Antimicrobials are widely used to control diseases in fish farming. Irregular use of these substances can reduce treatment efficacy and contaminate aquatic environments, promoting the emergence and spread of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. Doxycycline, a broad-spectrum antimicrobial active against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, is authorised for use in aquaculture in several countries and represents a promising therapeutic option. However, to date, no studies have investigated its incorporation into fish feed or its potential to leach into the environment. This study aimed to develop, optimise, and validate an LC–MS/MS method to detect doxycycline in medicated feed and to evaluate top-coating procedures to ensure treatment efficacy while minimising leaching into the environment. The LC-MS/MS method was optimised using a Plackett-Burman design to determine the optimal sample extraction conditions and, subsequently, validated, demonstrating selectivity, precision (CV < 3.5%), accuracy (recovery of 98.4–102%), and linearity (R 2 > 0.99, 1.6–8.3 g kg−1). Two top-coating procedures using ethyl cellulose and gelatine polymers were evaluated; both achieved high incorporation efficiency (70%) and homogeneous drug distribution within feed pellets (CV < 2%). Leaching-tests showed that the top-coatings effectively retained doxycycline, with leaching rates below 5% after 15 min of immersion. Overall, these approaches may enhance treatment efficacy and mitigate the environmental impact, promoting the responsible use of antimicrobials in fish farming in accordance with the One Health concept.

The study consisted of two experiments. First, a PK experiment was set up with a single oral dose at 20 mg/kg body weight, and second, a withdrawal time determination study, where the fish were fed once a day for 5 consecutive days at the same dosage. The DOX concentration in medicated feed, fish muscle, plasma, liver, and kidney was analysed by LC-MS/MS. Phoenix 8.1 and WT 1.4 software were used in the calculation for PK parameters and withdrawal time, respectively. DOX was absorbed quickly into plasma after oral medication with an absorption half-life T1/2abs of 0.12 h, reaching the Cmax (116 μg/L) at 1 h (Tmax). DOX distribution was highest in the kidney, followed by the liver and plasma. The high DOX concentration in the kidney and liver supports the possibility of using DOX to treat relevant bacterial infections in snakehead. In conclusion, DOX is rapidly absorbed in snakehead after oral medication, has a significant tissue distribution, followed by slow elimination. Finally, after feeding medicated feed for 5 consecutive days, the withdrawal times of DOX in composite muscle and skin samples of snakehead were 4 days and 6 days (at 28.5°C) according to the maximum residue limits set by the European Commission (100 μg/kg for bovine, porcine and poultry) and Japanese authority (50 μg/kg), respectively.

Drug leaching from medicated feeds into water reduces the available drug for absorption in the gut and causes negative effects in environments. The objectives of this study were to evaluate various top-coating materials in reducing the leaching of florfenicol (FF) from shrimp medicated feed and to determine the drug concentrations in the body of Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) fed medicated feed top-coated with tuna oil, chitosan, pectin, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), carboxymethyl cellulose sodium (CMC), and ethylcellulose (EC). FF concentrations that leached from the medicated feeds into water were analyzed using the HPLC method. Drug concentrations in the hemolymph and muscle of shrimp following oral administration were also analyzed. The results revealed that chitosan was the most effective material in reducing drug leaching, with only 27.8% leaching rate at 120 min. Tuna oil had the highest leaching rate (71.6%). Shrimp fed chitosan-coated medicated feed had significantly higher FF levels in hemolymph (2.04 μg/mL) and muscle (0.92 μg/g) than the other coating material groups. The tuna oil group had the lowest drug levels (0.20 μg/mL and 0.34 μg/g, respectively). These findings indicate that chitosan is the most effective in minimizing drug leaching and also exhibits the highest drug absorption in shrimp.

Enzymatic responses in common carp (Cyprinus carpio) exposed to oxytetracycline medicated feed

The restriction of antibiotics and therapeutic zinc oxide in piglet diets has increased challenges related to gut health and post-weaning performance. This study assessed the effects of a diet supplemented with organic acids and the probiotic Clostridium butyricum on intestinal integrity, fecal microbiota composition, and performance parameters in weaned piglets. Forty piglets were selected at weaning, and fecal samples were collected on day 0 and day 14 of supplementation. Gene expression of tight junction proteins (zonulin, occludin) and inflammatory markers (calprotectin, IFN-γ, TGF-β) was analyzed by PCR. Bacterial DNA quantification was used to evaluate microbiota changes. In addition, average daily gain (ADG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and mortality were recorded across three feeding phases: CONTROL, TRANSITION, and 0M. No significant changes were found in tight junction protein expression post-weaning, but reductions in IFN-γ and TGF-β suggest improved immune modulation. Piglets in the TRANSITION and 0M groups showed higher ADG (CONTROL = 292.28 g/day; TRANSITION = 300.09 g/day; 0M = 307.45 g/day) and reduced mortality (CONTROL = 6.48%; TRANSITION = 5.10%; 0M = 5.08%) compared to CONTROL. These findings indicate that targeted dietary supplementation can support gut health and performance in weaned piglets, offering a promising alternative to medicated feed under current regulatory constraints. Further research is guaranteed to refine these strategies for broader application in sustainable pig production.

To explore the experiences of Singaporean parents managing care for children with underlying chronic medical conditions and Paediatric Feeding Disorders. Descriptive qualitative. Data were collected via semi-structured interviews from 4 July 2024 to 4 October 2024. Fourteen English-speaking Singaporean parents were recruited via purposive sampling at an outpatient paediatric feeding clinic in a public tertiary hospital in Singapore. Data were thematically analysed using Braun and Clarke's six-step inductive approach. Three themes and nine sub-themes were identified. The three themes were: (1) Caregiver's Compass: From Survival to Stability, (2) Navigating Emotional Terrain in Caregiving, (3) Feeding Suck-cess: Systemic, Medical, and Societal Challenges. The findings reflected the experiences of parents managing Paediatric Feeding Disorders. Parents transitioned from survival-focused to development-focused care, balancing medical guidance with parental instinct while navigating emotional strain, gendered caregiving roles, fragmented healthcare, and cultural conflicts. Nurses are vital in supporting parents by recognising their lived experiences and caregiving challenges. By incorporating family-centered interventions, nurses can foster shared-decision making and provide culturally sensitive care. Providing tailored education and collaboration with multidisciplinary teams will enable nurses to empower caregivers with essential knowledge and resources, such as accessible and culturally attuned digital health solutions. This study contributes to the limited body of qualitative research on parents of chronically ill children with Paediatric Feeding Disorders in Singapore and underscores the need for culturally sensitive, multidisciplinary support models to address the manifold responsibilities parents face in managing feeding issues. These insights may have broader implications for diverse populations managing similar caregiving complexities, informing family-centered interventions and healthcare policies that better support parents managing chronically ill children. COREQ checklist. This study did not include patient or public involvement in its design, conduct, or reporting.

In May 2024, a medicated anthelmintic feed was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat parasitic infection in wild quail following evidence linking parasites to northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) population impacts. During the approval process, it was confirmed that the feed significantly reduced parasite burdens in wild bobwhite populations after 3 weeks of treatment. However, no studies were conducted on the drug's efficacy in individual bobwhite in a controlled laboratory setting. In this study, we infected pen-reared bobwhite with Oxyspirura petrowi, an eyeworm commonly found in wild bobwhite. We treated the birds with anthelmintic feed for 3 weeks at different frequencies (0, 2, and 5 times/week) to determine the optimal feed amount and feeding frequency for parasite control. One third of the birds were euthanized weekly and examined for O. petrowi. A stepwise Poisson regression revealed that the total amount of feed eaten was the strongest predictor of the number of live O. petrowi found. None of the categorical variables assessed, including feeding frequency, affected the predicted parasite reduction. All birds that consumed ≥38.887 g of feed were parasite-free, although this may be a liberal estimate, as 15 of the 48 worms were not recovered from birds not given anthelmintic feed. In addition to the feed, factors such as the bobwhites' innate immune responses or potential unnoticed worm injuries likely contributed to the reduced O. petrowi numbers. Regardless, this study determined that a medicated anthelmintic feed effectively reduces O. petrowi infection intensity in individual bobwhite. Additional findings include observing O. petrowi migration between eyes and determining whether O. petrowi tissue is resorbed or expelled after parasite death.

ABSTRACTThe purpose of this research was to assess the effectiveness of a combination of monoterpenes (thymol and carvacrol) in treating juvenile Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) infected with Edwardsiella tarda as a potential substitute for the antibiotic oxytetracycline. The study utilised different concentrations of the monoterpenes blend (MTs): 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8 g kg−1 of feed. A negative control group received a diet without the additive, while a positive control group was given medicated feed containing oxytetracycline (OTC) (11.85 g kg−1) for a 10‐day treatment period. Cumulative mortality (%), haematological and immunological parameters were assessed after the feed administration. The negative control group experienced a mortality rate of 53%, while fish treated with medicated feed had a significantly lower mortality rate of 3%. The addition of MTs at concentrations of 0.4 g kg−1 (13% mortality), 0.6 g kg−1 (8% mortality) and 0.8 g kg−1 (0% mortality) also resulted in reduced mortality rates, with the highest concentration showing survival rates comparable to the oxytetracycline group. Following the 10‐day treatment period, no mortality was observed in the treated groups, indicating the efficacy of MTs‐supplemented feed in alleviating the clinical symptoms of Edwardsiellosis. The haematological parameters indicated that as the dosage of MTs increased, the mean corpuscular volume (MCV) decreased. The MCV was significantly lower in the 0.6 and 0.8 g kg−1 treatments compared to the control. Mean corpuscular haemoglobin initially increased with the 0.4 g kg−1 MTs treatment but then decreased with higher doses. The mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration was higher in the treated groups compared to the control. Red blood cell levels were higher in the 0.8 g kg−1 MTs treatment and lower in the 0.4 g kg−1 treatment. Ht was higher in the control group and lower in the 0.4 g kg−1 MTs treatment. Haemoglobin levels followed a similar trend, with higher values in the control group. The 0.8 g kg−1 MTs treatment had the highest number of total leucocytes and lymphocytes. The control group had the highest number of neutrophils, while the 0.8 g kg−1 MTs group had higher numbers of monocytes, eosinophils, basophils and thrombocytes. The negative control exhibited the lowest antimicrobial titre compared to the OTC and the various concentrations of MTs. The concentrations of MTs (0.4, 0.6 and 0.8 g kg−1) demonstrated similar average values and were more effective than the control and OTC. There was no significant difference in agglutinating titre among MTs, control and OTC. Thymol and carvacrol notably decreased the mortality of tilapia infected with E. tarda, with a dosage as high as 0.8 g kg−1 showing equivalent effectiveness to oxytetracycline. Furthermore, they enhanced haematological and immunological parameters, indicating that MTs could be a promising alternative to antibiotic use.

ABSTRACT 1. Scaly leg, caused by Cnemidocoptes mutans, is occasionally observed in backyard poultry farms in Greece. In Greece, infestations with C. mutans typically result in mild lesions and occasional scratching behaviour. 2. This study evaluated the therapeutic efficacy and safety of two antiparasitic treatments – Phoxim (via foot baths and barn spraying) and Ivermectin (in feed) – in 36 backyard poultry farms in southern Greece, in groups of 15–82 chickens. 3. All treatment protocols were found to be effective and safe for clinical use. A single application of either treatment was as effective as two applications administered 11 d apart. Barn spraying with Phoxim solution did not enhance the efficacy of the Phoxim foot bath. For Ivermectin administered via medicated feed, it was observed that providing the drug for only 1 d may result in some birds not consuming the necessary dose. Therefore, it is recommended to administer the medicated feed over at least two consecutive days to ensure adequate drug intake. 4. The study investigated the impact of scaly leg on egg production, the potential effects of Ivermectin on egg production and the role of cohabiting Muscovy ducks in an additional 10 backyard poultry farms. The results indicated that (i) scaly leg disease was associated with a reduction in egg production, (ii) Ivermectin had no adverse effects on egg production in laying hens and (iii) Muscovy ducks were not affected by Cnemidocoptes mutans and did not contribute to its transmission or epidemiology. 5. These findings provide practical recommendations for managing scaly leg in backyard flocks and contribute to improved poultry health and productivity in small-scale farming systems.

Camellia Japonica Radix modulates gut microbiota and 9(S)-HpODE-mediated ferroptosis to alleviate oxidative stress against MASLD.

Prevalence, impact, and management of adult disease-related malnutrition in African hospitals: A narrative review and insight from resource-limited clinical settings.

Ivermectin (IVM) is commonly used for the treatment of parasitic diseases in aquaculture and is administered either through oral or immersion methods, but it lacks regulatory approval. The aim of the present study was to determine the acute oral toxicity of IVM by estimating the 96 h median lethal dose (LD50) using mortality as endpoint, for an economically important freshwater fish, Cyprinus carpio. Medicated feed was prepared by employing different doses of IVM top-dressed onto the commercial feed pellets. A single oral dose of IVM at different doses (mg/kg b.wt.) of 0 (control-T1), 1 (T2), 2.5 (T3), 5 (T4), 10 (T5), 12 (T6), 15 (T7), 18 (T8), 21 (T9), 25 (T10), and 50 (T11) was dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and top-dressed using 0.5% w/v guar gum as a wet binder to the feed. The medicated feed was administered at 3% b.wt. to all treatment groups and cumulative mortalities were recorded over a duration of 96 h. The estimated LD50 of IVM was found to be 8.91 ± 3.46 mg/kg·b.wt. Furthermore, the treatment group (T2) was administered a single oral dose of 1 mg/kg b.wt. and did not exhibit any noticeable behavioral changes compared to the control group. Similarly, LOAEL and NOEAL doses were found to be 2.5 mg/kg b.wt. and 1 mg/kg b.wt., respectively. This study provides valuable insights for further determining the safe dosage of IVM that can be used in aquaculture for the treatment of parasitic diseases. The present study might be helpful for fixing the maximum residual limit (MRL) for IVM in the aquaculture sector, and the data will be helpful for prescription of the drug by regulatory authorities for treating parasitic diseases in fish.

Information on pharmacokinetics (PK) and tissue residues is critical for responsible drug use. The present study aimed to investigate PK characteristics and tissue distribution of florfenicol (FF) in Pacific white shrimp following a single dose of 150 mg/kg administered via oral gavage and medicated feed. Tissue depletion study and withdrawal time determination were performed after FF-medicated feed administration at a dosage of 150 mg/kg/day for 10 days. Furthermore, the effectiveness of FF against shrimp pathogens, Vibrio spp., was tested invitro and invivo, using broth microdilution technique and bacterial challenge experiment (immersion with Vibrio parahaemolyticus 105 CFU/mL), respectively. Following the oral gavage, the peak concentration (Cmax) in hemolymph was 162.81 μg/mL (at 0.14 h), and the area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) was 71.44 h·μg/mL, whereas those of the medicated feed method were much lower, being 6.84 μg/mL (at 0.40 h) and 8.25 h·μg/mL, respectively. The elimination half-lives (t1/2β) of the two routes were very short and comparable, being 0.77 and 0.75 h, respectively. The hemolymph protein binding was 10.42%. FF was well distributed to the muscle, producing an AUC comparable to that of the hemolymph, but it was depleted at a slower rate. Drug residue was not found in the hemolymph and muscle at 24 h after the 10-day multiple dosing. The extremely fast drug elimination renders it practically ineffective in treating vibriosis in shrimp, despite demonstrating high efficacy against Vibrio spp. invitro. Consequently, FF may not be an ideal treatment option for Vibrio spp. infections in shrimp aquaculture.

Gastrointestinal problems including vomiting, reflux, flatulence, diarrhea, constipation and colic are common comorbidities in fragile X syndrome. There is accumulating evidence suggesting that leaky gut syndrome causes neurological phenotypes. Although fragile X messenger ribonucleoprotein is ubiquitously expressed, there is a dearth of knowledge regarding its role outside of the brain including effects on gut dysfunction in fragile X. The aim of this study was to generate novel data on gastrointestinal barrier function and the gut microbiome in response to Fmr1 genotype, sex and diet in mice. Fmr1KO male mice and littermate controls in an FVB background were maintained on two purified ingredient diets (AIN-93G with casein protein versus soy protein isolate) versus two standard chows (Teklad 2019 with wheat, corn and yeast protein versus Purina 5015 with wheat, soy, corn, yeast and whey protein sources). Gut permeability was quantified by FITC-dextran levels in blood plasma. The cecal microbiome was identified by 16S rRNA sequencing. In addition, gut permeability was tested in Fmr1KO mice in the C57BL/6 J background maintained on casein- and soy protein isolate-based AIN-93G versus Teklad 2019. Knockout of the Fmr1 gene in FVB mice did not affect gut permeability. Soy protein isolate-based AIN-93G increased gut permeability. Beta-diversity of the cecal microbiome was significantly altered as a function of the four test diets. Akkermansia_muciniphila was increased in Fmr1KO mice fed AIN-93G while unnamed species within the genus Anaerovorax and family Ruminococcaceae were increased and the order Clostridales decreased in Fmr1KO mice fed AIN-93G/soy. Fmr1KO mice in the C57BL/6 J background exhibited increased gut permeability in response to soy protein. These findings regarding the effects of diet on gut permeability and the microbiome have important implications for experimental design. Single-source diets are ubiquitously used to maintain laboratory animals for medical research and feed details are frequently not reported in publications. Diet/phenotype interactions could have a large impact on inter-laboratory replicability in premedical research. For infants with fragile X, early-life diet could impact the severity of disease outcomes.

Abstract Parasites are a significant health concern for livestock and domestic animals, and much effort has been invested in the development, testing, and implementation of treatments. There has, however, been relatively little done to treat wild animal populations for parasites. Northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) is a species of conservation interest that could benefit from anti-parasite treatment. Currently, there are no anthelmintics approved for wild game birds in the United States, and target animal safety data needs to be provided to support the registration of an anthelmintic that can be administered to wild bobwhite as part of the approval process. The purpose of this research was to test the safety of fenbendazole at a recommended concentration of 100 parts per million (ppm) for 21 days in feed. One hundred and sixty 8-week-old bobwhite were randomly assigned to a diet of 0, 100, 200, or 300 ppm for 63 days. Birds were monitored twice daily for overt signs of intoxication, and body weight, feed consumption, and feed conversion were determined for each pen. At the end of the study, three birds from each pen were randomly selected to be assessed for feather abnormalities, hematology, blood chemistry, necropsy, and histopathology. There were no treatment-related mortalities. There were also no treatment-related effects on body weight, feed consumption, feed conversion, feathering, hematology, blood chemistry, gross pathology, or histopathology. This study indicates that fenbendazole at 100 ppm for 21 days in feed is safe for bobwhite and represents the first drug approved for use in a free-ranging wildlife species that is commercially available and registered by the United States Food and Drug Administration.

The critical care nutrition landscape in sub-Saharan Africa: Field insights and clinical commentary from resource-limited clinical settings.

Northern bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus) are an important game bird that generates substantial revenue for rural communities and is also an important grassland conservation species. Unfortunately, Northern bobwhite populations have been declining across their range for over 50 years. In the southwest bobwhite range, parasites are suspected to contribute substantially to the decline. To test the relationship of parasites and wild Northern bobwhite populations, an anthelmintic medicated feed was developed. The medicated feed was then tested as part of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration registration process. Because Northern bobwhite are a game species and harvested birds are ingested by people, it was necessary to estimate the tissue clearance rate of the drug. This study examined how quickly the conjugated metabolite fenbendazole sulphone was cleared from quail liver. A validated LC/MS-MS method was used to determine clearance rate from pen-reared northern bobwhite fed the anthelmintic at 110 ppm in feed. Results of the tissue clearance study found the drug never exceeded the maximum allowable concentration of 6 ppm and was cleared from the liver in 9.38 hours. Based on the Center for Veterinary Medicine guidance for industry #3, a 0-day withdrawal period was assigned to the recently registered medicated feed in wild northern bobwhite. Thus, the anthelmintic fenbendazole was shown to be rapidly cleared from Northern bobwhite and represents a viable option for treating wild populations for parasite infections while treated game birds remain safe for human consumption.

Parasitic infestations are one of the most economically important disease conditions in the Indian major carps including mrigal, Cirrhinus mrigala. This study reported the biosafety and tissue withdrawal of in-feed administered antiparasitic drug, emamectin benzoate (EMB). To evaluate the biosafety of the drug, behaviour, growth and tissue changes in Cirrhinus mrigala was recorded the following in-feed administration of EMB up to 10 times (T1-50 μg kg-1 fish day-1 (1×), T2-125 μg kg-1 fish day-1 (2.5×), T3-250 μg kg-1 fish day-1 (5×), T4-375 μg kg-1 fish day-1 (7.5×) and T5-500 μg kg-1 fish day-1 (10×)) for the period of three times the recommended duration (7 days). The withdrawal period was calculated by feeding EMB at 50 μg kg-1 fish day-1 for consecutive 10 days followed by EMB-free feed. The results revealed that the drug is safe to mrigal up to ten times the recommended dose, while the fish fed with the highest dose (500 μg kg-1 fish day-1) showed transient histological alterations. The feeding behaviour is affected with poor acceptability beyond 5× dosages. The drug residue at the concentration below the MRL (1.0 μg g-1) in the muscle tissue on the day of cessation of medicated feed administration indicates no requirement of the withdrawal period. The study suggests that EMB can be safely used at 50 μg kg-1 fish day-1 for 7 consecutive days, and no withdrawal period is required without affecting the feeding behaviour and tissue histological alterations.

Abstract Parasites are ubiquitous in wildlife populations and can cause reduced fecundity and survival in several species, as well as influence cyclic population fluctuations. Anthelmintic treatment has been found to mitigate these negative effects of parasites in many wild populations. It is suspected that the eyeworm Oxyspirura petrowi and caecal worm Aulonocephalus pennula are negatively affecting northern bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus) populations in semiarid ecoregions of Texas. However, it is difficult to determine the effect of parasites on a population without experimentally reducing the parasite. The purpose of this study was to test the efficacy of an anthelmintic medicated feed at reducing parasite burden in wild bobwhite as part of a series of studies for United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) registration. Two pilot studies found that the medicated feed had a 71.5% and 81.7% efficacy against caecal worms and eyeworms, respectively, and significantly reduce total parasite burdens (p &amp;lt; .05). For the final efficacy study, control or medicated feed was randomly assigned to 12 feeding systems on a private ranch and administered for 21 consecutive days to determine the efficacy of anthelmintic treatment of eyeworms and caecal worms in bobwhite. Up to five bobwhite were collected and assessed for parasite abundance from each feeding system following the 21-day treatment to assess efficacy. There was a significant difference for caecal worms between treated and control bobwhite (p &amp;lt; .0001), with a 99.5% efficacy. This demonstrates that the medicated feed is a viable method for reducing parasites in wild bobwhite and could be used to elucidate the impacts of parasites on bobwhite populations.

One Health: governance and regulatory framework for antimicrobial use in Malawi