Prevalence and Therapeutic Efficacy of Anthelmintic against Neoascaris vitulorum in Buffalo Populations from Sylhet District of Bangladesh

Background and Objectives: The epidemiological features of Neoascaris vitulorum infection in buffaloes are important to know their transmission and risk factors assessment as well treatment regimens. This study was conducted with the objectives of determining the prevalence of Neoascaris vitulorum infection in buffaloes in Sylhet district of Bangladesh and to evaluate the efficacy of anthelmintics against the parasite. Materials and Method: A total of 211 fecal samples were collected from buffaloes and examined for the detection of parasitic eggs during the period from July 2017 to June 2018. For the determination of therapeutic efficacy, animals were randomly divided into 6 groups (T0, Ti, T1, T2, T3, T4) where each group consisting of 3 buffaloes. The group T0 (negative control-non infected) and Ti (positive control-infected) were treated only with phosphate buffer saline (PBS). The other four infected groups were treated as T1 with albendazole, T2 with piperazine citrate, T3 with ivermectin and T4 with combination of tetramisole HCL and oxyclosanide. Before trials day 0 and after treatment of 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th days fecal samples examined using McMaster technique. Results: The overall prevalence was estimated 17.06% (36/211). The prevalence was higher among buffalo calves of below six months (39.28%) followed by 6 months to 1 year, 1 to 2 years and above 2 years as 25%, 22.5% and 7.20% respectively. The infection rate was high in females (20.0%) than males (13.18%). The parasite was more prevalent in rainy (21.42%) than summer (16.67%) and winter (14.29%) seasons. The EPG results revealed piperazine citrate was the most effective (100%) against Neoascaris vitulorum. The percent efficacies of other anthelmintic used in this study were albendazole, ivermectin and combination of tetramisole HCL and oxyclozanide as 95.49%, 86.20% and 95.58% respectively. Conclusion: The prevalence of Neoascaris vitulorum infection in buffalo at Sylhet district of Bangladesh was relatively high. The results revealed that piperazine citrate, tetramisole HCL and oxyclozanide combination are highly effective for the reduction of egg per gram (EPG) of Neoascaris vitulorum infection in buffalo. On the other hand ivermectin and albendazole were also around ninety percent effective respectively

Prediction of phase composition and mechanical properties Fe–Cr–C–B–Ti–Cu hardfacing alloys: Modeling and experimental Validations

Alloys of the Fe–Cr–C–B–Ti alloy system are characterized by brittleness, which can be eliminated by the copper alloy, while corrosion resistance and abrasive wear resistance are significantly reduced. In this article, comprehensive investigations are carried out on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the proposed high-copper boron-containing alloy 110Cr4Cu7Ti1VB. Systematic theoretical and experimental studies encompassed thermodynamic calculations in ThermoCALC, production of flux-cored wires for hardfacing and welding, receipt of SEM images, acquisition of load and unload diagrams (discharge) via instrumental indentation on various phases of the deposited metal, and determination of chemical composition at indentation points through local chemical analysis. Mechanical properties of some phases such as γ–Fe phase (austenite), hemioboride Fe2(В,С) and boron cementite Fe3(В,С) and titanium carbide TiC in Fe–Cr–C–B–Ti–Сг alloy were determined by using density functional theory (DFT) implemented in the CASTEP code. We also compared these compounds; properties with other available commercial compounds, where available. With the knowledge of calculated elastic constants, the moduli, the Pugh's modulus ratio G/B, the Poisson's ratio v and the hardness of the title phases, 110Cr4Cu7Ti1VB were further predicted and discussed

Gold-loaded nanoporous iron oxide cubes derived from Prussian blue as carbon monoxide oxidation catalyst at room temperature

This work reports the preparation of carbon monoxide (CO) oxidation catalysts based on gold nanoparticles supported on mesoporous iron oxide nanocubes. By heat-treating Prussian blue (PB) nanocubes at various temperatures between 250-450 °C under air atmosphere, nanoporous iron oxide cubes with surface areas of up to 100 m2 g-1 are obtained. Owing to the relatively large surface area and nanoporous structure, the as-synthesized iron oxide cubes can be loaded with up to 11 wt% of Au nanoparticles without significant aggregation. When employed as catalysts for CO oxidation, the Au-loaded nanoporous iron oxide cubes exhibit high CO conversion rate of over 95 % at room temperature under 0.1 L·min-1 of CO gas flow, with specific activity of up to 1.79 molCO·gAu-1·h-1. The high catalytic performance of the Au-loaded nanoporous iron oxide cubes for CO oxidation is contributed by various factors, including: (i) the high surface area of the iron oxide cubes which lead to the availability of more sites for the adsorption of oxygen molecules to react with carbon monoxide to generate more carbon dioxide (CO2); (ii) the presence of nanopores which enhances the diffusivity of the reactant molecules during the catalytic reaction and improves dispersion of the deposited gold nanoparticles while also preventing their aggregation at the same time and (iii) the small size of the deposited gold nanoparticles (2-5 nm) which falls within the ideal size of gold nanoparticles for achieving high CO conversion

Molecular Detection of Colistin Resistance mcr-1 Gene in Multidrug-Resistant Escherichia coli Isolated from Chicken

Zoonotic and antimicrobial-resistant Escherichia coli (hereafter, E. coli) is a global public health threat which can lead to detrimental effects on human health. Here, we aim to investigate the antimicrobial resistance and the presence of mcr-1 gene in E. coli isolated from chicken feces. Ninety-four E. coli isolates were obtained from samples collected from different locations in Bangladesh, and the isolates were identified using conventional microbiological tests. Phenotypic disk diffusion tests using 20 antimicrobial agents were performed according to CLSI-EUCAST guidelines, and minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined for a subset of samples. E. coli isolates showed high resistance to colistin (88.30%), ciprofloxacin (77.66%), trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (76.60%), tigecycline (75.53%), and enrofloxacin (71.28%). Additionally, the pathotype eaeA gene was confirmed in ten randomly selected E. coli isolates using primer-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The presence of mcr-1 gene was confirmed using PCR and sequencing analysis in six out of ten E. coli isolates. Furthermore, sequencing and phylogenetic analyses revealed a similarity between the catalytic domain of Neisseria meningitidis lipooligosaccharide phosphoethanolamine transferase A (LptA) and MCR proteins, indicating that the six tested isolates were colistin resistant. Finally, the findings of the present study showed that E. coli isolated from chicken harbored mcr-1 gene, and multidrug and colistin resistance. These findings accentuate the need to implement strict measures to limit the imprudent use of antibiotics, particularly colistin, in agriculture and poultry farms

Multidrug Antimicrobial Resistance and Molecular Detection of mcr-1 Gene in Salmonella Species Isolated from Chicken

Colistin (polymyxin E) is widely used in animal and human medicine and is increasingly used as one of the last-resort antibiotics against Gram-negative bacilli. Due to the increased use of colistin in treating infections caused by multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria, resistance to this antibiotic ought to be monitored. The study was undertaken to elucidate the molecular mechanisms, genetic relationships and phenotype correlations of colistin-resistant isolates. Here, we report the detection of the mcr-1 gene in chicken-associated Salmonella isolates in Bangladesh and its in-silico functional analysis. Out of 100 samples, 82 Salmonella spp. were isolated from chicken specimens (liver, intestine). Phenotypic disc diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assay using different antimicrobial agents were performed. Salmonella isolates were characterized using PCR methods targeting genus-specific invA and mcr-1 genes with validation for the functional analysis. The majority of the tested Salmonella isolates were found resistant to colistin (92.68%), ciprofloxacin (73.17%), tigecycline (62.20%) and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (60.98%). When screened using PCR, five out of ten Salmonella isolates were found to carry the mcr-1 gene. One isolate was confirmed for Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Enteritidis, and other four isolates were confirmed for Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium. Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis revealed a divergent evolutionary relationship between the catalytic domain of Neisseria meningitidis lipooligosaccharide phosphoethanolamine transferase A (LptA) and MCR proteins, rendering them resistant to colistin. Three-dimensional homology structural analysis of MCR-1 proteins and molecular docking interactions suggested that MCR-1 and LptA share a similar substrate binding cavity, which could be validated for the functional analysis. The comprehensive molecular and in-silico analyses of the colistin resistance mcr-1 gene of Salmonella spp. of chicken origin in the present study highlight the importance of continued monitoring and surveillance for antimicrobial resistance among pathogens in food chain animals.De tre första författarna delar förstaförfattarskapet.</p

A facile surfactant-assisted synthesis of carbon-supported dendritic Pt nanoparticles with high electrocatalytic performance for the oxygen reduction reaction

Dendritic platinum (Pt) nanoparticles are successfully anchored on Ketjen Black by a facile synthetic route without organic solvent. The nonionic surfactant Brij 58 is used as a mesopore-forming agent during the in-situ growth of Pt nanoparticles. The dendritic Pt nanoparticles on Ketjen Black exhibit highly efficient electrocatalytic activity for the oxygen reduction reaction. The electrocatalytic activity can be further improved by increasing the Pt loading amount on Ketjen Black. Upon increasing to 31.4 wt% Pt, the half-wave potential and limited-diffusion current density reach 0.887 V and 6.22 mA cm , respectively. The as-prepared catalyst shows an ideal four-electron pathway of O reduction to H O and a low H O yield of less than 1% in the potential window of 0.2–0.8 V. Moreover, the catalyst exhibits remarkable long-term durability with the same limiting current density and only a 10.5 mV negative shift in the half-wave potential after 5000 cycles

A facile surfactant-assisted synthesis of carbon-supported dendritic Pt nanoparticles with high electrocatalytic performance for the oxygen reduction reaction

Dendritic platinum (Pt) nanoparticles are successfully anchored on Ketjen Black by a facile synthetic route without organic solvent. The nonionic surfactant Brij 58 is used as a mesopore-forming agent during the in-situ growth of Pt nanoparticles. The dendritic Pt nanoparticles on Ketjen Black exhibit highly efficient electrocatalytic activity for the oxygen reduction reaction. The electrocatalytic activity can be further improved by increasing the Pt loading amount on Ketjen Black. Upon increasing to 31.4 wt% Pt, the half-wave potential and limited-diffusion current density reach 0.887 V and 6.22 mA cm−2, respectively. The as-prepared catalyst shows an ideal four-electron pathway of O2 reduction to H2O and a low H2O2 yield of less than 1% in the potential window of 0.2–0.8 V. Moreover, the catalyst exhibits remarkable long-term durability with the same limiting current density and only a 10.5 mV negative shift in the half-wave potential after 5000 cycles