Objectives: Probiotics are well documented for their health benefits by developing a balanced intestinal microbiota and boosting immunity. The present study was conducted to determine the effects of a probiotic preparation EnzimsporinTM (consisting of spore-forming bacteria Bacillus subtilis B-2998D, B-3057D, and Bacillus licheniformis B-2999D) on the biochemical, hematological, immunological parameters, intestinal microbiota, and growth dynamics of sheep and lambs. Materials and methods: Enzimsporin was fed to lambs and sheep at different doses to determine the bacterias probiotic effects. Sheep were divided into three groups (six each), which received 0, 1, and 3 gm of Enzimsporin/per head/day, respectively, and two groups of lambs (10 each), who received 0 gm and 1 gm of Enzimsporin/per head/day for 30 days in addition to their regular ration. On day 30, blood samples were collected, followed by the determination of biochemical, hematological, and natural resistance indicators. Fecal samples were examined to determine the intestinal microflora, and animals were weighed daily to determine their growth dynamics. Results: Supplementation of probiotics (EnzimsporinTM) improved the lambs body weight gain by 18.8%. Analysis of the clinical parameters showed improvements in the levels of total protein, globulins, and urea by 5.3%, 10.8%, and 6.2%, respectively, in the blood of probiotic-supplemented lambs. Similarly, an increment in the total protein, albumins, and globulins was observed in the sheep with EnzimsporinTM supplementation. The decrease in bilirubin and cholesterol levels in the blood and increased bactericidal and phagocytic index in the sheep and lambs with probiotic supplementation indicated a positive influence of EnzimsporinTM on the liver function and natural resistance. Furthermore, an increase in Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium and a decrease in the Escherichia coli, Enterococcus, and Yeast in the fecal contents of experimental sheep and lambs indicated the potentiality of EnzimsporinTM on maintaining good gut health. Conclusion: Spore-forming bacteria B. subtilis B-2998D, B-3057D, and B. licheniformis B-2999D can be used in feeding sheep and lambs of 2 months of age to increase body weight gain, improve intestinal microbiota, strengthen the immune system, and maintain normal metabolic processes. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2021; 8(1.000): 146-157]

Objective: This study assessed the effect of cellulose sheets fortified with Natamycin-loaded algi¬nate 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 eval¬uation. 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 rip¬ening 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 2021; 8(1.000): 58-63]

Objective: This study was carried out to estimate the sex ratio, maturity size, gonadosomatic index (GSI), and peak breeding season of mud crabs. Materials and Methods: Samples were collected randomly from the estuary and river of the study area. Sampling was carried out monthly from April to September at every full moon during one high tide. A total number of 240 specimens were sampled, where 53 individuals were hermaphrodite. The crabs were shifted alive to the biology and histology lab for detailed biological study. Sex was determined. Male and female sex ratio and breeding season were also investigated. Results: The male:female ratio was 1:0.96 and the ovarian development was categorized into five stages based on internal observations, viz. immature (stage I), underdeveloped (stage II), early developed (stage III), late developed (stage IV), and mature (stage V). The maturity percentages were 37%, 19%, 13%, 11%, and 20%, respectively. 50% maturation was estimated at 82.36 mm inter¬nal carapace width (ICW). The highest mean GSI value was 7.97 ± 3.03. The mature stage was found in all the working periods. This shows that females have activated ovaries in all the working months, and the species are continuous breeders. A higher frequency of vitellogenic ovary and higher GSI value were found in September. The maximum GSI value was found in the size group 7079 mm. Conclusion: The study shows that the capture from the wild sources of mud crabs without any regulation can threaten the population structure. The capture of female mud crabs should be more than 82.36 mm ICW, which will help conserve and protect young crabs. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2021; 8(1.000): 44-50]

Objective: This work investigated the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and virulence of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus in communally consumed cheeses in Egypt. Materials and Methods: This study examined 100 samples of Domiati, Tallaga, Cheddar, and Ras cheese collected from several shops and supermarkets. Samples were spread on selective media to isolate bacterial strains. Molecular characterization of bacterial isolates was carried out using polymerase chain reaction to determine Shiga toxin 1 (stx1), Shiga toxin 2 (stx2), eaeA, and nuc genes. The isolates were tested for susceptibility to 14 antibiotics by disk diffusion assay. Results: In this study, several E. coli serotypes were identified. E. coli O26:H11, O103:H2, and O111:H2 expressed stx1/2, E. coli O114:H4 expressed stx1, E. coli O17:H18, O21:H7 and O146:H21 expressed stx2, while only E. coli O26:H11 and O111:H2 expressed eaeA. The E. coli isolates were resistant to at least one antibiotic, while most isolates (82.4%) showed multidrug resistance (MDR). AMR to erythromycin was the highest (100%), followed by nalidixic acid (94.1%), cefotax¬ime (82.4%), vancomycin and cephalothin (64.7%), penicillin G (52.9%), sulfamethoxazole (47.1%), amikacin and kanamycin (35.3%), ampicillin (29.4%), tetracycline and ciprofloxacin (23.5%), and doxycycline (11.8%), while gentamicin showed the least resistance (5.9%). The multiple antibi¬otic resistance (MAR) index of the isolated E. coli ranged from 0.071 to 1 (mean = 0.478). All S. aureus isolates expressed the nuc gene and demonstrated resistance to at least one antibiotic, and 90% of isolates were MDR. AMR to kanamycin and cephalothin was the highest (100%), fol¬lowed by penicillin (90%), doxycycline (70%), nalidixic acid and sulfamethoxazole (60%), erythro¬mycin (50%), tetracycline, cefotaxime, and gentamicin (40%), ciprofloxacin and ampicillin (30%), and amikacin (20%). In comparison, vancomycin showed the least resistance (10%). MAR index of isolated S. aureus ranged from 0.143 to 1 (mean = 0.529). Conclusion: The antimicrobial-resistant E. coli and S. aureus are potential risks for public health and may have a role in disseminating AMR to other pathogenic and non-pathogenic microbes. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2021; 8(2.000): 246-255]

This review attempted to explain factors associated with negative energy balance (NEB) occur¬ring during the periparturient period in dairy cows raised under tropical climatic conditions. The NEB has long been proven as an inevitable event in periparturient dairy cows. This condition had negative effects on the overall performances of dairy cows, including milk production, reproduc¬tion, and health condition. Therefore, periparturient management to overcome the NEB problem is vital for optimizing profit in dairy farming. In most tropical countries such as Thailand, dairy cows have been predominantly kept by small-holder farmers. Consequently, baseline milk yields, feed availability, feeding management, and general farming practices are different from typical commercial dairy farming. Heat stress also plays a crucial role in NEB conditions, and elevated temperature-humidity indexes above-normal conditions are recorded throughout the year. These factors influence the NEB in tropical dairy cows, which could result in different outcomes and consequences. Understanding the affecting components of NEB in dairy cows would help alleviate the severity of the NEB and its consequences, optimizing the dairy cows performance. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2021; 8(3.000): 378-387]

Assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) are widely used as a tool to improve reproductive per¬formance in both humans and animals. In particular, in the veterinary field, ARTs are used to improve animal genetics, recover endangered animals, and produce offspring in the event of sub¬fertility or infertility in males or females. However, the use of ARTs did not improve the fertilization rate in some animals due to various factors such as the difficulty in reproducing an anatomical and humoral substrate typical of the natural condition or due to the increase in catabolites and their difficult elimination. The in vitro environment allows the production and increase in the concentration of substances, including reactive oxygen species (ROS), which could be harmful to gametes. If produced in high concentration, the ROS becomes deleterious, both in vitro and in vivo systems. It has been seen that the use of antioxidants can help neutralize or counteract the production of ROS. The present study aims to report the latest findings regarding the use of antioxidants in ARTs of some domestic species, such as dogs, cats, and horses, compared to other animal species, such as cattle, in which ARTs have instead developed more widely. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2021; 8(1.000): 173-184]

Opioids are considered the gold standard to manage acute or chronic or mild to severe pain. Tramadol is a widely prescribed analgesic drug for dogs and cats; it has a synthetic partial agonism on μ-opioid receptors and inhibits the reuptake of norepinephrine and serotonin. However, the biotransformation and resultant metabolites differ between species and depend on cytochrome P450 interactions. Dogs mainly produce the inactive N-desmethyl tramadol metabolite, whereas cats exhibit an improved antinociceptive effect owing to rapid active O-desmethyltramadol metabolite production and a longer elimination half-life. Tapentadol, a novel opioid with dual action on μ-receptors and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitory activity, is a promising option in dogs, as it is less reliant on metabolic activation and is unaffected by cytochrome polymorphisms. Although scientific evidence on the analgesic activity of tapentadol in both species remains limited, experimental studies indicate potential benefits in animals. This review summarizes and compares the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, and therapeutic efficacy of tramadol and tapentadol in dogs and cats with different pain conditions. According to the available data, tramadol seems a more suitable therapeutic option for cats and should preferably be used as a component of multimodal analgesia in both species, particularly dogs. Tapentadol might possess a superior analgesic profile in small animals, but additional studies are required to comprehensively evaluate the activity of this opioid to manage pain in dogs and cats. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2021; 8(3.000): 404-422]

Objectives: The study intended to detect the presence and distribution of avian encephalomyeli¬tis virus (AEV)-specific antibodies in Sonali (cross-bred) parent chickens regarding farm location, flock size, and age in Bogura district of Bangladesh, a Sonali chicken belt. Materials and methods: A total of 275 Sonali parent chickens blood samples were collected ran¬domly from 39 flocks during laying age with a healthy and non-vaccination history against AEV. Blood samples were collected aseptically from the wing veins of chickens using 3-ml syringes and sera were separated. Then, the sera were transferred to the laboratory by maintaining a cool chain. Indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the specific antibodies against AEV present in the sera samples. Results: Overall, 70.18% of the chickens were found seropositive for AEV antibodies. Based on the location, the highest seropositivity was recorded in Bogura Sadar [91.30%, confidence inter¬vals (CI) 79.21%97.58%], and the lowest was in the Adomdighi sub-district (45.45%, CI 29.49% 63.08%). For flock size, AEV seropositivity was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the large flock (82.22%, CI 72.74%89.48%). Regarding age groups, the seropositivity of AEV was significantly (p < 0.05) increased with chickens age. Higher seropositivity was noted in chickens aged >51 weeks (89.32%, CI 81.69%94.55%). Conclusion: The results indicate that AEV is circulating in the environment, and chickens were exposed to the field strain of AEV. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on AEV in chickens in Bangladesh. Proper vaccination and standard farm biosecurity practice could minimize AEV infection in chickens. A detailed epidemiology study, detection, and characterization of the AEV would be essential for effective AEV infection control. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2021; 8(1.000): 78-83]