Biosecurity in small-animal clinics is crucial for reducing the spread of zoonotic and infectious diseases. This year-long study assessed six veterinary facilities in Punjab, India comprising three institute-affiliated clinics and three government polyclinics. A 96-parameter biosecurity checklist, developed through literature synthesis, expert consultation, participatory workshop and pilot validation, was used across six sequential visits per facility. The checklist encompassed four thematic domains: personal biosecurity practices, clinical equipment and infrastructure hygiene, cleaning and disinfection protocols, and standards relating to animals and clients. Observational scores (0 = non-compliant, 0.5 = partially compliant, 1 = fully compliant) and qualitative interviews revealed consistent, albeit partial adherence to important biosecurity measures. Strengths included routine sterilization protocols and color-coded biomedical waste segregation. Meanwhile, footbaths, systematically enforced personal protective equipment (PPE) practices, and formal contingency plans for infectious disease outbreaks were lacking. Repeated monitoring suggested slight upward shifts in personal biosecurity (e.g., hand hygiene, glove usage), yet structural shortfalls, such as minimal isolation ward utilization and inadequate client-flow management, persisted. A strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis identified robust institutional knowledge of zoonoses and successful adoption of select measures as potential levers for improvement, while weaknesses included sparse written guidelines, inconsistent training, and budgetary constraints. Recommendations focus on formal standard operating procedures (SOPs) for outbreak management, infrastructure upgrades (lever faucets, designated footbaths), and enhanced client education to reduce cross-contamination. Although the year-long interval captured some iterative improvements, further longitudinal assessments are needed to confirm sustained gains. By addressing both human and infrastructural factors, veterinary institutes can foster safer clinical environments for staff, clients, and animals while minimizing zoonotic risks in high animal-density clinical settings.

BACKGROUND:Enterococcus faecalis has emerged as a significant nosocomial pathogen with increasing relevance at the human-animal interface. This study investigated the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) profiles and genomic characteristics of E. faecalis isolated from cattle farms in Punjab, India. METHODS AND RESULTS:A total of 288 samples, comprising cattle feces (239), cattle handler hand swabs (34), and handler stool samples (15), were processed using standard bacteriological protocols. Presumptive isolates were confirmed as E. faecalis by culture characteristics and Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) was performed using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method, and vancomycin resistance was confirmed by minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) testing. Resistance genes were screened by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and vancomycin-resistant isolates underwent whole-genome sequencing (WGS) for detailed genomic characterization. Overall, 51 E. faecalis isolates were recovered from 288 samples, yielding an overall prevalence of 17.70% (51/288). Sample-wise prevalence was 19.24% (46/239) in cattle feces, 8.82% (3/34) in hand swabs, and 13.33% (2/15) in stool samples. AST revealed high resistance rates to erythromycin (72.54%), linezolid (31.37%), ciprofloxacin and penicillin G (29.41% each), and tetracycline (27.45%). Phenotypic vancomycin resistance was identified in 5.88% (3/51) of isolates. PCR screening detected vanC1 in 31.37% and vanC2/C3 in 33.33% of isolates, although their presence was not uniformly associated with phenotypic resistance.WGS of three vancomycin-resistant E. faecalis isolates identified resistance genes, virulence determinants, and a shared multilocus sequence type (MLST), ST-387, among isolates from cattle and handlers. CONCLUSIONS:These findings highlight cattle farms as reservoirs of multidrug resistant (MDR) and virulent E. faecalis strains, emphasizing the importance of genomic surveillance to prevent the dissemination of these strains into healthcare settings.

Enterococcus faecalis, a common constituent of human and animal gut microbiota, has emerged as a significant pathogen due to its antimicrobial resistance (AMR) capabilities. This study investigates AMR profiles, virulence factors, and genetic diversity of E. faecalis isolates from broiler farms in Ludhiana, Punjab, India, to explore transmission dynamics between poultry and handlers. A total of 240 samples were collected from 20 farms, comprising 200 broiler droppings, 34 hand swabs from poultry handlers, and 6 human stool samples. Selective media and standard microbiological techniques were employed to isolate and identify E. faecalis. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) was performed on representative isolates to uncover antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) and virulence factors. E. faecalis was isolated from 47% of broiler droppings and 26.47% of handler hand swabs, whereas no isolates were recovered from stool samples. High resistance was observed for erythromycin (96.11%), tetracycline (78.64%), ciprofloxacin (76.69%), streptomycin (76.69%), and linezolid (65.04%), with 83.49% of isolates exhibiting multidrug resistance (MDR). Vancomycin resistance genes (vanC1-34.95% and vanC2/C3-9.70%) were also detected. WGS analysis of four isolates identified ARGs such as dfrE, efrA, vanT gene in vanG cluster, vanY gene in vanB cluster, ermB, tet45, tetM, tetA, aac(6')-Ie-aph(2″)-Ia, ant(4')-Ib, aph(3')-Ia, sul1, sul3, mphA, qnrS1, and catA8, as well as virulence factors associated with biofilm formation, adherence, capsule formation, and protease production. Sequence typing identified was ST-1866, ST-7317, and ST-403, with ST-7317 common between broiler droppings and handler swab isolates, indicating potential transmission. While these findings highlight poultry environments as reservoirs for MDR E. faecalis, the directionality of transmission (zoonotic vs. reverse zoonotic) remains unclear. This underscores the need for expanded surveillance and molecular studies to better understand transmission dynamics and mitigate risks to farm workers and public health.

The competition between α -decay and spontaneous fission ( SF ) of unknown doubly-odd superheavy nuclei (SHN) is investigated by comparing their theoretical α -decay half-lives ( T^α_1/2 -values) and SF -half-lives ( T^SF_1/2 -values). At first, the calculations for the α -particle’s preformation probabilities ( P_α ’s) are performed for 66 doubly-odd α -emitters with Z ranging from 83 ≤ Z ≤ 117 employing a microscopic phenomenological approach involving the energy density functional (EDF) of the Skyrme force within Wentzel-Kramers-Brillouin (WKB) approximation. This methodology naturally incorporates the effect of the closed-shell structure in terms of global quantum number (G). The calculated results are also compared with those obtained using other theoretical methods. Our results also fit fairly well within N_P N_N I -scheme. Hence, we can estimate the preformation probabilities and predict α -decay half-lives for unknown superheavy nuclei taking WS4 α -disintegration energies as input. The study of branching ratios led us to identify α -decay chains originating from these unknown SHN. We believe our predictions can aid future experiments in producing new superheavy elements.

Klebsiella pneumoniae, identified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a critical priority pathogen, presents a growing public health concern due to increasing multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing strains. This study assessed the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) profiles of K. pneumoniae isolates from 288 cattle farm samples in Punjab, India. The bacterium was detected in 10.06

OBJECTIVE:Unregulated use of antibiotics in animal-production leads to the emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria, including extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli (ESBL E. coli), posing significant public health threats. This study aimed to assess and compare the role of cattle and poultry, along with farmworkers, in the emergence and spread of ESBL E. coli using a human-animal interface approach in One-Health framework. METHODS:Twenty cattle and 20 poultry farms in Ludhiana, India, were surveyed to determine antibiotic usage and biosecurity in farms. Animal faeces/poultry droppings, farmworkers hand swabs, and stool samples were examined for the presence of ESBL E. coli. The isolates were screened for antibiotic susceptibility and antimicrobial resistance genes. Generalized linear mixed models explored the variations in ESBL E. coli prevalence based on farm animal species, practices, and biosecurity measures. RESULTS:A higher prevalence of ESBL E. coli was identified in poultry (63.5%) compared to cattle (46%) and farmworkers (12%), which aligns with higher antibiotic use in poultry (85%) than cattle (70%). Most isolates (86.52%) were MDR, with poultry farm isolates having 97% MDR and 90.7% carrying the blaCTXM gene. Generalized linear mixed models analysis revealed improved biosecurity and low antibiotic use were associated with lower ESBL E. coli prevalence. CONCLUSIONS:This study highlights cattle and poultry farms as reservoirs for MDR and ESBL E. coli, contributing to rising environmental burden of antimicrobial resistance genes. It underscores the need to reduce antibiotic use in animal farming, particularly poultry, to address emerging antibiotic resistance and protect both animal and human health.

This study aimed to investigate the occurrence and genotype distribution of Human adenovirus (HAdV), Bovine adenovirus (BAdV), and Porcine adenovirus (PAdV) in environmental waters, with a focus on their association with water contamination and potential use in microbial source tracking in Punjab, Northern India. A total of 52 samples were collected from three different river stretches. Using nested PCR, BAdVs were detected in 16% of the samples, while HAdVs and PAdVs were found in 32 and 11% of the samples, respectively. The isolated serotypes included HAdV type 40/41, BAdV type 8/6/5/4//2, and PAdV type 3/5, with HAdV-41 being the most prevalent. Notably, multiple BAdV asymptomatic infections were observed among herds, although their implications for livestock health remain uncertain. BAdV-8 and BAdV-6, the predominant types identified, have been associated with specific clinical conditions in Punjab. Phylogenetic analysis of PAdV indicated a high nucleotide sequence identity (95.4 to 100%) among viruses detected in wastewater samples. This study represents the first investigation into the epidemiology and molecular characterisation of PAdV in porcine farm wastewater in India. Additionally, evidence of recombination among livestock adenoviruses was found, highlighting the need for continued genetic surveillance of animal AdV. These findings underscore the importance of considering BAdV and PAdV detection in fecal source attribution in environmental samples. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the occurance, diversity, and genetic characteristics of adenoviruses in agricultural and environmental settings.

The study aimed to characterize K. pneumoniae isolates from poultry (broiler) farms of Ludhiana, Punjab, India. The Whole genome sequencing (WGS) of K. pneumoniae isolates (K. pneumoniae strain PF_L1_IN, K. pneumoniae strain PF_L2_IN, K. pneumoniae strain PHS_IN) using NovaSeq6000 (Illumina, USA) platform revealed the presence of several antimicrobial resistant genes (ARGs) on the genome of the isolates conferring potential resistance to antibiotics classified as critically important, highly important and important. The virulence factors (VFs) detected were Type I fimbriae, Type 3 fimbriae, AcrAB, Aerobactin, Enterobactin, Salmochelin, RcsAB, T6SS-I, II and III. The mobile genetic elements such as plasmid replicons (IncFIB and Col440I), integron elements (In0, CALIN), a unit transposon (Tn512) and insertion sequences (ISKpn24, ISEc9, ISKpn1, IS102, IS903, IS5075 and ISKpn38) were detected in the isolates. The plasmids carried ARGs for the important antibiotic classes such as aminoglycoside, macrolides, quinolones, tetracyclines, carbapenems and sulphonamides. However, none of the insertion sequences and transposons in the isolates was associated with any antimicrobial resistant gene. In multilocus sequence typing (MLST) analysis, the isolates belonged to sequence type (ST) ST-147 and ST-147 with double locus variation, while, in core-genome multilocus sequence typing (cgMLST) the isolates belonged to ST25590 and ST-1508. The isolates from broiler (K. pneumoniae strain PF_L1_IN) and its handler (K. pneumoniae strain PHS_IN) showed clonal relationship. The present study suggested that the food animal's production environment could act as a reservoir of multidrug resistant (MDR) and Extended spectrum (3-lactamases (ESBL) producing K. pneumoniae. These resistant isolates could easily be disseminated to human through shared environment and food.

Pure and Dy doped WO3 thin films have been prepared by the physical vapor deposition method of electron beam evaporation technique under a pressure of 1 x 10-5 mbar. Films start out amorphous and become crystalline when they are annealed at 350 degrees C. The diffraction peaks of the X-ray diffractogram are associated with mixed triclinic and monoclinic phases which is determined by performing Rietveld analysis and confirmed by Raman spectroscopy. X-ray photoelectron spectra of the prepared WO3 thin films confirm the presence of six valent tungsten (W+6) and trivalent Dysprosium (Dy+3) in the samples. The even and homogeneous distribution of the particles is visible in SEM pictures of the prepared WO3 thin films. The energy band gap values show a significant decrease on annealing and fall more with Dy doping as a result of the emergence of intermediate states. The annealed films have superior transmittance compared to the non-annealed films which are in amorphous state The prepared thin films' PL emission spectra at 410 nm excitation wavelength exhibit blue, green, and yellowish green emissions as a result of optical band-to-band transitions of oxygen vacancies. Due to the existence of defects like oxygen vacancies, strain, etc., amorphous system, or non-annealed films, have shown better photoluminescence at higher rare earth ion concentration than crystalline system, or annealed films. After annealing the thin films, the overall colour hue of the emitted light can be shown to change from cold white to warm white using the Commission International de l'Eclairage (CIE) diagram. These findings imply that numerous lighting applications can make use of the prepared thin films. According to magnetic experiments, Ferromagnetism (FM) increases with Dy doping due to disparity in oxygen vacancies which is consistent with the results of the Pl experiment. The BMP model was used to discuss these results. The magnetic parameters derived from the fitted data are in good accord with the literature, and the experimental results suit the BMP model well.

This study investigated the presence of adenoviral markers (Library-Independent microbial source tracking tool) in the groundwater of Ludhiana, Punjab, India, a hitherto unexplored area. While deep aquifers post-chlorination were adenovirus free, shallow aquifers near farm wastewater pits exhibited human adenovirus and bovine adenovirus. Coliform-negative samples also harboured pathogens, highlighting the limitations of conventional indicators. Surface water displayed higher viral contamination, potentially impacting groundwater. The use of farm wastewater for irrigation and open pit disposal emerged as key contributors, advocating for sustainable wastewater management. Physiochemical and microbial analyses revealed variations across sites, emphasizing regional and temporal variations. The weighted arithmetic water quality index ranged from good to very poor, with deep aquifers showing better quality than shallow ones. A novel approach incorporating graphical representations of adenovirus estimations alongside water quality index provided a more comprehensive understanding. Intriguingly, the study revealed the presence of coliforms irrespective of water quality grade, questioning its reliability as a sole indicator. Correlations between specific water quality grades and adenovirus types suggested targeted control measures. The lack of significant correlations between viral markers and conventional parameters in groundwater compared to surface water studies highlighted the unique dynamics of groundwater contamination.

BACKGROUND Unregulated use of antibiotics in animal food production leads to the emergence of multidrug resistant bacteria, notably extended-spectrum beta-lactamases producing Escherichia coli (ESBL E. coli ). ESBLs severely limit treatment options and pose a significant threat to public health. Investigating the potential role of livestock and poultry farms in harboring ESBL E. coli is crucial, given the prevalence of ESBL E. coli in humans, animals, and the environment, following the One Health framework. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to assess and compare the potential contribution of cattle and poultry farms along with their respective human handlers to the emergence and spread of ESBL E. coli following One Health approach. METHODS Twenty cattle and twenty poultry farms were surveyed in Ludhiana, India to determine antibiotic usage, prevalent diseases in the farms. Animal faeces/poultry droppings, handler hand swabs, and stool samples were examined for the presence of ESBL E. coli . The isolates were examined for their susceptibility to 16 antibiotics and for the presence of selected antimicrobial resistance genes, including ESBL genes. Generalized linear mixed models were applied to investigate variations in the prevalence of ESBL E. coli associated with farm animal species, farm practices, and farm biosecurity measures. RESULTS Our findings revealed a higher prevalence of ESBL E. coli in poultry farms (53.75%) than in cattle farms (40.72%) and overall lower prevalence (12%) in human handlers. Of the total isolates, 86.52% were multidrug resistant, and 93.91% showed a high multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) index (>0.2). Isolates from poultry farms exhibited a higher level of resistance with 97% of isolates exhibiting multidrug resistance, 100% isolates with MAR index of more than 0.2, and 90.70% carrying the bla CTXM gene. CONCLUSION Our findings highlight cattle and poultry farms as potential reservoirs for multidrug-resistant and ESBL E. coli , contributing to the rising environmental burden of antibiotic resistance genes. This emphasizes the urgency of limiting antibiotic use in animal farming, especially in poultry production, to address the escalating problem of antibiotic resistance and protect both animal and human health. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest.

A loop mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay was optimised for rapid detectionof Listeria monocytogenes from fish by targeting haemolysin gene and compared withconventional PCR and real time PCR (qPCR). All the assays were carried out using differentDNA extraction methods like commercial kit, phenol-chloroform-isoamyl alcohol methodand heat shock method. The analytical sensitivity of LAMP and qPCR was comparable andthe detection limit was found to be 9.6×101 CFU ml-1 from broth and 8×10² CFU ml-1 fromspiked fish whereas the detection limit of conventional PCR was found to be 9.8×102 CFU ml-1and 8×10⁴ CFU ml-1 from broth and fish respectively, when commercial kit was used forDNA extraction. The specificity of all these methods was 100% when compared with relatedbacterial species. The optimised LAMP assay when applied directly on 204 field fish samplesgave an accuracy of 70.59% when compared to the gold standard while conventional PCRshowed a lower accuracy of 52.94%. However, enrichment of LAMP negative samples for 6 henhanced the sensitivity of detection to 100%. The optimised assay detected all negativefish samples by culture as negative hence giving detection specificity of 100%. Moreover,LAMP assay took the least detection time as compared to conventional PCR and qPCR.Thus, the optimised LAMP assay developed can be used as a sensitive, rapid and simpledetection tool for the reliable detection of L. monocytogenes from fish. Keywords:Haemolysin gene (hlyA gene), Listeria monocytogenes, LAMP, PCR, qPCR

Antimicrobial resistance is an emerging global threat to public health. The resistant bacteria in food animals can be transferred to humans through the food chain. Limited information on antimicrobial usage and resistance in food animals is available in Southeast Asia due to inadequate monitoring or surveillance systems. A literature review was conducted on antimicrobial use and resistance in food animal production in Southeast Asia for the period 2011–2020, to assess the scope and extent of antibiotic use and resistance. The countries included in the study were Bangladesh, Bhutan, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Timor-Leste. The information was categorised by country, production type and findings regarding antibiotic use and resistance. A total of 108 publications were included in the review. Results showed widespread use of critically and highly important antibiotics in livestock, poultry and aquacultured fish and their products. To curb the growing threat of antibiotic resistance, Southeast Asian countries need to strengthen surveillance and regulatory controls of antimicrobial use in food animal production through “One Health” approach.

The synchrotron-based vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) emission spectra of (Fe, Sm) co-doped ZnO phosphors exhibit broad emission in the visible-near infrared region in the temperature range of 10–300 K. These emission spectra are due to the deep defect levels in the host ZnO. Upon codoping of Fe and Sm ions, an efficient energy transfer (ET) from ZnO to Sm3+ via Fe2+/Fe3+ states occurs. A mechanism explaining the ET resulting due to the involvement of additional energy levels corresponding to Fe2+/Fe3+ and Sm3+ ions is proposed. The probability of phonon-assisted non-radiative transitions increases at elevated temperatures. In the case of Zn0.997Sm0.025Fe0.005O, the CIE color coordinates shift from orange to blue to white at low temperature with an acceptable Color Rendering Index and Color Quality Scale values, under the VUV excitations. The broadening of emission spectra due to strong electron–phonon coupling at high-temperature resulting in high CRI and CQS values reveals that (Fe, Sm) co-doped ZnO phosphors are suitable materials to use in the detection of space events, plasma display devices, field emission displays, etc.

Pure and Ti-doped WO3 nano systems synthesized by the solid state reaction method and annealed at different temperatures, were studied for changes in structural, optical and magnetic properties. X-ray diffraction, Raman, UV-Vis, photoluminescence spectroscopy, vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) techniques were employed for structural, optical and magnetic characterization to study the modification of the electronic structure and disorder developed in the samples. Inclusion of Ti ions leads to degradation in the crystallinity of the monoclinic single phase system with an increase in the content of the dopant ions, whereas increased annealing temperature enhances crystallinity. A red shift in the optical band gap indicates the production of defect states. As the annealing temperature is raised, the amount of visible photoluminescence (PL) emissions caused by oxygen vacancies decreases. Magnetic experiments demonstrate the ferromagnetic properties of the prepared samples, which exhibit a decrease with Ti doping and an increase in annealing temperature.

In this paper, structural and optical properties of WO2.72 thin films implanted by 150 keV Ni ions having ion fluences in the range of 1015 to 1016 ions/cm2 have been investigated. Structural investigations (Raman and XRD) suggest the formation of the crystalline monoclinic phase of pristine films. However, after ion implantation, the crystalline quality degrades as a function of ion fluences, and complete amorphization is observed at highest fluence. Further, the bandgap decreases upon ion implantation as a result of band tailing effect. Optical investigation under UV excitation delineates the existence of NUV, band-to-band transition and blue green emission bands in WO2.72 thin films. Implantation-assisted Ni doping blueshifted the new NUV emission peaks due to the enhancement in free electron concentration in the conduction band (CB). The overall hue of the emitted light investigated using Commission International de l'Eclairage (CIE) diagram demonstrates the transition from light to deep blue region upon Ni implantation.

Clostridium perfringens is one of the most important foodborne pathogens that causes histotoxic diseases and intestinal infections in both humans and animals. The present scoping review has been designed to analyze the literature published during 2000e2021 from India on the prevalence, molecular characterization, and antimicrobial resistance profile of C. perfringens isolates recovered from humans, animals, animal-based foods, and associated environmental samples. The peer-reviewed articles retrieved from four electronic databases (Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, and Web of Science) were assessed using PRISMA-ScR guidelines. A total of 32 studies from India were selected on the basis of their relevance and inclusion criteria. The overall prevalence of C. perfringens among domestic animals having history of clinical symptoms and among healthy animals was found to be 65.8% (508/772) and 42.8% (493/1152), respectively. The pathogen was also detected in clinically affected wild animals (75%), healthy wild animals (35.4%), and captive birds (24.5%). The detection of C. perfringens among poultry having necrotic enteritis and among healthy birds was found to be 66.8% (321/480) and 25.6% (80/312), respectively. The detection of pathogen among animal-based foods (i.e., meat, milk, and fish and their products) and environmental samples depicted a prevalence of 20.8% (325/1562) and 30.2% (23/76), respectively. However, the prevalence of C. perfringens among humans having history of diarrhea and among healthy humans was found to be 25% (70/280) and 23.2% (36/155), respectively. The genotyping of C. perfringens isolates revealed that toxin type A was found to be the most prevalent genotype. Along with the alpha toxin gene (cpa), beta (cpb), epsilon (etx), iota (itx), enterotoxin (cpe), beta-2 toxin (cpb2), and NetB (netB) toxins were also detected in different combinations. Antimicrobial resistance profile of C. perfringens isolates recovered from different sources demonstrated that the highest resistance was detected against sulphonamides (76.8%) and tetracycline (41.3%) by phenotypic and genotypic detection methods, respectively. Comprehensive scientific studies covering different geographical areas at the human-animal-environment interface are crucial to generalize the real magnitude of C. perfringensassociated problem in India and for establishing a reliable database. (c) 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.