Evaluation of the hematological and clinical biochemical markers of stress in broiler chickens

Research (Published online: 31-10-2020)

35. Evaluation of the hematological and clinical biochemical markers of stress in broiler chickens

Chioma U. Nwaigwe, John I. Ihedioha, Shodeinde V. Shoyinka and Chukwuemeka O. Nwaigwe

Veterinary World, 13(10): 2294-2300

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Stress significantly affects health and productivity of animals. There is need for affordable and easy-to-assay markers of physiological stress in broilers. This study evaluated hematological and serum biochemical markers of physiologic stress in broiler chickens.

Materials and Methods: Thirty day-old broiler chickens were assigned to three groups of ten broilers each during the 56-day study. Group 1 broilers served as the control and were not exposed to any stressors; Group 2 broilers were stocked at the stress density of 50 kg BW m–2 from day 49 to 56 while Group 3 broilers had their feed withdrawn 36 h before blood collection on day 56. Blood samples were collected on day 49 (pre-stress sample) and day 56 (post-stress sample) from all the birds and subjected to hematological and serum biochemical analysis.

Results: The parameters did not vary significantly (p>0.05) pre-stress. Post-stress, there were significant variations in the heterophil, lymphocyte, and eosinophil counts and in the heterophil to lymphocyte ratio across the three groups. The concentrations of the plasma fibrinogen and serum albumins, sodium, and sodium to potassium ratio of the broilers varied significantly across the groups.

Conclusion: Heterophil, eosinophil, and lymphocyte counts, the heterophil to lymphocyte ratio, plasma fibrinogen, serum albumin, sodium, and sodium to potassium ratio are significant markers of physiological stress in broilers.

Keywords: broiler chickens, hematology, physiological stress, serum biochemistry.

The combined effect of magnetic and electric fields using on/off infrared light on the blood sugar level and the diameter of Langerhans islets of diabetic mice

Research (Published online: 31-10-2020)

34. The combined effect of magnetic and electric fields using on/off infrared light on the blood sugar level and the diameter of Langerhans islets of diabetic mice

S. Suhariningsih, Suryani Dyah Astuti, Saikhu Akhmad Husen, Dwi Winarni, Dian Astri Rahmawati, Akhmad Taufiq Mukti, Alfian Pramudita Putra and Muhammad Miftahussurur

Veterinary World, 13(10): 2286-2293

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: At present, diabetes is treated with oral antidiabetic medicines, such as sulfonylureas and thiazolidine, as well as insulin injection. However, these methods have several shortcomings. Therefore, alternatives for treating diabetes mellitus (DM) are needed. This study aims to determine the combined effect of magnetic and electric fields on blood sugar levels and the diameter of Langerhans islets of diabetic mice.

Materials and Methods: Induction of DM in mice was carried out by administering lard for 2 weeks and continued with an intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin, dissolved in a 4.5 pH citrate buffer, and administered in a dose of 30 mg/kg bodyweight for 5 days. Treatments were used in combination with magnetic and electric fields using on/off infrared light. Blood samples were pipetted through the tip of mice's tails to establish the blood sugar level for each individual mouse. Histology preparation of the pancreas organ was affected using the histology standard as well as hematoxylin and eosin staining methods. Langerhans islet diameter data were analyzed using analysis of variance followed by Duncan's multiple range test. Data analysis was performed at α=0.05.

Results: The results showed that the combined treatment of permanent magnetic and unidirectional electric fields (PS) caused changes in blood sugar levels that were not significantly different from the normal control group. The PS treatment improved the diameter of the Langerhans islets but not to a significant degree compared to other treatments.

Conclusion: The use of PS treatment is effective for reducing the blood sugar levels of diabetic mice and improving the diameter of their Langerhans islets.

Keywords: blood sugar level, diabetic mice, electric field, infrared light, Langerhans islets diameter, magnetic field.

African swine fever: A permanent threat to Indian pigs

Review (Published online: 29-10-2020)

33. African swine fever: A permanent threat to Indian pigs

Sharanagouda S. Patil, Kuralayanapalya Puttahonnappa Suresh, Vikram Vashist, Awadhesh Prajapati, Bramhadev Pattnaik and Parimal Roy

Veterinary World, 13(10): 2275-2285

ABSTRACT

India has 9 million pigs, of which 45% are in the North eastern (NE) states of India. Viral diseases affecting pigs are a major concern of mortality causing huge loss to the pig farmers. One such disease is African swine fever (ASF) that has already knocked the porous borders of NE states of India. ASF is a highly contagious devastating disease of pigs and wild boars causing 100% mortality. The causative agent African swine fever virus (ASFV) belongs to the genus Asfivirus, family Asfarviridae. Pig is the only species affected by this virus. Soft ticks (Ornithodoros genus) are shown to be reservoir and transmission vectors of ASFV. Transmission is very rapid and quickly engulfs the entire pig population. It is very difficult to differentiate classical swine fever from ASF since clinical symptoms overlap. Infected and in contact pigs should be culled immediately and buried deep, and sheds and premises be disinfected to control the disease. There is no vaccine available commercially. Since its first report in Kenya in 1921, the disease has been reported from the countries in Europe, Russian federation, China, and Myanmar. The disease is a threat to Indian pigs. OIE published the first report of ASF in India on May 21, 2020, wherein, a total of 3701 pigs died from 11 outbreaks (Morbidity - 38.45% and mortality - 33.89%) in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh states of India. ASF is non-zoonotic.

Keywords: African swine fever, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, first outbreak, India, North eastern states, pigs, social and economic factors.

Isolation and characterization of Escherichia coli serotype O157:H7 and other verotoxin-producing E. coli in healthy Indian cattle

Research (Published online: 29-10-2020)

32. Isolation and characterization of Escherichia coli serotype O157:H7 and other verotoxin-producing E. coli in healthy Indian cattle

Dasharath B. Shinde, Surbhi Singhvi, Santosh S. Koratkar and Sunil D. Saroj

Veterinary World, 13(10): 2269-2274

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Cattle are the main reservoir of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and other verotoxigenic E. coli (VTEC); therefore, there is an increased risk of infection to humans by either direct or indirect mode of transmissions. However, the prevalence of E. coli O157:H7 in the healthy cattle population of India is yet to be ascertained. This study aimed to screen the dairy cattle in and around Pune, Maharashtra, India, for verotoxin-producing E. coli O157:H7.

Materials and Methods: A total of 257 rectal swabs were collected from 15 different organized and unorganized dairy farms of Pune during the period, January-March 2015. The screening involved enrichment in EC broth followed by differential identification on MacConkey sorbitol agar. The presumptive positive isolates were further confirmed by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using primers specific to rfbE (O157), fliC (H7), VT1 (MK1), and VT2 (MK2). Vero-toxicity and antibiotic sensitivity were examined in PCR confirmed isolates.

Results: Out of the 257 samples analyzed, 1.9% (2/105) were positive for O157:H7 and 39% (41/105) were positive for VTEC. Two PCR confirmed positive O157:H7 strains and two randomly selected PCR-positive VT strains exhibited in vitro cytopathic effect on Vero cells on day-7 post-inoculation. Antibiotic sensitivity profiling of O157:H7 strains exhibited resistance against penicillin G, kanamycin, ampicillin, tetracycline, gentamycin, cefotaxime, streptomycin, and piperacillin.

Conclusion: These findings reveal the presence of pathogenic E. coli O157:H7 in the healthy cattle of Pune; in a situation, wherein regular surveillance for O157:H7 is not a norm. Therefore, the findings presented herein warrant routine surveillance and public awareness to prevent the transfer of such pathogens and manage health risks to the public.

Keywords: cattle, Escherichia coli O157:H7, shiga toxin, vero cells, verotoxin.

Short-term effects of sildenafil in the treatment of dogs with pulmonary hypertension secondary to degenerative mitral valve disease

Research (Published online: 29-10-2020)

31. Short-term effects of sildenafil in the treatment of dogs with pulmonary hypertension secondary to degenerative mitral valve disease

Karun Saetang and Sirilak Disatian Surachetpong

Veterinary World, 13(10): 2260-2268

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a common complication of degenerative mitral valve disease (DMVD). Sildenafil, a phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor, has effects in reducing pulmonary arterial pressure by selectively dilating pulmonary vessels. The study aimed to evaluate the effects of sildenafil in combination with conventional therapy in dogs with PH caused by DMVD.

Materials and Methods: Fourteen dogs diagnosed with PH secondary to DMVD Stage C on conventional therapy were randomly assigned to placebo (n=7) and sildenafil (n=7) groups. On day 0, the recruited dogs underwent physical examinations, clinical score assessments, electrocardiography, systolic blood pressure measurements, blood collection, thoracic radiography, and echocardiography for baseline. The dogs then received a combination of conventional therapy with sildenafil or placebo every 8 h for 1 week. On day 7, all dogs underwent the baseline evaluations again.

Results: The sildenafil group experienced a significant decrease in estimated systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP) (p=0.043) from day 0 to day 7. Moreover, the total clinical scores were decreased in dogs treated with sildenafil relative to those who received the placebo (p=0.007); however, the lung scores were not different between before and after treatment with sildenafil.

Conclusion: Sildenafil had a synergistic effect with conventional therapy in reducing the estimated sPAP and clinical scores in dogs with PH secondary to DMVD.

Keywords: degenerative mitral valve disease, dogs, pulmonary hypertension, sildenafil.

Current advances in molecular subtyping using multilocus variable number of tandem repeat analysis of Salmonella Enteritidis and Salmonella Typhimurium in Egyptian chickens

Research (Published online: 28-10-2020)

30. Current advances in molecular subtyping using multilocus variable number of tandem repeat analysis of Salmonella Enteritidis and Salmonella Typhimurium in Egyptian chickens

Wafaa M. M. Hassan, Ashraf A. Abd El Tawab and Sara M. El-Shannat

Veterinary World, 13(10): 2252-2259

ABSTRACT

Aim: This study aimed to characterize the genetic diversity, evolutionary level, and prevalence of genotypes of common isolates of Salmonella (Salmonella Enteritidis and Salmonella Typhimurium). Using one of the most advanced molecular recognition techniques, multilocus variable number of tandem repeat analysis (MLVA), we characterized the genotype and prevalence of S. Enteritidis and S. Typhimurium.

Materials and Methods: One hundred and twenty-five internal organ samples were collected from the major chicken slaughterhouses in Egypt, and Salmonella species were isolated. PCR was utilized to amplify the IE-1 and Flic-C genes to identify S. Enteritidis and S. Typhimurium DNA, respectively, from Salmonella isolates. MLVA was applied on nine samples of S. Enteritidis DNA and three samples of S. Typhimurium DNA. Six variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) loci (Sal02, Sal04, Sal06, Sal10, Sal20, and Sal23) were amplified.

Results: Of the examined samples (n=125), a total of 12 isolates (9.6%) were either identified as Enteritidis or Typhimurium. PCR-mediated amplification of IE-1 and Flic-C revealed that 75% (n=9) of the 12 Salmonella isolates were S. Enteritidis and 25% (n=3) were S. Typhimurium. The six loci amplified through MLVA had allelic diversity. The most discriminatory heterogenic locus for S. Enteritidis was Sal20. Sal04 and Sal23 were the most discriminatory heterogenic loci for S. Typhimurium. VNTR allelic profile analysis revealed nine unique genotypes for S. Enteritidis and three for S. Typhimurium.

Conclusion: This study was the first to use MLVA analysis to identify S. Enteritidis and S. Typhimurium strains isolated from chickens in Egypt. The molecular typing data reported herein allowed us to characterize the genotypes of S. Enteritidis and S. Typhimurium that are most prevalent in Egyptian chickens. Moreover, this epidemiological information provides valuable insight on how to prevent disease transmission. Moreover, our methods provide an alternative to traditional serotyping techniques that may produce inaccurate strain identifications for organisms with rough lipopolysaccharide structures.

Keywords: lipopolysaccharides, multilocus variable number of tandem repeat analysis, Salmonella, serotyping.

Evaluating Flinders Technology Associates card for transporting bacterial isolates and retrieval of bacterial DNA after various storage conditions

Research (Published online: 28-10-2020)

29. Evaluating Flinders Technology Associates card for transporting bacterial isolates and retrieval of bacterial DNA after various storage conditions

Azhar G. Shalaby, Neveen R. Bakry, Abeer A. E. Mohamed and Ashraf A. Khalil

Veterinary World, 13(10): 2243-2251

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Flinders Technology Associates (FTA) cards simplify sample storage, transport, and extraction by reducing cost and time for diagnosis. This study evaluated the FTA suitability for safe transport and storage of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial cells of animal origin on its liquid culture form and from organ impression smears (tissues) under the same routine condition of microbiological laboratory along with detecting their nucleic acid over different storage conditions.

Materials and Methods: Increase in bacterial count from 104 to 107 (colony-forming units/mL) of 78 isolates representing seven bacterial species was applied onto cards. FTA cards were grouped and inoculated by these bacteria and then stored at different conditions of 24-27°C, 4°C, and –20°C for 24 h, for 2 weeks, for 1 and 3 month storage, respectively. Bacteriological examination was done, after which bacterial DNA was identified using specific primers for each bacterial type and detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Results: The total percentage of recovered bacteria from FTA cards was 66.7% at 24-27–C for 24 h, the detection limit was 100% in Gram-positive species, while it was 57.4% in Gram-negative ones. Regarding viable cell detection from organ impression smears, it was successful under the previous conditions. No live bacterial cells were observed by bacteriological isolation rather than only at 24-27°C for 24 h storage. All bacterial DNA were sufficiently confirmed by the PCR technique at different conditions.

Conclusion: Overall, the FTA card method was observed to be a valid tool for nucleic acid purification for bacteria of animal origin in the form of culture or organ smears regardless of its Gram type and is used for a short time only 24 h for storage and transport of live bacteria specifically Gram-positive type. Moreover, the bacterial nucleic acid was intact after storage in –20°C for 3 months and was PCR amplifiable.

Keywords: bacteria, colony-forming units, Flinders Technology Associates, nucleic acid, polymerase chain reaction.