Comparative evaluation of cytokine and acute-phase protein concentrations in sera of dairy cows with subclinical and clinical ketosis as a different view of the causes of the disease

Research (Published online: 18-06-2021)

21. Comparative evaluation of cytokine and acute-phase protein concentrations in sera of dairy cows with subclinical and clinical ketosis as a different view of the causes of the disease

Piotr Brodzki, Jan Marczuk, Urszula Lisiecka, Marek Szczubiał, Adam Brodzki, Hubert Gorzkoś and Katarzyna Kulpa

Veterinary World, 14(6): 1572-1578

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Ketosis is a common disease occurring during the first stage of lactation in highly productive dairy cows. The aim of the present study was the comparative assessment of selected pro-inflammatory cytokines (including tumor necrosis factor-α [TNF-α] and interleukin 6 [IL-6]), anti-inflammatory cytokines (including IL-10), and acute-phase proteins (APPs) (including haptoglobin [Hp] and serum amyloid A [SAA]), in the sera of cows with subclinical ketosis (SCK), in those with clinical ketosis (CK), and in healthy cows.

Materials and Methods: Thirty dairy cows of Holstein-Friesian breed were investigated. The cows were divided into three groups depending on the serum β-hydroxybutyric acid (BHBA) level. The control, SCK, and CK groups included healthy cows, cows with SCK, and cows with CK, respectively. BHBA concentration in blood serum was determined using colorimetric method. The blood serum was used for proper tests. Cytokine (TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10) and APPs (SAA and Hp) concentrations in the investigated samples were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method.

Results: The SCK group had significantly higher TNF-α, IL-6; IL-10, and SAA values than had the CK group (p<0.01). The SCK group had a lower Hp concentration than had the CK group (p<0.05).

Conclusion: This study showed that the inflammation intensity is higher in the initial phase of the disease and decreases during the advancement, probably due to active anti-inflammatory mechanisms (an increase of IL-10 concentration), which protect animal organism from self-destruction. On the basis of our study, it can be assumed that ketosis development in dairy cows was preceded by the systemic inflammation that may influence the progress of this disease.

Keywords: acute-phase proteins, cytokine, dairy cows, ketosis.

Anadara granosa shell powder improves the metabolism, testosterone level, and sound frequency of Pelung chickens

Research (Published online: 18-06-2021)

20. Anadara granosa shell powder improves the metabolism, testosterone level, and sound frequency of Pelung chickens

Rizki Fitrawan Yuneldi, Pudji Astuti, Hendry T. S. Saragih and Claude Mona Airin

Veterinary World, 14(6): 1564-1571

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Pelung chickens make unique, pleasant, and rhythmic sounds in addition to having strong muscle mass. Performance is controlled by testosterone. A natural aromatase blocker is an agent capable of blocking the aromatase enzyme, which consequently prevents testosterone from being changed into estradiol. Such a condition results in consistently high testosterone levels. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the administration of the shell powder of Anadara granosa on the testosterone level, frequency and quality of sounds, and metabolism of Pelung chickens within set parameters of thyroid hormone levels, the triiodothyronine (T3)/thyroxine (T4) ratio, and weight gain.

Materials and Methods: This study used four Pelung chickens aged 14 months. Control data consisted of data before treatment (day 0). Shell powder of A. granosa was administered for 56 days. Body weight (BW) was measured, and blood samples were drawn. In addition, the sounds from Pelung chickens were recorded once every 2 weeks on days 14, 28, 42, and 56. The blood samples were analyzed using the enzyme immunoassay method to determine testosterone, T3, and T4 levels. The sounds of Pelung chickens were recorded using the Hagemon touch method and analyzed using the Audacity application.

Results: The results showed a significant difference (p<0.05) in the levels of testosterone, BW, and sound frequency after the administration of A. granosa shell powder, but the administration did not have a significant effect on the levels of T4 and T3 hormones (thyroid hormone), T3/T4 ratio, or sound duration. The testosterone content and BW of Pelung chickens increased from day 14 to day 56, whereas T3 was indicative of the same profile as the T4 hormone. However, T3 and T4 levels and the T3/T4 ratio decreased and increased, respectively. The sound frequency of Pelung chickens increased from day 0 to day 14, although sound duration decreased.

Conclusion: The administration of A. granosa shell powder at 0.9 mg/kg BW orally could improve the metabolism, testosterone level, BW, and sound frequency of Pelung chickens.

Keywords: natural aromatase blocker, Pelung, sound, testosterone, thyroid hormone.

Productivity and carcass characteristics of lambs fed fibrous agricultural wastes to substitute grass

Research (Published online: 17-06-2021)

19. Productivity and carcass characteristics of lambs fed fibrous agricultural wastes to substitute grass

Endang Purbowati, C. M. Sri Lestari, Retno Adiwinarti, Vita Restitrisnani, Sri Mawati, Agung Purnomoadi and Edy Rianto

Veterinary World, 14(6): 1559-1563

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Grass is often scarce for ruminants during the dry season in Indonesia; thus agricultural by-products are widely used as a substitute for grass. This study aimed to determine the effect of replacing Napier grass (NG) with agricultural by-products on the productivity and carcass characteristics of lambs.

Materials and Methods: Twenty-four 3-month-old male lambs with initial body weights of 13.26±1.29 kg (coefficient of variation=9.73%) were allocated into a completely randomized design with four treatments and six replications. The treatments included: NG=100% NG; corn cobs (CCs)=50% NG and 50% CCs; bagasse (BG)=50% NG and 50% BG; and peanut shells (PSs)=50% NG and 50% PSs. All treatment diets were pelleted and consisted of 40% fibrous feed and 60% concentrate feed, and contained 10.36-11.65% crude protein and 55.47-57.31% total digestible nutrients. Parameters observed included dry matter intake (DMI), dry matter digestibility, body weight gain (BWG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), feed cost per gain (FC/G), and carcass characteristics.

Results: Lambs fed the PSs diet had the highest (p<0.05) DMI (781 g/d), digestibility, and body weight gain (92.5 g/d; p<0.05). The FCR of the PSs diet (9.13) was similar to NG. The FC/G of the PSs diet (IDR 23,541/kg) was the lowest of all diets. The BG diet had the lowest (p<0.05) digestibility, body weight gain (54.4 g/d), and the highest (13.53) FCR. No significant differences (p>0.05) were found in the carcass or meat characteristics of any diets. The averages of slaughter weight, carcass weight, and carcass percentage were 20.03 kg, 8.02 kg, and 40.0%, respectively. The average meat bone ratio was 3.67.

Conclusion: It was concluded that agricultural wastes could be used as an alternative to NG at the level of 50% in the diet of lambs without a negative effect on production performance and carcass traits.

Keywords: bagasse, corn cobs, digestibility, feed efficiency, meat-bone ratio, peanut shells.

Traditional Latvian herbal medicinal plants used to treat parasite infections of small ruminants: A review

Review (Published online: 17-06-2021)

18. Traditional Latvian herbal medicinal plants used to treat parasite infections of small ruminants: A review

Alīna Kļaviņa, Dace Keidāne, Renāte Šukele, Dace Bandere and Līga Kovaļčuka

Veterinary World, 14(6): 1548-1558

ABSTRACT

Numerous treatment agents offering prophylaxis against livestock parasites are commercially available. However, because of increasing antiparasitic drug resistance, the increased popularity of environmentally friendly lifestyle choices, and organic farming, there is more demand for new alternatives to livestock anthelmintic control strategies and medications. It is important to develop antiparasitics that are safe, effective, inexpensive, and environmentally safe. Local, traditional herbal plants such as tansy, mugwort, wormwood, and heather may serve as treatments for intestinal parasites of sheep. This overview provides knowledge of traditional Latvian plants with antiparasitic activities to establish a database for further research to develop new herbal antiparasitic drugs.

Keywords: antiparasitic, gastrointestinal nematodes, heather, mugwort, polyphenols, sheep, tansy, wormwood.

Differential diagnosis of bovine intestinal diseases and their sequelae regarding ultrasonography and other diagnostic tools

Research (Published online: 16-06-2021)

17. Differential diagnosis of bovine intestinal diseases and their sequelae regarding ultrasonography and other diagnostic tools

Arafat Khalphallah, Hanan K. Elsayed, Enas Elmeligy, Sara A. Bayomi, Mohamed A. Hamed, Doaa Salman, Ashraf M. Abu-Seida and Sabry A. Mousa

Veterinary World, 14(6): 1537-1547

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Intestinal disorders represented a large proportion of abdominal emergencies in bovine practice, and their definite diagnosis was a big challenge. The study described different intestinal disorders in cattle either in the small intestine (SI) or large intestine with their sequelae and peritonitis between SI loops.

Materials and Methods: This study involved healthy (n=20) and diseased (n=40) cattle with intestinal disorders. All animals were undergoing clinical examination, laboratory analyses, and ultrasonographic examination.

Results: Diseased cattle had monocytic leukocytosis as well as hypoproteinemia and hypoalbuminemia. The SI ileus of either proximal (n=12) or distal (n=15), intussusception (n=3), cecal, and/or colonal dilatation (n=10) were diagnosed by ultrasound and other diagnostic tools. Duodenum intussusception was imaged in cross-section as bull's eyes lesions. Animals with SI obstructions showed complete cessation (ileus with complete obstruction) or partial reduction of the peristaltic SI movement (ileus with partial obstruction), dilated duodenum (6.5-9.9 cm), and dilated jejunum and/or ileum (4.4-6.8 cm). Ultrasonography diagnosed SI ileus, due to either intestinal obstruction or peritonitis, and detected the ileus site, either proximal or distal. Cecal/colonal dilatation was detected using ultrasonography in which SI was not imaged and the peristaltic movements were completely reduced. The recorded intestinal disorders were associated with other disorders (e.g., liver cirrhosis or peritonitis).

Conclusion: Ultrasonography played an important role in the differential diagnosis of intestinal disorders in cattle. Peritonitis between SI loops and cecal and/or colonal dilatation was also diagnosed.

Keywords: caecal dilatation, cattle, ileus, intussusception, peritonitis, ultrasonography.

Marsilea crenata ethanol extract prevents monosodium glutamate adverse effects on the serum levels of reproductive hormones, sperm quality, and testis histology in male rats

Research (Published online: 15-06-2021)

16. Marsilea crenata ethanol extract prevents monosodium glutamate adverse effects on the serum levels of reproductive hormones, sperm quality, and testis histology in male rats

Sri Rahayu, Riska Annisa, Ivakhul Anzila, Yuyun Ika Christina, Aries Soewondo, Agung Pramana Warih Marhendra and Muhammad Sasmito Djati

Veterinary World, 14(6): 1529-1536

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Marsilea crenata is an aquatic plant that contains high antioxidants level and could prevent cell damages caused by free radicals. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of M. crenata ethanol extract on luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone levels, sperm quality, and testis histology of adult male rats induced by monosodium glutamate (MSG).

Materials and Methods: This study randomly divided 48 male rats into eight groups (n=6): control group; MSG group (4 mg/g body weight [b.w.] for 30 days); MS1, MS2, and MS3 groups (4 mg/g b.w. MSG and M. crenata ethanol extract at dose 0.216, 0.432, and 0.648 mg/g b.w., respectively, for 30 days); and S1, S2, and S3 groups (M. crenata ethanol extract at dose of 0.216, 0.432, and 0.648 mg/g b.w., respectively, for 30 days). The blood sample was collected on days 0 and 30 to determine the LH and testosterone levels. The animals were dissected on day 30, and the testes were isolated for morphometric, histology (spermatogenic cell number), and malondialdehyde (MDA) examination. Moreover, semen was collected to determine the sperm quality parameter.

Results: The LH and testosterone levels significantly increased (p<0.05) after M. crenata administration at all doses. The higher dose of M. crenata ethanol extract demonstrated a high decrease in MDA level in MSG-treated rat testis; increase of spermatogonia, spermatocytes, spermatids, and Leydig cells number; and increase of seminiferous tubular diameter and germinal epithelium thickness.

Conclusion: The ethanol extract of M. crenata can improve the levels of LH, testosterone, sperm quality, number of testis morphometric, spermatogenic, and Leydig cells in MSG-treated male rats.

Keywords: Leydig cell, luteinizing hormone, Marsilea crenata, monosodium glutamate, testosterone.

Molecular and morphometric changes in the small intestine during hot and cold exposure in thermally manipulated broiler chickens

Research (Published online: 15-06-2021)

15. Molecular and morphometric changes in the small intestine during hot and cold exposure in thermally manipulated broiler chickens

Khaleel Emad Khaleel, Mohammad Borhan Al-Zghoul and Khaled Musa Mohammad Saleh

Veterinary World, 14(6): 1511-1528

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Thermal stress (hot or cold) is one of many environmental stressors that severely affects the health of broiler chickens. One negative effect of thermal stress is the disruption of the intestinal barrier function in broiler chickens. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of thermal manipulation (TM) on the small intestine in terms of histomorphometry as well as junctional, heat-shock, and immune response gene expression during post-hatch exposure to thermal stress.

Materials and Methods: The experiment was conducted by dividing 928 fertile Ross eggs into three incubation groups: The control (C) group (incubated at 37.8°C and 56% relative humidity [RH] for the whole incubation period), the TM using low temperature TML group (incubated at 36°C and 56% RH for 18 h/day from embryonic days 7 to 16), and the TM using high temperature (TMH) group (incubated at 39°C and 65% RH for 18 h/day from embryonic days 7 to 16). On post-hatch day 21, 90 chicks were randomly selected from each incubation group and were equally subdivided into three subgroups for the post-hatch thermal stress experiment: The TN subgroup (room temperature maintained at 24°C), the heat stress (HS) subgroup (room temperature maintained at 35°C), and the cold stress (CS) subgroup (room temperature maintained at 16°C). After 1 day of thermal stress exposure (age 22 days), five birds from each subgroup were euthanized and ileum samples were collected to evaluate the transcription of the Claudin (CLDN1), CLDN-5, Occludin, Cadherin-1, heat shock factors (HSF1), HSF3, 70 kilodalton heat shock protein, 90 kilodalton heat shock protein, Interleukin 6 (IL6), IL8, toll-like receptors-2 (TLR2), and TLR4 genes by Real-Time Quantitative Reverse Transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis. Finally, after 4 and 7 days of thermal stress (age 25 and 28 days, respectively), nine chicks were euthanized, and their jejunum and ileum were collected for histomorphometric analysis.

Results: After exposure to 1 day of thermal stress, the C subgroups exposed to thermal stress (HS and CS) possessed significantly increased expression of junctional, heat-shock, and immune response genes compared to the C-TN subgroup, and similar results were observed for the TMH. In contrast, thermally stressed TMH subgroups had significantly lower expression of the studied genes compared to C subgroups exposed to thermal stress. Furthermore, no significant changes were detected between the TML subgroups exposed to thermal stress and TML-TN. Moreover, significant alterations in villus height (VH), villus surface area, crypt depth (CD), and VH to CD ratio were observed between the TML, TMH, and C subgroups exposed to CS.

Conclusion: It might be suggested that TM may have a protective impact on the small intestine histomorphometry and epithelial integrity of broilers during post-hatch exposure to thermal stress.

Keywords: broilers, heat shock proteins, immune response, junctional proteins, thermal manipulation, thermal stress.