The application of assisted reproductive technology by mass-producing embryos is to maintain genetic resistance, increase productivity and livestock populations in a short time with maximum quality. Oocyte In Vitro Maturation (IVM) is a crucial stage of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) implementation to increase the quantity and quality of livestock genetic trait through in In Vitro Embryo Production (IVP). GDF-9 and BMP-15 expression are in the family of Transforming Growth Factor Beta (TGF-β) which are known to regulate oocyte and cumulus cell development in mammals. This study's objective was to investigate the effects of Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) on IVM media of Kacang goat (Capra hircus) oocytes. This research was an experimental study design consisting of 3 treatment groups: (P0) the control group, (P1) 25 µM/L ALA supplementation and (P2) 50 µM/L ALA supplementation. This study used 261 COCs which were 22 hours matured in vitro at 38.5°C, 98% humidity, and 5% CO2. GDF-9 and BMP-15 expression data were statistically tested with a significance of p<0.05. Immunocytochemistry showed the expression value of GDF-9 (2.86 ± 1.06a, 4.29 ± 1.79a and 8.29 ± 2.69b). BMP-15 expression values (2.57±1.39a, 5.71±3.72b and 11.43±1.51c). The results of the study showed that supplementation with ALA on maturation media at a dose of 50 µM/L toward the maturation level and increased GDF-9 and BMP-15 expression in vitro maturation of Kacang goat oocyte.

Strangles is considered an important equine contagious bacterial caused by Streptococcus equi. This study planned to evaluate the seroprevalence of anti-S. equi antibodies in horses located in Mosul city, Iraq for the first time. The sera were collected from 184 animals (156 horses and 28 donkeys), and then they were screened by using indirect ELISA (iELISA) to effectively check the seroconverted animals. The results of this study showed that the total prevalence rate of strangles in horses was 12%, (0.0% in donkeys) and the seroprevalence rate in animals less than 3 years old was 20%, while in animals of ages 3 years and more, it was 7% (P< 0.05). The seroprevalence rate in racing and horses with respiratory signs was significantly higher than ones with Draught and apparently normal conditions (P< 0.05). Any significant relationship was not found between seropositive animals and sex, and among racing horses (P< 0.05). To close, the presence of anti-S. equi antibodies in the examined horses might require more attention to reduce the incidence of the disease in horse breeding centers found in the study zone.

Mycoplasma synoviae (MS) and Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) are two of the most serious infections in poultry, causing financial losses across the globe. Antibiotics treatment can lessen the clinical signs of MG and MS infection in birds and help restrict the spread of these infections. However, the rise of antibiotics multidrug resistance (MDR) among poultry diseases is still a problem for the world's health. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) is crucial to resolving this issue since it helps ensure correct antibiotic use and fights the development of antibiotic resistance. This investigation aims to assess the in vitro and in vivo efficacy of several antibiotics (tilmicosin, tylosin, erythromycin, spiramycin, lincomycin, and doxycycline) against MG and MS field isolates, in addition to guava leaves extract (GLE) against MG. For in vivo study, 510, one day old chicks were randomly split into 17 groups the birds were experimentally infected at 3 days old and supplied with different treatments in drinking waters for 5 successive days at 18 days old. The results of in vitro study showed that tilmicosin was the most effective against MG isolates with MIC values ranging from 0.0078 to 0.0156 μg/ml and spiramycin considered effective against MS with MIC values ranging from 0.015625 to16μg/ml and MIC value of GLE was 0.25 μg/ml that was considered as moderate sensitive to MG infection. The in vivo study revealed that tilmicosin and spiramycin were able to significantly lower the clinical score, lesion score, and re-isolation rate of MG and MS, respectively in the treated birds at p-value < 0.05 in contrast with control positive infected untreated groups. Additionally, the treated groups with tilmicosin in MG infection and spiramycin in MS infection showed significantly higher mean body weights (MBW) compared to the infected untreated ones at p-value < 0.05. The current study demonstrates that MG and MS's sensitivity to many of the most popular drugs changed as in tylosin become low sensitive and erythromycin become resistant. GLE has moderate sensitivity antibacterial effect against MG isolates both in vivo and in vitro and can be used as a natural antibiotic alternative. Therefore, we recommend periodical monitoring of the sensitivity of the circulation MG and MS strains using MIC test to overcome MDR of avian mycoplasmas with further suggestion to evaluate GLE as nano-preparation against MG infection.

The present study intended to investigate the profile of mineral elements and metals in camel serum. For this purpose, 50 camels (Camelus dromedarius) were examined to estimate the levels of Cr, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Zn, B, Al, Ca, Ba, Mg, Cd, Pb, Mo, Sr, Si and V. using Inductively Coupled Argon Plasma (ICAP). On average, the mineral contents were 0.116 mg/l (Co), 0.297 mg/l (Cr), 1.817 mg/l (Cu), 13.733 mg/l (Fe), 1.521 mg/l (Mn), 0.002 mg/l (Ni), 6.775 mg/l (Zn). While mean concentrations of other metals were 0.08 mg/l (B), 42.887 mg/l (Al), 258.973 mg/l (Ca), 1.520 mg/l (Ba), 28.385 mg/l (Mg), 0.02 mg/l (Cd), 2.183 mg/l (Pb), 1.523 mg/l (Mo), 1.243 mg/l (Sr), 478.617 mg/l (Si), 0.689 mg/l (V). Although a lack of data on camel species, these findings could contribute to understanding the status of trace elements and heavy metals in camels, and any deviation of some elements from their normal values might be an indicator for exposure of these camels to pollutant circumstances.

There is scarce information on the effects of feed storage period on poultry performance, which has not been investigated thus far. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of feeding broilers on feeds stored for different periods, with or without supplemental amino acids and vitamins. This study followed a factorial design (3 x 3), i.e. three dietary treatments and three feed storage periods. The three dietary treatments consisted of 1) a basal diet, 2) a basal diet including additional 5g methionine and 13 g lysine/kg, and 3) a basal diet including 3 g vitamin premix/kg. The 3 dietary treatments were tested with feeds stored for three different periods (Fresh, 4-months, and 6-months). A total of 450 one-day old broiler chicks were randomly assigned to the 9 treatments, each treatment contained 5 replicates of 10 chicks each (n = 50/group). The experiment lasted for 42 days. The results indicated that the final BWs of the birds received 4- or 6-months stored feed were greater than that of those fed fresh diets. The best total BWG was seen in the 4-month-stored feed group. There was no significant effect of storage period on total FC and FCR during period from 0 to 6 weeks of age, but the FCR tended to be better with the feed stored for 4 months. Haemoglobin was significantly higher in the birds fed fresh or 4-month stored feed. The percent of liver and spleen of the birds received 6-month-stored feed were the highest (P ˂ 0.01). Plasma content of albumin was higher in the birds received 4-or 6-month stored feed than the fresh diet. The use of additional amino acids increased the final BW and total BWG than those of the control and vitamin-supplemented treatments. The main effect of dietary treatments on percentages of immune organ weight was insignificant. The control (basal diet) recorded higher lymphocytes percentage, while T2 (BD + double level of amino acids) recorded higher eosinophil, heterophil and H/L ratio, whereas T3 (BD + double level of vitamins) recorded higher levels of haemoglobin, eosinophil, and monocytes. The main effect of dietary treatments on blood plasma proteins was insignificant. The tested treatments did not show a significant effect on broilers mortality. The detected values of AF1, AF2, AG1, and AG2 were very low in all 9 diets. In conclusion, enrichment of broiler feeds with higher levels of lysine and methionine (double level of NRC, 1994) together with antioxidants supplement could prolong their shelf-life to 6 months without any deleterious impact on productive performance of broiler chickens.

Streptococcosis is a zoonotic bacterial disease in tilapia and other fresh that creates economic losses, caused mainly by Streptococcus agalactiae and Streptococcus iniae. The hazard of the disease is that it may present apparently healthy as well as its presence in culture water. So, this work aimed to detect streptococci in Nile tilapia farms located in Assiut and Minia Governorates, Egypt. Streptococcus agalactiae (42 isolates) and Streptococcus iniae (59 isolates) were identified. Two Streptococcus agalactiae isolates were molecularly confirmed and exhibited resistance to most antibiotics and a multiple antibiotic resistant index of 0.9-1. The identified isolates could not form biofilm. Identification of these hemolytic, resistant Streptococcus poses a potential hazard for human health; hence, alternative antimicrobials should be searched against infections caused by these bacteria.

Avian influenza virus (AIV) poses a serious problem among poultry production sector, low pathogenic avian influenza H9N2 (LPAI H9N2) has been widely spread globally inducing indirect huge economic losses and it considered as a hidden threaten due to its immunosuppressive impact on birds. Therefore, the current work objectives were the molecular detection of the circulating AI H9N2 field strain in Egypt during 2022-2023 with pathogenicity testing of the recovered virus in specific pathogen free (SPF) one day old chicks. Out of 10 suspected tracheal samples that have been collected from different broiler chicken farms in Al Qalyubia governorate only 7 (70%) samples were positive by Reverse transcription Polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The strain that showed a high reproductive ability and high egg infective dose 50 (EID50) (109/ µl) on ECE via allantoic sac has been selected for pathogenicity testing in SPF chicks. For pathogenicity testing, 60 SPF chicks were allocated into two groups 30 birds each. G1and G2 were inoculated via oculo-nasal route with 100µl containing 1x 106 EID50/ µl virus and 100µl sterile normal saline, respectively. During the experimental time (15 days), no mortalities were recorded in the two groups. The observed clinical signs were mild (ruffled feathers, and depression) in G1, but no clinical signs were observed in G2. During the experiment 3 birds per group were ethically slaughtered to observe the postmortem (PM) and histopathological lesions at 3, 5, 7, 10 and 14 days post-infection (dpi).  The observed PM lesions were mild tracheitis, mild pneumonia, subcapsular hemorrhage in liver, enlargement of the spleen, mild atrophy in the pancreas, hemorrhage in the thymus, severe nephritis, and nephrosis with distended ureters with ureates but no macroscopic lesions were detected in the bursa of Fabricius. The virus tropism not restricted only to respiratory, renal, and gastrointestinal tract, but also to the liver, pancreas, and thymus. In conclusion, continuous molecular detection, with pathogenicity testing of circulating AIV is recommended. The authors recommend further full H9 sequence to perform cladogram to the currently tested strain.

This research was conducted to determine to what extent variable processing methods of soybeans influence broiler rearing by using expeller soybean (EESB), full-fat soybean (FFSB), and solvent soybean meal (SBM) on the characteristics of carcass and flesh quality in Hubbard efficiency plus chicks. A total of 225 chicks (1- day -old) were allocated to five groups: (45 chicks/each). Five dietary treatments were formulated as follows: T1 (basal diet containing SBM 46%, T2 (basal diet+ EESB in the level of 7.5% starter, 15% grower, and 30% finisher), T3 (basal diet+ EESB in the level of 5% starter, 10% grower, and 20% finisher), T4 (basal diet + FFSB in the level of 7.5,% starter, 15% grower, and 30% finisher),  and T5 (basal diet + FFSB in the level of 5% starter, 10% grower, and 15% finisher). On day 35, five birds from each group were slaughtered for carcass traits. The result indicated a non-significant difference (p > 0.05) in carcass trait and return from carcass except spleen decreased significantly in T4. According to the fatty acid profile of breast meat, stearic, margaric, and octadecanoic decreased significantly in T2 compared to T3 and T5. In contrast, alpha-linolenic increased in FFSB groups. Regarding the amino acids profile, threonine, isoleucine, and histidine increased significantly in T3. Leucine, alanine, proline, and arginine significantly increased in T5. Muscle fiber diameter increased significantly in FFSB groups. In conclusion, the inclusion of EESB and FFSB does not negatively affect carcass traits nor causes any fundamental change in meat quality.

Thermotolerant Campylobacter genus is one of the most prevalent causes of gastroenteritis in humans, especially C. coli and C. jejuni. Despite the importance of Campylobacter diagnosis to public health, many laboratories continue to adopt the slow, inaccurate conventional culturing approach, which leads to false-negative/positive results. The origin, transmission, pathogenicity, and pathophysiology of Campylobacter spp. diseases are poorly understood. Therefore, in this study, the samples were collected over a period from August 2021 to September 2022; about 100 poultry samples and 43 stool specimens from children were collected. According to conventional culturing techniques, the overall prevalence of the Campylobacter genus in both poultry and humans was determined to be 31.5%, whereas PCR analysis of poultry (30) and human specimens (43) for Campylobacter genus revealed a 35.6% isolation rate. While C. coli was the only species detected in poultry-positive Campylobacter genus samples demonstrated by 27.3%, the human-positive Campylobacter’s isolates were C. coli with 33.3%, C. jejuni and mixed infection with 6.7%. Shannon and Simpson biodiversity indexes quantify genetic diversity; assuming that Campylobacter species express virulence genes differently, we found that C. coli had a higher Shannon diversity index (0.8487) and Simpson index (0.4938), while C. jejuni had (0.6931) for Shannon and (0.5) for Simpson index. Regarding host-virulence genes diversity, human-derived strains had a higher Shannon diversity index (1.474) and Simpson index (0.75) than poultry. This study provided evidence that the genetic profiles of circulating species of Campylobacter differ depending on the origin, highlighting the need for genetic diversity knowledge for effective management and prevention strategies.

Antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in poultry meat threaten the public health. The present study was designed to detect the presence of Enterococcus species in poultry meat collected from Mansoura retail outlets with characterization of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE). Thus, poultry meat samples (breast and thigh) were collected from separate grocery stores around Mansoura city, Egypt. By conventional and molecular methods, out of the total examined samples (n=120), 44 E. fecalis isolates have been recovered with a percentage of 36.66%. All strains were assessed for their antimicrobial susceptibility using disc diffusion method, the highest rate of resistance (100%; 44/44) was displayed to ceftazidime, streptomycin, gentamycin, and clindamycin, while, a resistance rate of 36.3%, 40.9%, 68.1% and 77.2% were displayed against ciprofloxacin, penicillin, erythromycin and vancomycin respectively. Interestingly, all isolates exhibited multidrug resistance (MDR; Resistance to three or more antimicrobial class). Screening vancomycin -resistant strains (n= 34) by PCR for the presence of vancomycin resistance genes, vanA was identified in 47.1% vanB in 33.4%, vanC1 in 14.7% and vanC-2 C-3 in 5.9%. By testing the ability of the isolated strains for the biofilm production by Congo Red Method, 31.8 % of the tested isolates were tested positive. Hence, standard manufacturing procedures and adequate hygiene conditions must be integrated into all phases of poultry meat preparation, production and consuming, and public knowledge should be improved.