Background: Clostridium perfringens-associated necrotic enteritis (NE) is a serious problem affecting broiler production. A major global challenge is to reduce the use of antibiotics in poultry industry due to their negative impacts on public health. One alternative is to use nanoparticles (NPs) to overcome bacterial resistance to antibiotics. Silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) showed strong antimicrobial activity. Methods: A total of 120 Cobb broiler chicks (1-day old) were obtained for this study and were divided into 4 equal groups at age of 14 days (30 birds each); each group was subdivided into 3 equal replicates (10 birds each). The groups were designated as follows: G1, infected; G2, infected and treated with Ag NPs; G3, treated with Ag NPs; and G4, negative control. Birds were infected with 4× 10⁸ colony forming unit (CFU)/mL/bird C. perfringens type A for 2 successive days. In the treated groups, Ag NPs (mean diameter 15 nm; total dose 150 μg/bird) were administered via crop gavage. During the observation period (5 weeks), bird performance and immune organ indexes were recorded. Serum samples were collected for immunological evaluation, and tissue samples were collected for histopathology and estimation of Ag NPs residues. Results: Treatment with Ag NPs reduced the colonization of C. perfringens in the intestine and ceca, decreased the severity of clinical signs and reduced mortalities in comparison with infected non-treated group. Ag NPs treatment alleviated pathological lesions in the intestine and liver, but their residues were found in the muscles. Conclusion: Ag NPs have a positive impact on gut health integrity while having no impact on immune organs. Ag NPs have some residues in muscles; therefore, further studies are needed on the concentration and size of Ag NPs, the route of administration, and withdrawal time to ensure the safety of chicken meat for human consumption.

The study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of Escherichia coli (E. coli) in sub-clinically mastitic (SCM) animals, and in wild and migratory birds which may act as reservoir disseminating such pathogen. Farm hygiene, management and milking procedures were listed through a questionnaire. Thirty lactating cows and 15 lactating buffaloes from five small-scale dairy farms were randomly selected and screened for subclinical mastitis (SCM) using California Mastitis Test (CMT) and somatic cell count (SCC). In addition, 80 teat skin swabs, 5 drinking water samples and 38 wild and migratory bird faecal matter were also collected. All samples were processed for E. coli isolation by culturing on Levine’s Eosin Methylene Blue (L-EMB) agar, followed by purification and biochemical identification. Positive samples were subjected to molecular identification and serotyping. In addition, the presence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) and carbapenemase-producing E. coli have been reported by antimicrobial sensitivity testing. Escherichia coli were isolated from 7.7%, 50% and 50% of the positive CMT cows’ quarters, cows’ composite and buffaloes’ composite milk samples, respectively. In addition, 14% of cows’ teats, 20% of water samples, 70% of faecal matter from wild bird, and 33.3% of faecal matter from migratory waterfowls were carrying E. coli. Serotyping, antibiotic-resistant pattern and phylogenetic analysis have pointed the bearable implication of milking hygiene and wild birds in disseminating E. coli strains causing intramammary infections.

Introduction: Clostridium perfringens is commonly found in the gastrointestinal tract of animals and humans and continues to cause one of the most prevalent foodborne diseases in man. Material and Methods: A total of 355 samples were examined for the occurrence of C. perfringens: rectal swabs from cattle, sheep, and goats, fresh stool samples from diarrhoea sufferers having been in contact with these animals, irrigation water and soil samples from the husbandry sites, and preharvesting fresh produce from farms irrigated with the sampled water. All samples were collected from Cairo and Giza governorates, Egypt. PCR analysis was carried out with positive isolates using the α-toxin gene. Sequence analysis of the gene of C. perfringens isolates was performed using the neighbour-joining approach. Bootstrap analysis was executed with 1,000 resamplings. Results: 174 C. perfringens strains were isolated with a 49.01% prevalence. The highest prevalence of C. perfringens in apparently healthy animals was found in sheep (65.45%) followed by goats (58%), buffaloes (55%), and cattle (47.1%). Its prevalence in humans being in contact with these animals was 47.5%. The bacterium’s isolation from the soil and irrigation water was achieved in 40% and 31.7% of samples, respectively, posing a risk, particularly when the water and soil contact food in the field, shown by the fresh produce isolation of 40%. A significant relationship between the prevalence of C. perfringens in animal and environmental samples was identified (P < 0.05). A significant relationship was identified neither between animal species and C. perfringens prevalence, nor between the environmental source and C. perfringens prevalence (P > 0.05). All isolates were positive for the α-toxin gene by PCR. The sequence analysis and the phylogenetic relationship of the α-toxin genes from different samples revealed that C. perfringens from faeces of apparently healthy cattle, buffaloes, sheep, and goats is a significant threat in places where it can contaminate the soil and water. In addition, the sequence of C. perfringens from humans suffering from diarrhoea was found in the same cluster with the sequence from cows, goats, and sheep. Conclusion: The role of apparently healthy animals in transmitting C. perfringens to humans, either through being in direct or indirect contact via water or soil in the cultivation of vegetables and fruits, was demonstrated.

Background and Aim: Babesia species are tick-borne protozoan parasites of apicomplexan type which infect the erythrocytes of dogs it ranges from subclinical to severe cases, depending on different factors such as immune status, age, and presence of other co-infections with the Babesia species. Hence, this study aimed to identify the protozoan parasites infecting police dogs of different breeds, ages, and both sexes in Egypt. Concerning molecular detection of Babesia vogeli using conventional polymerase chain reaction sequencing and phylogenetic analysis, followed by the assessment of immunological and biochemical status of infected dogs. Materials and Methods: The blood of 242 police K9 dogs was collected. The age, breed, sex, and health status with clinical signs of dogs were recorded. Hematological, biochemical, and oxidative stress analyses of the blood were performed together with gene expression analysis using two genes (gamma interferon [IFN-γ] and tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF- α]). The identification of the causative agent was performed using molecular analysis of the 18S ribosomal RNA (rRNA). The 18S rRNA region of canine Babesia spp. was successfully amplified, and sequencing data were deposited in GenBank (accession number: MT565474.1), which resembled those of B. vogeli. Results: The results of blood samples screening revealed that of the 242 blood samples, 62 were positive for B. vogeli infection. The infection rate in male dogs was higher than that in female dogs. The police dogs were classified into the following three groups of dogs: (1st group) healthy, (2nd infected with B. vogeli, and mixed infection of B. vogeli and Ehrlichia canis). The oxidative stress biomarkers levels in B. vogeli infected dogs were greater than that of healthy dogs. Likewise, IFN-γ and TNF-α level in B. vogeli infected dogs were elevated in infected dogs. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrated that B. vogeli had completely adverse effects on the health condition of the police dogs that may lead to death in some dogs.

Sodium butyrate and tributyrin are known to enhance broiler chicken performance. In this study, 1,000 Arbor Acres broiler chicks were assigned to four dietary treatments (250 birds each; six replicates of 40–42 birds): a control basal diet (CON), or the same diet supplemented with either 500 g/ton tributyrin (40%) + copper + essential oils (TB-500), 300 g/ton di- and tri-butyrin (60%) (TB-300), or 500 g/ton coated sodium butyrate (40%) (SB-500). Weekly growth parameters were recorded, and on Day 35, carcass traits, serum biochemistry, immunity, gene expression (mTOR, TLR4, NBN), intestinal morphology, caecal microbiota, and litter hygiene were assessed. TB-300 improved body weight (+ 4.6%, P = 0.014), FCR (− 5.2%, P = 0.032), and European Production Efficiency Factor (EPEF) (+ 14.9%, P = 0.006). SB-500 significantly reduced litter Clostridia (P < 0.0001) and aerobic bacteria (P = 0.026) counts, while all butyrate treatments lowered caecal aerobic bacterial levels (P = 0.041). TB-300 and SB-500 enhanced duodenal villi height (P < 0.0001) and crypt-villus ratio (P < 0.001); TB-500 had the deepest duodenal crypts (P = 0.003). Jejunal and ileal morphology improved with most of the supplements, particularly TB-500 (P < 0.0001; P = 0.050). All butyrate treatments increased serum total proteins (P = 0.015) and digestive enzymes (lipase, P < 0.0001; protease, P = 0.001). TB-300 and SB-500 significantly lowered serum lipids (P = 0.024), urea (P = 0.018), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (P = 0.027), while enhancing mTOR and NBN gene expression (P < 0.0001). TLR4 expression was upregulated in all butyrate-treated groups (P < 0.0001). Each form of butyrate supplementation exerts distinct beneficial effects on growth, gut health, and physiological performance in broiler chickens.

Background: Sodium butyrate (SB) is a short-chain fatty acid and a safe antibiotic alternative. During 35 days, this study compared the impact of coated SB (Butirex C4) and lincomycin (Lincomix) on broiler growth, gut health, and litter hygiene in 1200 one-day-old Ross-308 broiler chicks that were randomly assigned into 5-dietary groups with 5-replications each. Groups divided as follows: T1: Basal diet (control), T2: Basal diet with buffered SB (1 kg/ton starter feed, 0.5 kg/ton grower-finisher feeds), T3: Basal diet with 100 g/ton lincomycin, T4: Basal diet with buffered SB (0.5 kg/ton starter feed, 0.25 kg/ton grower-finisher feeds) + 50 g/ton lincomycin, and T5: Basal diet with buffered SB (1 kg/ton starter feed, 0.5 kg/ton grower-finisher feeds) + 50 g/ton lincomycin. Birds were housed in a semi-closed deep litter house, where feed and water were available ad libitum. Results were statistically analyzed using ANOVA and Tukey’s post hoc tests. Results: Combined dietary supplementation with SB and lincomycin (T4 and T5) significantly enhanced body weights, weight gains, feed conversion ratio, and profitability index. Also, carcasses in T4 and T5 exhibited the highest dressing, breast, thigh, and liver yields. T5 revealed the best blood biochemical indices, while T3 showed significantly elevated liver and kidney function indices. T4 and T5 exhibited the highest expression levels of IGF-1 and TLR4 genes, the greatest villi length of the intestinal mucosa, and the lowest levels of litter moisture and nitrogen. Clostridia perfringens type A alpha-toxin gene was confirmed in birds’ caeca, with the lowest clostridial counts defined in T4. Conclusions: Replacing half the dose of lincomycin (50 g/ton) with 0.5 or 1 kg/ton coated SB as a dietary supplement mixture showed the most efficient privileges concerning birds’ performance and health.