Objective: This study assessed the effect of cellulose sheets fortified with Natamycin-loaded algi­nate nanoparticles on the growth of toxigenic Aspergillus flavus and aflatoxin production on the superficial layer of Egyptian Romy cheese after 12 weeks of maturation.  Materials and Methods: Toxigenic A. flavus (GenBank accession No. MT645073) was inoculated into the outer surface of Egyptian Romy cheese (at 5 log CFU/gm) and wrapped with a cellulose sheet fortified with Natamycin-loaded alginate nanoparticles. Unwrapped control contaminated Romy wheels were made as well as non-contaminated wrapped cheese wheels for sensory eval­uation. Romy cheese wheels were stored at a temperature similar to commercial methods for 12 weeks. Fungal counts were enumerated during this time, and enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay detected aflatoxin after the 4th week of maturation storage.  Results: In cheese samples covered with cellulose sheets containing Natamycin-loaded alginate nanoparticles, the fungal count was reduced by 2 log approximately in contrast to control samples after the 2nd week of storage. However, within the 8th week of storage, the greatest significant reduction (p < 0.05) was seen where fungal growth was hindered entirely to the end of the rip­ening period. The mean values for taste, color, flavor, and overall acceptability were 4, 4.7, 4.09, and 4.3, respectively. Furthermore, in the treated samples, the total aflatoxin concentration was decreased by 78.6% relative to the untreated control one.  Conclusion: Using cellulose sheets fortified with Natamycin-loaded alginate nanoparticles in Egyptian Romy cheese wrapping could be an effective way of controlling A. flavus and subsequent aflatoxin production without influencing the typical taste, color, flavor, and overall appearance of traditional Romy cheese. J. Adv. Vet. Anim. Res., 8(1): 58-63, Mar 2021 http://doi.org/10.5455/javar.2021.h485

Objective: Anticoccidial drugs may lead to the development of drug resistance and drug residues. Herbal extracts could be an attractive alternative. This research was undertaken to evaluate the anticoccidial outcome of Carica papaya compared with the anticoccidial drug (Toltazuril) in Sonali chickens.  Materials and Methods: A total of 80 Sonali chickens were evenly and equally allocated into four groups, namely T1 (non-infected control), T2 (infected control), T3 (treated with C. papaya), and T4 (treated with Toltrazuril). All groups were experimentally infected with oocysts of mixed Eimeria spp. orally except T1, and the mixed Eimeria spp. oocyst load (OL), body weight (BW) gain, and hematological parameters were calculated.  Results: In the findings, the highest OL reduction rate in T4 was 100%, while the T3 was 83.44%. Nevertheless, BW differed significantly (p < 0.01) among the different groups, while the daily BW gain was higher in T3 amounting to 8.10 gm. In the case of hematological parameter, total eryth­rocyte count (TEC), hemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate in different groups were almost the same and were also statistically insignificant (p > 0.05) barring total leukocyte count resulting as significant (p < 0.05) at day 30. Additionally, the results of Pearson’s correlation in T3 at day 30 indicated a strong significant (p < 0.01) negative correlation between OL and BW (r = −0.780) with the following regression equation: y = −0.16*x + 433.665. Moreover, the correlation of TEC, PCV, and Hb with OL was significantly (p < 0.01) negative, r = −0.786, r = −0.752 and r = −0.633, where the regression equations were y = −0.03*x + 4.51, y = −0.03*x + 27.42, and y = −0.04*x + 11.40, respectively.  Conclusion: Long-term use of C. papaya leaves’ extracts effectively controls coccidiosis in Sonali chickens and can act as an effective growth promoter. J. Adv. Vet. Anim. Res., 8(1): 91-100, Mar 2021 http://doi.org/10.5455/javar.2021.h490

Objectives: The objective of this study was to perform a comparative analysis of allelic diversity to reveal population-genetic characteristics of animal breeds, namely Shami (SH), Holstein (HLS), and Aberdeen-Angus (A-A).  Materials and Methods: The genetic materials of SH breed animals represented by wool with hair follicles were collected from 39 SH heads in Syria. Also, genetic materials of HLS breed of American selection (n = 55, HLS) and bulls and cows of A-A breed bred at breeding enterprises in Russia (n = 30, A-A) were collected. Genetic differences between the cattle groups were studied using 11 microsatellite markers.  Results: The cattle breed in Syria was characterized by high genetic diversity, 107 alleles, while the average number of alleles per microsatellite locus was 9.23, which is significantly higher than that in the animals of HLS (6.18) and A-A (5.00). When analyzing the genetic equilibrium for indi­vidual locus in SH breed, a deviation from equilibrium at four loci was revealed: TGLA227, SPS115, TGLA122, and ETH225; at one locus in HLS breed: SPS115, for A-A breed: at two loci, i.e., TGLA122 and ETH225. When assessing the level of genetic consolidation, a deficiency of heterozygotes was observed in two of the three studied breeds: 4.8% for SH and 8.0% for A-A. A slight excess of heterozygotes was found in the HLS breed at the level of 0.2%. The average comparative measure­ment of genetic variation in different populations value for 11 loci for all breeds was 0.069, which indicates that 93.1% of the total variability is due to the intra-breed diversity, and only 6.9% is due to the differences between breeds.  Conclusion: The analysis of the animals belonging to their breed has shown a 100% genetic con­solidation and the compliance of individual animals with the respective breeds. The study of genetic distances, adjusted for small samples, revealed the smallest genetic distance between the SH breed and HLS breed, equaling 0.107. The A-A breed, which has its separate origin and has never been imported into the Syrian Arab Republic, adjoins this cluster as an independent branch. Microsatellites can be used as an essential criterion for assessing the population-genetic charac­teristics of groups of cattle of various breeds (degree of polymorphism, level of heterozygosity, fixation indices, genetic group membership). J. Adv. Vet. Anim. Res., 8(2): 339-345, June 2021

Objective: The goal of this study was to determine the levels of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and aluminum (Al) in raw bovine milk. Milk consumption was used to calculate the estimated weekly intake (EWI), provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI), and target hazard quotient (THQ) for individuals. Metal distribution in dairy products and byproducts was studied as a result of artisanal processing.  Material and Methods: Seventy-five raw bovine milk samples were collected from artisanal producers in Alexandria city, West Delta, Egypt, and analyzed using the atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The effect of artisanal dairy processing on metal distribution was studied.  Results: The averages of Pb, Cd, and Al in milk samples were 45.06, 4.77, and 2.93 μg/l, with 13.33% and 1.33% of analyzed samples had Pb and Al levels higher than the permissible limits, respectively. The EWI values of Pb, Cd, and Al were 1.050, 0.111, and 0.068 μg/kg body weight, which contributed to about 4.20%, 1.59%, and 0.97% from the PTWI, respectively. The THQ of three metals was <1, which referred to safe consumption. Metal residues were heavily concentrated in artisanal cheese and yogurt after coagulation and fermentation compared with other dairy products. Accordingly, the maximum average and reduction values of Pb, Cd, and Al were 745.87, 51.99, and 71.58 μg/l and −72.87%, −56.5%, and −40.96% in Damietta cheese; 535.51, 40.11, and 62.43 μg/l and −24.11%, −20.74%, and −22.94%) in Kareish cheese; and 418.42, 31.26, and 50.66 μg/l and 3.02%, 5.90%, and 0.27% in yogurt, respectively.  Conclusions: The results indicated that consumption of raw bovine milk did not pose a risk to Alexandria citizens. Metal concentration increased in artisanal cheese and yogurt because of metal bio-gathering after coagulation and fermentation. Fat separation, churning, and boiling milk might keep metal concentration in dairy products and byproducts at lower levels than milk. Thus, they are suggested to be applied especially in highly contaminated areas. J. Adv. Vet. Anim. Res., 8(3): 454-464, September 2021 http://doi.org/10.5455/javar.2021.h534

Objective: To identify the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites that affect the backyard poul­try system in the Savanna region, Department of Sucre, Colombia.  Materials and Methods: Fecal samples were collected from 860 native birds, both hens (Gallus domesticus), ducks (Anas platyrhynchos domesticus), and turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo), regard­less of age and sex. Samples were processed using direct techniques with ZnSO4 and indirect methods such as modified Sloss. Data were presented as frequencies, and the nonparametric odds ratio test was used for two independent samples.  Results: A total of 77.3% (665/860) of the birds were infected with one or more species of gas­trointestinal parasites. Among the nematodes, Capillaria spp. (45.6%), Ascaridia galli (18.4%), Heterakis gallinarum (59.4%), Syngamus trachea (38.9%), Tetrameres spp. (25.2%), and Strongylus spp. (12.2%) were recorded. The cestodes were Choanotaenia infundibulum (22.6%), Davainea proglottina (42.3%), Raillietina spp. (58.3%), and Hymenolepis spp. (54.7%), while only Eimeria spp. (90%) was recorded as protozoa.  Conclusions: The study showed a high incidence of gastrointestinal parasite infestations, the most common species being Hymenolepis spp., Eimeria spp., Raillietina spp., and Heterakis gallinarum. J. Adv. Vet. Anim. Res., 8(4): 606–611, December 2021 http://doi.org/10.5455/javar.2021.h551

Objective: The purpose of this work is to develop and validate an appropriate solvent solution and quantitative thin layer chromatography (TLC) method for determining the aflatoxins content of chicken feeds and dietary grains.  Materials and Methods: To obtain the optimal mobile phase, samples were extracted with meth­anol/water (3:1) + 5% sodium chloride and partitioned using several solvent systems using pre­parative TLC. Camag TLC scanner 3 was used to scan the TLC plates at 366 nm and quantify them using JustTLC software. The method was tested for linearity, specificity, accuracy, precision, sen­sitivity, and robustness in accordance with ICH recommendations, and then utilized to screen 132 Nigerian poultry/food samples for total aflatoxins (TAFs).  Results: The best separation of aflatoxins was achieved using acetonitrile and dichloromethane (3:17) mobile phase over an average run time of 45 min, resulting in linear calibration curves (R2 > 0.99) in the concentration range limit of quantitation (LoQ) to 50 ng/spot with a limit of detection of <2.0 ng/g and a LoQ of <4.0 ng/gm for all aflatoxins in all spiked samples. When the proposed TLC method was compared to an optimized high-performance liquid chromatography method, an excellent linear regression was obtained (R2 > 95%). Seventy seven (58.33%) of the 132 samples examined were positive for aflatoxins, with mean values ranging from 3.57 ± 2.55 to 37.31 ± 34.06 ng/gm for aflatoxin B1 and 6.67 ± 0.00 to 38.02 ± 31.52 ng/gm for TAFs, respectively.  Conclusions: The results demonstrate the feasibility of using the suggested TLC method in con­junction with a novel solvent solution (free of carcinogenic chloroform) for the rapid and accurate measurement of TAFs in foods/feeds. J. Adv. Vet. Anim. Res., 8(4): 656–670, December 2021 http://doi.org/10.5455/javar.2021.h558

Objective: In this case report, we report for first the time the presence of porcine deltacoronavi­rus (PDCoV) in Peru (October 2019) and Latin America, and we present a control and eradication program using feedback (exposure)/controlled homogenization in a pig farm.  Materials and Methods: This farm is located in the eastern jungle of Peru. Initially, clinical signs that appeared to be infectious diarrhea were detected, but the disease rapidly progressed to green diarrhea, vomiting, and increased mortality in piglets. These symptoms were compatible with those produced by porcine epidemic diarrhea virus and transmissible gastroenteritis virus, but also with PDCoV. Because the disease could not be diagnosed by clinical signs and symptoms, analysis by real-time polymerase chain reaction was used. Implementation of a feedback/con­trolled homogenization program was quickly planned, accompanied by the closure of the farm, animal and farm health strategies, and its respective monitoring.  Results: At the farm level, between 1 and 9 weeks after application of the program, the samples were positive for PDCoV, but at week 10, they were negative. At week 12, the weaned and fatten­ing piglets gradually became populated as negative animals. In the follow-up before the opening of the farm, all the piglets were negative. In the final verification, gilts (week 35) entered the breeding area as replacements only after being tested negative for PDCoV.  Conclusion: A rigorous feedback/controlled homogenization program and complementary mea­sures led to eradicating PDCoV from the farm. J. Adv. Vet. Anim. Res., 8(2): 300-306, June 2021