Background: This study was conducted to investigate the presence of Bacillus cereus in meat, meat products, and some seafood in Libya. Materials and Methods: One hundred and thirty-one samples were collected from different geographic localities in Libya. The samples were subjected to microbiological analysis for enumeration and isolation of B. cereus by conventional cultural, biochemical, and molecular identification using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and partial sequencing of 16S rDNA techniques. Results: Of 131 samples, only 38 (29%) isolates were found to be B. cereus based on their cultural characteristics on Mannitol Egg-Yolk Polymyxin (MYP) medium that included 30% beef, 38.2% beef products (minced, burger, kabab, and sausage), 31.8% camel meat, and 48% chicken products (burger, sausage, kabab, and liver). However, B. cereus was not detected from mutton and seafood samples. Seventeen isolates were subjected to molecular identification using PCR and partial sequencing of 16S rDNA technique and confirmed to be B. cereus. The confirmed B. cereus strains were tested for their antibiotic sensitivity profiles and showed a high percentage of multiresistance phenotype. Conclusions: The results provide a better understanding of B. cereus isolated from food of animal origin in Libya and suggest that meat and meat products might play an important role in the spreading of B. cereus through the food chain with antimicrobial resistance characteristics.
Ibrahim Eldaghayes(6-2018)

The deleterious effects of the residues of antibacterial drugs have been considered as one of the most serious problems in the world on the basis of their importance in both veterinary and human fields. Therefore, the present study was planned out to evaluate the residual levels of oxytetracycline in camel tissues in Tripoli area in Libya. Forty samples of slaughtered camel's tissues (10 of muscle, 10 of liver, 10 of kidney, and 10 of fat) were collected from different carcasses at different slaughter houses in Tripoli districts. The samples were homogenized, extracted and residual concentrations of oxytetracycline have been measured using liquid chromatography-Mass spectroscopy (LC-MS) technique and oxytetracycline standard. Oxytetracycline residues have been detected in 60% in muscle, 80% in liver, 90% in kidney and 70% in fat samples. The samples, although positive, yet decided acceptable as the detected levels were less than that were regulated by Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) for oxytetracycline maximal residual levels (100, 300, 600 and 100 μg/Kg muscle, liver, kidney or fat, respectively). The authors recommended avoiding irrational use of oxytetracycline in veterinary practice and camel in particular; and sticking to the withdrawal time regulated and labelled for drugs used in therapy among veterinary personnel, organizations, and governmental agencies in Libya.
Ibrahim Eldaghayes(9-2015)

This study was focused mainly on the third of these components to measure the level of NSP antibodies as indicator of past or current FMDV infection, irrespective of the vaccination status. Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreaks have been sporadic in Libya for nearly fifty years. A countrywide serosurvey was conducted in the spring of 2013 to assess the extent of FMD virus circulation and identify FMD virus serotypes in the country. A total of 4221 sera were collected, comprising samples from large ruminants (LR; n=1428 samples from 357 farms) and small ruminants (SR; n=2793 samples from 141 farms). FMD sero-prevalence of NSP antibodies determined by ELISA were 19.0% (271/1428) with 95% CI (16.9 - 21.0) and 13.5% (378/2793) with 95% CI (12.3 - 14.8) for LR and SR samples, respectively. The sero-prevalence of NSP antibodies in LR was 12.3% and 19.8% for age group < year and 1 year, respectively (X2=4.95,P=0.026), while in SR was 3.7%, 13.6% and 21.3% for age group 2 year, respectively (X2=118.1,P=0.000). These observed NSP serologic profiles support the hypothesis of an endemic level of FMD circulation in Libya. All positive sera were tested for SP antibodies for O, A and SAT-2 FMD virus serotypes. Serotype O was the dominant circulating serotype followed by serotype A, while evidence of SAT-2 was not found. These data provide an insight into the wider epidemiology of FMD in Libya, and contribute to field and laboratory investigations that during 2013 serotype 0 (O/ME-SA/Ind-2001 lineage) was isolated from clinical samples collected from the country. To have a better understanding of livestock production, data collecting on the management system, and risk factor analysis, more study should be done. As a result of the findings, scientists can better understand the epidemiology of FMD and design scientifically sound disease control techniques to reduce the impact of FMD on Libyan livestock.
Ibrahim Eldaghayes(4-2022)