Faecal Counts Research Articles

AMERICAN CONSORTIUM FOR SMALL RUMINANT PARASITE CONTROL INVESTIGATIONS ON THE USE OF PLANT SECONDARY COMPOUNDS OF SERICEA LESPEDEZA FOR THE CONTROL OF SHEEP AND GOAT PARASITES

<p><strong>Introduction</strong>: Sericea lespedeza (SL; <em>Lespedeza cuneata</em>) is a warm-season perennial legume well-adapted to the warm, moist climate of the southeastern USA. High in condensed tannins and other secondary compounds, SL has potential as an anti-parasitic nutraceutical forage for sheep and goats in this region and throughout the world where it is adapted. <strong>Objectives</strong>: To summarize the nearly 20 years’ work of the American Consortium for Small Ruminant Parasite Control (ACSRPC) related to the anti-parasitic properties of SL in the diet of small ruminants. <strong>Results</strong>: In a series of experiments with goats and sheep fed SL in fresh (grazed), dried (hay, leaf meal, pellets) or preserved (ensiled) forms, this forage showed promising anti-parasitic efficacy against GIN, particularly <em>Haemonchus contortus</em>, and coccidia (<em>Eimeria </em>spp.), lowering gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) fecal egg counts (FEC), coccidial fecal oocyst counts (FOC), and reducing GIN larval development and worm burdens. <strong>Implications</strong>: These results indicate the potential of SL as a component of integrated, novel (non-chemical) parasite management programs for on-farm application by small ruminant producers. <strong>Conclusions</strong>: Sericea lespedeza has very good anti-parasitic activity against GIN and coccidial infection in sheep and goats and has excellent potential as a nutraceutical forage for small ruminant producers, either for their own use or for sale as nutraceutical hay or pellets.</p>

Feed emulsifier improves the performance and nutrient digestibility in broiler chicken fed diets without antibiotic growth promoter

ABSTRACT 1. A study was conducted to assess the impact of supplementing-graded concentrations of emulsifier on the production performance, gut microbial count, and digestibility of nitrogen and energy in broiler chicken fed diets without AGP. 2. Male broiler chicks (n = 1500; Vencobb-430), aged one-day-old, were randomly allocated into six dietary groups each with 10 replicates of 25 birds each. A maize-soybean and meat and bone meal-based basal diet without antibiotic (AGP) growth promoter served as negative control (NC). The basal diet was supplemented with BMD (AGP, bacitracin methylene disalicylate-BMD 100 g/T), which served as the positive control (PC). Emulsifier was added to the NC diets at either 250 g/ton in all phases (250-All), 250 g in starter and grower phases, and 500 g in the finisher phase (250:250:500), 250 g in starter and 500 g in both grower and finisher phases (250:500:500) and 500 g in all phases (500 g-All). 3. Two broilers per replicate were slaughtered to record carcase traits and gut microbial count on day 43. There was significant improvement in body weight gain (BWG) and reduced FCR in broilers fed 250:250:500 and 250:500:500 g emulsifiers compared to other treatment groups. Carcase traits and faecal microbial count did not differ among treatments. The inclusion of BMD significantly improved nitrogen (N) digestibility compared to the NC group. The digestibility of emulsifier-supplemented groups was similar to those fed by the BMD group except for the 500-All group, which was an intermediary between NC and other emulsifier-fed groups. 4. It was concluded that supplementation with emulsifier (250:250:500 or 250:500:500) without antibiotic growth promoter significantly improved FCR and body weight gain similar to broilers receiving antibiotic growth promoter, which was associated with increased ileal digestibility of N and energy.

Deer dietary responses to wildfire: Optimal foraging, individual specialization, or opportunism?

Increasing impacts of wildfire on arid regions of the world fuelled by climate change highlight the need to better understand how natural communities respond to fire. We took advantage of a large (1660-km2 ) wildfire that erupted in northern California during an in-progress study of black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus) to investigate deer use of and diets within burned and unburned habitats before and after the fire. We compared deer diet breadth to predictions of optimal foraging theory, the niche variation hypothesis, and opportunistic (i.e., generalist) foraging expectations under the assumption that overall availability and diversity of forage in burned areas declined immediately after the fire and increased as the plant community recovered in the next 3 years after the fire. We used faecal pellet counts to document space use and metabarcoding to study diet during pre-fire, post-fire, and recovery periods. Pellet counts supported predictions that deer increased use of unburned sites and reduced use of burn sites after the fire and began to return to burned sites in subsequent sampling years. Diet diversity did not differ significantly between control and burn sites before the fire, but was lower in burn than control sites post-fire (p < .001), when and where diet was dominated by oak (Quercus spp). In contrast, during subsequent years, diet diversity was higher (including more herbaceous plants) in burn than control sites (p < .05). In contrast to predictions of optimal foraging and niche variation hypotheses, individual deer foraged as generalists for which changes in dietary niche breadth paralleled fire-induced changes in diversity of the plant community.

147 The Impact of Salinomycin and Crude Protein Level on Endemically Enterically Challenged Nursery Pigs

Abstract Endemic enteric challenges antagonize nursery pig livability and performance. Recent limitations in the therapeutic control of Coccidia have increased the prevalence of coccidiosis in suckling and nursery piglets. Together with diet structure, intestinal inflammation and function may be compromised. Therefore, our objective was to evaluate the use of the coccidiostat, salinomycin, in conjunction with high (HCP) and low (LCP) dietary crude protein (CP) on performance, survivability, and cocci shedding of nursery pigs. Mixed sex pigs (n = 120; initial body weight = 5.63 ± 1.4) were sourced from a coccidia, rotavirus, and hemolytic Escherichia coli positive sow farm and randomly allotted to single sex pens in a 2x2 factorial design (10 pens/treatment). Pigs were fed either HCP (24%) or LCP (18%) diet with or without salinomycin. All pigs were fed in three phases lasting 9, 12, and 21 days, respectively. Salinomycin was fed in phases 1 and 2 at 90 ppm and in phase 3 at 60 ppm. Pen body weights and feed disappearance were collected at the start and end of each phase to calculate average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), and gain to feed ratio (G:F). Fecal consistency was scored for diarrhea presence daily. Within pen, pooled fecal samples were collected on days 9 and 20 for fecal float analysis of Coccidia oocyst counts. On day 9, one pig per pen selected based on median ADG within each pen was euthanized for tissue collection and histopathology assessment. Performance data, mortality/removals, and fecal cocci presence were analyzed for the effects of CP, salinomycin, and their interaction. Pen was the experimental unit and significance was set at P ≤ 0.05. Fecal coccidia oocysts counts were reduced by 85% (P &amp;lt; 0.05) and 80% (P = 0.066) at day 9 and 20, respectively in salinomycin verses control fed pigs. Salinomycin and LCP both decreased diarrhea incidence during phase 2 (P &amp;lt; 0.05). A CP and salinomycin interaction was observed during phase 2 and a tendency was observed overall as salinomycin seemed to mitigate diarrhea presence in HCP pigs (P &amp;lt; 0.05 and P = 0.090). Pigs fed salinomycin had reduced removal rates of 10 and 0%, compared with 15 and 30% for unmedicated LCP and HCP pigs (P &amp;lt; 0.05). No CP by salinomycin interactions for performance metrics were observed. In phase 1, no main effects were observed. During phase 2, LCP tended to increase ADFI for HCP (0.52 vs. 0.44 kg/d, respectively, P = 0.064). During phase 3, salinomycin increased G:F (P &amp;lt; 0.05) and tended to increase ADG (P = 0.080) compared with the control. Overall, 42 day nursery performance was not different between treatments. In conclusion, crude protein did not influence nursery pig performance. However, salinomycin reduced coccidiosis shedding and increased survivability in naturally enterically challenged nursery pigs.

Alquremold Natural (AMN) for Growth Performance, Carcass Characteristics and Bacterial Growth Inhibition of Commercial Broilers

An experiment was conducted with 648-day-old Cobb 500 broiler chicks to evaluate the effects of Alquermold natural (AMN) on overall growth performance, carcass characteristics and inhibition of enteric bacterial growth of commercial broilers. The birds were randomly assigned to four different treatments: T0 (Control), T1 (0.5 g/kg AMN), T2 (1.0 g/kg AMN) and T3 (1.0 g/kg Mold Inhibitor (MI)), respectively. They were reared for up to 28 days. At the end of experiment, the birds’ growth performances in terms of body weight (BW), body weight gain (BWG), feed intake (FI), feed conversion ratio (FCR), survival, and meat production characteristics were recorded and calculated. Weekly fecal sample collection and microbiological count were performed to determine the bacterial load, specifically Escherichia coli and anaerobic bacteria in the broiler feces. The results showed that birds receiving 1.0 g/kg AMN had significantly higher BW and BWG (p0.01) than the control, 0.5 g/kg AMN, and MI groups. The FI and FCR of broilers were comparable in all treatment groups. There were no significant (p &gt; 0.05) changes in meat yield parameters such as dressing percentage, neck, shank, drumstick, breast meat, thigh meat, and wing meat. However, when compared to the other dietary treatments, the bacterial load (E. coli and anaerobic bacteria) was significantly lower in the birds fed 1.0 g/kg AMN. Based on the findings, it can be concluded that feeding AMN at a rate of 1.0 g/kg may be considered for improving growth performance, maximizing feed utilization, and inhibiting bacterial load in the intestine of commercial broiler chickens.

Effect of Probiotic Dose Escalation on Gut Microbiota and Clinical Outcomes in Preterm Infants-A Systematic Review.

Probiotics are known to decrease incidences of necrotising enterocolitis, feeding intolerance, late-onset sepsis, and mortality in preterm infants. Administering an adequate dose is important for optimizing the benefits and safety of probiotics. We conducted a systematic review to assess the effect of probiotic dose escalation on clinical outcomes and gut microbiota in preterm neonates. We searched PubMed, EMBASE, EMCARE, Medline, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, and MedNar databases in July 2023. Three studies were included. In one of the randomized studies (n = 149, gestation 27 to 33 weeks), no significant differences in faecal Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium counts and clinical outcomes were seen between the high- and low-dose groups. There was a trend towards increased Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium counts in the high-dose group. In the other randomized study (n = 120, birth weight 500 to 2000 gm), smaller infants (500 to 1000 gm) required higher doses to display Lactobacillus in their faeces. The cohort study (n = 12, gestation < 33 weeks) showed a trend towards an increase in faecal abundance of bifidobacteria and bacterial diversity in the B. infantis group with increasing dose/time. Limited evidence suggests a higher dose might improve gut colonization in preterm infants. Further studies are urgently needed to address this gap in the knowledge considering the increasing use of probiotics for preterm infants.

Isolation, antimicrobial resistance and virulence characterization of Salmonella spp. from fresh foods in retail markets in Hangzhou, China.

Salmonella can cause severe foodborne diseases. This study investigated the prevalence of Salmonella spp. in fresh foods in Hangzhou market and their harborage of antibiotic resistance and virulence genes, antibiotic susceptibility, and pathogenicity. A total of 500 samples (pork, n = 140; chicken, n = 128; vegetable, n = 232) were collected over a one-year period. Salmonella was found in 4.2% (21) of samples with the detection rate in pork, chicken and vegetables as 4.3% (6), 6.3% (8), and 3% (7), respectively. One Salmonella strain was recovered from each positive sample. The isolates were identified as six serotypes, of which S. Enteritidis (n = 7) and S. Typhimurium (n = 6) were the most predominant serotypes. The majority of isolates showed resistance to tetracycline (85.7%) and/or ciprofloxacin (71.4%). Tetracycline resistance genes showed the highest prevalence (90.5%). The occurrence of resistance genes for β-lactams (blaTEM-1, 66.7%; and blaSHV, 9.5%) and aminoglycosides (aadA1, 47.6%; Aac(3)-Ia, 19%) was higher than sulfonamides (sul1, 42.9%) and quinolones (parC, 38.1%). The virulence gene fimA was detected in 57.1% of isolates. Gene co-occurrence analysis implied that resistance genes were associated with virulence genes. Furthermore, selected S. Typhimurium isolates (n = 4) carrying different resistance and virulence genes up-regulated the secretions of cytokines IL-6 and IL-8 by Caco-2 cells in different degrees, suggesting that virulence genes may play a role in inflammatory transcription. In in vivo virulence test, microbiological counts in mouse feces and tissues showed that all included S. Typhimurium were able to infect mice, with one strain showing significantly higher virulence than others. In conclusion, this study indicates Salmonella contamination in fresh foods in Hangzhou market poses a risk to public health and it should be closely monitored to prevent and control foodborne diseases.

Coccidiosis in Barbari and Jamunapari goats at an organized farm in semi-arid tropical region of India

The aim of the present study was to learn more about caprine coccidiosis in semi-arid tropical regions, including transformation techniques for data analysis and variables impacting faecal oocyst count in Barbari and Jamunapari goats. For this investigation, a total of 1422 goat faeces samples from two separate seasons were tested, and 1342 (94.37%) of them were positive for several coccidian species oocysts. A total of 259 animals, including 153 Barbari (77 males and 76 females) and 106 Jamunapari (45 males and 61 females), provided the 777 faecal samples from the autumn season. In contrast, 215 animals, including 110 Barbari (60 males and 50 females) and 105 Jamunapari (52 males and 53 females), provided the 645 faecal samples from the spring season. At 3.5, 6.0, and 7.5 months of age, both breeds had their faeces examined. The geometric mean of oocysts per Gram (OPG) for the Barbari breeds was greater than the Jamunapari breeds at 6.637a±0.03 (662) and 6.521b±0.03 (579), respectively. The Transformed oocysts per gram (LOPG) was also greater in females 6.651a±0.03 (673) than in males. Similar to the age comparison, the 7.5 month older animal showed a greater count of 6.858a±0.04 (851) than the 3.5 and 6.0 month old animals. The five found coccidian oocysts were Eimeria arloingi, Eimeria ninakohlyakimovae, Eimeria hirci, Eimeria caprina, and Eimeria christenseni. The oocysts Eimeria arloingi (39–45%), Eimeria ninakohlyakimovae (25–31%), Eimeria hirci (13-20%), Eimeria christenseni (6–12%), and Eimeria caprina (3–10%) were present in both breeds and seasons of male and females.

Evaluation of the Medicinal Potentials of Soursop (Annona muricata Safford) Leaf Extracts against Eimeria tenella Infection in Broiler Chickens

Aims: Poultry industry in Nigeria has recorded considerable expansion in recent times but not without poultry diseases as one of the major threats to boosting poultry production. Protozoa cause the majority of parasitic infections and cause high mortalities. Parasitic diseases such as coccidiosis are of particular importance because of their high incidence in poultry occasioned by the tropical environmental conditions under which the farmer operates. The resistance to common anticoccidial drugs has led to exploring other natural sources for prophylaxis and therapy. This research evaluated the therapeutic efficacies of Annona muricata at different dosages of 100, 125, 165mg/kg body weight using 120 broilers at 4 weeks of age. &#x0D; Place and Duration of Study: Animal Parasitology and Microbiology Research Unit, Department of Animal Production and Health, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria, between September and December, 2022.&#x0D; Methodology: 120 broilers of 4 weeks old were used for this study using completely randomized study design. The birds were infected with sporulated Eimeria tenella oocysts at week 4. Treatment with ethanolic extract of Annona muricata was administered orally at week 5 using different dosages of 100, 125, 165mg/kg body weight for five consecutive days. Treatment commenced after the isolation of Eimeria oocysts in the faeces and onset on coccidial clinical signs as parameters to confirm manifestation of the infection. Blood parameters, faecal oocysts count and biochemical assays were conducted.&#x0D; Results: Results revealed that therapeutic administration of Annona muricata leaf extracts at minimum dose 100mg/kg body weight had significant reduction (P&lt;0.05) on excreted Eimeria oocysts counts without any significant deviation from normal haematological and biochemical indices of the broilers.&#x0D; Conclusion: This study suggests the use of Annona muricata in the treatment of coccidiosis in broiler chickens. It is therefore recommended that its extracts be further explored for actual phytochemical constituents responsible for the displayed anticoccidial properties.

A ketogenic diet pattern during lactation increases visceral fat, glucose, and cholesterol levels and reduces beneficial fecal bacteria in dams and offspring

A ketogenic diet (KD) is a dietary pattern characterized by high fat, moderate protein, and low carbohydrates. The present study evaluated the effects of a KD with saturated fat content during lactation on biochemical outcomes and selected fecal bacterial groups in dams and offspring. Wistar rat dams were assigned to the experimental groups (control or ketogenic), and pups from both dams received a standard chow diet from weaning until 60 days of age. KD consumption during lactation increased liver weight in dams, glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in pups and visceral and retroperitoneal fat in both dams and pups. Furthermore, KD increased Enterobacteriaceae and Bacteroides spp. While decreased Lactobacillus spp. and Bifidobacterium spp. counts in the feces of dams and pups. Results show that KD consumption during lactation increased fat deposition, impaired fecal microbial counts in dams, and induced short- and long-term adverse effects on lipid profile and fecal microbial counts in offspring. Findings indicate that consuming a KD with a high saturated fat content during lactation affects biochemical parameters and influences fecal bacteria associated with health in dams and pups.

Supplemental impact of silymarin in growing pig diet on the growth performance, total tract digestibility, faecal microflora, faecal noxious gas emission and absorption rate in blood.

The research was done to examine the impact of dietary silymarin on growth performance, total tract digestibility, faecal microbial, faecal gas emissionand absorption rate in blood of growing pigs. Experiment 1: a total of 140 growing pigs (24.47 ± 2.49 kg) were used in a 6-week trial. There were four dietary treatment groups (sevenreplicate pens/treatment, five pigs/pen) and treatment diets composed of corn, soybean meal (SBM), distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS), and rapeseed meal-based basal diets with 0%, 0.025%, 0.050%and 0.10% of micelle silymarinrespectively. Experiment 2: A total of 18 pigs were divided into six treatment groups. Treatment diets: TRT1, TRT2 and TRT3 were basal diets with 30, 150and 300 g powdered silymarinrespectively; and TRT4, TRT5 and TRT6 were basal diets with 30, 150and 300 g micelle-type silymarinrespectively. Average daily gain (ADG) tended to increase (p < 0.10) at Week 3 and overall experiment after silymarin addition. Overall ADG and average daily feed intake are also intended to improve (p < 0.10) linearly in this study. During Week 6, growing pigs fed silymarin showed linearly increased (p < 0.05) apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of dry matter, nitrogenand energy. Dietary silymarin supplementation increased (p < 0.10) linearly the faecal Lactobacillus count at Week 3 while Escherichia coli count was linearly decreased at both the 3rdweek (p < 0.05) and 6thweek (p < 0.10). Silymarin supplementation showed no effect on faecal gas emissions. A higher (p < 0.05) absorption rate in the blood was found in micelle-type silymarin compared to powdered silymarin after the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 8th, 12thand 24th h of feeding. Results suggest that silymarin in a corn-SBM-DDGS-rapeseed meal-based diet may help to improve ADG, FI, ATTDand faecal microflora in growing pigs. And absorption rate in the blood of pig is higher in micelle-type silymarin.

Comparative efficacy of allopathic and herbal drugs in sheep naturally infected with coccidiosis

Development of anticoccidial resistance and concerns of drug residues have prompted the evaluation of alternatives to allopathic drugs. In current study, anticoccidial effect of amprolium was compared with that of Curcuma longa and Zingiber officinale. Ninety (90) sheep, naturally infected with Eimeria spp. and having a minimum oocyst per gram (OPG) count of faeces above 5000 were randomly selected and divided into six groups of 15 animals each. Animals were supplemented with amprolium @ 62.50 mg/kg body weight (bw) (GI), turmeric @ 200 and 300 mg/kg bw (GII and GIII) and ginger @ 200 and 300 mg/kg bw (GIV and GV), orally for 7 days and GVI animals were kept as untreated infected control. Faecal samples were collected on ‘0’ day before treatment and on 8th, 14th, 21st and 28th day after starting treatment and evaluated using Faecal oocyst count reduction test (FOCRT). The efficacy of amprolium was 93.18%, 96.82%, 95.56% and 95.80% on 8th, 14th, 21st and 28th day, after starting treatment. Turmeric @200 mg/kg b.w. showed efficacy of 41.49%, 52.37%, 61.47% and 60.08% and turmeric @ 300 mg/kg bw was 44.92%, 54.32%, 64.21% and 61.95% effective on 8th, 14th, 21st and 28th day, respectively. Ginger @200 mg/kg bw showed efficacy of 38.51%, 53.48%, 55.38% and 55.53% and ginger @ 300 mg/kg bw was 39.65%, 54.81%, 57.18% and 58.22% effective on 8th,14th, 21st and 28th day, respectively. The results justify use of amprolium for clinical coccidiosis while Curcuma longa and Gingiber officinale could be used as natural prophylactic alternatives.

A Before‐After Control‐Impact experiment reveals that culling reduces the impacts of invasive deer on endangered peatlands

Abstract Invasive deer have undesirable impacts on native ecosystems. Culling is commonly used to reduce those impacts, but is expensive and sometimes controversial. It is therefore important to robustly assess how culling reduces the impacts of invasive deer. We conducted a Before‐After Control‐Impact (BACI) experiment to determine how culling affects the impacts of invasive sambar deer Cervus unicolor in an endangered alpine peatland ecosystem in south‐eastern Australia. We established two blocks, each with four 4300‐ha experimental units, in which two units were randomly assigned to a treatment of deer culling and the other two were non‐treatment areas. Sambar deer relative abundance (faecal pellet count) and three impacts (ground degradation, pugging intensity and water turbidity) in three peatland features (peatlands, natural pools and sambar deer wallows) were surveyed before and after culling was implemented. We used four metrics to quantify the culling intensity in each treatment unit: treatment versus non‐treatment, number of deer culled on each unit, deer culled within a 500‐m buffer of impact monitoring sites and local probability of use by the cullers (1‐ha grid). The effects of culling on deer abundance and impacts were estimated using Bayesian generalised linear mixed models. Our analysis revealed that the effect of culling differed between the two experimental blocks. In one block, culling reduced deer abundance and three impacts. In the other block, culling did not reduce deer abundance but reduced three impacts and increased two impacts. The effects of culling were generally stronger when culling was estimated using finer‐scale (500‐m) than coarser‐scale (experimental unit) culling metrics. Synthesis and applications. Our study provides experimental evidence that culling invasive sambar deer reduces some of their undesirable impacts on endangered peatlands. That not all impacts were reduced by culling suggests that some effects of invasive species are slow to recover or require higher culling intensities to be reversed.

Impact of synbiotics on growth performance and gut health in Murrah buffalo calves.

Synbiotics have been used as biotherapeutic supplements for prevention of new-born calf gastrointestinal disorders. Present study was conducted to evaluate the impact of fructo-oligosaccharide, mannan-oligosaccharide and inulin along with Lactobacillus plantarum CRD-7 and Lactobacillus acidophilus NCDC15 on the nutrient digestibility, growth performance and faecal microbial population of pre-ruminant buffalo calves. Twenty-four Murrah calves (5 days old) were randomly assigned to four groups of six calves in each using randomized block design. Calves in Group I (control) received only a basic diet of milk, calf starter and berseem with no additives. Calves in Group II (SYN1) were fed 6g fructo-oligosaccharide (FOS) + Lactobacillus plantarum CRD-7 (100 ml). Calves in Group III (SYN2) were fed 9g inulin + L. plantarum CRD-7 (50 ml), while calves in Group IV (SYN3) received 4g MOS + L. acidophilus NCDC15 (200 ml) as fermented milk having 108 CFU/ml/calf/day in addition to the basal diet. The results revealed that digestibility of dry matter, crude protein, ether extract and average daily gain were all higher (P < 0.05) in SYN1 as compared to control group. The antioxidant enzyme activity, humoral and cell mediated immunity performed well in SYN1, SYN2 and SYN3 as compared to control. Diarrhoea and faecal scouring were lower (P < 0.05) in all supplemented groups than control. Faecal Lactobacilli and Bifidobacterium counts were also higher in SYN1 group followed by SYN2 and SYN3. Faecal ammonia, lactate, pH, and volatile fatty acids level were increased in SYN1 supplemented groups. The synbiotic combination of 6g FOS + L. plantarum CRD-7 had better response on digestibility, average daily gain, antioxidant enzymes, immune response, faecal microbiota and metabolites and also reduce the faecal score and diarrhoea incidence. Therefore, supplementation of 6g FOS + L. plantarum CRD-7 can be advised for general use in order to promote long-term animal production.

Reduction in pollution load to an urban estuary using a sustainable drainage system treatment train

Rapid urbanisation and industrialisation have placed increased pressure on the ecosystem health of urban estuaries. Sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) are globally accepted practices for managing the water quality of stormwater and effluent discharged into urban systems. The Swartkops Estuary in South Africa is a heavily urbanized estuary that has a long history of pollution, specifically trace metal contamination, originating from industrial sources and urban wastewater. Using a novel SuDS treatment train, the physical characteristics (total suspended solids), macronutrients (orthophosphates, nitrate, ammonium), trace metals (As, Cd, Hg, Fe, Pb, Cu), and E. coli concentrations were measured monthly for one year, both before and after the treatment train. The treatment train consisted of five interconnected 500 L plastic tanks for sedimentation, filtration (sand and stone), biodegradation and floating wetlands. Results indicate that the SuDS treatment train provided an efficient method in reducing the pollution load to this urban estuary, by reducing macronutrient concentrations by 76 %, trace elements concentrations by 74 % and faecal bacteria counts (E. coli) by 80 %.

Effects of feeding probiotic on daily gain, fecal characteristics and blood metabolites in calf

Feed substrate containing probiotic culture of Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bacillus subtilis and Sacharomyces cerevicae were prepared for feeding calves. Twelve 2 weeks old calves were distributed equally in two groups (6 calves in each) and supplemented with (treated) or without probiotic feed (Control). Calves were reared in an individual pan and provided with ad libitum suckling, calf starter, and soft green grass. In 90 days trial period data were collected on growth performance, blood metabolic profile, immune status, fecal microbial load, morbidity etc. It was observed that milk intake, dry matter intake (DMI), daily gain and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were not differed (P&gt;0.05) between treatments. Claves under the probiotic fed group voided feces of better physical properties (color, odor and consistency) compared to the control. Weekly E. coli count (log10CFU/g) in feces was found lower (P&lt;0.01) in the probiotic group compared to the control. The plasma IgG (ng/ml) concentration was found higher (P&lt;0.05) in probiotic group than in the control, and total cholesterol level tended to be high (P=0.071) in the same group. It is concluded that, probiotic feed improved fecal characteristics, lesser E. coli load in feces, lowered diarrheal incidence and improved immunoglobulin status of calves from 15th to 105th days of age. Bangladesh Journal of Animal Science, 52 (2): 45-54

Treatment Effects of Chitosan Nanoencapsulated Bromelain against Gastrointestinal Nematodes and Coccidia in Goats of Kenya

The management of gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) and coccidiosis of livestock relies on the use of commercial anthelmintic; however, the excessive and frequent usage of these drugs has led to the substantial and dramatic development of anthelmintic and anticoccidial resistance. The present study aimed to evaluate the anthelmintic and anticoccidial efficacy of chitosan nanoencapsulated bromelain (CNB) against a wide spectrum of GIN and coccidia in goats. Additionally, the study assessed the safety of CNB in the goats. Bromelain was extracted from the pineapple peels and then encapsulated using chitosan. A total of 20 healthy male goats naturally infected with GIN and coccidia were used. The goats were separated into four treatment groups, with five goats per each. The CNB was orally administered at dosages of 270 and 90 mg/Kg, once daily for 60 days. Fecal egg counts (FEC), fecal oocyst counts (FOC), packed cell volume (PCV), aspartate aminotransferases (AST), alanine aminotransferases (ALT), urea, and creatinine were determined weekly. The goats were monitored for clinical signs daily, and their body weight was recorded weekly. The findings revealed that FEC reduction rates in the group that received 270 mg/Kg CNB and the group that received Albendazole were 73.41% and 79.54% at day 7 post-treatment. Also, the reduction of FOC in the group receiving 270 mg/Kg CNB at day 7 (84.12%) did not show a significant difference with Diclazuril (82.12%). The FEC and FOC were zero (reduction of FEC and FOC was 100%) at 28 days of treatment in goats treated with 270 mg/Kg CNB. During the monitoring period, no mortalities and no clinical signs were observed in the treated goats. The PCV, AST, ALT, creatinine, and urea levels for the goats in all groups were within normal limits. No pathological lesions were observed in the goat’s organs. In conclusion, the results demonstrated that repeated (60 days) dosages of 270 mg/Kg had anthelmintic and anticoccidial effects and were safe for goats. The study recommends further investigation in a field setting involving more animals. This would allow the development of a novel product for managing helminthiasis and coccidiosis in ruminants.

Effect of synbiotics on growth performance, gut health, and immunity status in pre-ruminant buffalo calves

Synbiotics are employed as feed additives in animal production as an alternate to antibiotics for sustaining the gut microbiota and providing protection against infections. Dairy calves require a healthy diet and management to ensure a better future for the herd of dairy animals. Therefore, the present study was carried out to investigate the effect of synbiotics formulation on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, fecal bacterial count, metabolites, immunoglobulins, blood parameters, antioxidant enzymes and immune response of pre-ruminant Murrah buffalo calves. Twenty-four apparently healthy calves (5 days old) were allotted into four groups of six calves each. Group I (control) calves were fed a basal diet of milk, calf starter and berseem with no supplements. Group II (SYN1) calves were fed with 3 g fructooligosaccharide (FOS) + Lactobacillus plantarum CRD-7 (150 ml). Group III (SYN2) calves were fed with 6 g FOS + L. plantarum CRD-7 (100 ml), whereas calves in group IV (SYN3) received 9 g FOS + L. plantarum CRD-7 (50 ml). The results showed that SYN2 had the highest (P < 0.05) crude protein digestibility and average daily gain compared to the control. Fecal counts of Lactobacilli and Bifidobacterium were also increased (P < 0.05) in supplemented groups as compared to control. Fecal ammonia, diarrhea incidence and fecal scores were reduced in treated groups while lactate, volatile fatty acids and antioxidant enzymes were improved compared to the control. Synbiotic supplementation also improved both cell-mediated and humoral immune responses in buffalo calves. These findings indicated that synbiotics formulation of 6 g FOS + L. plantarum CRD-7 in dairy calves improved digestibility, antioxidant enzymes, and immune status, as well as modulated the fecal microbiota and decreased diarrhea incidence. Therefore, synbiotics formulation can be recommended for commercial use in order to achieve sustainable animal production.

Space–time interactions between free-ranging red deer (Cervus elaphus) and grazing livestock on a fenced pasture

Livestock farming, which produces milk and meat, is practised by nearly all cultures. But in addition to this, grazing livestock fulfils other fundamentally important roles, one of which is the maintenance of open landscapes, which in turn provides habitat for many rare plant and animal species. Whether wild large herbivores, such as red deer (Cervus elaphus), benefit from the management of the open landscapes is unknown, and there are conflicting views on the nature of the interaction between livestock and wildlife. To investigate this question, we studied interactions in space and time between red deer and livestock in an 787 ha fenced pasture in eastern Germany. First, we used faecal pellet counts to determine whether red deer were using the fenced pasture and whether livestock were using the entire available pasture. Second, we fitted ten red deer, as well as eight Konik horses (Equus ferus caballus) and eight Heck cattle (Bos taurus) with GPS-collars. These data allowed us to perform analyses of space–time interactions. The faecal pellet data showed that red deer did indeed use the fenced pasture and that livestock used the entire extent of the pasture. Further, we verified a neutral space–time interaction between red deer and livestock within the pasture. Thus, there was no indication of a negative effect of the presence of livestock on red deer inside the pasture. For these reasons, we recommend that low-intensity grazing by cattle and horses can maintain open landscapes without detrimental effects on the use of the area by red deer.

Fecal bacteria in coastal lakes: An anthropogenic contamination or natural element of microbial diversity?

The effects of multiple stressors (salinity, temperature, nutrient and light availability or human activities) on the abundance of FIB (Escherichia coli and Enterobacteriaceae) were studied in nine lakes on the southern Baltic coast. Monitoring also included physicochemical factors and land use in the catchment. The results showed that FIB is a natural component of microbial community in coastal lakes, with its abundance varying temporally and spatially. The key factors predicting the abundance of E. coli and Enterobacteriaceae are the availability of ammonia nitrogen and water temperature. Regardless of the degree of connection with the sea, the sanitary condition of coastal lakes deteriorates during the summer months. Although agricultural use and residential development do not significantly affect fecal bacteria counts (PLS-R model), human pressure on the sanitary condition of lakes increases seasonally and is limited to the vicinity of tourist sites. The degree of contact with seawater regulates the size of the microbial community, but is not a factor that directly affects the presence of E. coli in the microbial community in coastal lakes. Monitoring the sanitary conditions of these ecosystems using sensitive, rapid survey methods based on hydrochemical and microbiological inventories, supported by GIS, is important for public health.