Effect of Moringa oleifera seed extract on antimicrobial activity and in vitro fertilization ability of cryopreserved ram semen

Cryopreservation has adverse effects on the post-thaw sperm quality due to oxidative stress and the presence of bacteria. To minimize such effects, plant extracts have been included in the composition of the semen diluents. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the antimicrobial and antioxidant effects of Moringa oleifera seed extract (MOSE) on cryopreserved ram semen, as well as its impact on in vitro fertilization. Semen from six hair rams was treated with five treatments before cryopreservation: Control (without any antibiotic), Standard (conventional antibiotic), 1.0, 10.0, and 50.0 mg/ml of MOSE. Post-thawing sperm characteristics were evaluated by the computer-assisted semen analysis. Antimicrobial activity was assessed by counting colony-forming units (CFU) and the antioxidant capacity by the ferric reducing antioxidant power method. A heterologous in vitro fertilization technique was implemented to measure the fertilization rate. Progressive and rapid motility, membrane and acrosome integrity, and active mitochondria were higher (p < .05) in the 10.0 mg/ml treatment compared with Standard after thawing. All M. oleifera treatments showed inhibition of CFU. The antioxidant capacity of M. oleifera seed extract was higher in the 10.0 and 50.0 mg/ml treatments. Fertilization rate (cleavage percentage) was higher (p < .05) in the 10.0 mg/ml (82.9 ± 10.0) and Control (82.5 ± 9.9) treatments compared with Standard (73.7 ± 9.1). The addition of 10.0 mg/ml of MOSE to ram semen inhibits the development of microorganisms and improves sperm characteristics and the in vitro fertility of the semen

Immune Monitoring of Paediatric Patients Infected with Rickettsia rickettsii, Ehrlichia canis and Coinfected

Abstract: In 2021, 273 Rocky Mountain spotted fever cases were reported nationwide in Mexico. In Chihuahua City, fourteen samples were obtained from children suspected of rickettsial infection. The analysis of samples (January to December 2021) showed prevalence rates of 28.5%, 43%, and 28.5% for Rickettsia rickettsii, Ehrlichia canis, and both pathogens in coinfection, respectively. The analysis of clinical haematological and biochemistry analytes showed alterations; 100% of the children had elevated liver enzymes and coagulation times, 64% showed leukocytosis due to neutrophilia, 55% had thrombocytopenia, lymphopenia, and hypoalbuminemia, and 45% showed normocytic normochromic anaemia. Statistically significant differences were observed in the expression of the chemokines IL-8, RANTES, CXCL9/MIG, and CXCL10/IP-10 across the coinfected and control groups, and the difference in IP-10 expression was significant for patients infected by R. rickettsii compared to the control group. Additionally, significant differences were observed for expression levels of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-17, IFNγ, and TNFα among the R. rickettsii-positive group compared to the control group. On the other hand, the coinfected group exhibited modified levels of IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 compared with the control group. Finally, significant differences were observed for CD8+ T lymphocyte subpopulations between individuals positive for R. rickettsii and those positive for E. cani