Nanoparticles: a promising solution for farmers
Livestock has key role in increasing economic development of Pakistan. About 8 million families are dependent and earning 30 to 40pc of their income from livestock. As source of foreign exchange its impact in total exports is about 3.1pc which is much greater in comparison to crop subsector.
All over world, in dairy industry, bovine mastitis (inflammation of mammary glands) is most problematic disease affecting milking animals contains major economic impact. Mastitis as a universal problem is characterized by microbiological, physical and chemical changes in milk while, pathological changes in udder glandular tissues. Mastitis is considered as most important disease of dairy animals. Common abnormalities in mastitic milk include flakes, abnormal colour, blood and clots.
This disease poses the risk for the transmission of major zoonotic infections (infections transferring from animals to humans) i.e. leptospirosis, streptococcal sore throat, brucellosis and tuberculosis to humans. Mastitis causes include multiple factors linked with environment, host and pathogen due to which nature and duration of disease varies accordingly. Primary etiology of disease includes infectious agents i.e. bacteria, viruses and fungi.
Among these, most important are bacteria, divided into two groups: major pathogens (Streptococci, Staphylococcus aureus, Corynebacterium pyogenes and Coliform) while, minor pathogens (Corynebacterium bovis and coagulase negative Staphylococci). The occurrence of multiple drug resistant Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains poses important threat to public health. Staphylococcus aureus is common pathogenic bacteria responsible for upto 40pc mastitis cases in dairy animals. Frequently used mastitis treatment includes penicillin antibiotics in dairy animals.
Irrational use of antibiotics over or under dose application results emergence of antibiotics resistance in bacteria. S. aureus as major cause of chronic, sub-clinical and clinical mastitis is challenging to all treatments. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) has been declared as threat to animals and humans. The zoonotic potential of MRSA include direct contact with animals and contaminated environment. Bovine mastitis cure includes various antibiotics and now a day's treatment failure is major issue rather than cure.
The excessive use of antibacterial agents in animals is considered major threat for antibiotic resistance spread and also implicating public health. Multiple drug resistant (MDR) S. aureus infections result in great economic losses and high morbidity as this organism is commonly found in bovine raw milk and is considered major cause of bovine mastitis. Raw milk and products are reported as major source of S. aureus spread which lead towards dermatitis, pneumonia and septicemia. Antibiotic resistant pathogens appearance is of great concern and various studies have been preceded considering health issue to advance antibacterial treatment. Over 70% of bacterial etiologies are resistant to one or more antibiotics used commonly for treatment. The emerging resistant to antibiotics poses significant threat to public health. Use of antibiotics in future will not be tolerable for curing diseases and development of healthy milk production. This situation demands relief from antibiotics use, and shifting towards alternatives.
Recent advances in nanotechnology, especially the potential to synthesize metal oxide nano-materials of specific shape and size are leading towards new antimicrobial agents development. The particle size affects greatly the functional activities of nanoparticles. Therefore, nano-materials have attained great attention due to unique chemical, physical and biological properties in different fields including medicine. Development of new nano-materials is the major contribution of nano-technology. In medical practices, organic and inorganic nano-sized particles like metal oxide nano-particles of iron, zinc and copper are being produced for use in biomedical research.
-The writers are student of Department of Veterinary Medicine University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore