Immunomodulatory effect of the combined use of Vetosporin Zh probiotic and Gumi-malysh biologically active additive

Research (Published online: 26-07-2021)

27. Immunomodulatory effect of the combined use of Vetosporin Zh probiotic and Gumi-malysh biologically active additive

Alfia V. Andreeva, Aigul Z. Khakimova, Alexander I. Ivanov, Oksana N. Nikolaeva and Oleg M. Altynbekov

Veterinary World, 14(7): 1915-1921

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Various means and methods, including probiotics and biologically active additives, have been developed and proposed for production to increase the immunobiological reactivity of the body, regardless of the etiology of its decrease. This study aimed to find out the immune status of calves during the preweaning period in association with Vetosporin Zh, Normosil, and Gumi-malysh.

Materials and Methods: The research object was 30-day-old calves of black-and-white Holstein breed. The calves were divided into four groups of 20 heads each. The calves of the first, second, and third experimental groups were treated with Normosil probiotic, Vetosporin Zh probiotic, and Vetosporin Zh probiotic in combination with Gumi-malysh, respectively. The calves in the first, second, and third experimental groups were treated with Normosil probiotic, Vetosporin Zh probiotic, and Vetosporin Zh probiotic in combination with Gumi-malysh, respectively.

Results: On days 10 and 21 of the experiment, animal blood was collected to determine the content of total protein, protein fractions, immunoglobulins, T and B lymphocytes, phagocytic activity and a phagocytic number of neutrophils, and circulating immune complexes (CIC). The combined use of Vetosporin Zh probiotic (dose, 20 mL) with Gumi-malysh (dose, 30 mL) per animal for 30 days in 1-month-old calves contributes to the increase in the number of T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, and immunoglobulin A (IgA) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels by 2.9%, 3.8%, and 0.96 and 2 g/L, respectively, while reducing the immunoglobulin M (IgM) level; an increase in the phagocytic activity of blood neutrophils and the phagocytic number by 7% and 1.8%, respectively, as well as a decrease in the CIC level with similar indicators in calves that were not treated with the agents.

Conclusion: The method used in the current study helps increase the number of T and B lymphocytes, increase IgA and IgG levels while reducing IgM levels, and increase the phagocytic activity and a phagocytic number of blood neutrophils, as well as decrease the CIC level.

Keywords: calves, immunomodulator, normosil, probiotic, Vetosporin Zh.

Coinfection of Chlamydia spp. and herpesvirus in juvenile farmed Siamese crocodiles (Crocodylus siamensis) in Thailand

Research (Published online: 25-07-2021)

26. Coinfection of Chlamydia spp. and herpesvirus in juvenile farmed Siamese crocodiles (Crocodylus siamensis) in Thailand

Weena Paungpin, Metawee Thongdee, Somjit Chaiwattanarungruengpaisan, Ladawan Sariya, Wanna Sirimanapong, Tanit Kasantikul, Rassameepen Phonarknguen, Poonnut Darakamas and Nlin Arya

Veterinary World, 14(7): 1908-1914

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: For a decade, chlamydial and herpesvirus infections have caused significant morbidity and mortality in farmed crocodiles. In September 2017, a total of 160 juvenile freshwater Siamese crocodiles (Crocodylus siamensis) with conjunctivitis/pharyngitis lesions were admitted at the Veterinary Aquatic Animal Research Health Care Unit, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Mahidol University. All crocodiles did not respond well to antibiotics or supportive treatments and died. This study aimed to detect and identify the causative agents associated with conjunctivitis/pharyngitis and fatal outcomes in juvenile farmed Siamese crocodiles.

Materials and Methods: A total of 138 pharyngeal and conjunctival swabs and conjunctival scrapes were collected from live crocodiles. All swab and scrape samples were DNA-extracted and amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using Chlamydiaceae- and herpesvirus-specific primers. Tissue samples (brain, lung, liver, heart, spleen, and intestine) were collected from two representative postmortem animals. All tissue samples were processed for molecular and pathological analyses.

Results: PCR examinations identified chlamydial and herpesvirus DNA in 92% (126/138) and 100% (138/138), respectively, of the tested swab and scrape samples. Of those positive samples, 79% (26/33), 67% (4/6), and 98% (97/99) of the pharyngeal swabs, conjunctival swabs, and conjunctival scrapes, respectively, were positive for both chlamydial and herpesvirus DNA. Histopathological examination indicated necrosis and mononuclear cell infiltration in the liver, kidney, and intestine of the affected animals. The intracytoplasmic accumulation of Chlamydia was randomly observed in the examined tissue sample. Moreover, the presence of chlamydial and herpesvirus DNA was also detected in the tissue samples, including the heart, intestine, brain, lung, liver, and spleen, of the affected animals by PCR. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that Chlamydia spp. detected in the juvenile Siamese crocodiles was notably different from other known species in the Chlamydia genus, while the herpesvirus detected in the crocodiles was closely related to crocodyline herpesvirus 1.

Conclusion: Based on histopathological and molecular examinations, this report provided the first evidence of coinfection of Chlamydia spp. and crocodyline herpesvirus 1 in juvenile Siamese crocodiles in Thailand.

Keywords: Chlamydia spp., herpesvirus, juvenile, pathology, phylogeny, Siamese crocodile.

Synergistic effects of sitagliptin and losartan against fipronil-induced hepatotoxicity in rats

Research (Published online: 25-07-2021)

25. Synergistic effects of sitagliptin and losartan against fipronil-induced hepatotoxicity in rats

Sara T. Elazab, Omar Samir and Marwa E. Abass

Veterinary World, 14(7): 1901-1907

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Fipronil (FPN) is a potent pesticide that is heavily used around the world in agriculture. However, its irrational use could potentially have deleterious effects on animals and humans. The present study aimed to investigate the ability of sitagliptin (Sit) and losartan (LOS), when used both individually or concurrently, to guard rat liver against the acute hepatotoxicity caused by FPN.

Materials and Methods: Forty-two adult male Wistar rats were equally divided into seven groups (6/group). Group I (control) received normal saline (0.5 mL/rat, vehicle for all treatments) by gavage once daily for 10 days. Group II received oral Sit (10 mg/kg body weight [BW]) daily for 10 days and Group III received oral LOS (5 mg/kg BW) daily for 10 days. Group IV received oral FPN (19.4 mg/kg BW; 1/5 of the oral LD50) for the past 5 days of the study. Groups V and VI received oral Sit (10 mg/kg BW) and LOS (5 mg/kg BW) daily, respectively, 5 days prior and 5 days during FPN administration (19.4 mg/kg BW). Group VII received oral Sit (10 mg/kg BW) and LOS (5 mg/kg BW) for 10 days with daily FPN during the past 5 days. After the end of the treatment period, the rats were humanely sacrificed and blood and liver tissue samples were collected for biochemical analysis and histopathological and immunohistochemical investigations.

Results: FPN administration resulted in elevated alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase serum concentrations as well as increased malondialdehyde levels and reduced catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione activity. The histopathological investigation showed disorganization of the hepatic cords and focal necrosis of the hepatocytes in FPN-intoxicated rats. Furthermore, the immunohistochemical examination showed that hepatic caspase-3 was overexpressed in the FPN-treated rats. The administration of Sit and LOS before and alongside FPN markedly mitigated the alterations caused by FPN and the hepatoprotective effects were more prominent in the combination group.

Conclusion: Sit and LOS, both individually or in combination, confers considerable hepatoprotection against FPN-induced hepatotoxicity.

Keywords: fipronil, hepatotoxicity, losartan, oxidative stress, sitagliptin.

Effects of medicinal plants mixture on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood profiles, and fecal microbiota in growing pigs

Research (Published online: 24-07-2021)

24. Effects of medicinal plants mixture on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood profiles, and fecal microbiota in growing pigs

Nguyen Cong Oanh, Truong Quang Lam, Nguyen Dinh Tien, Jean-Luc Hornick and Vu Dinh Ton

Veterinary World, 14(7): 1894-1900

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Alternative natural materials to antibiotics for improving digestive health and growth performance are needed due to strengthening regulations related to the use of antibiotic growth promoters. The study aimed to evaluate the effects of medicinal plants mixture (60% Bidens pilosa L., 15% Urena lobata L., 15% Pseuderanthemum palatiferum, 5% Ramulus cinnamomi, and 5% Star anise) as alternative growth promotors on animal health, nutrient digestibility, blood parameters, and growth performance of growing pigs.

Materials and Methods: The study was conducted, from April 2020 to June 2020, at a private pig production farm located in Cam Giang district Hai Duong Province, Vietnam. Forty-eight 10-week-old crossbred (♂Duroc×♀ [Landrace×Yorkshire]) pigs, average initial body weight 30.3±1.42 kg, were randomly allocated to four dietary groups, three replicate pens per experimental group, with 4 pigs/pen. For 7 weeks, the pigs were fed a basal diet supplemented with the mixture at levels of 0, 20, 40, and 60 g/kg of feed.

Results: Final body weight, average daily gain, average daily feed intake, and feed conversion ratio, as well as apparent total tract digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, ether extract, and gross energy were not significantly influenced by the diets (p>0.05). Inclusion of the plant mixture decreased significantly red blood cell count, blood cholesterol, urea nitrogen, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) concentrations (p<0.05) compared with the control diet. No diet effect was observed on fecal Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., Clostridium spp., and total bacteria counts.

Conclusion: The incorporation of the plant mixture into the diet of growing pigs reduced serum cholesterol, LDL, and urea concentrations with no adverse effect on performance and nutrient digestibility.

Keywords: animal performance, blood profile, digestibility, growing pig, medicinal plants powder.

Bacterial phagocytosis and reactive oxygen species production by camel neutrophils and monocytes are influenced by the type of anticoagulation agent

Research (Published online: 24-07-2021)

23. Bacterial phagocytosis and reactive oxygen species production by camel neutrophils and monocytes are influenced by the type of anticoagulation agent

Naser Abdallah Al Humam

Veterinary World, 14(7): 1888-1893

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Anticoagulants with different modes of action are used in the collection of camel blood samples. In the innate immune response, camel neutrophils and monocytes can play several roles during infection and inflammation. For anticoagulants ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and heparin, research has described their effects on different parameters of the immune system. However, to date, no research has examined the effects of anticoagulants on the functional activity of camel phagocytes. Therefore, this study analyzed the influence of K3EDTA and lithium heparin on the antimicrobial activity of camel neutrophils and monocytes.

Materials and Methods: Camel leukocytes were separated from blood collected in EDTA or heparin tubes, and their phagocytosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production activity were analyzed by flow cytometry after stimulation with Staphylococcus aureus or Escherichia coli bacteria.

Results: In comparison to the cells collected from the EDTA blood, the camel neutrophils and monocytes separated from the heparin blood showed higher phagocytosis activity of S. aureus and E. coli. In addition, the neutrophils and monocytes produced significantly more ROS when the blood was collected in the heparin tubes.

Conclusion: The antimicrobial functions of camel neutrophils and monocytes are significantly affected by the type of anticoagulation agent. Therefore, using heparin rather than EDTA as an anticoagulant is recommended when performing the functional analysis of phagocytosis and ROS production of camel phagocytes.

Keywords: bacteria, dromedary camel, monocyte, neutrophil, phagocytosis, reactive oxygen species.

Clinical, ultrasonographic, and postmortem findings in sheep and goats with urinary tract disorders

Research (Published online: 20-07-2021)

22. Clinical, ultrasonographic, and postmortem findings in sheep and goats with urinary tract disorders

Mohamed Tharwat

Veterinary World, 14(7): 1879-1887

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: In sheep and goats, most urinary disorders are incidental findings at the postmortem examination and do not present clinically. As such, the diagnosis of renal diseases in sheep and goats can be overlooked. Therefore, this study was carried out on sheep and goats to describe the clinical, ultrasonography (USG), and postmortem findings of various disorders affecting the urinary tract.

Materials and Methods: A total of 58 animals (30 sheep and 28 goats) were examined, as well as were ten healthy control animals (five sheep and five goats) for a comparison. The animals were referred for various causes, including anorexia, frequent and painful urination, hematuria, decreased body weight, oliguria, and anuria.

Results: The sheep and goats were categorized into ten groups of symptoms and disorders: Pelvic abscessation, pigmented urine, renal failure, pyelonephritis, cystitis, hydronephrosis, rupture of the urethra, rupture of the urinary bladder, rupture of the urinary bladder together with the urethra, and paralysis of the urinary bladder. Clinical presentation, USG, and postmortem examination results for each group were detailed. Many clinical presentations were nonspecific. USG examination of the urinary tract significantly facilitated the verification of the previously mentioned disorders.

Conclusion: USG demonstrated superior performance in the early and confirmatory diagnosis of urinary disorders in sheep and goats. Therefore, it is recommended that routine USG be the preferred imaging modality for examining sheep and goats with urinary disorders and for determining their prognosis.

Keywords: goat, pathology, sheep, ultrasonography, urinary.

Alterations in acid-base balance, blood gases, and hematobiochemical profiles of whole-blood and thoracic fluid in goats with contagious caprine pleuropneumonia

Research (Published online: 20-07-2021)

21. Alterations in acid-base balance, blood gases, and hematobiochemical profiles of whole-blood and thoracic fluid in goats with contagious caprine pleuropneumonia

Mohamed Tharwat

Veterinary World, 14(7): 1874-1878

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Contagious caprine pleuropneumonia (CCPP) is a highly contagious and fatal disease affecting goats and some wild ruminants. It is a cause of major economic losses in the goat industry in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. This study aimed to investigate the acid-base balance, blood gases, and hematobiochemical profiles of whole-blood and fluid collected from the thoracic cavity in goats with CCPP.

Materials and Methods: Fifty-five goats suffering from weight loss, anorexia, dyspnea, polypnea, cough, and nasal discharges due to CCPP were studied. Twenty-five healthy goats were used as controls. Diseased animals were enrolled in this study based on a positive serological latex agglutination test (LAT) that confirmed the detection of Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capripneumoniae. The control goats were enrolled based on a negative result of the LAT.

Results: Compared with a mean value of 7.38±0.04 in controls, the pH in the diseased group was 7.41±0.05. The blood pressure of carbon dioxide (PCO2), pressure of oxygen (PO2), base excess (BE), bicarbonate (HCO3), total carbon dioxide (TCO2), and saturation of oxygen (SO2) were lower in goats with CCPP than in controls. However, the anion gap (AnGap) was higher in the diseased goats than in the healthy ones. Compared with the levels in blood samples, the thoracic fluid PCO2, PO2, BE, and SO2 were higher while pH, HCO3, TCO2, and AnGap were lower. Compared with the findings in healthy goats, hematological alterations included significant increases in white blood cells and neutrophils, and a significant decrease in the red blood cell count. In the thoracic fluid, neutrophilic leukocytosis was a remarkable finding. The serum concentrations of globulin, blood urea nitrogen, and glucose, and the activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) increased significantly compared with those in controls. In contrast, serum concentrations of albumin, calcium, and magnesium, and the activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) decreased significantly compared with those of healthy animals. The activities of ALP, AST, GGT, and creatine kinase and the concentration of phosphorus were higher in thoracic fluid than the serum values in the diseased group.

Conclusion: When compared with the healthy controls, goats with CCPP have metabolic acidosis. Compared with the levels in healthy goats, the blood PCO2, PO2, BE, HCO3, TCO2, and SO2 are low in goats with CCPP; however, the AnGap is higher in diseased goats.

Keywords: acid-base balance, blood gases, contagious caprine pleuropneumonia, goat, Mycoplasma.