Slaughterhouse Animals Research Articles

Molecular Detection of Coxiella burnetii in Ticks Isolated from Domestic Animals in Slaughterhouses and Farms, Shahr-E-Rey, Tehran, Iran.

Coxiella burnetii causes Q fever, a zoonotic and vector-borne disease. Ticks serve as vectors for this bacterium. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of C. burnetii infection in ticks in Shahr-e-Rey County, Tehran Province. From December 2016 to November 2017, 179 ticks were collected on sheep at animal husbandry facilities and slaughterhouses located in Shahr-e-Rey, Tehran Province. Tick samples were morphologically identified and evaluated for the presence of the C. burnetii IS1111 gene using real-time PCR. Ticks were classified into four genera: Hyalomma (66.48%), Rhipicepalus (23.47%), Dermacentor (7.26%), and Ornithodoros (2.79%). Furthermore, 35.20% of the ticks were Hyalomma nymphs.All 77 ticks were pooled by species, and C. burnetii was found in 22.08% (n= 17). Ornithodoros lahorensis was the most prevalent tick infected with C. burnetii. The distribution of C. burnetii and reports of Q fever from various regions of the country strongly suggest that the monitoring system should give this disease more attention.

"He strove that such innocent creatures should come to no harm": Thomas Hardy and the RSPCA

abstract: The year 2024 marks the bicentenary of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), the world's first registered animal welfare organization, established in 1824. This analysis explores Thomas Hardy's response to animal rights discourses during his life, with special emphasis on the common pursuits of the RSPCA as a champion of animal rights and of Hardy as an evolutionary meliorist who cared about animals. As evidenced by Hardy's literary and non-literary, public and personal writings, his vision of a humanitarian future was inseparable from the question of animal rights, including the plights of working / performing animals, and cruelty to animals in slaughterhouses, battlefields, laboratories and animal sports. Although Hardy was disappointed in his aims to save animals and to alter people's consciousness on the issue, animal rights movements have come a long way through decades of struggle, as reflected in the achievements of the RSPCA and other animal welfare movements. Hardy's attitude toward animals also anticipates subsequent developments in animal studies, including post-humanist approaches.

Effectiveness of potassium peroxymonosulfate against enveloped viruses using an aqueous phase and its application on various contaminated carrier surfaces and artificially avian influenza virus-contaminated clothes.

Potassium peroxymonosulfate (PPMS) is a broad-spectrum disinfectant that oxidizes viral protein capsids. The effectiveness of PPMS in killing viruses depends on several factors, including its concentration, contact time, and present of organic materials. This study evaluated the efficacy of PPMS in an aqueous phase. It also applied PPMS to artificially avian influenza virus (AIV)-contaminated carrier surfaces and clothes and compared its effectiveness with that of sodium dichloroisocyanurate (NaDCC) and quaternary ammonium compounds (QAC). Four PPMS concentrations (1×, 0.5×, 0.25×, and 0.125×), were evaluated for their virucidal efficacy against Newcastle disease virus (NDV) and AIV in an aqueous phase. The evaluation included testing in the absence and presence of organic materials under different exposure times, such as 5 s, 30 s, 1 min, 3 min, 5 min, 10 min, and 15 min. AIV inactivation was assessed on contaminated carrier surfaces, such as stainless steel, rubber, plastic, and artificially contaminated clothes. In aqueous phase, concentrations of 1×, 0.5×, 0.25×, and 0.125× inactivated NDV in the absence of organic materials within 5 s, 5 s, 5 min, and 15 min at concentrations of 1×, 0.5×, 0.25×, and 0.125×, respectively. In the presence of organic material contamination, NDV could be inactivated within 30 s for 1×, 1 min for 0.5×, and 10 min for 0.25×; however, 0.125× PPMS did not achieve inactivation within 15 min. PPMS concentrations of 1×, 0.5×, 0.25×, and 0.125× inactivated AIV within 5 s, 5 s, 5 s, and 30 s, respectively, in both the absence and presence of organic materials. PPMS at a concentration of 1× could inactivate AIV on all carriers within 30 s. PPMS at 0.5× and 0.25× concentrations could inactivate AIV within 30 s on rubber and plastic; inactivation occurred within 1 min on stainless steel. However, 0.125× PPMS and 1× QAC could not achieve inactivation within 3 min on all carriers. Finally, PPMS concentrations of 1×, 0.5×, 0.25×, and 0.125× inactivated AIV on rayon sheets within 5 s, 30 s, 5 min, and 15 min, respectively. However, the recommended NaDCC concentration achieved inactivation within 10 min, whereas QAC did not achieve inactivation within 15 min. PPMS can inactivate enveloped viruses such as NDV and AIV. Furthermore, PPMS is superior to NaDCC and QAC for inactivating viruses on various carrier surfaces and artificially contaminated clothes. However, the virucidal efficacy of PPMS depends on the optimal concentration, organic material conditions, and exposure/contact timing. Therefore, PPMS is a promising alternative disinfectant crucial for enhancing biosecurity and controlling viruses that contaminate animal farms, slaughterhouses, and hospitals.

Surveillance of Food and Waterborne Pathogens in North-East India: Protocol for a Laboratory-Based Sentinel Surveillance Study.

Food safety is a global concern, which is often underestimated owing to challenges in investigating foodborne diseases. These challenges arise from the increased globalization of the food trade, advancements in agricultural practices, and shifts in environmental factors. In North-East India, common diarrheal outbreaks from fermented foods pose significant health risks. Despite these challenges, systematic data on foodborne pathogens is lacking in India, highlighting a crucial gap in understanding food safety issues. The aim of this research protocol is to establish an integrated surveillance system to identify enteric pathogens circulating within humans, food animals, and the environment through a health approach in North-East India, and to conduct outbreak investigations. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) initiated a surveillance study across all 8 North-East states in India, employing a centralized digital database for data collation. The project aims to enhance theinfrastructure for microbial culture, antibiotic sensitivity testing, and molecular epidemiological studies. The study involves laboratory-based surveillance of foodborne pathogens in market foods, hospitalized diarrheal patients, poultry and animal farms, slaughterhouses, butcher shops, and diarrheal outbreaks. A standardized case report form ensures consistent data collection of age, sex, signs, symptoms, and admission dates for diarrheal cases. Stool and rectal swabs will undergo testing for pathogen identification and antimicrobial resistance. Similarly, samples of market foods, food animals, and the environment will be collected. Outbreaks confirmed by the Integrated Disease Surveillance Project (IDSP) will be thoroughly investigated following standardized guidelines. In phase I, 5 surveillance centers were established across 4 states (ie, Assam [Dibrugarh and Guwahati], Tripura, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh) in 2020. Following an interim phase I data assessment and the successful establishment of a streamlined system for data procurement, investigation, recording, and analysis, along with the implementation of regular training and monitoring programs, phase II expansion was initiated in 2023-24. This includes the addition of 7 more centers (including 3 veterinary centers) in the remaining 4 states (ie, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Nagaland), eventually covering the entire North-Eastern Region of India. Food and waterborne diseases are a constant public health problem in many countries. Key challenges to the enhancement of food safety policy include the paucity of systematic data and awareness. With this background, ICMR's initiative is the first systematic surveillance study in the country to adopt a single health approach. Data obtained from this project will help to understand the risk of acquiring food and waterborne pathogens, their transmission pathways, and antimicrobial resistance patterns. The scientific evidence generated through this project will be helpful in formulating and strengthening food safety policy and in initiating government programs to protect the health of the nation. DERR1-10.2196/56469.

Assessment of Waste Animal Fats (WAFS) Biodiesel Production Potential as an Alternative Fuel for Zambia: A Case Study of Southern Province

The volatility in global fuel prices and the desire to reduce energy dependency on fossil fuels has necessitated the speeding up of alternative energy supply sources. Coupled to this is the global urgent need to reduce the accumulation of CO2 and green house gas (GHG) emissions as a result of fossil fuels production and use. Further, the mandate by united nations to move towards sustainably produced energy for the transportation, and power generation demands that we seek energy solutions that meet reduced negative impact on the environment. It is in this regard that this study seeks alternatives in waste animal fats (WAFs) biodiesel as an option that could meet the ever increasing demand for fossil fuel in the transport sector and power generation. For the transport sector and power generation , the biodiesel maybe blended with the fossil diesel in the approved ratios as stipulated by the Energy Regulation Board and the Zambia Bureau of Standards to help mitigate the net GHG and CO2 emissions. The biodiesel production in this study was based on the modified two-step process. These two steps involved passing the feedstock through esterification using sulphuric acid as catalyst and there after base catalysed using sodium hydroxide in a process referred to as transesterification. The resulting products in the esterification process are the esters and water whilst in the transesterification are the biodiesel and glycerol. The feedstock used are those of waste animal fats (WAFs) of cattle, pig and chicken that has been discarded from meat processing and animal slaughter houses. The feedstocks have been carefully selected based on the animals raised in the country with a bigger slaughtered population as well as reared. The population of animals reared and slaughtered annually are obtained from the Zambia Ministry of Agriculture animal population census records. Based on these records, the preferred feedstock sources where obtained. The study further 1. explored the economic potential of the biodiesel production for the Zambian government and beyond. 2. compared some of the characteristics of WAF biodiesel to that of imported fossil diesel 3. affirmed that WAF biodiesel has a very good impact in reducing environmental pollution as WAF dumping to land fills and the cost of disposal is reduced. Also,WAF biodiesel is bio-degradable. Thus, moving closer to an effective sustainable development as required by the united nations sustainability goals if full scale production is implemented in Zambia.

Genomic Epidemiology of Rift Valley Fever Virus Involved in the 2018 and 2022 Outbreaks in Livestock in Rwanda.

Rift Valley fever (RVF), a mosquito-borne transboundary zoonosis, was first confirmed in Rwanda's livestock in 2012 and since then sporadic cases have been reported almost every year. In 2018, the country experienced its first large outbreak, which was followed by a second one in 2022. To determine the circulating virus lineages and their ancestral origin, two genome sequences from the 2018 outbreak, and thirty-six, forty-one, and thirty-eight sequences of small (S), medium (M), and large (L) genome segments, respectively, from the 2022 outbreak were generated. All of the samples from the 2022 outbreak were collected from slaughterhouses. Both maximum likelihood and Bayesian-based phylogenetic analyses were performed. The findings showed that RVF viruses belonging to a single lineage, C, were circulating during the two outbreaks, and shared a recent common ancestor with RVF viruses isolated in Uganda between 2016 and 2019, and were also linked to the 2006/2007 largest East Africa RVF outbreak reported in Kenya, Tanzania, and Somalia. Alongside the wild-type viruses, genetic evidence of the RVFV Clone 13 vaccine strain was found in slaughterhouse animals, demonstrating a possible occupational risk of exposure with unknown outcome for people working in meat-related industry. These results provide additional evidence of the ongoing wide spread of RVFV lineage C in Africa and emphasize the need for an effective national and international One Health-based collaborative approach in responding to RVF emergencies.

Treatment of Slaughterhouse Plant Wastewater by Sequential Chemical Coagulation-Continuous Flow Electrooxidation Process

Wastewater from a small animal slaughterhouse (SWW) was treated by a two-step process: coagulation/flocculation (CF) followed by continuous flow electrooxidation (CFEO). Initially, a coagulant dose of 0.8 kg m−3 in the CF process, using FeCl3 at pH 8.5, achieved 52% COD and 63% turbidity removal (effluent: 2000 mg l−1 and 65.2 NTU). Alum, (optimum pH = 6.5), yielded 50% COD and 55% turbidity removal (effluent of 2100 mg l−1 and 78.5 NTU). Subsequently, when employing the CFEO process following the CF process with FeCl3, the study achieved highly efficient results. Specifically, under optimum conditions (residence time in the CFEO reactor, τ = 240 min, wastewater feed rate to the reactor = 15 ml min−1, and current density = 300 A m−2), the COD and turbidity removal efficiencies reached 99.60% (resulting in an effluent of 8 mg l−1) and 99.9% (resulting in an effluent of <0.10 NTU), respectively. In conclusion, the CF + CFEO consecutive treatment process demonstrated remarkable treatment efficiencies, with COD and turbidity removal rates of 99.9% and 99.9%, respectively. Moreover, the total operating cost of this treatment process was found to be 3.60 US $/m3.

Assessment of knowledge, attitude, and practice related to brucellosis among livestock farmers and meat handlers in Saudi Arabia.

Brucellosis is a bacterial zoonotic infection that is endemic in Saudi Arabia and associated with clinical and economic impacts. Several studies from countries endemic for brucellosis evaluated the knowledge and attitude of livestock farmers regarding brucellosis. However, no such study was conducted in Saudi Arabia. This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practice of livestock farmers and meat handlers in Saudi Arabia. This was a cross-sectional questionnaire-based study, where participants were interviewed in-person in Arabic in livestock markets between September-December 2023. Convenient sampling was utilized. The questionnaire included basic demographics and questions to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice toward personal protection and protection of the animals from brucellosis. The questionnaire was adapted from a previously validated survey and included 59 questions. Providing at least one correct answer to a certain question indicated a good knowledge about this item or a safe practice. The participants were divided into: farmers (shepherds working for the animal owners), commercial animal owners (those who rent a stockyard in the livestock market and employ farmers to sell their animals), and private animal owners (owners of private farms from which they sell their animals). 545 participants were interviewed (n = 291 farmers, n = 118 commercial animal owners, n = 113 private animal owners, and n = 23 animal slaughterhouse workers). >90% have heard of brucellosis. Lack of education and short experience (<5 years) of working with livestock were negatively associated with good knowledge of brucellosis symptoms and transmission (OR, 0.30; 95%CI, 0.10-0.94; p = 0.038 and OR, 0.23; 95%CI, 0.08-0.62; p = 0.004, respectively). Taking sick animals to the veterinarian was reported by 61.2%, whereas 36.4% follow safe practices when disposing of aborted fetuses. While 34% consume raw milk, only 10% consume rare/medium-rare meat. 51.2% acknowledged the need for more information on brucellosis. This study revealed the need to augment the knowledge of people working with animals, particularly those with no school education and those with short work experience, via providing educational visits or materials or through veterinarians. This should help them identify human and animal brucellosis symptoms and increase the knowledge on how to protect oneself and animals from this disease.

Amino Acids Isolation from α-keratin of Javanese Goat (Capra hircus) Hair and Garut Sheep (Ovis aries) Hair Waste Using Acid Hydrolysis Method as BCAA Supplement

Javanese goat and Garut sheep hair contain α-keratin, a protein that can be broken by hydrolysis to produce simpler amino acids. Feather waste generates millions of tons of α-keratin biomass originating from animal slaughterhouses, thereby raising health concerns. The utilization of acid hydrolysis is considered to be more cost-effective compared to enzymatic hydrolysis, and it provides a broader range of amino acid cleavage sites compared to enzymes, which exhibit specific cleavage. This study aimed to isolate amino acids from Javanese goat and Garut sheep hair through acid hydrolysis. The methods included hair sample preparation, acid hydrolysis used 6 M HCL at 110°C, reflux isolation, amino acid separation based on isoelectric pH 4.9 –5.4, functional groups analysis using FTIR, and analysis of amino acid content by HPLC methods. The results showed that the yield produced after isolation on Javanese goat hair samples was 0.92% and Garut sheep hair 0.32%, respectively. The FTIR spectrum showed amino acid functional groups in both samples, including carboxyl (COOH), amine (C-N primer), (C-S disulfide), and amide I (-CONH2). Successful breakdown of α-keratin proteins into simpler amino acids was achieved for Javanese goat and Garut sheep hair. Amino acid analysis of Javanese goat hair isolates revealed the presence of aspartic acid, threonine, serine, glutamate, proline, glycine, alanine, valine, methionine, isoleucine, leucine, tyrosine, phenylalanine, histidine, lysine, and arginine amino acids, respectively. The highest content was isoleucine at 0.60% w/w. In conclusion, the isolated amino acids from Javanese goat hair can be used as a halal supplement that serves as nutrition in the body.

Bacteriophages as a potential substitute for antibiotics: A comprehensive review.

Over the years, the administration of antibiotics for the purpose of addressing bacterial infections has become increasingly challenging due to the increased prevalence of antimicrobial resistance exhibited by various strains of bacteria. Multidrug-resistant(MDR) bacterial species are rising due to the unavailability of novel antibiotics, leading to higher mortality rates. With these conditions, there is a need for alternatives in which phage therapy has made promising results. Phage-derived endolysins, phage cocktails, and bioengineered phages are effective and have antimicrobial properties against MDRand extensively drug-resistant strains. Despite these, it has been observed that phages can give antimicrobial activity to more than one bacterial species. Thus, phage cocktail against resistant strains provides broad spectrum treatment and magnitude of effectivity, which is many folds higher than antibiotics. Many commercially available endolysins such as Staphefekt SA.100, Exebacase (CF-301), and N-Rephasin®SAL200 are used in biofilm penetration and treating plant diseases. The role of CMP1 phage endolysin in transgenic tomato plants in preventing Clavibacter michiganensis infection and the effectiveness of phage in protecting Atlantic salmon from vibriosis have been reported. Furthermore, phage-derived endolysin therapy, such as TSPphg phage exogenous treatment, can aid in disrupting cell walls, leading to bacterial cell lysis. As animals in aquaculture and slaughterhouses are highly susceptible to bacterial infections, effective phage therapy instead of antibiotics can help treat poultry animals, preserve them, and facilitate disease-free trade. Using bioengineered phages and phage cocktails enhances the effectiveness by providing a broad spectrum of phages and target specificity. Research is currently being conducted on clinical trials to confirm the efficacy of engineered phages and phage cocktails in humans. Although obtaining commercial approval may be time-consuming, it will be beneficial in the postantibiotic era. This review provides an overview of the significance of phage therapy as a potential alternative to antibiotics in combating resistant bacterial strains and its application to various fields and emphasizes the importance of safeguarding and ensuring treatment efficacy.

Liver condemnation due to bovine and buffalo fasciolosis in Antioquia province, Colombia

Background: Fasciola hepatica affects cattle and buffaloes, causing decreased production and liver condemnation at the slaughterhouse level. Objective: To determine liver condemnation frequency, temporal distribution, and associated factors, as well as the spatial distribution and economic impact of F. hepatica infection, based on post mortem inspection in cattle and buffaloes processed between 2010 and 2019 in one of the main slaughterhouses in Colombia. Methods: An observational, descriptive, and cross37 sectional study was carried out, with a convenience non-probability sampling. The temporal distribution of the frequency of liver condemnations was analyzed, the Pearson ꭕ2 test was used to determine the association between the dependent variable (i.e. presence/absence of adult parasites of F. hepatica) and the frequency rates between months and years, and the monthly rainfall data was compared with the accumulated monthly frequency. The association between the dependent variable and the type of production (i.e. industrial-type bovine cattle—intended for milk production, commercial44 type bovine cattle —intended for meat production), weight, and sex (odds ratios, OR and confidence intervals, 95%CI) was explored. Descriptive maps of the municipalities that presented at least one positive case of F. hepatica in 2019 and of the weighted prevalences, both for bovines and buffaloes, were designed. Only losses due to liver condemnation between 2010 and 2019 were considered for the analysis of the economic impact. Results: A total of 1,947,233 animals were processed during the study period, with an overall frequency of fasciolosis of 3.1%. Industrial-type cattle presented a 7.4% higher risk of developing F. hepatica compared to commercial-type cattle (OR=0.074; 95%CI: 0.07-0.08). Likewise, male cattle presented 3.88 times more risk compared to females (OR=3.88; 95%CI: 3.49-4.33). Economic losses due to liver condemnation were estimated at US$1,129,660 for the study period. Conclusion: The frequency of condemnations in Colombia occurs throughout the year, although it increases in the rainy season. The economic losses, only estimated by liver condemnation due to fasciolosis, are important. However, it is necessary to explore such losses considering other productive indicators and in larger animal populations. Fasciola hepatica was reported for the first time in the country in buffaloes. This work demonstrates the importance of systematizing the information generated by animal slaughterhouses.

An Approachable Anaerobic Bioreactor for Remote Biogas Production: Experimental Analysis and Neuroevolution Modeling

This study introduces a straightforward batch‐mode bioreactor for the production of biogas from two waste sources: animal slaughterhouse solid waste and fruit and vegetable solid waste, as well as poultry slaughter solid waste and fruit and vegetable solid waste. To measure the efficiency of methane and carbon dioxide (CO2) production, the system was experimentally studied for 40 days, investigating different carbon‐to‐nitrogen (C/N) ratios: 20, 30, and 40. The highest biogas and methane contents were observed at a C/N ratio of 30. The poultry slaughterhouse waste (SHW) and fruit and vegetable waste (FVW) combination resulted in an impressive 201.7 L of biogas, with 149.2 L of pure methane. Similarly, the animal SHW and FVW mixture resulted in 241 L of biogas, containing 182.7 L of valuable methane. Recognizing the complex nature of factors that impact the anaerobic digestion (AD) process, this study employed kinetic models and artificial neural networks (ANNs) combined with three optimizers: Differential Evolution (DE), Bacterial Foraging Optimization (BFO), and the Dragonfly Algorithm (DA). The simulation data revealed that the BFO approach yielded the best models. Notably, the mean squared error (MSE) during the testing phase was remarkably low, measuring 0.000552 for cumulated CO2 production and 0.001598 for cumulated methane production. Overall, the models introduced in this study exhibit excellent generalization capability and serve as reliable predictors for the systems’ output in various scenarios. The significance of these findings extends beyond the laboratory, as the proposed system and its model can effectively aid end‐users in planning their consumption and correlating biogas utilization with peak production. This mainly benefits small consumers in remote areas, offering them sustainable energy solutions and paving the way for a greener future.

Bioconversion of citrus waste by long-term DMSO-cryopreserved rumen fluid to volatile fatty acids and biogas is feasible: A microbiome perspective

Preserving rumen fluid as the inoculum for anaerobic digestion of food waste is necessary when access to animal donors or slaughterhouses is limited. This study aims to compare two preservation methods relative to fresh ruminal inoculum: (1) cryoprotected with 5% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and stored at −20 °C and (2) frozen at −20 °C, both for 6 months. The fermentation activity of different inoculum was evaluated by rumen-based in vitro anaerobic fermentation tests (volatile fatty acids, biomass digestibility, and gas production). Citrus pomace was used as the substrate during a 96-h fermentation. The maximum volatile fatty acids, methane production, and citrus pomace digestibility from fresh rumen fluid were not significantly different from rumen fluid preserved with DMSO. Metagenome analysis revealed a significant difference in the rumen microbial composition and functions between fresh rumen fluid and frozen inoculum without DMSO. Storage of rumen fluid using −20 °C with DMSO demonstrated the less difference compared with fresh rumen fluid in microbial alpha diversity and taxa composition. The hierarchical clustering tree of CAZymes showed that DMSO cryoprotected fluid was clustered much closer to the fresh rumen fluid, showing more similarity in CAZyme profiles than frozen rumen fluid. The abundance of functional genes associated with carbohydrate metabolism and methane metabolism did not differ between fresh rumen fluid and the DMSO–20 °C, whereas the abundance of key functional genes significantly decreased in frozen rumen fluid. These findings suggest that using rumen liquid preserved using DMSO at −20 °C for 180 days is a feasible alternative to fresh rumen fluid. This would reduce the need for laboratories to maintain animal donors and/or reduce the frequency of collecting rumen fluid from slaughterhouses.

Morphological and Functional Characterization of Cow Oocytes for Assisted Reproduction Techniques

In in vitro production of embryos (IVP), oocytes from the ovaries of slaughterhouse animals are commonly used. However, the quality of these oocytes is highly variable due to unknown category and condition of the slaughtered females. As a result, a heterogeneous population of oocytes with varying capacities for maturation and supporting embryonic development is obtained. The aim of this study was to investigate the morphological and biological characteristics of ovaries and oocytes from slaughtered bovines in order to establish selection criteria for oocytes to be used in IVP. To achieve this, the ovaries were categorized based on the presence or absence of structures such as Corpus Luteum (CL), Dominant Follicle (DF), both (CL+DF), or none (NO). The number and diameter of the follicles were also determined and grouped into three categories: &lt;3 mm, 3-8 mm, or &gt;8 mm. The Cumulus-Oocyte Complexes (COCs) obtained through follicular aspiration were analyzed for several parameters. These included, oocyte coverage by the Cumulus Cells (CC), the number of layers of CC, compaction and thickness of the CC layers. In denuded oocytes, the area, perimeter and diameter of the ooplasm as well as the thickness of the Zona Pellucida (ZP) were measured. Additionally, staining with Hoechst 33342, propidium iodide, or Rhodamine 123 was performed to analyze nuclear and metaphase morphology, cell viability, and mitochondrial functionality, respectively. All these determinations were made on microphotographs captured using a camera attached to an inverted microscope and processed using the Fiji software. Statistical analysis was conducted using ANOVA and Bonferroni’s Test. The results revealed a predominance of ovaries with CL+DF, and in terms of follicular size, the &lt;3 mm category exhibited the highest frequency of follicles, followed by the 3-8 mm category. Approximately 87.83±6.51% of the COCs showed complete coverage by CC; with 69.66±7.86% of the CC exhibiting compaction and 21.92±7.86% being slightly relaxed. A correlation was observed between the variable of CC layers and CC diameter (quantitative), with 91.42% of COCs having maximum diameters. Approximately, 83.11±4.27% of the oocytes displayed homogenous ooplasm, with the following measurements: area 12±0.37µm2 , perimeter 387.5±10µm, diameter 123±1.1µm, and ZP thickness 12.2±0.17µm. Moreover, 97.61± 0.11% of the oocytes were found to be viable, with no alterations observed in nuclear morphology and 100% displayed mitochondrial and metaphase activity. In conclusion, the ovaries and their corresponding COCs obtained from slaughtered females exhibit characteristics indicative of good quality for use in in vitro procedures.

Evaluation of Condition of Meat Shop on Prospective of Meat Act in Madi Municipality, Chitwan, Nepal

There are many meat shop around the country and only few are maintaining standard according to animal slaughter house and meat inspection act, 2057. We are trying to evaluate standard of 122 meat shop of Madi Municipality. We have prepared a questionnaire and surveyed all the meat shop to know the condition of shop and their standard with reference to animal slaughter house and meat inspection act, 2057. Meat shop in Madi is dominated by chicken, 85.71%. Which are equipped with D-freeze (60.65%) for freezing meat for a day with 91.22% having backup support for freezers. 70.08% of the shops are registered as mentioned by act. Similarly, only few (7.09%) of the shop have area met the requirement given by act. Ventilation in 59.02% of the shops are perfectly in line with act whereas tiles in the floor was absent in 83.61% of the shops. Good water supply and Slab in butchering area is in minimal with 8.20% and 4.10% respectively. Good condition mesh wire is present in order to prevent flies in 19.67% of the shops. Furthermore, only 1.64% of the butcher are aware about rules and regulations and 11.48% of the shop uses proper disinfection. Similarly, waste management is mostly done by making manure (28.69%) followed by burning (27.05%). Additionally, consumer’s preference is in fresh meat (79.51%) among which demand of chest meat is higher (52.46%) in chicken meat. In conclusion, most of the butcher are unaware of act and are doing their business without any knowledge of act and are not in line with the instructions given by the act.

Benefits of Using a Transdisciplinary Approach for the Design and Operationalization of a Surveillance System

Abstract During the preparatory phase of a surveillance project in Western Kenya, it was noted that several animal health activities, including meat inspection, were recorded using paper-based forms. Through discussions with the meat inspectors and other slaughterhouse actors, an electronic meat inspection form was developed, tested, and used in two slaughterhouses in Bungoma County. The meat inspectors completed and submitted a form for every animal slaughtered at their facility over a 2.75-year period. In a feedback meeting with the meat inspectors and other stakeholders, areas for improvement were highlighted, such as the timely provision of feedback to the data providers, and the inclusion of data fields that allow for more detailed animal movement information. The meat inspectors remarked that the form made them feel appreciated and added value to their work as the data could be used to educate farmers on prevailing livestock conditions and provide economic incentives for disease control interventions. The data submitted via the electronic forms were of sufficient quality to be summarized and identify trends in the animal slaughterhouse throughput, as well as frequent reasons for meat condemnation and associated costs. These data could therefore set the foundation for a syndromic surveillance system based on slaughterhouse data. Other non-traditional data sources, such as livestock and meat transport certificates, could also be leveraged to create a post-farm animal health information system. Information © The Authors 2023

Antibiotic resistance genes in farm animal slaughterhouse wastes in Al-Dewanyiah province, Iraq

Environment represents as a reservoir for emerging and disseminating of antibiotic resistance genes. Slaughterhouse waste is one of the important sources of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) even after treatment processes. This study was conducted to evaluate role of farm animal slaughterhouse in dissemination of antibiotics resistance in Al-Dewanyiah, Iraq. A total of eighty samples were collected from the central farm animal slaughterhouse. The detection was based on three mobile genetic elements and nine antibiotic resistance genes. The results showed that tetO &amp; tetK are common resistance genes in the tested samples with great relative abundance 60%. While, MGE transposon (Tn3) was detected in 80% of the tested samples. Gene encoding resistance to quinolone, methicillin, aminoglycoside and β-lactamases were also detected in the tested samples. Presence of three class of integrons as a mobile genetic were tested and the results of type 1 recorded high abundance (P&gt;0.05) as a compare with type 2 and type 3 integrons. Furthermore, concentrations of ARGs and MGEs per gram of sample were tested using qPCR. The genes encoding for tetracycline resistance and transposon (Tn3) were found in higher concentration (P&gt;0.05) (copy number) per gram of slaughterhouse sediments comparing with the selected genes. Quantification of ARGs and MGEs in the slaughterhouse wastes indicates that those wastes represent as a hotspot for dissemination of antibiotic resistance to the environment. Low darning and no treatment for slaughterhouse wastes might increase abundance of ARGs and resistant bacteria in the natural environment.

Exploring potential risk pathways with high risk groups for urban Rift Valley fever virus introduction, transmission, and persistence in two urban centers of Kenya.

Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is a zoonotic arbovirus that has profound impact on domestic ruminants and can also be transmitted to humans via infected animal secretions. Urban areas in endemic regions across Africa have susceptible animal and human hosts, dense vector distributions, and source livestock (often from high risk locations to meet the demand for animal protein). Yet, there has never been a documented urban outbreak of RVF. To understand the likely risk of RVFV introduction to urban communities from their perspective and guide future initiatives, we conducted focus group discussions with slaughterhouse workers, slaughterhouse animal product traders, and livestock owners in Kisumu City and Ukunda Town in Kenya. For added perspective and data triangulation, in-depth interviews were conducted one-on-one with meat inspector veterinarians from selected slaughterhouses. A theoretical framework relevant to introduction, transmission, and potential persistence of RVF in urban areas is presented here. Urban livestock were primarily mentioned as business opportunities, but also had personal sentiment. In addition to slaughtering risks, perceived risk factors included consumption of fresh milk. High risk groups' knowledge and experience with RVFV and other zoonotic diseases impacted their consideration of personal risk, with consensus towards lower risk in the urban setting compared to rural areas as determination of health risk was said to primarily rely on hygiene practices rather than the slaughtering process. Groups relied heavily on veterinarians to confirm animal health and meat safety, yet veterinarians reported difficulty in accessing RVFV diagnostics. We also identified vulnerable public health regulations including corruption in meat certification outside of the slaughterhouse system, and blood collected during slaughter being used for food and medicine, which could provide a means for direct RVFV community transmission. These factors, when compounded by diverse urban vector breeding habitats and dense human and animal populations, could create suitable conditions for RVFV to arrive an urban center via a viremic imported animal, transmit to locally owned animals and humans, and potentially adapt to secondary vectors and persist in the urban setting. This explorative qualitative study proposes risk pathways and provides initial insight towards determining how urban areas could adapt control measures and plan future initiatives to better understand urban RVF potential.

Status of Urinary shedders of Leptospires among cattle in Tamilnadu: Implications on zoonosis.

Bovine leptospirosis causes jaundice, mastitis, infertility, abortion, and death of the animal. This research aimed to study the status of urinary shedders of pathogenic Leptospira among the cattle population and identify the infecting serogroup circulating in this region. A total of 305 blood and 305 urine samples were collected from organized farms (n = 44), individually housed animals (n = 81) and animals from the slaughterhouse (n = 180). Microscopic agglutination test was carried out to detect anti‑leptospiral antibodies. Dark‑field microscopic examination and culture of urine were done to detect and isolate the Leptospira. The isolated Leptospira were identified by cross‑agglutination test and gene sequencing. PCR and real‑time PCR were carried out to detect leptospiral genomic DNA in urine samples to detect the shedders. The anti‑leptospiral antibodies were detected in 6.2% of animals. The Leptospira genomic DNA was detected in 9.2% (28 of 305) of urine samples. Of the 28 Leptospira positive urine samples, 39.2% were from animals with clinical signs suggestive of leptospirosis and 60.8% Leptospira positive samples were from slaughterhouse animals. The Leptospira isolated were identified as Leptospira interrogans serogroup Sejroe and Hebdomadis. The present study demonstrates the need to include leptospirosis in cattle health surveillance programmes to prevent leptospirosis by vaccination, preventing renal carriage.

Efficiency of Utilization of Wastes for Green Energy Production and Reduction of Pollution in Rural Areas

The aim of the study is to present the possibilities of simultaneous production of green energy and reduction of pollution in rural areas. Actions taken by small family businesses are in line with the goals of a low-carbon economy. The paper presents the results of research on the possibility of using ecological energy for production and, at the same time, utilizing harmful waste generated in farms in rural areas. Within a month, a medium-sized biogas plant can produce about 35–40 GJ of energy (depending on the input material). Biogas production may be of significant importance from the point of view of environmental protection, especially in the case of overproduction of animal waste and slaughterhouse materials. The production and use of energy generated from agricultural waste give a great opportunity for diversification and an increase in income of family farms. In addition to financial, energy, and environmental gains, we can obtain a very valuable fertilizer that is easily absorbed by plants in field cultivation. Energy efficiency is an important parameter in biogas production. The possibility of reducing pollution in rural areas and the possibility of using digestate as a fertilizer and an innovative addition to biocomposites.