Effects of sublethal and realistic concentrations of the commercial herbicide atrazine in Pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus): Long-term exposure and recovery assays

Research (Published online: 23-01-2020)

22. Effects of sublethal and realistic concentrations of the commercial herbicide atrazine in Pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus): Long-term exposure and recovery assays

Mariana Cruz Delcorso, Paula Pereira de Paiva, Marcela Regina Paganuchi Grigoleto, Sônia C. N. Queiroz, Carla Beatriz Collares-Buzato and Sarah Arana

Veterinary World, 13(1): 147-159

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: The commercial formulations of the herbicide atrazine (cATZ) are widely employed in Brazilian agriculture, and, as a consequence, ATZ has been found at levels above that established by law in the river basins in Brazil. Although the toxicity of ATZ in fish is well documented, there are few studies on the recovery capacity after cATZ exposure. This work aimed to evaluate, using several biomarkers, the toxic effects of long-term exposure to the sublethal (3.57 mg/L) and nonlethal realistic (3.00 μg/L) cATZ concentrations followed by a recovery assay, in fingerlings of a Brazilian teleost, the Piaractus mesopotamicus (pacu).

Materials and Methods: Pacu fingerlings were housed in glass tanks and divided into the following experimental groups (two tanks/group): Exposure control = EC, recovery control = RC, the sublethal groups exposed to 3.57 mg/L of cATZ, (sublethal exposure group = SLE and sublethal recovery group = SLR) and the nonlethal groups treated with 3.00 μg/L of cATZ (nonlethal exposure group = NLE and nonlethal recovery group = NLR). The exposure assay was semi-static with a duration of 30 days and the recovery assay (after cATZ withdrawal) lasted 14 days. Several biomarkers were evaluated in fingerlings from all groups: The swimming behavior, the body weight gain, the micronucleus formation and nuclear alterations in erythrocytes, and the hepatic and renal histopathology analyzed by qualitative and semi-quantitative morphological methods (using light and electron microscopy).

Results: No significant difference in weight gain was observed among the groups after the exposure and recovery assays. The sublethal exposure induced impaired swimming movements, significant histopathological alterations, including necrosis in the liver and kidney, and a significant increase in the frequency of micronuclei in erythrocytes. The nonlethal exposure induced only subtle histopathological changes in the liver and kidney. After recovery assay, no genotoxic alteration was noted in pacu exposed to sublethal concentration, while the cATZ-induced kidney damage was partially reversed but not the hepatic injury.

Conclusion: cATZ exhibits long-term toxic effects on pacu, even at relatively low concentrations, affecting mainly the liver and the kidney, and the effects of sublethal concentration are only partially reversed after cATZ withdrawal.

Keywords: Brazilian ichthyofauna, genotoxicity, histopathology, liver and kidney lesions, recovery assay, ultrastructure.

A simple and efficient purification method of native immunoreactive antigen for diagnosis of camel hydatidosis

Research (Published online: 23-01-2020)

21. A simple and efficient purification method of native immunoreactive antigen for diagnosis of camel hydatidosis

Nagwa I. Toaleb, Mohamed S. Helmy, Eman E. El Shanawany and Eman H. Abdel-Rahman

Veterinary World, 13(1): 141-146

ABSTRACT

Background: Cystic echinococcosis (CE), a zoonotic disease that affects animal and human health, is of increasing economic importance due to high morbidity rates and high economic losses in the livestock industry.

Aim: The present study was conducted to purify the antigen from hydatid cyst fluid (HCF) with high diagnostic efficacy of camel hydatidosis using indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Materials and Methods: The HCF antigen was purified using Sephacryl S-300 column chromatography. Characterization of fractions was performed using reducing and non-reducing sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and Western blot analysis. Further, antibodies against Echinococcus granulosus cysts in camel serum were detected using indirect ELISA.

Results: The purification process resulted in three fractions of antigens: FI, FII, and FIII. Indirect ELISA showed that higher diagnostic efficacy was observed in FI than in FII and FIII. Indirect ELISA, in which FI was utilized, showed 88% sensitivity and 91.7% specificity. Non-reducing SDS-PAGE showed that FI had two bands of molecular weights 120 and 60 kDa. Western blot analysis of FI demonstrated that 60, 38, and 22 kDa were antigenic bands when reacted with naturally infected camel sera with E. granulosus cysts. Using indirect ELISA, F1 recorded an infection percentage of 81.7% in randomly collected camel serum samples.

Conclusion: FI is a promising antigen for accurate diagnosis of camel CE using indirect ELISA.

Keywords: camel hydatidosis, cystic echinococcosis, Echinococcus granulosus, gel filtration chromatography, hydatid cyst fluid, indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, Western blot.

Prevalence of Salmonella spp. in red-footed tortoises (Chelonoidis carbonaria) from Grenada, West Indies

Research (Published online: 22-01-2020)

3. Prevalence of Salmonella spp. in red-footed tortoises (Chelonoidis carbonaria) from Grenada, West Indies

Ravindra Nath Sharma, Vanessa Matthew-Belmar, Roxane Nicholas-Thomas, Gitanjali Arya, Bob Holtslander, Harry Hariharan and Victor A. Amadi

International Journal of One Health, 6(1): 12-16

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: There is currently no published information on the prevalence of Salmonella spp. in pet red-footed tortoises in Grenada. Monitoring is essential to understand the dynamics of the epidemiology of Salmonella. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of Salmonella spp. from pet red-footed tortoises from Grenada and to test for antimicrobial drug resistance of the isolates.

Materials and Methods: Established bacterial culture, serotyping, and antimicrobial susceptibility methods were used. Fecal samples were obtained from 114 tortoises from five parishes of Grenada, and cultured for Salmonella using enrichment and selective culture techniques. The serotyping of isolated Salmonella was performed at the Office International des Epizooties Salmonella Reference Laboratory, Guelph, Ontario, Canada. The isolates were tested for antimicrobial susceptibility in the Microbiology Laboratory of the School of Veterinary Medicine, St. George's University, Grenada.

Results: Fifteen tortoises (13.2%) out of 114 were positive for Salmonella spp. Five serovars were identified: Salmonella Javiana (6.3%), Salmonella Rubislaw (6.3%), Salmonella Saintpaul (18.75%), Salmonella Glostrup (6.3%), and S. I: Rough.O;e,h:1,2 (62.5%). All isolates were sensitive to the 12 antimicrobial drugs.

Conclusion: Three serovars (S. Javiana, S. Saintpaul, and S. Rubislaw) are known pathogens causing disease in humans. Since tortoises included in the study were pets, the tortoises may be a possible source of transmission of Salmonella to their owners. The tortoise owners should be educated on the importance of hygienic raising of their pets. This is the first report of isolation of Salmonella spp. from pet red-footed tortoises in Grenada.

Keywords: antimicrobial susceptibility, Grenada, red-footed tortoises, Salmonella spp.

Determination of gentamicin use in poultry farms in Enugu state, Nigeria, and detection of its residue in slaughter commercial broilers

Research (Published online: 20-01-2020)

2. Determination of gentamicin use in poultry farms in Enugu state, Nigeria, and detection of its residue in slaughter commercial broilers

Chika ThankGod Onyeanu, Ekene Vivienne Ezenduka and Aruh Ottah Anaga

International Journal of One Health, 6(1): 6-11

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Gentamicin is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial used in the treatment of a variety of bacterial infections in poultry, its residue in tissues is known to have a deleterious effect in man when consumed. The study aimed to determine the use of gentamicin by poultry farmers and the presence and occurrence of gentamicin residue in tissues of commercial broilers in Ikpa slaughterhouse Nsukka.

Materials and Methods: The study adopted a cross-sectional survey using questionnaire and immunological screening. A total of 108 broilers were sampled, testing 108 each of muscle, liver, and kidney tissues for gentamicin residue using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results: The questionnaire survey revealed that in the management practices, 55.2% of the farms used intensive deep litter, 21% intensive battery cage, and 23.6% extensive farming system. Twenty-seven (71%) farms reared only broilers, 10.5% layers, and 18.4% both. The feeding management showed that 21.1% of farmers produced their own feed (medicated) while 78.8% used commercial feed, of which 11.5% incorporated antibiotics. Hundred (100%) of the respondents used gentamicin and only 47.3% were aware of the consequences of antimicrobial residue in foods of animal origin, with knowledge of the legislation on the prudent use of antimicrobials in food animals. The occurrence of gentamicin residue in surveyed birds was 65% with tissue distribution as follows: Muscle (44.4%), liver (51.9%), and kidney (59.3%).

Conclusion: Poultry farms in the study area make constant use of gentamicin without observing its withdrawal period before sale, and a high percentage of the commercial birds meant for human consumption contains gentamicin residue. Therefore, consumers might be at risk of consuming gentamicin as a parent drug or its metabolites in commercial poultry.

Keywords: enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, farm management, gentamicin, poultry, residue.

Analysis of phenolic compounds and immunomodulatory activity of areca nut extract from Aceh, Indonesia, against Staphylococcus aureus infection in Sprague-Dawley rats

Research (Published online: 18-01-2020)

20. Analysis of phenolic compounds and immunomodulatory activity of areca nut extract from Aceh, Indonesia, against Staphylococcus aureus infection in Sprague-Dawley rats

Liza Meutia Sari, Rachmi Fanani Hakim, Zaki Mubarak and Andriyanto Andriyanto

Veterinary World, 13(1): 134-140

ABSTRACT

Aim: The aim of the study was to investigate the immunomodulatory activity of areca nut extract. The phytochemical content and phenolic composition of the extract were also determined.

Materials and Methods: An extract of areca nut was prepared using 96% ethanol and subsequently screened for phytochemical content using a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. The immunomodulatory activity of the extract was tested in 35 Sprague-Dawley rats, divided into four groups: One control group and three experimental groups in which the rats received 500, 1000, or 1500 mg/kg of oral areca nut extract biweekly (BW). The extract was orally administered 14 days before the intraperitoneal challenge with Staphylococcus aureus (1×108 CFU/mL). On the 14th day of the experiment, rats in all the four groups were sacrificed. Measurement of the levels of red blood cells, hematocrit (Hct), hemoglobin (Hb), white blood cells (WBCs), lymphocytes, monocytes, neutrophils, basophils, eosinophil, and macrophages were recorded. The activities of serum glutamate oxalate transaminase, serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase, urea, and creatinine were also determined.

Results: Areca nut was found to contain an alkaloid, tannin, and flavonoid compounds. HPLC analysis revealed the presence of catechin as the major compound along with quercetin. Administration of areca nut extract in rats infected with S. aureus produced a significant increase in the concentration of WBC but did not affect Hct, Hb, and other cell types. Among the different doses tested, 1000 mg/kg BW was found to be most effective in cellular immunity models. No harmful effects on the liver and kidney functions were observed.

Conclusion: The antioxidant activity of areca nut might be attributed to the presence of catechin and quercetin. Administration of areca nut extract increased the number of WBCs and improved the activity and capacity of macrophages significantly in rats infected with S. aureus.

Keywords: areca nut extract, catechin, immunomodulatory activity, phytochemical content.

Effect of insulin-like growth factor 1 gene on growth traits of Kejobong goat and its growth analysis

Research (Published online: 18-01-2020)

19. Effect of insulin-like growth factor 1 gene on growth traits of Kejobong goat and its growth analysis

Dela Ayu Lestari, Takuro Oikawa, Sutopo Sutopo, Endang Purbowati, Asep Setiaji and Edy Kurnianto

Veterinary World, 13(1): 127-133

ABSTRACT

Aim: This study aimed to identify the effect of the insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) gene on growth, to uncover the genetic marker at the IGF1 gene, and to predict growth performance by analyzing growth models of Kejobong goats based on their genotype.

Materials and Methods: DNA and records of body weight (BW) and body measurements (BM) of Kejobong goats were collected, the IGF1 gene was amplified from the DNA template by polymerase chain reaction (PCR); the PCR products were then sequenced to determine single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP). Linear mixed model (LMM) was used to analyze the association between SNP and growth traits. Four non-linear growth models were analyzed using non-LMM to describe the growth model and to compare the growth within genotypes.

Results: An SNP at intron 4 (g5752G→C) genotyped into GG and CC was significantly associated with BW and BM. Goats of genotype GG had a significantly higher BW and BM (p<0.05) than those of genotype CC. Growth analysis showed that the von Bertalanffy model was the most fit for describing BW, the Brody model for chest width and hip height, the Gompertz and Logistic models for heart girth, and the von Bertalanffy and Gompertz models for hip width.

Conclusion: An SNP at intron 4 of the IGF1 gene was associated with the growth trait and was usable as a genetic marker candidate for improvement of growth traits of Kejobong goats while von Bertalanffy model provides proper and accurate estimates of parameters to describe the growth performance of Kejobong goats.

Keywords: genetic markers, goat, growth analysis, growth traits, insulin-like growth factor 1.

Nano zinc oxide – An alternate zinc supplement for livestock

Research (Published online: 16-01-2020)

18. Nano zinc oxide – An alternate zinc supplement for livestock

K. Geetha, M. Chellapandian, N. Arulnathan and A. Ramanathan

Veterinary World, 13(1): 121-126

ABSTRACT

Aim: This study was aimed to investigate antimicrobial and cytotoxicity effect of nano ZnO in in vitro for the application of livestock feed supplement.

Materials and Methods: Nano ZnO was synthesized by wet chemical precipitation method using zinc acetate as a precursor and sodium hydroxide was used for reducing the precursor salt. The properties of synthesized powder were characterized using ultraviolet (UV)–visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD), respectively. In vitro antimicrobial activities were analyzed against the pathogenic bacteria in poultry Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Streptococcus aeruginosa. 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay was conducted to analyze the cytotoxicity effect of nano ZnO.

Results: SEM showed a spherical ZnO particle in the range of 70-100 nm. The size of the particle and purity of the sample were confirmed by XRD. The nano-sized ZnO particles exhibited the UV absorption peak at 335 nm. In FTIR spectroscopy, pure ZnO nanoparticles showed stretching vibrations at 4000-5000 cm-1. ZnO nanoparticles exhibited remarkable antibacterial activity against E. coli, S. aureus, K. pneumoniae, and S. aeruginosa bacterial strains. Cell viability was significantly reduced in a dose-dependent manner in the cytotoxicity study.

Conclusion: From the broad-spectrum antibacterial activity and the lower cytotoxicity observed at the prescribed dose, it is concluded that nano ZnO powder is a potential alternate zinc supplement for livestock.

Keywords: antimicrobial, cytotoxicity, nano zinc oxide, precipitation method, zinc supplementation.