Resumo Surtos frequentes do vírus da gripe aviária H9N2 no Paquistão revelaram que esse subtipo se tornou endêmico na avicultura e, além das perdas econômicas, representa uma ameaça à saúde pública. O presente estudo descreve a caracterização molecular e as alterações patológicas em frangos de corte naturalmente infectados com a atual cepa H9N2 e sua dinâmica filogenômica. Neste estudo, amostras de tecidos (traqueia, pulmões, rim e intestino) de 100 lotes comerciais de frangos foram coletadas de julho de 2018 a agosto de 2019. As amostras foram submetidas à detecção molecular, filogenia e posterior exame patológico. O comprimento completo do gene HA foi amplificado com sucesso em cinco amostras. O sequenciamento de nucleotídeos revelou amostras positivas colocadas em um clado pertencente à sublinhagem B2 do genótipo G1 e categorizado como LPAIV com base na sequência de aminoácidos do gene da hemaglutinina (HA) no local de clivagem (PAKSSR/G). A análise genética do gene da HA revelou: nt = 80,5%-99,5%; aa = 83,8%-98,9% de homologia com cepas de H9N2 relatadas anteriormente no Paquistão e em países vizinhos (A/Quail/Hong Kong/G1/97). As lesões macroscópicas incluíram aerossaculite leve, hemorragias leves, congestão difusa e exsudato purulento na mucosa traqueal, cilindro fibrinonecrótico no lúmen da traqueia e congestão pulmonar leve. As alterações histopatológicas incluíram descamação de células epiteliais, infiltração de células inflamatórias na traqueia, infiltração de células mononucleares (MNCs), congestão pulmonar e exsudato no lúmen dos parabrônquios, congestão peritubular nos rins com degeneração das células epiteliais tubulares, alterações degenerativas nas células epiteliais das vilosidades intestinais e hiperplasia de células caliciformes. A análise imunoistoquímica confirmou a presença do antígeno AIVH9N2 na traqueia, nos pulmões, no rim e no intestino. A microscopia eletrônica revelou alterações ultraestruturais na traqueia, incluindo cílios degenerados, inchaço mitocondrial e retículo endoplasmático aumentado. Com base em todas as análises, o presente estudo revelou a distribuição do vírus H9N2 do genótipo G1 em Punjab, Paquistão, com patogenicidade de leve a moderada.

Abstract Frequent outbreaks of avian influenza H9N2 virus in Pakistan revealed that this subtype has become endemic in the poultry industry and, besides economic losses, poses a threat to public health. The present study describes the molecular characterization and pathological alterations in naturally infected broiler chickens with the current H9N2 field strain and their phylogenomic dynamics. In this study, tissue samples (trachea, lung, kidney and intestine) from 100 commercial chicken flocks were collected from July 2018 to August 2019. Samples were subjected to molecular detection, phylogeny and subsequent pathological examination. The complete length of the HA gene was successfully amplified in five samples. Nucleotide sequencing revealed positive samples placed in a clade belonging to the B2 sub-lineage of the G1 genotype and categorized as LPAIV based on the amino acid sequence of the HA gene at the cleavage site (PAKSSR/G). Genetic analysis of the haemagglutinin (HA) gene revealed nt: 80.5%-99.5%; aa: 83.8%-98.9% homology to H9N2 strains reported previously from Pakistan, neighbouring countries, and (A/Quail/Hong Kong/G1/97). Gross lesions include a slight airsacculitis, mild hemorrhages, diffuse congestion and purulent exudate in tracheal mucosa, fibrinonecrotic cast in the trachea lumen and mild pulmonary congestion. Histopathological alterations include sloughing of epithelial cells and infiltration of inflammatory cells in the trachea, mononuclear cells (MNCs) infiltration, pulmonary congestion and exudate in the lumen of parabronchi, peritubular congestion in the kidneys with degeneration of tubular epithelial cells and degenerative changes in the intestinal villi epithelial cells and goblet cell hyperplasia. Immunohistochemistry analysis confirmed the presence of AIVH9N2 antigen in the trachea, lungs, kidney and intestine. Electron microscopy revealed ultrastructural changes in the trachea, including degenerated cilia, mitochondrial swelling and enlarged endoplasmic reticulum. Based on all essential analysis, the present study revealed the distribution of the H9N2 virus of G1 genotype in Punjab, Pakistan, with mild to moderate pathogenicity.

ABSTRACT The objectives of current study were to evaluate the effect of botanical extracts as antioxidants on amino - and fatty acids profile of broiler meat. In total, 200 one-day-old broiler chicks were divided according to a completely randomized design into eight dietary treatments with five replicates of five chicks each. Dietary treatments were: A - positive control (PC) with antibiotics and synthetic antioxidants, B - negative control (NC), C - NC+Trigonellafoenum-graecum, D -NC+Nigella sativa seed, E -NC+Violaodorata, F -NC+Trachyspermumammi, G -PC+Trachyspermumammi+Trigonellafoenum-graecum+Violaodorata, and H -NC+ Trachyspermumammi, Trigonellafoenum-graecum and Viola odorata. Meat amino - and fatty acid contents were analyzed after slaughter at 35 days of age. Data were submitted to one-way analysis of variance and means were compared by Duncan’s Multiple Range test. The levels of histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine and threonine were significantly higher (p≤0.05) in the H, F, E, H and F groups respectively. Arginine, tryptophan, valine, methionine, and phenylalanine were significantly higher (p≤0.05) in the C, F, E, G and H groups. Total essential amino acid levels were highest (40.36%) in C group (p≤0.05). The meat of H broilers presented significantly higher (p≤0.05) unsaturated fatty acids (54.8%) and omega-3 contents (2.77%) and the lowest saturated fatty acid content (44.8%). Group F present the highest linoleic acid and omega-6 levels and group H the highest (p≤0.05) arachidonic and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) contents. It was concluded that botanical extracts aid health-beneficial meat production and the simultaneous inclusion of Trachyspermumammi, Trigonellafoenum-graecum, and Viola odorata in broiler diets is a more suitable option than the other dietary regimes.

AIM: To study the correlation of nasal Staphylococcus aureus carrier status in patients on haemodialysis, infected by hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and their sociodemographic features. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A survey, including patients ' sociodemographic features, was applied to patients by physicians in face to face interviews. Medical records regarding their serologic data were recorded from haemodialysis centres. Nasal swab samples of 2 cm depth from both nostrils of patients were obtained for nasal culture. Samples were inoculated in 5% sheep blood agar and incubated in an incubator at a temperature of 37ºCfor 24 hours. The results were studied by the same microbiologist. RESULTS: A total of 185 patients were enrolled in the study. According to culture results, 14.1% of patients (n = 26) had methicillin sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) and 1.1% (n = 2) had methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Status of viral hepatitis was 3.8% (n = 8), 10.8% (n = 20) for HBV and HCV, respectively. Forty per cent (n = 8) of patients with HBV (+) had MSSA carrier status. Statistically significant positive correlation between MSSA and HCV carrier was detected (r = 0.325, p = 0.001) but not between HBV carrier and MSSA (p = 0.255). CONCLUSION: In the present study, significant positivity was detected between MSSA carrier status and HCV in patients on haemodialysis and who have lived together with < 2 family members at home. Particularly, statistically significant correlation between HCV (+) and MSSA carrier was observed.

OBJETIVO: Estudiar la correlación entre el portador del Estafilococo dorado (Staphylococcus aureus) nasal en pacientes de hemodiálisis infectados por el virus de la hepatitis C (VHC), el virus de la hepatitis B (VHB), y sus caracterÃsticas sociodemográficas. SUJETOS Y MÉTODOS: Una encuesta que incluÃa caracterÃsticas sociodemográficas de los pacientes fue aplicada a pacientes por médicos en entrevistas cara a cara. Historias clÃnicas contentivas de sus datos serológicos, fueron registradas a partir de los centros de hemodiálisis. Muestras defrotis nasales de 2 cm de profundidad de ambas fosas nasales, fueron obtenidas para un cultivo nasal. Se inocularon muestras en agar de sangre de oveja al 5%, e incubadas en una incubadora a una temperatura de 37ºC por 24 horas. Los resultados fueron examinados por el mismo microbiólogo. RESULTADOS: Un total de 185 pacientes fueron enrolados en el estudio. Según los resultados del cultivo, 14.1% pacientes (n = 26) tenÃan estafilococo dorado sensible a la meticilina (MSSA) y 1.1% (n = 2) tenÃan estafilococo dorado resistente a la meticilina (MRSA). El estatus de las hepatitis virales fue 3.8% (n = 8), y 10.8% (n = 20) para HVB y HVC respectivamente. Cuarentapor ciento (n = 8) de los pacientes con HVB (+) eran portadores del MSSA. EstadÃsticamente, se detectó una correlación positiva significativa (r = 0.325, p = 0.001), entre MSSA y el portador de VHC, no asà entre el portador del VHByMSSA (p = 0.255). CONCLUSIÓN: En el estudio presente, se detectó una positividad significativa entre el estatus de; portador de MSSA y los pacientes de VHC en hemodiálisis, que vivÃan junto con [= dos o menos de dos] miembros de la familia en casa. En particular, se observó una correlación estadÃsticamente significativa entre HCV (+) y el portador MSSA.