Phytochemical composition of Anastatica hierochuntica L., can it fight the toxigenic bacterial agents responsible for food poisoning?

The present work aims to study the biological activity of Anastatica hierochuntica L., against four bacterial strains considered as toxigenic responsible for food-borne infection. The plant was collected from Tindouf region (Far Southwest of Algeria). In this study we performed a phytochemical screening and evaluation of antibacterial activity of three macerates of two vegetative parts (seeds and stems) by two methods (disk and wells diffusion method). The yield of aqueous, methanolic and etheric macerates of the seeds and stems were (5.1; 3.8), (5; 1.4) and (2; 0.95)% respectively. Also, it appears that macerates obtained were rich in bioactive phyto-constituents particularly the seed of the plant. They showed the presence of ten large chemical groups. The antibiotic resistance profile of the bacterial strains tested showed an increased resistance to several families of antibiotics. The evaluation of the antibacterial activity of the extracts showed that methanolic and aqueous macerates of the seed were more active against Gram positive bacteria. The methanolic macerate of the stems was less active. However, other macerates were ineffective. The results obtained show that the plant has an average antibacterial activity and that depends on extract concentration used.Microbes and Health, June 2017, 6(1): 5-8

Prevalence and antibiotic susceptibility pattern of Escherichia coli in cattle on Bathan and intensive rearing system

The aim of this longitudinal study was to verify the prevalence and antibiotic susceptibility pattern of Escherichia coli (E. coli) in cattle reared on Bathan and intensive farming system in Bangladesh. Fecal materials originated from recto anal junction (RAJ) of 100 cattle used for primary screening on MacConkey agar. The diversities among the pink color colony producing isolates on MacConkey agar were verified by conventional cultural methods and biochemical tests. Phenotypically positive E. coli isolates were further investigated for the variations in the antimicrobial resistance profiles to 10 selected antibiotics, by the disk-diffusion method. This study revealed that the overall prevalence of E. coli was 70% of in the rectal swab sample of cattle. However, the prevalence of E. coli was found significantly higher (p= 0.002) in cattle under intensive farming (84%) than cattle on Bathan (56%). Antibiotic susceptibility pattern shows that among the tested isolates 83%, 73%, 68% and 64% were sensitive to chloramphenicol, gentamicin, ciprofloxacin and ampicillin, respectively. On the other hand, all the 70 (100%) E. coli isolates were found resistant to tetracycline and sulfamethoxazole. A high antibiotic resistance profile was also found against amoxicillin (90%), ampicillin (87%), nalidixic acid (86%) and erythromycin (83%). In total, 24 (34%) isolates were resistant against ?2 antimicrobials. The result clearly shows that antibiotic resistant E. coli isolates are commonly present in cattle of different management systems (intensive and Bathan). Therefore, careful selection of appropriate antibiotics with optimal doses might be ensured to prevent the emergence of antibiotic resistance bacteria.Microbes and Health, June 2017, 6(1): 1-4

Molecular characterization and antimicrobial resistance patterns of spp. and Escherichia coli of laying chicken

Multidrug resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacteria are most the common causes of diseases in commercial poultry, and antibiotic resistance of these organisms is often plasmid mediated. In Bangladesh such types of data are very much scarce. In this study, the antibiogram profile of Salmonella spp and E. coli isolates from 20 either clinically affected or dead laying chicken obtained from 10 commercial layer farms was performed. And MDR pattern was determined by using 7 common antimicrobials followed by isolation of plasmids to correlate between plasmids and drug resistance. Of these tested samples, 70-100% of both Salmonella Spp and E. coli were resistant to ?-lactam antibiotics (ampicillin, amoxicillin, and penicillin) cephalexin and cotrimoxazole while 60-90% isolates of both species were susceptible to both ciprofloxacin and gentamicin. Both Salmonella spp and E. coli isolates contain plasmids above 10 kbp size which might contain MDR genes. This is the first report on the characterization of plasmids found in both Salmonella spp and E. coli isolates obtained from a significant number of commercial layer farms (N=10) in Chittagong District, Bangladesh. The gathered information furthers our understanding of the mechanisms of drug resistance in specific region related to other parts of the country and world. The large plasmids might be potential factors for dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes regionallyMicrobes and Health, December 2016, 5(1): 4-6

Salmonella daarle and Salmonella hiduddify associated with acute gastroenteritis in piglets in India

The present study was conducted to investigate an acute gastroenteritis outbreak in an unorganized pig farm in the North Eastern Hilly Region of India. Fecal samples were collected from 20 pigs including 5 piglets, which were suffering from acute gastroenteritis and were processed for detection of E. coli, Salmonella, Clostridium sp., Rotavirus, Picobirnavirus as well as parasitic eggs and larvae by standard laboratory techniques. Virulence genes for pathogenic E. coli and Salmonella were detected by specific PCR assays. A total of 77 E. coli were isolated, all of which were found to be negative for any putative virulence genes of STEC/VTEC, ETEC, EHEC and EPEC pathotype by PCR. A total of 5 salmonellae were also isolated from 5 affected piglets, of which 1 and 4 were recorded as Salmonella daarle and Salmonella hiduddify, respectively. All the Salmonellae were positive for enterotoxin (stn) and invasion (invA) genes by PCR. In conclusion it may be stated that this is the first report of S. daarle and S. hiduddify associated with piglet diarrhoea and also first report from India with any type of enteric infection in man and animalsMicrobes and Health, December 2016, 5(1): 1-3

Health Benefits from Companion Animals

Microbes and Health, January 2015. 4(1): 1-3

Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis: An Emerging Bacterial Disease of Global Public Health Significance

Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) is the etiological agent of chronic enteric disease of ruminant known as paratuberculosis (Johne's disease). The disease causes considerable economic losses worldwide due to reduced milk production and eventually, diarrhoea, weight loss and death. Johne's disease (JD) has some pathological similarities with Crohn's disease (CD) in humans, and the role of MAP in the causation of CD has been under investigation for last 100 years. Animals infected with JD shed viable MAP in the blood, and tissues. Consequently, transmission to humans may occur via consumption of animal derived foods. In developing countries, limited information is available on the occurrence of MAP infection in animals and humans. MAP infection has been established in animals and humans may get the MAP exposure through food chain or contaminated environment. Presently, MAP is of great public health significance because it is speculated to be involved in Crohn's disease in humans. The present review summarizes the information primarily on the nature of MAP in animals and humans, economic losses and morbidity and mortality due to JD and CD at global level. Current concept on the possible relationship between MAP and Crohn's disease has also been reviewed.Microbes and Health, January 2015. 4(1): 4-13

Biochemical, Physico-Chemical and Microbiological Properties of Camel Raw Milk Marketed in Bechar city (South-West Algeria): Hygienic and Safe Consumers Approach

This study focused on the analysis of twenty-four samples of camel raw milk commercialized at the market of Bechar city. Sample analysis of raw milk was performed by measuring of some physicochemical parameters which the average results obtained have a slightly acidic pH (5.67), high titratable acidity (4.49g/l). Density, total dry extract and fat content were low (1.0268; 89g/l and 29.87g/l respectively), a lactose content of (28.18 g/l). The microbiological examination has several microbial quality attributes such as total bacteria, thermo tolerant coliforms, fecal Streptococci, Sulphite-reducing clostridia and fungal flora with average obtained 3.1 x 107 cfu/ml, 4.9 x 104 cfu/ml, 1.16 x 10 germ/ml, less than 5 spore/20ml and 2.36 x 103 uf/ml respectively. In addition, the analysis revealed the presence of coagulase positive Staphylococci for two samples, however, all samples are free of Salmonella sp. and Shigella sp. 58% of the samples were of satisfactory quality, 8.33% are acceptable and 33.33% are unacceptable.Microbes and Health, January 2015. 4(1): 14-18

Leaf Blight of Mango in Nurseries of Major Mango Growing Areas in Bangladesh and its Management

Leaf blight of mango in nurseries of major mango growing areas in Bangladesh viz. Rajshahi, Chapai Nawabganj and Dinajpur were investigated. A total of 56 varieties of mango (43, 17 and 17 in Rajshahi, Chapai Nawabganj and Dinajpur respectively) were surveyed, where the mean of % plant infection, % incidence and % severity in Rajshahi were from 3.33 to 33.06, 4.10 to 23.18 and 6.60 to 17.85, respectively. In Chapai Nawabgonj, the % plant infection was 11.11 to 23.33, the % incidence was 10.67 to 23.67 and % severity was 13.89 to 15.29. In Dinajpur, 6.19 to 12.14% plant infection, 6.00 to 15.85% incidence and 5.00 to 13.50% severity were recorded. Antibiotic sensitivity test revealed that most of the isolates of Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae collected from mango were sensitive to Gentamycin and Erythromycin. Under the net house condition, six different treatments (i) 0.05 % Gentamycin (ii) 0.05 % Erythromycin, (iii) 0.05 % Doxycycline (iv) 0.05 % copper sulphate (v) 2 % BAU-biofungicide and (vi) Control) were used for controlling bacterial leaf blight of mango (Variety: Amropali). BAU-biofungicide was found superior in controlling bacterial leaf blight of mango that increased 8.76% plant height and 47.45% branch but reduced 54.14% disease incidence and 53.13% disease severity over control when applied as foliar spray at 2% followed by 0.05 % copper sulphate and 0.05 % erythromycin.Microbes and Health, January 2015. 4(1): 29-35

ELISA Based Anthrax Antibody Titer in Cattle Induced by Locally Prepared Anthrax Vaccine Originated from Sterne F-24 Strain in Bangladesh

Vaccination is usually practiced to prevent and control anthrax in Bangladesh. For this purpose, vaccine prepared from Sterne F-24 strain ofBacillus anthracisby Livestock Research Institute (LRI), Mohakhali, Dhakahas long been used in this country. However, in some cases anthrax occurred in vaccinated animals in Bangladesh. A total of 100 cattle at LalTeer Livestock Research and Development Farm, LalTeerLivestock Limited, Bangladesh, aging between 3-6 years and weighing between 250-400 kg were randomly selected for vaccination purpose. Blood samples (n=100) were collected before the vaccination for collecting pre-vaccination serum, andthe animals were vaccinated (at 1 mL/animal; 1x107 spores/mL) with the anthrax vaccine produced by LRI. All blood samples from the vaccinated animals were collected on day 7, 28, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, 240, 270, 300, 330, and 360 of post-vaccination, and serum samples were prepared. The antibody levels in the serum samples against anthrax were monitored using an Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Over the course of 12 months, the antibody titers were found at the level higher than the reference value. Though there were reports on anthrax suspected cases in this farm, no such cases were reported during the study period. Thus, the vaccine appears to induce adequate antibody response against anthrax in Bangladesh.Microbes and Health, January 2015. 4(1): 36-38

Detection of Specific type-A Antigen and Specific Antibody against Avian Influenza virus in Native Duck at Netrokona district of Bangladesh

The present study was conducted on unvaccinated native ducks of different age groups to determine specific antibody titer level against Avian Influenza virus (AIV) by indirect Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (iELISA) and to detect avian influenza type A virus antigen by rapid AIV antigen test kit at Netrokona district of Bangladesh. This study showed that AIV specific antibody positive cases were 78 out of 90 blood serum samples and the highest antibody titer was 2323 and lowest antibody titer was 256. The total 86.67% sera samples were showed positive result. The study showed that 66.66% sera sample were positive against AIV at 3-4 month of aged group and the highest, lowest and mean antibody titer were 1428, 256 and 906.3 respectively. On the other hand 78% sera sample were positive against AIV at 5-6 month aged group and the highest, lowest and mean antibody titer were 1675 , 451 and 1083.6 respectively. The sera sample collected from 7-8 month aged group showed 88.9% positive and the highest, lowest and mean antibody titer were 1857, 578 and 1285.5 respectively. The sera sample collected from 9-10 month of aged group showed 100% positive against AIV and the highest, lowest and mean antibody titer were 197l, 638 and 1571.5 respectively .The sera sample collected from duck of ?11 month aged group were 100% positive against AIV and the highest, lowest and mean antibody titer were 2323, 1423 and 1813.7 respectively. Tracheal and cloacal swabs from ducks with antibody titer more than 1813.778 were tested for the avian influenza type A antigen by Anigen Rapid AIV Ag test kit. The above sample showed 20% positive result. In conclusion it is evident that Avian influenza virus-specific antibody was successfully detected through commercially available Avian influenza virus antibody test kit (ELISA Kit) and the virus induced a significant antibody titer indicating the affecting virus was absolutely AIV.