Bovine (buffalo and cattle) meat and edible offal are considered as essential sources of the red meat worldwide. This study aimed at investigation of the mold contamination of the buffalo and cattle meat (round), and their edible offal including neck muscles, masseter muscles, liver, and kidney in a comparative way. Identification of the prevalent mold genera was followed. Besides, identification of the Aspergillus spp. to the species level was also conducted. The obtained results revealed higher mold contamination of the cattle samples compared with the buffaloes. In both species, neck muscles had the highest contamination rates, followed by kidney, liver, masseter muscles, and round, respectively. Aspergillus spp. was the most prevalent mold genera in all examined samples. Aspergillus niger (A. niger), A. flavus, A. fumigatus. A. ochraceous, A. parasiticus, and A. terreus were the identified Aspergilli. In conclusion, this study demonstrates isolation and identification of different molds from the retailed buffalo and cattle meat and edible offal. Therefore, strict hygienic measures should be adopted during all steps of preparation of such valuable protein sources.

The objectives of the present study were first to determine the residual contents of total aflatoxins (AFTs), lead (Pb), and cadmium (Cd) in the edible tissues of the cattle reared in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. Al-Ahsa is the largest governorate in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. The two main economic activities of Al-Ahsa are oil production (industrial) and agriculture. Besides, dietary intake and possible health risks for Saudi population were further calculated. In order to establish potential molecular biomarkers for xenobiotic exposure in cattle, the mRNA expression of xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes (XMEs) including cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1A1, NAD(P)H dehydrogenase [quinone] 1 (NQO1), metallothionein (MT) 1A, and heat shock protein (HSP) 70 was investigated in the different tissues of the cattle. The tested XMEs were selected because of their specific roles in the metabolism and detoxification of AFTs, Pb, and Cd. The obtained results revealed that the liver had significantly the highest AFT content, while all examined muscle samples had no AFT residues. Consumption of the bovine liver and kidneys represents the highest source for the dietary exposure to total AFTs (0.05-0.98 μg/kg/day), Pb (0.06-0.19 mg/kg/day), and Cd (0.08-0.19 mg/kg/day) among the examined tissues. Therefore, excessive intake of such organs might pose a public health concern, particularly among children. Significant upregulation of mRNA expressions of CYP1A1, NQO1, MT1A, and HSP70 was observed in the different tissues of the cattle in comparison with the muscle. This upregulation had significant positive correlation with the accumulated AFTs, Pb, and Cd. This indicates the possible use of CYP1A1, NQO1, MT1A, and HSP70 as potential biomarkers for the exposure of the cattle to AFTs, Pb, and Cd.

Antimicrobial resistance is an increasingly serious threat to global public health that requires action across all government sectors and society. The aim of this study was to determine the rate of extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL)-producing E. coliisolation from minced camel meat and identify the phenotype and genotype of the ESBL. A total of 150 samples were collected randomly from butchers’ shops in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. The results indicated that, overall, 17 (11.3 %) E. coliisolates were recovered from the minced meat samples. The isolates were classified biochemically at the species level using the VITEK 2 system. The antibiotic susceptibility of E. coliisolates was determined based on their MIC profile. The highest resistance was determined to be ampicillin (64.7%), doxycycline (23.5%), cefotaxime (23.5%) and ciprofloxacin (17.6%).Multidrug resistance (MDR) was determined in four isolates. Screening of the 17 isolates for ESBLs revealed that, four strains were resistant to cefotaxime and ceftazidime.A combination disk test (CDT) was used for ESBL phenotype conformation. The ESBL-encoding genes were characterized by PCR. The four isolates produced CTX-M group-1 ESBLs. The blaSHV gene was detected in one isolate and blaTEMin two isolates. The eaeAgene was detected in 3 isolates, stx2gene in two isolates with the hlyAgene in one isolate. It can be concluded that there is clear evidence of the circulation of ESBLs producing E. coliin the minced camel meat. A high resistance was determined to ampicillin and doxycycline. The molecular detection of virulence genes may suggest the transmission of foodborne illness to consumers

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a potent mycotoxin that is commonly produced by molds such as Aspergillus (A.) flavus and A. parasiticus. AFB1 is associated with several health adverse effects in humans including mutagenesis and carcinogenesis. Aflatoxin is commonly secreted in the milk leading to deleterious effects on breast tissue and potential nursing infants. However, the effects of aflatoxins, particularly AFB1, on the breast cells are less investigated. In this study, AFB1-associated effects on human breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7) were investigated. AFB1 caused significant cytotoxicity on MCF-7 cells. Such cytotoxicity had a positive correlation with the induction of oxidative stress. In addition, AFB1 caused significant transcriptomic alterations in xenobiotics and drug-metabolizing enzymes, transporters, and antioxidant enzymes. Besides, AFB1 upregulated pro-inflammatory markers such as tumor necrosis factor-α and cyclooxygenase-2 with a significant reduction of mRNA expressions of the immunity-related genes including interleukins 8 and 10.

In a randomized prospective study, comparative sedative and anti-nociceptive effects of epidural administration of romifidine (RO), lidocaine (LD), and a combination of romifidine-lidocaine (ROLD) in camel were evaluated. Eighteen healthy adult dromedary camels were assigned randomly to three treatment groups (n = 6), each receiving 50 μg/kg of RO, 0.30 mg/kg of LD, or a combination of both RO and LD. All treatments were expanded in 0.9% sterile normal saline solution to a final dose volume of 20 ml and administered directly into the sacrococcygeal space. After epidural injection of each treatment, the onset time, duration, anatomical extension of anti-nociception, and sedation were documented. Anti-nociception was tested at different areas using a pinprick test and artery forceps pinching at the perineum and inguinal area. RO and ROLD treatments resulted in mild to severe sedation and complete bilateral analgesia with loss of sensation in the tail, perineum, scrotum in males, vulva in females, the caudal aspect skin of the upper hind limb, and inguinal region (udder in females and the prepuce in males). The anatomic extent of anti-nociception reached the chest cranially and the footpad distally. Camels who received LD showed the shortest duration (P < 0.001) to the onset of perineal anti-nociception (3.67 ± 0.33 min) followed by those who received RO LD (4.00 ± 0.37 min) and RO (6.67 ± 0.33 min), respectively. RO and ROLD resulted in significantly (P < 0.001) longer periods of analgesia (158.33 ± 4.01 min and 165 ± 3.87 min, respectively) than LD (75.83 ± 3.27). An epidural RO and ROLD would appear to produce a very effective and acceptable anti-nociceptive effect in the perineal and inguinal regions of camels

Campylobacter species (spp.) are one of the most important causes of human bacterial gastroenteritis in foods of animal origin. Recently, with the spread of multi-drug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) Campylobacter spp., natural alternative therapeutic methods are urgently required. Phytogenic active principles have gained considerable attention due to their proficiency to enhance gut health and, thereby, performance of broiler chickens. Thus, the current study aims to determine the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of Campylobacter spp. Animals 2022, 12, 905. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12070905 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/animals Animals 2022, 12, 905 2 of 23 of different chicken sources in Sharkia Governorate, Egypt, and to assess the growth-promoting, immunostimulant and antimicrobial effects of a mixture of eugenol and trans-cinnamaldehyde in an in vivo approach. A total of 101 (67.3%) campylobacter isolates was identified, according to both phenotypic and genotypic techniques. Moreover, all of the campylobacter isolates were resistant to erythromycin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, and ampicillin (100% each). Of note, a dietary supplementation of the mixture of eugenol and trans-cinnamaldehyde led to a significant improvement of the feed conversion ratio and body weight gain and a decrease in the cecal C. jejuni loads in the broilers challenged with XDR C. jejuni. Additionally, eugenol and the transcinnamaldehyde mixture had protective activities via the down-regulation of XDR C. jejuni (flaA, virB11 and wlaN) virulence genes and proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-2, IL-6, and IL-8), and the up-regulation of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. Thus, we recommend the usage of a mixture of eugenol and trans-cinnamaldehyde as an alternative to antimicrobials for the control and treatment of campylobacter infections.