Background

Biomass burning presents significant environmental and health problems worldwide. Health effects on broilers (as an animal model) exposed to intensive maize stover burning (MSB) were studied. Carbon monoxide (CO) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) were estimated during the MSB season. Sixty apparently healthy broilers from 12 farms were included for blood-gas analysis, bilirubin, and liver enzyme analysis. In addition, histopathological changes of the lung, liver, and heart were investigated.

Results

Highly significant differences for CO and PM2.5 levels, hemoglobin (Hb), and hematocrit (Hct) values during MSB season were found compared to burning free events which resulted in higher incidence of blood coagulation and cardiovascular diseases risk. Highly significant elevations of liver enzymes were verified during MSB. Respiratory function was significantly decreased due to airway obstruction accompanied by severe tissue damage including pulmonary fibrosis (39%) and metaplasia. Pulmonary and hepatic blood vessel embolisms were indicative of systemic embolic phenomena.

Conclusion

The study highlighted the substantial health risk and a threat to air quality from one season exposure to leftover straw burning. Agriculture waste burning should be banned by legislation to restore the environment and protect health.

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZONPs) are increasingly regarded as a promising alternative to conventional zinc sources in broilers nutrition due to their superior bioavailability and multiple functional benefits. This review reported the role of ZONPs in enhancing broilers’ health and performance, including improvements in growth rate, behavioral responses, meat quality, physiological functions, and biochemical markers, as well as their application to control coccidiosis, necrotic enteritis and footpad dermatitis. Their strong antimicrobial properties against key broiler pathogens such as Salmonella and Escherichia coli (E.coli) also improve gut health and food safety. Moreover, the efficient absorption of ZONPs leads to reduced zinc excretion, thus lowering the environmental burden commonly associated with traditional zinc supplementation. Despite these advantages, the potential risks of ZONPs should not be overlooked. Factors such as nanoparticle size, concentration, and duration of exposure influence their safety profile. While several studies report no significant organ toxicity, concerns remain regarding possible long-term effects on vital organs including the liver, kidneys, and reproductive system. Additionally, inconsistent findings and a lack of standardized safety assessments require more comprehensive research. This review provided a balanced overview of ZONPs in broiler feed, highlighting their promising benefits and associated risks.

Tallaga cheese is the most popular type of white soft cheese in Egypt. Cronobacter sakazakii is an opportunistic foodborne pathogen that poses a threat to the health of almost every age group, with a particular emphasis on neonates and infants. Essential oils (EOs), such as olive oil and thyme oil, exhibit a broad-spectrum antibacterial effect. However, few studies have investigated the antibacterial activity of these EOs and their formulated nanoemulsions (NEs)—olive oil nano-emulsions (ONE) and thyme oil nano-emulsions (TNE)—on C. sakazakii in cheese to date. The purpose of this study was to investigate the inhibitory effects of these EOs and their NEs on the development of C. sakazakii during the processing and storage of Tallaga cheese. Additionally, the organoleptic properties of the resulting cheese were evaluated. Herein, ONE and TNE were prepared and characterized using a zetasizer and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Furthermore, the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of EOs and NEs were determined using well diffusion assay. Fresh buffalo's milk for the elaboration of Tallaga cheese was inoculated with C. sakazakii at a concentration of 6 log CFU/mL, along with the addition of MICs of either EOs or NEs. The obtained results showed that the MICs were 15 mg/mL (v/v) for either olive oil, thyme oil, ONE and TNE with diameter inhibition zones of 10.3 ± 0.5, 13.3 ± 1.7, 12.3 ± 0.5, and 16 ± 0.8 mm, respectively. In addition, NEs exhibited high antibacterial activities against C. sakazakii in comparison to pure EOs. Particularly, the strongest antibacterial effect toward C. sakazakii was reported with TNE during manufacturing and storage of Tallaga cheese. Overall, these results suggest that thyme and its NEs have the potential to prevent bacterial contamination by C. sakazakii in the dairy industry.

Sarcoptic mange, commonly known as scabies, is a highly contagious skin condition caused by the burrowing mite Sarcoptes scabiei (Astigmata: Sarcoptinae). This parasitic disease significantly impacts livestock and human health, particularly in underserved regions. Current treatments rely on synthetic acaricides like permethrin and ivermectin, which suffer from limitations such as toxicity, resistance development, and environmental contamination. Essential oils from Apiaceae plants represent a promising natural alternative. This study reviewed 122 volatile constituents from Apiaceae plants and conducted comprehensive in silico analyses to identify potential antiparasitic agents. Geraniol emerged as a potent acaricidal candidate due to its strong binding affinity to acetylcholinesterase (AChE) (docking score: − 7.85 kcal/mol). In vitro testing revealed geraniol achieved a 100% mite mortality rate at concentrations as low as 6.25% within 15 min (LT₅₀ = 9.5 min). In vivo studies using scabies-infected rabbits demonstrated that geraniol-treated animals exhibited complete clinical recovery by two weeks post-treatment, with disappearance of crusts, itching, and skin thickening. Histopathological examination showed near-complete skin regeneration with minimal inflammatory infiltrates, in contrast to control groups which exhibited severe lesions and active mite presence. Furthermore, geraniol-treated rabbits displayed new hair growth and improved general condition, with no observed adverse effects. These findings highlight geraniol’s potential as a safe, effective, and eco-friendly treatment for scabies, offering a 100% improvement in clinical and histological recovery within two weeks. Further research should focus on optimizing delivery systems and evaluating its efficacy in human clinical trials.