Letters In Animal Biology

Leishmaniasis in humans and small animals: Updates and insights through a one health

Amirhossein Badkoubi — 2025-03-24

Leishmaniasis is neglected infectious disease caused by a type of microscopic parasite called Leishmania spp. This disease can affect both humans and animals, as well as sandflies. There are more than 90 species of sandflies that can transmit Leishmania parasites, with Lutzomyia being the primary transmitter in the Americas and Phlebotomus being the primary transmitter elsewhere. The disease, prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions, including southern Europe, poses a significant global health concern due to increasing outbreaks spurred by climate change and heightened human and animal mobility. Leishmaniasis is categorized into three main forms: cutaneous, visceral (kala-azar), and mucocutaneous. These forms vary in clinical presentation, ranging from skin lesions to severe systemic involvement of internal organs and mucosal damage. The treatment of leishmaniasis is complex and depends on factors such as the disease type, parasite species, geographic region, and the host's health status. This review adopts a One Health approach, integrating human, animal, and environmental perspectives to provide a comprehensive update on leishmaniasis. It synthesizes recent advances in understanding the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnostic techniques, and treatment strategies of cutaneous, mucocutaneous, and visceral leishmaniasis in humans and small animals. Understanding interconnection between animals and humans requires a holistic approach such as One Health perspective. This framework emphasizes the need for coordinated research, innovative treatments, and integrated prevention strategies to combat its growing global burden.

Role of probiotics in the control of Salmonella infections in animals and humans

Ahsan Fayyaz — 2025-03-18

Salmonella infections pose a significant threat to human and animal health, leading to foodborne illnesses, economic losses in the livestock industry, and challenges in public health management. Various chemical drugs including antibiotics have been used to control Salmonella infections but overuse of these drugs has led to the emergence of multidrug-resistant strains, necessitating alternative strategies. Probiotics have emerged as the best alternative in controlling Salmonella infections because they promote gut health in both humans and animals. Probiotics are best because they are involved in enhancing modulation of gut microbiota, production of antimicrobial compounds, and immunity stimulant, thereby inhibiting Salmonella colonization and reducing infection severity. Different probiotic strains, especially Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, have shown efficacy in reducing Salmonella shedding and improving gut health in livestock, ultimately lowering zoonotic transmission risks. This review study explores the mechanisms by which probiotics combat Salmonella, and their various effects including antioxidant, immunomodulatory, anti-hypocholesterolemia, and anti-allergic. Understanding the role of probiotics in preventing and managing Salmonella infections can contribute to improving food safety, reducing antibiotic resistance, and enhancing animal and human health.

Role of metallic nanoparticles in the control of hazardous insects affecting plants and animals

Usama Zafar Iqbal — 2025-03-27

The necessity for more agricultural production can be fulfilled by increasing crop productivity because the cultivated area is constrained. The main source of food and nutrients for domestic animals and humans comes directly or indirectly from agriculture. However, along with climate change, plant diseases, pests, poor soil health, weeds, natural disasters, and reduced nutrient availability, all contribute to a large loss of worldwide crop production under current farming practices. According to the latest studies, insects account for almost 20-40% of all yield losses in agriculture each year, with acute infestations causing even more harm in some areas. One of the main concerns for international food security is the financial burden of controlling these pests, both in terms of direct output losses and the expenses related to pest control procedures. Application of pesticides on the farm poses a variety of challenges for farmers, who must decide which pesticides to use for a given pest as well as when and how to apply them. Nanotechnology has been widely used in agriculture to boost the production of crops through a variety of methods, including control of pests, seed treatment, enhancement of the germination process, nutrient balance, and improved fertilizer delivery. In this review, the role of metallic nanoparticles (MNPs) against hazardous insects (pests) in their control and the mechanism of actions of MNPs have been summarized.

Standardizing insemination interval for turkey hens with diluted semen preserved at 5 °C for optimum fertility

Adedeji Suleimon Balogun — 2025-02-22

Standardizing insemination interval with liquid stored semen is necessary for better application of assisted reproductive biotechnology for genetic improvement in turkey. This experiment was designed to identify appropriate insemination intervals to achieve optimum fertility with tom semen preserved with Tris Egg-yolk Orange (TEYO) extender for 4 and 12 hours at 5 °C. Five healthy indigenous toms and ninety six hens of 38 weeks of age were used for this study. A 4x2 factorial design with two insemination frequencies and four types of semen was employed in a completely Randomized Design. The four varieties of semen used were undiluted, TEYO diluted, 4 hours TEYO chilled, and 12 hours TEYO chilled. The second factor is once or twice weekly insemination frequencies. The results showed that turkey hens inseminated with 12 h TEYO chilled semen had significantly lower fertility rates, hatchability of viable eggs, and egg sets than those inseminated with 4 h TEYO chilled semen, TEYO extended semen, and un-extended sperm. The value for 4 hours of TEYO chilled semen, however, did not differ appreciably from the un-chilled semen value. The results showed that twice per week insemination had significantly higher percentage fertility value compared to once per week insemination for un- chilled and 12 h TEYO chilled semen. The results revealed that once per week insemination had a higher hatchability percentage of fertile eggs for 4 h TEYO chilled semen, TEYO extended semen, and un-extended semen compared to twice per-week insemination. The results revealed that once per week insemination had a higher hatchability percentage of eggs set compared to twice per week insemination for 4 h TEYO chilled tom semen. The results revealed that only in un-extended semen and 4 h TEYO chilled semen dead-in-shells were recorded. It was therefore concluded that twice per week insemination interval indicated better fertility and hatchability results for 12 h TEYO chilled turkey semen, while once per week insemination gave a better fertility and hatchability result for 4 h TEYO chilled turkey semen.

Rotavirus prevalence with G and P genotypes circulated in different regions of India

Zunjar Baburao Dubal — 2025-04-10

Rotaviruses are widely acknowledged as the prime cause of severe gastroenteritis in children globally especially in under developed countries. This contemporary study presents data on the prevalence and genotypic distribution of human group A rotaviruses across various regions of India. 217 fecal samples were collected entirely from children and adults over 5 years of age from the Western (n=30), Southern (n=98), and North-Eastern Hill (NEH) (n=89) regions/zones of India and tested for the presence of rotaviruses. The RNA extracted from these stool samples was analyzed using Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (PAGE) and Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR). Rotaviruses were identified in 20.27% of the samples through PAGE and/or RT-PCR, with the highest detection rate of 41.37% observed in the Western region, followed by 17.34% in the Southern zone/ region, and 18.98% in the NEH region. A higher prevalence of 27.38% was observed in males than female children (14.06%), especially during winter (November to March) (34.84%) followed by April to June (15.62%). A total of fifteen samples were successfully typed for the G genotype, and six for the P genotype, through amplification and subsequent sequencing of VP4 and VP7gene products. The prevalent G genotypes detected were G1, succeeded by G12 and G11, with one sample each also identifying G2 and G10. Amid P genotypes, P[6] was the most prevailing genotype, while P[4] and P[8] were each recognised in a single sample. The dominant genotype was G1P[6], with one sample showing a G1P[4] combination, and two samples exhibiting G11P[6] and G11P[8] combinations, which are rarely reported in India.