Cyclooxygenase (COX) and lipoxygenase (LOX) enzymes play a pivotal role in producing pro-inflammatory eicosanoids, including prostaglandins (PGs) and leukotrienes (LTs), in the inflammation process. Mitragynine is a primary alkaloid contained in the kratom’s leaves and has been reported to show anti-inflammatory activity by suppressing COX-2 mRNA translation to lowering PGs synthesis. In this study, the Kratom’s alkaloid extract containing ~ 46% mitragynine was found to exhibit dual inhibition activity towards COX-2/5-LOX enzymes at concentrations below 25 ppm in the LPS-induced RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. At these levels, no cell toxicity was observed while the cells became death (e.g., 10–46% viability at 50–100 ppm) and only COX-2 inhibition activity was observed after exposed with more than 25 ppm of alkaloid extract. In contrast, the methanolic-crude extract of Kratom’s leaf containing ~ 5% mitragynine showed no inhibition toward COX-2/5-LOX enzymes and did not toxic onto the cells, even after treated at 100 ppm. The alkaloid extract suppressed several antiinflammation parameters, including ROS (64% reduction at 25 ppm), NO (30% reduction at 25 ppm), TNF-α (~ 50% reduction at 25 ppm), and IL-6 production (60% reduction at 6.25 ppm). In silico molecular studies indicated strong binding affinity of Kratom alkaloids to COX-2 and 5-LOX active sites, supporting the Kratom’s alkaloids to have great potential dual inhibition activity towards COX-2/5-LOX enzymes and to be developed as a safer NSAIDs with fewer side effects.

Dharmayanti NI, et al. J Vet Sci. 2023 Dec;25(1):e3. https://doi.org/10.4142/jvs.23022

Dharmayanti NL, et al. J Vet Sci. 2019 Oct;21:e56. https://doi.org/10.4142/jvs.2020.21.e56

Vaccination is one of the leading methods of controlling the spread of the Avian Influenza (AI) viruses in Indonesia. The variety of circulating viruses and their ability to mutate must be followed by updating the vaccine master seed used in the field. In this study, we identified the reassortant H9N2 viruses in chicken farms that showed significant problems in decreased egg production with high mortality. The reassortant H9N2 viruses derived the PB2 gene from the H5N1 virus. The pathogenicity test results of the reassortant virus showed various clinical signs of illness, a high mortality rate (10%), and decreased egg production down to 63.12% at two weeks post-infection. In a vaccine efficacy test, the vaccinated groups showed minimally decreased egg production that started to increase to more than 80% at 4–7 weeks post-challenge. Our study showed that inactivated bivalent and monovalent reassortant H9N2 vaccines can induce antibody response, reducing the mortality and virus shedding caused by reassortant H9N2 virus infection. The reassortant H9N2 virus is a threat that requires vigilance in poultry farms and the industry. The vaccines used in this study can be one of the options for control or prevention measures on farms infected with the reassortant H9N2 viruses.

Background and Aim: African swine fever (ASF), a devastating viral disease in swine caused by ASF virus (ASFV), has led to substantial economic losses, particularly in Asia since 2018. ASFV’s resilience in diverse environments renders the movement of infected pork products a critical risk for disease transmission. This study aimed to identify ASFV contamination in pork products brought by international travelers to Indonesia, highlighting potential pathways for ASF introduction. Materials and Methods: From 2019 to 2020, pork food products confiscated at three Indonesia international airports (Soekarno-Hatta, Raja Haji Fisabilillah, and Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman Sepinggan) underwent testing. ASFV detection employed TaqMan real-time polymerase chain reaction targeting the B646L (p72) gene, followed by gene sequencing of B646L (p72) and E183L (p54) for molecular characterization. Phylogenetic analyses were conducted to compare local ASFV strains with global counterparts. Results: Among 29 confiscated samples, two pork products originating from China tested positive for ASFV. These were identified as genotype II, consistent with strains from Africa, Europe, and Asia. Sequence analyses confirmed the Indonesian strain’ close genetic relationship with global ASFV genotype II isolates, such as those from China, Vietnam, and Georgia. Conclusion: The presence of ASFV in imported pork products emphasizes the risk posed by international travelers in introducing the virus to ASF-free regions. This underscores the need for stringent border biosecurity measures, surveillance, and public awareness to prevent ASFV outbreaks in Indonesia. Although ASFV does not pose a direct threat to human health, its transmission through swill-feeding practices remains a critical concern for the pig industry. Keywords: African swine fever, ASFV, Indonesia, international airports, molecular identification, pork product contamination.

Dharmayanti NL, et al. J Vet Sci. 2021 Aug;22(6):e70. https://doi.org/10.4142/jvs.2021.22.e70