EVALUATING THE ROLE OF CACTUS AND CUMIN NANO-EMULSION IN CONTROLLING MULTIDRUG-RESISTANT ENTEROCOCCUS SPECIES IN BROILER CHICKENS

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) threatens human and animal health worldwide. This study examined the antibacterial properties of cactus and cumin nanoemulsions on MDR Enterococcus species isolated from broiler chicken. Enterococcus species was found in 30% of the samples. Cloacal swabs had a 46% incidence rate (21/50), liver samples 17% (6/35), and joint samples 20% (3/15). Enterococcus isolates included E. faecalis (50%) and E. faecium (36%), E. hirae (10%), and E. durans (3.33%). They were highly resistant against ampicillin and erythromycin (100.0%), chloramphenicol (86%), tertracycline (71%), and linezolid (62%). Nanoemulsion (NE) characterization of cactus and cumin showed optimal NE features, including a minuscule droplet size (7.03 and 11.48 nm), lowered PDI, and +13 and -17.7 zeta potential, with IC50 of 114.4 and 109.2 ug/ml. Cactus and cumin NE had MICs of 25 and 6.25 ug/ml against E. faecalis. Oxidative stress markers MDA (9.72 nmol/ml) and nitric oxide (21.5 µmol/L) are highest with E. faecalis, along with high superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity (60.86 U/ml). Cumin nanoemulsion (NE) significantly decreased nitric oxide (12.5 µmol/L), but increased catalase (CAT) (18.41 U/L), reduced glutathione (GSH) (9.22 U/L) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) (0.27 mM/L). Cactus NE displayed intermediate values, with strong SOD and CAT activities supporting oxidative balance. These results indicate antioxidant responses across groups, reflecting adaptive mechanisms to oxidative stress with E. faecalis. NE inhibited antibiotic resistance genes expression (Erm B, van A, and Tet K), however, Tet K genes had the least impact. Cactus and cumin NE are viable solutions for safe substitution for synthetic antibacterial agents and antioxidant supplements for MDR E. faecalis infections.