Objective: Brucellosis is an endemic zoonotic infection in Saudi Arabia, including Jazan Province, and epidemiological reports about this disease are limited. In this study, we aimed to investigate knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding brucellosis among the general population of Jazan Province, southwestern Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted using a pretested questionnaire that assessed the level of knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward Brucellosis. The calculated sample size was 384, and 1,055 participants were included representing various genders, ages, and levels of education. Data were collected between March and April 2022 and analyzed using descriptive, chi-square, and t-test analyses. Results: Only 50% of the included participants have heard about Brucellosis. Among those who had heard about Brucellosis, 70% had a good knowledge about Brucellosis and that was significantly associated with male gender, being healthcare workers (HCWs), and having a higher level of education. Participants who directly involved in animal care represented 9%, and attitudes and practices regarding brucellosis were varied from average to unsatisfactory. This variation was significantly affected by the level of knowledge. Conclusion: About 50% of the general population of Jazan Province had never heard about Brucellosis, in a region found prevalent for this disease. Good knowledge was recorded in 70% of those who were aware of Brucellosis, which was significantly associated with the male sex, job as being HCW, and having a higher level of education. These results necessitate public awareness campaign activities to improve knowledge and practices, especially among women, the younger generation, and individuals with limited educational backgrounds. This action could reduce the burden of the disease. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2022; 9(4.000): 761-769]

Objective: The objectives of this research are to overcome the limitations of rice bran (RB) and de-oiled rice bran (DORB) by fermentation anaerobically using inoculum from the rumen of a canulated sheep for desirable chemical changes. Materials and Methods: Initially, RB and DORB were fermented by 10% rumen liquor for 12 h at 39&#xb0;C at different moisture levels (10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60% phosphate buffer). Again, DORB was fermented for 24, 48, and 72 h at 39&#xb0;C using 10% rumen liquor at different moisture levels (10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60% phosphate buffer). Before and after fermentation, RB and DORB were analyzed for pH, proximate components, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), total-P, inorganic-P, and phytate-P. Results: Fermentation of RB and DORB for 12 h reduced (p < 0.05) pH, crude fiber (CF),NDF, and phytate-P, but increased (p < 0.05) the content of inorganic-P. Subsequent fermentation of DORB for 24, 48, and 72 h reduced pH, CF, and NDF. Total-P of fermented DORB remained similar till 72 h fermentation (p < 0.05). But, inorganic-P increased with the increasing duration (24, 48, and 72 h) of fermentation and increased (30, 40, and 50) moisture level (p < 0.05). Alternatively, phytate-P decreased with increasing duration and moisture level (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Inoculation of rumen microbes and incubation of RB (12 h) and DORB (24 h) at room temperature reduced phytate-P and fiber content (CF and NDF) when the moisture level was up to 50%; those are the indicators to reduce the limitation of RB and DORB to use as feed for non-ruminant animals like poultry and pigs. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2022; 9(4.000): 728-735]

Objective: This study was conducted to determine the colony forming units (CFU) to isolate, identify, and antibiotic sensitivity of Staphylococcus aureus from chicken nuggets (CN). Materials and Methods: Sixty CN samples from two brands were collected from different super¬stores in Mymensingh, Bangladesh. Uncooked, oven-cooked (OC), or gas stove-cooked (GSC) CN samples were inoculated onto mannitol salt agar and blood agar. Results: The total staphylococcal count (TSC) for uncooked CN ranged from log 4.68 to log 5.11 CFU/gm. For OC CN, TSC ranged from log 3.29 to log 3.62 CFU/gm. For GSC CN, TSC ranged from log 3.09 to log 3.49 CFU/gm. Relative to uncooked CN, microwave oven-cooked and GSC samples significantly reduced the TSC of CN (p < 0.01). Using the polymerase chain reaction assay and standard biochemical testing, only 8 out of 60 CN samples contained S. aureus. Staphylococcus aureus were resistant to Ampicillin (100%), Amoxicillin (100%), Oxacillin (75%), Cefixime (87.5%), Doxycycline (75%), intermediately sensitive to Erythromycin (25%), Cephalexin (12.5%), Ciprofloxacin (25%), Gentamicin (12.5%), Doxycycline (12.5%) and sensitive to Oxacillin (25%), Azithromycin (100%), Erythromycin (75%) Cephalexin (87.5%), Cefixime (12.5%), Chloramphenicol (100%), Ciprofloxacin (75%), Gentamicin (87.5%), Doxycycline (12.5%), and Vancomycin (100%). Conclusion: This study reports the first isolation and identification of S. aureus from CN in Bangladesh. GSC CN was better than OC and uncooked CN. Data also suggest that CN is contami¬nated with multidrug-resistant S. aureus, which poses a public health hazard. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2022; 9(4.000): 601-609]

Objective: Melilotus officinalis is a plant that grows naturally in northwestern Morocco and could become a promising alternative. The study was carried out to investigate the effects of M. officinalis hay on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality of goat kids in northern Morocco compared to Medicago sativa. Materials and Methods: Eighteen 3-month-old male "Beni Arouss" goat kids have been divided similarly into two groups. The control group (Luc) received lucerne hay, and the test group (YSClov) received yellow sweetclover hay, both supplemented with concentrate. Average daily gain and dry matter intake were determined during the experiment. After 99 days, goat kids were weighed, and carcass characteristics were determined. Meat quality was evaluated using samples from the semimembranosus (SM) and longissimus thoracis muscles. Results: The addition of YSClov significantly increased ash content (p < 0.001) and fat content (p < 0.01), reduced water holding capacity (p < 0.01), and SM pH 24 (p < 0.05). The YSClov meat was significantly more tender than the Luc meat, with corresponding values of 8.20 and 11.80 kg/ cm² (p < 0.05), while the Luc meat was more tender when cooked. No significant effect was found for the other parameters. The YSClov meat is richer in desirable fatty acids (DFA), while the Luc meat appears to be richer in omega-3 DFA(p < 0.01). Conclusion: Melilotus officinalis hay showed promising results in intramuscular fat, protein content, tenderness, DFA content, and similar growth performance compared to conventional feeds. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2022; 9(4.000): 617-624]

Objectives: This research aimed to isolate, identify, and characterize a new strain of Bacillus cereus through different molecular biology approaches so that it could be further studied for therapeutic purposes against selective enteric pathogens. Materials and Methods: Pure isolates of B. cereus were prepared from buffalo yogurt samples in REMBA medium. Initially, the morphological, physiological, and biochemical properties were studied accordingly. Following the tests, the molecular identification for the strain identification was conducted through plasmid DNA extraction, PCR, agarose gel electrophoresis, and 16S rRNA sequencing up to 1.37 kb. Afterward, the antibiotic sensitivity [Epsilometer test (E-Test)] and anti¬fungal activity were tested considering different concentrations. Being classified from the aforementioned tests, a comprehensive antimicrobial activity test was conducted using the cell-free-su¬pernatant (CFS) of the test strain against selective enteric pathogens in humans in vitro. Besides, the different clusters of genes were identified and characterized for understanding the presump¬tive bacteriocins present in the CFS of the strain in silico, where molecular string properties were calculated. Finally, the evolutionary relationship among diversified bacteriocins synthesized by different Bacillus strains was studied to predict the CFS-containing bacteriocins of the new strain. Results: Purified isolates of B. cereus were Gram-positive rods and showed significant tolerance (p < 0.0001) to different concentrations of pH, phenol, bile salt, and NaCl. 16S rRNA revealed the strain as LOCK 1002, which was strongly sensitive to all the antibiotics used and resistant to selec¬tive antifungal agents. The CFS of B. cereus LOCK 1002 was found to be a very promising antago¬nist to all the enteric pathogens used in the culture condition. Two gene clusters were predicted to be interconnected and responsible for different presumptive bacteriocins. Conclusion: The newly identified LOCK 1002 can be a very potent strain of B. cereus in use as an antimicrobial agent for having different bacteriocin coding gene clusters. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2022; 9(4.000): 663-675]

Objectives: This study aimed to envisage the effectiveness of adding three particular prebiotics (inulin, β-glucan, and Hi-maize) to synbiotic yogurt's physicochemical properties, sensory characteristics, and survivability of the probiotic and starter cultures. Materials and Methods: The yogurt's gross composition, syneresis, water-holding capacity (WHC), viscosity, sensorial properties, and probiotic and starter cell stability were analyzed. The Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus M240-5 and Streptococcus thermophilus M140-2 were employed as yogurt starter bacteria, and Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-5 as probiotic culture. The synbiotic yogurt was formulated with 5% sucrose and 0.7% artificial vanilla flavor. Results: The findings showed that when prebiotic ingredients were added to synbiotic yogurt, it had a significant impact on its sensory qualities, WHC, syneresis, and viscosity when compared to plain yogurt samples. The prebiotics did not affect the pH and titratable acidity of the yogurt sam¬ples. Additionally, the prebiotic supplementation did not influence the protein and fat content of synbiotic yogurt (p < 0.05). Prebiotics had an impact on the probiotic cell viability and total viable count (p < 0.05) compared to the plain sample, the 2.5% β-glucan, 1.5% and 2.5% Hi-maize sam¬ples had the highest mean viability (8.95 Log CFU/ml). The starter culture ratio remained stable in response to the prebiotic levels. Conclusion: In summary, the production of synbiotic yogurts supplemented with Hi-maize and β-glucan at 1.5% and 2.5%, respectively, is highly advised because these supplementations pro¬vide yogurt with acceptable syneresis, viscosity, WHC, and sensory attributes. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2022; 9(4.000): 694-701]

Objective: The objective of this investigation was to determine the effects of dexamethasone (DEX) on the weight and cellularity of abdominal and subcutaneous fat depots. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on four broiler chicks (20 chicks per group) fed commercial feed and water ad libitum. The DEX was supplied with feed at 0 mg/kg (non-DEX), 3 mg/kg (DEX-1), 5 mg/kg (DEX-2), and 7 mg/kg (DEX-3) from day 0 to day 28. The entire abdominal and subcutaneous fat depots were collected and weighed after sacrificing five birds from each group on days 14 and 28. Results: The DEX groups had considerably lower (p < 0.05) fat depot weights with dose-related variation noted among the DEX groups. The histological findings revealed the presence of uniloc¬ular, round to oval-shaped adipocytes. The DEX-1 and DEX-2 had way lower (p < 0.05) numbers of adipocytes while the DEX-3 had considerably higher (p < 0.05) numbers of adipocytes than the non-DEX. DEX-1 and DEX-2 had larger (p < 0.05) adipocytes whereas DEX-3 had smaller adipocytes than the non-DEX. Adipocyte sizes and fat depot weights were found to have very strong negative relationships. Conclusion: Dietary DEX affects the growth and distribution of abdominal and subcutaneous fat depots and adipocyte cellularity subjected to both dose and duration of DEX treatment. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2022; 9(4.000): 583-590]

Indigenous sheep are highly adaptable and widely distributed in different regions of Bangladesh. They are famous for their tolerance to harsh environmental conditions, low demand for feed, and disease resistance with minimum or no housing and management facilities. Ample indiscrimi¬nate research reports and case studies on the native sheep of Bangladesh have been published. Nonetheless, a comprehensive review of reproductive and productive performances, as well as their various morphometric physiognomies and climate resilience capabilities, is lacking. This review was designed to explore and summarize the available research reports on indigenous sheep to highlight the gaps and provide an updated database for the future research plan for sustainable native sheep production in Bangladesh. It covers studies on sheep biodiversity, their adaptabil¬ity to the local environment, morphometric features, feeding and nutrition, reproduction and production performances, diseases and health management, and the problems and prospects of sheep farming in Bangladesh. Due to the increased demand for animal protein, especially red meat, the scope of sheep farming increases along with that of other large and small ruminants. The vital constraints of sheep production in Bangladesh include insufficient feed and fodder sup¬ply with its high prices, higher disease occurrence with low or no management practices, kid mortality, and a poor marketing channel with the lower popularity of sheep meat than goat meat. Future research would be a prerequisite to measuring the impact of native sheep on household economies and food security during the year, evaluating the other challenges, and finding out the possible interventions in the fields of nutrition, reproduction, and health management. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2022; 9(4.000): 649-662]

Objective: This study describes the newest deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) barcoding Asian redtail catfish (Hemibagrus nemurus) in the Progo River, Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia. Materials and Methods: Ten fish were caught in the Progo River, Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia. The polymerase chain reaction was the molecular diagnosis to detect the sequences of DNA of Cytochrome Oxidase I compared to National Center for Biotechnology Information data (GenBank). Results: The results showed that the percent identity was not 100% with H. nemurus data from other locations (GenBank), including Indonesia. The closest percent identity was H. nemurus from Java Island (Accession ID: MK312566.1) with 97.6% similarity. The genetic mutation that hap¬pened might be due to environmental change (pollution) in the Progo River recently. Conclusions: This study showed a genetic mutation in H. nemurus from Progo River may be caused by environmental change. Low pollution exposure levels may not be detrimental (lethal) to fish. However, it can affect fish fertility, which leads to population degradation (gene variation). Attention must be increased for fish survival in the future. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2022; 9(4.000): 591-600]

Objective: Indonesia is an archipelagic country with a mega biodiversity, among others, in the marine area. Seahorses (Hippocampus spp.) are a marine fish known to have biocompounds used in traditional medicine "Jamu," such as Hippocampus comes L. (HCL). The present study aims to analyze and compare the chemical contents of cultured seahorse (CS) and natural seahorse (NS) extracts. Materials and Methods: The CS and NS were identified morphometrically. After freeze-drying, the seahorses were ground into powder with a grinder. The seahorse powder was extracted with ethanol and a water solvent. The extract contained biocompounds, proximate, amino acids, and steroids with high-performance liquid chromatography. Results: The study found unique characteristics of HCL. The highest yield was obtained in NS using a water solvent (18.6%). The biocompounds in seahorses consist of alkaloids and triterpenoids. The highest proximate of water content (11.03%) and ash content (42.50%) was found in NS. In addition, other compounds were also detected in CS, such as fat (7.48%) and protein (47.67%). Both of HCL's different sources had all essential and nonessential amino acids in which the highest concentration were in NS, i.e., L-arginine (56,537.22 mg/kg), L-lysine (17,794.17), glycine (113,649.80 mg/kg), L-proline (47,056.15), and L-alanine (43,451.81). The analysis of the steroid compound of the extract suggested the presence of steroid glycosides. Conclusion: The highest yield of the seahorse extract with a water solvent is about 18.6% and protein content of 47.67% in CS. The crude extract has alkaloids, triterpenoids, and glycine (113,649.80 mg/kg) in NS with water, suggesting the presence of steroid glycosides. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2022; 9(4.000): 610-616]