Combinations of herbs and probiotics as an alternative growth promoter: An in vitro study

Research (Published online: 30-04-2019)

20. Combinations of herbs and probiotics as an alternative growth promoter: An in vitro study

Vinsa Cantya Prakasita, Widya Asmara, Sitarina Widyarini and Agnesia Endang Tri Hastuti Wahyuni

Veterinary World, 12(4): 614-620

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) are added to animal feed to stimulate growth and increase livestock productivity. However, the regular use of antibiotics in animal diets has a considerable contribution to the occurrence of antibiotic resistance in livestock and humans. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of red ginger (Zingiber officinale var. Rubrum), turmeric (Curcuma domestica), and wild ginger (Curcuma xanthorrhiza), Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Lactobacillus brevis as an alternative to AGPs.

Materials and Methods: The antibacterial activities and probiotic stimulatory effects of herbs were screened through the disc diffusion method and optical densitometry. The inhibitory ability of probiotics against pathogens was also tested through the disc diffusion method. The adhesion ability of probiotics was tested by mixing the optimal herbal combinations with broiler intestinal epithelial cells (105 cells/ml). The cells were then subjected to Gram staining, and the number of adherent bacteria was calculated.

Results: The test results showed that 3.13% ethanolic wild ginger extract had the highest inhibitory activity against Salmonella Enteritidis, followed by ethanolic red ginger extract and aqueous wild ginger extract at the same concentration. The three extracts also supported the growth of L. acidophilus and L. brevis. Further tests showed that the combination of 3.13% ethanolic red ginger extract had the highest inhibitory activity against S. Enteritidis, followed by ethanolic and aqueous wild ginger extract at the same concentration. The three extracts also supported the growth of L. acidophilus and L. brevis. Further tests showed that the combination of 3.13% ethanolic red ginger extract and 3.13% aqueous wild ginger extract had the best inhibitory effect on the growth of S. Enteritidis. The stimulatory effect of the combinations of herbal extract on the growth of L. acidophilus (0.18±0.00) and L. brevis (0.21±0.01) was better than those of individual extract, positive controls, and the glucose control. L. acidophilus and L. brevis had a weak inhibitory effect on the growth of S. Enteritidis (<6 mm). The adhesion ability of L. acidophilus (420.00±28.21) and L. brevis (259.33±24.03) was stronger than that of S. Enteritidis (202.00±14.00) under treatment with combined extracts.

Conclusion: The tested combinations of herbs and probiotics can adhere to the intestinal tract. Given this characteristic, herb and probiotic combinations may be developed as an alternative to conventional AGPs.

Keywords: antibiotic growth promoter, feed additive, herbs, probiotic.

Carriage of Class 1 integrons and molecular characterization of intI1 gene in multidrug-resistant Salmonella spp. isolates from broilers

Research (Published online: 25-04-2019)

19. Carriage of Class 1 integrons and molecular characterization of intI1 gene in multidrug-resistant Salmonella spp. isolates from broilers

Renu Gupta, Sneh Lata Chauhan, Sunil Kumar, Naresh Jindal, N. K. Mahajan and V. G. Joshi

Veterinary World, 12(4): 609-613

ABSTRACT

Aim: The present study was conducted with the following aims: (i) To screen the Salmonella spp. isolates recovered from suspected cases of fowl typhoid for carriage of Class 1 integrons and analyze their association with antimicrobial resistance and (ii) to carry out molecular characterization and phylogenetic analysis of Class 1 integron-integrase (intI1) gene.

Materials and Methods: A total of 43 Salmonella isolates were subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay to determine the presence of Class1 intI1. Differences between different serotypes in relation to their carriage of integrons and the differences between strains containing or not containing an integron and being resistant to different antimicrobials were analyzed by Fisher exact test using STATA™ (StataCorp, College Station, TX). Phylogenetic analysis was carried out using MEGA6 software.

Results: Out of 43 isolates, 40 (93.02%) were found positive for Class 1 integrons. 35/40 (87.5%) intI1-positive isolates were multidrug resistance (MDR) (resistant to ≥4 antibiotics), which support the hypothesis of an association between the presence of Class 1 integrons and emerging MDR in Salmonella. There was no significant difference among isolates resistant to different antimicrobials in Class 1 integron carrying isolates and the Class 1 integron negative isolates (p<0.05). Further, there was no significant difference among different serotypes in respect of their carriage of Class 1 integrons.

Conclusion: It can be concluded that the high prevalence of Class 1 integrons indicates a high potential of Salmonella isolates for horizontal transmission of antimicrobial genes, especially among Gram-negative organisms.

Keywords: antimicrobial resistance, Class 1 integrons, phylogenetic analysis, Salmonella.

Molecular detection and phylogenetic tree of infectious laryngotracheitis virus in layers in Al-Diwaniyah province, Iraq

Research (Published online: 25-04-2019)

18. Molecular detection and phylogenetic tree of infectious laryngotracheitis virus in layers in Al-Diwaniyah province, Iraq

Furkan Alaraji, Hasan Hammadi, Alaa Abdulaziz Abed and Yahia Ismail Khudhair

Veterinary World, 12(4): 605-608

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT) of chickens is a substantial issue to be studied in Iraq because this disease is one of the most highly contagious respiratory diseases in the world caused by a herpesvirus. However, in Iraq, the ILT virus (ILTV) infection and disease have yet not been confirmed in layers, so farm owners do not vaccinate these layers. The current study aimed to document the detection and characterization of ILTV in layer hens from Al-Diwaniyah city, for the first time in Iraq, using molecular techniques like polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing.

Materials and Methods: Four layer farms (15,000 unvaccinated layers/farm) in Al-Diwaniyah province, Iraq, suffered a severe ILT outbreak, was diagnosed and reported by clinical and PCR tests. This disease has been reported in Iraq, and more recently, it began to show outbreaks in Al-Diwaniyah city. The current work opted to investigate the ILTV using PCR and DNA sequencing techniques. The study targeted the p32 gene of ILTV using pooled tracheal swabs and organs including the trachea, lung, and kidneys which were collected from dead and clinically infected chickens.

Results: The analyses revealed that four of six suspected field samples showed positive results by PCR. The DNA sequencing results showed the homology of the amplified fragments with the studied gene.

Conclusion: This study confirmed the presence of ILTV in hens with respiratory signs during the outbreak.

Keywords: DNA sequencing, infectious laryngotracheitis virus, laryngotracheitis, laying hens.

Changes of total protein and protein fractions in broiler chickens during the fattening period

Research (Published online: 23-04-2019)

17. Changes of total protein and protein fractions in broiler chickens during the fattening period

Csilla Tothova, Edina Sesztakova, Bohumil Bielik and Oskar Nagy

Veterinary World, 12(4): 598-604

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Blood proteins in birds serve as an important indicator in the evaluation of health status and represent a basis in general biochemistry allowing the identification of metabolic alterations. The objective of this study was to evaluate the protein profile in broiler chickens extended by the concentrations of serum protein fractions at different periods of fattening.

Materials and Methods: Into the evaluation, we included 24 clinically healthy Ross 308 line meat-type chickens at the age of 2 days. Blood samples were taken on day 4, 18, 32, and 46 of fattening always from six randomly selected chickens. Chickens were fed with a commercial starter, grower, and finisher feeds. The concentrations of total serum protein and protein fractions were evaluated.

Results: Various significant changes in the proportion of the individual protein fractions were found during the observed period except for the beta-globulins in all protein fractions and the albumin/globulin (A/G) ratio. At the beginning of the fattening period, the relative concentrations of albumin, α1-globulins, and A/G ratio were significantly lower and the values of α2- and γ-globulins significantly higher (p<0.05). The values of pre-albumin fraction were found as a small band preceding the albumin fraction differed significantly between the different age groups of chickens (p<0.05). The total serum protein concentrations showed higher values in older broilers; the significantly highest mean value was recorded on day 32 of fattening.

Conclusion: The results suggest that fattening and age of broilers influences not only the production patterns, metabolic processes, and lipid and mineral profile but also the parameters of protein profile. However, seeing that some contradictory data exist regarding the number and size of globulin fractions in chickens, further analyses are needed.

Keywords: broilers, electrophoresis, fattening, protein fractions, serum.

Trematodiasis occurrence in cattle along the Progo River, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Research (Published online: 22-04-2019)

16. Trematodiasis occurrence in cattle along the Progo River, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Korbinianus Feribertus Rinca, Joko Prastowo, Dwi Priyo Widodo, and Yudhi Ratna Nugraheni

Veterinary World, 12(4): 593-597

ABSTRACT

Aim: This study aimed to measure the occurrence of trematodiasis in cattle along the Progo River, a district of Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The findings help to establish the magnitude of the disease and encourage prevention and treatment of this condition.

Materials and Methods: Trematode eggs were extracted from 100 fecal samples collected from cattle. The eggs were examined using the sedimentation technique, and the method of Parfitt and Banks was used to differentiate Paramphistomum spp. eggs from Fasciola spp. eggs.

Results: The infection rate of trematode parasites was 50%. Cattle experienced multiple infections of both Paramphistomum spp. and Fasciola spp., as well as single infections of one species or the other. All breeds were vulnerable to infections of both trematode species, although different cattle breeds, including Peranakan Ongole crossbreeds, Simmental crossbreeds, and Limousin crossbreeds, showed differences in infection rate. The highest rate of infection with Paramphistomum spp. (15.78%) occurred in the Simmental crossbreeds. The highest rate of infection (31.57%) with Fasciola spp. was in the Peranakan Ongole crossbreeds. Multiple infections of both Paramphistomum spp. and Fasciola spp. were highest in Simmental crossbreed cattle (28.97%).

Conclusion: The high infection rates of trematode parasites found in fecal samples, particularly of Fasciola spp., indicate that the cattle along the Progo River in Indonesia experience a high rate of trematodiasis disease.

Keywords: cattle, Fasciola spp., identification, Indonesia, Paramphistomum spp., Yogyakarta.

Effect of seasonality on the population density of wetland aquatic insects: A case study of the Hawr Al Azim and Shadegan wetlands, Iran

Research (Published online: 22-04-2019)

15. Effect of seasonality on the population density of wetland aquatic insects: A case study of the Hawr Al Azim and Shadegan wetlands, Iran

Hassan Nasirian and Aref Salehzadeh

Veterinary World, 12(4): 584-592

ABSTRACT

Aim: Wetlands are extremely suitable ecosystems to assess the effect of climate change on the density of aquatic insects. This study aimed to assess the effect of seasonality on populations of aquatic insects in the Hawr Al Azim and Shadegan wetlands.

Materials and Methods: The insect samplings were conducted at a large area of the Hawr Al Azim and five different sites of the Shadegan wetlands. In total, 18,534 arthropods of different life stages, including 12 orders containing 51 families, were collected and identified from the selected sites of the Shadegan and Hawr Al Azim wetlands.

Results: Results showed that the population density of wetland aquatic insects gradually increased as the average daily temperature decreased, positively increased with daily mean relative humidity and precipitation, and decreased with the mean daily evaporation between October and April. Conversely, the population density of wetland aquatic insects gradually decreased with increasing average daily temperature and reduction of the mean relative humidity and precipitation and increasing the average evaporation from April to September. When differences between the average daily and water temperatures reached minimum in April, the population density of wetland aquatic insects reached maximum and turned mainly to families that they have high level of biological indices, indicating that wetlands have clean waters around the spring. While around the autumn conversely, they mostly changed to families that they have low level of biological indices, indicating that wetlands have unclean waters.

Conclusion: The present study showed an optimum condition for the growth of insects around spring. Seasonality affects the population density of wetland aquatic insects during a year.

Keywords: change of insect population, effect of seasonality on insect population density, seasonal climate change, wetland aquatic insect.

Molecular detection of extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates of chicken origin from East Java, Indonesia

Research (Published online: 19-04-2019)

14. Molecular detection of extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates of chicken origin from East Java, Indonesia

Meutia Hayati, Agustin Indrawati, Ni Luh Putu Ika Mayasari, Istiyaningsih Istiyaningsih and Neneng Atikah

Veterinary World, 12(4): 578-583

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Klebsiella pneumoniae is one of the respiratory disease agents in human and chicken. This bacterium is treated by antibiotic, but this treatment may trigger antibiotic resistance. Resistance gene in K. pneumoniae may be transferred to other bacteria. One of the known resistance genes is extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL). This research aimed to study K. pneumoniae isolated from chicken farms in East Java, Indonesia, by observing the antibiotic resistance pattern and detect the presence of ESBL coding gene within the isolates.

Materials and Methods: A total of 11 K. pneumoniae isolates were collected from 141 chicken cloacal swabs from two regencies in East Java. All isolates were identified using the polymerase chain reaction method. Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined by agar dilution method on identified isolates, which then processed for molecular characterization to detect ESBL coding gene within the K. pneumoniae isolates found.

Results: The result of antibiotic sensitivity test in 11 isolates showed highest antibiotic resistance level toward ampicillin, amoxicillin, and oxytetracycline (100%, 100%, and 90.9%) and still sensitive to gentamicin. Resistance against colistin, doxycycline, ciprofloxacin, and enrofloxacin is varied by 90.9%, 54.5%, 27.3%, and 18.2%, respectively. All isolates of K. pneumoniae were classified as multidrug resistance (MDR) bacteria. Resistance gene analysis revealed the isolates harbored as blaSHV (9.1%), blaTEM (100%), and blaCTX-M (90.9%).

Conclusion: All the bacterial isolates were classified as MDR bacteria and harbored two of the transmissible ESBL genes. The presence of antibiotic resistance genes in bacteria has the potential to spread its resistance properties.

Keywords: antibiotic resistance, chicken, extended-spectrum β-lactamase, Klebsiella pneumoniae.