ORCID Profile
0000-0003-2554-5990
Current Organisation
Bahauddin Zakariya University
Does something not look right? The information on this page has been harvested from data sources that may not be up to date. We continue to work with information providers to improve coverage and quality. To report an issue, use the Feedback Form.
Publisher: Science Alert
Date: 15-08-2007
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 03-08-2023
DOI: 10.3390/ANI13152503
Abstract: As novel environmental contaminants, MPs exist widely in the environment and accumulate in organisms, which has become a global ecological problem. MP perturbations of organismal physiology and behavior have been extensively recorded in aquatic animals, but the potential effects of MPs on poultry are not well characterized. Here, we explored the adverse effects of MP exposure on the growth performance and gut microbiota of chickens. Results showed that the growth performance of chickens decreased significantly during MP exposure. Additionally, Firmicutes, Bacteroidota, and Proteobacteria were found to be dominant in the gut microbiota of MP-exposed chickens, regardless of health status. Although the types of dominant bacteria did not change, the abundances of some bacteria and the structure of the gut microbiota changed significantly. Compared with the controls, the alpha ersity of gut microbiota in chickens exposed to MPs showed a significant decrease. The results of comparative analyses of bacteria between groups showed that the levels of 1 phyla (Proteobacteria) and 18 genera dramatically decreased, whereas the levels of 1 phyla (Cyanobacteria) and 12 genera dramatically increased, during MP exposure. In summary, this study provides evidence that exposure to MPs has a significant impact on the growth performance and gut microbial composition and structure of chickens, leading to a gut microbial imbalance. This may raise widespread public concern about the health threat caused by MP contamination, which is relevant to the maintenance of environmental quality and protection of poultry health.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 28-03-2009
Abstract: Present study was performed to determine the effects of physical and chemical agents on infective potential of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 (local strain) virus recently isolated in Pakistan during 2006 outbreak. H5N1 virus having titer 10 8.3 ELD 50 /ml was mixed with sterilized peptone water to get final dilution of 4HA units and then exposed to physical (temperature, pH and ultraviolet light) and chemical (formalin, phenol crystals, iodine crystals, CID 20, virkon ® -S, zeptin 10%, KEPCIDE 300, KEPCIDE 400, lifebuoy, surf excel and caustic soda) agents. Harvested amnio-allantoic fluid (AAF) from embryonated chicken eggs inoculated with H5N1 treated virus (0.2 ml/egg) was subjected to haemagglutination (HA) and haemagglutination inhibition (HI) tests. H5N1 virus lost infectivity after 30 min at 56°C, after 1 day at 28°C but remained viable for more than 100 days at 4°C. Acidic pH (1, 3) and basic pH (11, 13) were virucidal after 6 h contact time however virus retained infectivity at pH 5 (18 h), 7 and 9 (more than 24 h). UV light was proved ineffectual in inactivating virus completely even after 60 min. Soap (lifebuoy ® ), detergent (surf excel ® ) and alkali (caustic soda) destroyed infectivity after 5 min at 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3% dilution. All commercially available disinfectants inactivated virus at recommended concentrations. Results of present study would be helpful in implementing bio-security measures at farms/hatcheries levels in the wake of avian influenza virus (AIV) outbreak.
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 17-09-2013
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 19-07-2019
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 08-2014
DOI: 10.1016/J.MIMET.2014.05.014
Abstract: Mycoplasma synoviae, an important poultry pathogen, belonging to the class Mollicutes, causes airsacculitis, synovitis, decreased egg production and produces significant economic losses. Efforts to determine M. synoviae virulence factors and their role in pathogenicity require suitable tools for genetic manipulation of this pathogen. This study describes, for the first time, the identification and cloning of the origin of replication (oriC) of M. synoviae to develop a replicable oriC vector for this mycoplasma. Shuttle vectors containing different putative oriC regions along with tetracycline resistance gene tetM were constructed to transform M. synoviae. An oriC vector, pMAS-LoriC, harbouring the complete dnaA gene along with upstream and downstream DnaA boxes, successfully transformed M. synoviae at an average transformation frequency of 1.07×10(-8) transformants per colony-forming unit (CFU), and remained freely replicating as well as integrated at the chromosomal oriC. Plasmid copy number for pMAS-LoriC was estimated to be 62±29 (average±SD) per cell. This study also provided evidence of the occurrence of homologous recombination and the functionality of the heterologous tetM determinant in M. synoviae. The transformation technique and the oriC vector developed in this study have the potential to be used in targeted gene disruption, gene complementation and expression studies in this organism.
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 28-03-2018
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2020
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2023
Publisher: Science Alert
Date: 15-12-2007
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 18-03-2014
Publisher: Science Alert
Date: 15-09-2007
Publisher: ResearchersLinks Ltd
Date: 2019
Publisher: ResearchersLinks Ltd
Date: 08-2018
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 13-03-2023
DOI: 10.3390/BIOMEDICINES11030878
Abstract: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a clinically prevalent bacterium and is resistant to many drugs. Genetic factors such as mec genes are considered to be responsible for this resistance. Recently, Staphylococcal Cassette Chromosome mec (SCCmec) element mutations produced mecC, a new genetic variant that encodes a transpeptidase enzyme (63% similarity with mecA-encoded PBP2a). This cross-sectional study was conducted to establish the prevalence of the mecA and mecC genes among phenotypically identified MRSA and their effectiveness against different antibiotics in clinical specimens. The prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus was 10.2% (n = 102) in the total number of clinical specimens collected (n = 1000). However, the prevalence of MRSA was 6.3% (n = 63) of the total s les collected, while it was 61.8% among total Staphylococcus aureus isolates. mec genes were confirmed in 96.8% (n = 61) isolates of MRSA, while 3.2% (n = 2) were found to be negative for mec genes. The combination of mecA and mecC was detected in 57.1% (n = 36) of the MRSA isolates. The prevalence of lone mecA was 31.8% (n = 20) and that of lone mecC was 7.9% (n = 5) among all the MRSA s les. Penicillin and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid were the most resistant antibiotics followed by norfloxacin (91.2%), levofloxacin (87.1%), ciprofloxacin (83.9%), azithromycin (78.6%), erythromycin (77.4%), moxifloxacin (69.8%), and sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (54.9%). On the other hand, vancomycin and teicoplanin (98.4%) were more effective drugs against MRSA followed by linezolid (96.7%), clindamycin (84.6%), chlor henicol (83.7%), fusidic acid (70.6%), gentamicin (67.7%), and tetracycline (56.8%). In conclusion, a significant prevalence of mecA and mecC has been found among MRSA isolated from clinical specimens, which is likely responsible for antibiotic resistance in MRSA in our clinical settings. However, vancomycin, teicoplanin, and linezolid were found the top three most effective drugs against MRSA in our clinical settings. Thus, MRSA endemics in local areas require routine molecular and epidemiological investigation.
Publisher: Science Alert
Date: 15-08-2007
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 04-2013
DOI: 10.1080/03079457.2013.779363
Abstract: Mycoplasma synoviae infections result in significant economic losses in the chicken and turkey industries. A commercially available live temperature-sensitive (ts (+)) vaccine strain MS-H has been found to be effective in controlling M. synoviae infections in commercial layer and broiler breeder farms in various countries, including Australia. Detection and differentiation of MS-H from field strains (ts (-)) and from ts (-) MS-H reisolates in vaccinated flocks is vital in routine flock status monitoring. At present microtitration is the only available technique to determine the ts phenotype of M. synoviae. This technique is time consuming and not amenable to automation. In the present study, a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR) was combined with simultaneous culturing of M. synoviae at two different temperatures (33°C and 39.5°C) to determine the ts phenotype of 22 Australian M. synoviae strains/isolates. The M. synoviae type strain WVU-1853 was also included for comparison. A ratio of the copy numbers of the variable lipoprotein haemagglutinin (vlhA) gene at the two temperatures was calculated and a cut-off value was determined and used to delineate the ts phenotype. In all M. synoviae strains/isolates tested in this study, the ts phenotype determined using Q-PCR was in agreement with that determined using conventional microtitration. Combination of Q-PCR with differential growth at two different temperatures is a rapid, reliable and accurate technique that could be used as an effective tool in laboratories actively involved in ts phenotyping of M. synoviae strains/isolates.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 02-02-2018
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2019
DOI: 10.1016/J.JIPH.2018.11.009
Abstract: Avian influenza H9 is endemic in commercial and backyard poultry in Pakistan and is a serious occupational health hazard to industry workers. This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of avian influenza H9 infection in people working with poultry in Rawalpindi, Pakistan and assess the measures they took to protect themselves from infection. A cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2016 to May 2017 of 419 people working with poultry in Rawalpindi Division, including farm workers, vaccinators, field veterinarians, butchers and staff working in diagnostic laboratories. Potential participants were randomly approached and gave written consent to participate. Data were collected using a standardized questionnaire and serum s les were processed to detect H9 antibodies using the haemagglutination inhibition test. Of the 419 participants, 406 (96.9%) were male. The mean age of the participants was 36.4 (SD 10.86) years. A total of 332 participants agreed to a blood test, 167 of whom were positive for A(H9) antibodies, giving an overall seroprevalence of 50.3%. Laboratory staff had the highest seroprevalence (100%) and veterinarians the lowest (38.5%). Vaccinators, butchers and farm workers had a seroprevalence of 83.3%, 52.4% and 45.5% respectively. Personals who used facemasks had significantly lower (P<0.002) seroprevalence (29.6%) than those who never used them (90.6%). Similarly, those who always used gloves and washed their hands with soap had a seroprevalence of 32.8% compared with 89.0% in those who never took these precautions. Of the participants who handled antigens, 92.3% were seropositive. Laboratory staff and vaccinators are exposed to viral cultures and influenza vaccines respectively which may explain their high seroprevalence.
Location: Australia
No related grants have been discovered for Muhammad Akbar Shahid.