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Background Colibacillosis is one of the broilers’ most dominant bacterial diseases, either as a primary or a secondary infection. As E. coli antimicrobial drug resistance is rising; there is a need to develop new approaches to its control. In light of this, a comparative study of the in-vitro antibacterial activity of Arabic gum stabilized zinc and copper nanoparticles (AG-ZnNPs and AG-CuNPs) against PCR-identified field avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC) strains and virulence genes (ibeA, hlyA, iss, pap C and ompA) was applied to study the therapeutic effect of zinc and copper nanoparticles to be used as an antibiotic alternative (Nanobiotic). Furthermore, the in-vivo effects of CuNPs were evaluated. Additionally, the CuNPs liver and muscle residues with or without infection were examined. The eighty broilers were divided into four groups; G1: negative control, G2: infected control with E. coli O17, G3: non-infected treated (AG-CuNPs 50 mg/kg body weight), and G4: infected treated (AG-CuNPs 50 mg/kg body weight). AG-CuNPs treatment was given to broilers for five days in drinking water. Results E. coli was isolated from diseased broilers at an average incidence rate of 20% from intestinal and liver samples. All identified serotypes (O17, O78, O91, O121, and O159) were resistant to AG-ZnNPs and sensitive to AG-CuNPs. AG-CuNPs minimal inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations (MIC and MBC) for O17 were 7.5 and 60 mg/ml, respectively. Conventional uniplex PCR results showed that strain O17 contained virulence genes (ibeA, hlyA, iss, and papC), where AG-CuNPs significantly reduced the expression of all target genes when examined by Real-time quantitative PCR. Additionally, the bactericidal activity of AG-CuNPs on O17 was 100% at 20 minutes and 40 mg/ml and confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. Furthermore, no mortality was recorded in treated groups compared to G2. Subsequently, no E. coli was re-isolated from the liver in the G4 after treatment. The total protein, albumin, globulin, and lysozyme activity were significantly increased in G4 compared to G2, while the activities of liver enzymes (alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP)) were markedly decreased in G4 compared to G2. Additionally, uric acid, creatinine, and C-reactive protein levels were decreased in G4 compared to G2. However, the liver enzymes, kidney functions, C-reactive protein levels, and Cu residues were non-significantly changed in G4 compared to G1. Conclusion Green synthesized AG-CuNPs are recommended as an effective antimicrobial alternative against APEC strains.

Background: The study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of different doses of metal nanocomposite (MNc) (Fe3O4/CuO/ZnO) sub its cytotoxic level in order to overcome or minimize the ochratoxin (OTA) adverse effects in broilers fed on contaminated ration. The study conducted on 120 one - day old chicks which were divided into equal 6 groups; G1: negative control, G2: positive control (fed on OTA 17 ppb), G3 & G4 (fed MNc only with low and high doses respectively). The rest two groups G5 & G6 (treatment groups) were fed on both OTA post induced ochratoxification with low and high doses respectively. Results: Body weight gain and heamatecellular elements in both treated groups increased significantly than control. Serum phagocytic levels were increased-significantly in both treated groups than control groups. Prothrombin time (PT) decreased significantly (P<0.05) in both treated groups than intoxicated control group (G2) but still higher than non-intoxicated control group (G1). Total protein, albumin, globulin, calcium and phosphorus increased significantly in both treated groups than intoxicated control group. Kidney function test showed non significantly improvement in both treated groups than intoxicated control group. Antioxidant study revealed that malondialdehyde (MDA) decreased significantly in treated groups than intoxicated control group. Ochratoxin-residue decreased significantly in treated groups. OTA residues in tested liver and muscle of treated groups showed no-significant difference with control group at the experiment’s end. In conclusion, feeding either low or high doses of MNc to broilers were significantly counteracting the negative impacts of OTA or its resided and increase their body weight gain.

This study examined in vitro, the antibacterial activity of Malva parviflora leaves ethanolic extract against Pseudomonas fluorescens and its minimum inhibitory and minimum bactericidal-concentrations (MIC, MBC), identified its biological compounds responsible f or its efficacy by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS) device besides evaluated its effect in vivo on Nile tilapia fish as a medicinal plant to combat P. fluorescens challenge. Two hundred twenty-five fishes were divided into five groups; G1: negative control. G2: positive control; infected at the 60 days (1x103CFU/0.2ml I/M). G3, G4 and G5 were fed with (0.25, 0.5 and 1 g/kg) respectively (60 days), then infected. On the thirty, sixty days and post challenge, blood samples were collected. Sensitivity test revealed the susceptibility of P. fluorescens to the extract; MIC and MBC were 3.90 and 31.25 mg/ml respectively. Body weight, phagocyte nitric oxide and lysozyme activity increased significantly in all treated groups than controls especially G4 while both G3 and G4 increased the survival rate to 80% compared to G2 (40%). Total leucocytic, lymphocyte (L) and monocyte (M) counts increased significantly in all treated groups than G1 throughout the study. Aspartate (AST) and alanine aminotransferases (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), urea and creatinine showed no significant difference between G3 and G1, while G4 and G5 increased in a dose -dependent manner. Total protein (TP), albumin and globulin revealed no significant difference among groups. Malondialdehyde (MDA) showed the best decrease in G3 than G1. Post challenge all treated groups elicited a significant decrease than G2. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and reduced glutathione (GSH) were significantly higher in all treated groups than the controls in varying degrees. Finally, the used extract enhanced the fish performance, immune system and antioxidant biomarkers without any side effects on liver and kidney funct ions at 0.25 g/kg, while 0.5 g/kg gave the highest weight gain.

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