Wahedul Karim Ansari

Streptococcus dysgalactiae (S. dysgalactiae) is a significant pathogen affecting veterinary and public health. However, data on its presence and antimicrobial resistance in poultry production in Bangladesh are scarce. The present study aimed to investigate the prevalence, identification methods, and antibiotic susceptibility profiles of S. dysgalactiae in poultry, water, and feed samples collected from poultry farms in the coastal regions of Barishal, Bangladesh. A total of 64 samples were randomly collected, including poultry samples (heart, intestine, feces) and farm-associated sources (water and feed). These samples were analyzed using conventional phenotypic methods, including culture characteristics, hemolytic activity on blood agar, Gram staining, and catalase testing. Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined by the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. Molecular confirmation by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was not performed. S. dysgalactiae was found in 26 (40.62%) samples, with a significantly higher occurrence in poultry samples (52.63%) compared to environmental samples (23.08%). Among poultry samples, intestinal specimens exhibited the highest isolation frequency. All isolates were resistant to ampicillin and penicillin, while moderate resistance was observed to amoxicillin, azithromycin, streptomycin, doxycycline, and oxytetracycline. Comparatively lower resistance rates were detected for ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, and gentamicin. Multidrug resistance was identified among isolates collected from poultry and environmental samples. The current findings demonstrated the presence of multidrug-resistant S. dysgalactiae in poultry production systems in coastal Barishal and provided baseline epidemiological data for Bangladesh. The study highlighted the need for prudent antimicrobial use, stronger farm biosecurity, and continuous surveillance.

Feline panleukopenia is a highly transmissible and often fatal viral disease that particularly affects kittens. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of feline panleukopenia virus (FPV) among cats and evaluate associated risk factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted on clinically suspected cases from a selected region of Bangladesh. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire, and FPV infection was confirmed through clinical signs and rapid diagnostic tests. Fisher's exact test was employed for statistical analysis to assess the associations. A total of 1,116 cat cases were retrieved, of which 262 were clinically diagnosed with FPV, resulting in an overall prevalence rate of 23.48%. FPV cases were most commonly observed in young, male, non-immunized Persian cats during the winter season. The highest prevalence was recorded in Persian breeds (30.25%), cats aged 0–6 months (29.46%), males (23.98%), during winter (26.22%), and in non-vaccinated cats (27.97%). These findings indicate a significant burden of FPV in the study area, underscoring the importance of future nationwide surveillance. The study highlights the critical need for targeted vaccination programs, early diagnosis, and preventive measures—particularly for young, non-vaccinated, and high-risk breeds—to reduce FPV incidence and mortality in cats. These findings can inform public health strategies and guide future nationwide surveillance efforts in Bangladesh. Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. 2025, 11(4), 135-142

In response to unwise and inappropriate antimicrobial drug (AMD) use, antimicrobial drug resistance (AMDR) is rising globally. The present research was performed to find out and evaluate the perceptions, practices, and knowledge (PPK) of the farmers regarding AMD use and AMDR propagation in rural households. The study was conducted using a pre-tested questionnaire upon 200 respondents with a duration of 5 months in selected areas of Cumilla district, Bangladesh. The correlation analysis showed a significant (p<.01) relationship between farmers’ knowledge and practicing proper administration of drugs in the animal. The sex of the respondents was also found to be correlated with the understanding of Antibiotic Resistance (AR) (p<.01), AR transmission (p<.05), and propagation from livestock to humans (p<.01). Additionally, through the qualitative analysis, we found the powerful impacts of media availability and accessibility, participation in the training program, and good quality education on the improvement of farmers' PPK. Therefore, the government must need to emphasize this topic and educate the farmers about AR to control the spread of AR in order to secure both animal and public health. Asian Australas. J. Biosci. Biotechnol. 2022, 7(2), 57-74

Salmonellosis is one of the most common bacterial diseases of poultry which have a great detrimental effect. A very few number of research previously conducted on occurrence, isolation, identification and susceptibility of Salmonella sp. in pigeon at Bangladesh. Therefore present research was carried out to determine the isolation, identification and susceptibility of Salmonella sp. in pigeons at Kamrangirchar, Dhaka, Bangladesh. A total of 1559 diseased pigeons were examined from the first July to last August 2019. They were grouped, into two categories, according to age squabs (0-21 days) and adults (>22 days). Fifty (50) samples were randomly collected from 15 different small-scale farms in the study area. Fecal samples from live pigeons and tissue (liver and lung) samples from the freshly dead birds were examined to detect, isolate, and identify Salmonella sp. by Gram’s staining technique and after enrichment of samples in the peptone water followed by growth in S.S. Agar, and X.L.D. Agar simultaneously. The findings of the study revealed that 32 (64%) of samples were positive for Salmonella sp. It also assured that out of 15 farms, 8 farms were infected with salmonellosis consisting of 305 pigeons. The occurrence of Salmonella sp. at the study area within study period in pigeons was 19.56% (305 in 1559). The present study showed that squabs (55.08%) are more susceptible to salmonellosis than adults (44.92%). This study was conducted for the first time in Kamrangirchar, Dhaka, and the time has come to take the necessary steps to save pigeon farming.

Milk is a nutrient-rich liquid food for human and animals. However, owing to its complex biochemical structure and high water activity, it serves as an outstanding microorganism growth medium under suitable conditions. People in Bangladesh's coastal areas have a lifestyle and tradition that includes drinking raw milk for nutrition or as an energy drink, which presents a health risk to them. The present cross-sectional study was carried out to determine the reasons for drinking raw milk in coastal areas, as well as the public health impact of doing so. A total of 100 respondents were interviewed and subsequently, milk samples were collected for quality testing through methylene blue reduction test (MBRT). Among 100 respondent 70 were consumers and 30 were farmers. Results showed that the samples of farmers were better than that of consumers. The majority of raw milk consumers were male who thought raw milk was more nutritious than heat-treated milk. Furthermore, the majority of them were professionally engaged in farming. Both consumers and farmers had less educational qualifications, managed their cattle in dirty environments, practiced extensive grazing system on communal grazing areas and around one fourth of them vaccinated their animals. Furthermore, the findings revealed that 40% of respondents were between the ages of 35 and 45, with 62% reporting no health complications as a result of drinking raw milk and the remainder reporting mainly gastrointestinal problems. According to the findings of this report, the quality of raw cow milk was poor; unhygienic practices and poor animal husbandry at farm level predisposed farmers, consumers and the public to risk of contracting milk-borne infections and associated bacterial resistances. It is recommended that veterinarians, extension officers and all stakeholders should play their roles in ensuring safe quality milk supply to consumers. Asian Australas. J. Biosci. Biotechnol. 2021, 6 (1), 10-18

Fast foods are often responsible for staphylococcal foodborne illness. The present study was carried out to isolate Staphylococcus spp. from various fast foods sold in Mymensingh and to determine their antibiogram. Overall, 60 samples of fast foods sold in different restaurants were screened by culture, biochemical tests, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to isolate and identify Staphylococcus spp., followed by employing of disk diffusion method to determine their antibiotic resistance patterns. Among these 60 samples, 8 [13.33%, 95% confidence interval (CI): 6.91%–24.17%] were positive for Staphylococcus spp. by cultural and biochemical properties. By PCR, four (6.67%, 95% CI: 2.62%–15.93%) isolates were confirmed as Staphylococcus aureus by targeting nuc gene. Additionally, all the S. aureus isolates were coagulase-positive. By antibiogram profiles, all the Staphylococcus isolates exhibited resistance to azithromycin and erythromycin (95% CI: 67.56%–100.00%), and frequently resistance to cefixime (75%, 95% CI: 40.93%–95.56%), ampicillin (50%, 95% CI: 21.52%–78.48%), and amoxicillin (37.5%, 95% CI: 13.68%–69.43%); moderate to lower resistance was found against cefotaxime, gentamicin, and doxycycline. In addition, all the isolates were sensitive to ciprofloxacin and chloramphenicol. Interestingly, 75% (6/8; 95% CI: 40.93%–95.56%) isolates were multidrug-resistant (MDR) in nature. Furthermore, the indices of multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) were ranged from 0.2 to 0.6. This study revealed that fast foods sold in restaurants were contaminated with MDR and MAR Staphylococcus isolates, having potential public health significance.

Using multiplex real-time PCR, 960 fecal samples collected from poultry, cattle, and diarrheic patients in Bangladesh were screened for diarrheagenic Escherichia coli (DEC). Invasion-related gene virB had the highest prevalence in human patients (41%) and was shown to be positively correlated first with afaB for diffuse adhesion and second with aggR for aggregative adhesion. These three genes were specific to patients. In contrast, Shiga toxin genes stx1 (57%) and stx2 (40%) were prevalent in cattle samples. eae for attaching and effacing lesion, and elt and est of enterotoxins were detected from all three sample sources. Heat map and hierarchical clustering assigned the samples into five different clusters with patient samples positive for virB and afaB placing together in one cluster. Although detection of virulence genes cannot be a direct indication of the distribution of DEC organisms, their detection suggests that Shigella spp. or enteroinvasive E. coli are the most prevalent among diarrheagenic bacteria in Bangladesh and that diffusely adherent E. coli are concomitant bacterium. eae-possessing organisms in patients may come from cattle and poultry sources. The small number of stx-positive patients could be explained by the small number of animal samples that were positive for both eae and stx.