Coccidiosis causes huge economic losses worldwide. Current study evaluated the effect of biosynthesized Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) using Nigella sativa, on Eimeria tenella infected broilers. Scanning electron microscopy showed spherical ZnONPs with 50–100 nm diameter, Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy revealed the functional groups involved in the reduction of zinc acetate dihydrate to ZnONPs, UV–vis spectroscopy showed a peak at 354 nm, and Zeta potential exhibited stability at − 30 mV. A total of 150, a day-old broiler chicks were divided into 5 equal groups. Control negative: uninfected and untreated; Control positive: Infected and untreated; 3rd, 4th and 5th group were infected orally with 5 × 10⁴ sporulated oocysts of Eimeria tenella and treated with 60 mg/kg ZnONPs, 1% Nigella sativa seeds and amprolium 125 ppm, respectively. ZnONPs significantly (p < 0.05) improved the growth performance in the infected birds and decreased the oocyst shedding and anti-coccidial index. A significant (p < 0.05) decrease in the level of aspartate transferase and alanine transferase, whereas, a significantly higher amount of antioxidants like catalase and superoxide dismutase in ZnONPs treated group was observed. Pro-inflammatory cytokines like IL-2 and TNF-α were significantly decreased by ZnONPs (p < 0.05). In conclusion, biogenic ZnONPs with Nigella sativa might have enhanced anticoccidial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects with improved growth performance.

Toxoplasmosis is a globally distributed disease of warm-blooded animals. It is caused by the opportunistic parasite Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii). One-third of the global human population is believed to be infected with T. gondii. Cats serve as final host of T. gondii and are the main source of contamination of soil and water. This study aimed to detect genotypes of T. gondii in cats. Fecal samples (n = 400) were collected from districts of South Punjab (Khanewal and Sahiwal), and were processed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. The obtained oligonucleotide sequences (T. gondii) were submitted to the GenBank database, and the evolutionary tree was constructed using MEGA-X software. Seven fecal samples (3.5%) from cats were positive. Five out of thirteen fecal samples (38.46%) found to be positive for T. gondii with microscopy were confirmed by PCR. After phylogenetic analysis with 3 clonal types and atypical strains, isolates of T. gondii in current study were more closely linked to a typical strain (AF249696). Besides genotyping from cats, seroprevalence from humans and ruminants is still considered to be the best and easiest way to identify the Toxoplasma. Blood samples were collected from sheep and goats (n = 2000 each), and human blood samples (n = 400) were collected from the same vicinity. Seroprevalence was determined using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. In Khanewal, the blood samples of 292 goats (29.2%) and 265 sheep (26.5%), and 6 fecal samples from cats (3%) were positive. Out of 200 human blood samples, 52 were positive, with a seroprevalence of 26%. In the Sahiwal district, the blood samples from 49 humans, 235 sheep and 348 goats were positive, with seroprevalence of 24.5%, 23.5% and 34.8%, respectively. The present study revealed the current circulating genotype of T. gondii from cats in the districts Khanewal and Sahiwal and the seroprevalence of the organism in small ruminants and humans living in the same vicinity. Further genotype analyses of the organism from ruminants and humans are needed.

Background: Antibiotics are in use since decades to treat various infections caused by Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Diphenhydra...

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has affected billions of lives and is expected to impose a significant burden on the economy worldwide. Vaccination is the only way to prevent the infection. However, convincing people to get themselves vaccinated is challenging in developing countries such as Pakistan. Therefore, a cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted (n = 982 participants) all over Pakistan to evaluate the perception, knowledge, attitude, and acceptance of the general public towards the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, in general, and a booster dose of SARS-CoV-2, in particular. The highest number of participants were from the province of Punjab (84.5%), followed by Islamabad (3.8%), Sindh (3.7%), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (2.7%), Baluchistan (2.6%), Gilgit Baltistan (1.4%), and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (1.4%). A total of 915 participants were vaccinated against COVID-19, out of which 62.2% received one booster dose, followed by double booster doses (25.5%) and single vaccine shots (12.3%). The highest number of vaccinated participants were from Punjab (85.8%), followed by Islamabad (3.9%), Sindh (2.8%); Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (2.6%); Baluchistan (2.3%); Gilgit-Baltistan (1.3%); and Azad, Jammu, and Kashmir (1.2%). Among the vaccinated individuals, 71.4% were unemployed, 27.4% were employed (653), and 1.2% were retired from service. However, no significant association was observed among genders and educational levels in regard to acceptance of the booster vaccine. The outcomes of the study revealed that the increased acceptance of booster doses of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccines among the public was associated with the intent of personal and family protection. Moreover, individuals with low socioeconomic status and pregnant females showed the least acceptance towards the vaccine inoculation. The study also revealed a decline trend of accepting SARS-CoV-2 vaccine among children.

Staphylococcus aureus is one of the major pathogens responsible for causing food poisoning worldwide. The emergence of antibiotic resistance in this bacterium is influenced by various factors. Among them, bacterial acquired defense systems described as clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-cas system might be involved in antibiotic resistance development in bacteria. The current study was designed to assess the prevalence of S. aureus and its antibiotic resistance profile and identify the relationship of the CRISPR-cas system with antimicrobial resistance, followed by phylogenetic analysis. Total samples (n = 188) of poultry meat were collected from the poultry bird market of Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. We used both phenotypic (antibiotic disc diffusion) and genotypic methods (PCR) to identify multi-drug resistant (MDR) strains of S. aureus. Additionally, the role of the CRISPR-Cas system in the isolated MDR S. aureus was also assessed. In addition, real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to evaluate the association of the CRISPR-cas system with antimicrobial resistance. All of the S. aureus isolates showed 100% resistance against erythromycin, 97.5% were resistant to tetracycline, and 75% were resistant to methicillin. Eleven isolates were MDR in the current study. The CRISPR system was found in all MDR isolates, and fifteen spacers were identified within the CRISPR locus. Furthermore, MDR S. aureus isolates and the standard strain showed higher expression levels of CRISPR-associated genes. The correlation of said system with MDR isolates points to foreign gene acquisition by horizontal transfer. Current knowledge could be utilized to tackle antibiotic-resistant bacteria, mainly S. aureus.