Genetic screening of FecB,FecXG and FecXI mutations and their linkage with litter size in Barki and Rahmani sheep breeds

Characterization of fecundity genes offers the opportunity to improve production efficiency, and the consequent increase in litter size in livestock industry, through utilizing them in breeding programs. The main objective of this study was to detect the BMPR‐IB, BMP15 and GDF9 gene mutations and to investigate whether these mutations are associated with litter size in Egyptian sheep breeds. To achieve this goal, 73 adult ewes representing Barki (n = 33) and Rahmani (n = 40) breeds were used. Polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR‐RFLP) screening approach was used to detect the presence of FecB, FecX^G and FecX^I mutations in the two selected breeds. Results of this study showed that the three different candidate gene mutations, namely FecB, FecX^G and FecX^I are not present among these selected populations of the Egyptian breeds. Further studies regarding other mutations and/or other genes, which may influence ovulation rate, should be carried out to determine the type and mode of inheritance of such genes in Egyptian sheep breeds.     

A cross-sectional pilot study to estimate the prevalence of and risk factors for leptospirosis in South-Western Victorian dairy herds, 2017

Leptospirosis is a zoonosis, found worldwide, affecting many species of animals. We conducted a cross-sectional study to estimate the prevalence of Leptospira borgpetersenii sv Hardjo and Leptospira interrogans sv Pomona in cattle in dairy herds in South-Western Victoria, Australia. Fifty-three herds were enrolled in the study. Urine samples were collected from 15 late-lactation cows in each herd. A questionnaire was provided to herd managers at the time of each herd visit, asking them to describe the methods they used for controlling leptospirosis, including vaccination. Urine samples were pooled at the herd level and tested for leptospira spp. using real time PCR. Urine samples from individual cows within the positive pooled samples were then tested for Leptospira Hardjo and Leptospira Pomona using qPCR. Four of the 53 herds showed positive leptospirosis results giving an apparent prevalence of 8 (95% CI 2–18) leptospira-positive herds per 100 herds at risk. Based on the 53 completed questionnaires, leptospirosis vaccination programs were not compliant with label directions in 36 of the 52 vaccinated herds: 69 (95% CI 55–81) of 100 herd managers that routinely vaccinated for leptospirosis did not comply with label directions. One herd was completely unvaccinated. Based on our findings, we estimate that approximately 10% of dairy farms in South-Western Victoria are likely to be infected with leptospirosis. While most herds are vaccinating for leptospirosis, most are not doing so according to label directions. We conclude that herd managers need to be better educated regarding leptospirosis vaccination programs.     

Genetic Polymorphisms in LTF/EcoRI and TLR4/AluI loci as candidates for milk and reproductive performance assessment in Holstein cattle

The aim of this study was to explore the genetic polymorphisms in LTF/EcoRI and TLR4/AluI loci and their association with milk and reproductive performance in Holstein cattle. A randomly selected 800 Holstein dairy cows from two dairy farms (400 animals each) in Egypt were used. Based on the two farm records, association between LTF/EcoRI genotypes and milk performance traits (order of lactation, daily milk yield, days in milk, corrected milk at 305 day and dry period) was carried out. Meanwhile, exploring of TLR4/AluI genotypes effect was done on data for reproductive performance (age at first freshening, calving interval, number of services per conception, ovarian rebound and days open). DNA was extracted from blood samples collected from Holstein dairy cows of the both farms and restriction analysis of 301‐bp PCR products of LTF gene revealed two genotypes: AA genotype (301 bp) and AB genotype (301, 201 and 100 bp). Meanwhile, restriction analysis of 382‐bp PCR products of TLR4 gene digested with AluI yielded two alleles (A and B) and three genotypes (AA, AB and BB). The A allele was indicated by two bands at 300 and 82 bp, and the B allele resulted in three fragments of 160, 140 and 82 bp. There was a significant association (p ≤ 0.05) between LTF genotypes and milk performance traits except for days in milk. The TLR4 genotypes had significant effects (p ≤ 0.05) on age at first freshening, calving interval, number of services per conception, ovarian rebound and days open. Ordinal logistic regression statistical model also revealed that it is possible to calculate high reproductive performance traits and to predict favourable dairy cows based on LTF and TLR4 genotypes. This research reveals the effectiveness of LTF/EcoRI and TLR4/AluI loci as candidates for reproductive performance assessment in Holstein cattle.     

Circulation of emerging NDM‐5‐producing Escherichia coli among humans and dogs in Egypt

The emergence of NDM‐producing Escherichia coli has considerably threatened human and animal health worldwide. This study describes for the first time in Egypt, the draft genome sequences of emerging NDM‐5‐producing E. coli from humans and dogs, and investigates genetic relatedness between isolates from both sources. Two E. coli from human urine and seven from environmental clinical samples of dogs exhibited resistance to carbapenems and harbouring bla_NDM were subjected to Illumina Miseq whole‐genome sequencing (WGS). Assembly and analysis of the reads were performed to identify resistance genes, multilocus sequence types (MLST), plasmid replicon types (Inc) and insertion sequences (IS) of the bla_NDM region; core genome MLST (cgMLST) analysis was also performed. Two different NDM alleles were identified; bla_NDM‐5 in E. coli HR119 from the urine of a healthy person and environmental samples of dogs, and bla_NDM‐1 in E. coli HR135 from a human patient's urine. Multiple mobilizable resistance genes to different antimicrobial classes were identified except the colistin resistance gene, mcr. E. coli isolates from humans and dogs were assigned to different sequence types (STs). Using cgMLST, dog isolates clustered together with only 1–2 allellic differences; however, human E. coli showed 1,978 different allelles compared with dog isolates. Plasmidfinder results indicated the presence of an IncX3 replicon in bla_NDM‐5‐producing E. coli; however, bla_NDM‐1 was linked to IncCoIKP3. Notably, the NDM region (3 Kb) in all isolates from humans and dogs was highly similar with variable flanking sequences that represented different IS elements. This study reports the first emergence of NDM‐5‐producing E. coli from dogs in Egypt that shared some genetic features with human isolates and could be considered potential public health threats.     

Correction to: Animal manure rhizobacteria co-fertilization suppresses phytonematodes and enhances plant production: evidence from field and greenhouse

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection -     

Actinomycetes from Red Sea Sponges: Sources for Chemical and Phylogenetic Diversity

The diversity of actinomycetes associated with marine sponges collected off Fsar Reef (Saudi Arabia) was investigated in the present study. Forty-seven actinomycetes were cultivated and phylogenetically identified based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing and were assigned to 10 different actinomycete genera. Eight putatively novel species belonging to genera Kocuria, Mycobacterium, Nocardia, and Rhodococcus were identified based on sequence similarity values below 98.2% to other 16S rRNA gene sequences available in the NCBI database. PCR-based screening for biosynthetic genes including type I and type II polyketide synthases (PKS-I, PKS-II) as well as nonribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPS) showed that 20 actinomycete isolates encoded each at least one type of biosynthetic gene. The organic extracts of nine isolates displayed bioactivity against at least one of the test pathogens, which were Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, fungi, human parasites, as well as in a West Nile Virus protease enzymatic assay. These results emphasize that marine sponges are a prolific resource for novel bioactive actinomycetes with potential for drug discovery.     

Fatty acids, bioactive lipids and radical scavenging activity of Celastrus paniculatus Willd. seed oil

In the present contribution lipid composition and characteristics of Indian Celastrus paniculatus seed oil were determined. C. paniculatus seeds are a rich source of oil (46%). The amounts of neutral lipids in the oil were the highest, followed by glycolipids and phospholipids. Oleic followed by palmitic and linoleic were the major fatty acids in C. paniculatus seed oil and its lipid classes. C. paniculatus seed oil being characterized by a relatively high amount of phytosterols, wherein the sterol marker was β-sitosterol followed by campesterol and stigmasterol. γ-Tocopherol was the major tocopherol isomer while the rest being α-tocopherol. When C. paniculatus oil and extra virgin olive oil were compared upon their radical scavenging activity (RSA) toward the stable 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical C. paniculatus oil exhibited stronger RSA. In consideration of potential utilization, detailed knowledge on the composition of C. paniculatus oil is of major importance. The diversity of applications to which C. paniculatus oil can be put gives this plant great industrial importance.