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Objectives. Current research aims to identify factors that affect the occupational safety climate in university laboratories despite their perception as low-risk areas compared to industrial environments. Methods. A safety climate survey was conducted in science laboratories across various engineering universities in Pakistan. The survey questionnaire was administered to 406 personnel, and a quantitative method for analysis was selected to examine the socio-demographic variables. A 5-point Likert scale (1 = strongly disagree to 5 = strongly agree) was used to perceive responses from participants. Additionally, a scale reliability test was conducted, and multivariate analysis of variance was performed to determine the relationship between selected dependent and independent variables. Results. The study found an overall safety climate score of 3.16 ± 0.55, indicating a moderate to high perception of safety on a scale of 1–5. Parameters such as role in the laboratory, departments/disciplines, accident experience and safety training significantly affected the safety climate score, while gender, age group, duration in university and accident witnessing did not. Conclusion. Upper management involvement, safety communication and direct supervision are crucial for improving the safety climate of university laboratories. The study recommends the consideration of the identified significant safety climate dimensions in laboratory safety policy-making at academic institutes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The study was aimed to explore the antimicrobial potential of ethanolic leaf extracts of Eucalyptus globulus, Moringa oliefera, Syzygium cumini and Citrus limon against antibiotic-resistant Clostridium perfringens type D (n=5). Methodology and results: Antibiotic resistance pattern of C. perfringens type D isolates against tetracycline, gentamicin, ceftriaxone, amoxicillin and streptomycin was evaluated by disc diffusion method. Well diffusion and micro broth dilution methods were used to determine the anti-bacterial activity, sub-inhibitory concentrations and antibiotic resistance modulating effects of the plant extracts. Ethanolic extract of E. globules was selected to evaluate its modulatory impact and subjected to GC-MS analysis to separate and identify the phytochemicals. The results showed that the isolates were resistant to gentamicin (0 ± 0.00 mm), streptomycin (0 ± 0.00 mm), tetracycline (13.2 ± 2.28 mm) and ceftriaxone (0 ± 0.00 mm) while sensitive to amoxicillin (23.8 ± 1.30 mm) and tetracycline (13.2 ± 2.28 mm). Eucalyptus globulus exhibited the maximum anti-bacterial activity with a zone of inhibition (ZOI) of 14.6 ± 0.54 mm and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) (1500 ± 947.85 µg/mL). Other plant extracts (M. oliefera, S. cumini and C. limon) also showed anti-bacterial activity but couldn't modulate the resistance. The activity of ceftriaxone associated with E. globulus extract was improved with 20.2 ± 0.20 mm ZOI at 78.125 µg/mL sub-inhibitory concentration. Conclusion, significance and impact of study: The study results indicate the possible use of the ethanolic extract of E. globulus alone or in combination with common antibiotics for the treatment of C. perfringens infections in small ruminants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mastitis is the most costly disease of dairy cattle and poses colossal economic losses to the farming community worldwide. The role of vaccination in controlling mastitis is of paramount importance and significantly reduces the use of antimicrobial agents. This study aimed at preparing and evaluating inactivated polyvalent mastitis vaccines containing bovine origin Staphylococcus aureus (tst), Streptococcus uberis (cpn-60 targeted STUB), and Escherichia coli (aggR) in a rabbit model. Four types of mastitis vaccines viz. formalin-inactivated plain polyvalent mastitis vaccine (FPPV), formalin-inactivated montanide adjuvanted polyvalent mastitis vaccine (FMPV), formalin-inactivated aluminum hydroxide adjuvanted polyvalent mastitis vaccine (FAPV), and formalin-inactivated montanide plus aluminum hydroxide adjuvanted mastitis vaccine (FMAPV) were prepared after confirmation for antigenicity and immunogenicity and evaluated for safety, side effects, challenge protection assay, sterility and humoral response in laboratory animals. Safety test showed no general adverse reactions to the vaccines when injected either into mice or rabbits or cow calves. Challenge protection studies revealed a significantly higher survival rate in vaccinated mice and rabbits compared to placebo groups. None of the vaccines when streaked onto culture media showed any growth indicating sterility of the vaccines. Repeated measures ANOVA was applied to compare mean O.D values of treatment groups for evaluation of humoral immunity. Serum ELISA O.D values against S. aureus (tst), Str. uberis (cpn-60 STUB) and E. coli (aggR) in vaccinated groups randomly inoculated i/m at thigh region @ 0.2 ml per rabbit were significantly higher (p<0.05) compared to control. Likewise, the humoral immune response of FAPV was highest followed in order by FMPV, FMAPV, and FPPV. It was concluded that newly-prepared polyvalent mastitis vaccines were safe to use, protective, and elicited a significant humoral immune response in rabbits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]