Anju Nayak

Effect of dietary iodine on production of iodine enriched eggs

Aim: Objective of this study was to investigate the effect of different levels of iodine supplementation on iodine content of eggs in laying hens. Materials and Methods: In the experiment, 135 laying hens (White Leghorn) of 55 weeks age were randomly distributed to 5 dietary treatments; each group contained 27 laying hens distributed in three replicates of 9 birds each. Diet T1 was control basal layer diet without iodine enrichment in which iodine content (I2) was as per NRC recommendation. Basal diets were supplemented with calcium iodate (Ca (IO3)2) at 5, 10, 15 and 20 mg/kg in T2, T3, T4 and T5 groups, respectively. The iodine content in the calcium iodate is 65.21%, therefore, the diets T2, T3, T4 and T5 contained 3.25, 6.50, 9.75 and 13.0 ppm iodine, respectively. The laying hens were fed the respective experimental diets ad libitum during the experimental period of 10-week. The iodine content of egg yolk and albumen was analyzed at the end of 5th and 10th week of the experiment. Economics of feeding for the production of iodine enriched egg was calculated at the end of the experiment. Results: Increasing iodine levels in diet of hens from 0.45 to 13.0 ppm significantly increased egg iodine concentration, the highest concentration of egg iodine was observed in the group fed diet supplemented with 13.0 ppm iodine followed by those fed 9.75, 6.50, 3.25 and 0.45 ppm iodine in diet. There was no significant difference in the iodine levels of unboiled versus boiled eggs. Therefore, the consumers are ensured to receive the optimal levels of iodine from boiled iodine-enriched eggs. Among different diets, minimum and significantly lower feeding cost (Rs. per dozen or per kg eggs) was noticed in hens allotted T3 diet (6.50 ppm I2). However, feeding cost of hens receiving 3.25 and 9.25 ppm I2 was statistically (p<0.05) similar to control group (T1). Further, it was noticed that feeding cost (Rs. per dozen or per kg eggs) was significantly increased due to the inclusion of higher level of iodine (13.0 ppm). Conclusion: It was concluded that supplementing iodine at 6.50 ppm in layers diet was economically better for the production of iodine enriched eggs followed by feed iodine supplementation at 3.25 ppm as compared to control and other treatment groups.

Prevalence and characterization of Panton-Valentine leukocidin-positive Staphylococcus aureus in bovine milk in Jabalpur district of Madhya Pradesh, India

Aim: The study aimed to investigate the Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL)-positive Staphylococcus aureus in bovine milk due to its public health significance. Materials and Methods: A total of 400 milk samples of bovines taken from different dairy farms and outlets of Jabalpur were screened for the S. aureus and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). The strains were tested for the PVL gene and antimicrobial sensitivity toward 10 different classes of antimicrobial agents. The PVL-positive S. aureus strains were further characterized by staphylococcal protein A or spa typing. Result: The prevalence of PVL-positive S. aureus was 10.53%. All the isolates positive for the PVL were resistant to methicillin, while the methicillin-sensitive S. aureus isolates were negative for the PVL. Five different spa types were found. Conclusion: The presence of PVL-positive MRSA in bovine milk close to consumer poses a potential public health risk to the community.

Effect of Supplementation of Various Organic Acid Salts on Immune Response in Broilers

The present experiment was designed to study the effect of different organic acid salts, prebiotic, symbiotic and antibiotic growth promoter (AGP) on immune response in broilers. A total of 252-day-old Cobb broilers chicks were randomly assigned to 14 different groups. The group T1 broilers were fed standard broiler diet and T2, T3, T4, T5, T6 were supplemented with 2% sodium acetate, calcium sorbate, calcium propionate, sodium butyrate and sodium lactate, respectively. Groups T7, T8, T9, T10 and T11 were supplemented with 3% salts. Group T12 was having probiotic, T13 symbiotic, whereas T14 AGP. Broilers were vaccinated on 7th and 21st day of age with F1 strain and Lasota strain of Newcastle disease vaccine. Humoral immunity towards Newcastle disease was measured on day 30th and 42nd by the haemagglutination inhibition test. Supplementation of organic acid salts improved the humoral immune response in terms of HI titre when compared with the control, although supplementation was more beneficial and was comparable with symbiotic as well as AGP on 30th day. On 42nd day, symbiotic was comparable with 3% calcium sorbate and revealed the highest antibody response to Newcastle disease vaccine followed by probiotic, 3% sodium butyrate and AGP supplemented groups. Supplementation of organic acids or symbiotic in the diet of broilers can be a better alternate to AGP.

Isolation and Identification of Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale from Poultry in and around Jabalpur

Among various prevalent poultry diseases, respiratory diseases are most common. Mostly bacterial pathogen involved in respiratory infections are Escherichia coli, Pasteurella spp., Haemophilus spp. and Mycoplasma spp. Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale (ORT) is the new and difficult respiratory tract bacteria to isolate and grow in the laboratory. It has also been associated with retarded growth, reduction in egg production and can lead to economic losses to the poultry industry. A total of 166 serum samples, 176 nasal swabs and tracheal swab each and 167 lung pieces from poultry were collected in transport media with gentamicin (to avoid contamination of other Gram-negative bacteria) from nine different poultry farms/outlets in and around Jabalpur. Isolation was performed in different media, namely nutrient agar, MacConkey agar, Eosin methylene blue agar and 10% blood agar with and without carbon dioxide, and biochemical tests, namely indole, methyl red, Voges-Prosakauer VP, citrate, urease, oxidase, catalase and triple sugar iron agar (TSI), were performed. The percentage of gentamicin-resistant respiratory tract bacteria from nasal swabs for E. coli, Klebsiella spp., Staphylococcus spp., Streptococcus spp. and Proteus spp. was 14.20%, 7.95%, 14.77%, 6.25% and 1.70%, respectively. From tracheal swab, the percentages of bacteria isolated were 14.20 (E. coli), 7.38 (Klebsiella spp.), 10.22 (Staphylococcus spp.), 5.11 (Streptococcus spp.), 2 (Proteus spp.) and 0.56 (O. rhinotracheale), whereas from lung pieces, the percentages of bacteria which were isolated were 16.16 (E. coli), 9.58 (Klebsiella spp.), 12.57 (Staphylococcus spp.), 4.79 (Streptococcus spp.), 3.59 (Proteus spp.) and 0.59 (Ornithobacterium spp.). From poultry, 8.43% of serum samples were screened positive for O. rhinotracheale antibodies with ELISA kit.

Prevalence and Characterization of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Mastitis in Dairy Cattle in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a dreaded pathogen in human and veterinary medicine. MRSA as a cause of mastitis in dairy cattle has got profound economic and serious public health significance. A total of 111 dairy cattle were screened for mastitis by CMT from six dairy farms of Jabalpur. The 85 mastitis milk samples were screened for MRSA by bacterial culture method using cefoxitin for enrichment. The MRSA strains were identified and characterized by phenotypic and genotypic methods for virulence determinants and methicillin resistance. The MRSA strains showed β-haemolysis as a predominant haemolysis pattern. The strains were positive for mecA gene which is considered as a gold standard for the confirmation of methicillin resistance. The prevalence of MRSA mastitis in dairy cattle was 16.47%. The MRSA strains were positive for the virulence factors associated with pathogenicity. The economic and public health implication of the finding is discussed.

Seroprevalence Study of Brucella Infection in and around Rewa District, India

Bovine Brucellosis is a serious disease of livestock that has significant animal, public health and international trade consequences. Considering the damage done by the infection in animals such as death losses, decreased milk production, weight loss, infertility and lameness, this disease is a formidable threat to livestock. The fact that this disease can spread rapidly and be transmitted to humans makes it all the more serious. Brucella species are small, Gram-negative, non-motile, non-sporeforming, rod-shaped (cocco-bacilli) bacteria. Brucella abortus is the principal cause of Brucellosis in cattle. Once exposed, the likelihood of an animal becoming infected is variable, depending on age, pregnancy status, and other intrinsic factors of the animal, as well as the number of bacteria to which the animal was exposed (Radostitis et al., 2000). World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) considers the disease as a threat of public health importance and a boundary for international trade of animals (OIE, 2004).

Xylanase Supplementation and Performance of Broiler Chicken Fed Low Energy Diet

This experiment was designed to evaluate the effects of xylanase supplementation on performance, nutrient digestibility and carcass traits of broilers. Seventy five day old chicks were randomly divided into 3 treatments, each treatment consisted of five replicates with 5 chicks in each replicate. Broilers were fed with standard diet to meet the nutrient requirements. There were 3 dietary treatments. T1 was standard broiler diet (positive control) without enzyme supplementation. T2 was same as T1 except in this diet energy was reduced by 100 kcal ME/kg diet (negative control). T3 was same as T2 except that it was supplemented with enzyme xylanase (@100 g/tonne). Significantly (P<0.05) higher average weight (2553.80±67.47 g), better feed efficiency (0.541±0.006) and performance index (1382.40±54.07) were observed in broilers fed T3 diet. Feed intake was similar in all the treatments. The retention of protein improved (P<0.05) due to supplementation of xylanase enzyme. Supplementation of xylanase in negative control diet increased (P<0.05) the dressed, eviscerated and drawn weight of broilers. Therefore, low energy diet supplemented with xylanase @ 100 g/tonne improved growth, nutrient utilization and carcass characteristics in broilers.