Effect of trans-cinnamaldehyde nanoemulsion wash on chicken embryo development in fertilized eggs.

Cleanliness of eggs is critical in successful hatching egg operations. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of trans-cinnamaldehyde nanoemulsion (TCNE) wash treatments, as a sanitation strategy, on embryonic development in fertilized eggs. Trans-cinnamaldehyde is a generally recognized as safe status phytochemical obtained from cinnamon bark. TCNE were prepared with emulsifiers Tween 80 (Tw.80) or gum Arabic and lecithin (GAL) by sonication. Day-old fertilized eggs were subjected to TCNE wash treatments at 34°C for 5 min, followed by 18 d of incubation at 37.7°C. Washing of fertilized eggs with TCNE-Tw.80 or GAL at 0.48% concentration did not significantly alter the egg weight at d 18 of incubation, as compared to baseline and control (P > 0.05). The egg weight loss (calculated as percentage) did not differ significantly between eggs subjected to nanoemulsion wash treatments and control eggs (P > 0.05). In case of embryo fertility and mortality, for baseline and control, ∼ 95% fertility rate was achieved, with combined early and midterm mortality at 16%. Likewise, TCNE-Tw.80 or TCNE-GAL resulted in 95% fertility (P > 0.05), with 11% and 17% combined early and midterm mortality, respectively. Furthermore, TCNE wash treatments did not differ significantly in yolk sac and embryo weight (as compared to control) and did not affect the length of the d 18 embryo (P > 0.05). Moreover, TCNE wash treatments did not alter tibia weight and length (P > 0.05). Results suggest that TCNE could potentially be used as a natural antimicrobial for fertilized egg sanitation. Further studies in industry settings are warranted.

Trans-cinnamaldehyde nanoemulsion wash inactivates Salmonella Enteritidis on shelled eggs without affecting egg color.

Salmonella Enteritidis is a major foodborne pathogen that causes enteric illnesses in humans, primarily through the consumption of contaminated poultry meat and eggs. Despite implementation of traditional disinfection approaches to reduce S. Enteritidis contamination, egg-borne outbreaks continue to occur, raising public health concerns and adversely affecting the popularity and profitability for the poultry industry. Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) status phytochemicals such as Trans-cinnamaldehyde (TC) have previously shown to exhibit anti-Salmonella efficacy, however, the low solubility of TC is a major hurdle in its adoption as an egg wash treatment. Therefore, the present study investigated the efficacy of Trans-cinnamaldehyde nanoemulsions (TCNE) prepared with emulsifiers Tween 80 (Tw.80) or Gum Arabic and lecithin (GAL) as dip treatments, at 34°C, for reducing S. Enteritidis on shelled eggs in presence or absence of 5% chicken litter. In addition, the efficacy of TCNE dip treatments in reducing trans-shell migration of S. Enteritidis across shell barrier was investigated. The effect of wash treatments on shell color were evaluated on d 0, 1, 7, and 14 of refrigerated storage. TCNE-Tw.80 or GAL treatments (0.06, 0.12, 0.24, 0.48%) were effective in inactivating S. Enteritidis by at least 2 to 2.5 log cfu/egg as early as 1 min of washing time (P < 0.05). In presence of organic matter, nanoemulsions (0.48%) reduced S. Enteritidis counts by ∼ 2 to 2.5 log cfu/egg as early as 1 min, (P < 0.05). Nanoemulsion wash also inhibited trans-shell migration of S. Enteritidis, as compared to control (P < 0.05). The nanoemulsion wash treatments did not affect shell color (P > 0.05). Results suggest that TCNE could potentially be used as an antimicrobial wash to reduce S. Enteritidis on shelled eggs, although further studies investigating the effect of TCNE wash treatments on organoleptic properties of eggs are necessary.

Carvacrol attenuates Campylobacter jejuni colonization factors and proteome critical for persistence in the chicken gut.

Campylobacter jejuni is a major foodborne pathogen that causes gastroenteritis in humans. Chickens act as the reservoir host for C. jejuni, wherein the pathogen asymptomatically colonizes the ceca leading to contamination of carcasses during slaughter. The major colonization factors in C. jejuni include motility, intestinal epithelial attachment, acid/bile tolerance, and quorum sensing. Reducing the expression of the aforementioned factors could potentially reduce C. jejuni colonization in chickens. This study investigated the efficacy of subinhibitory concentration (SIC; compound concentration not inhibiting bacterial growth) of carvacrol in reducing the expression of C. jejuni colonization factors in vitro. Moreover, the effect of carvacrol on the expression of C. jejuni proteome was investigated using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The motility assay was conducted at 42°C, and the motility zone was measured after 24 h of incubation. For the adhesion assay, monolayers of primary chicken enterocytes (∼105 cells/well) were inoculated with C. jejuni (6 log cfu/well) either in the presence or absence of carvacrol, and the adhered C. jejuni were enumerated after 90 min of incubation at 42°C. The effect of carvacrol on C. jejuni quorum sensing and susceptibility to acid/bile stress was investigated using a bioluminescence assay and an acid-bile survival assay, respectively. The SIC (0.002%) of carvacrol reduced the motility of C. jejuni strains S-8 and NCTC 81-176 by ∼50 and 35%, respectively (P < 0.05). Carvacrol inhibited C. jejuni S-8 and NCTC 81-176 adhesion to chicken enterocytes by ∼0.8 and 1.5 log cfu/mL, respectively (P < 0.05). Moreover, carvacrol reduced autoinducer-2 activity and increased the susceptibility of C. jejuni to acid and bile in both the strains (P < 0.05). Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry revealed that the SIC of carvacrol reduced the expression of selected C. jejuni colonization proteins critical for motility (methyl-accepting chemotaxis protein), adhesion (GroL), growth and metabolism (AspA, AcnB, Icd, Fba, Ppa, AnsA, Ldh, Eno, PurB-1), and anaerobic respiration (NapB, HydB, SdhA, NrfA) (P < 0.05). Results suggest the mechanisms by which carvacrol could reduce C. jejuni colonization in chickens.

Pectin or chitosan coating fortified with eugenol reduces Campylobacter jejuni on chicken wingettes and modulates expression of critical survival genes.

Campylobacter jejuni infection in humans is strongly associated with the consumption of contaminated poultry products. With increasing consumer demand for minimally processed and natural product, there is a need for novel intervention strategies for controlling C. jejuni. Antimicrobial coatings are increasingly being used for preventing food contamination due to their efficacy and continuous protection of product. This study investigated the efficacy of pectin and chitosan coating fortified with eugenol to reduce C. jejuni on chicken wingettes. Pectin, chitosan, and eugenol are generally recognized as safe status compounds derived from berries, crustaceans, and cloves respectively. Each wingette was inoculated with a mixture of 4 wild-type strains of C. jejuni (approximately 107 CFU/sample) and randomly assigned to controls, pectin (3%), chitosan (2%), eugenol (0.5, 1, or 2%), or their combinations. Following 1 min of coating, wingettes were air-dried, vacuum sealed, and sampled on 0, 1, 3, 5, and 7 d of refrigerated storage for C. jejuni and aerobic counts (n = 5 wingettes/treatment/d). In addition, the effect of treatments on wingette color and expression of C. jejuni survival/virulence genes was evaluated. All 3 doses of eugenol or chitosan significantly reduced C. jejuni and aerobic bacteria from 0 d through 7 d. Incorporation of 2% eugenol in chitosan improved coating efficiency and reduced C. jejuni counts by approximately 3 Log CFU/sample at the end of 7 d of storage (P < 0.05). Similarly, the antimicrobial efficacy of pectin was improved by 2% eugenol and the coating reduced C. jejuni by approximately 2 Log CFU/sample at 7 d of storage. Chitosan coating with 2% eugenol also showed greater reductions of total aerobic counts as compared to individual treatments of eugenol and chitosan. No significant difference in the color of chicken wingettes was observed between treatments. Exposure of C. jejuni to eugenol, chitosan, or combination significantly modulated select genes encoding for motility, quorum sensing, and stress response. Results demonstrate the potential of pectin or chitosan coating fortified with eugenol as a postharvest intervention against C. jejuni contamination on poultry products.

Non-communicating rudimentary uterine horn pregnancy.

Pregnancy in a non-communicating rudimentary horn is an extremely rare form of ectopic gestation. The rudimentary horn may or may not communicate with the uterine cavity with the majority of cases being non-communicating. The patient exhibits features of acute abdomen and carries a high risk of maternal death. Even modern scans remain elusive whereas laparatomy remains the confirmatory procedure for the diagnosis. Because of the varied muscular constitution in the thickness and distensibility of the wall of the rudimentary horn, pregnancy is accommodated for a variable period of gestation. Here, we report three cases of pregnancy in a non-communicating rudimentary horn of the uterus in different periods of gestation, their outcome and a review of the available literature.

Twin pregnancy with fetus papyraceous.

A successful pregnancy outcome with vaginal delivery of a term single live fetus in case of twin pregnancy with other twin papyraceous, (vanished in second trimester) is an uncommon finding. Ten percent of all perinatal deaths are related with dizygotic twins. The rate of intrauterine fetal demise in multiple pregnancies is as high as three times of monozygotic. Most frequently used and suggested method is follow-up of the maternal coagulation system by a series of lab test. Sonography is a visual tool to confirm the diagnosis. In case of monofetal death of twin pregnancies, the type of placenta should be analysed and then follow up and treatment modalities of these cases should be choosen.

Biogenic amines and thyrotoxicosis.

Circulating levels of T3, T4, gamma-amino-butyric acid, glutamate, 5-hydroxytryptamine, histamine, monoamine oxidase and histaminase were studied in 45 (25M, 20F) hyperthyroid patients and 46 (25M, 21F) normal healthy volunteers. Increased levels of blood 5-hydroxytryptamine, histamine and glutamic acid were observed along with elevated T3 and T4, whereas plasma gamma-aminobutyric acid, monoamine oxidase and histaminase activities were found to be low in both male and female patients. After three months of treatment, circulating levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine, histamine and glutamic acid decreased significantly along with normalization of thyroid hormones and with an increase in the concentrations of gamma-aminobutyric acid, monoamine oxidase and histaminase. There was a positive correlation between these amines and thyroid hormone levels. The findings thus suggest that alterations in the metabolism of biogenic amines may be related to an altered metabolism in thyrotoxicosis, and these parameters may prove to be useful markers for diagnosis and follow-up of these patients.