Molecular characterization of antimicrobial resistance and enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus-PCR as a molecular typing tool for Salmonella spp. isolated from poultry and humans

Research (Published online: 04-09-2020)

6. Molecular characterization of antimicrobial resistance and enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus-PCR as a molecular typing tool for Salmonella spp. isolated from poultry and humans

María Paula Herrera-Sánchez, Roy Rodríguez-Hernández and Iang Schroniltgen Rondón-Barragán

Veterinary World, 13(9): 1771-1779

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Salmonella spp. are one of the most important food-borne pathogens in the world, emerging as a major public health concern. Moreover, multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains have been isolated from salmonellosis outbreaks, which compromise its treatment success. This study was conducted to characterize the phenotypic and genotypic antibiotic resistance profile of Salmonella strains isolated from broilers and humans from the regions of Tolima and Santander (Colombia).

Materials and Methods: Salmonella spp. strains (n=49) were confirmed through molecular detection by amplification of the invA gene. Phenotypic antibiotic resistance was determined by the automated method and the agar diffusion method, and the presence of resistance genes was evaluated by PCR. Genotypic characterization was conducted using the enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC)-PCR method, from which a dendrogram was generated and the possible phylogenetic relationships were established.

Results: Salmonella isolates were classified as MDR strains exhibiting resistance to four antibiotic classes, penicillins, aminoglycosides, sulfonamides, and cephalosporins, and the human strains were resistant to gentamicin. At the genotypic level, the isolates contained the genes blaCMY2, blaCTX-M, blaPSE-1, blaTEM, aadA1, srtB, dfrA1, sul2, and floR. The genotyping results obtained by ERIC-PCR allowed the grouping of strains according to the source of isolation.

Conclusion: The Salmonella spp. strains exhibited resistance to multiple antibiotics, as well as multiple genes associated with them, and the ERIC-PCR method was a technique that was helpful in generating clusters with biological significance.

Keywords: broiler farm, genotyping, resistance genes.

Candidatus Rickettsia colombianensi in ticks from reptiles in Córdoba, Colombia

Research (Published online: 03-09-2020)

5. Candidatus Rickettsia colombianensi in ticks from reptiles in Córdoba, Colombia

Jorge Miranda, Lina Violet-Lozano, Samia Barrera, Salim Mattar, Santiago Monsalve-Buriticá, Juan Rodas and Verónica Contreras

Veterinary World, 13(9): 1764-1770

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Wildlife animals are reservoirs of a large number of microorganisms pathogenic to humans, and ticks could be responsible for the transmission of these pathogens. Rickettsia spp. are the most prevalent pathogens found in ticks. This study was conducted to detect Rickettsia spp. in ticks collected from free-living and illegally trafficked reptiles from the Department of Córdoba, Colombia.

Materials and Methods: During the period from October 2011 to July 2014, ticks belonging to the family Ixodidae were collected, preserved in 96% ethanol, identified using taxonomic keys, and pooled (between 1 and 14 ticks) according to sex, stage, host, and collected place for subsequent DNA extraction. Rickettsia detection was performed using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), followed by conventional PCR to amplify a larger fragment of the gltA and 16S rRNA genes. The amplicons were sequenced using the Sanger method, and the nucleotide sequences were subjected to BLAST analysis to identify homologous sequences in GenBank, after which phylogenetic analysis was performed using the MEGA X software.

Results: In total, 21 specimens of nine species of reptiles were sampled, from which 805 Amblyomma dissimile ticks were collected, but only 180 ticks were selected to create 34 groups. The DNA of Rickettsia spp. was detected in 30/34 (88%) groups. The sequences of the gene gltA and 16S rRNA revealed a 100% identity with Candidatus Rickettsia colombianensi (GenBank: KF905456 and GenBank: KF691750).

Conclusion: A. dissimile was the only tick found in all the sampled reptiles. The presence of Candidatus Rickettsia colombianensi in reptile ticks could represent a public health problem due to the risk of transmission to humans and the introduction of microorganisms to other geographical areas.

Keywords: arthropod vectors, reptile trade, tick-borne diseases, wild animals.

Topical effect of a specific spot-on treatment made of natural ingredients in rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) with skin problems: A pilot study

Research (Published online: 03-09-2020)

4. Topical effect of a specific spot-on treatment made of natural ingredients in rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) with skin problems: A pilot study

Galia Sheinberg Waisburd, Alberto Martin Cordero, Camilo Romero Núñez, Laura Miranda Contreras, Rafael Heredia Cárdenas, and Linda G. Bautista Gómez

Veterinary World, 13(9): 1760-1763

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Rabbits often experience skin diseases. The beneficial effects of plant extracts and essential oils are well known in other species, but the properties of these natural ingredients have not been evaluated in rabbits in vivo. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the effect of a topical, commercial solution made of essential oils, plant-extracted polyunsaturated fatty acids, and Vitamin E on rabbits suffering from skin problems.

Materials and Methods: Thirty New Zealand rabbits (no sex distinction) were included in this study, with an average weight of 2–3 kg. The rabbits were divided into two groups: The first group was treated with a topical solution made from natural ingredients, and the second was a control group. The rabbits' hair and skin conditions were evaluated on days 1, 14, 28, and 35 after treatment. Data were analyzed using a Kruskal–Wallis range test.

Results: Significant differences were determined in terms of glossy hair variability on days 28 and 35 (p≤0.0001). On days 14-35, hair loss was determined to have reduced (p=0.001), and flaking and odor improved in the treatment group, showing increased scores and significant differences (p=0.0001). By contrast, the control group showed stable overall skin and hair score and an increase in the dryness score.

Conclusion: The topical application of essential oils and polyunsaturated fatty acids with Vitamin E was able to improve hair shine and skin hydration and reduce flaking, bad odor, and hair loss, improving the general, and cutaneous aspect of rabbits.

Keywords: essential oils, polyunsaturated fatty acids, rabbits, skin, Vitamin E.

Face mask use among individuals who are not medically diagnosed with COVID-19: A lack of evidence for and against and implications around early public health

Research (Published online: 02-09-2020)

3. Face mask use among individuals who are not medically diagnosed with COVID-19: A lack of evidence for and against and implications around early public health

Keshini Madara Marasinghe

International Journal of One Health, 6(2): 109-117

ABSTRACT

Aim: Since the beginning of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, public health professionals from around the world have been making decisions on face mask use among individuals who are not medically diagnosed with COVID- 19 or "healthy individuals" to limit the spread of COVID-19. While some countries have strongly recommended face masks for "healthy individuals," other countries have recommended against it. Public health recommendations that have been provided to this population since the beginning of the outbreak have been controversial, contradicting, and inconsistent around the world. The purpose of this paper is to understand available evidence around the effectiveness or ineffectiveness of face mask use in limiting the spread of COVID-19 among individuals who have not yet been diagnosed with COVID-19 and most importantly, to understand the state of knowledge early public health recommendations are based on.

Materials and Methods: A systematic review was conducted to identify studies that investigated the use of face masks to limit the spread of COVID-19 among "healthy individuals" in order to understand available evidence using the databases Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Google Scholar, PubMed, and Scopus. Two groups of keywords were combined: Those relating to COVID-19 and face masks.

Results: No studies were found, demonstrating a lack of evidence for and against face mask use suggesting implications around early public health recommendations provided to "healthy individuals".

Conclusion: Three and a half months into the COVID-19 outbreak (December 2019-2nd week of April 2020), there are no peer-reviewed scientific studies that have investigated the effectiveness or ineffectiveness of face mask use among "healthy individuals" to limit the spread of COVID-19. Yet, very strong public health recommendations have been provided on whether "healthy individuals" should or should not wear face masks to limit the spread of COVID-19 since the beginning of the outbreak. A lack of scientific evidence for and against face mask use heavily questions the basis of public health recommendations provided at a very early, yet a crucial stage of an outbreak. This finding and a further look at early public health recommendations conclude that there is a clear need for more concentrated research around face mask use among healthy individuals and public health recommendations that are evidence-based; precautionary in the absence of evidence; based on benefit-risk assessment; transparent; and globally aligned to provide the most successful guidelines during an infectious disease outbreak.

Keywords: COVID-19, masks, pandemics.

Financial and economic analyses of the impact of cattle mastitis on the profitability of Egyptian dairy farms

Research (Published online: 02-09-2020)

3. Financial and economic analyses of the impact of cattle mastitis on the profitability of Egyptian dairy farms

M. F. Azooz, Safaa A. El-Wakeel and H. M. Yousef

Veterinary World, 13(9): 1750-1759

ABSTRACT

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate and quantify the different factors affecting the costs of mastitis in cattle, to quantify the annual and monthly financial losses attributed to mastitis, and to estimate production losses using average linear scores found on The Dairy Herd Improvement Association somatic cell count (SCC) sheets and bulk tank SCC per lactation number.

Materials and Methods: All data (bovine mastitis-associated costs and expenditures in Egyptian dairy herds) were analyzed using SPSS/PCT, 2001. A partial budget technique using spreadsheet software and the general linear model procedure was used to analyze the productive and financial measures.

Results: Mastitis was present in 57.1% of cows (240/420), while clinical mastitis (CM) was present in 19% of them (80/420). The geometric mean of SCC/ml in bulk tank milk samples of 150 cattle dairy farms was 556.3×103. The annual subclinical mastitis (SCM)-related economic loss was 21,933,258.6 LE, and the two most important cost components were the subsequent decrease in milk production and quality premium losses (93% and 7% of SCM costs, respectively). The quality premium loss was 1,369,602.1 LE. On the other hand, the annual economic loss due to decreased milk production as a result of SCM was 20,563,656.5 LE. The total cost of 80 CM cases, including the failure and preventive costs, was 1,196,871.4 LE, including 1,169,150.4 LE failure costs (106,336.0 LE in direct costs and 1,062,814.4 LE in indirect costs) and 27,721.0 LE preventive costs. The average cost per CM case was 28,760.9 LE, including veterinary time and consultation fees of 250.0 LE (1%), labor 562.5 LE (2%), premature culling 736,000.0 LE (77%), decreased milk production 4085.18 LE (13.7%), discarded milk 185.3 LE (1%), and drugs and treatments 328.9 LE (1%). The total costs of CM (expenditures) extra control and preventive measures, including the diagnosis of CM for 80 cows annually in 20 Egyptian dairy farms were 27,721.0 LE, representing 346.5 LE or 1% of the total cost of CM cases. The cost of monitoring and diagnostic measures was 8635.2 LE, representing 107.9 LE or 1% of the total cost of a case of CM.

Conclusion: The method used for cost estimation, in this study, is highly adaptable to individual cattle farms and had a major role in assessing specific control and management measures. The concepts described in this paper help to improve our understanding of the full economic impact of clinical and subclinical mastitis in cattle in Egypt. Assessing the economic losses from mastitis to determine the economic costs and losses occurring in Egyptian dairy farms is critical for encouraging farmers to acknowledge the scale of the problem and implement effective management practices aimed at improving mastitis control and reducing the associated costs.

Keywords: clinical mastitis, economic impact, financial losses, subclinical mastitis.

Listeriosis in a peri-urban area: Cultural and molecular characterization of Listeria monocytogenes isolated from encephalitic goats

Research (Published online: 02-09-2020)

2. Listeriosis in a peri-urban area: Cultural and molecular characterization of Listeria monocytogenes isolated from encephalitic goats

Nagendra Nath Barman, Anjan Jyoti Nath, Sharmita Doley, Shameem Ara Begum, Parikshit Kakati, Sailendra Kumar Das, Taibur Rahman, Dipak Bhuyan, Bhaben Chandra Baishya and Susanta Goswami

Veterinary World, 13(9): 1743-1749

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Listeriosis in food animals bears a significant threat to human health. Detailed investigations into the cause facilitate proper management of the disease. This study reports the cultural, pathological, and molecular characterization of Listeria monocytogenes isolated from encephalitic goats from peri-urban Guwahati, Assam.

Materials and Methods: Out of nine suspected samples, five positive isolates of L. monocytogenes were subjected to bacteriological, biochemical, and molecular tests. The genus and species-specific L. monocytogenes 16S rRNA and prs genes were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to yield 1200 and 370 bp sized products, respectively. The encephalitic form of the disease was characterized by circling movement, high fever, and terminal recumbence.

Results: All the five isolates were confirmed to be L. monocytogenes based on PCR amplification of genus and species-specific 16S rRNA and prs gene products. The isolates were sensitive to ciprofloxacin, oxytetracycline (OTC), and norfloxacin, but resistant to doxycycline and erythromycin. A high dose of OTC was used in a goat at the early stage of clinical symptom and the animal recovered clinically.

Conclusion: Listeriosis in goats could pose a significant public health threat as the meat (occasionally milk) or meat products from goats are widely consumed by the people of Assam. Understanding the molecular epidemiological aspects of L. monocytogenes infections of food animal species should, therefore, be the priority in this part of the country.

Keywords: antibiogram, Assam, goat, Listeria monocytogenes, polymerase chain reaction.

An immunohistochemical study of endocrine cells in the digestive tract of Varanus salvator (Reptile: Varanidae)

Research (Published online: 01-09-2020)

1. An immunohistochemical study of endocrine cells in the digestive tract of Varanus salvator (Reptile: Varanidae)

Mahfud Mahfud, Ernawati Ernawati, Nur R. Adawiyah Mahmud, Teguh Budipitojo and Hery Wijayanto

Veterinary World, 13(9): 1737-1742

ABSTRACT

Aim: The aim of the study was to identify the distribution pattern and frequency of endocrine cell types in the digestive tract of Varanus salvator.

Materials and Methods: The presence of endocrine cells (glucagon, somatostatin, and serotonin) in the digestive tract (esophagus, stomach, and intestine) was detected using the avidin-biotin complex (ABC) method.

Results: Three types of endocrine cells immunoreactive to antisera glucagon, serotonin, and somatostatin were found in the caudal portion of the small and large intestines but were not observed in the esophagus, stomach, and caput and medial sections of the small intestine. Endocrine cells distributed in the digestive tract of V. salvator vary in color intensity, from weak to sharp, in response to the primer antibody.

Conclusion: Endocrine cells in the digestive tract that is immunoreactive to glucagon, somatostatin, and serotonin are those found in the caudal portion of the small and large intestines. They are varied in distribution pattern, frequency, and color intensity.

Keywords: digestive tract, endocrine cell, immunohistochemistry, Varanus salvator.