Introduction:Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO-NPs) are widely used as feed additives for livestock and poultry and implicated in many biomedical applications; however, overload of copper NPs induces various toxicological changes and dysfunction of animal's organs. Thus, this study was designed to evaluate the comparative toxicological effects of biologically and chemically synthesized CuO-NPs on mice. Methods: Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fouriertransform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) were used to characterize the sizes, shapes and functional groups of CuO-NPs. Forty-five mice were randomly allocated into three groups. Control group received distilled water. The second group was administered a single dose of biologically synthesized CuO-NPs (500 mg/kg bw) orally. The third group was administered a single dose of chemically synthesized CuO-NPs (500 mg/kg bw) orally. Results: TEM revealed that biologically synthesized NPs were spherical in shape, whereas chemically synthesized NPs were spherical or elongated in shape. XRD showed that the size of biologically synthesized NPs ranged from 4.14 to 12.82 nm and that of chemically synthesized NPs ranged from 4.06 to 26.82 nm. FT-IR spectroscopy indicated that the peaks appeared between 779 cm −1 and 425 cm −1 in biologically synthesized NPs and between 858 cm −1 and 524 cm −1 in chemically synthesized NPs were for Cu-O nanostructure. Four mice died due to administration of biologically synthesized CuO-NPs. Both biologically and chemically synthesized CuO-NPs induced leukocytosis, elevated serum activities of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase and serum levels of urea and creatinine and increased P53 mRNA and caspase-3 protein expressions in hepatic tissues. Moreover, CuO-NPs induced degenerative and necrotized changes in hepatic, renal and splenic tissues. Biochemical, apoptotic and pathological changes were more serious in mice administered with biologically synthesized CuO-NPs. Conclusion: This study indicated that a high dose of biologically and chemically synthesized CuO-NPs induced adverse effects on hepatic, renal and splenic tissues. At the same dose level, the biologically synthesized CuO-NPs evoked more potent toxic effects than the chemically synthesized CuO-NPs.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains have veterinary and public health importance as they are responsible for a wide range of difficult to treat infections and food poisoning. Two hundred samples (50 samples each of minced meat, beef luncheon, Karish cheese, and human samples (pus swab from open wounds)) were cultured, and MRSA strains were identified using disk diffusion tests and mecA gene-based PCR. A total of 35% (70/200) of the examined samples were confirmed as coagulase-positive S. aureus in minced meat (46%), beef luncheon (44%), Karish cheese (44%), and human samples (22%). The MRSA strains showed resistance to amoxicillin (91.4%), penicillin (97.1%), cefoxitin (85.7%), cephradine (82.9%), tetracycline (57.2%), and erythromycin (52.8%). More than half of the tested S. aureus isolates harbored the mecA gene. The sequence analysis of the mecA gene from the minced meat, Karish cheese, and human samples revealed high genetic similarities between the S. aureus isolates from these sources. In conclusion, our findings indicate a risk for the transmission of the mecA gene of S. aureus across the food chain between humans and animal food products. Further studies should focus on finding additional epidemiological aspects of the MRSA strains in food chain.

Key words ABSTRACT:Goat, BMPR-IB gene polymorphismPolymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphisms (PCR-RFLP) and Single Nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) techniques were used to study the association between bone morphogenetic protein receptor IB (BMPR IB) gene polymorphism with litter size trait and kids growth. Forty four Female goats were precisely selected according to their litter size and kids growth. PCR amplification of 190 bp of the BMPR-IB gene was genotyped in all goats and sequenced only in those produced the highest and lowest litter size and kids growth. Restriction analysis of PCR-RFLP using Ava II and Hind III of the BMPR-IB gene (190-bp) do not produce restriction fragments. By DNA sequencing, eight single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP's) at seven different positions were obtained. Furthermore, with translation of SNPs to corresponding amino acids, change of six amino acids in three female goats were obtained as the following, Baladi goat with high litter size, glutamic acid (E) changed to aspartic acid (P) and isoleucine (I) changed to valine (V). In high litter size, Zaraibi goat, valine (V) changed to leucine acid (L) and glutamine (Q) changed to histidine (H) and threonine (T) changed to proline (P). These findings can be used in a marker-assisted selection (MAS) for selection for high litter size trait in goats. There are negative relationships in most goats between SNPs in BMPR IB gene and relative growth gain (RGG).

Poultry and poultry products are the most economical protein sources for the ever-increasing human population and to meet the future food security. While these are promising food sources, the importance of genetically improved avian species in the breeding programme has increased significantly. In this study, we applied randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) methodology to elucidate genetic variations and degree of relatedness among native Egyptian breed of geese and ducks (Muscovy, Sudani and White Pekin). In this regard, 19 random primers were designed and screened and a total of 16 primers produced a total of 189 reproducible amplified fragments. The 169 DNA bands were polymorphic with percentage presentation of 89.41, however, OPA04 and OPA03 primers have generated high polymorphic bands. Several primers have produced bands, which were specific for each tested species, suggesting their potential to be used as a species-or breed-marker. Phylogenetic tree, based on the linkage distance, revealed close relationships among Geese, Muscovy and Sudani duck breeds, however, White Pekin showed a clear distance from rest of the studied breeds. Taken together, presented results provide foundation studies for the selection of breeds under limited resource settings.

For the association between of Follicle stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) gene (partial part of exon 10) polymorphisms and litter size trait in Egyptian Ossimi sheep, polymerase chain reaction-single stranded conformational polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) and DNA sequencing techniques were developed. Fifty female Ossimi sheep reared under Egyptian conditions were selected according to their litter size. DNA from blood samples of these animals was isolated to amplify 250-bp of the FSHR gene influencing litter size production trait in sheep. Based on litter size, 50 animals were selected from the highest to the lowest litter size productivity during three seasons. PCR-SSCP analysis of the FSHR gene (250-bp) showed two various genotypes AA and AB with frequencies 0.64 and 0.36, respectively. The frequencies of the A and B alleles were 0.82 and 0.18, respectively. PCR fragment of FSHR gene (191-bp) was sequenced only in the high and low litter size productivity animals (GenBank accession numbers from MG973191 to MG973207, sequentially). The result indicated that 6SNPs