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Background: Many protective proteins, including lactoferrin and heavy chain antibodies, are present in camel colostrum, giving it a distinctive composition. Beyond a broad spectrum of pathogens, these proteins demonstrate antibacterial properties. Aim: The current research assessed the prophylactic properties of camel colostrum against Escherichia coli F17. Methods: A microbroth dilution method was employed to assess the efficacy of camel colostrum, whereas a crystal violet assay was utilised to determine its antibiofilm potential. Extracellular deoxyribonuclease acid (eDNA) release, swarming, and swimming motilities were also examined. Results: The results showed that camel colostrum significantly reduced E. coli-F17 growth by 70% and above at different incubation periods (6 - 24h). The rate of cell attachment gradually decreased from approximately 40% to 24% as the concentration increased from 12.5 to 50 mg/mL. E. coli-F17 developed a biofilm at a rate of 54.8% when exposed to 50 mg/mL of camel colostrum. In contrast, the greatest level of biofilm formation against the tested bacteria (94%) was observed at a concentration of 1.5 mg/mL. A halo zone of camel colostrum ranging from 10 to less than 30 mm at concentrations between 6 and 50 mg/mL also inhibited swimming and swarming capabilities. The treated cells yielded no eDNA. Conclusion: According to these results, camel colostrum inhibits the growth of E. coli-F17 by impeding the swarming and swimming motilities, and biofilm formation. Additionally, camel colostrum incubation with E. coli-F17 diminishes eDNA. To evaluate the potential protective effects of camel colostrum in an animal model, additional research is recommended. [Open Vet J 2024; 14(11.000): 2883-2892]

Background: Camel calf's diarrhea is considered the chief economic loss in the camelid population. There is currently no vaccine licensed to prevent colibacillosis in camel calves. The new era of bacterial antibiotic-resistant explains the treatment failure and the high mortality and morbidity associated with the disease. Current protective treatments have thus far limited efficacy and need to be replaced. Due to their antimicrobial properties and safety, natural products are recently finding a capital role in infection management. Aims: The current study explores E. coli F17 susceptibility as a clinical strain isolated from diarrheic camel calves to a wide panel of natural products. Methods: Agar diffusion method, Integrity of cell membrane, hydrophobicity of bacterial surface, biofilm assays, and motility were used to evaluate the antibacterial activity of Coffea, Retama raetam, Moringa oleifera, Juniperus phoenicea, Uritica dioica, Camellia sinensis, Lavandula angustifolia and Cuminum cyminum extracts against isolated bacteria. Results: Interestingly, All 8 tested extracts have the damaging ability of E. coli F17's cell membrane and cause the nucleic acid release after 12 hours. E. coli F17 strain has the surface of hydrophobicity which changed after contact with extracts of the plant. Moreover, the motility of the studied bacteria changed after exposure to all plant extracts. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that all extracts, exempt Uritica dioica, can remove up to 50% biofilm of E. coli biomass as compared with the control. Natural extracts can be used as potential antimicrobial agents to mitigate diarrhea in camel calves. [Open Vet J 2023; 13(9.000): 1082-1090]

In contemporary times, the sustained aspiration of bioengineering and biomedical applications is the progressive advancement of materials characterized by biocompatibility and biodegradability. The investigation of the potential applications of polymers as natural and non-hazardous materials has placed significant emphasis on their physicochemical properties. Thus, this study was designed to investigate the potential of gelatin–chitosan–moringa leaf extract (G–CH–M) as a novel biomaterial for biomedical applications. The wound-dressing G–CH–M biopolymer was synthesized and characterized. The blood haemolysis, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial activities of the biopolymer were investigated against Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) bacterial isolates. Our results showed that S. aureus swarming motility was drastically affected. However, the biopolymer had no significant effect on the swarming motility of E. coli. In addition, the biopolymer showed high antibacterial capacities, especially against S. aureus. Plasmid DNA was observed to be effectively protected from oxidative stresses by the biopolymer. Furthermore, the biopolymer exhibited greatly suppressed haemolysis (lower than 2%), notwithstanding the elevated concentration of 50 mg/mL. These results indicated that this novel biopolymer formulation could be further developed for wound care and contamination prevention.

Abstract Gelatin (GEL) is most extensively used in various fields, particularly in therapeutics and pharmaceuticals. GEL was extracted from goat skin using hot temperature extraction process and compared with that of commercial GEL. The physico-chemical characterization and functional properties were investigated by using temperature denaturation (Td), water-holding and fat-binding capacities (WHC and FBC), colour measurement and UV-light spectrum. In vitro biocompatibility was studied for the first time and was evaluated by blood coagulation index (BCI) and haemolytic tests for using as wounds dressing. The results revealed thermal stability of goat GEL at Td 37°C. WHC and FBC capacities represented 2.5 and 1.2 g/ml, respectively. The hunter colour spaces a*, b* and L* showed a -0.27, -1.97 and 25.23 values, respectively. UV-Vis absorption spectrum of the goat GEL showed a maximum absorption peak at 280 nm. The in vitro anticoagulant activities of extracting GEL were higher than 70% after incubation for one hour. After being in contact with red blood cells for 1 h, the haemolysis ratio increased from to 0.46 to 1.4 when the concentration of goat GEL increased from 1 to 50 mg/ml suggesting the safety of the tested samples. These results suggest that thromboresistivity and hemocompatibility of this biopolymer retained the biological activity of our samples for biomaterial applications. According to this, goat GEL successfully competes with, and significantly could be useful for substitution of bovine in wound healing.

Abstract In this research, Gelatine (GEL)/ Chitosan (CH) wound dressing was prepared and irradiated with gamma rays from 60Co source for wound healing applications. GEL-CH composite characterization and functional properties were determined. The structural changes occurring after γ-irradiation at doses from 5 to 25 kGy were reported by physico-chemical techniques such as Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR), Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) studies. The antioxidant capacity was studied using DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free radical) scavenging and the antibacterial activities of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were observed using liquid medium. Results revealed that EPR spectroscopy of un-irradiated GEL-CH showed 2 paramagnetic centers correspond to g=2.077 and g= 2.079. After irradiation, no active centre was appeared. A dose-dependent decrease in the central signal intensity was detected, then the EPR signal intensity almost disappears at 20 kGy. Gamma rays caused a slight increase in ion conductivity. FTIR suggest a slightly crosslinking phenomenon at 20 kGy. The XRD analysis does not show peak indicating crystallinity between a range of 2θ (15–30°). Moreover, γ-irradiation elevated the Scavenging DPPH radical activity (0.75 ± 0.07%). Gamma rays did not affect the antibacterial activity of GEL-CH wound dressing against pathogenic bacteria. The innovative results showed that the required γ-radiation for sterilization was ranged from 5 to 25 kGy. It permits to improve the physico-chemical and biological properties and maintain the native structural integrity of the GEL/ COL wound dressing

Abstract Camels (Camelus dromedarius) are known to harbor multidrug resistant Gram-negative bacteria and to be involved in the transmission of various microorganisms to humans. Data on the occurrence of colistin resistant Escherichia coli as well as mobilized colistin resistance (mcr) genes in camels are lacking. We investigated the presence of colistin resistance and mcr (1–2) genes in E. coli from the feces of camels in Tunisia. Presumptive E. coli isolates from camel-calves in southern Tunisia were qualitatively screened for growth on Mueller–Hinton agar supplemented with 2 mg/L of colistin. The minimal inhibitory concentration of colistin was determined for isolates growing on this medium. All isolates were screened for the presence of the mcr-1 and mcr-2 genes by polymerase chain reaction without detecting any of these genes. However, one isolate was confirmed resistant to colistin and further testing of this isolate revealed it to be Enterobacter cloacae. Our study demonstrated absence of colistin resistance and of the mcr-1 and mcr-2 genes in E. coli isolated from camel feces in southern Tunisia. Thus, there is no evidence that camels represent a major source of mcr genes contamination for the local population or for tourists visiting southern Tunisia.