Zakia Ahmed

Publications (18) View all

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  Available from: Zakia Ahmed

  Article: Microbial Ecology of Composting Dead Poultry and Their Wastes

  Zakia A.M. Ahmed, Z.M. Sedik, M.D. Alharery, M.A. Khalaf, Shimaa A. Nasr and 1H.A. Abdelrahman
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  ABSTRACT: Composting is environmentally acceptable disposal route, with potential financial benefits. Emerged Avian influenza virus epidemics in Egypt 2005-2009 potentiate proposing composting as sound method.Constructing a newly designed movable closed composting unit for dead poultry with AIV H5N1 and their wastes was one of main project goals for hygienic disposal. Field litter samples before composting confirmed existence of 4 species of Gram negative and 3 species of Gram positive bacteria as well as Aspergillus species with absence of anaerobes. Efficient composting was attained at temperature ranged 40-60°C, relative humidity 60-74%. The litter carbon content ranged from 43.77-54.72% with mean 49.25 % and carbon: nitrogen ranged (C:N) from 21.54-24.33%. Composting reduced total colony count 80 % and total fungi count 66.10%, Salmonella Spp. and Clostridium spp. count (70.59 and73.68% respectively). End compost had the highest C: N value 24.33%, moisture content 22.34%, total nitrogen 2.21%, total phosphorus 0.54 % and total potassium 0.79%. Compost product is used for agronomic purpose (1:2) after had been subjected to chemical and microbial examination. The well-grown edible obtained vegetable had no phototoxic impact to pose health risk. Composting is recommended for hygienic disposal of dead birds and their wastes with more environmental safe level than traditional methods used in Egypt.
  Global Veterinaria 9 (6): 683-690, 2012. 12/2012;
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  Article: Corresponding Author: Review Article; Occupational Hazards in Fish Industry Department of Animal Hygiene

  Zakia A M Ahmed, Mai I Dosoki, Shaimaa Abo, A Nasr, Management
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  ABSTRACT: The current review is directed to workers in aquaculture, fish handlers, consumers, private and governmental fish industry producers and researchers. They should consider the possible occupational hazards and follow regulations and legislations adopted. The occupational hazards, safety concerns and risks to health in the aquaculture industry are based on the types of operation, scale of production and the specific species of interest. Hazard is a biological, chemical, or physical agent with the potential to cause an adverse health effect. Fish grown in excreta-fertilized or wastewater ponds may be contaminated with pathogens. Transgenic fish is hazardous because of their potential allergenicity and toxicity. Awareness of the health hazards involved in the handling of industrial fish is important, particularly for those working in the vicinity of fishing communities. Farmhands and other workers in aquafarms are susceptible to many injuries, noise, sting from fish spines, sprain and fracture which are of physical hazards. Spoiled wet fish in storage may produce poisonous gases. Fish muscle can hold different concentration of Hg representing health risk to fertile women. Cadmium and lead concentrations are higher in fish scales and vertebral column than in the other parts of the fish. The author's objective is to improve the health and safety of workers in aquaculture through the recognition, evaluation, control or mitigation of human health risk in the aquaculture industry. Focusing on the possible role of aquatic farming in the spread of communicable human diseases.
  World Journal of Fish and Marine Sciences. 01/2012; 4(4 (2): 201-210, 2012):2078-4589.
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  Article: Corresponding Author: Efficacy of Composting Dead Poultry and Farms Wastes Infected with Avian Influenza Virus H5N1

  Zakia A M Ahmed, Zakia Am Ahmed, H A Hussin, M A Rohaim, Shimaa Abo, El Soud Nasr
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  ABSTRACT: Composting had proven to be an environmentally sound method for disposing dead birds. The composting process management and monitoring it´s thermal profile, moisture content, nutrient ingredients were determined and recorded during day 1 to 33. Isolation and characterization of H5N1 avian influenza virus (AIV) in freshly dead birds and their wastes before, during and after composting was carried out using RT-PCR based assay and sequence analysis. In composting the temperature was increased gradually from 40-60°C through days 5 to 15 then declined after day 15 till end composting. The dry conditions and increased temperature were important virus determinants. Failure of re-isolation of virus in consequence to increased temperature during composting was proven when tested at day 15, end composting and dryness period. AIV was characterized before composting in the birds trachea and compost mix. Positive isolation, characterization and sequence analysis of fragment 4 of H5 gene revealed clustering of the virus with those field strains circulating among chicken population in Egypt in 2011.Testing the composting mix at the day 15 and end of composting by RT-PCR assay revealed negative amplification confirming the efficacy of composting process for destroying AIV. Composting within the newly designed closed composter achieved unfavorable thermal and dryness conditions for H5N1 surviving with no isolation and characterization of AIV H5N1 from field dead birds and their wastes. The study proposes composting as a reliable, environmentally safe way to dispose poultry waste infected with H5N1 AIV.
  American-Eurasian J. Agric. & Environ. Science. 01/2012; 12(12 (5): 588-596, 2012):ISSN 1818-6769.
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  Article: Ecomonitoring of Climate Impact on Earthen Pond Water Quality in El-Fayoum, Egypt

  Zakia A M Ahmed, Hisham A Abdel-Rahman
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  ABSTRACT: Under field conditions, earthen ponds in AlFyoum province, Egypt (sizes, cultured species, use of aerators and fertilizers and disinfection program,) were investigated during summer, spring and autumn. Impact of seasonal alteration and ponds management on water physicochemical characters and microbial burden were investigated. Spring season characterized by significant differences between ponds in values of TS, TSS, TDS, EC., Alkalinity., pH , PO 4 -, TAN , Salinity ,COD, Hardness and Chlorides Vs autumn and summer. Autumn showed highest values of Total Coliform Count in 7/10 of ponds. Spring had highest total fungal count (TFC) in 6 /10 of ponds. The seasonal alteration didn't reveal significant differences in values of microbial load in all ponds except for Total Coliform Count which decreased significantly during spring Vs autumn. It's recommended to examine water periodically, public awareness to minimize recirculating water between ponds or at least increase rate of water exchange and use of aerators, as well as liming or alternative disinfectants between crops. Owners must be alert to the expected seasonal alteration on the water quality of earthen ponds aquaculture from the economic aspect.
  International Research Journal of Microbiology (IRJM). 12/2011; 2(Vol. 2(11) pp. 442-454, December 2011):2141--5463.
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  Article: Multiple Environmental Stresses and Broiler Internal Organs Somatic Indices under Controlled Environment

  Zakia A.M. Ahmed, Zahra`a H. El - Ghamdi
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  ABSTRACT: The current trial is designed to investigate the effect of multiple environmental stresses (Heat, ammonia exposures and stocking density) on broiler's organs somatic indices (SI) of liver, spleen and bursa fabricious under controlled environment (1-42 DO) during summer. Control birds: Bursa fabricus (Bf) index showed higher values from 1st -3rd wks. The minimum values for spleen and Bf indices were at 5th week old. Food conversion rate (FCR) was 1.8±0.56. Indoor ambient temperature (Ta.^oC) is positively correlated with liver index Heat stressed body temperature (Tb.^oC) is increased and be indicative to early stress (1st 4 hours exposure to 41^oC) but chronic stress enforced bird acclimation and decreased final B wt/g. Liver and spleen indices were decreased while Bf index increased. The dramatic effects of expected generated ammonia under field can be modulated by allowing recovery period for elimination, where here it accompanied with non significant increased Tb but decreased final B.wt and SI of liver and spleen except the increased Bf index. Stocking density decreased final B wt and increased Tb but not affected birds SI. Conclusively persistence of some stresses enforced birds to habituate especially when be mild, at non critical early age (growth easily compensated), beside the controllable indoor climatic conditions in closed house during summer, all could alleviate the impact of intrinsic or extrinsic multiple stresses on broiler performance. The lymph organ (Bf) index was increased post heat and ammonia stress and not badly affected by stocking 17 bird/m².
  International Journal of Poultry Science. 01/2008;