Outbreak of Zika virus pathogenesis and quest of its vaccine development: Where do we stand now?

Zika virus (ZIKV) infection is a life-threatening tropical infection, mainly caused by mosquito bite. After a very long period of quietness, ZIKV infections have become a problematic issue again. Previously, the virus was limited to Africa and Asia only but later it emerged in Brazil, South America, and other parts of the world in 2015. In 2016, there are emerging new cases of sexually transmitted ZIKV infection as well. At present, there is no proper treatment and available pronounced vaccines for the treatment of ZIKV infection. The prime focal point of this review is not only to provide imperative epidemiological information on ZIKV infection in brief but also the current situation of vaccines testing on animal model as well as in clinical trial phases. Currently there is no human vaccine for this pestiferous viral infection. Therefore, prevention, proper management, and up-to-date recommendation are crucial to mitigate the possible risk of vector and non-vector transmission of ZIKV

Influence of nisin and lauryl arginine ester against some foodborne pathogens in recombined feta and processed spread cheese

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of nisin with lauryl arginine ester (LAE) or their combination by 1: 3 (w/w) on cheese preservation. The study was carried out against the most common foodborne pathogens in recombined feta cheese (RFC) and processed cheese spread (PCS). Combination of nisin with LAE has higher synergistic preservative effect on different widespread foodborne pathogens such as Bacillus subtilis, Clostridium sporogenes and Escherichia coli compared with individual one. The most sensitive strain was E. coli with an effective minimal inhibition concentration (MIC) of 400 ppm, whereas the former spore-forming bacterial strains were totally inhibited using 700 ppm from the combination, respectively. Synergistic combination blend was added by its recommended MIC (700 ppm) in the manufacture of both RFC and PCS. The results indicated that it is efficient enough to inhibit the growth of the most common foodborne pathogens in cheese after their storage for 7 days (RFC) and 30 days (PCS)

Neoteric advancement in TB drugs and an overview on the anti-tubercular role of peptides through computational approaches

Peptides of varied origins such as human immune cells and non-immune cells, bacteria, fungi, and venoms have been widely investigated as anti-tubercular agents for the replacement of existing anti-tubercular drugs in future. In the present review, we spotlighted not only on the mechanisms of action and mode of administration of currently available anti-tubercular drugs but also the recent comprehensive report of World Health Organization (WHO) on TB epidemic, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment. The major excerpt of the study also inspects the direct contribution of different computational tools during drug designing strategies against M. tuberculosis in order to grasp the interplay between anti-tubercular peptides and targeted bacterial protein. The potentiality of some of these anti-tubercular peptides as therapeutic agents unlocks a new portal for achieving the goal of end TB strategy.Tuberculosis (TB) is a devastating threat to human health whose treatment without the emergence of drug resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) is the million-dollar question at present. The pathogenesis of M. tuberculosis has been extensively studied which represents unique defence strategies by infecting macrophages. Several anti-tubercular drugs with varied mode of action and administration from diversified sources have been used for the treatment of TB that later contributed to the emergence of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB). However, few of potent anti-tubercular drugs are scheduled for clinical trials status in 2017–2018

The Role of Cryptosporidiosis in Sheep Welfare

Welfare in animal production has been defined as the optimal mental and physiological state of the animals. It has been recently redefined according to animals’ freedoms. As systems, individual sheep and herds are dynamic with constant interaction with each other and the environment. In this interaction, diseases play a fundamental role in welfare. Parasitism is common in sheep, and several management practices have been established to maintain the herds healthy. Cryptosporidium represents a special case, because it is a highly resistant environmental parasite, that can easily infect lambs, producing weakening diarrheas and even death. In this chapter, the role of cryptosporidiosis in sheep welfare and economic loss will be analyzed, as means of providing information on how to minimize and deal with the infection

Biotecnología

El ejercicio profesional del Médico Veterinario Zootecnista esta relacionado con muchos procesos biotecnológicos. La biotecnología en su definición más amplia, incluye la idea del uso de organismos biológicos con la finalidad de facilitar o mejorar la obtención de productos derivados de ellos, podríamos decir que ésta ha acompañado al hombre desde los inicios de la civilización y que ha alcanzado a diversas áreas de interés humano como son los alimentos, la medicina, procesos industriales, la agricultura y la medicina veterinaria y la zootecnia. Por lo que el presente curso pretende dar al alumno un panorama generadle algunos de los aspectos más relevantes de la biotecnología que tienen un impacto en el área del conocimiento profesional de un médico Veterinario Zootecnista, con un enfoque teórico práctico en algunas áreas, y teórico en otras; tales como la ingeniería genética, Proteómica, inmunología, la reproducción y producción animal y diagnóstico de enfermedades infecciosas y genéticas. Así como, los aspectos bioéticos esenciales en la manipulación y manejo sanitario de los animales de laboratorio

Influence of Aguamiel (Agave atrovirens) as a Natural Feed Additive on Cecal Fermentation Kinetics of Some Forage Species in Horse Feeding

The ability of the horse to efficiently utilize fiber and roughages due to the presence of fermentative microorganisms in their hindgut and the use of fibrous feeds as the main component of the mature horse diet have been documented [1,2]. Forages are important primary natural component of horse diet needed for normal function of their digestive system and to suppress certain metabolic disorders like hindgut acidosis, laminitis, and colic occasioned by feeding high-starch diets [3]This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different dose levels of aguamiel (Agave atrovirens) on in vitro cecal gas, methane (CH4), and carbon dioxide (CO2) productions of five forage species (Avena sativa [hay]), Moringa oleifera, Caesalpinia coriacea, Salix babylonica, and Eichhornia crassipes using inocula from the horse. The forage samples were incubated with three doses of aguamiel: 0, 34, and 68 mg of aguamiel/g dry matter (DM) of substrate. Cecal inocula were collected from four adult female Criolla horses (3–4 years of age and weighing 300 15.0 kg) grazed on native grasses for about 8 hours without supplementation. Forage type affected (P <.001) cecal asymptotic, rate and lag time of gas, CH4 and CO2 productions (mL/g DM), pH and DM degradability. Aguamiel dose had linear and quadratic effects (P < .05) on the asymptotic and rate of CH4 productions and rate and lag time of CO2 productions (mL/g DM). Forage type aguamiel dose interactions were significant (P < .05) for asymptotic, rate and lag time of gas, and CH4 and CO2 productions (mL/g DM). Forage species effects were pronounced (P < .05) on CH4 and CO2 productions (mL/g incubated and degraded DM) and proportional CH4 production at all hours of incubation, except for CO2 production (mL/g incubated DM). Aguamiel dose affected (P <.05) CO2 production (mL/g incubated DM) and proportional CO2 production at the incubated hours. Forage type aguamiel dose interactions were observed (P < .05) for CO2 production (mL/g incubated DM) and proportional CO2 production at the incubated hours but had no impact on CH4 production. It is concluded that addition of aguamiel to five forage species affected fermentation kinetics of gas production resulting in different in vitro cecal gas, CH4 and CO2 productions from these substrate

Influence of Aguamiel (Agave atrovirens) as a Natural Feed Additive on Cecal Fermentation Kinetics of Some Forage Species in Horse Feeding

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different dose levels of aguamiel (Agave atrovirens) on in vitro cecal gas, methane (CH4), and carbon dioxide (CO2) productions of five forage species (Avena sativa [hay]), Moringa oleifera, Caesalpinia coriacea, Salix babylonica, and Eichhornia crassipes using inocula from the horse. The forage samples were incubated with three doses of aguamiel: 0, 34, and 68 mg of aguamiel/g dry matter (DM) of substrate. Cecal inocula were collected from four adult female Criolla horses (3–4 years of age and weighing 300 15.0 kg) grazed on native grasses for about 8 hours without supplementation. Forage type affected (P <.001) cecal asymptotic, rate and lag time of gas, CH4 and CO2 productions (mL/g DM), pH and DM degradability. Aguamiel dose had linear and quadratic effects (P < .05) on the asymptotic and rate of CH4 productions and rate and lag time of CO2 productions (mL/g DM). Forage type aguamiel dose interactions were significant (P < .05) for asymptotic, rate and lag time of gas, and CH4 and CO2 productions (mL/g DM). Forage species effects were pronounced (P < .05) on CH4 and CO2 productions (mL/g incubated and degraded DM) and proportional CH4 production at all hours of incubation, except for CO2 production (mL/g incubated DM). Aguamiel dose affected (P <.05) CO2 production (mL/g incubated DM) and proportional CO2 production at the incubated hours. Forage type aguamiel dose interactions were observed (P < .05) for CO2 production (mL/g incubated DM) and proportional CO2 production at the incubated hours but had no impact on CH4 production. It is concluded that addition of aguamiel to five forage species affected fermentation kinetics of gas production resulting in different in vitro cecal gas, CH4 and CO2 productions from these substrates

Ruminal and post-ruminal barley grain digestion and starch granule morphology under three heat methods

La editorial tiene los derechos de autor y le solicito a hacer visibles la fecha técnica del artículo.This study was designed to investigate the effect of three heating methods on the ruminal and post-ruminal nutrient degradability and starch granule morphology of barley grain (BG - Hordeum vulgare). Treatments were Control (CG): without processing; Roasted (RG): roasted BG for 300 s at 130°C; Microwaved (MG): irradiated BG for 120 s at 1200 W; and Steam flaked (SG): BG misted for 30 min under steam flow of boiling water and flaked. Gas production and in situ techniques were used to evaluate the ruminal degradability of treatments, and a modified three-step method was utilised to estimate the total-tract digestibility. Morphological changes of starch granules were determined by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). Ruminal gas production and dry matter disappearance were increased (p < .05) in SG vs. CG. Heat processing had different effects on starch and crude protein degradability; however, starch degradability increased (p < .05) from CG to SG. Post-ruminal disappearance of dry matter in CG was greater (p < .05) than other treatments. These results validated by FESEM images that explained high barley grain degradability in relation to the number of holes on the surface of starch granules. Heat processing can enhance ruminal and post-ruminal utilisation efficiency of barley grain, resulting in improvement of total-tract digestibility

The effects of three total mixed rations with different concentrate to maize silage ratios and different levels of microalgae Chlorella vulgaris on in vitro total gas, methane and carbon dioxide production

The aim of the current study was to assess the effects of adding Chlorella vulgaris algae at different levels on in vitro gas production (GP) of three total mixed rations (TMR) with different concentrate (C): maize silage (S) ratios (25C : 75S, 50C : 50S, 75C : 25S). Chlorella vulgaris was added at 0, 20, 40 and 80 mg/g dry matter (DM) of the TMR and total gas, methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) production were recorded after 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 24 and 48 h of incubation in three runs. Increasing concentrate portion in the TMR linearly increased the asymptotic GP and decreased the rate of GP without affecting the lag time. Addition of C. vulgaris at 20 mg/ g DM to the 25C : 75S TMR increased the asymptotic GP, CH4, CO2 and GP at 48 h. Addition of C. vulgaris to the 50C : 50S TMR decreased the asymptotic GP and GP at 48 h. Higher CH4 production was observed at 48 h of incubation when C. vulgaris was included at (per g DM): 20 mg for the 25C : 75S ration, 40 mg for the 50C : 50S ration and 80 mg for the 75C : 25S ration. Inclusion of C. vulgaris linearly increased CH4 production for the 50C : 50S ration and increased CO2 production at 10 and 12 h of incubation for the 50C : 50S ration, whereas 20 and 40 mg C. vulgaris/g DM of the 75C : 25S TMR decreased CO2 production. The 25C : 75S TMR had the highest in vitro DM disappearance with C. vulgaris addition. Chlorella vulgaris addition was more effective with rations high in fibre content than those high in concentrates. It can be concluded that the optimal level of C. vulgaris addition was 20 mg/g DM for improved ruminal fermentation of the 25C : 75S TMR

Seroprevalence Survey of American Trypanosomiasis in Central Valley of Toluca.

American trypanosomiasis is a growing health issue in the Americas. Me ́xico is an endemic country, where some locations such as in the State of Me ́xico are considered highly prevalent. In the valley of Toluca city, the capital of the State of Mexico, there exists an apparent high prevalence in dogs. The absence of triatomine vectors suggests that dogs may not be infected. Therefore, we conducted a directed survey to domiciliated and nondomiciliated dogs to reassess dogs’ T. cruzi seroprevalence status. HAI and ELISA serologic tests were applied to 124 and 167 serums of domiciliated and nondomiciliated dogs in the target city. Risk factors were estimated, but the results did not show any evidence to assess them. No domiciliated dogs tested positive to both tests, whereas only one non-domiciliated dog resulted positive. This animal may have acquired the infection in an endemic area and then migrated to Toluca. Research results indicate that T. cruzi infection is not actively transmitted among dogs, and it is pointed out that dogs are the main sentinel animal population to evaluate a possible expansion of the territory affected by Chagas’ disease.Researches thank Universidad Autoónoma de Estado de México, whose support was significant to conclude the professional project SF009/2009. No competing commercial associations or financial interests exist in connection with the submitted manuscript for all authors concerned