Muhammad Muddassir Ali

Prevalence, hematology, and treatment of balantidiasis among donkeys in and around Lahore, Pakistan

The prevalence of Balantidium coli among donkeys in Lahore and adjoining areas was surveyed and a trial conducted to determine the efficacy of two antiprotozoal drugs: secnidazole (Dysen Forte) and Kalonji (Nigella sativa). Four-hundred donkeys were examined, and 73 (18.3%) were found positive for Balantidium coli. A slight decrease in PCV and an increase in Hb values of infected donkeys were found after antiprotozoal treatment. Secnidazole was 89.5% effective for the treatment of equine balantidiasis compared to 40.0% for Nigella sativa. This is the first report of balantidiasis in equines from Pakistan. It is not known if balantidiasis is an emerging problem in equines or whether it is a newly reported infection.

The contribution of donkeys to human health

Donkeys have been serving mankind for 5000 years [1]. The phrase ‘beasts of burden’ describes their utility as pack animals and [2] in many parts of the world they play a significant economic and social role in the transport of water, building materials, relief supplies, animal feed and other critical supplies [2,3]. Donkey cart ambulances are an increasing trend in Africa where they are used for transporting sick people to hospital. Donkeys are particularly suited to this role because they are easy to keep and do not show fatigue [2,4]. It is estimated that there are about 90 million donkeys worldwide and they are especially widespread in Central and South American and parts of Europe. China has the largest population with about 11 million donkeys [5]. In recent years, donkey-related research is increasing with the goal of using this species to further improve human health and provide greater societal benefit. Milk is an important source of nutrients including protein, carbohydrate and fats. For thousands of years, cows have provided milk for human consumption in societies around the world. In developed societies of the northern hemisphere, the fat in cow’s milk is increasingly being viewed as a risk factor for human disease because of its relatively high percentage of saturated fatty acids. These saturated fatty acids are associated with chronic cardiovascular diseases that can have profound negative effects on human health. Recent research demonstrates that the wide range of fatty acids present in donkey’s milk may provide positive health effects with human consumption [6], leading to a growing interest in donkey’s milk as a source for human nutrition [7]. Donkey milk is low in fat with high polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and resultant advantageous atherogenic and thrombogenic indices. Eicosapentanoic acid and arachidonic acid are present in very small amounts. The high PUFA content and other beneficial nutrients in donkey milk suggest that it may be useful for human nutrition especially for infants and the elderly [8]. Dietary PUFAs also play a pivotal role in maintaining energy balance and minimising body fat deposition by upregulating mitochondrial uncoupling [7]. A comparison of donkey and cow milk for energy balance, lipid metabolism, antioxidant/detoxifying effects and anti-inflammatory effects shows enhanced mitochondrial activity and increased expression of mitochondrial markers after consumption of raw donkey milk by rats as compared with consumption of raw cow milk [9]. In addition to nutritional benefits, consumption of donkey milk has been associated with improved immune responses. Consumption of donkey milk increases interleukins and tumour necrosis factor as compared with levels seen with consumption of goat milk. These findings suggest that donkey milk might be investigated as a beneficial dietary component for immune compromised individuals as well as the sick and elderly [10]. Donkey milk contains other factors that may be beneficial for human health. It has been suggested as an alternative to human and cow milk for individuals with allergic diseases, inflammatory disorders and atopy [10] Donkey milk has been recommended for feeding to infants who are allergic to cow milk [6]. In an experimental study, some infants were provided with cow milk with the addition of soy protein with poor results. When donkey milk with added triglycerides was provided to infants, the milk was well-tolerated by all patients. Patients receiving donkey milk had no recognisable clinical reactions and gained more weight [11]. The low prevalence of intramammary infections in donkeys suggests that donkey milk might be a safe food. However, donkeys are a potential source of Brucella infection, both for people living in close contact with donkeys [12] and through ingestion of unpasteurised milk. Toxoplasma gondii has also been identified with PCR in milk from infected, asymptomatic donkeys but further studies are need to assess the risk of T. gondii transmission through milk [13,14]. Donkey meat occasionally enters the human food chain via adulteration [15]. However, donkey meat has potential as a beneficial alternative to traditional red meats because of its high nutritional profile and components [16]. Donkeys represent a potential threat to human health via meat infected with T. gondii [17] and neospora [18]. The study by Gharsa et al., included in EVJ’s online collection on Working Equids, also highlights the importance of donkeys as a potential source of bacterial species carrying virulence factors, which may have important public health implications [19]. Donkeys have potential as a source of tissues and molecules that can be of use in human medicine: human cardiac disorders are an important cause of morbidity and mortality and heart valve disorders may be treated by prosthetic valve replacement. Donkey pericardium is a potential alternative bioprosthetic heart valve material because it is thin, has minimal calcification values and possesses high tensile strength [20]. Donkeys produce a variety of peptides that may be beneficial to man. Donkeys are now commonly used for the commercial production of antiantibodies. Peptide HP-6, a peptide derived from donkey serum albumin, may: promote the proliferation of cells related to the haematopoietic system; enhance mouse haemopoiesis function; and increase resistance to chemotherapeutic injury [21]. This study in rats showed promising effects in vivo and in vitro and additional human studies may be warranted [21]. LH pentapeptide, derived from donkey serum, inhibited the growth of transplanted tumour cells and stopped their infiltration into other organs [22]. Donkeys are also used in some parts of the world at high altitudes for the production of antivenom drugs. Horses, commonly used for this purpose in other parts of the globe, are not well-adapted to high altitudes. Future research may be appropriate to determine whether this type of antivenom production may be commercially appropriate [23] In addition to their potential contributions to the advancement of human health, donkeys may also provide mental and moral support to human individuals. The human–animal bond that develops with donkeys can help individuals with motivation and development of psychoaffective and psychocognitive processes. Rehabilitation sessions with donkeys can help in identification of individual strengths so that motivation may be strengthened [24]. In summary, while most research relating to donkey health published within equine veterinary medicine and included in this online collection focuses on medical disorders of the donkey [25–27], it is important not to overlook the benefits that donkeys may provide for human health while being cognisant of the potential hazards to man that donkeys may pose.

Sero-epidemiology and hemato-biochemical study of bovine leptospirosis in flood affected zone of Pakistan

The bovine leptospirosis is an economically important zoonotic disease of flood affected areas worldwide, but scarce information is available about its epidemiology in Pakistan. This is a first study on sero-epidemiology of bovine leptospirosis in Pakistan. The objectives of this study were to investigate the sero-prevalence and associated risk factors of bovine leptospirosis in flood affected zone of Punjab, Pakistan. A total of 385 serum samples were randomly collected from four tehsils of district Muzaffargarh, Pakistan. The serum samples were subjected to indirect ELISA for the detection of anti-leptospira antibodies. The overall sero-prevalence of leptospirosis was 30.39%. The prevalence was significantly higher (p<0.001) in cattle (56.25%) than buffaloes (4.66%). The key risk factors identified based on multivariable logistic regression were; confined system of rearing, flooded area, and lesser to graduate level of education as risk factors for leptospirosis. The values of hematological parameters varied significantly (p<0.05) for Hb, TEC and PCV while there was no significant (p>0.05) difference among TLC values among sero-positive and sero-negative animals. The serum biochemical profile revealed significant differences (p<0.05) in values of ALT, AST and creatinine among the sero-positive and negative animals. Hence, it can be concluded that leptospirosis is an emerging and neglected disease in flood affected zone of Pakistan, and the disease needs to be explored comprehensively in other parts of the country to sort out solid strategies for its control and eradication.

Emerging discrepancies in conventional and molecular epidemiology of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolated from bovine milk

Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an emerging public health concern from dairy milk, and its diagnosis by phenotypic methodology is experiencing higher discrepancies. The present study was planned to estimate discrepancies in phenotypic identification of MRSA and MSSA (Methicillin sensitive Staphylococcus aureus) in relation to mecA, and prevalent risk factors from various localities. In-vitro oxacilline antibiotic disks were used for phenotypic identification of MRSA, whereas mecA gene was used as MRSA marker in Staph aureus by PCR. Total of 900 bovine milk samples from private and public farms located in district Faisalabad using convinent sampling technique were collected. Potential risk factors for MRSA prevalence identified by non-parametric statistical tests were compared among different subdistricts. Discrepancy in MRSA was calculated as percentage of mecA negative strains while that of MSSA was determined as percentage of mecA positive strains. Molecular identification presented 17.97% (55/306) of discrepancy in MRSA in terms of negative mecA strains from district Faisalabad while sub-district Faisalabad, sub-district Jaranwala, and sub-district Samundary presented 13.98% (13/93), 18.28% (17/93), and 20.83% (25/120) discrepant results, respectively. On the other hand, 29.1% (55/189) of discrepancy in MSSA in terms of mecA positive strains from MSSA isolates was noted. MSSA results were more discrepant than that of MRSA. Hence discrepancy ratio of MSSA over MRSA was noted to be 1.53, 1.50, and 1.21 from tehsil Faislabad, Samundary, and Jaranwala. Tick infestation, lactation stage, frequency of milking, dirty milkers hands, unhygienic milking procedures, and higher use of beta lactam of antibiotics were risk factors that were prevalent in increasing order from sub-district Faisalabad > Jaranwala > Samundary. The study concluded higher prevalence of MRSA in bovine milk samples, and found remarkable discrepancies in phenotypic and genotypic identification which demand immediate attention to tackle exacerbation in resistance patterns.

Some challenges in progressive control of livestock originated zoonotic diseases in Pakistan-a pilot survey

ABSTRACT Objective To document the recent livestock related practices and possible unhygienic ways of pathogen entry. Identification of the potential risk factors for the spread of infection is important to design an evidence-based disease control programme. Methods Rapid assessment method was adopted and a purposive sample of 60 dairy farmers were interviewed. The following factors were noted for contributing in primary and secondary transmission of zoonotic infections: (i) persons who come in close contact with animals and their secretions, (ii) management strategies of farm animals (sheds and environment), (iii) management practices adopted at farms, (iv) small scale farmers and rural livestock production systems, (v) milk collection systems. Results This research unveiled the certain routes of zoonotic disease transmission. Certain management practices, precautionary measures and strategies were the pivotal risk factors. Conclusions The study emphasizes the need to educate the poor livestock keepers.