AFB1 induced free radicals cause encephalopathy in goat kids via intrinsic pathway of apoptosis: pathological and immunohistochemical confirmation of non-hepatic neuroaflatoxicosis.

Aflatoxins, particularly AFB1, are the most common feed contaminants worldwide, causing significant economic losses to the livestock sector. The current paper describes an outbreak of aflatoxicosis in a herd of 160 male young goat kids (3-4 months), of which 68 young kids succumbed over a period of 25 days after showing neurological signs of abnormal gait, progressive paralysis and head pressing. The haematobiochemical investigation showed reduced haemoglobin, leucocyte count, PCV level, increased levels of AST, ALT, glucose, BUN, creatinine and reduced level of total protein. Grossly, kids had pale mucous membranes, pale and swollen liver; right apical lobe consolidation, and petechiation of the synovial membrane of the hock joints. The microscopic changes were characterized by multifocal hemorrhages, status spongiosus/ vacuolation, vasculitis, focal to diffuse gliosis, satellitosis, and ischemic apoptotic neurons in different parts of the brain and spinal cord. These changes corresponded well with strong immunoreactivity for AFB1 in neurons, glia cells (oligodendrocytes, astrocytes, and ependymal cells) in various anatomical sites of the brain. The higher values of LPO and reduced levels of antioxidant enzymes (Catalase, SOD, GSH) with strong immunoreactivity of 8-OHdG in the brain indicating high level of oxidative stress. Further, the higher immunosignaling of caspase-3 and caspase-9 in the brain points towards the association with intrinsic pathway of apoptosis. The toxicological analysis of feed samples detected high amounts of AFB1 (0.38ppm). These findings suggest that AFB1 in younger goat kids has more of neurotoxic effect mediated through caspase dependent intrinsic pathway.

Current Perspectives and Future Prospects of mRNA Vaccines against Viral Diseases: A Brief Review.

The mRNA vaccines replace our conventional vaccines (live-attenuated and inactivated vaccines) due to their high safety, efficacy, potency and low cost for their manufacturing. Since these many years, the use of these mRNA vaccines has been restricted as they are unstable and their low efficiency in in-vivo delivery. But now, these problems have been solved by recent technological advances. Many studies conducted in animal models and humans demonstrated the good results for the mRNA vaccines. This review provides you a detailed overview of mRNA viral vaccines and considers the current perspectives and future prospects.

First description of natural concomitant infection of avian nephritis virus and infectious bronchitis virus reveals exacerbated inflammatory response and renal damage in broiler chicks.

We describe the first report on spontaneous Avian Nephritis Virus (ANV) and Infectious Bronchitis Virus (IBV) concurrent infection in broiler chicks. On necropsy, the kidneys were found swollen with its parenchyma and ureters stuffed with urate flakes. Histopathologically, the renal tubular damage and inflammatory response were severe in concurrently infected birds compared to the cases infected only with ANV, which had direct correlation with significantly (p < 0.001) increased expression of IL-1 ß, IL-4, IL-12, IL-13, iNOS and IFN-γ transcripts in the kidneys of concurrently infected birds. Relative decrease in IFN-ß transcript levels in the concurrently infected birds indicates suppression of antiviral response; the iNOS level was manifold increased which can be attributed to the enhanced macrophage response. Nucleotide sequencing of S1-spike glycoprotein gene of IBV and RNA dependent RNA polymerase gene of ANV confirmed etiologies as Igacovirus of Gammacoronavirus and ANV-2 of Avastrovirus 2, respectively. Both ANV and IBV virus affect kidneys. Our findings suggested that concurrent infections of these two viruses might have enhanced the transcripts of Th1, Th2 and proinflammatory cytokines with reduced IFN-ß transcripts resulting in decreased host innate antiviral mechanisms leading to exacerbated renal lesions. Future experimental co-infection studies could throw more lights on pathology and pathogenesis during concurrent infections of ANV and IBV in poultry.

Advances in therapeutic and managemental approaches of bovine mastitis: a comprehensive review.

Mastitis (intramammary inflammation) caused by infectious pathogens is still considered a devastating condition of dairy animals affecting animal welfare as well as economically incurring huge losses to the dairy industry by means of decreased production performance and increased culling rates. Bovine mastitis is the inflammation of the mammary glands/udder of bovines, caused by bacterial pathogens, in most cases. Routine diagnosis is based on clinical and subclinical forms of the disease. This underlines the significance of early and rapid identification/detection of etiological agents at the farm level, for which several diagnostic techniques have been developed. Therapeutic regimens such as antibiotics, immunotherapy, bacteriocins, bacteriophages, antimicrobial peptides, probiotics, stem cell therapy, native secretory factors, nutritional, dry cow and lactation therapy, genetic selection, herbs, and nanoparticle technology-based therapy have been evaluated for their efficacy in the treatment of mastitis. Even though several strategies have been developed over the years for the purpose of managing both clinical and subclinical forms of mastitis, all of them lacked the efficacy to eliminate the associated etiological agent when used as a monotherapy. Further, research has to be directed towards the development of new therapeutic agents/techniques that can both replace conventional techniques and also solve the problem of emerging antibiotic resistance. The objective of the present review is to describe the etiological agents, pathogenesis, and diagnosis in brief along with an extensive discussion on the advances in the treatment and management of mastitis, which would help safeguard the health of dairy animals.

Cloning and expression of P67 protein of Mycoplasma leachii.

AIM: The present study was undertaken to clone, express and study the immunogenicity of P67 protein of Mycoplasma leachii. MATERIALS AND METHODS: P67 gene was amplified from genomic DNA of M. leachii. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) product was inserted in pRham N-His SUMO Kan vector and was used to transform competent Escherichia cloni 10G cells. Recombinant protein expression was done by inducing cells with 0.2% Rhamnose. Purification was done using nickel nitrilotriacetic acid affinity chromatography. Western blot and dot blot analysis were performed to assess the immunoreactivity of P67 protein. RESULTS: PCR amplicon size of P67 gene was found to be 1500 base pair. The size of the fusion protein with SUMO tag was 79 kDa in sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis. The recombinant P67 fusion protein expressed in pRham N-His SUMO Kan vector was found to be immunogenic in both western blot and dot blot analysis. CONCLUSION: Western blot and dot blot analysis of P67 protein of M. leachii revealed that the protein is immunogenic. Further work is needed to evaluate the role of P67 antigen of M. leachii as an immunodiagnostic agent.