Red ginger-extract nanoemulsion modulates high blood pressure in rats by regulating angiotensin-converting enzyme production

Research (Published online: 21-01-2021)

23. Red ginger-extract nanoemulsion modulates high blood pressure in rats by regulating angiotensin-converting enzyme production

Nada Hanifah, Yusuf Farid Achmad, Aida Humaira and Siti Isrina Oktavia Salasia

Veterinary World, 14(1): 176-181

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Red ginger (RG) has reportedly been used in folk medicine for the management and prevention of hypertension. One of the hypertension study models in experimental animals is the unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO). This study aimed at evaluating the effect of RG-extract (RGE) nanoemulsion on UUO-induced hypertension and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) production in rats.

Materials and Methods: RG was extracted using ethanol, combined with virgin coconut oil, polysorbate 80, and polyethylene glycol 400 to form the oil phase. The particle sizes of RGE nanoemulsions were analyzed using a particle size analyzer. The UUO method was used to induce chronic kidney disease in rats (504 mg/200 g and 360 mg/200 g b/w per oral for 7 days). The systolic and diastolic blood pressure was determined non-invasively in conscious state by tail plethysmography using an automated blood pressure monitor. ACE in serum was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results: The RGE nanoemulsions exhibited a particle size of 32.8 nm and a polydispersity index (PI) of 0.268, indicating a homogenous nanoemulsion. UUO rats treated with RGE nanoemulsion (360 mg/200 g b/w) experienced a significant decrease in both their systolic blood pressure (p<0.05) from 142±1 mmHg to 107±6 mmHg and their diastolic blood pressure from 106±1 mmHg to 84±4 mmHg. Furthermore, treatment with RGE resulted in a 10.80% decrease in the level of ACE.

Conclusion: The size and the PI of the RGE used in this study suggest a stable and effective distribution of the particle size in the emulsions. RGE nanoemulsions at the dose of 360 mg/200 g bw can be used as potential ACE inhibitors because they were found to decrease the blood pressure of hypertensive UUO rats.

Keywords: angiotensin-converting enzyme, blood pressure, nanoemulsion, red ginger, unilateral ureteral obstruction.

Effects of tissue-specific biomolecules on piglets after-weaning period

Research (Published online: 21-01-2021)

22. Effects of tissue-specific biomolecules on piglets after-weaning period

Ekaterina Romanovna Vasilevskaya, Liliya Vyacheslavovna Fedulova, Irina Mikhailovna Chernukha, Elena Alexandrovna Kotenkova and Angelina Igorevna Fokina

Veterinary World, 14(1): 168-175

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Now-a-days antibiotics are the main tool for correcting the pathological conditions of pigs; unfortunately, antibiotics are a potential threat to the environment, as they lead to the spread of antibiotic-resistant infections. This study aimed to study the immunomodulatory encapsulated biomolecules on piglets in the post-weaning period.

Materials and Methods: An immunomodulator based on biomolecules obtained from animal raw materials included in alginate capsules to improve absorption has been developed. The study presents the results of a study on 25 weaned piglets (25-30 days old) which received biomolecules at a dose of 200 mg/piglet for 14 days, followed by 400 mg/piglet from days 15 to 28. Blood was taken from animals for analysis (biochemical, hematological, cytometric, and enzyme immunoassay) and the integral index of blood serum antimicrobial activity was determined.

Results: Experimental animals, whose initial weight was 1.6 times less than that of the control animals, were able to bridge this gap and, on the 28th day, there were no differences in weight. Stimulation of the production of cytokines interleukin (IL)-2 and IL-4 was observed and the antimicrobial resistance of blood serum to Escherichia coli also increased. A positive effect on the metabolism of piglets was noted, which helped them adapt to a change in diet (from colostrum to solid food).

Conclusion: The results show that the immunomodulation at the dose of 150 mg/kg body weight has a great potential for improving weaned pigs.

Keywords: biomolecules, health, immune system, pig, sustainable pork production.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor activity of peptides derived from Kacang goat skin collagen through thermolysin hydrolysis

Research (Published online: 21-01-2021)

21. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor activity of peptides derived from Kacang goat skin collagen through thermolysin hydrolysis

Arby'in Pratiwi, Thoyib R. Hakim, Mohammad Z. Abidin, Nanung A. Fitriyanto, Jamhari Jamhari, Rusman Rusman and Yuny Erwanto

Veterinary World, 14(1): 161-167

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) is one of the inhibitory enzymes isolated from animals for the treatment of hypertension. ACE inhibitor (ACE-I) peptides can be obtained by hydrolyzing proteins from various animal tissues, including muscle and connective tissues. However, the study on ACE-I activity from collagen of Kacang goat skin has not been conducted. This study explores the potency of collagen from Kacang goat skin as a source of an antihypertensive agent through ACE inhibition. Thermolysin will hydrolyze collagen and produce the peptide classified antihypertensive bioactive peptides. This study aimed to determine the potential of thermolysin to hydrolyze collagen of Kacang goat skin for ACE-I peptide production and to identify the production of ACE-I peptides.

Materials and Methods: Collagen from Kacang goat skin was hydrolyzed with thermolysin and incubated at 37°C for 1 h. Molecular weight (MW) evaluation was performed by SDS PAGE; fractionation peptides at <5 kDa, 3-5 kDa, and <3 kDa were performed by ultrafiltration and ACE-I activity determined by IC50 measurement.

Results: Collagen was hydrolyzed by thermolysin, resulting in protein with MW of 117.50-14.60 kDa. The protein content of fractionation at >5 kDa was 3.93±0.72 mg/mL, content of 3-5 kDa was 3.81±0.68 mg/mL, and that of <3 kDa was 2.33±0.38 mg/mL. Fractionation was performed 3 times and one of the results was selected for the ACE-I test. The selected fraction was tested by IC50 measurement with three repetitions and it showed an average enzyme activity at 0.83 μg/mL or 82.94 mg/mL.

Conclusion: Thermolysin hydrolysis of collagen from Kacang goat skin showed the potential to produce bioactive peptides, such as ACE-I.

Keywords: angiotensin-I-converting enzyme inhibitor, bioactive peptides, collagen, hydrolysis, thermolysin.

Cysticercus bovis in cattle slaughtered in North Egypt: Overestimation by the visual inspection method

Research (Published online: 20-01-2021)

20. Cysticercus bovis in cattle slaughtered in North Egypt: Overestimation by the visual inspection method

Mona Hassan El-Sayad, Hoda Farag, Hend El-Taweel, Reda Fadly, Nahla Salama, Asmaa Abd Elhameed Ahmed and Naglaa Fathi Abd El-Latif

Veterinary World, 14(1): 155-160

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: The World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization list Taenia saginata, a foodborne cestode, as the most widely distributed human tapeworm worldwide. The larval stage of T. saginata, Cysticercus bovis, causes cysticercosis in bovines and infects humans who eat raw or undercooked beef. The existing detection methods of C. bovis in cattle depend on the visual inspection of meat. This study aimed to confirm the identification of C. bovis through visual inspection at the slaughterhouses in North Egypt with a molecular diagnosis.

Materials and Methods: A total of 687 locally bred cattle (Baladi), including 428 cows and 259 buffaloes, slaughtered in four slaughterhouses in North Egypt from April 2018 to February 2019 were inspected for C. bovis using the traditional meat inspection method. Positive samples were verified through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and HDP2 gene sequencing.

Results: Through visual inspection, C. bovis was detected in 4.2% and 12.4% of the slaughtered cows and buffaloes, respectively. Molecular analysis confirmed that 1.9% of the animals, all of which were cows, had C. bovis infection. DNA sequencing verified the identity of the PCR-amplified product.

Conclusion: The rate of C. bovis infection in slaughterhouses detected through meat inspection is overestimated compared with that through PCR. Although meat inspection can be used as a primary screening tool for C. bovis, a more specific molecular method is required to achieve an accurate diagnosis.

Keywords: cattle, Cysticercus bovis polymerase chain reaction analysis, Taenia saginata, zoonotic.

Validation of real-time polymerase chain reaction versus conventional polymerase chain reaction for diagnosis of brucellosis in cattle sera

Research (Published online: 19-01-2021)

19. Validation of real-time polymerase chain reaction versus conventional polymerase chain reaction for diagnosis of brucellosis in cattle sera

Nour H. Abdel-Hamid, Eman I. M. Beleta, Mohamed A. Kelany, Rania I. Ismail, Nadia A. Shalaby and Manal H. M. Khafagi

Veterinary World, 14(1): 144-154

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Different polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques have and are still being used for the direct detection of Brucella DNA in serum samples of different animal species and humans without being validated or properly validated, resulting in discrepancies. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of the TaqMan Real- Time-PCR (RT-PCR) targeting the bcsp31 gene versus conventional PCR for the accurate diagnosis of brucellosis at the genus level in cattle sera.

Materials and Methods: One hundred and eighty-four serum samples were collected from bacteriologically positive and negative cows with ages ranging from 1 to 5 years old at some infected private farms in the Nile Delta under quarantine measures as well as brucellosis free farms. These samples were classified into four groups after serological diagnosis and investigated by TaqMan RT-PCR and conventional PCR targeting the IS711 gene for Brucella DNA detection. The diagnostic performance characteristics of both PCR techniques were estimated considering the bacteriological results as a gold standard.

Results: TaqMan RT-PCR revealed superiority over conventional PCR; it was able to detect Brucella DNA in 95% (67/70) and 89% (25/28) of the cattle sera samples belonging to Group 1 (serologically and bacteriologically positive) and Group 2 (serologically negative but bacteriologically positive), respectively. On evaluating the diagnostic performance, TaqMan RT-PCR showed superior diagnostic sensitivity (93.9%), diagnostic specificity (88.4%), performance index (182.3), almost perfect kappa agreement (0.825±0.042), strong positive correlation (r=0.826), high accuracy based on the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and area under the ROC curve (0.911) at p<0.05 and CI of 95%.

Conclusion: A cattle serum sample is not the metric of choice for targeting Brucella genomic DNA by conventional PCR. The time-saving and rapid TaqMan RT-PCR method revealed a better diagnostic performance in the detection of Brucella DNA in cattle sera. Such performance offered by TaqMan RT-PCR may be considered a step toward the possibility of using such technology in the direct differentiation between Brucella-infected and -vaccinated cattle immunized by smooth vaccines from cattle sera using primers specific for such vaccines.

Keywords: bacteriological results, Brucella, conventional polymerase chain reaction, diagnostic sensitivity, diagnostic specificity, TaqMan real-time-polymerase chain reaction.

Amelioration on oxidative stress, testosterone, and cortisol levels after administration of Vitamins C and E in albino rats with chronic variable stress

Research (Published online: 18-01-2021)

18. Amelioration on oxidative stress, testosterone, and cortisol levels after administration of Vitamins C and E in albino rats with chronic variable stress

Nanik Hidayatik, Agus Purnomo, Faisal Fikri and Muhammad Thohawi Elziyad Purnama

Veterinary World, 14(1): 137-143

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Stress can cause physiological and biological disorders in the body. On the other hand, antioxidants from vitamins and minerals are effective for stress treatment. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of the administration of Vitamins C and E on serum superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), testosterone, and cortisol activity in albino rats with chronic variable stress (CVS).

Materials and Methods: Twenty albino rats were randomly assigned into four treatment groups: C was administered normal saline; T1 was administered Vitamins C and E; T2 was only induced CVS; and T3 was induced CVS followed by Vitamins C and E administration. All treatments were applied for 4 weeks, respectively. Furthermore, 5 mL of blood samples were collected intracardially. Body weight data were collected for the initial and final weights. From serum samples, SOD, GPx, and CAT were measured using the enzymol method; MDA was measured using the high-performance liquid chromatography method; and testosterone and cortisol were measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. All variables were analyzed statistically using analysis of variance followed by the Duncan test (p<0.05).

Results: Our findings showed that the T1 and T3 groups significantly decreased (p<0.001) compared to T2 in the following parameters: SOD, MDA, GPx, and cortisol. Meanwhile, CAT and testosterone levels in the T1 and T3 groups were significantly increased (p<0.001) compared to the T2 group. In addition, the weight gain in T1 and T3 groups was significantly increased (p<0.001) compared to T2 group.

Conclusion: It can be concluded that the administration of Vitamins C and E had a significant effect to alleviate SOD, MDA, GPx, and cortisol and to improve the testosterone level in albino rats with CVS.

Keywords: chronic variable stress, oxidative stress parameters, Vitamin C, Vitamin E.

Obstructive urolithiasis in buffalo calves (Bubalus bubalis): Serum changes of Vitamins A and D and efficacy of surgical management using tube cystostomy

Research (Published online: 18-01-2021)

17. Obstructive urolithiasis in buffalo calves (Bubalus bubalis): Serum changes of Vitamins A and D and efficacy of surgical management using tube cystostomy

Abdelmonem Abdallah, Shimaa Ezzeldein, Eslam Eisa, Mustafa Abd El Raouf and Yasmin Bayoumi

Veterinary World, 14(1): 129-136

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Obstructive urolithiasis is one of the major health problems in livestock animals, mainly in young calves. The present study was designed first to investigate the changes in the serum levels of Vitamins A and D in buffalo calves (Bubalus bubalis) with obstructive urolithiasis and second to investigate the efficacy of tube cystostomy technique in management of such condition.

Materials and Methods: One hundred and forty-nine buffalo calves of variable ages ranged from 3 to 7 months with a history of retained urine were examined clinically and ultrasonographically. Then, they were subjected to surgical treatment using the tube cystostomy technique. The serum levels of Vitamins A and D were investigated in retained urine calves in addition to 10 clinically healthy calves of the same age used as a control group.

Results: Based on clinical and ultrasonographic findings, the calves were diagnosed as obstructive urolithiasis with intact bladder (n=64 calves) or with bladder rupture (n=85 calves) with the peak incidence in winter months. Tube cystostomy was an efficient and quick surgical technique for the management of such condition and 95.3% of calves returned their normal urination within 7–14 days after surgery. Significant hypovitaminoses A and D were found between retained urine calves and control ones (p= 0.01 and 0.002, respectively).

Conclusion: Hypovitaminoses A and D suggested predisposing obstructive urolithiasis in buffalo calves, but further clinical studies are recommended for more confirmation. Surgical treatment using tube cystostomy technique is recommended for the management of obstructive urolithiasis in buffalo calves.

Keywords: buffalo calves, hypovitaminosis, tube cystostomy, ultrasound, urolithiasis.