Muhammad Mukhtar

Determination of liver and muscle aflatoxin B1 residues and select serum chemistry variables during chronic aflatoxicosis in broiler chickens.

BACKGROUND Aflatoxins are secondary metabolites of the fungus Aspergillus sp. The presence of aflatoxin in poultry feeds results in direct toxicity and economic losses, and human health hazards after consumption of contaminated liver and meat. OBJECTIVES The study was conducted to assess tissue residues of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), and alterations in select clinical chemistry variables in serum during chronic aflatoxicosis in broiler chicks fed different dietary levels of AFB1. MATERIALS AND METHODS Six groups of broiler chickens were fed diets containing between 0 and 800 ppb of AFB1 for 28 days. Groups of birds were terminated on days 0, 5, 13, 15, 20, and 28, and AFB1 levels were determined by HPLC in liver and muscle. Serum activities of ALT and ALP, and total protein and albumin concentrations were determined. RESULTS No AFB1 residues were detected in liver after 50 ppb AFB1, and muscle after 50 and 100 ppb AFB1 feeding. Residues above the permissible threshold (> 2.0 ng/g) were only detected in liver tissues of groups fed 400 ppb and 800 ppb AFB1 in feed. The ALT and ALP activities in treated groups were significantly higher, and total protein and albumin concentrations were significantly lower in all treated groups compared to controls. CONCLUSIONS Continuous feeding of AFB1 to broiler chicken at levels of 50 and 100 ppb for 28 days did not reveal measurable AFB1 residues in muscle tissues. Serum values of ALT, ALP, total protein, and albumin may serve as markers for chronic aflatoxicosis in affected poultry.

A comparative ethno-botanical study of Cholistan (an arid area) and Pothwar (a semi-arid area) of Pakistan for traditional medicines

BackgroundThe present study is intended to compare and document the therapeutic flora, their remedial use, and the traditional knowledge used frequently by the residents of the Cholistan desert and Pothwar (Potohar) Plateau of Punjab, Pakistan. The old endemic remedies of these areas are diminishing due to lack of qualitative and quantitative research.MethodsThe data was generated by unstructured-interviews, informal meetings, open-ended conversations and group discussions with local people and traditional health healers of the study area. Reported literature was also utilized.ResultsThe study recorded a list of various medicinal plants used as traditional medicines by local people. Total 86 numbers of plant species belonging to 38 families and 67 plant species belonging to 29 families have been reported in the Pothwar and Cholistan respectively. Only 10.5% of similar plant species were present in the studied areas.ConclusionThe investigation revealed that the local people of study areas inherit a rich traditional knowledge but there is great danger of losing this wealth of knowledge in the near future. Documentation of the knowledge exclusively from desert area of Cholistan, Pakistan is unique information in its nature. The study presents the undocumented knowledge worth recognition that will not only help in conservation of medicinal plant species but will highlight the pharmacological capacity for improved human healthcare regarding many common ailments.

Microbial Biotransformation of Dexamethasone by Bacillus Subtilis (ATCC 6051)

This article reports microbial biotransformation of dexamethasone, a synthetic glucocorticoid, by Bacillus subtilis. This bacterium can be used as a microbial metabolic model to investigate the metabolism of other synthetic glucocorticoids as it mimics mammalian metabolism to a certain extent. Incubation of dexamethasone with B. subtilis for 7 days yielded three compounds identified as 6-hydroxydexamethasone, 17-oxodexamethasone, and 6-hydroxy-17-oxodexamethasone. Structure elucidation of these compounds was done using 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR spectroscopy techniques.

Sero-conversion of Avian Influenza Virus Subtype H9N2 in Non-VaccinatedCommercial Poultry Flocks

Sero-conversion of pathogenic subtypes (H5, H7 and H9) of Avian Influenza Virus types was studied in commercial poultry farms in the Province of Punjab, Pakistan during the years 2015-16. Out of 6731 morbid tissues, only 11 samples (4 from broiler, 4 from broiler breeder and 3 from commercial layers farms) were found positive for Avian Influenza Virus (AIV) H9N2 type. Only one isolate was found positive for H9N2 subtype from 17994 tracheal swab samples. All the 37163 cloacal swab samples were found negative. The sero-analysis of 133438 blood sera samples showed sero-conversion in 66219 samples (49.64%) against H9 virus in the non-vaccinated poultry flocks, when tested with Heamagglutination Inhibition test (HI). Highest sero-conversion was recorded in broiler breeder (49.20%) followed by broilers (47.47%), layer (46.25%) and Native/Desi birds (45.59%). Highest HI titres were recorded in the flocks from Muzaffargarh, Rawalpindi, Toba Tek Singh, Sargodha, Gujrat, Faisalabad, Sheikhupura, Jhelum and Pakpattan while Bahawalpur, Gujranwala, Lahore, Jhang, Okara and Multan had relatively lower level of HI antibody titres. In conclusion only one type of AIV subtype H9N2 is prevailing in the province of the Punjab, Pakistan.