Risk of Heavy Metals from Using Broiler Litter as an Alternative Animal Feedstuff or Organic Fertilizer

Potential risk of heavy metal residues in poultry litter is considered as one of the environmental concerns of litter applications on agricultural land or as animal feedstuff. Therefore, a total of 136 litter samples were collected from broiler farms and examined for the presence of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), aluminum (Al) and nickel (Ni) using ZEEnit 700P Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer with Graphite Furness. The results showed that all litter samples contained notable concentrations of the analyzed metals and their order was Ni > Al > Pb > Cd. Standard limit for heavy metals in litter differs greatly if it is applied to pasture or as feed for animals. It was found that Pb content in litter was 8-10 times as FAO limit when used as fish feed. Meanwhile, Pb level was higher than the European Communities standard in 24% of litter samples when used as complete feedstuff for animals. However, Pb level was much lower than the Spanish legislation for fertilizers. Additionally, Al, Ni and Cd content did not exceed the legally permitted guideline limits when used as feedstuff or fertilizer. It was concluded that, poultry litter contained high Pb level, which may accumulate in the body and can pose health risk when used as an alternative feedstuff for fish and animals

Effect of Chinese Propolis Supplementation on Ross Broiler Chicks: Microbial Population in Fecal matter and Litter

Propolis has been considered a good candidate for health amelioration and disease prevention over a long period of time. Effect of feed supplementation with Chinese ether extract propolis was evaluated for the antibacterial action on (Ross 308) broiler chicks and their litter over 35 days. The addition of different levels of propolis (100, 250 and 750 mg/kg diet) on total aerobic and coliform bacteria as well as Lactobacillus spp. and bifidobacteria were determined. Supplementation of propolis significantly increased (p<0.05) the desired stimulating effect of Lactobacillus spp. and Bifidobacteria in fecal samples of all treatment groups compared to control group. However, propolis did not have an impact to reduce the total aerobic and coliform bacteria compared to control group in both fecal and litter samples. In conclusion, Chinese propolis improved the beneficial normal gut microflora and had a limited effect on the total aerobic and coliform bacteria in broiler chicks and litter quality

Efficacy of Personal Protective Equipment to Prevent Environmental Infection of COVID-19 among Healthcare Workers: A Systematic Review

Background: Healthcare workers (HCWs) employed personal protective equipment (PPE) during the COVID-19 pandemic, crucial to protecting themselves from infection. To highlight the efficacy of PPE in preventing environmental infection among HCWs, a systematic review was conducted in line with PRISMA guidance. Methods: A search of the PubMed and Web of Science databases was conducted from January 2019 to April 2021 using pre-defined search terms. Articles were screened by three researchers. The approved papers were read in full and included in this review if relevance was mutually agreed upon. Data were extracted by study design and types of PPEs. Results: 47 of 108 identified studies met the inclusion criteria, with seven reviews and meta-analyses, seven cohort, nine case-control, fifteen cross-sectional studies, four before and after, four case series, and one modeling studies. Wearing PPE offered COVID-19 protection in HCWs but required adequate training. Wearing surgical masks provided improved protection over cloth masks, while the benefit of powered air-purifying respirators is less clear, as are individual gowns, gloves, and/or face shields. Conclusions: Wearing PPE, especially facial masks, is necessary among HCWs, while training in proper use of PPE is also important to prevent COVID-19 infection

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

INTRODUCTION Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. RATIONALE We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs). RESULTS Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants. CONCLUSION Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century

AGRIMOS® Prebiotics: Effect on Behavior, Performance, Cecal Microbial Population and Humeral Immunity in Broiler Chickens

The detrimental impact of summer temperature is a subject of huge concern for poultry health and production in Egypt. This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation of AGRIMOS® prebiotic on performance, internal organs weight, caecal bacterial count and humoral immunity for Avian influenza vaccine and behavioral tests in broiler chickens reared under cyclic heat stress. At day 28; the birds were exposed to 32°C for 9 hours daily after they were randomly allotted to four treatments: 0, 0.5, 2, and 4 g AGRIMOS kg-1, respectively. The experiment showed that, at 42 days of age, 4 g AGRIMOS kg-1 significantly improved the birds’ performance and significantly increased the abdominal fat, bursa and thymus relative weight as well as, the time of latency to lie and decreased the tonic immobility response. The total aerobic count in the caecal samples showed a significant decrease in all groups received AGRIMOS. However; the lactobacilli count and the Hemagglutination inhibition titers, for avian influenza vaccine, were significantly increased. In conclusion, the AGRIMOS supplement to broiler chickens could be considered a protective prebiotic which control the negative effects of hot environment in summer

Risk Assessment and Quinolones Plasmid-mediated Resistance Genes in Intensive Broiler Farms

Quinolones are frequently applied in intensive production and their risks are creation of residues and development of bacterial resistance, which is one of the major challenges to human health. Muscle, liver and kidney as well as, intestinal contents were collected from intensive broiler farms in Upper Egypt. Samples were analyzed for quinolones residues (norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin, enrofloxacin and danofloxacin) using HPLC. Intestinal contents were investigated for two plasmid-mediated resistance genes; qnrA, qnrB and one chromosomal gene; gyrA. All liver and kidney samples were contaminated with enrofloxacin and the highest level was found in the liver that exceeded the maximum residue limit, which contribute to health hazards for adult and children. QnrB and gyrA genes could be detected in 25% and 8% of the samples, respectively. This study represents the first record about existence of qnrB and gyrA in broiler intestinal content. These results denoted that some broilers’ edibles sold in Egypt contain high level of quinolones. Litter from intensive farms maybe considered as a critical source of resistant genes giving a chance of horizontal transfer of resistant determinants. Consequently, it is necessary to examine broiler products and by-products for the presence of residual quinolones and resistance genes

Histomorphological Changes Associated with Different Doses of Chinese Propolis in the Bursa of Fabricius of Chickens

This experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of Chinese propolis on the histological structure of bursa of Fabricius in Ross 308 broiler chickens. Eighty chicks were divided into 5 groups, 16 chicks each. Group 1 was fed only on basic diet and kept as control while groups 2, 3, 4 and 5 were fed on basic diet and received ether extract of propolis (EEP) in a dose of 100, 250, 500 or 750 mg/kg diet respectively. The treatment started from the first day after hatching and extended to day 42 where all birds were sacrificed and bursa of Fabricius were removed, processed and examined histologically. Chickens received EEP in a dose of 100 and 250 mg/kg diet showed an increase in size of the bursal folds and bursal lymphoid follicles with minimal regressive changes into the bursa such as a slight increase in the amount of inter-follicular connective tissue. Higher doses of EEP (500 and 750 mg/kg diet) produced substantial changes into the bursa such as degeneration in lymphatic follicles represented by cyst formation, liquifactive necrosis and significant increase in inter-follicular connective tissue. Our findings suggest that high doses of EEP led to faster bursal involution with subsequent negative impact on the humoral immune status of chicken

Ameliorative effects of vitamins-loaded flavoured nanophytosomes fortified with star anise volatile oil against CsA-Induced liver and kidney injury in rats: Application in functional ice cream

This study investigated the effect of flavoured nanophytosomes loaded with vitamins A, E, D, B complex, folic acid, and C, as well as zinc on the immunosuppressive cyclosporin A (CsA)-induced liver and kidney injury in male rats. The vitamins flavoured nanophytosomes (VFnPs) were characterized in terms of particle size, zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency. Ice cream was flavoured with star anise volatile oil to mask the VFnPs' flavour and unacceptable taste. The study found that treatment with CsA alone resulted in increased (P > 0.05) levels of creatinine, urea, and MDA, as well as the activities of AST and ALT, while the levels of SOD, CAT, GST, proteins, CD4, INF-ᵧ, IL-6, IL-1β, and TLR4 decreased (P > 0.05). However, the group that received CsA simultaneously with VFnPs showed a significant (P > 0.05) decrease in the levels of creatinine, urea, and MDA, as well as the activities of AST and ALT, and increased (P > 0.05) levels of SOD, CAT, GST, proteins, CD4, INF-ᵧ, IL-6, IL-1β, and TLR4. The increase in the ratio of VFnPs had little effect on the physiochemical and sensory evaluation of the ice cream. Finally, the study suggests that VFnPs could potentially protect against CsA-induced liver and kidney injury and serve as a promising natural therapy for treating such conditions