An experiment was conducted to study chlorpyrifos chronic toxicity in broilers and the protective effect of vitamin C. Oral administration of 0.8 mg/kg body weight (bw) (1/50 LD50) chlorpyrifos (Radar®), produced mild diarrhea and gross lesions comprised of paleness, flaccid consistency and slightly enlargement of liver. Histopathologically, chlorpyrifos produced degenerative changes in various organs. Oral administration of 100 mg/kg bw vitamin C partially ameliorated the degenerative changes in kidney and heart. There was insignificant alteration in biochemical and haematological profiles. It is concluded that supplementation of vitamin C reduced the severity of lesions induced by chronic chlorpyrifos toxicity in broilers.
Abdulwahab Kammon(1-2022)

Algal alkaloids are widely used for their pharmacological properties as antimicrobial agents. This study determined the antibacterial activities of algal alkaloid-rich extracts against isolates of multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O157, as well as the probable mode of action underlying their antibacterial effect. The total alkaloids were extracted from two Libyan brown algae, namely Sargassum hornschuchii and Cystoseira compressa and tested against six different isolates from the bacteria mentioned above using the agar-well diffusion method, and their mode of action on isolates was evaluated by several bacterial physiological indicators, including intracellular potassium ion efflux and nucleotide leakage. Also, the extracts' hemolytic activity was assessed as an indicator of their cytotoxicity on red blood cells. Although not to the same extent, both alkaloid extracts presented antibacterial activities against all tested isolates with no evidence of bacterial regrowth. The alkaloid extract from S. hornschuchii exerted the best effect on bacteria growth with minimum inhibitory concentration values ranging between 125 and 500 mg/mL. The results showed that the alkaloid extracts significantly induced a distinct release of nucleotide and potassium ions out of the cell membrane, indicating that they cause a change in the fluidity or permeability or both of the cell membrane. Moreover, the results revealed that there were very low cytotoxic effects. Therefore, algal alkaloids may contribute to the development of potential antibacterial agents in the future.
Salah M. Azwai(1-2021)

Relationships between carpal morphology and carpal pathology might assist in identifying horses at risk of carpal pathology. This study was aimed to investigate the hypothesis that carpal morphology is related to the incidence of carpal pathology in racing Thoroughbreds. Ten carpal parameters were used to measure carpal morphology on dorsopalmar (DP) carpal radiographs. Radiographs were collected from 19 experienced Thoroughbred race horses with no evidence of carpal damage(normal)and 72 horses with carpal damage (clinical). All radiographs were at a defined position called zero degrees (ZDP) or within an acceptable rotational range. Based on a P-value of < 0.05 and using the false discovery rate method to control Type I error, two parameters showed significant differences between normal and clinical horses. The angulation of the radial metaphysis and distal radius in relation to the angulation of the radial facet of the third carpal bone (C3) was significantly related to the occurrence of pathology in the bones of the middle carpal joint in Thoroughbred race horses. This study presented important features on DP radiographs that allowed identification of a carpal conformation associated with carpal damage in Thoroughbred race horses. Using such a highly specific, cost-effective and safe technique as a routine for examining yearling Thoroughbreds would assist in identifying horses with carpal conformation unsuited to racing.
Aiman Hussein Saleh Oheida, Abdulrhman Mohamed Salah Alrtib, Mohamed Hamrouni S. Abushhiwa, Christopher J. Philip, Helen M.S. Davies(1-2022)