Helicobacter pylori causes gastritis, peptic ulcers and gastric cancer and affects more than half of the world’s population. Although this infection can have serious consequences, no novel cure or remedy have been discovered, the present therapy still relies on a variety of known antibiotics and anti-secretory agents. In the present study, the potential effect of combinations between methanolic extracts of four Algerian medicinal plants, garlic (Allium sativum), red onion (Allium cepa), cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) and fenugreek (T. foenum-graecum L.), with different strains of lactic acid bacteria against H. pylori, was investigated. Similarly, the in vivo antibacterial effect of fenugreek extract combined with Bifidobacterium breve on H. pylori colonization potential to confirm the enhanced effect of the mixture was explored. Helicobacter pylori was inhibited by all combined mixtures of extracts and probiotics with varying results. The highest anti-H. pylori activities were found in fenugreek/B. breve, cumin/B. breve, garlic/B. breve and onion/B. breve combinations with inhibition diameters of 29, 26, 23 and 25 mm, respectively. Preliminary studies on the effect of probiotics against H. pylori revealed that the inhibition was due to lactic acid and bacteriocins and it was also related to the presence of phenolic compounds in the studied plants, such as gallic acid, caffeic acid, quercetin and vanillic acid. Fenugreek extract was found to inhibit the growth of H. pylori in a concentration-dependent manner. When H. pylori-infected rats were administered B. breve, the infection rate of H. pylori was significantly reduced, while the combination of B. breve and fenugreek extract effectively inhibited H. pylori. In addition, the B. breve and fenugreek extract mixture significantly reduced gastritis in H. pylori-infected rats. These results suggest that this complex mixture may be an alternative to treating diseases caused by H. pylori infection.

Lambda-cyhalothrin (LCT) is a type II pyrethroid insecticide, which is widely used to control a large variety of agricultural pests throughout the world as well as in Algeria. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of LCT exposure on body weight, hematological and blood biochemical parameters and to evaluate histopathological changes in some organs. Twelve (12) healthy local rabbits with a mean body weight of 1.8 kg were divided into three groups of four each: First group was kept as control (CTRL), second group (LCT 10) and third group (LCT 20) were given oral LCT at 10 and 20 mg/kg b.w, respectively three times a week for 25 days. The results showed no significant difference in mean body weight between groups. Blood analysis revealed no significant variation in hemogram between LCT-treated groups and control group. Serum biochemical analysis revealed a significant increase (P˂0.05) in total cholesterol content and glucose in LCT10 and LCT20, respectively. Total protein increased significantly (P˂0.0001) in LCT 20 group. While a very high increase (P˂0.0001) in the activity of asparatate aminotranferase (AST) was recorded in both treated groups, no change was observed in the activity of alanine aminotransferase (ALT). LCT treatment exhibited severe histopathological changes in liver, kidney, lung and brain. It is concluded from the study that LCT produced serious toxic pathological alterations and metabolic dysfunctions in rabbits.

Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) poses a serious disease in cattle. Cachexia is a condition marked by weight loss and muscle wasting and is often observed in infected animals. This study reports a case series from Tiaret province, Algeria, aimed at detecting and genetically identifying BVDV in clinically cachectic cattle. A total of 100 cachectic animals from ten herds were examined using serological, molecular, and virological methods, including antibody ELISA, RT-qPCR, and virus isolation in cell culture. Overall, 93.6% of the animals tested were seropositive for BVDV, indicating extensive exposure to the sampled population. Higher antibody rates were observed in adults (≥12 months) and males compared to younger animals and females, but the differences were not statistically significant. Phylogenetic analysis of the 5′UTR sequences confirmed the presence of the BVDV-1f subtype closely related to sequences reported in Europe. Although BVDV was detected in animals within the sampled herds, the data does not support a causal conclusion that BVDV was the direct cause of cachexia in this case series; rather, its immunosuppressive effects may predispose cattle to secondary infections contributing to wasting. These results are specific to this opportunistic case series from Tiaret province and should be considered exploratory; broader and representative surveillance is required to assess the national epidemiological situation.

Bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) poses a serious disease in cattle. Cachexia is a condition marked by weight loss and muscle wasting and is often observed in infected animals. This study set out to investigate whether there’s a link between BVDV infection and cachexia in cattle from Tiaret, Algeria. Serological, molecular, and virological analysis were conducted on one hundred cachectic cattle from ten herds, namely an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and virus isolation by cell culture to detect and characterize the virus. The results showed a high seroprevalence of BVDV. Nearly all herds, and a large majority of individual animals (93.62%), tested positive for BVDV. Moreover, adults (≥ 2 years) and males showed higher antibody rates than younger animals and females, but that was statistically not significant. Phylogenetic analysis was used for molecular characterisation which confirmed the circulation of the BVDV-1f subtype, which had previously been reported in Poland. Although the virus was frequent among these animals, it does not directly cause cachexia. The immunosuppression may predispose animals to secondary infections that lead to wasting. Better prevention strategies and expanded veterinary surveillance are needed to reduce the overall problem of BVDV in Algerian herds.