Dietary chamomile flowers extract improved performance and mitigated aflatoxin B1 toxicity in rabbits.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is among the poisonous mycotoxins that contaminate food and feed. Limited studies are available on the efficacy of chamomile (Cha) against oxidative stress, liver damage and pro-inflammatory response induced by AFB1. The present study aims to evaluate the effects of Cha on the performance and protective effects against AFB1 in growing rabbits. The experimental rabbits were divided into four different groups, including Cha (70 mg kg day-1), AFB1 (AF; 30 µg kg day-1), AFB1+Cha (AFLCha) and control (CON). The results indicated that the AFB1 treatment had lower values of performance, and carcass parameters compared to the Cha and AFLCha treatments. Furthermore, the Cha and AFLCha groups had lower values of liver and kidney function activities compared to the AFB1 treatment. The higher values of antioxidant enzymes were observed in Cha and AFLCha treatments than in the AFB1 treatment. AFB1 treatments had higher levels of malondialdehyde and liver functions with lower levels of antioxidant enzymes (glutathione and superoxide dismutase) compared to Cha and CON groups. In conclusion, dietary Cha could mitigate the oxidative stress of AFB1-induced liver deterioration.

The role of chamomile oil against ochratoxin A in quail breeders: productive and reproductive performances, egg quality, and blood metabolites.

This study aimed to evaluate the beneficial role of chamomile essential oil in improving productive and reproductive performances, egg quality, and blood metabolites and reducing the toxic effect of Ochratoxin A (OTA) in quail breeder's diets. A total of 144 mature quails, 8 wk old, were divided into 6 groups. The treatments were: G1 (the control), G2 (supplemented with OTA 1 mg/kg diet), G3 (supplemented with chamomile oil 0.5 g/kg diet), G4 (supplemented with chamomile oil 1 G/kg diet), G5 (supplemented with OTA 1 mg/kg diet + chamomile oil 0.5 g/kg diet), and G6 (supplemented with OTA 1 mg/kg diet + chamomile oil 1 g/kg diet). The OTA administration alone significantly decreased egg production and mass in quail breeders (P < 0.0001). Moreover, poor feed conversion ratio (FCR), fertility percentage (P < 0.0001), and hatchability percentage (P < 0.0009) were recorded. A significant decline (P < 0.05) in the levels of serum protein (total protein and globulin) was also recorded in OTA-contaminated groups, along with elevated serum levels of liver enzymes such as alanine transaminase (ALT) and Aspartate transaminase (AST) and kidney function test as urea and creatinine levels (P < 0.05). Ochratoxin A-contaminated feed resulted in a significant elevation (P < 0.05) in total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), along with a significant reduction (P < 0.05) in antioxidant status and immunological response. The supplementation of chamomile essential oil, either 0.5 g/kg or 1g/kg, to the basal diet or OTA-supplemented feed, revealed a significant increase in hatchability %, fertility, egg mass, and egg production and better FCR, egg quality, and immunological status when compared to OTA only. Moreover, chamomile essential oil supplementation improves liver and kidney function markers, decreases LDL, VLDL), TG, and TC. Along with a significant increase (P < 0.05) in terms of antioxidant status as glutathione peroxidase enzyme (GPX), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and significantly (P < 0.05) improves immunological response as IgM, IgG, lysozyme and complement 3. In summary, chamomile oil supplementation, either separate or combined with OTA, reduced the adverse effects of OTA and led to improved productive and reproductive performance, egg quality, and blood metabolites in Japanese quail breeders.

Impact of udder infections on biochemical composition of milk in context of pesticides exposure.

Background and Aim: Environmental contaminants such as pesticides have shown immunomodulatory effects that can make animals highly susceptible to pathogenic invasion. The current work aims to study the incidence of udder infections in a single dairy herd of 160 cows in Qalyoubia Governorate, in relation to the potential intoxication of dairy cattle with organochlorine (OCs) pesticides. The study also aims to investigate the impact of udder infections on milk composition. Materials and Methods: The dairy herd was screened for udder infections using the California mastitis test and measurement of somatic cell count (SCC), followed by bacteriological and molecular analysis. In parallel, the milk samples were also tested for residues of 15 OCs compounds using gas chromatographic analysis. Results: The examined herd showed a high prevalence of mastitis (37.5%) and Mycoplasma was identified as the main bacterial pathogen. OCs residues were detected in milk of 45 cows out of 160 with a higher incidence in mastitic (43.3%) than in healthy cows (19%). Further, the biochemical analysis of milk showed a significant drop in major electrolytes combined with a significant rise in blood-borne electrolytes (Na and Cl) and total protein. This was more extreme in the case of Mycoplasam mastitis compared to non-Mycoplasma mastitis. In addition, Mycoplasma mastitic milk revealed a high level of malondialdehyde associated with reduced antioxidant enzymes (glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase), compared to non-Mycoplasma mastitis. Conclusion: Mycoplasma mastitis was shown to be associated with increased SCC and, in turn, appeared significantly correlated with increased biochemical changes in milk, indicating the serious impact of Mycoplasma mastitis on the dairy industry. Our data also show a strong correlation between increased SCC and biochemical changes in milk, suggesting that tested biochemical parameters might serve as potential biomarkers for the early detection of mastitis. The study also suggested a potential relationship between poisoning with OCs and susceptibility to bacterial udder infections. However, further studies are required to examine the immune status of a dairy herd in relation to the level of OCs in cow's blood, as well as the water sources used, grass forage and soil.

In vivo study of dose-dependent antioxidant efficacy of functionalized core-shell yttrium oxide nanoparticles.

Herein, we assess the dose-dependent antioxidant efficacy of ultrafine spherical functionalized core-shell yttrium oxide nanoparticles (YNPs) with a mean size of 7-8 nm and modified with poly EGMP (ethylene glycol methacrylate phosphate) and N-Fluorescein Acrylamide. The antioxidant properties of these nanoparticles were investigated in three groups of Sprague-Dawley rats (10 per group) exposed to environmental stress daily for 1 week and one control group. Groups 2 and 3 were intravenously injected twice a week with YNPs at 0.3 and 0.5 mg at 2nd and 5th day of environmental stress exposure respectively. Different samples of blood and serum were collected from all experimental groups at end of the experiment to measure oxidative biomarkers such as total antioxidant capacity (TAC), hydroxyl radical antioxidant capacity (HORAC), oxygen radical antioxidant capacity (ORAC), malondialdehyde (MDA), and oxidants concentration as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The liver, brain, and spleen tissues were collected for fluorescence imaging and histopathological examination in addition to brain tissue examination by transmission electron microscope (TEM). Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used to estimate YNPs translocation and concentration in tissues which is consecutively dependent on the dose of administration. Depending on all results, poly EGMP YNPs (poly EGMP yttrium oxide nanoparticles) can act as a potent direct antioxidant in a dose-dependent manner with good permeability through blood-brain barrier (BBB). Also, the neuroprotective effect of YNPs opening the door to a new therapeutic approach for modulating oxidative stress-related neural disorders. HIGHLIGHTS: • The dose-dependent antioxidant efficacy of ultrafine spherical functionalized core-shell yttrium oxide nanoparticles (YNPs) with a mean size of 7-8 nm and modified with poly EGMP (ethylene glycol methacrylate phosphate) and N-Fluorescein Acrylamide was assessed. • The dose of administration directly affecting the brain, liver, and spleen tissues distribution, retention, and uptake of YNPs and direct correlation between the absorbed amount and higher dose administered. • YNPs can act as a potent direct antioxidant in a dose-dependent manner with good permeability through blood-brain barrier (BBB).

Hypoglycemic efficacy of Rosmarinus officinalis and/or Ocimum basilicum leaves powder as a promising clinico-nutritional management tool for diabetes mellitus in Rottweiler dogs.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: This study examined the impact of dietary fortification with rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) and/or basil (Ocimum basilicum) leaves powder on glycemic status of dogs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-five Rottweiler dogs were assigned to five experimental groups and fed an experimentally processed extruded basal diet that was either fortified or not fortified. G1 was fed the basal diet without any fortification (negative control); G2 was consumed the basal diet supplemented with a commercially available synthetic palatant (positive control); G3 was provided with rosemary fortified (at 0.05%) basal diet; G4 was provided with a basil fortified (at 0.05%) basal diet; and G5 was offered a rosemary and basil fortified (each at 0.025%) basal diet. RESULTS: G4 and G5 exhibited a positive impact on growth performance traits. Dogs in G3, G4, and G5 showed significant decreases in serum glucose levels in comparison to dogs of the control groups (G1 and G2). It was clear that the inclusion level of 0.05% of basil leaves powder showed the greatest hypoglycemic action. Indeed, G4 dogs showed a reduction in blood glucose at a percentage of approximately 31% followed by G5 and G3 groups (16.25% and 14%, respectively). Furthermore, basil leaves inhibited the amylase enzyme activity. Both insulin and cortisol levels in G4 dogs were increased and reduced compared to controls, respectively. In addition, dietary fortification with rosemary and/or basil significantly increased glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and catalase levels, while values for malondialdehyde and lactate dehydrogenase were decreased. CONCLUSION: It could be concluded that dietary fortification of dog diet with rosemary and/or basil leaves powder at 0.05% separately or 0.025% in combination might be used as promising modulators of blood glucose levels as well as clinico-nutritional management tools for the prevention and control of diabetes mellitus in dogs.

The pattern of tuberculosis in Aswan Chest Hospital, Egypt.

OBJECTIVE/BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis (TB) is a major health problem. The aim of this study was to examine the pattern of TB in Aswan Chest Hospital, Aswan, Egypt. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was carried out using medical records from the TB registry in Aswan Chest Hospital. The investigated variables included demographic characteristics, type of TB infection, and affected organs. All data were coded and statistically analyzed. RESULTS: The average age of the 557 patients infected with TB was 40.31±18.87years; 58.2% of the cases were men and 41.8% were women. In both sexes, the highest number of TB patients was from the reproductive age groups. During the 5-year study period, the highest percentage of cases were new cases and the highest frequency of cases was during 2011 and the lowest frequency was during 2015. Pulmonary TB cases showed a sharp decline; however, there was a decrease in extrapulmonary TB cases during 2012 and 2013, with a slight rise in 2014 and 2015. Of the pulmonary TB cases, 82.5% were smear-positive TB. CONCLUSION: There was a decline in the total number of TB cases across the studied years and the most studied cases were pulmonary smear-positive and new cases. Younger people represented a large percentage of reported cases.

Antioxidant Capacity of Melatonin on Preimplantation Development of Fresh and Vitrified Rabbit Embryos: Morphological and Molecular Aspects.

Embryo cryopreservation remains an important technique to enhance the reconstitution and distribution of animal populations with high genetic merit. One of the major detrimental factors to this technique is the damage caused by oxidative stress. Melatonin is widely known as an antioxidant with multi-faceted ways to counteract the oxidative stress. In this paper, we investigated the role of melatonin in protecting rabbit embryos during preimplantation development from the potential harmful effects of oxidative stress induced by in vitro culture or vitrification. Rabbit embryos at morula stages were cultured for 2 hr with 0 or 10-3 M melatonin (C or M groups). Embryos of each group were either transferred to fresh culture media (CF and MF groups) or vitrified/devitrified (CV and MV groups), then cultured in vitro for 48 hr until the blastocyst stage. The culture media were used to measure the activity of antioxidant enzymes: glutathione-s-transferase (GST) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), as well as the levels of two oxidative substrates: lipid peroxidation (LPO) and nitric oxide (NO). The blastocysts from each group were used to measure the expression of developmental-related genes (GJA1, POU5F1 and Nanog) and oxidative-stress-response-related genes (NFE2L2, SOD1 and GPX1). The data showed that melatonin promoted significantly (P<0.05) the blastocyst rate by 17% and 12% in MF and MV groups compared to their controls (CF and CV groups). The GST and SOD activity significantly increased by the treatment of melatonin in fresh or vitrified embryos, while the levels of LPO and NO decreased (P<0.05). Additionally, melatonin considerably stimulated the relative expression of GJA1, NFE2L2 and SOD1 genes in MF and MV embryos compared to CF group. Furthermore, melatonin significantly ameliorated the reduction of POU5F1 and GPX1 expression induced by vitrification. The results obtained from the current investigation provide new and clear molecular aspects regarding the mechanisms by which melatonin promotes development of both fresh and vitrified rabbit embryos.