Effect of different concentrations of resveratrol on nuclear maturation and in-vitro development competence of oocytes of Nili Ravi buffalo.

Buffaloes are considered animals of the future with the ability to survive under unfavorable conditions. However, the lack of access to superior germplasm poses a significant challenge to increasing buffalo production. Resveratrol has been shown to improve oocyte quality and developmental competence in various animals during in vitro embryo development. However, limited information is available on the use of resveratrol to improve the in vitro maturation and development competence of Nili Ravi buffalo oocytes. Therefore, the current study aimed to investigate the influence of different concentrations of resveratrol on the maturation, fertilization, and development of buffalo oocytes under in vitro conditions. Oocytes were collected from ovaries and subjected to in vitro maturation (IVM) using varying concentrations of resveratrol (0 µM, 0.5 µM, 1 µM, 1.5 µM, and 2 µM), and the maturation process was assessed using a fluorescent staining technique. Results indicated no significant differences in oocyte maturation, morula rate, and blastocyst rate among the various resveratrol concentrations. However, the cleavage rate notably increased with 1 µM and 1.5 µM concentrations of resveratrol (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the study suggests that adding 1 µM of resveratrol into the maturation media may enhance the cleavage and blastocyst hatching of oocytes of Nili Ravi buffaloes. These findings hold promise for advancing buffalo genetics, reproductive performance, and overall productivity, offering potential benefits to the dairy industry, especially in Asian countries.

Evaluation of polyherbal gel for musculoskeletal injuries in industrial workers.

BACKGROUND: Industrial workers often have musculoskeletal disorders due to the nature of their work. OBJECTIVE: The goal was to investigate the scientific use of polyherbal gel in relieving pain and stiffness due to musculoskeletal injuries and improving activities of daily living (ADLs) in industrial workers. METHODS: A pragmatic, single-blinded, randomized control study divided 200 musculoskeletal injury patients into four parallel groups (n = 50). Groups 1 and 2 were applied polyherbal gel via phonophoresis with therapeutic ultrasound and superficial massage. Groups 3 and 4 received diclofenac diethyl-ammonium 1% gel by phonophoresis and superficial massage. The Global Pain Relief Scale, Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) were used to measure pain, stiffness, and ADLs. Data was analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and paired t-test to compare mean±SD of four independent groups before and after gel application. The confidence interval was 95%, with p < 0.05 considered significant. RESULTS: The results revealed that polyherbal gel reduced pain (NPRS, WOMAC and Global pain relief scales) more efficiently (p≤0.000) when applied with phonophoresis as compared to applied with massage and standard diclofenac (p≤0.005), furthermore, polyherbal gel when applied with phonophoresis showed more efficient results. CONCLUSION: Industrial workers with musculoskeletal injuries benefited from the use of polyherbal gel for pain and inflammation relief. The polyherbal gel is natural, cost-effective, and easy to formulate.

Identification, molecular characterization, and pathological features of orf virus in sheep and goats in Punjab province, Pakistan.

Orf virus (ORFV) causes an acute, contagious, skin disease of sheep and goats which is economically important. The objectives of this study were to identify ORFV and to explore its pathological and phylogenetic profiles in 350 goats and 91 sheep of 14 districts of Punjab, Pakistan, from July 2020 to July 2021. Skin scrapings (total no. of samples = 441) of suspected animals were subjected to polymerase chain reactions, phylogenetic analysis, and pathological observations. The partial length of GIF/IL-2 gene (408 bp) was successfully amplified in 58/441 samples. Phylogenetic analysis of GIF/IL2 gene showed that the study isolates belonged to ORFV-cluster I, together with the viruses reported in India and China. Pakistan ORFV isolates were shared 97.6-98.7% nucleotide and 97.6-100% amino acid identities with the reference strain (NC_005336). Moreover, Chinese ORFV-isolates were detected unique multiple amino acid substitutions (F11L, Q21H, D27N, I46V, N49S, N82D, D103N, S129G) with study isolates. Naturally infected animals were anorexic, emaciated, dull, and depressed. The macroscopic lesions included multifocal to coalescing, ulceration followed by proliferative papules, pustules, and crust formation on the epidermis of gums, lips, mouth commissure, muzzles, nose, and udder. Histopathological examination revealed hyperplasia, anastomosing rete ridges formation and degenerative changes, including spongiosis and vacuolation of epidermal cells. Keratinocytes exhibited eosinophilic intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies with pyknotic and karyorrhexis nuclei. This is the first report on molecular characterization of ORFV from Pakistan, with insight into its pathogenesis and comparative analysis of pathological alterations and genetic diversity between ORFV strains reported in different geographical areas.

Molecular epidemiology of Coxiella Brunetii in small ruminants in Punjab, Pakistan: a novel reporting analytical cross sectional study.

Coxiella burnetii, an intracellular zoonotic bacterium, causes query (Q) fever in ruminants. Its role has never been elucidated in small ruminants from Pakistan. The current study is designed to (a) determine the prevalence of coxiellosis in small ruminants, (b) evaluate the association of various potential risk factors and biomarkers in the occurrence of Coxiella burnetii, (c) and determine phylogeny and genetic variability of its various isolates identified during the study. For this purpose, 320 blood samples from sheep (n = 160) and goats (n = 160) were collected from 9 Union Councils of district Kasur, Punjab, and processed for DNA extraction. C. burnetii was confirmed by amplification of IS1111 transposase gene with an amplicon size of 294 bp. The results showed that the overall positive percentage of C. burnetii is 36.87% (sheep: 46.9% and goats: 30%). The phylogenetic tree was also constructed which described the possible origin of this pathogen from environment. Besides, after translation into amino acid, the resultant alignment showed several unique changes at position numbers 18 and 27 in the isolates from goats and at 27 and 66 from those of sheep. These mutations can have major impact on the infectious characteristics of this pathogen. Furthermore, different potential risk factors and clinical biomarkers like age, tick infestation, abortion, mastitis, and infertility were also studied and found that these are significantly (p < 0.05) associated with the occurrence of coxiellosis. It is concluded from the study that C. burnetii is endemic in small ruminants in Punjab, Pakistan. The outcomes of this study are alarming for scientific community as well as for policy makers because coxiellosis is an emerging threat to both humans and animals in this region due to its interspecies transmission ability.

Toxico-pathological effects of heavy metals from industrial drainage wastewater on vital organs of small ruminants in Lahore.

Considering one health concept, human health is thought to be affected by many factors. Heavy metal toxicity is now gaining its place as one of the major factors contributing to detrimental outcomes for human health. The study encompassed to target sites close to the industrial area of Lahore where heavy metal levels are believed to be higher, as industrial waste is drained into the two main drains. Sheep and goats (n = 5 from each species) reared in the locality were included in the study, and effects of heavy metal toxicity were evaluated in the selected organs (intestine, kidneys, liver, and muscles) via histopathological examination along with residual concentration of these heavy metals in the aforementioned organs. Heavy metals chromium, copper, zinc, lead, iron, magnesium, manganese, and nickel were detected in sample of selected organs by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) along with digestion method. The findings of the study indicated a statistically significant difference of residual concentrations of almost all the selected elements in almost all the tissue samples between the two sites where the values of site 1 (close to the drain) were higher compared with site 2 (away from the drain). Similar trend was depicted in histopathological examination where a higher degree of tissue degeneration, necrosis, and hence organ damage was observed in tissue samples collected from site 1 compared with site 2.

Evaluation of Gastro-protective Activity of Myristica fragrans on Ethanol-induced Ulcer in Albino Rats.

Myristica fragrans seeds are traditionally used to treat dyspepsia, vomiting and abdominal pain. The purpose of this study was to investigate the protective effect of Myristica fragrans in ethanol induced gastric ulcer. Study was carried out on rats, divided into four groups; negative control, positive control, standard drug control, and Myristica fragrans extract treated rats. The pH, ulcer index, acidity values and histopathological examination of stomach were evaluated. Myristica fragrans significantly (P<0.05) reduced gastric lesions by 41.68% in ethanol induced ulcer model at 200 mg/kg when compared to sucralfate (60.41%). However, histopathological findings appeared similar in Myristica fragrans extract treated and standard drug control groups, where stomachs were found with mild erosion of superficial epithelium and few infiltrated inflammatory cells. pH of gastric contents of rats from extract treated was increased (4.25 ± 0.25) as compared to positive control group (2.25 ± 0.25). Ulcer index of extract treated rats was improved (41.74%). Moreover, total acidity of extract treated group (60.0 ± 0.47) was decreased as compared to control group (74.50 ± 1.04). It is concluded that Myristica fragrans showed significant protecting activity in ethanol induced ulcer. Isolation and purification of phytochemicals responsible for gastroprotective activity becomes necessary.