Veterinary Applications
Despite the advancement of nanoparticle development in the human diagnostic and therapeutic field, the application of nanoparticles in veterinary medicine and animal production is still nascent. Recently, overuse of antimicrobials in growth promotion and routine prevention of diseases in the livestock production industry beyond therapeutic needs has been highlighted as the driving factor for microbial antibiotic resistance [1, 2]. The need for alternatives antibiotics for sustainable livestock production has spurred interest in nanoparticles, which have been reported as good candidates for animal growth promotion and antimicrobials. They are also gaining more attention due to their wide range of potential applications in animal production, such as nutrient delivery, drug delivery systems, and improving meat quality [2].
Nanoparticles have the potential to be an alternative to antibiotics as they exhibit inhibition towards the growth of microbes. Animal supplied with nanoparticle supplementation showed improvement in daily weight gain, metabolic rates, and immune capacity [2,3].
Direct addition of bioactive component to animal feed poses risk of degradation and inaccessibility due to the digestive tract processing. Compared to microparticles, nanoparticles have a higher level of bioavailability due to their smaller size. Nutrient delivery using nanoparticles can increase the level of bioavailability as they are more ready to pass through the intestinal mucosa. Moreover, direct feed of nanoparticle supplements can increase in skeletal muscle mass and improved livestock quality [2].
References
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Haulisah, N. A., Hassan, L., Bejo, S. K., Jajere, S. M., & Ahmad, N. I. (2021). High levels of antibiotic resistance in isolates from diseased livestock. Frontiers in veterinary science, 8, 652351. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2021.652351/full
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Hill, E. K., & Li, J. (2017). Current and future prospects for nanotechnology in animal production. Journal of animal science and biotechnology, 8(1), 1-13. https://jasbsci.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40104-017-0157-5
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Gonzales-Eguia, A., Fu, C. M., Lu, F. Y., & Lien, T. F. (2009). Effects of nanocopper on copper availability and nutrients digestibility, growth performance and serum traits of piglets. Livestock Science, 126(1-3), 122-129. https://pubag.nal.usda.gov/catalog/766626
Image credits
Photo by Pixabay: https://www.pexels.com/photo/4-cows-behind-black-metal-rails-162801/
Photo by Alison Burrell: https://www.pexels.com/photo/brown-hen-near-white-egg-on-nest-195226/
Photo by Brett Sayles: https://www.pexels.com/photo/spotted-pig-grazing-on-grass-in-daytime-7854936/