The root bark of Illicium henryi has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat various diseases. Its ethanol extract (EEIH) was found to contain a large number of phenols and possess in vitro antioxidant activities. The present study aimed to investigate its protective effect against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute kidney injury (AKI) in mice. BALB/c mice were intraperitoneally pretreated with EEIH for five days, and then LPS injection was applied to induce AKI. Blood samples and kidney tissues were collected and used for histopathology, biochemical assay, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and Western blot analyses. EEIH not only significantly dose-dependently attenuated histological damage and reduced renal myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity (from 9.77 ± 0.73 to 0.84 ± 0.30 U/g tissue) but also decreased serum creatinine (from 55.60 ± 2.70 to 27.20 ± 2.39 µmol/L) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) (from 29.95 ± 1.96 to 16.12 ± 1.24 mmol/L) levels in LPS-treated mice. EEIH also markedly dose-dependently inhibited mRNA expression and production of TNF-α (from 140.40 ± 5.15 to 84.74 ± 5.65 pg/mg), IL-1β (from 135.54 ± 8.20 to 77.15 ± 5.34 pg/mg), IL-6 (from 168.74 ± 7.23 to 119.16 ± 9.35 pg/mg), and COX-2 in renal tissue of LPS-treated mice via downregulating mRNA and protein expressions of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and phosphorylation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) p65. Moreover, EEIH significantly dose-dependently reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) (from 5.43 ± 0.43 to 2.80 ± 0.25 nmol/mg prot) and NO (from 1.01 ± 0.05 to 0.24 ± 0.05 µmol/g prot) levels and increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) (from 22.32 ± 2.92 to 47.59 ± 3.79 U/mg prot) and glutathione (GSH) (from 6.57 ± 0.53 to 16.89 ± 0.68 µmol/g prot) levels in renal tissue induced by LPS through upregulating mRNA expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2 related factor 2 (Nrf2). Furthermore, EEIH inhibited LPS-induced intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production from RAW264.7 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. These results suggest that EEIH has protective effects against AKI in mice through regulating inflammation and oxidative stress.

The root bark of Illicium henryi has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat lumbar muscle strain and rheumatic pain. Its ethanol extract (EEIH) has been previously reported to attenuate lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute kidney injury in mice. The present study aimed to evaluate the in vitro antioxidant activities and in vivo protective effects of EEIH against LPS-induced acute liver injury (ALI) in mice as well as explore its molecular mechanisms. The mice were injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) with EEIH at the doses of 1.25, 2.5, and 5.0 mg/kg every day for 5 days. One hour after the last administration, the mice were administered i.p. with LPS (8 mg/kg). After fasting for 12 h, blood and liver tissues were collected to histopathological observation, biochemical assay, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and Western blot analyses. EEIH possessed 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazil (DPPH) and 2,2′-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiozoline-6-sulfonic acid) disodium salt (ABTS) radical scavenging activities and ferric-reducing antioxidant capacity in vitro. The histopathological examination, serum biochemical analysis, and liver myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity showed that EEIH pretreatment alleviated LPS-induced liver injury in mice. EEIH significantly dose-dependently decreased the mRNA and protein expression levels of inflammatory factors TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and COX-2 in liver tissue of LPS-induced ALI mice via downregulating the mRNA and protein expressions of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and inhibiting the phosphorylation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) p65. Furthermore, EEIH markedly ameliorated liver oxidative and nitrosative stress burden in LPS-treated mice through reducing the content of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and nitric oxide (NO) levels, restoring the decreased superoxide dismutase (SOD) and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels, and up-regulating nuclear factor erythroid 2 related factor 2 (Nrf2). These results demonstrate that EEIH has protective effects against ALI in mice via alleviating inflammatory response, oxidative and nitrosative stress burden through activating the Nrf2 and suppressing the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathways. The hepatoprotective activity of EEIH might be attributed to the flavonoid compounds such as catechin (1), 3′,4′,7-trihydroxyflavone (2), and taxifolin (7) that most possibly act synergistically.

Background and Aim: Small ruminants require vaccines to prevent and manage diseases. Unfortunately, no studies have been conducted in Bangladesh to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of small ruminant farmers (SRF) regarding vaccine use against infectious diseases, affecting the success of vaccination campaigns. The present study aims to assess SRF’s KAP regarding vaccines, revealing gaps and barriers to efficient vaccination. Materials and Methods: Two hundred and twenty-eight SRF in northern Bangladesh were surveyed in a cross-sectional study. Data were collected from random participants through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire. KAP levels were categorized as “good” or “poor” and “positive” or “negative” using a scoring method with a 60% cutoff. The analysis comprised the utilization of descriptive statistics as well as logistic regression models. Results: Results showed that most participants were female (60.5%), aged 31–40 (34.2%), with secondary education (28.1%), and vaccination training (22.8%). While 75% knew about vaccines, only 37.3% understood their role in preventing infectious diseases, and 63.6% in reducing antibiotic use 68.4% of farmers were aware of negative drawbacks, and 61.8% reported vaccinating their herds. About 42.1% of the farmers had good knowledge, 52.6% had a positive attitude, and 22.8% followed good practices. Female farmers with graduate degrees and 6–10 years of goat farming experience, but not those with vaccination training, demonstrated stronger knowledge. Female farmers with a graduate degree and 6–10 years of goat farming experience displayed positive attitudes. Female goat farmers from Thakurgaon had a higher likelihood of following good vaccination practices than those with vaccination training. Conclusion: The study unearths disparities in KAP scores among farmers. To effectively address KAP gaps concerning vaccine usage and prevent potential infectious diseases, it is essential to design focused educational and training programs. About 52.6% of SRF hold a positive view toward vaccines. Keywords: Bangladesh, knowledge, attitudes, and practices, small ruminant farmers, vaccine use.

Globally poultry production is increasing to fulfill the protein requirements for human consumption. Poultry waste from farms might contaminate adjacent environments and agricultural products grown in lands that used poultry manure as a soil organic fertilizer. In order to determine the spread of poultry waste bacteria to adjacent water bodies, soils, and agricultural products, Escherichia coli (E. coli) were isolated from poultry fecal wastes as well as from nearby water bodies, soils, and agricultural products grown in lands that used poultry wastes. E. coli of poultry manure and poultry environment (soils, water, and vegetables) were isolated and confirmed by culturing and amplification of malK gene of E. coli by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Contamination of the nearby environment by poultry waste E. coli was also determined by VT1 (stx1) gene of E. coli. Subsequently, gene sequencing of the positive isolates of E. coli and phylogenetic trees was developed to find out evolutionary dynamics of the poultry environment E. coli. The overall prevalence of E. coli in the poultry environment was 61.02%. E. coli were detected in the manure of all broiler, layer, and Sonali types of poultry farms. E. coli also detected in both chicks and adult layer farms during all the seasons by malK gene. The VT1 (stx1) gene of E. coli was not detected in any of the samples. Contamination by poultry fecal E. coli to adjacent water bodies, soils, and vegetables grown on soils that used poultry waste as manure were also found. Phylogenetic tree denotes there were genetic similarities of poultry manure E. coli of Gazipur, Bangladesh to global isolates of E. coli from livestock, their environment, and humans. These findings will be crucial to undertake measures to limit spread of poultry manure E. coli to the surrounding environment as well as controlling zoonoses.

The objective of this study was to assess the temperature-humidity index (THI) values in the selected regions of Bangladesh for the suitability of ruminant rearing. Data on monthly temperatures and relative humidity were collected from the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) for a 27-year time period (1995–2022). The study region’s data indicated that the hottest area was west central region and hottest month was June. In comparison, the coolest area was northwest region and coolest month was January. The northwest region had no heat stress from November to February, mild heat stress from March to May and October, as well as moderate heat stress from June to September. In the northeast region, mild heat stress occurred from March to May, October, and November, and moderate heat stress from June to September. December to February were comfortable, March, October, and November were mild heat stress, and April through September were moderate heat stress in the west central region. In the east central region, mild heat stress occurred in March to April, October, and November, and severe heat stress in May to September. In contrast to the west central region, which showed moderate heat stress during the rainy season, most other seasons showed mild heat stress. Thus, heat stress periods might vary depending on regional meteorological scenarios. Animals faced heat stress (THI > 72) or a warning signal due to a progressive increase in temperature and humidity indices over months and years of investigation. When THI levels are high, especially in July and August, livestock farmers must emphasize various herd management techniques to limit the risk of milk production and quality concerns, disease prevalence, and reproductive performance. The findings of the present investigation suggest heat stress mitigation measures for Bangladeshi ruminant farmers. Ann. Bangladesh Agric. 27 (2): 161-174