Animal Drinking Research Articles

Detection of virulent and ESBL-resistant Salmonella species from cattle and associated farm environment

The aim of this study was to explore the virulence characteristics and antibiotic resistance in Salmonella species isolated from cattle farms. During the study, 10 cattle farms were selected and from each farm, 35 samples consisting of faeces, milk, udder swabs, hand swabs, floor swabs, animal drinking water, pit water, composite fodder sample, and dairy utensil swabs were collected. Accordingly, 350 samples were collected from 10 farms and processed for the detection of Salmonella spp. Presumptive Salmonella isolates were confirmed by PCR and characterized for virulence and antibiotic resistance genes. From 350 samples, 19 (5.40%) Salmonellae were recovered, and out of 19 Salmonellae, 12 were ESBL producers. Similarly, out of 19 isolates, spvC was the predominant gene detected (42.10%), followed by stn (31.5%), and spvR (26.31%), whereas, invA, and iroB genes were detected in all 19 Salmonella isolates. Most of the Salmonella isolates were multi-drug resistant strains exhibiting resistance to nalidixic acid (94.73%), tetracycline (36.84%), and ceftazidime (42.10%). Out of 12 ESBL-positive Salmonellae, 9 (75%) isolates harboured ESBL genes, viz. blaSHV and blaTEM (25% each) and blaCTX-M and blaOXA (16.66% each). Six Salmonella isolates showed the presence of tetA gene. The current study indicated healthy cattle and the associated farm environments could be a source of virulent and drug-resistant Salmonellae. The current study also advocates phenotypic and genotypic antibiotic resistance monitoring at farm animal premises and agricultural ecosystems.

Assessment of Animal Drinking Water Quality in Livestock Farms in Galapagos Islands

The purpose of this research was to determine the quality of water for bovine consumption on livestock farms in the El Progreso parish - Galapagos by applying a quality index following the Brown methodology proposed by the National Sanitation Foundation of the United States. Information was collected from the livestock farms through a socio-environmental diagnosis of the area, where five localities were considered: San Joaquín, Las Goteras, Cerro Verde, Puerto Chino and El Progreso from which fifteen livestock farms were selected for the respective sampling of the sources. of water. Therefore, nine parameters were considered for the analysis of the respective water sources: pH, TDS, Fecal Coliforms, electrical conductivity, hardness, nitrites, phosphates, temperature and turbidity. Of the total livestock farms monitored, three of them presented a rating of Good quality in a range of 70 to 90, while the remaining farms recorded values with a Medium classification, which are those that recorded AQI values between 51 to 70 according to the criteria established by the NSF. This research highlights the importance of frequently carrying out analyzes of the water sources from which cattle drink to determine the quality of the resource, and also provide technical advice to ranchers in the area on the management and cleaning of the reservoirs.

Elimination of arsenic from the reject solution of the reverse osmosis process

AbstractDisposal of the concentrate of the reverse osmosis process (ROC) is a challenge arising from implementing reverse osmosis‐based treatments for water supply. Environmentally friendly management options are related to technological changes tending to dismiss the environmental damage and offer reuse of the concentrate. In this work, we study the efficiency of a widely available material (laterite) for arsenic removal from raw ROC belonging to a treatment water supply plant. Assays of laterite were performed under batch conditions, by suspending it in raw ROC solutions enriched with As(V). Results indicated that arsenic adsorption was complete after 6 h of contact. Kinetic adsorption followed a law of the pseudo‐second‐order, where the rate was 96 g mg−1 h−1. The maximum adsorption capacity and equilibrium constant, which were determined by fitting equilibrium data to the Langmuir model adequately, were 154 µg g−1 and 0.9 L µg−1, respectively. The interaction between arsenic and laterite has a physical nature. From the raw ROC with an arsenic concentration near 150 µg L−1, a reduction of 62% was determined. The final concentrations of the treated solutions resulted in adequate for several reuse purposes in agricultural activities, such as crop irrigation and supplementation of animal drinking water.

Investigation of Benthic Macroinvertebrate Fauna and Water Quality of Animal Drinking Water Troughs by Multivariate Statistical Methods: The Case of Şarkışla

Investigation of Benthic Macroinvertebrate Fauna and Water Quality of Animal Drinking Water Troughs by Multivariate Statistical Methods: The Case of Şarkışla

Water Performance Indicators and Benchmarks for Dairy Production Systems

The aim of the study is to discern benchmarks for the indicators L water cow−1 day−1 and L water kg milk−1 day−1 per type of production system and season. A total of 876 commercial dairy farms underwent comprehensive water consumption monitoring from January 2021 to December 2022. The monitored water consumptions were animal drinking water and water usage for cleaning. Confined systems exhibited the highest average for animal drinking and cleaning, 87.5 L water cow−1 day−1 and 84.4 L water cow−1 day−1, respectively. Semi-confined systems presented the lowest average for animal drinking, 54.4 L water cow−1 day−1. Pasture systems showed the lowest average for cleaning, 45.2 L water cow−1 day−1. The benchmarks proposed in this study can serve as the first references for animal drinking and milking parlor washing consumption for production systems in tropical conditions.

A systematic review on the WHO Global Priority Pathogens (GPP) List reported in animals, products, and by-products in Colombia

Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) published the Global Priority Pathogens (GPP) List for the Research and Development of Effective Antibiotics in 2017, a catalog of bacteria to be prioritized in the global fight against bacterial antibiotic resistance. Objective: To collect and app raise the scientific evidence on bacteria listed as GPP in animals and their products and by-products in Colombia, identifying knowledge gaps and providing finding-based recommendations. Materials and Methods: The review was carried out according to PRISMA guidelines. Only original articles published in peer35 reviewed journals were considered. Results: Twenty-one articles, published between 2001 and 2021, met the inclusion criteria. The geographical areas of study were the provinces of Antioquia, Cundinamarca —including Bogotá C.D., and Santander and Tolima. The main bacteria from the WHO´s list reported were fluoroquinolone-resistant Salmonella, methicillin-resistant and vancomycin-intermediate and resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and carbapenem-resistant ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae. The sources were feces, facilities, equipment, feed, animal drinking water, bed chip, tissues, and carcasses, related to broilers and laying hens, cattle, and pigs. Conclusions: Results obtained herein afford important advances in the knowledge of the phenomenon and its dynamic in Colombia. Nevertheless, much remains to be researched in the country, including standardized methods for the microbiological identification in veterinary medicine, as well as the evaluation of the antibiotic susceptibility patrons in bacteria in accordance with what is done in humans, among other aspects.

304 Precision Weighing Technologies to Measure Real-Time Drinking Behavior, Body Mass, and Growth in Steers Managed Using Virtual Fencing Technology in Extensive Pastures

Abstract Attaining sustainability of livestock production and understanding environmental synergies requires in-depth knowledge of grazing animal growth and behavior. A pilot study (2021-22) was conducted at the South Dakota State University Cottonwood Field Station as part of a broader project to evaluate precision livestock technology and environmental synergies on native rangelands. Yearling Angus steers (n = 262) were fitted with virtual fencing collars (Vence), weighed on a traditional chute scale, and allocated to one of six native grass pastures equipped with individual weighing (SmartScale) scales at the water source. Each pasture was assigned either Rotational (RG) or Continuous (CG) grazing strategy and one of three stocking rates (Low, Medium, and High, 0.3, 0.42, and 0.7 AUMs, respectively) in a 2x3 factorial design. The data were downloaded, (Rcore Team, 2023), and spurious weights identified and removed using Robust Regression (hwts > 0.99, Parsons et al. 2023). Effects of stocking rate and grazing strategy were analyzed on water visits, time spent drinking, and growth using a linear mixed effects model to calculate effect sizes. Differences between BW and ADG calculated using the smart-scale vs. traditional chute weights were evaluated using a paired t-test. Steers visited the smart-scale 3.44 ± 2.79 visits per day, with significant effect of RG vs. CG strategies (3.65 ± 0.09 vs. 2.89 ± 0.10 visits per day respectively, P < 0.05). Total water visit duration averaged 5.04 ± 7.58 minutes per day, with most visits occurring between 0600 and 2000 hours and no observations occurring between 2000 and 0000 hours. RG managed steers exhibited significantly higher water visit duration (5.28 ± 0.308 vs 4.16 ± 0.317 minutes/day, P < 0.05) compared with CG managed steers. Smartscale measured weights were significantly heavier than chute weights at the beginning and end of the study period, (7.47 ± 24.54 and 9.77 ± 46.25 kg respectively, P < 0.05). No differences in overall ADG were found between smartscale and traditional chute weights(P > 0.58), however, significant temporal interactions occurred (P < 0.05), which demonstrates that ADG varied over the trial duration. This created significant discrepancies in predicted vs. actual stocking rates in heavy stocked pastures (0.84 AUM, P < 0.05), indicating pastures exceeded their target stocking rate. Overall, we found steers readily acclimated to smart-scale weighing systems, and creates a viable technology to monitor watering behavior, real-time body weight, and ADG in extensively managed cattle. Further, we showed RG vs CG grazing strategies significantly affect animal drinking behavior, while stocking rate resulted in inequalities between expected vs. actual assigned animal unit months. Precision livestock technologies offer a vital solution towards enhancing sustainable livestock management practices and improving nutrition and modeling in extensive rangeland systems.

Controlling microbial population in livestock and poultry industry using electrolyzed water as an emerging technology for ensuring food safety

Poultry and livestock contribute a significant amount of energy and protein to the human diet. However, a main concern is the undesirable microbial population from the poultry and livestock system that may cause diseases in both humans and animals. Electrolyzed water has shown broad-spectrum sanitization efficiency and gained considerable popularity. This review aims to provide an overview of the use of electrolyzed water under different environment conditions for sanitization in livestock and poultry systems. Electrolyzed water serves as an excellent antimicrobial and anti-biofilm agent against various pathogenic, disease-producing, and undesirable microbes in every step of the livestock and poultry sectors from farm to fork. The synergistic effects of the oxidation reduction potential, pH, and chlorine concentration of electrolyzed water enable its potential and prompt mechanism for controlling and eliminating various microorganisms. Compared to other conventional disinfectants, electrolyzed water has been shown to be more efficient and effective. As an environmentally-friendly sanitizer, electrolyzed water has been applied in livestock and poultry production and processing sectors such as animal drinking water, feed decontamination, house sanitation, transportation system, slaughterhouse sanitation, meat-processing industry decontamination, sanitization of milk-processing industries, hatchery and eggshell decontamination. This review is aimed to discuss the microbial control in livestock and poultry industry by applying electrolyzed water as a novel sanitizer.

Three environmental dimensions of beef cattle in tropical feedlot: Water, nutrients and land

This study aims to evaluate water, land, and nutrient efficiencies in a tropical beef feedlot system by providing artificial shading and considering local conditions and feed cultivation. The study was conducted at the Experimental Feedlot of Embrapa Southeast Livestock in Brazil. Forty-eight Nellore bulls were divided into two groups, with one group having shade (GS) and the other without shade (GWS). The animals' body weights, water intake, and dry matter intake were recorded. The water footprint was calculated using a product-focused assessment, considering water consumed in feed production and animal drinking. The nutrient balance and land footprint were also assessed. To both treatments, the crop scenario with soybean and corn first crop produced in Maringa resulted in the lowest water and land footprint values. Corn was the main contributor to green water consumption. The efficiency in water use for corn decreased between the first and second crops. The water footprint of soybean meal varied between production locations. GWS had slightly higher average blue water consumption than GS. In terms of nutrient balance, the GS treatment exhibited lower nitrogen and phosphorus balance values, indicating higher efficiency in the use of these elements. The provision of artificial shading was found to reduce the water footprint and improve nutrient use efficiency. The location of grain production and the timing of corn planting were identified as key factors influencing water and land footprint values.

Health risk assessment of lake water contaminated with microcystins for fruit crop irrigation and farm animal drinking

The health risks linked to the consumption of microcystin-accumulating crops have been increasing worldwide in toxic cyanobloom-occurring regions. The bioaccumulation of microcystins (MCs) in agricultural produce at environmentally realistic concentrations is poorly investigated. In this field study, we assessed the health risks of MCs in raw water used for irrigating fruit crops (bioaccumulation) and watering farm animals in the Lalla Takerkoust agricultural region (Marrakesh, Morocco). Thus, MCs were extracted from water and fruit samples and quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in order to calculate the health risk indicators. MCs posed a high health-risk level to poultry and horses, with estimated daily intakes (EDI) being 14- and 19-fold higher than the recommended limits (3.1 and 2.3 μg MC-LR L−1), respectively. Furthermore, pomegranate posed the same level of risk, with EDI being 22- and 53-fold higher than the limit dose (0.04 μg MC-LR kg−1) for adults and children, respectively. There was an urgent need for guidelines regarding water use and management in MC-polluted areas, besides the setup of nature-based tools for toxin removal from raw water used in farming practices. Moreover, MCs could contaminate the human food chain, which implies further investigations of their potential accumulation in livestock- and poultry-based food.

ANÁLISIS HIDROGEOQUÍMICO DE LA CALIDAD DE AGUAS SUPERFICIALES EN UNA ZONA MINERA EN EL FLANCO OESTE DE LA CORDILLERA OCCIDENTAL DE LOS ANDES

This study used the hydrogeochemical properties of surface waters surrounding a mining project in Peru to compare them with the environmental quality standards established in Supreme Decree 004-2017-MINAM, focusing on category 3 for vegetable irrigation and animal drinking. Physical-chemical, inorganic, microbiological and parasitic parameters were evaluated in lagoons and springs. The results determined the presence of slightly alkaline deposits with a pH of 9.59 and slightly acidic deposits with a pH of 5.33, as well as deposits with high content of iron, manganese, and zinc. To ensure the reliability of the chemical analysis, an ionic balance of the main dissolved cations and anions was performed. The Piper diagram determined the predominant calcic sulfate waters, as well as the presence of a calcic bicarbonate water deposit. On the other hand, the Stiff diagram determined sulfate (SO42-) as the predominant ion. This study concludes that the different stations comply with the environmental quality standards, although deposits with high levels of iron, manganese, and zinc were found in surface waters. Different treatments were determined to control pH levels and to decrease the amount of such ions present.

Consumption, productivity and cost: Three dimensions of water and their relationship with the supply of artificial shading for beef cattle in feedlots

It is important to understand the relationship between beef cattle water performance and animal welfare. However, to date, there is no knowledge of studies carried out to assess the water productivity of cattle when using an animal welfare practice. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of artificial shading in the water intake and water productivity and the relationships between these indicators with animal performance and water cost in a cattle feedlot system. Animals were divided into two groups, with shade (GS) and without shade (GWS), and they were housed in four collective pens. Water intake (WI, L day−1), dry matter intake (DMI, kg day−1), and average daily gain (ADG, kg day−1) were obtained for all cattle individually. To calculate water productivity, water input was the direct technical water represented by animal drinking. The average daily water intake for animals under shade was 36.8 L day-1. Animals without shade consumed 9% (3.3 L day−1) more water than animals under shade. Animals under shade presented higher water productivities. The average water productivity per kilograms of live weight of animals under shade was 0.203 kg LW L−1 water, with a maximum of 0.264 kg LW L−1 water and a minimum of 0.159 kg LW L−1 water. These values were 0.185, 0.234, and 0.097 kg LW L−1 water, respectively, for animals without shade. This is justified due to the lower average water intake for these animals and due to the numerically higher live weight and carcass weights. The results showed that if a production system uses shade in the feedlot, the water payment could be reduced by 7.2%. The study demonstrated that animals had a benefit by being produced with better welfare, the environment has a benefit by producing the same output with less water input, and the consumer wins by having an available product with environmental and animal welfare values.

Prevalence and Molecular Characterisation of Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase-Producing Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli, from Cattle Farm to Aquatic Environments.

Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing bacteria are a major problem for public health worldwide because of limited treatment options. Currently, only limited information is available on ESBL-producing Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in cattle farms and the surrounding aquatic environment. This study sought to track and characterise ESBL-producing STEC disseminating from a cattle farm into the water environment. Animal husbandry soil (HS), animal manure (AM), animal drinking water (ADW), and nearby river water (NRW) samples were collected from the cattle farm. Presumptive ESBL-producing STEC were isolated and identified using chromogenic media and mass spectrophotometry methods (MALDI-TOF-MS), respectively. The isolates were subjected to molecular analysis, and all confirmed ESBL-producing STEC isolates were serotyped for their O serogroups and assessed for antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and for the presence of selected virulence factors (VFs). A phylogenetic tree based on the multilocus sequences was constructed to determine the relatedness among isolates of ESBL-producing STEC. The highest prevalence of ESBL-producing STEC of 83.33% was observed in HS, followed by ADW with 75%, NRW with 68.75%, and the lowest was observed in AM with 64.58%. Out of 40 randomly selected isolates, 88% (n = 35) belonged to the serogroup O45 and 13% (n = 5) to the serogroup O145. The multilocus sequence typing (MLST) analysis revealed four different sequence types (STs), namely ST10, ST23, ST165, and ST117, and the predominant ST was found to be ST10. All 40 isolates carried sul1 (100%), while blaOXA, blaCTX-M, sul2, blaTEM, and qnrS genes were found in 98%, 93%, 90%, 83%, and 23% of the 40 isolates, respectively. For VFs, only stx2 was detected in ESBL-producing STEC isolates. The results of the present study indicated that a cattle environment is a potential reservoir of ESBL-producing STEC, which may disseminate into the aquatic environment through agricultural runoff, thus polluting water sources. Therefore, continual surveillance of ESBL-producing STEC non-O157 would be beneficial for controlling and preventing STEC-related illnesses originating from livestock environments.

Water for Domestic Animal Drinking Based on the Categorization of Species in an Urban Brazilian Slum

Every animal needs safe water for drinking. The quality of this water is essential for welfare. This study discusses on the quality of water furnished to about 50 domestic animals based on the categorization of species practiced by residents at São Rafael slum, located in the city of João Pessoa, Brazil. The drinking water comes from three sources: municipal supply system, bottled mineral water and directly from the Jaguaribe River. The water perceived as safest was the same as offered to pets. Domestic animal water samples were tested and rated as not recommended in more than 65% of the samples. The density of thermotolerant coliforms ranged between 0 and 11,000 cells/100 mL. One third of the samples considered unsuitable for animal watering were also outside the recommended pH. In addition, a differential behavior was observed in the choice of water source according to the caretaker's perception of safety. Dogs and cats, considered family members, received the same water as consumed by the family. Even these, 38.5% of the samples, were rated as not recommended and represented a risk to the health of all those who consumed it. As well, a need for good practices of hygiene in water management and cleaning of water dishes, tanks and troughs was seen.

Human-Associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Clonal Complex 80 Isolated from Cattle and Aquatic Environments.

Background: Human-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (HA-MRSA) has mainly been reported in South African pig and chicken farms. The prevalence of antibiotic-resistant genes (ARGs), virulence factors (VFs), and multilocus sequence types (MLSTs) associated with HA-MRSA in cattle farms has not been reported. Consequently, this study characterised LA-MRSA and its spread from cattle farms into the environment. Method: Husbandry soil (HS), nearby river water (NRW), animal manure (AM) and animal drinking water (ADW) were collected on and around a cattle farm. Presumptive MRSA isolates were identified from these samples using CHROMagar media and genotyped as MRSA sequence types (STs), selected ARGs, and VFs, using polymerase chain reaction. An MLST-based dendrogram was generated to link the farm MRSA strains with those in a nearby river. Results: The prevalence of MRSA was 30.61% for HS, 28.57% for ADW, 22.44% for NRW, and 10.20% for AM. Isolates from HS harboured the highest number of resistant genes, with 100% for mecA, 91.66% for ermA, and 58.33% for blaZ. However, no ermC or tetM genes were detected. MRSA isolates from AM harboured the lowest number of resistant genes. Only sec and seq enterotoxins were found in all the assessed MRSA isolates. MRSA from the farm revealed six STs (ST80, ST728, ST1931, ST2030, ST3247, and ST5440); all of STs belonged to clonal complex 80 (CC80). An MLST-based dendrogram based on the concatenated sequences of MLST genes under the maximum likelihood criterion revealed four clades of amalgamated MRSA isolates from various livestock environmental matrices, including the NRW. Conclusion: The results suggest that livestock environmental matrices might be reservoirs of MRSA that could subsequently disseminate through runoff to pollute water resources. Therefore, continued surveillance of HA-MRSA in livestock environments is warranted.

Distribution of antimicrobial resistance across the overall environment of dairy farms – A case study

The environmental implications of antimicrobial resistance arising from food animal farm practice are still a knowledge gap. This study investigates the fate and transport of antimicrobial resistance genes related to the use of antibiotics on a dairy farm in Michigan. Manure, soil, animal feed, animal drinking water, surface and groundwater samples were taken and the abundance of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) were subsequently measured using high parallel quantitative PCR targeting 136 genes. The total abundance and detected numbers of ARGs were found to be highest in the stagnant lagoon. Up to 44 ARG subtypes with high abundance were found in drinking water in pen which was very close to those in manure compost. The ARGs pattern clustered by soil depth although they were treated by different manure. ARGs and MGEs were detected in surface and groundwater surrounded by dairy farmlands, with the occurrence of carbapenemase-encoding KPC gene in two waters, which may be due to transport of ARGs through runoff or other sources. Overall, the results of the study suggest high prevalence of ARGs both inside and outside the animal raising area and their potential contribution to environmental ARGs.

Antimicrobial resistance characteristics of Extended Spectrum Beta Lactamase (ESBL)- producing Escherichia coli from dairy farms in the Sleman district of Yogyakarta province, Indonesia

Extended Spectrum Beta Lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli (E. coli) infections are a global health challenge resulting from human contact with infected animals and contaminated farm environments. This study aims to identify antimicrobial resistance patterns of ESBL-producing E. coli isolated from dairy farms in the Sleman District of Yogyakarta Province, Indonesia. Ninety-three dairy farms with a history of antibiotic use in the previous 6 months were identified. Samples were collected from 6 different sources (feces, milk, wastewater, animal drinking water, feed and rinses of workers’ hands) on each farm during August through November 2020. These samples were cultured with conventional microbiological methods for the isolation of ESBL-producing E. coli. ESBL-producing E. coli was identified in one or more of the sources in 54% (50/93) of the dairy farms sampled. Fecal samples were the most commonly positive (25%) while wastewater, animal drinking water feed, milk and hand rinses were positive at 16%, 10%, 5%, 4% and 3% respectively. Colonies from each positive sample were screened for antibiotic susceptibility test using the Vitek-2 system. Resistance to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, tetracycline and gentamicin were found in 74%, 63% and 48% of the isolates, respectively. Multidrug resistant (MDR) was identified in 50% (63/127) of the isolates. In conclusion, ESBL-producing E. coli appears widespread in dairy farms using antibiotics and antimicrobial resistance among these bacteria is common in this study area. Further study of the risk of human transmission from contaminated cattle and their environments could benefit the national antimicrobial resistance strategic plans.

Using Bioelements Isotope Ratios and Fatty Acid Composition to Deduce Beef Origin and Zebu Feeding Regime in Cameroon.

The purpose of this study was to address the lack of knowledge regarding the stable isotopic composition of beef from zebu cattle reared in tropical Africa. Sixty beef carcasses belonging to the most common zebu breeds (Goudali, white Fulani, and red Mbororo) were selected and classified according to their subcutaneous fat color (white, cream or yellow). The stable isotope ratios of five bioelements—H, O, C, N, and S—in muscle fractions and the fatty acids composition were analyzed. Zebu meat from Cameroon shows peculiar δ13C values, related to the almost exclusive intake of grazed tropical grasses with photosynthetic cycle C4. It also shows δ2H and δ18O values higher than those reported in other areas of the world and correlated with the isotopic composition of animal drinking water. The white subcutaneous fat (“white type”) zebu showed higher δ2H and lower δ13C than the “yellow type”, that is correlated with a higher content of polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) and a lower amount of saturated fatty acid (SFA) and monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA). Multielement analysis seems to provide promising results for tracing the regional origin of Cameroon beef and some aspects of the livestock system, such as the nutritional status of the animals.

Characterization of the Groundwater within Regional Aquifers and Suitability Assessment for Various Uses and Purposes-Western Iraq

Groundwater quality investigation has been carried out in the western part of Iraq (west longitude '40°40). The physicochemical analyses of 64 groundwater samples collected from seven aquifers were used in the determination of groundwater characterization and assessment. The concept of spatial hydrochemical bi-model was prepared for quantitative and qualitative interpretation. Hydrogeochemical data referred that the groundwater is of meteoric origin and has processes responsible for observed brackishness. The geochemical facies of the groundwater reveal that none of the anions and cations pairs exceed 50% and there are practically mixtures of multi-water types (such as Ca–Mg–Cl–HCO3 and Na+K–SO4–Cl water type) as dominant types. The hydrogeochemical evolution indicates that the groundwater is mainly controlled by the leaching and dissolution process of carbonate minerals. Increasing salt content is observed at different static water levels (groundwater flow) confirming mixing cases with multi water sources. Anthropogenic activities do not have a significant alteration in the geochemical nature of groundwater in aquifer systems. Most of the groundwater is classified within the category of C3S1 and C2S1 denoting admissible to good quality of water for irrigation in 67% of the total samples. On the other hand, 33% of samples are classified as bad to very bad. The groundwater of most aquifers has precedence for irrigation, agricultural purposes, animal drinking, and good to fair class for natural preserve activities. While the groundwater of Mullusi and Jeed-Rattga aquifers are suggested for human drinking purposes. Also, the groundwater within the hydrogeologic system can be used in low-pressure boilers, mining, construction industry, and unsafe in high-pressure boilers due to the relatively high total hardness (237 to 1456 mg/l). Corrosively ratio indicates that 83 % of exploited groundwater from boreholes is safe for long transport through metallic pipelines.

Epidemiological assessment of antibiotic residues in dairy farm milk and farm waste and water in northern India.

Antibiotics are frequently used in the dairy sector for prophylactic uses along with therapeutic purposes. Throughout the globe, antibiotic resistance has turned out as one of the greatest public health issue with greater concern in developing countries, such as India. On the matrix wise comparison of the study, slurry samples in all three farming systems show the highest proportion of positive samples. Out of 153 slurry samples, 15.6% samples showed the presence of antibiotic residues. Eighteen milk samples (11.7%) showed the presence of residues following this trend. Only one sample (0.65%) was positive of animal drinking water in the study. None of the targeted residues were found in any sample of human drinking water. The four pond water samples showed the prevalence of residues of oxytetracycline (2 samples) and enrofloxacin (2 samples). Medium size farms (10-30 animals) comprised comparative higher levels than small (< 10) and large farms (> 30). The excretion mass modelling of antibiotics released in the environment indicated 8325.41kg of oxytetracycline and 12,498.89kg of enrofloxacin per year. The study helps in providing understanding in the relation between antibiotics usage and dissemination of their residues to the environment which may result in likely ecotoxicological consequences.