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The excessive and uncontrolled application of antibiotics in the fish farming industry, coupled with a lack of health monitoring and medication practices, is a driving force behind the escalating development of antimicrobial resistance. The present study assessed and compared qualitative field diffusion (QFD) and disk diffusion (DD) assays for the detection of antimicrobial residues (ARs) in diverse freshwater aquaculture fish. A total of 380 freshwater aquaculture fish (160 fresh and 180 frozen) samples were systematically collected between January and June 2021 from various retail stores located in Erbil Governorate, Iraq. Based on QFDA results, overall, ARs were detected (52; 15.3%) at a relatively lower frequency with comparatively higher frequency (21; 31.1%) in fresh than (31; 17.2%) frozen fish samples. On the other hand, DDA also revealed a comparable (45; 13.2%) prevalence rate of ARs. However, a low detection was observed more in fresh (17; 10.6%) than frozen (28; 15.6%) fish samples. Moreover, no statistically significant disparity (χ2 = 0.069; p = 0.79) between two assays and types of fish was recorded. In conclusion, the results of the present study showed that detecting a considerable frequency of ARs in these fish samples raises concerns about potential threats to public health. This underscores the necessity for understanding antibiotic application in aquaculture and its potential connection to antibiotic resistance in bacterial pathogens. Such comprehension is pivotal for formulating and implementing effective control and farm management strategies to address this pressing issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acrylamide is a neuro- and reproductive toxicant to humans and has carcinogenic effects in animal species which naturally forms in high-carbohydrate foods at high (≤121°C) temperatures. This study assessed acrylamide formation in various Iraqi bread types, including whole-wheat flatbread, white flatbread, stone-baked bread, whole-wheat baguette, and white baguette prepared in the selected local bread factories in Baghdad, Iraq, using HPLC assay. Among several types of bread, white flatbread is the most commonly consumed bread in Iraq; therefore, the impact of calcium carbonate (CaCO3), added to the flour at different concentrations: 240, 260, and 280 mg/100 g, in reducing acrylamide concentration only in white flatbread was assessed. Acrylamide was detected at various concentrations in each type of bread tested, with the highest concentration in whole-wheat flatbread (470.2 ± 6.7 μg/kg) followed by stone-baked bread (418.8 ± 6.4 μg/kg), whole-wheat baguette (408.3 ± 9.1 μg/kg), white flatbread (400.9 ± 7.4 μg/kg), and white baguette (362 ± 9.2 μg/kg), respectively. However, after supplementing CaCO3 in white flatbread, a significant p < 0.05 reduction in acrylamide (219 ± 8.5, 121.8 ± 1.7, and 115 ± 3.4 μg/kg, for the three calcium carbonate concentrations) as compared to the control (308.3 ± 2.9 μg/kg) was observed without impacting the rheological properties of bread. In conclusion, the acrylamide concentration can be reduced by supplementing CaCO3 in the white flatbread without compromising the rheological properties (i.e., dough strength, volume, and water absorption) and overall bread quality. The study results would help to mitigate the risk of toxic effects in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) is an acute or peracute contagious transboundary viral disease that mainly affects caprine and ovine and causes significant economic impact in developing countries. After two PPR virus outbreaks in 2011 and 2014, an investigation, from August 2015 to September 2016, was carried out in Northern Iraq when an increased morbidity and mortality rates were reported in the domestic and captive wild goats. In the present study, ten domestic goat farms and seven captive wild goat herds located in seven geographical areas of Northern Iraq were clinically, pathologically, serologically and genotypically characterized to determine the prevalence and potential cause of PPR virus outbreak. Results: The outbreak occurred with rate of morbidity (26.1%) and mortality (11.1%) in domestic goat farms as compared to captive wild goat herds where relatively high mortality (42.9%) and low morbidity (10.9%) rates were recorded. Based on the clinical symptoms (mucopurulent nasal discharges, ulceration and erosion of oral mucosa, profuse watery diarrhea) and necropsy (hemorrhage and congestion on mucous membranes of the colon and rectum with zebra stripes lesions) results, overall, the serological test findings revealed a high frequency (47.9%) of positive samples for anti-PPRV nucleoprotein antibodies. Furthermore, the nucleoprotein (N) gene was detected in 63.2 and 89.1% of samples using conventional and reverse transcription real-time quantitative PCR assays. A phylogenetic analysis of N gene amino acid sequences clustered with the reference strain revealed lineage IV similar to the strains isolated in 2011 and 2014, respectively. However, two sub-types of lineage IV (I and II), significantly distinct from the previous strains, were also observed. Conclusion: The phylogenetic analysis suggests that movements of goats are possible cause and one of the important factors responsible for the spread of virus across the region. The study results would help in improving farm management practices by establishing a PPR virus eradication program using regular monitoring and vaccination program to control and mitigate the risk of re-emergence of PPR virus infection in domestic and captive wild goats in Iraq. Highlights: 1. Assessment and detection of source of re-emergence of Peste des Petits Ruminants virus in goats. 2. High rate of mortality than morbidity in domestic and captive wild goat herds. 3. Identification of novel sub-types (I&II) of lineage IV. 4. Regular monitoring and strategies for improving on-site control and trade regulations enables mitigating risk of outbreaks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to show the importance of exploiting the appropriate sites for construction of dams on the borders of riparian countries. To achieve this aim, a multi-reservoir system was designed across the border of two riparian countries. In addition, simulation models that express the possible operating mechanisms for this system were created. This storage system comprises two reservoirs along the border of Iraq and Turkey. One simulation model of a real reservoir was formulated to prove the model's validity by comparing its output with the observed output of the real counterpart. Three simulation models for the proposed reservoirs were developed by adopting the standard operating policy. The first and second of these three models were built to mimic the operation of the two proposed reservoirs separately, while the third simulation model was formulated to operate these two proposed reservoirs simultaneously as united multi-reservoir system. The results indicated the efficiency of the simulation model for an existing reservoir. In addition, the results of the three simulation models of the proposed multi-reservoir system demonstrated the flexibility of these simulation models in imitating the operation of a storage system, whether it was a single or a multi-reservoir system. According to the results of these three simulation models, the two proposed reservoirs could be significantly beneficial to Iraq and Turkey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The present study was designed to investigate Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) in dairy buffalo herds from six different geographical areas in Nineveh, Iraq. A total of 87 individual faecal samples from river buffaloes, representing 12 dairy herds, were investigated for detection of MAP using cultural, Ziehl‑Neelsen and MAP‑specific PCR‑based methods. Overall, MAP was detected at a higher frequency at herd‑level (4/12; 33%) compared to the total individual faecal samples (14/87; 16%) with a cell density ranging from 101 to 103 CFU g‑1. A significantly (p < 0.05) higher frequency (9/17; 53%) of MAP was observed in faecal samples collected from clinically diseased as compared to healthy (5/70; 7%) buffaloes selected for the study. However, no statistically significant difference (p ≥ 0.05) was observed in the frequency of MAP occurrence between clinical (9; 64%) and apparently healthy (5; 36%) cases. This report, which is the first MAP study based on data from Iraqi dairy buffalo herds suggests that MAP transmission is a significant health risk for grazing livestock. In conclusion, this study would help farm owners and regulatory authorities to realise the importance of developing and applying best farm management practices in order to prevent transmission of MAP to healthy animals and the environment. In addition, effective diagnostic tests should be taken into account when carrying out the screening tests.