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Inappropriate handling of poultry waste from the beginning to the end of the production cycle could lead to health and environmental hazards. The purpose of this study was to assess the current state of poultry waste management practices as well as to evaluate the efficacy of disinfectants (VIRKON S, Quaternary ammonium compound (QAC), Calcium hypochlorite [Ca(OCl) 2 ], and nanomaterials (nano-silver particles (Ag NPs), and Ca(OCl) 2 -Ag NPs composite) on pathogenic bacteria for use in the disinfection of waste collection areas within poultry operation systems. Two hundred and ten samples were gathered from variant waste types for isolation and identification of pathogenic bacteria. Then, the efficacy of some disinfectants against fifty strains of isolated bacteria was evaluated using a broth micro-dilution assay. Results showed the most predominant bacterial isolates from wastes were E. coli (33.69%), Salmonella spp. (26.09%), followed by K. pneumonae (15.22%) and L. monocytogenes (14.13%). Ca(OCl) 2 -Ag NPs had a microbial lethal effect against all pathogenic bacteria (100%) that were isolated from liquid and solid waste. In conclusion, poultry manure waste is collected and dumped on the agricultural land around those chicken farms without any treatment. The Ca(OCl) 2 -Ag NPs composite was lethal to all pathogenic microbes isolated from waste and their collected areas at 1.0 mg/L concentration.

Different strains of Escherichia coli that exhibit genetic characteristics linked to diarrhea pose a major threat to both human and animal health. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of pathogenic Escherichia coli ( E. coli ), the genetic linkages and routes of transmission between E. coli isolates from different animal species. The efficiency of disinfectants such as hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ), Virkon®S, TH 4+ , nano zinc oxide (ZnO NPs), and H 2 O 2 -based zinc oxide nanoparticles (H 2 O 2 /ZnO NPs) against isolated strains of E. coli was evaluated. Using 100 fecal samples from different diarrheal species (cow n = 30, sheep n = 40, and broiler chicken n = 30) for E. coli isolation and identification using the entero-bacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC–PCR) fingerprinting technique. The E. coli properties isolated from several diarrheal species were examined for their pathogenicity in vitro. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectrum (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), zeta potential, and particle size distribution were used for the synthesis and characterization of ZnO NPs and H 2 O 2 /ZnO NPs. The broth macro-dilution method was used to assess the effectiveness of disinfectants and disinfectant-based nanoparticles against E. coli strains . Regarding the results, the hemolytic activity and Congo red binding assays of pathogenic E. coli isolates were 55.3 and 44.7%, respectively. Eleven virulent E. coli isolates were typed into five ERIC-types (A1, A2, B1, B2, and B3) using the ERIC-PCR method. These types clustered into two main clusters (A and B) with 75% similarity. In conclusion, there was 90% similarity between the sheep samples' ERIC types A1 and A2. On the other hand, 89% of the ERIC types B1, B2, and B3 of cows and poultry samples were comparable. The H 2 O 2 /ZnO NPs composite exhibits potential antibacterial action against E. coli isolates at 0.04 mg/ml after 120 min of exposure.

The current study aimed to investigate the efficacy of dietary thyme essential oil (TEO), Nigella sativa essential oil (NSEO), thyme essential oil nano-emulsion (TEO-NE), and Nigella sativa essential oil nano-emulsion (NSEO-NE) in reducing total ammonia nitrogen (TAN), improving immune response, mitigating stress, and acting as anti-inflammatory agents as well as preventing streptococcosis infection in Oreochromis niloticus (O. niloticus). Fish (N = 330, 14 ± 2 g) were divided into 10 groups of 11 fish each, with three replicates in each group. The negative and positive controls were fed a control diet, while the third group was given 1% TEO. Moreover, the fourth group of fish was given 2% TEO. The fifth and sixth groups were fed 1% TEO-NE and 2% TEO-NE, respectively. The seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth groups were fed 1% NSEO, 2% NSEO, 1% NSEO-NE, and 2% NSEO-NE, respectively. After dietary intake of TEO, NSEO, and their nano-emulsions for 28 days, the mean values of TAN levels in the water of fish aquaria had a significant reduction in the group fed 2% TEO-NE compared to the control group. On the contrary, NSEO-NE at the same concentration had no significant effect on TAN levels. The levels of lysozyme, complement 5, and IgM increased in all feeding groups compared to the control group. Concerning cortisol level as a stress indicator, it was decreased in all feeding groups compared to the control. Also, the current experiment overall showed a significant decrease in the expression level of pro-inflammatory tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) gene in the gills of fish groups fed TEO, TEO-NE, NS, and NS-NE relative to the β-actin gene. Oppositely, there was an increase in the expression level of the anti-inflammatory transforming growth factor (TGF-β). In the current study, TEO-NE and NSEO-NE showed a better effect on preventing streptococcosis in O. niloticus with no mortality than 1% TEO and NSEO, respectively. Furthermore, there was a 12.5% mortality rate and an 84.99 RPS in the group fed 1% TEO and injected with Streptococcus inae. On the other hand, the groups fed 1 and 2% NSEO showed 37.5 and 25% mortality rate, respectively and 54.99 and 69.99 RPS. In conclusion, the nano-emulsion either TEO or NSEO had the superior effect. For bulk status, the TEO had superior effect than NSEO. The study needs more investigations for ammonia, either on the mode of action or over a longer period.

The wastewater effluent is responsible for the major ecological impact of the dairy sectors. To avoid the negative consequences of heavy metal pollution on the ecosystem, creative, affordable, and efficient treatment methods are now required before the effluent flows into the surrounding area. This study was aimed at assessing the effectiveness of three different adsorbents for Cd +2 and Cr +6 ions from wastewater effluents of dairy farms, including chitosan (CS), clinoptilolite zeolite (CZ), and chitosan/clinoptilolite zeolite (CS/CZ) composite. The adsorption kinetics of the CS/CZ composite were established using the effects of the key variables (pH, agitation speed, adsorbent concentrations, and contact durations). The removal (%) and adsorption capacities, q e (mg/g), were calculated using the data from the adsorption kinetics. Wastewater samples ( n  = 60) were collected from the wastewater effluents of five farms. Cd +2 and Cr +6 ion concentrations in all collected samples were determined. Following the CS/CZ composite creation, it was characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (X-RD), and Fourier-transform infrared spectrum (FT-IR). The CS/CZ composite had an adsorption capacity of 92.4 and 96.5 mg/g for both Cd +2 and Cr +6 ions at a concentration of 2.0 g/100 ml, respectively, while the CZ adsorption capacities for the two ions were 87.5 mg/g and 61.0 mg/g, respectively, at 4.0 g/100 ml concentration. The CS was achieved at 55.56 mg/g and 33.3 mg/g, respectively, at the same concentration. The efficiency of heavy metal removal was enhanced by increasing adsorbent concentration, agitation speed, and contact duration. Using CS/CZ composite at 2.0 g/100 ml concentration, 180 min of contact time, and 300 rpm agitation speed, the greatest removal efficiencies for Cd +2 and Cr +6 ions (96.43 and 98.75%, respectively) were demonstrated.

Functionalizing organic–inorganic materials for use in packaging technologies, such as polymers wrapped in thin metal, has proven to be one of the more successful strategies. In this study, the direct current (DC) sputtering technique under a vacuum of 3 × 10 −5  Torr was used to deposit silver (Ag) films of thicknesses of 100 and 300 nm on poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) polymer. The structural, optical, antibacterial activity, and wettability properties of Ag/PMMA were carried out using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), UV spectrophotometer, and contact angle. The cubic crystal structure phase of Ag was confirmed by the XRD. The Ag coating layer has consistent nanomorphology, according to AFM, and the PMMA substrate surface was well coated with Ag nanoparticles. As the Ag film thickness rose, the optical band gap values of Ag/PMMA slightly increased. In addition, it has been found that these optical characteristics such as extension coefficient, optical density, and optical surface resistance essentially depend on the thickness of the Ag layers. Both samples of pure PMMA and Ag/PMMA polymers show no activity against E. coli . In the meantime, S. aureus activity is detected in the Ag/PMMA samples, and the antibacterial activity is slightly influenced by the Ag thickness. The contact angle rose as the Ag film thickness grew over the PMMA, resulting in a decrease in the wettability of the liquid which is required for food packaging technology.

This work aimed to detect the frequency of pathogenic bacteria of zoonotic importance in ducks' dropping, their surrounding environment, and farmworkers in contact with them. Furthermore, the susceptibility pattern of isolated bacteria to antimicrobial drugs and the efficiency of disinfectants (CID 20, Durak plus, and hydrogen peroxide (H O ), nano zinc oxide (ZnO NPs), and hydrogen peroxide loaded nano zinc oxide (H O /ZnO NPs) composites against isolated bacteria were evaluated. A total of samples were collected from duck pens, including 35 fecal droppings, 200 environmental samples, and 36 from the hands of pen workers for isolation and identification of bacterial strains using standard microbiological procedures. After that, the antibiotic sensitivity testing of 40 bacterial isolates was carried out using disk diffusion assay. ZnO NPs and H O /ZnO NPs were characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectrum and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The efficacy of disinfectants and nanocomposites was evaluated against enteropathogenic bacteria using the broth macro-dilution method. The results showed that the overall prevalence of pathogenic bacteria in duck pens was 62.73. The highest isolation rate was detected in duck fecal droppings (100%), while was found to be the most isolated pathogen (56.47%), followed by (21.8%), (15.29), and species (6.47%). Multidrug resistance (MDR) was detected in the majority of bacterial isolates. The efficiency of CID 20 and Durak plus disinfectants against all bacterial isolates was highly susceptible (100%) after 120 min of exposure time compared to the effectiveness of H O on enteropathogenic bacteria which did not exceeded 60% at 5% concentration. Meanwhile, the sensitivity of spp. to Durak plus did not exceeded 80%. The duck fecal droppings are the primary source of bacterial isolates. MDR isolates were susceptible to both CID 20 and Durak plus disinfectants after 120 min of exposure time at a concentration of 1:100 ml. Besides, H O /ZnO NPs composite proved its lethal effect against all testing strains at 0.02 mg/ml after 120 min of exposure. Strict biosecurity guidelines are required to mitigate and prevent the transmission of potentially zoonotic pathogens through the farm environment and/or duck droppings.

Using an alternative bio-product is one of the most promising ways to control bovine mastitis and avoid new intra-mammary infections. The aims of this study were to ascertain the prevalence of biofilm-forming bacteria responsible for causing clinical mastitis in dairy herds and to assess the effectiveness of bacteriocins, produced by Bacillus subtilis, in controlling the growth of these bacteria in the milk of animals. A total of 150 milk samples were collected from cows and buffalos suffering from mastitis and the etiological agents were isolated and identified by the VITEK-2-COMPACT-SYSTEM®. Additionally, the capability of the bacterial isolates to produce biofilms was determined. RT-PCR was used to detect enterotoxin-producing genes (sed and seb), resistance genes (mecA and blaZ), and biofilm-associated genes (icaA and fnbA) in the isolated bacteria. The susceptibility patterns of the bacterial isolates to bacteriocins were assessed using an agar well-diffusion assay. S. aureus was significantly more capable of producing biofilms than coagulase-negative Staphylococcus isolates. S. ubris was the strongest biofilm producer among the Streptococcus species. The sensitivity profiles of the Staphylococcus spp. (S. aureus and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus) and their biofilm producers to bacteriocins were significantly higher (100% and 90%, respectively) at the same concentration. Bacteriocins had a lethal effect on Staphylococci, Streptococci, and biofilm development at a dose of 250 µg/mL. In dairy farms, bacteriocins are a viable alternative treatment for the prevention and control of bovine clinical mastitis.

The hygienic quality of drinking water for cattle originated from different sources together with the efficacy and usability of two types of disinfectants against waterborne pathogens were assessed for small cattle breeders and dairy cattle farms. A total of 120 drinking water samples were collected from water troughs representing three different water sources commonly used for cattle drinking (tap, underground and surface water; n = 65, 25, and 30, respectively). Collected samples were cultured for isolation and identification of pathogenic bacteria using serological techniques and PCR. The bactericidal efficacy of the disinfectants, sodium dichloroisocyanurate (NaDCC) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) 50 %, at different concentrations were evaluated by the determination of total viable and coliform counts of water prior and postwater treatment. In small cattle breeders, Escherichia coli was the most prevalent bacterial isolates from surface water (56.7 %) followed by Staphylococcus aureus (36.7 %), Salmonella spp. (26.7 %), Streptococcus faecalis (23.3 %), Shigella flexneri (16.7 %), Proteus spp. (16.7 %), and Klebsiella pneumonae (10.0 %) at X ² = 9, P ≤ 0.01. Prior to the use of disinfectants, the averages of total bacterial and coliform counts were the highest in surface water (3.56 × 10⁷, 240.0, and 38.0 CFU/100 ml, respectively). It has been found that hydrogen peroxide 50 % at a concentration of 35 mg/l had a lethal effect (100 %) on indicator microorganisms compared with NaDCC at concentration of 2 mg/l. In conclusion, the higher bacterial contaminants in drinking water were found in surface water followed by tap water, particularly for small cattle breeders. Therefore, the usage of more hygienic water troughs with their regular treatment by hydrogen peroxide 50 % at concentration of 35 mg/l is highly recommended to control waterborne bacteria and consequently improve and maintain the animal health.

New approaches are required for prevention and control of biofilm-producing bacteria and consequently mitigating the health problems of bovine clinical mastitis. This work designed to determine prevalence rates of biofilm-producing bacteria that causing bovine clinical mastitis and evaluate the anti-biofilm effectiveness of novel nanocomposite of zinc–aluminum layered double hydroxide intercalated with gallic acid (GA) as chelating agent (Zn-Al LDH/GA) on the prevention and control of environmental pathogenic bacteria; Escherichia coli ( E. coli ), Klebsiella pneumoniae ( K. pneumoniae ), Staphylococcus aureus ( S. aureus ), and Coagulase-negative staphylococci ( CNS ), besides Listeria monocytogenes ( L. monocytogenes ) and assess the ability to use as an antimicrobial agent, and/or sanitizer for milking equipment. All samples ( n  = 230) involved clinical mastitis cow’s milk ( n  = 50) beside environmental samples ( n  = 180) were collected then examined for isolation and identification of bacterial pathogens. Zn-Al LDH/GA nanocomposite was synthesized using co-precipitation method, then characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR); X-ray diffraction (XRD); field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM); high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM); thermogravimetric analysis (TGA); differential thermal analysis (DTA); zeta potential; DLS analysis; and Brunauer, Emmett, and Teller (BET) surface area. The anti-biofilm activity of nanocomposite against mastitis-causing bacteria was detected using the broth micro-dilution and disc-diffusion assay. Results, the minimum concentration of Zn-Al LDH/GA that inhibited the growth of gram-positive and negative bacteria, were 312–625 and 5000 μg/mL, respectively. The LD 50 of Zn-Al LDH/GA was determined in mice at 1983.3 mg/kg b.wt. As a conclusion, Zn-Al LDH/GA nanocomposite proved its efficiency as an antimicrobial agent and/or sanitizer used for cleaning of milking equipment, due to it could inhibit the growth and multiplication of potentially pathogenic bacteria that causing clinical mastitis and its formation of biofilm on the milking equipment. Zn-Al LDH/GA was found to use under varying pH conditions compared with other commercial sanitizer used besides the formation of nanocomposite increases the material stability.

Nanotechnology has become an important tool for fish disease prevention and treatment. The current study was carried out to evaluate the efficacy of dietary thyme essential oil (TEO) and its nano-emulsion (TEO-NE) for motile Aeromonas septicemia prevention (MAS) in Oreochromis niloticus after in vitro evaluation. Aeromonas hydrophila was isolated from naturally diseased Oreochromis niloticus and Clarias gariepinus showed signs of septicemia and congestion of internal organs. Prevalence of MAS among diseased O. niloticus and C. gariepinus was 86.9 and 44.4%, respectively. The obtained isolates were identified as Aeromonas hydrophila by molecular assay and found to be highly pathogenic as they contained hemolysin and cytotoxic enterotoxin virulence genes. Experimental infection and medial lethal concentration were performed and it was 1.5 × 104. TEO-NE was synthesized by ultrasonication and characterized by TEM, ATR-FTIR, and zeta potential. The antibacterial activity of TEO-NE was noticed at the least concentration during in vitro evaluation. TEO-NE succeeded in preventing MAS in dietary fed O. niloticus with no mortality compared to 10 and 80% O. niloticus groups fed TEO and positive control group, respectively. Dietary TEO-NE induced significant increase in IgM, IL-1β, and lysozyme. Liver and kidney functions were within the normal levels in groups fed TEO and TEO-NE.