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Marine sponges are sessile invertebrates that can be found in temperate, polar and tropical regions. They are known to be major contributors of bioactive compounds, which are discovered in and extracted from the marine environment. The compounds extracted from these sponges are known to exhibit various bioactivities, such as antimicrobial, antitumor and general cytotoxicity. For example, various compounds isolated from Theonella swinhoei have showcased various bioactivities, such as those that are antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal. In this review, we discuss bioactive compounds that have been identified from marine sponges that showcase the ability to act as antibacterial, antiviral, anti-malarial and antifungal agents against human pathogens and fish pathogens in the aquaculture industry. Moreover, the application of such compounds as antimicrobial agents in other veterinary commodities, such as poultry, cattle farming and domesticated cats, is discussed, along with a brief discussion regarding the mode of action of these compounds on the targeted sites in various pathogens. The bioactivity of the compounds discussed in this review is focused mainly on compounds that have been identified between 2000 and 2020 and includes the novel compounds discovered from 2018 to 2021.

Artificial intelligence (AI) based approaches have been a game changer in the field of drug discovery since approximately two decades ago. The increasing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) at a global scale has posed a new challenge for machine learning architecture in pharmaceutical research in terms of drug discovery. In comparison with other types of medicines for antimicrobial discovery, AI-based application in topical medicines to address wound infections is still very limited. This chapter provides an overview of this emerging field in an effort to introduce the basic concepts of prominent AI-based methods while stimulating renewed motivation to explore the potential of essential oils (EOs) through these techniques for their healing potential in wound infections and, eventually, hopefully to overcome AMR. We emphasize on the potential of EOs for topical applications due to their favorable phytochemical properties.

Pour comparer l’effet de traitements hormonaux à base de mélatonine à ceux à base de progestatifs et d’hormone chorionique gonadotrope équine (eCG) sur l’amélioration des performances reproductives de la race ovine Ouled- Djellal, 829 brebis réparties sur quatre exploitations (A, B, C et D ; respectivement n = 248, 351, 100 et 80) ont été suivies de mars à octobre 2008. Dans l’exploitation B, les progestagènes ont eu un effet améliorateur, avec une fertilité de 92,3 p. 100 pour le traitement avec les éponges vaginales à l’acétate de médroxyprogestérone (MAP) + eCG 400 UI, et de 84,1 p. 100 pour le traitement avec les éponges vaginales à l’acétate de fluorogestone (FGA) + eCG 500 UI, au lieu de 23,2 p. 100 chez les témoins. Les taux de fertilité obtenus dans les exploitations A et C avec les implants de mélatonine après la première saillie ont été significativement moins importants que ceux des lots traités avec les progestagènes et eCG (A : 40,9 vs 79,9 p. 100 ; C : 24 vs 70 p. 100). Le taux de fertilité obtenu avec les implants de mélatonine dans l’exploitation A après la première saillie a été plus élevé (40,9 p. 100) que celui obtenu dans les exploitations C (24 p. 100) et D (17,5 p. 100). Dans l’exploitation D les implants de mélatonine ont amélioré la fertilité totale par rapport au lot témoin (55,0 vs 17,5 p. 100). La prolificité à la première saillie a été améliorée par le traitement MAP + eCG 400 UI dans les exploitations A (1,30) et B (1,70), alors que les traitements FGA + eCG 500 UI et avec implant de mélatonine n’ont pas eu d’effet sur la prolificité. La mélatonine associée à l’effet bélier et utilisée précocement a donné de bons résultats, de l’ordre de ceux obtenus avec les progestagènes.

Selenium deficiency is widely described in livestock from the Arabian Peninsula, notably in the camel, and selenium supplementation is based on cattle or horse requirements, usually with sodium selenite product. In order to test the effect of organic Se supplementation vs inorganic Se, 24 pregnant camels were subjected to 3 treatment groups starting one month before delivery (control without Se, non-organic bolus, organic Se). Blood, milk and feces samples were collected from one month before delivery to 3 months of lactation. At delivery, the organic group had a significant higher Se concentration (P < 0.01) in serum (8.21± 1.38 lg/100 mL) and in colostrum (7.27 ±2.89 lg/100 mL) than in inorganic group (3.90 ±0.68 and 3.72 ±0.71, respectively) and than in control group (5.45 ± 2.38 and 2.70 ± 0.66, respectively). In calf serum, the Se concentration was significantly higher (P < 0.001) in the two supplemented groups (6.32 ± 2.81 and 5.99 ± 3.31 lg/100 mL in organic and inorganic groups, respectively) than in control (3.42 ±1.41 lg/100 mL). The Se in mother serum decreased after parturition but was highly correlated to Se serum in calf and to Se fecal excretion. Se in milk was lower than in colostrum in all groups (P < 0.01). Treatments had no significant effect on somatic cell count. This study revealed that organic supplementation in camel appeared more efficient. (Resume d'auteur)

Requirements for trace minerals in camels, particularly selenium, are not well-known. Selenium supplementation using a pharmaceutical form or commercial mineral mixture is common practice in camels to address the cardiomyopathy often attributed to selenium deficiency. This supplementation is often empirical and based on estimated needs for cattle. Nowadays the use of selenium in animal foodstuffs is commonplace and further investigation of its metabolism (ingestion, dynamic of storage-destocking, excretion) in camels is warranted. The present review aimed to synthesize all the experimental research (comparative selenium status in cow and camel, response to different levels of supplementation at different physiological stages, excretion maternal transfer, experimental toxicosis) and field observations (deficiency, supplementation practices) undertaken in camels. The results underline the particularity of the unique metabolic profile of the camel and lead to practical recommendations for supplementation in camels, highlighting its relative sensitivity to excess Se intake at lower levels than in cattle. The maximal tolerable dose is 8 mg and the recommended doses range from 2 to 4 mg.

Eight young female camels shared in four groups of two 2 years received a basal diet enriched respectively with 0, 2, 4, and 8 mg selenium under sodium selenite form for 64 days. Feed intake was assessed daily; blood samples were taken on weekly basis. One camel from each group was killed at the end of the experiment. Se concentration in serum was increased significantly in the supplemented groups with an average of 176.3 +/- 18.0 ng/mL in the control group, 382.7 +/- 107.6 in the group receiving 2 mg Se, 519.8 +/- 168.4 in the group receiving 4 mg Se, and 533.4 +/- 158.6 in the group receiving 8 mg Se daily. For glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity, the control group (51.0 IU/g Hb) and the group receiving 2 mg (50.5 IU/g Hb) were significantly different than groups receiving 4 and 8 mg (respectively, 65.9 and 76.1 IU/g Hb). No significant variation occurred for vitamin E (mean, 0.56 +/- 0.23 ng/mL). Significant correlation between serum Se and GSH-Px was reported. Kidney was the richest organ in selenium followed by lung, spleen, and liver, but the increase in supplemented groups was more marked in liver and kidney. The hair seemed to be the best indicator of selenium intake in camel.

Ten pregnant female camels divided into two groups received, after a 2-week adaptation period, an oral selenium (Se) supplementation (0 and 2 mg, respectively) under sodium selenite form for 6 months from the three last months of gestation up to the three first months of lactation. Feed intake was assessed daily. Blood samples and body weight were taken on a biweekly basis, both in dams and their camel calves after parturition. Feces and urine samples were collected monthly and milk on a biweekly basis. The Se concentration in serum increased significantly in the supplemented group and was threefold higher than the concentration compared to the control group, respectively, 305.9 +/- 103.3 and 109.3 +/- 33.1 ng/mL. The selenium concentration increased in similar proportion in milk (86.4 +/- 39.1 ng/mL in the control group vs 167.1 +/- 97.3 ng/mL in treated group), in urine, and feces. The glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity varied between 18.1 +/- 8.7 IU/g hemoglobin (Hb) in control group and 47.5 +/- 25.6 IU/g Hb in treated group but decreased after parturition in both groups. Vitamin E did not change significantly and was, on average, 1.17 +/- 0.72 and 1.14 +/- 0.89 ng/mL in the control and treated groups, respectively. Significant correlations were reported between serum Se, milk Se, GSH-Px, and fecal and urinary excretion or concentration. Blood values in camel calves were similar to those of the dams. The results seemed to confirm the sensitivity of camel to Se supplementation with an important increase of selenium in serum and milk.

Early interest in selenium by nutritionists was first identified in the 1930 s as a toxic element, nowadays it is known to be important in livestock and human diet. Its poisonous nature arouses the curiosity of researchers to investigate the impact of this element in human and animal metabolism. However, selenium has become the center of attention due to its physiological functions explained on the basis of its role as an active component of the enzyme glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX), which is responsible for the animal antioxidant defense by destruction of hydrogen peroxide and lipid peroxides. Selenium metabolism and toxicity has been consistently studied in different species but data investigations on camelidae species are very limited. Our current study is configured to investigate the selenium intolerance in dromedary camel and carry out the symptoms related to continuous selenium supplementation. Investigations showed that camel is potentially sensitive to selenium excess. Several symptoms revealed by their different intensity from 3 batches, resumed in alopecia - abnormal movement and posture, breathing difficulties, prostration, diarrhea, lost of weight and nervous alteration.

In the desert, camel rearing is an important cultural fact. In the present paper, 240 Arabian camels from Emirates were sampled for the determination of trace elements and different heavy metals. The following elements were tested: copper, zinc, iron, aluminium, arsenic, boron, barium, cobalt, chromium, cadmium, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, selenium, strontium and lead. The variation factors included age, sex and physiological status. On the average, the mineral contents were 190.3 µg/100 ml (iron), 60.1 µg/100 ml (copper), 44.0 µg/100 ml (strontium), 22.5 µg/100 ml (arsenic), 20.0 µg/100 ml (zinc), 19.7 µg/100 ml (selenium), 19.3 µg/100 ml (boron) and 14.6 µg/100 ml (barium). Other minerals like aluminium (3.7 µg/100 ml), molybdenum (2.9 µg/100 ml), chromium (2.0 µg/100 ml), nickel (1.8 µg/100 ml), lead (1.5 µg/100 ml), manganese (0.16 µg/100 ml), cobalt (0.08 µg/100 ml) and cadmium (0.07 µg/100 ml) were in very small concentration. Age, sex and physiological effects were assessed for some parameters. According to the lack of references in camel species, it is difficult to link those results to polluting context. But those data could contribute to understand the heavy metal status in camel confronted to pollution.

Twelve female camels divided into three groups received, after a 2-week adaptation period, an oral Se supplementation (0, 2, and 4 mg, respectively) under sodium selenite form for 3 months. Feed intake was assessed daily, blood samples and body weight were taken on a weekly basis, and feces and urine samples were collected every 2 weeks up to 1 month after the end of the supplementation period. The Se concentration in serum was increased significantly in supplemented groups. The maximum level was observed in the period of supplementation in the camel receiving 4 mg (492.5 ng/mL), which was fourfold higher than the value at the beginning of the trial (126 to 138.5 ng/mL according to the groups). The selenium concentration increased significantly in urine and feces but to a lesser extent. A similar trend was observed with glutathione-peroxidase (GSH-Px) values varying between 8.4 and 96.5 IU/g Hb. However, no difference occurred between the two groups receiving 2 or 4 mg Se at the supplementation period. Vitamin E (mean 1.13 +/- 0.61 microg/mL with range 0.27-3.09) did not change significantly. Significant correlations were reported between serum Se, GSH-Px, fecal, and urinary excretion or concentration.

Les effets de l’age, du sexe, de la race et du statut physiologique sur le sélénium, le cuivre, le zinc, la créatine-kinase (CPK), l’alanine aminotransférase (ALT) et l’aspartate aminotransférase ont été étudiés chez le dromadaire (Camelus dromedarius). Au total, 240 animaux, jugés en bonne santé, parmi lesquels 166 de race locale, 68 croisée et 6 soudanaise, ont été choisis aléatoirement au sein d’une population de dromadaires provenant d’un seul troupeau. Ces dromadaires ont été classés en trois groupes d’âge : 2-4 ans, 5-7 ans, et 8 ans et plus. Les animaux ont été alimentés de luzerne, d’un mélange homogénéisé de lentilles, de dates et de soja, et d’un concentré. L’étude n’a indiqué aucun effet de la race sur les paramètres mesurés. Les faibles concentrations en zinc mesurées semblaient être dues à sa faible teneur dans les aliments supplémentés. Des corrélations significatives ont été obtenues entre le sélénium et le cuivre (0,292 ; p < 0,01), et entre le sélénium et le zinc (– 0,283 ; p < 0,01). Le sexe a montré une influence remarquable à l’exception de l’ALT. Le statut physiologique a affecté toutes les variables mais pas le CPK. L’intégration de ces éléments et la définition de leurs rôles précis chez les dromadaires de course sont d’une importance cruciale.