Threshold somatic cell count for delineation of subclinical mastitis cases

Research (Published online: 12-06-2018)

9. Threshold somatic cell count for delineation of subclinical mastitis cases

P. V. Jadhav, D. N. Das, K. P. Suresh and B. R. Shome

Veterinary World, 11(6): 789-793

ABSTRACT

Aim: Somatic cell count (SCC) is the most widely used single reliable indicator of udder health. The present study was carried out with an objective to find the exact threshold of SCC.

Materials and Methods: Milk samples collected from a total of 214 Holstein Friesian crossbred dairy animals were subjected to bacterial DNA extraction and SCC estimation by digital PortaCheck. California Mastitis Test and polymerase chain reaction based on amplification of organism using reported primers were performed to diagnose subclinical mastitis. Receiver's operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and discriminate function analyses were performed using SPSS 18 software.

Results: ROC curve analysis represented that the area under the curve was 0.930 with the standard error of 0.02. Results indicated that 93% of the case could be correctly predicted as mastitis infected using SCC as a marker (p<0.001). At cut score level of 282 000 cells/ml, 285,000 cells/ml and 288,000 cells/ml, sensitivity remained 92.6% and specificity augmented as 86.3%, 87.2%, and 88%, respectively. At SCC value of 310,000 cells/ml of milk, sensitivity and specificity were optimal, namely, 92.6% and 91.5%, respectively. The function fitted demonstrated 89.2% accuracy with p<0.001. The functions at group centroids were -0.982 and 1.209, respectively, for normal and mastitis-infected animals and log_SCC value was the most important factor contributing 38.30% of the total distance measured.

Conclusion: Our study supports that the threshold value to delineate subclinical mastitis case from the normal is 310,000 somatic cells/ml of milk and a model so fitted using the variable SCC can be successfully used in field for the diagnosis of subclinical cases of mastitis which otherwise would be difficult to differentiate based on clinical signs.

Keywords: discriminate function, mastitis, receiver's operating characteristic curve, somatic cell count, threshold.

Astaxanthin inhibits cytokines production and inflammatory gene expression by suppressing IκB kinase-dependent nuclear factor κB activation in pre and postpartum Murrah buffaloes during different seasons

Research (Published online: 10-06-2018)

8. Astaxanthin inhibits cytokines production and inflammatory gene expression by suppressing IκB kinase-dependent nuclear factor κB activation in pre and postpartum Murrah buffaloes during different seasons

Lakshmi Priyadarshini and Anjali Aggarwal

Veterinary World, 11(6): 782-788

Aim: We examined regulatory function of astaxanthin on mRNA expression of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) p65, interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and interferon gamma (IFN-γ) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in pre and postpartum Murrah buffaloes during summer (temperature-humidity index [THI]=86; relative humidity [RH]=24) and winter (THI=58.74; RH=73) seasons.

Materials and Methods: A total of 32 Murrah buffaloes apparently healthy and in their one to four parity were selected from National Dairy Research Institute herd and equally distributed randomly into four groups (control and supplemented groups of buffaloes during summer and winter season, respectively). All groups were fed according to the nutrient requirement of buffaloes (ICAR, 2013). The treatment group was supplemented with astaxanthin at 0.25 mg/kg body weight/animal/day during the period 30 days before expected date of calving and up to 30 days postpartum.

Results: There was downregulation of NF-κB p65 gene in all the groups. NF-κB p65 mRNA expression was lower (p<0.05) in treatment than control group from prepartum to postpartum during summer, while mRNA expression was low only on day 21 after calving during winter season. The mRNA expression of IL-6, TNF-α, and IFN-γ was lower (p<0.05) in treatment than a control group of buffaloes during summer and winter seasons. The mRNA expression of NF-κB p65, IL-6, TNF-α, and IFN-γ was higher (p<0.05) in summer than in winter seasons.

Conclusion: The xanthophyll carotenoid astaxanthin a reddish-colored C-40 compound is a powerful broad-ranging antioxidant that naturally occurs in a wide variety of living organisms, such as microalgae, fungi, crustaceans, and complex plants. Astaxanthin blocked nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65 subunit and IκBa degradation, which correlated with its inhibitory effect on IκB kinase (IKK) activity. These results suggest that astaxanthin, probably due to its antioxidant activity, inhibits the production of inflammatory mediators by blocking NF-κB activation and as a consequent suppression of IKK activity and IκB-degradation.

Keywords: astaxanthin, Murrah buffalo, nuclear factor κB p65, summer, winter.

Genetic diversity and population structure of local and exotic sheep breeds in Jordan using microsatellites markers

Research (Published online: 09-06-2018)

7. Genetic diversity and population structure of local and exotic sheep breeds in Jordan using microsatellites markers

Khaleel I. Jawasreh, Mustafa M. Ababneh, Zuhair Bani Ismail, Abdel Mon'em Bani Younes and Ibrahem Al Sukhni

Veterinary World, 11(6): 778-781

ABSTRACT

Aim: This study was conducted to study the genetic and population structure of local (Awassi) and exotic (Romanov, Charollais, Assaf, Awassi, and Suffolk) sheep breeds in Jordan using eight microsatellite markers.

Materials and Methods: A total of 125 sheep were used (25 from each breed) in the study. The number of alleles (A), the mean values of observed (Ho) and expected (He) heterozygosity, polymorphism information content (PIC), fixation index as a measure of heterozygote deficiency or excess, and Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) were analyzed using PopGen and CERVUS softwares. Nei's standard genetic distances among breeds and dendrogram of unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) were calculated and constructed using PopGen software.

Results: A total of 40 alleles were detected with an average number of alleles of 5. The mean Ho value was higher than the mean He value for all breeds. Awassi breed showed the highest average PIC value while Romanov had the lowest. There was a significant (p<0.05) deviation from HWE at each locus within and between breeds. Deviations from HWE were found to be highly significant for all markers except OARFCP304 locus. The genetic distance estimates revealed a close relationship between Romanov and Charollais and between Awassi and Charollais. In the UPGMA dendrogram, Charollais, Romanov, and Awassi breeds were placed together in one main cluster while Assaf was in a different subcluster. Awassi was placed alone in a second main cluster.

Conclusion: Results of this study offer insight toward the genetic conservation of the studied breeds and a base on which breeding plans can be made.

Keywords: genetic diversity, Jordan, microsatellites, sheep breeds.

Impact of the Egyptian summer season on oxidative stress biomarkers and some physiological parameters in crossbred cows and Egyptian buffaloes

Research (Published online: 08-06-2018)

6. Impact of the Egyptian summer season on oxidative stress biomarkers and some physiological parameters in crossbred cows and Egyptian buffaloes

Maha M. Hady, T. M. Melegy and Shaimaa R. Anwar

Veterinary World, 11(6): 771-777

ABSTRACT

Aim: The current study aimed to compare the impact of heat stress (HS) on some physiological functions and blood oxidative stress biomarkers between dry dairy crossbred (Balady X Friesian) cows and buffaloes during Egyptian summer season (July-September).

Materials and Methods: A total of 26 healthy animals were equally used in the in the current study. The criterion for cows and buffaloes selection and the management conditions were similar. A total mixed ration to meet the animal's requirements was used, and dry matter intake (DMI) was calculated. Ambient temperature, relative humidity, temperature humidity index (THI), respiratory rate, and rectal temperature (RT) were daily recorded. Meanwhile, live body weight and body condition score were weekly recorded. Blood samples were collected bi-weekly, and plasma samples were harvested for malondialdehyde (MDA) content and enzymatic antioxidants such as glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase activities determinations throughout the experimental period (8 weeks - prepartum).

Results: The results confirmed, the HS condition, as the THI values ranged from 79.74 to 90.4 throughout the experimental period. In both species, HS increased RT and decreased DMI (<10.5 kg/day and 9.5 kg/day in cows and buffaloes, respectively). Buffaloes seemed to be more affected by the hostile environmental condition of this study compared with their respective cows. Buffaloes had recorded up to 1 °C increase in their RTs in most of the point's period compared to cows. There was a continuous increase in MDA values (194.7 and 208.4 nmol/gHb in buffaloes and cows, respectively, 2 weeks prepartum) as the animals come close to parturition with moderate decrements for the enzymatic antioxidant activities in both cows and buffaloes.

Conclusion: It can be concluded that during Egyptian's summer season, HS had adversely affected feed intake and consequently animal's production performances.

Keywords: buffaloes, dairy cows, Egyptian's summer, heat stress, oxidative stress.

The immunomodulatory effect of green tea (Camellia sinensis) leaves extract on immunocompromised Wistar rats infected by Candida albicans

Research (Published online: 07-06-2018)

5. The immunomodulatory effect of green tea (Camellia sinensis) leaves extract on immunocompromised Wistar rats infected by Candida albicans

Retno P. Rahayu, Remita A. Prasetyo, Djoko A. Purwanto, Utari Kresnoadi, Regina P. D. Iskandar and Muhammad Rubianto

Veterinary World, 11(6): 765-770

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: The immunocompromised condition is considered a defect in the immune system. This condition tends to increase the risk of oral candidiasis, due to the inability of the immune system to eliminate the adhesion of Candida albicans and leads to systemic candidiasis with a mortality rate of 60%. Green tea (Camellia sinensis) contains potential antioxidant and immunomodulatory which acts as anticancer, antifungal, and antivirus agent. The aim of this study was to invent herbal-based medicine, which acts as an immunomodulator and antifungal agent to treat fungal infection in immunocompromised patients.

Materials and Methods: Thirty-five immunocompromised Wistar rats induced with C. albicans were divided into 7 groups (n=5): Control group (C+); treated for 4 days with green tea extract 1.25% (GT 4), epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) 1% (EGCG 4), EGC 1% (EGC 4); and treated for 7 days with green tea extract 1.25% (GT 7), EGCG 1% (EGCG 7), and EGC 1% (EGC 7). Tongue tissue was collected and analyzed with immunohistochemistry staining using monoclonal antibody; interleukin (IL)-17A, IL-8, and human beta-defensin 2 (HBD)-2. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance test and Tukey honest significant differences test.

Results: The expression of IL-17A, IL-8, and HBD-2 was significantly increased (p=0.000) after green tea extract administration in 7 days, whereas in 7 days, the expression of IL-8, IL-17A, and HBD-2 after EGCG and EGC administration did not give a significant result (p>0.005).

Conclusion: Within the limits of this study, green tea extract has the ability as an immunomodulatory agent in an immunocompromised patient infected by C. albicans through expression augmentation of IL-8, IL-17A, and HBD-2 compared to EGCG and EGC.

Keywords: epigallocatechin gallate, epigallocatechin, green tea extract, immunocompromised, oral candidiasis.

Effect of immobilized fungal phytase on growth performance and bone traits of broilers fed with low dietary calcium and phosphorus

Research (Published online: 07-06-2018)

4. Effect of immobilized fungal phytase on growth performance and bone traits of broilers fed with low dietary calcium and phosphorus

Sreeja Ajith, Divya Shet, Jyotirmoy Ghosh, Vaibhav B. Awachat, Karthik Bhat, Dintaran Pal and Arumbackam V. Elangovan

Veterinary World, 11(6): 758-764

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of phytase which was laboratory produced by Aspergillus foetidus on the growth performance, mineral retention, and bone traits of broilers fed with low dietary calcium and phosphorus.

Materials and Methods: The extracellular phytase enzyme secreted into the crude filtrate was concentrated by ammonium sulfate precipitation to obtain an activity of 500 phytase units (FTU). A total of 90 1-day-old chicks (Cobb 500) were randomly divided into three treatment groups with five replicates having six birds each. Dietary treatment, T1, was with 0.45% non-phytate P (NPP) during starter and 0.40% during finisher phase with 1% Ca. Dietary treatment, T2, had 0.37% NPP during starter and 0.32% in finisher phase with 1% Ca and supplemental lab phytase at 500 FTU/kg. Dietary treatment, T3, was similar to T2 with a lower Ca of 0.8%.

Results: There was no significant difference among the dietary treatments with regard to body weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, and Ca retention (p>0.05). However, a significant improvement in retention of P by birds was observed in phytase supplemental groups T2 and T3 (p<0.05). Dry weight of tibia (2.58-2.78 g/kg live weight) and ash content (39.7- 41.8%) was comparable among treatments. A similar trend was observed for bone Ca, P, and Mn content.

Conclusion: The study indicated that 500 FTU/kg phytase can be effectively supplemented in a broiler diet with low phosphorus (0.37% in starter and 0.32% NPP in finisher diet) and low calcium (0.8% in diet) for better growth performance and with successful replacement of dietary P by 0.08 % and reduced P excretion into the environment in broiler chicken.

Keywords: broiler, calcium, phosphorus, phytase.

Evaluation of the General Organization of Veterinary Services control program of animal brucellosis in Egypt: An outbreak investigation of brucellosis in buffalo

Research (Published online: 06-06-2018)

3. Evaluation of the General Organization of Veterinary Services control program of animal brucellosis in Egypt: An outbreak investigation of brucellosis in buffalo

H. I. Hosein, Hoda Mohamed Zaki, Nesreen Mohamed Safwat, Ahmed M. S. Menshawy, Sherin Rouby, Ayman Mahrous and Bahaa El-deen Madkour

Veterinary World, 11(6): 748-757

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Brucellosis is a major constraint to livestock production in Egypt as well as many developing countries worldwide. Bovine brucellosis is an economically important disease with reproductive failure as a principal manifestation resulting in abortion, premature birth and decreased milk production in females, and orchitis and epididymitis in males. In spite of the efforts of Egyptian veterinary services to overcome brucellosis, the disease is still prevalent in both animals and humans and represents one of the most important public health hazards in Egypt. The aim of the present work was to investigate the efficacy of the control program implemented by the General Organization of Veterinary Services in Brucella infected buffalo farm on serological, molecular, cultural, and histopathological basis. Brucella melitensis biovar 3 was recovered from 6 buffalo-cows.

Materials and Methods: Blood samples were collected from a total of 750 non-vaccinated lactating buffalo-cows. These animals were proved positive for Brucella by the Egyptian brucellosis national program. Sera were tested using buffered acidified plate antigen test and rose Bengal test as screening tests and complement fixation test as a confirmatory test. Positive animals were separated for slaughtering under the supervision of the Egyptian veterinary authorities. Remaining animals were tested every 3 weeks with slaughtering of positive cases and this continued until the remaining animals revealed three successive negative serological tests. Different lymph nodes (prescapular, prefemoral, mediastinal, retropharyngeal, and supramammary) were collected from 11 Brucella seropositive buffalo-cows slaughtered after being confirmed serologically as Brucella infected cases. Samples were collected and processed for bacterial isolation and nucleic acid detection using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Parts of these specimens were fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin for 48 h then processed by paraffin embedding technique.

Results: "Test and slaughter" policy was applied on Brucella infected dairy buffalo farm. The program continued for 6 months with slaughtering of positive cases until the herd was proved Brucella free. B. melitensisbiovar 3 could be recovered from six buffalo-cows. Universal PCR confirmed Brucella on genus level and Bruce-ladder multiplex, PCR confirmed the presence of B. melitensis on the species level. Histopathological examination of Brucella-infected lymph nodes revealed massive rarified and depleted lymphoid areas of both sub-capsular and deep cortical lymphoid follicles, macrophage cells granulomatous reaction, as well as fat, infiltrates, and chronic vasculitis. The chronic nature of Brucella lesions has been confirmed in this study as indicated by the chronic vasculitis and collagen deposition.

Conclusion: Freedom status from brucellosis in this study required 6 months which are considered long time allowing the spread of infection to other localities especially under unhygienic conditions, husbandry system favoring mixed populations of different ages, sex, aborted and pregnant, and lack of controlled movement of animals. Therefore, effective control of animal brucellosis requires surveillance to identify infected animal herds, elimination of the reservoirs, and vaccination of young heifers. B. melitensis biovar 3 is the cause of the Brucella outbreak in buffalo which still remains the prevalent type of Brucella in Egypt. The disease runs a chronic course allowing further spread of infection.

Keywords: bruce-ladder, brucellosis, buffalo, histopathology, polymerase chain reaction.