Influence of Copper and Zinc Nanoparticles on Genotyping Characterizations of Multi-Drug Resistance Genes for Some Calf Pathogens

Abstract

Nowadays there is a worldwide problem in the control of animal diseases due to the multidrug resistance of pathogens. Fecal samples, pharyngeal swabs, and rations were examined for cases of respiratory and diarrhea infections in calves. The most predominant species were A. flavus and E. coli pathogens. The drug-resistance against A. flavus and E. coli was tested. Nanotechnology was used and evaluated to overcome the drug resistance to conventional drugs. Herein, ZnONPs and CuNPs were used instead of commercial antibiotics against A. flavus and E. coli pathogens. They suppressed the growth and viability of A. flavus and E. coli sp., and the MIC was (600μg/mL). In addition, the molecular detection of virulent genes such as A. flavus (aflR) and E. coli (stx1) confirmed their conventional identification. In addition, the isolates were PCR tested for multidrug resistance (MDR) genes using primers for the Azole resistance gene (CYP51) in A. flavus and ampicillin resistance gene (CITM) in E. coli. The treated isolates with ZnONPs and CuNPs at high doses, 600μg/mL and 150μg/mL, eliminated the signals of DNA bands of MDR genes, respectively. Whereas the expression of genes was observed with the treatment of E. coli and A. flavus with low doses of 100 and 50μg/mL of ZnONPs and CuNPs, respectively. The exposure of pathogens to high doses of ZnONPs and CuNPs (600 and 150μg/mL) prevents mutation of the azole resistance gene (CYP51) in fungi and ampicillin resistance gene (CITM) in bacteria. Hence, the supplementation of ZnONPs and CuNPs for rations can inhibit the microbial viability and removal of drugs resistant genes.