Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in poultry production chain is one of the major food safety concerns due to indiscriminate usage of antibiotics and the presence of pathogens such as Salmonella which causes infections in various stages of production. In the present study, 182 samples were collected from commercial broiler supply chain, viz., three hatcheries ( n = 29 ), three commercial broiler farms (CBF; n = 99 ), and three retail meat shops (RMS; n = 54 ), and used for isolation and identification of Salmonella using three different selective agar media and a selective enrichment medium followed by PCR confirmation targeting the hilA gene. The overall prevalence of Salmonella was 47/182 (25.82%), and a significantly higher ( P < 0.05 ) prevalence was observed in retail meat shops (46.29%), CBF (19.19%), and hatcheries (10.34%). Comparison of three agar media for isolation of Salmonella revealed that all the media were equally selective. However, PCR amplification of hilA gene fragment was significantly higher ( P < 0.01 ) in selective enrichment culture tetrathionate brilliant green bile broth (TTB) as compared to all solid (agar-based) media. Susceptibility pattern against most frequently used antibiotics revealed that 100% of the isolates were resistant to at least one antibiotic. High resistance was observed for doxycycline (94.34%), followed by cefpodoxime (84.91%), ciprofloxacin (72.64%), gentamicin (65.09%), enrofloxacin (61.32%), colistin sulphate (40.42%), amikacin (34.91%), ampicillin (33.96%), neomycin (33.02), cefotaxime (30.19%), ceftazidime (29.25%), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (23.58%), amoxicillin+clavulanic acid (21.70%), and chloramphenicol (12.26%); 16.98% of the isolates were ex-tended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) producers, and 76.41% were multidrug resistant (MDR). MDR Salmonella were significantly higher ( P < 0.01 ) in RMS (91.66%) followed by CBF (82.75%), whereas no MDR isolates were present in the isolates from hatcheries. The results indicated a higher prevalence of Salmonella and AMR for commonly used antibiotics in the complete broiler supply chain, especially RMS and CBF. Also, this study idicated that TTB enrichment followed by PCR and colony PCR was found to be rapid, specific and time-saving method.

No abstract

No abstract

Background: Subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) is one of the most important metabolic disease of dairy cattle which decrease milk production, dry matter intake, productivity and increase culling rate and even cause death.Methods: In this study the epidemiological status of SARA namely age, breed, stage of lactation, lactation number, general health condition, body condition score, daily milk production, milk fat content and biochemical alteration were investigated.Result: Out of 100 cows examined 20 were found to be positive for SARA and the mean age of dairy cows suffering from SARA was found to be 6.53 ±0.68 years. The prevalence of SARA was 70 and 30 per cent in Jersey and HF breed of cows respectively and was high in mid lactation and the lactation number ranged from 2 to 6. 65 per cent. SARA affected cows were in poor body condition score, milk production and milk fat content was significantly low (P≤ 0.05). The mean GGT (Gamma Glutamyl Transferase) and AST (Asparate aminotransferase) values were significantly increased in SARA affected dairy cows. SARA seems to be a common problem in dairy cattle and it has to be considered when dealing with herd level problems like low milk fat, low milk production, poor body condition and appropriate management measures should be implemented to prevent it.

No abstract