Berberine enhances the antibacterial activity of thymoquinone, carvacrol and thymol against multi-drug resistant nontuberculous mycobacteria.

The aim of this study was to investigate the activity of thymoquinone (TQ), carvacrol (CAR) and thymol (TYM) against multi-drug resistant nontuberculous mycobacteria (MDR-NTM), alone and in combination with berberine (BER). Antimicrobial activity was first evaluated at concentrations from 8 to 512 μg/mL. Each of the compounds tested exhibited good activity against nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) isolated from fish, with MIC values of 32-128 μg/mL.

Molecular Identification of Spironucleus vortens From the Digestive Tract of Discus (Symphysodon discus Heckel, 1840) and Its Association With Mixed Bacterial Coinfection.

This study presents the first case in Poland of isolation and molecular identification of the Spironucleus vortens parasite from the digestive tract of diseased ornamental fish belonging to the species discus fish (Symphysodon discus Heckel, 1840). Recently, an increasing percentage of fish submitted for testing to the Department of Biology and Fish Diseases, have been observed that show typical symptoms of hole-in-the-head disease, therefore it is important to have accurate information about this disease. In preparation of this work, two fish were studied.

Combined antimicrobial action of streptomycin and terpenes against atypical mycobacteria isolated from fish.

The aim of this study was to investigate the antimycobacterial activity of 39 free terpenes and their activity in combination with streptomycin. Antimicrobial activity was first evaluated by screening 39 free terpenes at concentrations from 1.56 to 400 μg/mL.

Vibrio infection in freshwater fish in Poland.

Vibrio species are common inhabitants of aquatic environments and have been described in connection with fish and human diseases. Six Vibrio species were isolated from diseased freshwater and ornamental fish in Poland. The strains were identified based on morphological and biochemical characteristics and confirmed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) as V.

Rapid Method of Wastewater Classification by Electronic Nose for Performance Evaluation of Bioreactors with Activated Sludge.

Currently, e-noses are used for measuring odorous compounds at wastewater treatment plants. These devices mimic the mammalian olfactory sense, comprising an array of multiple non-specific gas sensors. An array of sensors creates a unique set of signals called a "gas fingerprint", which enables it to differentiate between the analyzed samples of gas mixtures.

Evaluation of the anti-mycobacterial activity and composition of L. root extracts.

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) have recently emerged as important bacterial pathogens of animals and humans. Of particular concern is the high level of antimicrobial resistance displayed by these organisms, which complicates treatment and potential successful outcomes. Here, we evaluated the potential of Carlina acaulis L.

Evolution of the free volume during water desorption in thermoplastic starch/citric acid films: In situ positron annihilation studies.

The effect of citric acid (CA) concentration and water content on the free hole volume of thermoplastic cassava starch films (TPS) was studied. To this aim, continuous in situ positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy measurements were performed at fixed moisture content and during water desorption. The results show that the increase in CA concentration leads to wider free hole volume distributions with lower mean values.

Effects of the geometry of reinforcement on physical properties of sodium caseinate/TiO nanocomposite films for applications in food packaging.

Plastic materials for food packaging are being replaced by biodegradable films based on biopolymers due to the adverse effects they have had on animal life and the environment. In this study, nanocomposite films containing 2.5 wt% sodium caseinate and 2 wt% glycerol were reinforced with 0.

Effect of TiO Nanoparticles and Extrusion Process on the Physicochemical Properties of Biodegradable and Active Cassava Starch Nanocomposites.

Biodegradable polymers have been strongly recognized as an alternative to replace traditional petrochemical plastics, which have become a global problem due to their long persistence in the environment. In this work, the effect of the addition of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiONP) on the morphology, physicochemical properties and biodegradation under industrial composting conditions of cassava starch-based nanocomposites obtained by extrusion at different screw speeds (80 and 120 rpm) were investigated. Films performed at 120 rpm (S and S-TiONP) showed completely processed starch and homogeneously distributed nanoparticles, leading to much more flexible nanocomposites than those obtained at 80 rpm.

Effect of alkaloid berberine on the susceptibility of nontuberculous mycobacteria to antibiotics.

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) have recently emerged as important bacterial pathogens of both animals and humans. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of a combination of ten antibiotics with an inhibitor of efflux pumps (EPI), i.e.

Antibiotic Susceptibility of Mycobacteria Isolated from Ornamental Fish.

Introduction: Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are increasingly recognised as causative agents of opportunistic infections in humans for which effective treatment is challenging. There is very little information on the prevalence of NTM drug resistance in Poland. This study was aimed to evaluate the susceptibility to antibiotics of NTM, originally isolated from diseased ornamental fish.

Parasiticidal effects of Eclipta alba and Arctium lappa extracts against Ichthyophthirius multifiliis.

Ichthyophthiriasis, commonly known as white spot disease, occurs in both wild and cultured fish and is responsible for heavy economic losses to the aquaculture industry. In past decade, several chemical therapeutants were used to treat ichthyophthiriasis, but the effective drugs, such as malachite green, have been banned for use in food fish due to its genotoxic and carcinogenic properties. To find efficacious drugs to control Ichthyophthirius multifiliis (Ich), whole Eclipta alba plants and dried root of Arctium lappa were evaluated for their antiprotozoal activity.

Virulence and Antimicrobial Resistance Pattern of spp. Colonizing European Pond Turtles and Their Natural Environment. First Study from Poland.

The aim of the study was to isolate and identify species belonging to the genus and evaluate the antimicrobial resistance and virulence patterns of isolates colonizing European pond turtles () from natural environment of Eastern Poland. In total, 74 turtles and 15 samples of water from their natural environment were examined. More than 40 strains were isolated and identified: ( = 1), ( = 13), ( = 2), ( = 3), and ( = 23).

Effects of new antiseizure drugs on seizure activity and anxiety-like behavior in adult zebrafish.

Several studies with larvae and adult zebrafish have shown that old and new antiseizure drugs (ASDs) produce discrepant results in seizure tests, locomotor activity or anxiety models. In this study, the pentylenetetrazole seizure test (PTZ) was performed to assess the effectiveness of four new ASDs: lamotrigine (LTG), topiramate (TPM), felbamate (FBM), and levetiracetam (LEV) in the subsequent stages of seizures in adult fish. All ASDs were administered intraperitoneally (i.

Anti-babesial potential and chemical composition of essential oil from yarrow Achillea millefolium.

Essential oils from plants used in traditional medicine are known as a rich source of chemically diverse compounds with specific biological activities. Achillea millefolium essential oil (AEO) was screened for in vitro activity against Babesia canis. The AEO was obtained by hydrodistillation and analysed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS).

Parasiticidal effects of Tanacetum vulgare extract against Ichthyophthirius multifiliis.

Ichthyophthiriasis, which is caused by Ichthyophthirius multifiliis (Ich) infections, has a severe impact on productivity in freshwater aquaculture. These infections were previously treated effectively with malachite green, a compound that is now banned on fish farms due to its carcinogenicity. To find efficacious drugs to control Ich, flowers of tansy Tanacetum vulgare were evaluated for their antiprotozoal activity.

Effect of greenly synthetized silver nanoparticles on the properties of active starch films obtained by extrusion and compression molding.

Replacing packaging plastics with biodegradable active materials is an emerging concern. In this context, thermoplastic starch (TPS) films and nanocomposites containing different concentrations of silver nanoparticles synthetized with starch and yerba mate (TPS-AgNP: 0.006 wt.

Effects of classic antiseizure drugs on seizure activity and anxiety-like behavior in adult zebrafish.

The zebrafish is extensively used as a model organism for studying several disorders of the central nervous system (CNS), including epilepsy. Some antiseizure drugs (ASDs) have been shown to produce discrepant results in larvae and adults zebrafish, therefore, their anticonvulsant efficacy in subsequent stages of the pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced seizures should be more precisely characterized. The purpose of this study was to investigate behavioral effects of five classic ASDs: valproate (VPA), phenytoin (PHT), carbamazepine (CBZ), diazepam (DZP), and phenobarbital (PB) administered intraperitoneally (i.

Occurrence of spp. in ornamental fish.

Introduction And Objective: Fish mycobacteriosis is a chronic granulomatous disease caused by several species of bacteria from the genus , described as nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). The most important species causing fish mycobacterioses are , and . Mycobacteria infecting fish also include zoonotic pathogens.

Inhibitory activities of essential oils against Babesia canis.

The in vitro anti-Babesia canis activities of nine essential oils were investigated. Among the tested essential oils Achillea millefolium, Eugenia caryophyllus and Citrus grandis were the most active (IC50 values of 51.0, 60.

In vitro antioxidant and antibabesial activities of the extracts of Achillea millefolium.

Despite many phytochemical and pharmacological investigations, to date, there are no reports concerning the antibabesial activity of extracts of A. millefolium against B. canis.

The concentration of urea in hemolymph as a marker of health in Lissachatina fulica and Cornu aspersum edible snails - a preliminary study.

Edible snails are kept in farms in many countries worldwide. As farm animals, they are an object of interest of veterinary studies and applied biology. There is a large demand for tests which would help identify their health and well-being.

A method for early detection and identification of fungal contamination of building materials using e-nose.

The aim of the study was to develop a method for early detection and identification of fungal contamination of building materials using an electronic nose. Therefore, the laboratory experiments based on the analysis of the air in the vicinity of fungal isolates potentially found in the building materials were performed. The results revealed that the employed gas sensors array consisting of MOS-type sensors enables the detection of the differences among the examined samples of fungi and distinguishing between the non-contaminated and contaminated samples, shortly after fungal contamination occurs.

Active polyphenolic compounds, nutrient contents and antioxidant capacity of extruded fish feed containing purple coneflower ( (L.) Moench.).

The growth of fish is directly dependent on feed composition and quality. Medicinal plants can be added to fish feed as adjuvant therapy for the prevention of fish diseases. The purple coneflower ( (L.

Study on establishing normal ranges of chosen biochemical parameters of haemolymph of Cornu aspersum maxima and Cepaea nemoralis gastropods.

The aim of the study was to establish normal ranges for chosen biochemical parameters of haemolymph of snails (Gasropoda: Mollusca), in the light of the use of these animals as experi- mental models in various types of studies. The study was conducted on 100 specimens of Cornu aspersum maxima (CAM) and 100 specimens of Cepaea nemoralis (CN). The haemolymph col- lected from the animals was analysed using colorimetry to assay aspartate transaminase (AST) activity, alanine transaminase (ALT) activity, amylase activity and the concentrations of urea and triglycerides.