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Coroian M, Fábián-Ravasz TZ, Dobrin PR, Györke A. Occurrence of Eimeria spp. and Intestinal Helminths in Free-Range Chickens from Northwest and Central Romania. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:563. [PMID: 38396531 PMCID: PMC10885887 DOI: 10.3390/ani14040563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 01/21/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Chickens raised in backyard free-range systems are confronted with a significant threat of parasitic infections. Among the parasitic agents, protozoa belonging to the genus Eimeria and helminths, including Ascaridia galli, Capillaria spp., Heterakis gallinarum, and Strongyloides avium, stand out as the most prevalent. The sampling protocol included sixteen localities in four counties within the Transylvania region of Romania. Fecal samples were collected from chickens reared in a backyard system. Fecal samples were screened for oocysts (O) and eggs (E) by flotation method, and their number per gram of feces (OPG/EPG) was calculated after counting them by McMaster method. Positive samples for Eimeria spp. were further analyzed by PCR (polymerase chain reaction) method to identify the Eimeria species. A total of 145 flocks were tested and the overall prevalence of infection was 53.1%. The most prevalent infections were with A. galli/H. gallinarum (25.5%), and Eimeria spp. (24.8%), followed by Capillaria spp. and strongyles. The mean OPG/EPG values were as follows: 63,577 for Eimeria spp., 157 for Ascaridia/Heterakis, 362 for Capillaria spp., and 1671 for Strongyle eggs. Identified Eimeria species were E. acervulina (41.7%), E. tenella (27.8%), E. praecox (16.7%), E. brunetti (16.7%), OTUy (operational taxonomic unit y) (8.3%), OTUz (operational taxonomic unit z) (8.3%) and E. mitis (5.6%). Intestinal parasites exhibit a high prevalence among chickens in backyard poultry flocks, and the presence of significant parasite burdens can adversely affect both productive and economic aspects. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive study that aimed to analyze the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in chickens raised in a backyard free-range system in Romania, and the first report of OTUy species in Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mircea Coroian
- Department of Poultry Management and Pathology, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (T.-Z.F.-R.); (P.R.D.); (A.G.)
| | - Tünde-Zsuzsánna Fábián-Ravasz
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (T.-Z.F.-R.); (P.R.D.); (A.G.)
| | - Patricia Roxana Dobrin
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (T.-Z.F.-R.); (P.R.D.); (A.G.)
| | - Adriana Györke
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (T.-Z.F.-R.); (P.R.D.); (A.G.)
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Băieş MH, Cotuţiu VD, Spînu M, Mathe A, Cozma-Petruț A, Bocǎneţ VI, Cozma V. Satureja hortensis L. and Calendula officinalis L., Two Romanian Plants, with In Vivo Antiparasitic Potential against Digestive Parasites of Swine. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2980. [PMID: 38138124 PMCID: PMC10746069 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11122980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Internal parasitic diseases of swine constitute a major welfare and health concern in low-input livestock farming. Due to an increase in chemical resistance, phytotherapeutic remedies have become an alternative for the prophylaxis and therapy of digestive parasitosis, albeit few remedies have been subjected to scientific validation. Low-input swine farming in Romania has adopted the traditional use of phytotherapy for controlling pathogens in livestock. The current study aimed to assess the antiparasitic potential of Calendula officinalis and Satureja hortensis against digestive parasites of swine in two low-input farms. The fecal samples were collected from sows, fatteners, and weaners, and were tested using the following coproparasitological methods: centrifugal sedimentation, flotation (Willis, McMaster egg counting technique), Ziehl-Neelsen stain modified by Henricksen, modified Blagg method, and in vitro nematode larvae/protozoan oocyst cultures. Six species of digestive parasites were diagnosed, namely Ascaris suum, Trichuris suis, Oesophagostomum spp., Balantioides coli, Eimeria spp., and Cryptosporidium spp., in various combinations, dependent on the swine category. A dose of 140 mg/kg bw/day of C. officinalis and 100 mg/kg bw/day of S. hortensis powders administered for 10 consecutive days revealed a strong antiprotozoal and anthelmintic activity on the aforementioned parasites. The curative efficacy can be attributed to the presence of polyphenols, sterols, tocopherols, and methoxylated flavones. In conclusion, our results indicate that S. hortensis and C. officinalis are promising alternatives to the commercially available antiparasitics, enabling their use as natural antiparasitic products against gastrointestinal parasites in pigs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mihai-Horia Băieş
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, 3-5 Mǎnǎştur Street, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (M.-H.B.); (V.-D.C.); (V.C.)
| | - Vlad-Dan Cotuţiu
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, 3-5 Mǎnǎştur Street, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (M.-H.B.); (V.-D.C.); (V.C.)
| | - Marina Spînu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, 3-5 Mǎnǎştur Street, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania;
| | - Attila Mathe
- Agricultural Research and Development Station of Turda, Agriculturii Street, 27, 401100 Turda, Romania;
| | - Anamaria Cozma-Petruț
- Department of Bromatology, Hygiene, Nutrition, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Iuliu Haţieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 6 Pasteur Street, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Vlad I. Bocǎneţ
- Department of Manufacturing Engineering, Faculty of Industrial Engineering, Robotics and Production Management, Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, 400114 Cluj-Napoca, Romania;
| | - Vasile Cozma
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, 3-5 Mǎnǎştur Street, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (M.-H.B.); (V.-D.C.); (V.C.)
- Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences Gheorghe Ionescu-Siseşti (A.S.A.S.), Mărăști Boulevard, 61, 011464 Bucharest, Romania
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Urcan AC, Criste AD, Szanto KI, Ștefan R, Zahan M, Muscă AS, Focsan M, Burtescu RF, Olah NK. Antimicrobial and Antiproliferative Activity of Green Synthesized Silver Nanoparticles Using Bee Bread Extracts. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:1797. [PMID: 37513984 PMCID: PMC10383293 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15071797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Bee bread (BB) is a fermented mixture of bee pollen, is rich in proteins, amino acids, fatty acids, polyphenols, flavonoids, as well as other bioactive compounds, and is considered functional food for humans. In this study, we explored an innovative green synthesis of colloidal silver nanoparticles, using BB extracts as reducing and stabilizing agents. A preliminary chemical characterization of the BB extracts was conducted. The plasmonic response of the as-synthesized silver nanoparticles (BB-AgNPs) was evaluated by UV-Vis spectroscopy, while their hydrodynamic diameter and zeta potential were investigated by dynamic light spectroscopy (DLS). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis pointed out polydisperse NPs with quasi-spherical shapes. The newly synthesized nanoparticles showed good antioxidant activity against the tested free radicals, DPPH, ABTS•+, and FRAP, the best results being obtained in the case of ABTS•+. BB-AgNPs exhibited good antibacterial activity on the tested Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains: herein S. aureus, B. cereus, E. faecalis, E. coli, P. aeruginosa, S. enteritidis, and on yeast C. albicans, respectively. The inhibition diameters varied between 7.67 ± 0.59 and 22.21 ± 1.06 mm, while the values obtained for minimum inhibitory concentration varied between 0.39 and 6.25 µg/mL. In vitro antiproliferative activity was tested on colon adenocarcinoma, ATCC HTB-37 cell line, and the results have shown that the green synthetized BB-AgNPs induced a substantial decrease in tumor cell viability in a dose-dependent manner with an IC50 ranging from 24.58 to 67.91 µg/mL. Consequently, more investigation is required to comprehend the processes of the cytotoxicity of AgNPs and develop strategies to mitigate their potentially harmful effects while harnessing their antimicrobial properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Cristina Urcan
- Faculty of Animal Science and Biotechnologies, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 3-5 Mănăştur Street, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Adriana Dalila Criste
- Faculty of Animal Science and Biotechnologies, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 3-5 Mănăştur Street, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Karina Ioana Szanto
- Faculty of Animal Science and Biotechnologies, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 3-5 Mănăştur Street, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Razvan Ștefan
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Marius Zahan
- Faculty of Animal Science and Biotechnologies, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 3-5 Mănăştur Street, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Adriana Sebastiana Muscă
- Faculty of Animal Science and Biotechnologies, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 3-5 Mănăştur Street, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Monica Focsan
- Nanobiophotonics and Laser Microspectroscopy Center, Interdisciplinary Research Institute in Bio-Nano-Sciences, Babes-Bolyai University, Treboniu Laurian No. 42, 400271 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | | | - Neli Kinga Olah
- PlantExtrakt Ltd., Rădaia, 407059 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Faculty of Pharmacy, "Vasile Goldiş" Western University of Arad, 310414 Arad, Romania
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Băieş MH, Cotuţiu VD, Spînu M, Mathe A, Cozma-Petruț A, Miere D, Bolboacǎ SD, Cozma V. The Effects of Coriandrum sativum L. and Cucurbita pepo L. against Gastrointestinal Parasites in Swine: An In Vivo Study. Microorganisms 2023; 11:1230. [PMID: 37317204 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11051230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Revised: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Parasitic diseases are responsible for substantial losses in reproduction and productivity in swine, creating a major impairment to efficient and profitable livestock management. The use of phytotherapeutic remedies has notably increased over the past decade due to their bioavailability, decreased toxicity, non-polluting nature, and to some extent due to their antiparasitic effect. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antiparasitic potential of Cucurbita pepo L. and Coriandrum sativum L. against protozoa and nematodes found in swine. The samples were collected from weaners, fatteners, and sows and examined via flotation (Willis and McMaster), active sedimentation, Ziehl-Neelsen staining as modified by Henricksen, a modified Blagg method, and eggs/oocyst culture. The parasite species detected were Ascaris suum, Trichuris suis, Oesophagostomum spp., Balantioides coli (syn. Balantidium coli), Eimeria spp., and Cryptosporidium spp., depending on age category. A dose of 500 mg/kg bw/day of C. pepo and 170 mg/kg bw/day of C. sativum powders, administered for ten consecutive days, demonstrated a pronounced anthelmintic (pumpkin) and antiprotozoal (coriander) effect against the aforementioned parasites. Future studies are required to ascertain the optimal dose that maximizes their antiparasitic effectiveness. The current study represents the first Romanian report on the in vivo antiparasitic activity of these two plants tested on digestive parasites in swine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mihai-Horia Băieş
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Disease, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, 3-5 Mǎnǎştur Street, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Vlad-Dan Cotuţiu
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Disease, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, 3-5 Mǎnǎştur Street, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Marina Spînu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, 3-5 Mǎnǎştur Street, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Attila Mathe
- Agricultural Research and Development Station of Turda, 27 Agriculturii Street, 401100 Turda, Romania
| | - Anamaria Cozma-Petruț
- Department of Bromatology, Hygiene, Nutrition, Faculty of Pharmacy, "Iuliu Haţieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 6 Pasteur Street, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Doina Miere
- Department of Bromatology, Hygiene, Nutrition, Faculty of Pharmacy, "Iuliu Haţieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 6 Pasteur Street, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Sorana D Bolboacǎ
- Department of Medical Informatics and Biostatistics, "Iuliu Haţieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 6 Louis Pasteur Street, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Vasile Cozma
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Disease, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, 3-5 Mǎnǎştur Street, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences Gheorghe Ionescu-Siseşti (A.S.A.S.), 61 Mǎrǎşti Boulevard, 011464 Bucharest, Romania
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Cotuțiu VD, Mihalca AD, Hołówka KA, Ionică AM, Cazan CD, Gherman CM. European Hares, Lepus europaeus, Represent a Reservoir Host for Thelazia callipaeda in Romania. Pathogens 2022; 11:1225. [PMID: 36364976 PMCID: PMC9693048 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11111225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Revised: 10/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Thelaziosis caused by Thelazia callipaeda is an emerging disease in Europe. Only two reports of naturally infected lagomorphs have been published so far. The aim of this study was to evaluate the status of the Romanian populations of European brown hares, Lepus europaeus as reservoir hosts for T. callipaeda. Between November 2019 and November 2021, the eyes of 326 L. europaeus carcasses were examined for the presence of ocular parasites. Nematodes were stored in plastic vials with physiological saline, followed by morphological and molecular identification. QGis 3.20 and EpiInfoTM 7 were used for mapping and statistical analysis. Four (1.23%) hares harbored T. callipaeda infection, with a total of 84 nematodes collected (mean intensity 21 nematodes/host), with 45 males, 39 females (two sexually immature, seven with only eggs, and 30 with eggs and larvae). One specimen from each host was successfully sequenced resulting in a 100% similarity with several other sequences of T. callipaeda haplotype 1. Statistical analysis revealed no significant results. The current study represents a first report of T. callipaeda in the European brown hare in Romania, and the second in Europe, also reiterating the role of lagomorphs as reservoir hosts for this zoonotic ocular nematode.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vlad-Dan Cotuțiu
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Calea Mănăștur 3-5, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Andrei Daniel Mihalca
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Calea Mănăștur 3-5, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Katarzyna Anna Hołówka
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Calea Mănăștur 3-5, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Angela Monica Ionică
- Molecular Biology and Veterinary Parasitology Unit (CDS-9), University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Calea Mănăștur 3-5, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Clinical Hospital of Infectious Diseases of Cluj-Napoca, Iuliu Moldovan Street Nr. 23, 400003 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Cristina Daniela Cazan
- Molecular Biology and Veterinary Parasitology Unit (CDS-9), University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Calea Mănăștur 3-5, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Călin Mircea Gherman
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Calea Mănăștur 3-5, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
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