Dietary supplementation with copper nanoparticles enhances broiler performance by improving growth, immunity, digestive enzymes, and gut microbiota.

The aim of this work is to measure the influence of copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) on growth performance, carcass traits, renal and hepatic indices, immunity, lipid profile, antioxidant status, blood minerals, digestive enzymes, and cecal microbiota in broilers. 300 unsexed one-week-old Arbor Acre broiler chicks in total were randomly assigned into 5 treatment groups of 60 chicks per eachwhich were divided into 5 replicates of 12 chicks. The 1st group (G1) was given basal diet (only); the 2nd group (G2), the 3rd group (G3), the 4th group (G4) and the 5th group (G5) were given basal diet treated with CuNPs at a rate of 5, 10, 15, and 20 mg/kg diet, respectively. The result revealed a significant improvement (P < 0.01) in performance paramters where the best values of body weight, weight gain, and feed conversion ratio were achieved at 15 mg/kg diet (CuNPs). Moreover, CuNPs supplementation significantly (P < 0.05) improved carcass traits specially carcass, dressing, giblets, and liver percentage, particularly at 15 mg/kg diet which revealed the best results. Furthermore, CuNPs supplementation at all tested levels increased the immune organ's weight (spleen and thymus). Plasma total protein and globulin were increased with CuNPs supplementation at levels 10 to 20 mg/kg diet. CuNPs supplementation (10-20 mg/kg diet) significantly improved liver and renal function by lowering the levels of AST, creatinine and uric acid. Moreover, CuNPs supplementation significantly (P < 0.05) improved lipid profile indicated by decreased the levels of cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol as well as malondialdehyde (MDA). CuNP supplementation significantly improved broiler immunity indicated by increased IgA, IgM, complement (C3) and lysozyme, where CuNPs at 15 and 20 mg/kg diet revealed the best results. CuNPs supplementation increased reduced glutathione (GSH), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) as well as increased blood minerals (Cu, Fe, P, and Ca). Also, the digestive enzymes of broiler chicks treated with CuNPs significantly increased (P < 0.05), such as lipase, protease, and amylase enzymes. The findings revealed a significant elevation in total bacterial count (TBC) and lactic acid bacteria and significantly decreased total yeast and mold count (TYMC), E. coli, Salmonella and Coliform. In conclusion, CuNPs supplementation significantly improves performance, carcass yield, renal and hepatic indices, lipid profile, immunity, antioxidants, blood minerals, digestive enzymes, and cecal microbiota of broiler chicks.

Growth performance, nutrient digestibility, antioxidant state, ileal histomorphometry, and cecal ecology of broilers fed on fermented canola meal with and without exogenous enzymes.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of supplementation of exogenous enzymes in broiler diets that includes fermented canola meal on performance, nutrient digestibility, biochemical indication, antioxidative capacity, digestive enzyme activity, immune responses, and gut health. Five hundred 1-day-old Ross 308 broiler chicks were randomly allocated into five experimental groups (5 replicate/group), the first group: a control (CON) contained a basal diet, and the second to the fifth groups were fed diets as follows: containing 20% canola meal (CM), contains 20% fermented canola meal (FCM), contains 20% canola meal and exogenous enzymes at 0.02%/kg feed (ECM), and contains 20% fermented canola meal and exogenous enzymes at 0.02%/kg feed (EFC), respectively. At the finisher phase, the best body weight gain, feed conversion ratio, and nutrient utilization were associated with chickens fed EFC compared to other groups (P < 0.05). Total protein, albumin, alanine aminotransferase, and superoxide dismutase levels increased (P < 0.05), while cholesterol and malondialdehyde levels decreased in chickens fed on EFC. Likewise, there was a significant increase in the relative weight of the bursa of Fabricius and antibody titer against Newcastle disease, whereas the weight of abdominal fat decreased in the EFC group compared to other groups. Furthermore, there was a significant improvement in the activity of lipase and amylase enzymes (P < 0.05) in the EFC group. Fermented canola meal addition improved gut health (decreased Escherichia coli, increased Lactobacillus, and the highest values of villus height). Overall, these results confirmed that supplementing a fermented canola meal diet with exogenous enzymes improved growth performance through enhancing nutrient digestibility, immunity, antioxidant capacity, and gut health. Thus, adding enzymes to a diet containing fermented canola meal can be recommended as an alternative protein source that could be safely used to replace up to 20% soybean meal in broiler diets.

Gentamicin-Ascorbic Acid Encapsulated in Chitosan Nanoparticles Improved In Vitro Antimicrobial Activity and Minimized Cytotoxicity.

Nano-drug delivery is a promising tactic to enhance the activity and minimize the cytotoxicity of antimicrobial drugs. In the current study, chitosan nanoparticles (CSNPs) were used as a carrier for the delivery of gentamicin sulfate (GM) and ascorbic acid (AA). The particles were synthesized by ionotropic gelation method and characterized by FT-IR, Zeta potential, and transmission electron microscope imaging. The obtained particles were evaluated for their in vitro antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity. The prepared particles (GM-AA-CSNPs) under the optimal condition of 4:1:1 of chitosan to drug ratio showed encapsulation efficiency and loading capacities of 89% and 22%, respectively. Regarding biological activities, GM-AA-CSNPs showed a lower minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) than free gentamicin sulfate and GMCSNPs mixture without presenting cytotoxicity against normal cells (HSF). Moreover, the GM-AA-CSNPs did not exhibit hemolytic activity. These results highlight that the GM-AA-CSNPs are confirmed as a hopeful formula for future investigations on the development of antimicrobial preparations.

CSR initiatives, organizational performance and the mediating role of integrating CSR into management control systems: Testing an inclusive model within SMEs in an emerging economy.

This paper addresses a current gap in the literature by investigating the mediating role that integrating corporate social responsibility (CSR) into the management control systems (MCS) of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can play in the relationship between CSR initiatives and organizational performance. We propose, and empirically validate, an inclusive model to examine these relationships. The study then extends further by embedding two constituents of CSR integration into MCS: namely, management control technology and involvement of management accountants in CSR management. Our study is distinguished by validating, as a contribution, a single construct for each of these two constituents. Data were collected from 117 SMEs in an emerging economy, Abu Dhabi-UAE. PLS structural equation modeling was used in the data analysis. We find that CSR initiatives in SMEs influence organizational performance both directly and indirectly through MCS. Interestingly, the results show that only the involvement of management accountants in CSR management mediates the relationship between CSR initiatives and SME performance. This indicates that the role of human intervention prevails over technology intermediation in conveying the positive effect of CSR initiatives on organizational performance. Overall, the findings help to understand how MCS is an important driving mechanism whereby SMEs may derive performance outcomes from deploying CSR initiatives. The study concludes with implications for future research and policy-makers.

Risky exposures and national estimate of HCV seroprevalence among school children in urban Egypt.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality all over the world, particularly in Egypt. Limited data are available concerning the national seroprevalence and the possible modes of transmission of HCV in the pediatric age group. The aim of this study was to obtain a better estimate of the national hepatitis C seroprevalence and the possible risky exposures among healthy school children in Alexandria; the second biggest city in Egypt. HCV knowledge and counseling for school children were also investigated. A total of 500 school children, age between 6 and 15 years were evaluated for HCV seropositivity and interviewed for potential disease risk factors. The seropositivity for Anti-HCV Ab was 2.8 %. About 71.4 % of seropositive children were 10-15 years old. Urban residence, chronic disease, male circumcision and invasive procedures were detected as significant risk factors for acquiring HCV infection among the studied children. The level of awareness of hepatitis C among school children was very low (3.6 %) and was correlated with the age and educational level. HCV infection continues to occur in children and is frequently unrecognized. This mandates immediate intervention and robust control strategies in the settings of exposure combined with health education programs to limit further HCV spread.