a procedure to detect pathogenic Eimeria spp. in one tube reaction will offer economical and save diagnostic time.

Keywords: bovine, diagnostic, eimeriosis, multiplex, nested, Sulawesi island.

The first study on confirmation and risk factors of acute and chronic canine distemper in stray dogs in Wasit Province, Iraq, using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction

Research (Published online: 18-04-2022)

21. The first study on confirmation and risk factors of acute and chronic canine distemper in stray dogs in Wasit Province, Iraq, using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction

Hadeel Asim Mohammad, Eva Aisser Ajaj, and Hasanain A. J. Gharban

Veterinary World, 15(4): 968-974

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: In Iraq, stray dogs represent a critical population of free-roaming animals, which probably play a role in the transmission of different infections to other animals. Canine distemper is one of the most growing viral threats to carnivores in many countries worldwide, including Iraq. Therefore, this study was aimed to diagnose the disease using serological and molecular assay and the role of risk factors in the spreading infection.

Materials and Methods: In all, 158 venous blood samples were collected randomly from stray dogs in rural and sub-urban areas of Iraq from May 2019 to December 2020. The samples were examined serologically using two enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits, immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM), and molecularly by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to detect and confirm chronic and acute infections. To determine the association between infection and various risk factors, the study animals were divided according to their locations, sexes, and ages. The age groups were ≤8 months (puppy), 1-3 years (young), and ≥3 years (old/mature).

Results: ELISA result shows that 6.96% and 19.62% of dogs were seropositive for acute and chronic distemper, respectively. The titer of chronic infections (0.421±0.027) was significantly higher (p≤0.025) than that of acute canine distemper (0.337±0.016). On RT-PCR, 8.86% of dogs were found positive for distemper. Using RT-PCR as the gold standard, the sensitivity and specificity of the IgM ELISA kit were 75% and 98.63%, respectively, whereas the positive and negative predictivity were 81.82% and 97.96%, respectively. A significant variation (p<0.05) was observed in the distribution of positive findings among the different epidemiological risk factors. Compared with rural areas, positivity was significantly higher (p<0.05) in sub-urban areas on IgM (26.92%) and IgG (64.15%) ELISA and RT-PCR (34.62%). On IgM ELISA and RT-PCR, no significant differences (p>0.05) were found among the three age groups; however, positivity was significantly higher (p≤0.048) in the ≥3 years group (22.73%) on IgG ELISA. Furthermore, only IgG ELISA showed a significantly higher (p≤0.032) positivity rate in female dogs (25.23%) than in male dogs (7.84%).

Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first Iraqi study to demonstrate acute and chronic canine distemper in stray dogs, suggesting that the prolonged shedding of virus from positive dogs is a critical point in the epidemiology of the disease. Additional studies in dogs or other carnivores are required to establish baseline data on the prevalence of the disease in Iraq.

Keywords: epidemiology, Iraq, molecular, Morbillivirus, serology.