The occurrence of COVID-19 which causes severe acute respiratory infection has produced a large global outbreak with major public health concern. Since Chinese wet market (LBM) has been blamed to be linked with this global pandemic of COVID-19 as the noble virus has supposed to be transmitted from a wild species, however, this is not yet established the association of SARS-Cov-2 transmission via animal to human or food chain. Moreover, it has been recognized to spread human-to-human transmission by inhalation of droplets or direct contact. Besides the devastating effects of SARS-Cov-2, world has been experiencing the impact of food safety and security as the effect due to global lockdown resulting a wide range of new challenges of economic growth and societal burden. In this review, we have focused on effect of corona virus on food system that included food safety, food security during lockdown, and prevention and control options have been emphasized to keep normalcy of livelihood of general people in low and middle income countries (LMICs). Since the global economy has been downed deeper into a financial crunch, the government efforts are underway to bolster up the priorities with the limited resources, and further funding allocation decision is obligatory for the targeted communities those are affected most due to the swath of pandemic threat of COVID-19. Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. June 2020, 6(2): 130-137

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A cross-sectional survey was conducted in selected districts of Bangladesh to estimate prevalence, risk factors, and molecular detection of Campylobacter isolates from 540 farmed cattle of 90 herds. As an individual sample, 540 feces, and as a pooled sample, 180 milk samples, 90 feed samples, 90 water samples, 90 manure samples, and 90 animal attendants’ hand-rinse water were collected and tested via culture, biochemical, and molecular assays. A pretested semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect herd-level data on risk factors with the herd owners. The herd-level data on risk factors were analyzed through univariate and multivariate analyses, and a p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant for all analyses. Overall, farm-level prevalence of bovine Campylobacter was enumerated to be 53.3% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 42.5–63.9%). The feces sample was found to be a high level of contamination of 30.9% (95% CI: 27–35%) followed by the manure swab (pooled) at 15.6% (95% CI: 8.8–24.7%). Campylobacter jejuni was documented as an abundant species (12.6%), followed by Campylobacter coli (5.1%), and Campylobacter fetus (0.3%). Older farms (>5 years of age), no/minimum cleaning and disinfection practices, along with animal roaming outside of the farm, were documented as significant risk factors for farm-level Campylobacter occurrence. Evidence-based control measures need to be taken through stringent biosecurity and hygienic measurement to lessen the load of the Campylobacter pathogen in the farm environment and prevent further transmission to animals and humans.

Investigation of Aeromonas hydrophila was conducted to assess the microbial quality of broiler chickens from July to November 2019. A total of 60 samples from 20 broiler chickens were collected from two different locations of Mymensingh Sadar: KR market, Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) and Shesh mor bazar (10 birds from each location). Samples included 20 skins, 20 legs and 20 breast samples from 20 broiler chickens. PCR was done for the specific detection of each isolate and finally antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed to check sensitivity pattern of each isolate. Alkaline peptone water was used for processing and enrichment of the samples followed by inoculation onto Aeromonas selective agar supplemented with ampicillin for the isolation and identification of A. hydrophila. Out of these 60 samples, 27 isolates were confirmed as A. hydrophila through biochemical tests and PCR where 55.56% isolates were recovered from Shesh mor market and other 44.4% isolates from KR market, BAU. Source-wise analysis revealed that maximum isolates of A. hydrophila were recovered from skin (59.26 %) followed by leg (22.22 %) and breast samples (18.52 %). PCR test revealed that all 27 isolates were found carrying lip gene which is specific for A. hydrophila. Isolates of A. hydrophila were found sensitive to ciprofloxacin (92%), gentamycin (66%) and chloramphenicol (50%); intermediate against erythromycin (50%), tetracycline (50%) and imipenem (50%); resistant against co-trimoxazole (84%) and ampicillin (100%). From the present study, it was found that samples were considerably contaminated with Aeromonas hydrophila causing risks for public health. Necessary control actions should be taken in every steps of production, processing and marketing for mitigation of this contamination. Asian Australas. J. Food Saf. Secur. 2020, 4 (1), 22-30

Background and Aim: Necrotic enteritis (NE) is one of the most prevalent diseases in broiler poultry caused by Clostridium perfringens connected with significant economic losses. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Mymensingh district of Bangladesh to assess the prevalence of C. perfringens through toxinotyping molecular assay and confirm the risk factors for NE, including antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) status of the isolates. Materials and Methods: We included 40 small-scale commercial broiler farms randomly selected from two subdistricts of Mymensingh district of Bangladesh. As an individual sample, 240 cloacal swabs, and as a pooled sample, 40 drinking water, 40 workers' hand washing, 40 litter swab, and 40 feed samples were collected and evaluated by culture, biochemical, and molecular assays. A pretested semi-structured interview questionnaire was employed to capture flock-level data on risk factors from the farm owners. The flock-level data on risk factors were assessed through univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses with p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Overall flock-level prevalence of C. perfringens was estimated to be 10.3% (95% confidence interval [CI] 7.5- 13.6%). Litter swab (pooled) was found to be highly contaminated with C. perfringens (25.0%, 95% CI: 12.7-41.2%) followed by the cloacal swab (10.4%, 95% CI: 6.9-15.0%) and feed sample (5.0%, 95% CI: 0.6-16.9%). History of coccidia infection (Adjusted odds ratio =33.01, 95% CI: 2.14-507.59, p=0.01) was significantly associated with flock-level C. perfringens infection status. In this study, 78.1% isolates were found as multidrug-resistant as they demonstrated resistance to 3-5 antimicrobial agents. Conclusion: Evidence-based control options need to be taken through the uses of prebiotics and probiotics, biosecurity, and hygienic measurement, including control of coccidia infection, is needed to lessen the NE infection and AMR related to this pathogen in small-scale commercial broiler poultry.