Molecular epidemiology of virulent E. coli among rural small scale dairy herds and shops: Efficacy of selected marine algal extracts and disinfectants.

Virulent pathotypes of E. coli seriously affect the livestock regarding the misuse of antibiotics. All 180 samples collected from cow's environment and dairy shops in Qena, Egypt were serologically and molecularly positive for coliforms. Enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), Enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC) and Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) pathotypes were isolated from water and milk-related samples. STEC serogroups O26, O55, O111, O113, O145 were also recovered. The non-O157 STEC serotypes were recovered from human diarrheagenic patients contacting cattle or consuming contaminated water/milk products. BlaCTX-M and blaTEM genes were detected in 25.5% and 100%, respectively. Disinfectants and algal extracts, identified by GC-MS, were evaluated in vitro for antibacterial activities. TH4+® disinfectant and methanol extract of Turbinaria decurrens reduced E. coli at 13 log10 at 1.5% and 3 mg/ml concentrations, respectively. Ag-NPs/T. decurrens showed 8-9 log10 reduction at concentration of 1.6 × 105 NPs/ml. Examined water sources, milk and milk products were potential reservoirs for virulent antibiotic-resistant E.coli which may impose animal and public health threats.Abbreviations: APEC: Avian pathogenic E. coli; blaCTX-M: ß-lactamase inhibitors-Cefotaximase gene; blaTEM: ß-lactamase inhibitors-Temoneira gene; CFU: Colony-forming unit; DAEC: Diffusely adherent E. coli; DEC: Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli; DEMSO: Dimethyl sulfoxide; eaeA: Intimin or E. coli attaching gene; EAEC: Enteroaggregative E. coli; EHEC: Enterohemorrhagic E. coli; EIEC: Enteroinvasive E. coli; EOSQC: Egyptian Organization for Standardization and Quality Control; EPEC: Enteropathogenic E. coli; ETEC: Enterotoxigenic E. coli; ExPEC: Extra-intestinal pathogenic E. coli; GC-MS: Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry technique; hly: Hemolysin gene; STEC: Shiga like producing E. coli; stx1: Shiga-toxin 1 gene; ESBLs: Extended-spectrum beta-lactamases.

Vitamin A and Daucus carota root extract mitigate STZ-induced diabetic retinal degeneration in Wistar albino rats by modulating neurotransmission and downregulation of apoptotic pathways.

The objective of our study was to explore the deleterious effects of diabetes on the visual functions of the retina and to address whether the administration of vitamin A and carrot root extract (CE) confer retinal protection in hyperglycemic rats via modulation of oxidative stress, biochemical alternations, and retinal neurotransmission. Fifty male Wistar albino rats weighing 180 ± 12.41 g were randomized into five groups (n = 10): controls, diabetic group (injected with 40 mg/kg dissolved in 0.1 sodium citrate buffer), diabetic group treated with vitamin A (2,500 IU/kg, low dose), diabetic group treated with vitamin (5,000 IU/kg, high dose), and diabetic groups administered CE (200 mg/kg/every other day). Our findings showed that, compared to controls, diabetic rats showed a significant decrease in their retinal thickness, increased apoptotic ganglion cells, and a noticeable degeneration of their synaptic layers. The inner retina displayed increased activity of neovascularization; however, the outer retina exhibited vacuolar degeneration of the photoreceptor cell layer. Our biochemical assessments showed reduced levels of CAT, SOD, and GST along with increased lipid peroxidation. Concurrently, cellular angiogenic and stress markers were significantly elevated associated with increased apoptotic activities as evidenced by increased expressions of annexin-V and PARP. Furthermore, the neurotransmitter content of the retina was altered in diabetic rats compared to controls and diabetic-treated groups. Paradoxically, vitamin A and CE supplementation attenuate these retinal insults in diabetic animals and normalized aforementioned assayed parameters; evidencing that both treatments exerted ameliorative impacts and restored visual functions by diminishing oxidative stress and neuronal degeneration. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Diabetes is a complex disease that involves various physiological perturbations especially visual functions. In our study, we showed that vitamin A and carrot root extract (CE) confer remarkable protection against retinal degeneration in STZ-induced diabetic rats. Our findings showed that the chemical and phytochemical ingredients of the vitamin A and CE substantially attenuated the histopathological changes, oxidative stress, inflammatory reactions, and cellular death in diabetic rats. These favorable changes are attributable to the high content of retinoic acid, carotenoids, and phenolic compounds that effectively regulates the production of visual pigments, increases the antioxidant defense system, and diminishes the pro-inflammatory and apoptotic pathways. Thus, the nutritional values of vitamin A and CE represent promising therapeutic choices to mitigate the retinal-induced diabetic insults.

Vitamin E and selenium administration synergistically mitigates ivermectin and doramectin-induced testicular dysfunction in male Wistar albino rats.

Avermectins are broad-spectrum antiparasitic drugs in veterinary and human medication. The current study aimed to examine the toxic effects of ivermectin (IVM) and doramectin (DRM), with or without co-treatment of vitamin E (Vit.E) and selenium (Se) on apoptosis, oxidative stress and male fertility in Wistar rats. Twenty five adult male animals were divided into five groups; G1; was control (CTL) received saline, G2; IVM (0.2 mg/kg b.w), G3; IVM plus Vit.E/Se (80/1.6 mg/kg b.w, respectively), G4; DRM (0.2 mg/kg b.w), and G5; DRM plus Vit.E/Se. Both IVM and DRM were given by subcutaneous (s.c) injections while Vit.E/Se was orally given. All treatments were administered once weekly for four consecutive weeks. By 24 h after the last treatment, the animals were sacrificed. Blood and tissue samples were collected for hematology, serobiochemistry, histopathology, and molecular assays for hepatic/ renal toxicities, oxidative stress, cell viability and fertility parameters. Apoptosis of the hepatic cells obtained from the treated rats was assayed by detection of annexin-V using the flow cytometric assay (FCA). The proliferating cellular nuclear antigen (PCNA) and DNA fragmentation in the treated rats' testicular tissues were also assayed. Moreover, the direct effects of IVM or DRM with or without concomitant administration of Vit.E/Se on testicular cells isolated from adult rat were also performed in vitro. Apoptosis of those cultured testicular cells in response to the different treatments was assayed by detection of the inhibition-concentration fifty (IC50) using the SRB method, and evaluating the viable versus apoptotic cells microscopically after staining with acridine orange-ethidium bromide (AO/EB). In conclusion, both avermectins induced apoptosis in the living and cultured cells, while those antioxidants; Vit.E and Se, reduced the oxidative stress and cytotoxicity both in vivo and in vitro, either. Furthermore, the reprotoxicity and reduced male fertility were seriously evoked by IVM, but not DRM with dramatic ameliorative effect of Vit.E/Se if concomitantly administered. Avermectins, especially ivermectin, should be given according to the dose recommended by the manufacturer company and repeated dosages should be given with Vit.E/Se.

Dietary supplementation of barley and/or dates attenuate hypercholesterolemic-induced endometrial dysfunction in Wistar albino rats via alleviation of apoptotic pathways and enhancing oxidative capacity.

Our study was conducted to characterize the efficacy of barley and/or date palm fruits (10%) in alleviation of hypercholesterolemic endometrial insults in obese rat model. Sixty-four Wistar albino rats were randomized into eight groups (n = 8); control, hypercholesterolemic- and hypercholesterolemic-treated groups. Animals were subjected to treatment for 4 months. After sacrifice, serum and uterine tissues were collected and processed for biochemical, histological, immunohistochemical, and electron microscopic investigations. In hypercholesterolemic rats, the endometrium displayed hyperplasia with necrotic patches in the surface epithelium and its glandular lining cells. Also, there was a remarkable increase in the endometrial thickness and significant decrease in corresponding glandular numbers. Prompted by these findings, immunohistochemical localization revealed that expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen was downregulated, while cleaved caspase-3 was upregulated in the endometrial cells in hypercholesterolemic group. Accordingly, there was remarkable depletion of antioxidant enzymatic activities associated with increased lipid peroxidation and apoptotic markers. Contradictory, supplementation of barley and/or dates to hypercholesterolemic groups showed intriguing amelioration for the histological architecture of the endometrium and balancing its oxidative redox. In conclusion, the administration of barley and/or dates confers enhanced synergistic effects in attenuation of hypercholesterolemic induced-endometrial dysfunction. This is clear evidence that endometrial amelioration was directly linked to the implication of highly potential antioxidant capacity of barley and/or dates phytochemicals, ß-glucan, polyphenols, and other trace elements, which can be utilized to establish a phyto-therapeutic strategy for activating endometrial cell regeneration. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Barley and dates confer both hypoglycemic and hypocholesterolemic potentials. Therefore, their ingredients would be implicated in the amelioration of uterine functions in obese women. These favorable potentials were directly linked to the restraining of endometrial inflammation and retrieving the oxidative capacity. Furthermore, our findings demonstrated that barley and dates substantially diminished the expression of TNF-α, mitigated DNA damage and prevented leukocytic infiltration in the endometrial tissue; based on their high content of dietary phytochemicals, ß-glucan, polyphenols, and other trace elements.

Anti-hypercholesterolemic impacts of barley and date palm fruits on the ovary of Wistar albino rats and their offspring.

A high cholesterol diet is related to ovarian dysfunction and infertility which has been increased among young ages consuming processed food products. The present study was conducted to evaluate the role of a high cholesterol diet on the ovaries of young female rats via assessments of histopathology, immunohistochemistry, oxidative stress and apoptic markers. Also, mating of hypercholesterolemic female rats was carried out to measure the fertility and numbers of their offspring. At the same time, phytotherapy was carried out through supplementing the diet with barley and/ or date palm fruits (10%) during the experiment to assess the phyto-therapeutic impacts in attenuation of drastic hypercholesterolemic effects. Hypercholesterolemic diet-fed rats exhibited damage of the ovarian follicles and increased follicular atresia. Furthermore, expression of cleaved caspase-3 was upregulated, while PCNA was downregulated in granulosa, theca and stroma cells. Hypercholesterolemic female rats showed marked depletion of antioxidative enzymes, increased lipid peroxidation and apoptotic markers. Alterations to the female serum hormones were detected. Offspring maternally fed on hypercholesterolemic diet showed a significant decrease of body weight and altered sex ratio. However, concomitant supplementation of barley and or date fruits to hypercholesterolemic groups revealed marked improvement of ovarian structure and function. On the basis of these evidences, it is believed that the enhanced synergistic effects of barley and/or date palm fruits in the amelioration of ovarian structure and functions were elicited by the potential antioxidant activity of their phytomicronutrients, polyphenols, ß-glucan and trace elements. These materials scavenge free radicals from inflamed cells that can be used to establish an effective and novel therapeutic strategy for activating ovarian cell regeneration.