Polystyrene nanoplastics pollution is a global issue that has grabbed the attention of scientists and drew widespread attention owing to the possible health risks it poses. The objective of this research was to investigate the hepatotoxic effects of polystyrene nanoplastics (PS NPs) in catfish (Clarias gariepinus) from the histopathological, biochemical, and ultrastructural profiles. Six groups of fish were used (n= 24/group): the first group kept as control, the second group exposed to 5mg/L NPs, the third group exposed to NPs+selenium (1mg/kg diet), the fourth group exposed to NPs+Chlorella (25g/kg diet), the fifth group received only Chlorella and the sixth group received only selenium. The exposure was for 30 days. The biochemical tests showed a rise in ALT and AST activities after exposure to NPs compared to control group. Groups exposed to NPs and supplemented with chlorella and selenium showed a significant decrease in the serum activities of these enzymes compared to NPs-intoxicated group. Results of histopathological examination demonstrated the hepatotoxic effects of NPs in NPs-intoxicated group that consisted of micro and macrovesciular steatosis, coagulative necrosis, pericentral fibrosis, periportal fibrosis, glycogen depletion and toxic changes in cellular ultrastructure. Chlorella and selenium supplementation alleviated the hepatotoxic effects of NPs and restored the histological and ultrastructural appearances of the liver tissue. Therefore, nanoplastics toxicity has well-defined hepatotoxic effects and these cytotoxic changes were mitigated by dietary supplementation of Chlorella and selenium.

This research illustrates the development of a new sliver nanoparticle (Ag-NPs) formulation. Its shape, size, solubility, and stability were characterized using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM 3D), Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM 2D), Atomic Force Microscope (AFM), and Zeta size and Zeta potential. Exposure of Trichinella spiralis adult worms to 3, 6, 9 and 12 ppm of Ag-NPs each for 3,6,12 and 24 h. In vitro revealed a direct relation between mortalities and the tested drug concentration and exposure time. Anti- T. spiralis effect of Ag-NPs was evaluated by assessing mortality rate and damage in DNA by comet assay and by SEM analysis. Mean mortalities increased from 6.66% after exposure to 3.0 ppm/1 h to 100% after exposure to 12.0 ppm/12 h. The calculated LC50 was 3.0 ppm/10 h, 6 ppm/6 h, 9.0 ppm/4 h and 12.0 ppm/ 3.30 h, while LC100 was 9.0 ppm/24 h and 12.0 ppm/12 h. DNA genotoxic damage of dead worms was directly related to Ag-NPs concentrations for 12h using comet assay as expressed by variations in the percentage of DNA in the tail segment, tail length (μm), tail moment (μm), and olive tail moment. No significant difference (p ≤ .05) between the recorded mortalities and DNA damage between that obtained using the Ag-NPs LC100 and that recorded using Albendazole (50 mg/kg B.W.) for 12 h. SEM images on dead worms revealed clear morphological alteration, multiple vesicles, and blebs, detachment of the epidermis and the sub-epidermal layer with partial sloughing of the cuticle, and loss of normal creases, ridges, and annulations. These morphological alterations were directly related to the concentration of the tested Ag-NPs. The tested new formulation of Ag-NPs appears to be effective in the control of Trichinellosis as an alternative to other resistant drugs.

Fifty samples each of fresh chicken fillet, shiesh, drum, shawarma, and wings were collected from a poultry processing plant, in Ismailia city, Egypt. The values of the mean total bacterial counts were 2x104±7x102, 2x104±102, 1x104 ±3x102, 7x104±5x102, and 6x103±2x102 respectively, for total coliform counts were 2x10-2±4x10-1, 1x10-2±3x10-1, 5x10-2±2x10-1, 8x10-2±4x10-1, and3x10-2±1x10-1, respectively. The mean value of Staphylococcus aureus count in fillet was 2x10-2±2x10-1, in drum 1x10-2±3x10-1, shiesh 2x10-2±5x10-1, shawerma 2x10-2±10-1, and wings 4x10-1±10-1. For E. coli count in fillet was 9x10-1±0.4x10-1, in drum 2x10-1±0.2x10-1, in shiesh 2x10-1±0.6x10-1, in shawerma 1x10-1±0.2x10-1, and in wings was 1x10-1±0.1x10-1. The prevalence of Salmonella spp.in the examined chicken fillet, drum, shiesh, shawarma, and wings were 6%, 8%, 6%, 6%, and 4%, respectively. The results showed that E. coli could be detected in all samples and laid within the accepted limits for fillet, drum, shiesh, shawerma, and wings. The Standard limits (SE) recommended by The Egyptian Organization for standardization (EOS) for Salmonella revealed that chicken broiler cut exceeded the accepted limits with 3(6%) for fillet, 4(8%) for drum, 3(6%) for shiesh, 3(6%) for shawerma, and 2(4%) for wings. For total aerobic plate count, the samples which exceed the SE limits were 4(8%) for fillet, 5(10%) for drum, 6(12%) for Shiesh,7(14%) for shawerma, and 4(8%) for Wings. The results showed that the processing techniques applied, type of packing, poultry abattoirs, and the farm environment need an effective procedure to produce safe chicken broiler meat cuts.

This research aimed to study the effect of calving season and parity on productivity, post-partum reproductive performance, disorders, and economic impact in Holstein cows kept under subtropical Egyptian conditions. Lactation and health records of high-yielding cows (500 records) in a commercial dairy herd covering the period between 2020 and 2021 were obtained. The studied productive parameters were average daily milk yield (DMY), dry matter intake (DMI), and feed conversion efficiency (FCE) and the reproductive measures were the number of heats, number of services per conception (NSC), days to first heat (DFH), days to first service (DFS), and days open (DO). Summer calvings were associated significantly (P<0.05) with a decline in DMY and DMI (31.8 kg and 22.7 kg, respectively) compared to winter calvings. Cows that calved in summer had significantly higher (P<0.05) NSC and longer DO (3.44, and 199.3 d, respectively) and also had a higher incidence of endometritis than winter calvings. First parity cows had significantly (P<0.05) lower (DMY and DMI) and higher (NSC and DO) than those in higher parities. Parity has no significant effect on the incidence of post-partum ovarian disorders. The economic losses from disease treatments recorded the highest value in summer calving (13280 LE/100 head) and primiparous cows (8218.01 LE/100 head). Revenue and profit/cost ratio were higher in winter calvings and pluriparous cows. In conclusion, good management, suitable nutrition during different parity and seasons also intensive cooling systems during the summer season should be applied for improving the productivity, fertility, and the economic impact on Holstein farms.

A storm of abortions was reported in a Holstein dairy farm (150 heads) at Dakahlia governorate, Delta region, Egypt. The abortion rate was 25.9% among the pregnant cows between the 5th and 8th months of pregnancy. All animals inside the farm (n=150) have been sampled for a serological survey. Additionally, abomasal contents, retained placenta, and milk samples were sampled for bacteriological isolation and characterization of the causative pathogen of abortion. A total of 16.6 % of the aborted animals were seropositive with RBPT and BAPAT. Abortion materials and retained fetal membranes showed significant association with seropositivity. Moreover, B. abortus bv. 1 was bacteriologically isolated and then underwent confirmation by AMOS-PCR in samples of 20 animals. Increase awareness of occupational personnel on the farm, immediate slaughtering of the sero-positive animals, and vaccination of the sero-negative animals with B. abortus RB51 vaccine (2ml subcutaneous for each animal), are collectively recommended for a rapid control of brucellosis on the farm and for prevention of further abortions.

In this study, assessing the microbial quality and safety of the market raw milk and pasteurized milk is the basal objective of this study. One hundred and twenty (120) milk samples (60 of each) were collected randomly from different supermarkets and retailer shops in Dakahlia governorate, Egypt. Samples were analyzed for Total bacterial count (TBC), total coliforms (TCC), Total Staphylococcus count (TSC), and Total yeast and mould count. All market milk samples, and pasteurized milk were found to be contaminated and judged poor. Listeria spp. were isolated on Oxford agar and then subjected to biochemical and molecular identification. The overall isolation rate of Listeria spp. from the market raw milk was 28.33%. The prevalence rates of Listeria monocytogenes were 13.33% in raw market milk. The prevalence of Listeria innocula and other Listeria species were 3.33% and 11.67%, respectively. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect the virulence genes (16SrRNA, hylA, and prfA) of 8 biochemically identified L. monocytogenes strains recovered from raw market milk using specific primers. 16SrRNA, hylA, and prfA genes are considered the best indicator for virulence determination of L. monocytogenes isolated from market raw milk. A high microbial load of market milk and pasteurized milk may present a public health hazard to the consumers and emphasizes the need for improved hygienic standards.

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of the sources and levels of dietary copper supplementation on broiler chickens. A 37-day feeding trial was accomplished using 192 one-day-old unsexed Arbor Acres broiler chicks which were randomly allocated into four groups with different strategies of copper supplementation. The first group was the negative control and fed on diets containing copper-free mineral-vitamin broiler premix. Diets of the second group were supplemented with copper sulfate (Cu2SO4) at the level of 7.5 mg/kg. The third and fourth groups were fed on diets supplemented with copper nanoparticles (Cu-NPs) at the levels of 7.5 mg/kg and 3.75 mg/kg, respectively. Growth performance, carcass characteristics, copper concentrations, serum antioxidant bio-markers and mRNA of metallothionein and ceruloplasmin were evaluated. Results of growth performance showed that Cu-NPs significantly (P ≤ 0.05) increased body weight gain and feed utilization compared to an equal quantity of Cu2SO4. No adverse effect on growth performance occurred when Cu-NPs were supplemented at half of the level of Cu2SO4. Dressing and thigh yields were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) increased in birds in the fourth group. Total antioxidant capacity, malondialdehyde level and transcription of ceruloplasmin were not significantly affected by the tested copper sources or levels. The superoxide dismutase enzyme activity and transcription of metallothionein were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) increased by the replacement of Cu2SO4 with the same quantity of Cu-NPs. Our findings suggested that Cu-NPs could be a superior dietary supplement of copper in broiler chickens’ diets over Cu2SO4, with possibility of quantity reduction.

Triclabendazole is the drug of choice against Fasciola spp. infections in humans and animals. However, parasitic resistance against triclabendazole is spreading in the veterinary field. The objective of this study was to assess of flukicide efficacy of triclabendazole through evaluation of the histopathology of Fasciola hepatica adult fluke’s specimens. For this, the efficacy test was performed on naturally infected sheep treated with triclabendazole (Fazinex®) at the dose recommended for F. hepatica, in which the flukes recovered at necropsy on the 7th day post-treatment and separated for histological examination. The teguments and intestines from F. hepatica recovered from treated and control sheep were examined by microscopy. In the outer and inner parts of the tegument, edema and swelling of its structural components are noted. The spines in the tegument were enlarged, swollen, take on a more rounded shape and have changes in color, perceiving the eosinophilic dye in greater concentration. There was a detachment of the brush border of the intestinal epithelium and the accumulation of microvilli of the apical part of the epithelium in the intestinal lumen. The cellular structures of the intestinal epithelium were melted. The results indicated that the teguments and intestines of F. hepatica were severely affected by triclabendazole and demonstrated the importance of the use of histopathology for the diagnosis of therapeutic efficacy in field strains.

Vitamin D3 has a pivotal role in bone development together with maintaining the normal level of both calcium and phosphorous inside the body. Dietary intake is of great importance as a good source of vitamin D in addition to sunlight. Eggs, for instance, are excellent sources for naturally occurring cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) in daily meals. Hence, the aim of the current study was to measure the level of vitamin D3 in two kinds of table eggs (Balady and farm eggs) in Assiut Governorate. 150 eggs were collected from supermarkets and outlet retails and then subjected to determine the level of vitamin D3 using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography. Additionally, the stability of vitamin D3 after cooking (boiling and frying methods) was estimated throughout the study. The obtained results showed that the level of vitamin D3 was higher in farm eggs (0.13 to 8.5 mcg/100g) in comparison to Balady eggs (0.006 to 5.6 mcg/100g). After cooking, the reduction rate of vitamin D3 content was lower after boiling (47.43 %) than frying (65.78 %). In conclusion, farm eggs are a good source for vitamin D3, and the cooking methods may be implicated in adverse loss of vitamin D3 content in eggs. Herein, it is suggested to use the boiling method for cooking eggs than frying method to minimize the possible loss in such vitamins.

In Europe, bird populations have been threatened for several decades. The authors consulted the indices available to the public from the Pan-European Common Bird Monitoring Scheme (PECBMS), a project that collects data on European common bird species from national monitoring schemes and calculates European common bird indices and indicators to help demonstrate that common birds are decreasing in Europe.  According to the PECBMS, between 1980 and 2019, common bird species declined by 18%, agricultural birds by 59%, and forest birds by 7%. Although some bird species have recovered in number and even came back from the break of extinction (e.g., Red Kite, Milvus milvus), not the species that were considered common in the last decades. Many factors are associated with this decline as pesticides or the destruction of habitats. Measures are being taken in many countries to reduce this decline. However, information and education of the public could be crucial to saving the decline of common birds