Zoonotic infectious diseases have been an important concern to humankind for more than 10,000 years. Today, approximately 75% of newly emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) are zoonoses that result ...from various anthropogenic, genetic, ecologic, socioeconomic, and climatic factors. These interrelated driving forces make it difficult to predict and to prevent zoonotic EIDs. Although significant improvements in environmental and medical surveillance, clinical diagnostic methods, and medical practices have been achieved in the recent years, zoonotic EIDs remain a major global concern, and such threats are expanding, especially in less developed regions. The current Ebola epidemic in West Africa is an extreme stark reminder of the role animal reservoirs play in public health and reinforces the urgent need for globally operationalizing a One Health approach. The complex nature of zoonotic diseases and the limited resources in developing countries are a reminder that the need for implementation of Global One Health in low-resource settings is crucial. The Veterinary Public Health and Biotechnology (VPH-Biotec) Global Consortium launched the International Congress on Pathogens at the Human-Animal Interface (ICOPHAI) in order to address important challenges and needs for capacity building. The inaugural ICOPHAI (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2011) and the second congress (Porto de Galinhas, Brazil, 2013) were unique opportunities to share and discuss issues related to zoonotic infectious diseases worldwide. In addition to strong scientific reports in eight thematic areas that necessitate One Health implementation, the congress identified four key capacity-building needs: (1) development of adequate science-based risk management policies, (2) skilled-personnel capacity building, (3) accredited veterinary and public health diagnostic laboratories with a shared database, and (4) improved use of existing natural resources and implementation. The aim of this review is to highlight advances in key zoonotic disease areas and the One Health capacity needs.
Broiler embryonic development depends on the nutrients that are available in the egg, which includes mostly water, lipids, and proteins. Carbohydrates represent less than 1%, and free glucose only ...0.3%, of the total nutrients. Considering that energy requirements increase during incubation and metabolism is shifted toward the use of glycogen stores and gluconeogenesis from amino acids, extensive muscle protein degradation in the end of incubation can compromise chick development in the initial days after hatch. Significant prehatch changes occur in embryonic metabolism to parallel the rapid embryonic development. Oral consumption of the amniotic fluid begins around 17 d of incubation and promotes rapid development of the intestinal mucosa, which is characterized by morphological changes and increased expression and activity of enzymes and transporters. Furthermore, ingested substrates are stored as nutritional reserves to be used during hatching and in the first week after hatch. At hatch, this limited-nutrient store is directed to the functional development of the gastrointestinal tract to enable assimilation of exogenous nutrients. In ovo feeding is an alternative to deliver essential nutrients to chick embryos at this critical and challenging phase. The improved nutritional status and physiological changes triggered by in ovo feeding can resonate throughout the entire rearing period with significant health and economic gains. The present review addresses the main changes in metabolism and intestinal development throughout incubation, and also addresses scientific advances, limitations and future perspectives associated with the use of in ovo feeding that has been regarded as an important technology by the poultry industry.
The aim of this study was to investigate the microbial composition, and the profiles of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs, resistome) and mobile genetic elements (mobilome) of retail chicken ...carcasses originated from conventional intensive production systems (CO), certified antimicrobial-free intensive production systems (AF), and certified organic production systems with restricted antimicrobial use (OR). DNA samples were collected from 72 chicken carcasses according to a cross-sectional study design. Shot-gun metagenomics was performed by means of Illumina high throughput DNA sequencing followed by downstream bioinformatic analyses. Gammaproteobacteria was the most abundant bacterial class in all groups. Although CO, AF, and OR did not differ in terms of alpha- and beta-microbial diversity, the abundance of some taxa differed significantly across the groups, including spoilage-associated organisms such as Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter. The co-resistome comprised 29 ARGs shared by CO, AF and OR, including genes conferring resistance to beta-lactams (blaACT-8, 10, 13, 29; blaOXA-212;blaOXA-275 and ompA), aminoglycosides (aph(3′)-IIIa, VI, VIa and spd), tetracyclines (tet KL (W/N/W and M), lincosamides (inu A,C) and fosfomycin (fosA). ARGs were significantly less abundant (P < 0.05) in chicken carcasses from AF and OR compared with CO. Regarding mobile genetic elements (MGEs), transposases accounted for 97.2% of the mapped genes. A higher abundance (P = 0.037) of MGEs was found in CO compared to OR. There were no significant differences in ARGs or MGEs diversity among groups according to the Simpson´s index. In summary, retail frozen chicken carcasses from AF and OR systems show similar ARGs, MGEs and microbiota profiles compared with CO, even though the abundance of ARGs and MGEs was higher in chicken carcasses from CO, probably due to a higher selective pressure.
Probiotics are microorganisms that promote beneficial health effects. To do this, they must survive passage through the gastrointestinal tract, adhere and colonize in the intestinal epithelium. Foods ...are vehicles that protect these strains during this passage, in particular cheese, which has advantages such as availability of nutrients, high pH, higher buffering capacity and low oxygen content. Thus, several studies have elaborated different types of probiotic cheeses and for evaluation of these products in vitro evaluations are performed of the viability of the microorganisms during processing, maturation, shelf life of the product, under simulated gastrointestinal conditions, modifications of the physical-chemical sensory properties of food matrixes, as well as extending the shelf life, among others, in addition to in vivo tests to verify the functional properties and mechanisms of action of strains in animals, and clinical trials in humans to prove the previous analyses.
This review aims to approach probiotic characteristics by emphasizing research related to the use of cheeses as matrixes to carry these strains and in vitro or in vivo evaluations of these products.
The application of different probiotics in the most varied types of cheeses has been expanded due to the favorable characteristics of cheeses as carriers of these microorganisms, as well as the sensory effects of these strains in food matrixes. Well-conducted in vitro and in vivo tests are mandatory for validating these products according to regulatory institutions in order for the development of new probiotic cheeses to be efficient.
•Updates on the concepts and characteristics of probiotic microorganisms.•Cheeses provide a favorable environment to maintain the viability of probiotics.•Tests in vitro and in vivo about probiotic cheeses are presented.•Probiotics can modify the nutritional and sensory composition of cheeses.•Specific probiotics in cheeses promote different beneficial effects in in vivo studies.
This trial was designed to evaluate the off-label use of ceftiofur with Marek's vaccine in one-day-old broiler chicks, a prophylactic treatment that has been done in some commercial hatcheries, on ...the emergence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producing Escherichia coli (ESBL-E. coli). A total of 168 chicks (Cobb500®) were used in a completely randomized design. Birds were assigned to two treatments (Marek's vaccine plus saline vs Marek's vaccine plus ceftiofur) and six repetitions, with 14 animals each. Cloacal swabs were collected from 1 to 14 days post-hatch. The majority (86%; p<0.0001) of the ESBL-producing isolates harboring blaCTX-M and blaSHV genes originated from animals receiving the antimicrobial. None of the isolates were positive for plasmid-mediated AmpC betalactamase genes (blaACC, blaCMY-2, blaDHA, blaFOX, blaMOX and blaMIR). These findings indicate that the off-label use of ceftiofur with Marek's vaccine is associated with the short-term increase in ESBL-producing Escherichia coli in the gut of chicks.
Food safety remains a significant global public health concern, with the risk of unsafe food varying worldwide. The economies of several low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) heavily rely on ...livestock, posing a challenge to ensuring the production of safe food. This review discusses our understanding of pre-harvest critical issues related to food safety in LMICs, specifically focusing on animal-derived food. In LMICs, food safety regulations are weak and inadequately enforced, primarily concentrating on the formal market despite a substantial portion of the food sector being dominated by informal markets. Key critical issues at the farm level include animal health, a low level of good agriculture practices, and the misuse of antimicrobials. Effectively addressing foodborne diseases requires a comprehensive One Health framework. Unfortunately, the application of the One Health approach to tackle food safety issues is notably limited in LMICs. In conclusion, considering that most animal-source foods from LMICs are marketed through informal channels, food safety legislation and policies need to account for this context. Interventions aimed at reducing foodborne bacterial pathogens at the farm level should be scalable, and there should be strong advocacy for the proper implementation of pre-harvest interventions through a One Health approach.
The prophylactic administration of ceftiofur to newly hatched chicks is a common practice in some hatcheries worldwide to mitigate early gastrointestinal infections caused by Enterobacteriaceae. In ...spite of the crucial role of the gut microbiome for the broiler's health, there is still limited information on how the microbial composition is affected by such procedure. We investigated the effects of posthatch prophylactic application of ceftiofur on the cecal microbiota of 14-day-old broilers fed regular or sanguinarine-supplemented diets. DNA samples were extracted from cecal contents, amplified for the V3-V4 regions of the microbial 16S rRNA gene, and sequenced in a high-throughput sequencing platform (Illumina MiSeq). After downstream bioinformatics and statistical analyses, our results demonstrated that both ceftiofur and sanguinarine treatments similarly increased the proportions of the phylum Bacteroidetes and the genera Bacteroides and Megamonas, whereas reduced the relative abundances of Firmicutes and Lachnospiraceae in the ceca of the birds. Such changes are probably associated with increased carbohydrate fermentation processes favoring the production of short-chain fatty acids. This was also corroborated by the functional prediction findings, which suggest an increase in some metabolic pathways associated with digestibility in broilers receiving ceftiofur. Considering that antimicrobial stewardship in animal production systems is strongly needed to mitigate the threat of antimicrobial resistance, our findings show that supplementation with a phytogenic feed additive can lead to a similar microbial composition in the ceca of commercial broiler chickens, suggesting that the use of alternative products could lead to functional modifications without increasing pressure for antimicrobial resistance.
Surface waters are considered ecological habitats where
can persist and disseminate to fresh produce production systems. This study aimed to explore the genomic profiles of
serotypes Typhimurium, ...Newport, and Infantis from surface waters in Chile, Mexico, and Brazil collected between 2019 and 2022. We analyzed the whole genomes of 106
. Typhimurium, 161
. Newport, and 113
. Infantis isolates. Our phylogenetic analysis exhibited distinct groupings of isolates by their respective countries except for a notable case involving a Chilean
. Newport isolate closely related to two Mexican isolates, showing 4 and 13 single nucleotide polymorphisms of difference, respectively. The patterns of the most frequently detected antimicrobial resistance genes varied across countries and serotypes. A strong correlation existed between integron carriage and genotypic multidrug resistance (MDR) across serotypes in Chile and Mexico (
> 0.90,
< 0.01), while integron(s) were not detected in any of the Brazilian isolates. By contrast, we did not identify any strong correlation between plasmid carriage and genotypic MDR across diverse countries and serotypes.IMPORTANCEUnveiling the genomic landscape of
in Latin American surface waters is pivotal for ensuring public health. This investigation sheds light on the intricate genomic diversity of
in surface waters across Chile, Mexico, and Brazil. Our research also addresses critical knowledge gaps, pioneering a comprehensive understanding of surface waters as a reservoir for multidrug-resistant
. By integrating our understanding of integron carriage as biomarkers into broader MDR control strategies, we can also work toward targeted interventions that mitigate the emergence and dissemination of MDR in
in surface waters. Given its potential implications for food safety, this study emphasizes the critical need for informed policies and collaborative initiatives to address the risks associated with
in surface waters.
This study assessed the effect of in ovo threonine supplementation on the response of broiler chicks challenged with Salmonella Enteritidis, considering bacterial counts in cecal contents, intestinal ...morphology, body weight, and weight gain. Fertilized eggs were inoculated in the amniotic fluid with saline (NT) or 3.5% threonine (T) solution at day 17.5 of incubation. At hatch, chicks were individually weighed and cloacal swabs were screened for Salmonella. At 2 days of age, half of the birds from each in ovo treatment were given either 0.5 mL of nutrient broth (sham-inoculated) or nalidixic acid-resistant Salmonella Enteritidis (SE NalR) in nutrient broth (8.3 × 107 colony forming units (CFU) SE NalR/mL). The birds were distributed using a completely randomized design with four treatments after the Salmonella challenge: no in ovo Thr supplementation and sham-inoculated in the posthatch challenge (NT-SHAM), in ovo Thr supplementation and sham-inoculated (T-SHAM), no in ovo Thr supplementation and SE NalR-challenged (NT-SE), and in ovo Thr supplementation and SE NalR-challenged (T-SE). In ovo threonine supplementation reduced Salmonella Enteritidis colonization 168-hour postinoculation and reduced the negative effects associated with Salmonella infection on intestinal morphology and performance, with results similar to those of the sham-inoculated birds. In ovo Thr supplementation increased the expression of MUC2 at hatch and the expression of MUC2 and IgA at 2 days of age and 168-hour postinoculation. Our results suggest that providing in ovo threonine promotes intestinal health in broilers challenged with Salmonella Enteritidis in the first days of life.
In recent years,
subsp.
serovar Mbandaka (
Mbandaka) has been increasingly isolated from laying hens and shell eggs around the world. Moreover, this serovar has been identified as the causative agent ...of several salmonellosis outbreaks in humans. Surprisingly, little is known about the characteristics of this emerging serovar, and therefore, we investigated antimicrobial resistance, virulence, and prophage genes of six selected Brazilian strains of
Mbandaka using Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS). Multi-locus sequence typing revealed that the tested strains belong to Sequence Type 413 (ST413), which has been linked to recent multi-country salmonellosis outbreaks in Europe. A total of nine resistance genes were detected, and the most frequent ones were
,
,
,
,
, and
. A point mutation in ParC at the 57th position (threonine → serine) associated with quinolone resistance was present in all investigated genomes. A 112,960 bp IncHI2A plasmid was mapped in 4/6 strains. This plasmid harboured tetracycline (
ACDR) and mercury (
) resistance genes, genes contributing to conjugative transfer, and genes involved in plasmid maintenance. Most strains (four/six) carried
genomic island 1 (SGI1). All
Mbandaka genomes carried seven pathogenicity islands (SPIs) involved in intracellular survival and virulence: SPIs 1-5, 9, and C63PI. The virulence genes
,
,
,
, (two/six), and
(one/six) were absent in some of the genomes; conversely,
,
, and
were present in all of them. Five
bacteriophage sequences (with homology to
phage phiV10,
phage Fels-2,
phage HK542,
phage ST64T,
phage SW9) were identified, with protein counts between 31 and 54, genome lengths of 24.7 bp and 47.7 bp, and average GC content of 51.25%. In the phylogenetic analysis, the genomes of strains isolated from poultry in Brazil clustered into well-supported clades with a heterogeneous distribution, primarily associated with strains isolated from humans and food. The phylogenetic relationship of Brazilian
. Mbandaka suggests the presence of strains with high epidemiological significance and the potential to be linked to foodborne outbreaks. Overall, our results show that isolated strains of
Mbandaka are multidrug-resistant and encode a rather conserved virulence machinery, which is an epidemiological hallmark of
strains that have successfully disseminated both regionally and globally.
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