Thyroid outbreak during the pandemic of COVID-19: a report

Background : In the 19th Week of 2020, Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) noted an unusual increase in the number of fever cases in Routine Syndromic Surveillance. Objectives : The unusual increase of fever cases were investigated to identify the agent, the source of infection and to propose recommendations for control measures. Methods : Active surveillance of fever cases done, blood samples, stool samples and water samples were collected from the affected area. The secondary data of indoor and outdoor patient were collected from the nearest health facilities. Result : It was a single peak outbreak of typhoid, started from 1st May, 2020, had peaked during the 19th Week of May. 2020 and ended on 31st May, 2020. The epicentre of the outbreak was the residential colony of Industrial labour. The outbreak of Typhoid occurred due to conditions generated due to the pandemic of COVID -19. Two sources of active infection were found. First, contaminated supply of drinking water and second a food-handler, who was the carrier of Typhoid. Interpretation and Conclusion : It is a lesson to learn that the local communicable diseases should be monitor during the pandemic. Otherwise, that can cause the situation of co-epidemic.

Prevalence of concurrent infections in broiler population of district Chakwal, Pakistan

Broiler population is one of the most important segments of livestock due to its significant contribution in white meat production. Infectious disease outbreaks adversely influence the production potential and consequently cause economic losses. Epidemiological data regarding magnitude of these disease outbreaks is of fundamental importance for planning of a comprehensive control strategy. With retrospective design, this study was conducted from January 2013 through December 2017 in order to assess the disease burden on broilers reared in different open type poultry houses. Out of total 658 commercial farms with capacity of 4221800 broilers, across Chakwal, a representative sample of 70 farms with capacity of 448000 broilers was randomly selected for collection and analysis of disease data. Five years' data of these randomly selected farms revealed highest (44.64%) crude morbidity during monsoon season followed by 23.92%, 22.12% and 17.49% for winter, spring and post-monsoon seasons respectively. The highest (14.90%) prevalence was recorded for new castle disease followed by infectious bursal disease (11.79%), pullorum disease (11.17%), colibacillosis (8.71%), infectious bronchitis (7.87%), inclusion body hepatitis (7.79%), chronic respiratory disease (7.67%), necrotic enteritis (6.48%), coccidiosis (6.09%), mycotoxicosis (5.43%), fowl cholera (4.74%), infectious coryza (4.41%), fowl typhoid (4.22%), omphalitis (3.71%) and hydropericardium syndrome (0.05%). Maximum share in crude morbidity was contributed by bacterial diseases with highest proportional morbidity of 48.68% followed by viral (40.32%), parasitic (5.80%) and fungal (5.20%) diseases. This epidemiological data represents true picture of study population and is a valuable tool for planning of prevention strategy and research priorities.

Biological activities of Egyptian grape and mulberry by-products and their potential use as natural sources of food additives and nutraceuticals foods

Interest in the biological role of bioactive compounds present in plant by-products has increased over the last few years. This study aimed to investigate the nutritive value and biological activities of Egyptian Grape leaves (GL), Grape seeds (GS) and Mulberry leaves (ML), as well as investigate the impact of P-irradiation for improving the utilization of these plant by-products. The dose level 5.0 kGy showed highest the content of crude protein (24.42, 19.41 and 13.50 mg/100 g), as well as crude fiber (34.26 and 21.18 mg/100 g) for ML, GL and GS, respectively. Mulberry leaves has a highest content of protein and fiber at dose 5.0 kGy compared with GL and GS. The highest total phenolic content was found in GS (9.75 mg/g DW), followed by GL (7.32 mg/g DW) and the lowest in ML (5.97 mg/g DW). While ML had a higher total flavonoids content (5.61 mg/g DW) than GS (4.88 mg/g DW) and GL (2.86 mg/g DW). Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were significantly increased at 5.0 kGy. The highest level (83.25% and 80.24%) of scavenging activity (DPPH %) and inhibition activity of HCT 116 cells was recorded at 5.0 kGy by GS. All extracts irradiated at 5.0 kGy exhibited varying degrees of antibacterial activity against (Gram+ve and Gram-ve), the GS followed by GL then ML showed strong antibacterial activity with a diameter of inhibition zone of 26.2, 24.5 and 19.7 mm, against L. monocytoganes, respectively and 24.4, 21.4 and 17.2 against S. typhimurium, respectively. This study suggests that P-irradiation is an effective technique to enhance the recovery of phenolics and flavonoids from GL, GS and ML. Also in current study, antioxidant, antibacterial and anticancer activity has been suggested to appear a clear positive relationship with the total phenolic material. This study has proved that the Egyptian GL, GS and ML are rich sources of valuable phytochemicals and nutrients that can serve as a potential source of nutraceuticals and multifunctional food additives (antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer). Phenolic compounds recovered from GL, GS and ML may have a potential role in fighting the COVID-19.