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Colonization of food chain animals such as chickens with extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL) poses a major health threat to human. The current study aimed to determine the phenotypic and genotypic relationship between ESBL-producing E. coli from diseased human and chickens in Egypt. A total of 56 out of 120 chicken farms (46.7%) and 9 human samples (100%) were phenotypically and genotypically identified with at least one ESBL-phenotype/gene. Chicken isolates showed a high proportion of beta lactamase from CTX-M group 9 > TEM > PER families, followed by CTX-M group 1 > SHV > GES > OXA group10 > VEB > OXA group2 families, while human isolates only contained the CTX-M family. A high incidence of ESBL genes from the CTX-M family was recognized in both human and chicken isolates. Furthermore, nucleotide identity showed high similarity between chicken and human isolates. In conclusion, the current study traced phenotypes and genotypes of ESBL-producing E. coli from chickens and human samples in Egypt, reporting degrees of similarity that suggest potential zoonotic transmission. Our data highlighted the significant importance of chicken as a major food source not only in Egypt but all over the world in the spreading of ESBL-producing E. coli to human.

Foot and mouth disease virus (FMDV) is a severe, highly contagious, and economically devastating viral disease worldwide. FMDV affects animals with cloven hooves, including domestic and wild bovids. In this study, 100 FMDV field samples were collected in 2018 and early2019 from governorates in Egypt. Molecular and genetic characterization indicates that serotype SAT2 is widespread (in 96 cases), while only four cases of Serotype O were detected. Phylogenetic analysis of the study sequences indicates that the circulating FMDV serotype SAT2 viruses were homogeneous and related to Topotype VII. Importantly, the newly emerged viruses were closely related to strains isolated from Libya in 2012 (Topotype VII, lineage 3), with 92-93% amino acid identity, and were clearly separated from SAT2/GVII/Gharbia/Egy/2012 and SAT2/GVII/ Alex/Egy/2012 (Topotype VII, lineage 2), indicating a new introduction of FMDV serotypeSAT2 in Egypt. Moreover, the high antigenic variation in FMDV is recognized as a major problem in vaccination. Because the vaccine strains should match those strains circulating in the field, an updated vaccine is required to control the disease. Monitoring of FMDV in neighboring countries is essential to predict those strains that might escape into Egypt.

Over 400 of the 3800 tropical avian species are endangered or threatened. One of many solutions to conserve animal biodiversity is breeding animals in zoos or private animal farms. Animal breeding programs are difficult to implement in species with sexual monomorphism, such as parrots. Molecular biology methods offer a solution to determine the sex of these species. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to test the performance of PCR and LAMP techniques on sex identification for 21 parrot species belonging to three families, i.e., Psittacidae, Cacatuidae, and Psittaculidae. We established a protocol for DNA isolation from feathers in our laboratory and found optimal conditions for PCR and LAMP. We showed that the LAMP method with the use of the PSI-W primers set, developed by Centeno-Cuadros, functions in 17 previously untested species. Moreover, we found that further improvements are required in universal LAMP primers for the detection of parrot DNA, which are necessary for confirmation of the male sex. The LAMP method also proved to be more sensitive for female sex identification in contrast to the reference PCR test. Therefore, we conclude that LAMP is a suitable method for the routine diagnostic sex identification of parrots.

Background and Aim: Bovine papillomaviruses (BPV) are a heterogeneous group of oncoviruses, distributed globally, which produce major economic losses. In the current study, we compared the results of different diagnostic approaches and compared the strains identified in this study with previously characterized strains at local and international levels. Materials and Methods: Samples of skin warts were collected from five bovines with generalized papillomatosis from two Egyptian provinces, Menya and Ismailia, in 2020. Electron microscopy, molecular characterization, histopathological, and immunohistochemical examination were performed. Results: BPV was detected using electron microscopy in the collected samples. Using molecular characterization, BPV-2 was successfully identified for 1st time in Egypt. The strain has 99.6% identity with the BPV-2 reference strains obtained from GenBank. These results were supported by histopathology and immunohistochemistry examination. Partial nucleotide sequences of the L1 gene were submitted to GenBank with accession numbers MW289843 and MW289844. Conclusion: BPV-2 was reported for 1st time in the current study. The strain was identified grossly, microscopically, and pathologically and confirmed using molecular approaches. All results were consistent. The sequence analysis revealed that this strain has high sequence similarity to the reference Deltapapillomavirus-4, BPV-2 strains from Brazil and China.