Abstract:
The purpose of this thesis is to construct an apparatus and standardize a protocol that enables to study the effect of an equivalent blend of eucalyptus and peppermint essential oils on viability of air suspended avian influenza of H9N2 subtype. The first six experiments studied the impact of air suspension time of pulverized virus, the volume of pulverization chamber, the density and volume of the pulverized AIV H9N2, the nature of pulverized viral carrier, the vacuum pressure, and the quantity of transport medium in the collection flask, on recovery of the virus, and the assessment of its viability in chicken embryos. The seventh experiment studied the weight loss of essential oils subjected to evaporation at a temperature of 35 ˚C. The result showed that the refined constructed apparatus that allows the 100percent recovery of pulverized influenza is constituted of a pulverization vessel of 2100 c.c., a recovery vessel of 250 c.c., a negative pressure of 6 mbar, and an air-suspension time of pulverized influenza of 1.5 minutes. This apparatus was used to generate data related to anti-influenza, with H9N2 suspended in the air at 1.2 × 10⁷particles - c.c., and vaporized blend of essential oils equivalent to 0.10 µl - c.c., resulting in H9N2-recovery equivalent to 12.5percent after a contact time of 1.5 minutes, compared to control apparatus, deprived of the vaporized essential oils blend (50.0percent recovery). In conclusion, the use of the refined-constructed apparatus at the above mentioned conditions, allowed for determining the reduction of the viral viability by vaporized blend of essential oils.
Description:
Thesis. M.S. American University of Beirut. Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, 2014. ST:6200
Advisor : Dr. Elie Barbour, Professor, Animal and Veterinary Sciences ; Members of Committee : Dr. Shadi Hamadeh, Professor - Chairman, Animal and Veterinary Sciences ; Dr. Youssef Abou Jawdeh, Professor, Plant Sciences.
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 61-67)
