Journal of Zoonotic Diseases
Volume:6 Issue: 4, Autumn 2022

This study aimed to investigate the production of viable but nonculturable (VBNC) state in food-borne Salmonella strains by the combination of environmental conditions, including acidity, osmotic pressure, and freezing. Three cocktails of Salmonella serotypes (S. Typhi, S. Typhimurium, and S. Enteritidis) with the origin of beef and mutton were used in this study. The plate counting method and bacterial resuscitation were used to evaluate the VBNC state. The obtained results showed that the freezing induced the VBNC state in S. Typhi, S. Typhimurium, and S. Enteritidis. Acidic condition (pH 4.5) alone caused the death of all three Salmonella serotypes, but the combination of freezing, osmotic pressure, and low pH induced VBNC state in all three serotypes. The results can be used as base of further researches in this field.

Gastrointestinal tract infection with serotypes of Salmonella is common worldwide, and its treatment with antibiotics leads to problems such as drug resistance and drug side effects. With the spread of antibiotic resistance, the desire to use medicinal plants to control microorganisms has increased. The use of medicinal plants can be a solution to this problem. This experimental study aimed to investigate the antimicrobial activity of Thyme essential oil compared to two antibiotics, doxycycline, and oxytetracycline, in an animal model. So, 36 pieces of 14-day-old broilers of the Ross breed were used in 6 groups of 6. The broilers were infected with Salmonella Typhimurium (ATCC14028). After extracting the essential oil from thyme and analyzing by GC-MS, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of its growth and antibiotic was determined by broth microdilution method, and finally, the broilers were treated by gavage for seven days, twice every day with a time interval of 12 hours.  To check the effectiveness of antibiotics and essential oils, broiler feces were cultured daily, and the number of salmonella colonies grown was counted. The findings were analyzed with SPSS 26 software and a two-way analysis of variance. The GC-MS analysis of T. vulgaris essential oil showed the presence of 12 chemical compounds among which thymol, m-Thymol, p-cymene, and carvacrol were major. The results showed that there is a significant difference between the groups in terms of reducing the number of bacteria, but there is no significant difference between the times. Both thyme essential oil and doxycycline and oxytetracycline antibiotics reduced the colonization and finally stopped the excretion of Salmonella Typhimurium in the feces of broiler chickens.

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a zoonotic disease and with has a global distribution. Today, much research carries out to inactivate hydatid cyst protoscoleces. In particular, herbal compounds have received more attention due to their cheapness, easy access, low toxicity, and side effects. This study aimed to compare the scolicidal effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Allium sativum (garlic) and Ferula asafoetida (angozeh) on hydatid cyst protoscoleces in vitro. The scolicidal activity of A. sativum and F. asafoetida extracts were evaluated at concentrations of 50, 100, 150, 200, and 250 mg/ml following 10, 30, and 60 minutes of exposure. Each reaction was repeated three times. The viability of protoscoleces was examined with a 0.1% eosin stain under a light microscope. The chemical composition of two extracts was analyzed using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS). Statistical analyses were performed with GraphPad software version 5.0. The results of this study showed that F. asafoetida extract, at a concentration of 250 mg/ml after 60 minutes of exposure, killed 100% of the protoscoleces compared to the control group, but the hydroalcoholic extract of A. sativum at the same concentration and time, it was able to kill 98% of protoscoleces. The main chemical components of A. sativum and F. asafoetida identified as allyl methyl trisulfide (12.8%) and methyl ester (13.9%), respectively. The findings of the present study showed that F. asafoetida has more potent scolicidal effects than A. sativum. However, further studies are needed to evaluate the effectiveness of the F. asafoetida plant.

Bird flu is one of the most critical and dangerous viral diseases that have been reported all over the world. Although H9N2 viruses are considered a threat by themselves, they are known to be very zoonotic as donors of gene segments to other viruses, so to prevent the emergence of new zoonotic viruses, better control of viruses should be done and H9N2 should be noted.  The current cross-sectional study was conducted from March 2017 to June 2018. In total, 480 birds, including 222 chickens and roosters, 84 turkeys, 120 ducks, and 54 pigeons, were randomly sampled from 16 villages. Then, the ELISA screening test was performed first, followed by the HA and HI tests. Out of the 480 samples collected, 461 (96.04%) were positive for ELISA and 451 (93.95%) were positive for serum titers. Since the H9N2 influenza viruses are not acute viruses and the conflict with them does not lead to the bird's death, much effort is not made to eradicate them. This issue leads to the widespread circulation of this virus in poultry flocks. It is especially endemic to poultry and gives this group of viruses a chance to become acute viruses due to the accumulation of point mutations. It is considering that there is no extermination policy regarding H9N2 influenza in Iran. Effective vaccines can reduce the infection of local and rural poultry with this virus.

Mineral oil-adjuvants remain in chicken meat and may be carcinogenic. Plant-based oils comprise different components, but they have suitable safety to use as an adjuvant. In this study, we investigated the adjuvant activity of pomegranate seed oil (PSO) and grape seed oil (GSO) on the immunogenicity of the inactivated avian influenza virus subtype H9N2. For this purpose, the hexanic extract of PS and red GS was separately emulsified with inactivated H9N2 virus. One hundred broiler chickens were assigned into five groups (n = 20). Group A received PSO+H9N2 emulsion, group B received GSO+H9N2 emulsion, group C received PBS+inactivated H9N2 virus, group D received a commercial vaccine, and group E did not receive anything. The chickens were treated at 14 days of age. At 21 days post-vaccination, all chickens were challenged by the H9N2 virus. Hemagglutination inhibition test, anamnestic response, and clinical signs were used to assess immunogenicity. The results showed that although the PSO and GSO have adjuvant activity and significantly increase antibody titers to the H9N2 virus after two weeks of vaccination, but the antibody titers significantly decrease after three weeks of vaccination. In conclusion, PSO and red GSO seem to have biologically active molecules and potentially adjuvant properties, but they alone cannot induce protective immunity against the avian influenza H9N2 virus.

Donkey breeding in the intensive system has been expanding in recent years due to the nutritional benefits of donkey milk. One of the common problems of horses, including donkeys, in intensive systems, is Gasterophilosis, which is often associated with equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS). L3 larvae of Gastrohilus intestinalis can cause gastric ulcers in donkeys by attaching to margo plicatus. There are also reports of human infection with Gasterophilus spp. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of Gasterophilosis and related EGUS in intensive system donkeys. This evaluation was done on 12 donkeys that were bought from different places around Urmia and were kept in Urmia University Veterinary Hospital. Animals were kept in sanitary stables and received alfalfa-based rations. Gastrointestinal endoscopy from throat to pylorus was performed to check for parasitic infections and related ulcers. The animals appeared perfectly healthy during the clinical examination. No parasitic infections such as Gasterophilus adhesions were observed in the upper gastrointestinal tract up to the gastric pylorus. Gastroscopy did not confirm any ulcers above grade 0. After the first endoscopy, ivermectin was prescribed, and three months later, the endoscopy was repeated, and again, no Gasterophilus infection was observed. Breeding donkeys in an intensive system by itself cannot cause Gasterophilosis and EGUS, although dietary adjustment can be helpful in preventing the disease.