Survey on Sarcocystis in bovine carcasses slaughtered at the municipal abattoir of El-Kharga, Egypt

Aim: The main objectives of this study were to determine the incidence of Sarcocystis sp. infection in cattle and buffalo carcasses slaughtered at El-Kharga abattoir, New Valley Governorate, Egypt. Materials and Methods: The slaughtered animals were daily inspected for Sarcocystis macrocysts through a year (2015). Macroscopic Sarcocystis was detected from a total of 2120 cattle and buffalo carcasses. In addition, 100 meat samples were collected from female cattle and buffalo (50 each) and were examined microscopically for sarcocystosis. Results: The overall incidence of Sarcocystis macrocyst among bovine carcasses was 159/2120 (7.5%). Total incidence in cattle was 149/2000 (7.45%), whereas it was 10/120 (8.33%) in buffalo carcasses. Concerning gender, the overall prevalence of Sarcocystis infection was 127/1790 (7.09%) in male and 32/330 (9.69%) in females bovine carcasses. The highest detection rate of Sarcocystis lesions was from the esophagus (76.3%) followed by throat muscles (35.3%), tongue (33.8%), and diaphragm muscles (18.71%). Macrocysts from cattle were identified to Sarcocystis hirsuta, whereas Sarcocystis fusiformis was identified from buffalo carcasses. By microscopic examination, 18 (36%) of 50 female cattle carcasses harbor Sarcocystis sp., whereas 11 (22%) of buffalo carcasses were harbored Sarcocystis microcysts. Conclusion: A high incidence of Sarcocystis infection was detected among slaughtered bovines in El-Kharga abattoir, Egypt. Sarcocystis macrocysts were a higher incidence in female elder animals macrocysts were identified to S. hirsuta in cattle and S. fusiformis in buffaloes. Sarcocystosis constitute a major cause of economic losses at El-Kharga abattoir. Beef meat may carry health risks to consumers

Hygienic, Pathological and Economic Impacts of Liver Lesions at some Slaughterhouses in Suez Canal Region, Egypt

                        Liver is budget-friendly and full of nutrients including protein, and micronutrients as vitamin B12, vitamin A, riboflavin, copper, and iron. Liver appeared as the most affected organ among offal of slaughtered animals. This work had studied the pathological lesions in a total of 85200 different slaughtered animals in many providence abattoirs in Suez Canal region through year 2021. The direct economic loss from organs condemnation (Kg) was also assessed. In 2021, a total of 4200, 64800 and 16200 camels, cattle, and sheep respectively were slaughtered for domestic consumption. The percent of liver lesions from camels, cattle, and sheep were 1.04%, 3.62%, and 2.85 respectively. The total economic losses due to the liver condemnation of camel, cattle and sheep were 31680 LE (2023 $), 1313760 LE (83893$) and 138600 LE (8851 $) respectively. The total economic loss due to liver condemnation reached 1484040 LE (94766$). The results of the current study made clear the need for the creation of an efficient program to combat Egypt's meat-related social problems

Control of Aflatoxin Residues in Broiler Chicken Using Saccharomyces cerevisiae Fortified Ration

The current research was designed to examine the protective effect of probiotic-fortified ration against aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) toxicity and its residual level in broilers' edible tissues. Sensitive high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a fluorescence detector (HPLC-FLD) was used for measuring the toxin. Ninety, one-day-old Cobb chicks were allocated into three equal groups (n=30) with three replicates per group. The first control group (G1) was fed a balanced basal diet only and the second group (G2) received AFB1 (2 mg/kg basal diet), while the third group (G3) received a combination of AFB1 (2 mg/kg basal diet) with Saccharomyces cerevisiae (SC; 1.5 g/Kg basal diet). Experimental birds were monitored for 6 weeks, their growth performance was then compared. AFB1 residue was assessed in the meat and liver sample. AFB1 resulted in a significant (P<0.05) reduction of growth performance parameters such as body weight and carcass yield in comparison to the control and SC supplemented groups. Moreover, AFB1 residue significantly (P<0.05) diminished in SC fortified group when compared with the AFB1 group. In conclusion, probiotics such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae could be considered as a potential feed additive and a growth promoter. Besides, its role in controlling AFB1 residue in the edible tissues of boiler chicken

Microbial Profile of Imported Carcass under Chilled Storage

            Bacterial contamination has been proven to be common in a variety of foods, especially meats. For this reason, this study was conducted to evaluate the bacteriological quality of imported chilled meat traded in Port-Said markets where 64 random samples of chilled meats represented by 28 imported chilled beef meat samples from lots arrived at Port-Said port (un-marketed) and 36 imported chilled beef meat samples collected from retailed markets at Port-Said governorate (marketed). Samples were analyzed for their total aerobic count., Enterobacteriaceae count, E. coli, total staphylococcus, and S. aureus counts and detection of salmonellae. The total bacterial count recorded an average of 10.73x104 and 2.5x106 in un-marketed and marketed chilled meat respectively. The results showed that 18 out of 64 meat samples were positive for Enterobacteriaceae and 6 samples out of them were unaccepted for human consumption. The incidence of E. coli was in 6 samples from the examined chilled samples, and the 6 were unaccepted. For staphylococcus, there were 24 positive samples, and 13 out of them were unaccepted and for S. aureus, 4 samples out of 64 samples were positive and 4 samples were unaccepted for consumption. Two samples out of 64 were positive for salmonella and considered unfit for human consumption. The obtained results confirmed the poor bacteriological quality of some imported chilled meat that is marketed in Port-Said retailed markets which is related to unhygienic transportation methods until reach the retailed markets

Transcatheter versus surgical closure of ventricular septal defect: a comparative study

Abstract Background In many countries, surgical closure of ventricular septal defects remains the recommended approach of ventricular septal defect closure. The aim of this study is to compare the safety, efficacy, and clinical effects of surgical versus transcatheter closure of a ventricular septal defect. Methods We conducted a comparative randomized study on patients undergoing ventricular septal defect closure. Patients were allocated to undergo either surgical (group I) or catheter (group II) ventricular septal defect closure. Results Seventy-two patients were included. Operation success was achieved in 100% of the surgical group versus 33 of 36 patients of the percutaneous group (91.6%) (p value 0.076). There was no significant difference regarding the residual ventricular septal defect. The postoperative echo in group I revealed severe tricuspid regurgitation in one patient (2.7%), and one patient needed a permanent pacemaker. On the other hand, in group II, during the procedure, one patient had severe tricuspid regurge (2.7%). There was a significant difference in the postoperative data favoring group II over group I regarding ventilation duration, intensive care unit stay, total hospital stay, and blood transfusion (P value < 0.001 each). Conclusion Both transcatheter device closure and surgical repair are effective treatments. In contrast, the psychological profile of the transcatheter device was superior to the surgical repair, especially in terms of avoiding sternotomy scar, blood loss and transfusion, and hospital stay. On the other hand, transcatheter intervention is limited only to the anatomically suitable ventricular septal defects, in addition, surgical backup is a must in case of complicated transcatheter closure, which gives the upper hand to surgery to be the recommended approach for most of the ventricular septal defects. Clinical registration number NCT05306483 registered 04/05/2022 (retrospectively registered) at ClinicalTrials.gov PRS. Graphical Abstrac

Effect of Replacing Sodium Nitrite with Celery on Sensory and Chemical Quality of Popular Dry Sausage

The global economic crisis led to the tendency of consumers to search for cheap food sources of animal origin, including dry sausage, regardless of the quality or safety factor. Nitrite is an important meat additive responsible for the distinctive color and flavor of meat products, inhibits the development of microbial spores, and delays lipid oxidation. At the same time, it has adverse health risks for meat consumers. Celery, Apium graveolens, as a plant rich in nitrate was used in this study for replacing the synesthetic chemical nitrite used in sausage manufacture. Dry sausage samples were divided into three equal groups, the first group without adding sodium nitrite and kept as a control group. The second group was treated with 100 mg/kg of sodium nitrite while the third group was treated with 0.3% celery powder. All groups were periodically examined for sensory and chemical quality parameters. Generally, there are no significant differences (P&gt;0.05) found between sausage groups attributes to appearance. The results of color, flavor, smell, nitrite content, TVN, and TBA of control sausage samples were statistically lower (P&lt;0.05) than those of treated sausage groups. No differences (P&gt;0.05) were found for the attribute color, flavor, smell, nitrite content, TVN, and TBA between those treated with 100 ppm sodium nitrite and 0.3% celery sausages groups. The obtained results concluded that safe dry sausage could be produced with high quality without the addition of synthetic sodium nitrite, by replacing it with 0.3% celery powder. Celery offers a high potential nitrite as natural substitutes improve both the sensory and chemical quality of the dry sausage. However, further research is needed to irrefutably determine all potential benefits content of the celery

Value added by Spirulina platensis in two different diets on growth performance, gut microbiota, and meat quality of Japanese quails

Aim: The growth promoting effect of the blue-green filamentous alga Spirulina platensis (SP) was observed on meat type Japanese quail with antibiotic growth promoter alternative and immune enhancing power. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on 180 Japanese quail chicks for 4 weeks to find out the effect of diet type (vegetarian protein diet [VPD] and fish meal protein diet [FMPD])- Spirulina dose interaction (1 or 2 g/kg diet) on growth perfor-mance, gut microbiota, and sensory meat quality of growing Japanese quails (1-5 weeks old). Results: Data revealed improvement (p<0.05) of weight gain, feed conversion ratio and European efficiency index due to 1, 2 g (SP)/kg VPD, and 2 g (SP)/kg FMPD, respectively. There was a significant decrease of ileum mean pH value by 1 g (SP)/kg VPD. Concerning gut microbiota, there was a trend toward an increase in Lactobacilli count in both 1; 2 g (SP)/kg VPD and 2 g (SP)/kg FMPD. It was concluded that 1 or 2 g (SP)/kg vegetarian diet may enhance parameters of performance without obvious effect on both meat quality and gut microbiota. Moreover, 1 and/or 2 g (SP) may not be invited to share fish meal based diet for growing Japanese quails. Conclusion: Using of SP will support the profitable production of Japanese quails fed vegetable protein diet

Fucoidan Ameliorates Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, DNA Damage, and Hepatorenal Injuries in Diabetic Rats Intoxicated with Aflatoxin B1

The current study was carried out to evaluate the ameliorative effect of fucoidan against aflatoxicosis-induced hepatorenal toxicity in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Sixty-four Wister albino male rats were randomly assigned into eight groups (8 rats each) that received normal saline, fucoidan (FUC) at 100 mg/kg/day orally for 4 weeks, streptozotocin (STZ) at 50 mg/kg/i.p. single dose, STZ plus FUC, aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) at 50 μg/kg/i.p. after one month of the beginning of the experiment for 2 weeks, AFB1 plus FUC, STZ plus AFB1, or STZ plus AFB1 and FUC. Injection of rats with STZ induced hyperglycemia. Rats with STZ-induced diabetes, with or without AFB1 intoxication, had significantly elevated activities of serum aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase, and levels of serum urea, creatinine, cholesterol, 8-oxo-2′-deoxyguanosine, interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α. In addition, these rats exhibited increased lipid peroxidation and reduced glutathione concentration and activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase enzymes in the hepatic and renal tissues. In contrast, administration of FUC to diabetic rats, with or without AFB1 intoxication, ameliorated the altered serum parameters, reduced oxidative stress, DNA damage, and inflammatory biomarkers, and enhanced the antioxidant defense system in the hepatic and renal tissues. These results indicated that FUC ameliorated diabetes and AFB1-induced hepatorenal injuries through alleviating oxidative stress, DNA damage, and inflammation