Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) remains a critical global health concern due to its extensive resistance to β-lactam antibiotics and zoonotic transmission potential. However, data on MRSA carriage among camels in Nigeria are scarce. This study investigated nasal colonization of Staphylococcus aureus and MRSA among apparently healthy dromedary camels in Kebbi State, Nigeria. A cross-sectional study was conducted in two pastoral communities, where 120 nasal swabs were collected. Conventional culture and biochemical tests were used for preliminary identification, while PCR detection targeted the nuc and mecA genes. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. Overall, 66.7% (80/120) of samples were positive for S. aureus, while 38.3% (46/120) were confirmed as MRSA. Prevalence was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in young (80%) and female (70%) camels compared to adults (53.3%) and males (63.3%). All MRSA isolates carried the mecA gene and showed multidrug resistance, with high resistance to penicillin, tetracycline, erythromycin, chloramphenicol, and gentamicin, whereas all isolates remained susceptible to vancomycin. This study provides the first molecular evidence of MRSA colonization in dromedary camels in Nigeria, highlighting the need for routine surveil-lance and prudent antimicrobial use within a One Health framework.
Temperature fluctuations can act as stressors affecting embryonic development and cellular homeostasis. This study examined the effects of preincubation at 22°C (P22) or 30°C (P30) on quail embryos under in ovo and ex ovo conditions, focusing on the expression of the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD1) in selected tissues. Under in ovo incubation, SOD1 expression was significantly upregulated in both liver and heart at P22 and P30, with the highest expression observed in the liver at P30. In contrast, under ex ovo conditions, SOD1 expression was significantly reduced in the liver at P22 but partially restored at P30. In the heart, it was not significantly increased at P22 but slightly decreased at P30. These findings demonstrate tissue- and condition-specific regulation of SOD1 and suggest that in ovo preincubation supports robust antioxidant defence, whereas ex ovo culture imposes complex stress responses.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of parity, days in milk (DIM), and season on somatic cell count (SCC) in milk of Holstein dairy cows. The study was conducted on a single dairy farm in eastern Slovakia on 600 cows with an average annual milk yield of 10,317 ± 653 kg, fed a total mixed ration. Cows were grouped according to parity, DIM, and season. Milk composition (protein, fat, lactose) was determined using near-infrared spectrophotometry (MilkoScan FT+), and SCC was measured using Fossomatic FC and Bentley FCM. Parity significantly affected SCC, with the lowest values observed in primiparous cows and a significant increase (P < 0.001) with advancing lactation number; the highest somatic cell count was recorded in the 4th and higher lactations. The effect of days in milk showed increased somatic cell count during early (0–30 days) and peak lactation (31–100 days), followed by the lowest values (P < 0.05). As lactation progressed and milk yield declined, somatic cell count increased, reaching maximum levels after 305 days. Seasonal variation was also significant, with the highest somatic cell count observed in summer (P < 0.001) and the lowest in winter months.
This study investigated the occurrence and distribution of potentially pathogenic streptococcal species in traditional cheese (semi-hard ripened cheese) sold in Kabul, a topic of significant relevance to veterinary science due to its implications for food safety, zoonotic transmission, and dairy hygiene management. To this end, cheese samples from nine regions of Kabul were analyzed for microbiological quality using Gram staining, catalase testing, hemolysis patterns, and disk sensitivity to optochin and bacitracin, supplemented by limited Analytical Profile Index (API) confirmation. Among 90 samples, 31 (34.4%) exhibited α-hemolysis with optochin sensitivity, suggesting Streptococcus pneumoniae, while 25 (27.8%) showed β-hemolysis with bacitracin sensitivity, consistent with Group A Streptococcus (GAS). Non-hemolytic isolates (37.8%) predominated overall; API identified Streptococcus infantarius in a subset. Results from the chi-square test of independence illustrated that regional differences were significant (p < 0.001): Company and Pole Sorkh had the highest optochin sensitivity, Kote Sangai had the highest bacitracin sensitivity, and three regions showed no target organisms. Standard plate counts were low (10²–10³ colony forming units (CFU·g⁻¹)) and well below international satisfactory limits (≤ 10⁵ CFU·g⁻¹), indicating generally good microbial quality. Despite low total counts, the detection of presumptive S. pneumoniae and GAS in specific areas highlights localized hygiene gaps.
Campylobacter species and Escherichia coli are leading causes of bacterial diarrhea in humans and livestock globally, often transmitted through food and water with poultry, pigs, and cattle, as reservoirs, are increasingly resistant to antibiotics, necessitating alternative therapeutic strategies. Building on previous reports of the antibacterial, cytotoxic, phytochemical, and antioxidant properties of Ficus exasperata leaf extracts as phytogenic feed additives for chickens, this study expands the scope by evaluating additional clinical E. coli isolates with their selectivity index, genotoxicity assays and profiling the methanol extract using standard bioassays and GC-MS. The methanol extract demonstrated broad and best efficacy across all tested bacteria, though the aqueous had the highest total antibacterial activity (2 308 mL/g). The reference strains (ATCC) were more resistant than clinical isolates. The methanol extract showed the lowest cytotoxicity (LC50: 0.99 mg/mL on Vero cells and 2.69 mg/mL on Caco-2 cells) and the highest selectivity indices (Vero: 6.33; Caco-2: 14.17). It was non-mutagenic to Salmonella typhimurium TA98 compared to acetone extract. The GC-MS analysis of methanol extract revealed 9-Octadecen-1-ol (24.52%) as the most abundant compound. The methanol extract showed promising potential for further in vivo testing as phytogenic feed additives and alternatives for managing campylobacteriosis and colibacillosis in chickens.
