Effect of dietary onion (Allium cepa L.) powder as an antioxidant on semen quality, blood biochemicals, and reproductive parameters, as well as immunological variables of rabbit bucks under severe heat stress.

This study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant effects of onion (Allium cepa L.) powder on the immunological variables, redox state, and semen quality of rabbit bucks exposed to severe heat stress. Thirty-six mature bucks (7 months old) were divided into three groups consisting of 12 bucks each, namely group I, control; group II, 400 mg onion powder/kg diet; and group III, 800 mg onion powder/kg diet. The quality of semen was evaluated for volume, pH, motility, concentration, total sperm output, viability, and packed sperm volume. Blood samples were collected in the 12th week for estimation of red blood cells (RBC), white blood cells (WBC), and erythrocytic indices. Serum proteins, glutamate oxaloacetate (GOT), glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT), urea, creatinine, testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), immunoglobulins, malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), glutathione, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) were measured. The temperature-humidity index (THI) obtained was within the range of 28.85-33.08 indicating severe heat stress. The results show that mass and individual motility, concentration, total sperm output, sperm viability, and packed sperm volume were higher (P < 0.05) in groups II and group III, with group III having the highest (P < 0.05) levels compared to group I. Compared to group I, groups II and III had higher (P < 0.05) concentrations of RBC, MCV, MCH, FSH, LH, SOD, and catalase. The highest concentration (P < 0.05) of GPT was obtained in group III compared to other groups. The highest concentration of IgG (P < 0.05) was obtained in group II while the lowest was in group I. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with onion powder at 400 or 800 mg/kg diet improves semen quality, RBC, FSH, LH, SOD, catalase, and IgG while ameliorating the adverse effects of heat stress and improve the health and reproduction of rabbits.

Novel mono- and multi-strain probiotics supplementation modulates growth, intestinal microflora composition and haemato-biochemical parameters in broiler chickens.

BACKGROUND: The reduction of antimicrobial usage in food-producing animals necessitates the intense search for novel alternatives, including new probiotic strains with more effective properties in improving growth performance and curtailing diseases in animals. OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the effects of novel mono- and multi-strain probiotics on the growth performance, intestinal microbiota and haemato-biochemical parameters of broilers. METHODS: A total of 160 one-day-old Cobb 500 broilers were divided into eight treatment groups with two replicates consisting of (1) basal diet (negative control), (2) basal diet with antibiotic, colistin sulphate, (3) basal diet with commercial probiotic, PROMAX® (positive control), (4) basal diet with Pediococcus acidilactici I5, (5) basal diet with P. pentosaceus I13, (6) basal diet with Enterococcus faecium C14, (7) basal diet with Lactobacillus plantarum C16 and (8) basal diet with the combination of all the four probiotic strains. Birds were kept for 35 days and through oral gavage, 1 ml of 108 study probiotic strains administered on days 3-6, 14 and 18. RESULTS: Supplementation with P. pentosaceus I13, L. plantarum C16 or multi-strain probiotics significantly (p < 0.05) improved the body weight gain and feed conversion ratio with decrease in feed intake and intestinal Enterobacteria counts. There was a significant (p < 0.05) increase in haemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, total white blood cells, platelets counts and a lowered (p < 0.05) total cholesterol and glucose levels in multi-strains probiotic supplemented birds. CONCLUSION: The supplementation with novel multi-strain probiotics improved growth, intestinal health and haemato-biochemical parameters in broilers and could be used as suitable antibiotic alternatives.

Determinants of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) Infection Among University Students in Central Bangladesh.

This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence and determinants of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection among university students in Bangladesh. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 614 students from five universities in central Bangladesh. Data were collected on demographic information, immunization history, medical and blood transfusion history through the face-to-face interview. Blood samples were collected and screened for anti-HBsAg using ELISA, HBsAg Rapid Test-cassette, and immune chromatographic test. The overall seroprevalence of HBV infection was 5.0%, and vaccination coverage was 19.2% among the participants. Students having a history of surgery (OR 11.004, 95% CI 3.211-37.707), blood transfusion (OR 5.651, 95% CI 0.965-33.068), being married (OR 4.776, 95% CI 1.508-15.127), and not being vaccinated (OR 9.825, 95% CI 1.130-85.367) were at higher risk of being infected by HBV. This study showed the endemicity of HBV infection among the Bangladeshi population. Marriage, surgical or blood transfusion history, not being vaccinated were the determinants of HBV infection within the study population. Public health initiatives for preventing HBV infection at the university levels should be envisaged.

Novel multi-strain probiotics reduces Pasteurella multocida induced fowl cholera mortality in broilers.

Pasteurella multocida causes fowl cholera, a highly contagious poultry disease of global concern, causing significant ecological and economic challenges to the poultry industry each year. This study evaluated the effects of novel multi-strain probiotics consisting of Lactobacillus plantarum, L. fermentum, Pediococcus acidilactici, Enterococcus faecium and Saccharomyces cerevisiae on growth performance, intestinal microbiota, haemato-biochemical parameters and anti-inflammatory properties on broilers experimentally challenged with P. multocida. A total of 120 birds were fed with a basal diet supplemented with probiotics (108 CFU/kg) and then orally challenged with 108 CFU/mL of P. multocida. Probiotics supplementation significantly (P < 0.05) improved growth performance and feed efficiency as well as reducing (P < 0.05) the population of intestinal P. multocida, enterobacteria, and mortality. Haemato-biochemical parameters including total cholesterol, white blood cells (WBC), proteins, glucose, packed cell volume (PCV) and lymphocytes improved (P < 0.05) among probiotic fed birds when compared with the controls. Transcriptional profiles of anti-inflammatory genes including hypoxia inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF1A), tumor necrosis factor- (TNF) stimulated gene-6 (TSG-6) and prostaglandin E receptor 2 (PTGER2) in the intestinal mucosa were upregulated (P < 0.05) in probiotics fed birds. The dietary inclusion of the novel multi-strain probiotics improves growth performance, feed efficiency and intestinal health while attenuating inflammatory reaction, clinical signs and mortality associated with P. multocida infection in broilers.

Human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV-16) IgG antibody among women of reproductive age presenting at a healthcare facility in Central Nigeria: a pilot study.

Approximately, 70% of cervical cancer cases worldwide are attributable to HPV-16 and HPV-18, with HPV-associated cancers being the second most common infection-related cancers globally. However, there´s paucity of data about this infective agent in Central Nigeria. In a cross-sectional study, we evaluated the seroprevalence of HPV-16 immunoglobulin G (IgG) and risk determinants among women in Central Nigeria as a first step towards evaluating anti-HPV IgM antibody for active cases and determining incidence. Blood samples were collected between August 2016 and January 2018, from 400 consenting women of childbearing age (15-49 years) who completed structured questionnaires. Samples were analyzed using HPV-16 specific IgG ELISA kits (Cusabio Co. Ltd, Germany). Statistical analysis was performed to determine predictors. Overall, we found that 128 (32.0%) had IgG antibody against HPV-16. Seroprevalence by age was 50.0% (15-19 years), 55.0% (20-24 years), 12.9% (25-29 years), 50.0% (30-34 years), 32.1% (35-39 years), 18.2% (40-44 years) and 19.4% (45-49 years) respectively. Factors associated with infection were age (P=0.0002; 95% CI 5.06-31.51), occupation (P<0.0001; 95% CI 1.4-12.6), number of sex partners (P=0.0037; 95% CI 1.27-49.93), history of genital warts (P=0.0203; 95% CI 1.34-9.55) and education level (P<0.0001; 95% CI 3.89-60.11). In addition, forty six (11.5%) reported having the history of genital warts with 268 (67.0%) and 132 (33.0%) subjects being married and single respectively. Individuals who were either artisans or civil servants were 260 (65.0%), whereas 140 (35.0%) were students. Majority, 324 (81.0%), had either primary, secondary or tertiary education with 76 (19.0%) of the subjects having no formal education. In respect of sexual behaviour, 196 (49.0%) reported having at least two sexual partners, out of which 64 (16.0%) had three or more. These findings provide high serological evidence of exposure to HPV-16 in Central Nigeria with implications for national and regional intervention initiatives.

SARS-CoV-2 vaccines-induced thrombotic thrombocytopenia: should we consider immuno-hypersensitivity?

ABSTRACT The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is significantly causing unprecedented clinical, socioeconomic, and public health challenges globally. The successful global administration of effective, safe and sustainable vaccine(s) is widely believed to be crucial in mitigating as well as preventing COVID-19. However, the rising cases of severe adverse events following immunization (AEFI) with COVID-19 vaccines including thrombosis, thrombocytopenia, and in some instances, death have created serious global concerns and could enormously contribute to vaccine hesitancy. Although the complete underlying pathophysiology and immunopathology of the COVID-19 vaccines related to AEFI, including thrombosis and/or anaphylaxis, are yet to be determined, exploring possible immuno-hypersensitivity could be crucial in the mechanisms associated with these reactions, thereby mitigating their occurrences as well as restoring confidence in vaccine administration for a COVID-19 free world.