The study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of Escherichia coli (E. coli) in sub-clinically mastitic (SCM) animals, and in wild and migratory birds which may act as reservoir disseminating such pathogen. Farm hygiene, management and milking procedures were listed through a questionnaire. Thirty lactating cows and 15 lactating buffaloes from five small-scale dairy farms were randomly selected and screened for subclinical mastitis (SCM) using California Mastitis Test (CMT) and somatic cell count (SCC). In addition, 80 teat skin swabs, 5 drinking water samples and 38 wild and migratory bird faecal matter were also collected. All samples were processed for E. coli isolation by culturing on Levine’s Eosin Methylene Blue (L-EMB) agar, followed by purification and biochemical identification. Positive samples were subjected to molecular identification and serotyping. In addition, the presence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) and carbapenemase-producing E. coli have been reported by antimicrobial sensitivity testing. Escherichia coli were isolated from 7.7%, 50% and 50% of the positive CMT cows’ quarters, cows’ composite and buffaloes’ composite milk samples, respectively. In addition, 14% of cows’ teats, 20% of water samples, 70% of faecal matter from wild bird, and 33.3% of faecal matter from migratory waterfowls were carrying E. coli. Serotyping, antibiotic-resistant pattern and phylogenetic analysis have pointed the bearable implication of milking hygiene and wild birds in disseminating E. coli strains causing intramammary infections.

Background Borrelia burgdorferi is the spirochete that causes Lyme Borreliosis (LB), which is a zoonotic tick-borne disease of humans and domestic animals. Hard ticks are obligate haematophagous ectoparasites that serve as vectors of Borrelia burgdorferi. Studies on the presence of Lyme borreliosis in Egyptian animals and associated ticks are scarce. Methods This study was conducted to detect B. burgdorferi in different tick vectors and animal hosts. Three hundred animals (dogs=100, cattle=100, and camels=100) were inspected for tick infestation. Blood samples from 160 tick-infested animals and their associated ticks (n=1025) were collected and examined for the infection with B. burgdorferi by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. The identified tick species were characterized molecularly by PCR and sequencing of the ITS2 region. Results The overall tick infestation rate among examined animals was 78.33% (235/300). The rate of infestation was significantly higher in camels (90%), followed by cattle (76%) and dogs (69%); (P = 0.001). Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus, and both Hyalomma dromedarii and Amblyomma variegatum, were morphologically identified from infested dogs, cattle, and camels; respectively. Molecular characterization of ticks using the ITS2 region confirmed the morphological identification, as well as displayed high similarities of R. sanguineus, H. dromedarii, and A. Variegatu with ticks identified in Egypt and various continents worldwide. Just one dog (1.67%) and its associated tick pool of R. sanguineus were positive for B. burgdorferi infection. The 16S rRNA gene sequence for B. burgdorferi in dog and R. sanguineus tick pool showed a 100% homology. Conclusion Analyzed data revealed a relatively low rate of B. burgdorferi infection, but a significantly high prevalence of tick infestation among domesticated animals in Egypt, which possesses a potential animal and public health risk. Additionally, molecular characterization of ticks using the ITS2 region was a reliable tool to discriminate species of ticks and confirmed the morphological identification.

Background: Clostridium perfringens-associated necrotic enteritis (NE) is a serious problem affecting broiler production. A major global challenge is to reduce the use of antibiotics in poultry industry due to their negative impacts on public health. One alternative is to use nanoparticles (NPs) to overcome bacterial resistance to antibiotics. Silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) showed strong antimicrobial activity. Methods: A total of 120 Cobb broiler chicks (1-day old) were obtained for this study and were divided into 4 equal groups at age of 14 days (30 birds each); each group was subdivided into 3 equal replicates (10 birds each). The groups were designated as follows: G1, infected; G2, infected and treated with Ag NPs; G3, treated with Ag NPs; and G4, negative control. Birds were infected with 4×10 8 colony forming unit (CFU)/mL/bird C. perfringens type A for 2 successive days. In the treated groups, Ag NPs (mean diameter 15 nm; total dose 150 µg/bird) were administered via crop gavage. During the observation period (5 weeks), bird performance and immune organ indexes were recorded. Serum samples were collected for immunological evaluation, and tissue samples were collected for histopathology and estimation of Ag NPs residues. Results: Treatment with Ag NPs reduced the colonization of C. perfringens in the intestine and ceca, decreased the severity of clinical signs and reduced mortalities in comparison with infected non-treated group. Ag NPs treatment alleviated pathological lesions in the intestine and liver, but their residues were found in the muscles. Conclusion: Ag NPs have a positive impact on gut health integrity while having no impact on immune organs. Ag NPs have some residues in muscles; therefore, further studies are needed on the concentration and size of Ag NPs, the route of administration, and withdrawal time to ensure the safety of chicken meat for human consumption.

Background: Epidemiological studies suggested that determinants for antibiotic resistance have originated in aquaculture. Recently, the integrated agriculture-aquaculture system has been implemented, where fish are raised in ponds that receive agriculture drainage water. The present study aims to investigate the occurrence of βlactamase and carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae in the integrated agriculture-aquaculture and the consequent public health implication. Methods: Samples were collected from fish, fishpond water inlets, tap water, outlet water, and workers at sites of integrated agriculture-aquacultures. Samples were also taken from inhabitants of the aquaculture surrounding areas. All samples were cultured on MacConkey agar, the Enterobacteriaceae isolates were tested for susceptibility to cephalosporins and carbapenems, and screened for bla CTX-M-15 , bla SHV , bla OXA-1 , bla TEM , bla PER-1 , bla KPC , bla OXA-48 , and bla NDM. Strains having similar resistance phenotype and genotype were examined for the presence of Incompatible (Inc) plasmids. Results: A major proportion of the Enterobacteriaceae isolates were resistant to cephalosporins and carbapenems. Among the 66 isolates from fish, 34 were resistant to both cephalosporin and carbapenem groups, 26 to carbapenems alone, and 4 to cephalosporins alone. Of the 15 isolates from fishpond water inlets, 8 showed resistance to both groups, 1 to carbapenems alone, and 5 to cephalosporins alone. Out of the 33 isolates from tap water, 17 were resistant to both groups, and 16 to cephalosporins alone. Similarly, of the 16 outlet water isolates, 10 were resistant to both groups, and 6 to cephalosporins alone. Furthermore, of the 30 examined workers, 15 carried Enterobacteriaceae resistant strains, 10 to both groups, and 5 to cephalosporins alone. Similar strains were isolated from the inhabitants of the aquaculture surrounding areas. Irrespective of source of samples, strains resistant to all examined antibiotics, carried predominantly the carbapenemase gene bla KPC either alone or with the β-lactamase genes (bla CTX-M-15 , bla SHV , bla TEM , and bla PER-1). The isolates from fish, water, and workers harboured a wide-range of multi-drug-resistance Inc. plasmids, which were similar among all isolates. Conclusion: The present findings suggest transmission of the resistance genes among Enterobacteriaceae strains from different sources. This reiterates the need for control strategies that focus on humans, animals, water, and sewage systems to solve the antibiotic resistance problem.

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