The impact of environmental lead exposure on Whooper swan (Cygnus cygnus): Pathological and immunohistochemical studies

This study was carried out to investigate the pathology of environmental lead (Pb) poisoning in Whooper swans (Cygnus cygnus). A number of 12 out 54 swans (22.2%) randomly collected from Honshu, Japan from June 2005 to July 2007 were affected with Pb poisoning. Affected swans showed stained vent with greenish watery diarrhoea and impacted crop. The presence of Pb shots in the gizzard (50%) was confirmed by X-ray, and all cases showed a dark greenish coloured liver. Microscopically, the pathology of Pb poisoning in swans was multisystemic. The severity of the lesions was the highest in the CNS followed by the liver, kidney, spleen, lungs, gizzard, heart, bone marrow respectively and was the least in the peripheral nervous system. CNS lesions were cerebral haemorrhage, malacia, and spongiosis with astrocytic activation and increased neurofilaments accumulations. In addition, there were hepatic and renal hemosiderosis and apoptosis, hepatic granuloma, interstitial pneumonia, gizzard and myocardial necrosis and bone marrow hypoplasia. Chemical analysis of the Pb content in liver and kidneys ranged from 8.18 to 60.6 µg/g, respectively. The extent and severity of lesions varied among individuals and were mostly dose-dependent. Finally, these findings improved the diagnostic procedure of Pb poisoning in free-living Whooper swans.

Reversal of epidural xylazine in Egyptian water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) with atipamezole

The reversal of epidural xylazine, induced with IV atipamezole was evaluated in 15 buffaloes. Atipamezole at different dose rates (5, 10 and 15 µg/kg) injected 30 minutes after epidural xylazine provoked visible signs of arousal shortly after inection in all buffaloes without any side effects. The mean arousal times were 4.8±0.84 min, 2.4±0.24 min and 2.0±0.00 min while the mean total recovery times were 61.0±2.6 min, 33.0±3.7 min and 32.0±4.3 min following doses of 5, 10 and 15 µg/kg atipamezole respectively. The heart, respiratory and ruminal rates were mildly influenced. Overall, the IV atipamezole at a dose rate of 10 µg/kg was found effective and satisfactory for reversing the analgesic, sedative and cardiopulmonary depression effects induced by epidural xylazine administration in buffaloes.

Relationship between plasma concentrations of estradiol-17β and progesterone and the distribution of epithelial and inflammatory cells in the external opening of the river buffaloes’ uterine cervix during the gestational period

Changes in the distribution of the epithelial and inflammatory cells in the external opening of the uterine cervix in river buffaloes at three different occasions during the gestation period were investigated by light microscopic evaluation of mucus smears prepared by wet swab sampling and Giemsa-stained. Forty five pregnant river buffaloes that were in the first (n=15), second (n=15) and third (n=15) approximately equal parts of their gestation period were sampled twice concurrently by individual wet swabs from the external opening of the uterine cervix. Five smears were prepared from each sample. Immediately after mucus sampling, blood samples were obtained from the jugular vein of each animal, centrifuged immediately and stored at -20 oC to assay the plasma levels of estradiol-17β and progesterone. The results showed that changes in the percentage of the vacuolated and non-vacuolated epithelial cells, lymphocytes, eosinophils, and basophils were not statistically significant between the groups, which suggests that as the pregnancy progressed, changes in the blood levels of estradiol-17β and progesterone had little or no effect on the distribution of these cells in the region, but changes in the percentage of neutrophils were statistically significant between the groups. It was also found that changes in the percentage of macrophages between the second and third trimesters of the gestation period were not significant, but the difference between the first and the other trimesters was statistically significant. It was concluded that the percentages of neutrophils and macrophages increase significantly as the plasma concentrations of progesterone decrease during the gestation.

Variations and some clinically relevant relations of A. cystica in pigs - a corrosion cast study

The aim of this study was to investigate the variations as well as the length of A. cystica and its branches in pigs using corrosion casting method with the self-polymerising resin Duracryl® Plus. The method included several steps: hepatectomy, precasting treatment, injection of Duracryl, polymerisation of casting medium, corrosive treatment, cleaning of the corrosion casts, air-drying and preservation of casts. The livers were collected from 12 male 6-month-old pigs (crossbred Landrace×Danube White). With regards to the beginning of A. cystica, 4 variations were observed and grouped as follows: variation A  A. cystica detached from R. dexter medialis, together with R. quadratus (variation A1), or alone (variation A2); variation B1 – A. cystica originated from A. gastroduodenalis, or was a branch of the common trunk (R. dexter) (variation B2). The metric data were processed by GraphPad Prism 6 for Windows. Clinically relevant relations between А. сystica, Ductus cysticus, A. celiaca and R. sinister also were described. The new information re-ceived about the blood supply of the gallbladder would contribute to the understanding of the etiology of postoperative complications as a result of surgical interventions in this location and for their prevention.

Unique report of two Sarcocystis species from Egyptian domestic chicken (Gallus gallus) – new host and locality

Sarcocystis is an intracellular protozoan parasite in the phylum Apicomplexa. It is widely distributed all over the world. There are scarce reports about chicken Sarcocystis. From February 2016 to January 2018, a total number of 630 chicken carcasses, intestines and viscera were collected from different chicken markets in Menoufia and Gharbia Governorates, Middle region of the Nile Delta, Egypt and carefully inspected. Macroscopic and microscopic cysts of Sarcocystis spp. were found in the intestinal wall and mesentery of 5 birds. Histopathological sections revealed the presence of two shapes of the macroscopic cysts (oval and kidney shape). Their wall was striated and characterised by the presence of radial septa. It had compartments mostly of hexagonal shape, containing both bradyzoites and metrocytes in the periphery. The bradyzoites were banana-shaped and measured 20–30 × 8–10 μm with centrally or posteriorly located nuclei. Microscopic cysts of Sarcocystis spp. were detected in-between muscle bundles, with variable shapes (spindle and oval).

Antimicrobial resistance patterns and phylogenetic analysis of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli strains from goats using both Clermont phylogenetic schemes

Foodborne transmission of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) poses a threat to public health. The Clermont typing schemes (previous and revised) have been used widely to phylotype E. coli. The present study was conducted to compare the relationship of the Clermont phylogenet-ic schemes in STEC strains isolated from goats and antibiotic resistance patterns in the southeast of Iran. Overall 52 strains carrying the stx gene were used for subsequent analysis. All strains were determined by analysing the genomic DNA with a PCR-based method using the two Clermont et al. (2000, 2013) schemes. Extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing strains were con-firmed by the double disk-diffusion method. STEC strains were also tested for susceptibility to 20 antimicrobials agents. In the original Clermont method, the prevalent phylogroups were B1 (69.2%) and A (28.8%). The significant phylogenetic groups of strains according to the revised Clermont method were B1 (82.7%), A (13.5%) and unknown (3.8%). However, STEC strains underwent changes as noted from A to B1 (17.3%), B1 to unknown (3.8%), B1 to A (1.9%) and D to B1 (1.9%) groupings. Of the 52 stx-positive strains, two ESBL producing strains were detected. Susceptibility data showed that the most frequent resistance phenotype was related to cefazolin (90.4%), streptomycin (88.5%), ampicillin (86.5%) and oxytetracycline (82.7%) respectively. Alt-hough the overall frequency of the reassigned phylotypes was not significant, most changes oc-curred within the A phylotype. Therefore, implementation of the new method on isolates belong-ing to the A phylotype in the old method seems to be necessary to obtain accurate results.

In vivo animal models in periodontal research - focus on rodents

Periodontal research has developed very fast in the last two decades. Although at this stage of science a lot of genetic and molecular-based trials are performed in order to elucidate the complex etiology, pathophysiology, biofilm-host interactions and responses on genetic and cellular level, in vivo animal models are still used. In many ways, in vivo experiments are superior to in vitro tests when the dynamics of the immune-inflammatory nature of the periodontal disease and peri-implantitis and the specific healing of soft and hard tissues is concerned. Screening the efficacy, mechanisms of action and application of different biomaterials requires in vivo experiments, be-fore the data translation to clinical settings. A number of small animals like rodents and large species like dogs and nonhuman primates are involved in periodontal research. As live creatures are used, the design of the studies must be well defined, with regard to the type of the animals, most suitable for the tested hypothesis, observation period, sample size, study power, critical size defects, and specific testing sites.

Age-related histochemical investigations of small intestinal goblet cells in bronze turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo gallopavo)

The aim of the study was to investigate the goblet cell types and their density in the small intestine of bronze turkey (Meleagris meleagris gallopovo), by means of Alcian blue-PAS staining. Sixty birds from 10 age groups were used. In the duodenum and jejunum, goblet cells produced acid, neutral and mixed mucins, while in the jejunum - acid mucins. A negative relationship was observed between cell density and either duodenum or jejunum lengths; such a correlation was not established in the ileum.

Molecular characterisation of Newcastle disease virus exotic isolate in East Java, Indonesia

Newcastle disease virus (NDV) is ssRNA paramyxovirus causing clinical signs, varying from subclinical infections to 100% mortality in infected chickens. Haemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) protein has an important role related to infection and pathogenesis, therefore, the protein was characterised in this study. Samples were collected from 45 cloacal swabs of native chickens. They were isolated by inoculating in specific pathogen-free embryonated eggs. Molecular detection of NDV was done by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) encoding HN protein. RT-PCR for HN gene of NDV generated DNA fragments sized 503 bp, which were then sequenced using ABI Prism. The results have shown that virus isolates were mostly lentogenic and might contribute to outbreak in East Java, Indonesia. Based on this fact, NDV infected native chickens can act as reservoir and contribute to outbreak in the poultry. Our study provides baseline information on genetic characteristics of NDV circulating in East Java and serves as a basic work for further research.

Preclinical studies on pleiotropic functions of erythropoietin on bone healing

Erythropoietin (ЕPО) is a glycoprotein hormone, mainly known for its haemopoietic function. For orthopaedics, its pleiotropic effects – osteogenic and angiogenic potential, are of primary interest. The exact mechanism of EPO action is still unclear. The effects of EPO on bone healing were investigated through experiments with rats, mice, rabbits and pigs. Each of used models for experimental bone defects (calvarial models, long bone segmental defects, posterolateral spinal fusion and corticosteroid-induced femoral head osteonecrosis) has specific advantages and flaws. Obtaining specific and correct results is largely dependent on the used model. The brief evaluation of models could serve for standardisation of preclinical studies on bone regeneration.