The effect of age on hematological and serum biochemical values on juvenile ring-necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Experimental envenomation with Crotalus durissus terrificus venom in dogs treated with antiophidic serum - Part I: Clinical evaluation, hematology and myelogram

The present study aimed at evaluating clinical and laboratory aspects during experimental envenomation by Crotalus durissus terrificus in dogs treated with antiophidic serum. Twenty-one dogs were divided into three groups of seven animals each. Group I received 1mg/kg venom (sc); Group II received 1mg/kg venom (sc), 50mg antiophidic serum (iv), and fluid therapy including 0.9% NaCl solution (iv); and Group III received 1mg/kg venom (sc), 50mg antiophidic serum (iv), and fluid therapy including 0.9% NaCl solution containing sodium bicarbonate diluted to the dose of 4mEq/kg. The clinical signs of ataxia, sedation, flaccid paralysis, mydriasis, eyeball paralysis, mandible ptosis, sialorrhea, vomiting and diarrhea observed in the dogs were very similar to those observed in humans. The decrease in hemoglobin, hematocrit, erythrocyte, platelet and fibrinogen levels, prolongation of clotting time, prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), as well as hypocellularity in the bone marrow characterized anemia, thrombocytopenia and blood incoagulability, as well as hypofibrinogenemia and decreased bone-marrow activity. Important bleeding was not observed. Increased numbers of leukocytes and neutrophils and decreased numbers of lymphocytes and eosinophils characterized an acute inflammatory response and stress caused by generalized pain. The employed antiophidic serum was effective and all animals survived.

Experimental envenomation with Crotalus durissus terrificus venom in dogs treated with antiophidic serum - Part II: Laboratory aspects, electrocardiogram and histopathology

The present work shows laboratory aspects, electrocardiogram and histopathology results during experimental envenomation by Crotalus durissus terrificus in dogs treated with antiophidic serum. Twenty-one dogs were divided into three groups of seven animals each. Group I received 1mg/kg venom (sc); Group II received 1mg/kg venom (sc), 50mg antiophidic serum (iv) and fluid therapy including 0.9% NaCl solution (iv); and Group III received 1mg/kg venom (sc), 50mg antiophidic serum (iv) and fluid therapy including 0.9% NaCl solution containing sodium bicarbonate diluted to the dose of 4mEq/kg. Urinalysis showed brown urine, proteinuria, occult blood and myoglobinuria. Respiratory acidosis and hypotension were also observed. At the venom inoculation site, there was discreet edema, popliteal lymph node response, musculature presenting whitish areas and necrotic myositis with myoregenerative activity. There was not evidence of electrocardiographical and biochemical alterations.

Evaluation of IFA, MAT, ELISAs and immunoblotting for the detection of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in paired serum and aqueous humour samples from experimentally infected pigs

The study evaluated the efficiency of diagnostic laboratory methods to detect anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in paired serum and aqueous humour samples from experimentally infected pigs. 18-mixed breed pigs were used during the experiment; these were divided into two groups, G1 (infected group, n = 10) and G2 (uninfected group, n = 8). Infection was performed with 4 × 10 4 VEG strain oocysts at day 0 by the oral route in G1 animals. All pigs were euthanized at day 60, when retina, aqueous humour, and blood samples were collected. Anti-T. gondii antibody levels were assessed in serum (s) and aqueous humour (ah) by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA), modified agglutination test (MAT), m-ELISA (using crude membranes from T. gondii tachyzoites as antigen) and r-ELISA (using rhoptries from T. gondii tachyzoites as antigen). Polymerase chain reactions (PCR) of samples from the retina were performed by using Tox4 and Tox5 primers. Antibody titers of G1 animals ranged from 128 to 1024 and from 16 to 256 in serum and aqueous humour, respectively. There were differences in the correlation coefficients between IFA(s) × IFA (ah) (r = 0.62, P = 0.05), MAT(s) × MAT (ah) (r = 0.97, P < 0.0001); however, there was no significant difference between r-ELISA(s) × r-ELISA (ah) (r = 0.14, P = 0.7). Antibodies present in serum and aqueous humour recognized similar antigens. Samples of retina were positive by PCR in 30% (3/10) of infected pigs. G2 animals remained without antibody levels and were PCR negative throughout the experiment. These results suggest that the use of a combination of tests and immunoblotting for paired aqueous humour and serum samples could improve the sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of ocular toxoplasmosis. © 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of experimental vaccination against newcastle disease and the blood proteinogram in ring - necked pheasants(Phasianus colchicus) during breeding season

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

The effect of age on the blood proteinogram of Chinese goose (Anser cygnoides)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Serum protein profiles of juvenile ring-necked pheasants vaccinated or not against newcastle disease

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Serum proteinogram of Chinese goose (Anser cygnoides) vaccinated or not against Newcastle disease

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Experimental infection of commercial layers using a Salmonella enterica serovar Gallinarum strain: Leukogram and serum acute-phase protein concentrations

The aim of the present study was to evaluate white blood cell counts and serum protein profiles of commercial layers experimentally infected with Salmonella Gallinarum (SG) in order to better understand the pathophysiology of the disease caused by this bacterium. 180 five-day-old commercial layers were divided into 3 groups (G); G1 and G2 received 0.2 mL of inoculate containing 3.3x10 8 CFU or 3.3×10 5 CFU SG resistant to nalidix acid (Nal r)/mL, respectively, directly into their crops. G3 group did not receive the inoculum. Birds were sacrificed 24 hours before (T1) and 24 hours after the infection (T2), and three (T3), five (T4), seven (T5), and ten (T6) days after the administration of the inoculum. White blood cell counts were carried out in a Neubauer hemocytometer and in blood smears. Serum protein concentrations, including acute-phase proteins, were determined using sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Data were submitted to analysis of variance, and means were compared by Tukey's test (P <0.05). G1 and G2 groups presented higher leukocyte counts on T4 and T5, respectively, due to the increase of circulating lymphocytes and heterophils, with a significant difference relative to G3. In electrophoresis, an increase in the serum levels of ceruloplasmin, haptoglobin, and hemopexin and a decrease in transferrin, which are acute-phase proteins, was verified. IgA serum levels did not change; however, IgG concentration increased during the infection. In conclusion, the results provide information for the better understanding of the pathophysiology of fowl typhoid.

Serum biochemical parameters of female bronze Turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) during egg-laying season

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Effects of physical exercise and cinnamon extract on blood chemistry of type 1 diabetic rats

The present study was designed to analyze the effects of the association between cinnamon extract and aerobic exercise on the glycemic control and serum lipid profile of diabetic rats. Fifty Wistar male rats divided into five groups: control (C), sedentary nondiabetic rats; diabetic (D), sedentary diabetic rats; diabetic cinnamon (DC), sedentary diabetic rats that received cinnamon extract; diabetic exercise (DE), sedentary diabetic rats subjected to physical training; and diabetic cinnamon exercise (DCE), diabetic rats that received cinnamon extract and were subjected to physical training. For the induction of diabetes, the rats received alloxan. The cinnamon was administered to once a day for four weeks. The groups performed swimming exercises for one hour each day with lead overloads (3% - 5% of b.w) for five days a week for four weeks. Body weight loss was lower in the DE group compared to the other diabetic groups. The basal serum glucose of all the diabetic groups was higher compared to the control group. Group D had higher serum cholesterol concentrations compared to the DE and DCE groups. The resting blood lactate in group D was higher than the resting blood lactate in the DC and DE groups. Aerobic exercise partially counteracted the diabetic effects on body weight, serum cholesterol and blood lactate concentrations. No additional beneficial effects of cinnamon extract and aerobic exercise were observed on the parameters studied.

Serum ferritin and transferrin saturation levels in β0 and β + thalassemia patients

There have been few studies on the mutations that cause heterozygous beta-thalassemia and how they affect the iron profile. One hundred and thirty-eight individuals were analyzed, 90 thalasemic β0 and 48 thalasemic β+, identified by classical and molecular methods. Mutations in the hemochromatosis (HFE) gene, detected using PCR-RFLP, were found in 30.4% of these beta-thalassemic patients; heterozygosity for H63D (20.3%) was the most frequent. Ferritin levels and transferrin saturation were similar in beta-thalassemics with and without mutations in the HFE gene. Ferritin concentrations were significantly higher in men and in individuals over 40 years of age. Transferrin saturation also was significantly higher in men, but only in those without HFE gene mutations. There was no significant difference in the iron profile among the β0 and β+ thalassemics, with and without HFE gene mutations. The frequency of ferritin values above 200 ng/mL in women and 300 ng/mL in men was also similar in β0 and β+ thalassemics (P > 0.72). Our conclusion is that ferritin levels are variable in the beta-thalassemia, trait regardless of the type of beta-globin mutation. Furthermore, HFE gene polymorphisms do not change the iron profile in these individuals. ©FUNPEC-RP www.funpecrp.com.br.

Experimental hyperthyroidism decreases gene expression and serum levels of adipokines in obesity

Aims. To analyze the influence of hyperthyroidism on the gene expression and serum concentration of leptin, resistin, and adiponectin in obese animals. Main Methods. Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups: control (C)fed with commercial chow ad libitumand obese (OB)fed with a hypercaloric diet. After group characterization, the OB rats continued receiving a hypercaloric diet and were randomized into two groups: obese animals (OB) and obese with 25g triiodothyronine (T3)/100BW (OT). The T3 dose was administered every day for the last 2 weeks of the study. After 30 weeks the animals were euthanized. Samples of blood and adipose tissue were collected for biochemical and hormonal analyses as well as gene expression of leptin, resistin, and adiponectin. Results. T3 treatment was effective, increasing fT3 levels and decreasing fT4 and TSH serum concentration. Administration of T3 promotes weight loss, decreases all fat deposits, and diminishes serum levels of leptin, resistin, and adiponectin by reducing their gene expression. Conclusions. Our results suggest that T3 modulate serum and gene expression levels of leptin, resistin, and adiponectin in experimental model of obesity, providing new insights regarding the relationship between T3 and adipokines in obesity. Copyright © 2012 Renata de Azevedo Melo Luvizotto et al.

Effect of dietary sodium restriction on body water, blood pressure, and inflammation in hemodialysis patients: a prospective randomized controlled study

Purpose: Accumulating evidence suggests an association between body volume overload and inflammation in chronic kidney diseases. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of dietary sodium reduction in body fluid volume, blood pressure (BP), and inflammatory state in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Methods: In this prospective controlled study, adult patients on HD for at least 90 days and those with C-reactive protein (CRP) levels ≥0.7 mg/dl were randomly allocated into two groups: group A, which included 21 patients treated with 2 g of sodium restriction on their habitual diet; and group B, which included 18 controls. Clinical, inflammatory, biochemical, hematological, and nutritional markers were assessed at baseline and after 8 and 16 weeks. Results: Baseline characteristics were not significantly different between the groups. Group A showed a significant reduction in serum concentrations of CRP, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-6 during the study period, while BP and extracellular water (ECW) did not change. In group B, there were no changes in serum concentrations of inflammatory markers, BP, and ECW. Conclusions: Dietary sodium restriction is associated with the attenuation of the inflammatory state, without changes in BP and ECW, suggesting inhibition of a salt-induced inflammatory response. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.