Comparative haematology

During the period of 8 years, 120 dogs affected by lymphoma were referred to the veterinary teaching hospital of the University. Canine lymphoma was classified and staged using a standardised diagnostic approach that involved the acquisition of detailed clinical history, physical examination and extended laboratory workup including lymph node cytology. Additionally, immunophenotyping was available in 22 cases. Multicentric lymphoma was the

This work investigated the acute and subchronic toxicity profile of aqeous stem bark and leaf extract of Costus afer ker (Zingiberaceae). This plant is used extensively for food, economic, and medicinal purposes in Nigeria. Acute oral toxicity studies in male and female mice did not produce any sign of acute toxicity or death even at the dose of 4,000 mg/kg. Thirty-six albnino Wistar mice of varied sexes weighing between 28 and 35 g were divided into four groups. Groups A, B, and C were given different concentrations of the extract at 20, 13.33, and 6.67 mg/ml, respectively in water. Group D served as the control and was given only water. The experiment lasted for a period of 56 days. The packed cell volume, hemoglobin concentration, and the total red blood cell count decreased significantly (p < 0.05) in comparison with the control. Serum biochemistry showed no significant changes in the activities of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase when compared with the control. The histopathological studies revealed no significant lesions in the heart, kidney, and liver. There was also no significant chages in weight between the experimental animals and the control.

It is extremely important to investigate the presence of Brucella melitensis as a nonspecific and heterogeneous agent in dairy cows in Iran due to mixed populations of sheep, goats, and cattle. B. melitensis from infected sheep or goat herds may be introduced into the cattle population in this area. Hence, it is essential to obtain epidemiological data on the probable existence of B. melitensis as a different source of the infection or new exotic Brucella phenotypes development in dairy cow herds in Iran. The purpose of this study was to investigate the presence of B. melitensis infection in cows, using both traditional bacteriological tests and polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based assay. Traditional biotyping and PCR results of 42 Brucella spp. isolates from Tehran and Fars (northern and southern) provinces of Iran identified five (11.9%) and 37 (88.1%) as B. melitensis (four biovar 1 and one biovar 2) and 37 (88.1%) Brucella abortus biovar 3. This study demonstrated that B. melitensis infection in dairy cows of Iran is still present at a low level. However, the Iranian Veterinary Organization should be careful to have dairy cow herds free of B. melitensis infection as a nonspecific agent of brucellosis, since this type of brucellosis may be extended and act as a potential source of severe infection in humans.

Various biochemical parameters of koi were measured to construct biochemical reference intervals. Very low serum concentrations of creatinine, total bilirubin, uric acid and ?-glutamyl transferase activity were observed. Increased activities of creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase and aspartate aminotransferase were observed due to venepuncture through the skeletal muscle of the caudal peduncle; however, these changes were not statistically significant. Alanine aminotransferase

This study was carried out to detect the effects of methanolic extracts of Allium sativum L. on Limnatis nilotica. In this experimental study in September 2010, a number of leeches (70 in total) from the southern area of Ilam province were prepared, the effects of the methanolic extract of A. sativum L. with levamisole and metronidazole as the control drugs were compared, and distilled water was evaluated as the placebo group which investigated L. nilotica using anti-leech assay. The average time of paralysis and death of Limnatis nilotica for Metronidazole, methanol extract of Allium sativum L. and Levamisole was 718.77 ± 66.3 min, 5.11 ± 1.76 min and 144.55 ± 57.217 min, respectively. Distilled water and garlic tablets at a dose of 400 mg were determined as the inert group. In this research, the attraction time of death of leeches among different treatments is significant. In this study, it was determined that levamisole, with an intensity of 4+, and methanolic extracts of A. sativum L., with an intensity of 2+, have a good anti-leech effect and can be shown to be effective in cases of leech biting, while metronidazole and distilled water were negative.

... Barbara Riond &amp; Marina L. Meli &amp; Ueli Braun &amp; Peter Deplazes &amp; Kaspar Joerger &amp; Rudolf Thoma &amp; Hans Lutz &amp; Regina ... may occur, which, in conjunction with hypoxia, may lead to hepatic cell degen-eration and glomerular dysfunction (Allbritton and Seger 1962; Allen and ...

In this investigation, the effects of different concentrations of Calendula officinalis gel on collagen and hydroxyproline content of the skin are studied. Sixty-five mature male rats were randomly divided into three groups (control, placebo, and treatment group). Under sterile conditions, a 2 × 2-cm piece of cervical skin was excised in each animal. Treatment group received a daily topical application of 5%, 7%, and 10% C. officinalis gel, the placebo group received a daily topical application of the base gel, and the control group received no treatment during this experimental study. Fourteen, 21, and 45 days later, the rats were euthanized and biopsies were taken from the site of the initial incisions and samples were collected for biochemical investigation. Collagen production in the group treated with 7% gel was significantly more than the placebo and control group. Upper and lower doses seem to be less effective, although the reasons for this remain unclear.

This study describes the variation of serum biochemical metabolites during transition period in dairy cows. Blood samples were obtained on days 22 and 8 prepartum and days 7 and 21 postpartum (pp), to determine total protein, albumin, blood urea nitrogen, cholesterol, magnesium, inorganic phosphorus, calcium, glucose, triglyceride, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), β-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA), and non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA). NEFA concentrations during the pre-fresh period had a positive correlation with triglyceride, BHBA, and AST during post-calving days. This finding indicates that NEFA testing during the last days of a dry period is a reliable predictor of fat mobilization and energy status during this transition period. Serum glucose showed no strong correlations with other energy-related metabolites. AST was significantly correlated to triglyceride, BHBA, NEFA, cholesterol, and glucose at day 8 pp. AST also showed significant correlation with triglyceride concentrations at days −8 and +8 relating to parturition. In addition, AST was significantly correlated to BHBA and NEFA at day 21 pp.

In this experiment, 50 postpartum healthy Holstein Frisian dairy cows were selected from a large commercial dairy farm. They had normal parturition and had no postpartum problems. The calving number of cows was one to four, and they were inseminated 60 days after parturition. There were no clinical signs of endometritis when cows were examined during routine visits for monitoring fertility. The criteria for selection were that they had a normal parturition history and had calved 25 to 30 days before. They had no mucopurulent discharge from vulva or abnormality in rectal palpation. The cows were evaluated on days 25 to 30 and days 50 to 60 postparturition. Blood samples were collected on sampling days from the coccygeal vein. Hematological parameters were measured by the routine procedures. The health of all uteruses was confirmed by the cytological evaluation of cervical mucosa smear. Cytological samples were obtained from the discharge of cervical mucus and uterine fluid. The concentration of progesterone in serum was measured by radioimmunoassay. There were significant differences in packed cell volume (PCV) between the 25–30 days postpartum, the 55–60 days postpartum, and the pregnant cows. The hematocrit level in the pregnant cows was significantly higher than that in postpartum cows (P 1 and P P P > 0.05).

Baseline blood biochemistry values were obtained for two foraging aggregations of clinically healthy wild, juvenile green turtles (Chelonia mydas) inhabiting Kaneohe Bay, Island of Oahu, and the Kona Coast, Island of Hawaii. Mean reference values were compared to values obtained from green turtles of similar size affected with fibropapillomas (FP) collected at Kaneohe Bay. Statistically significant differences were identified for total protein values, blood urea nitrogen, and enzyme values between healthy turtles and turtles with FP. In addition, turtles with severe FP were hypoproteinaemic, hypoalbuminaemic, hypoferraemic, azotaemic, and presented inverse calcium/phosphorus ratios, low cholesterol and triglyceride values, indicating the chronicity and severity of FP. It is concluded that blood reference values should be established for green turtles at the population level and by geographic area considering disease status, age, sex, and seasonal variations.

Linguatula serrata is one of the parasitic zoonoses causing visceral and nasopharyngeal linguatulosis in human beings. Recently, L. serrata found a more public health importance, and new cases of human infection is reported from different parts of Iran including the Fars Province. Infected vegetables, fruits, and water resources with eggs of the mature parasite excreted via carnivores’ (especially stray dogs) nasopharyngeal secretions or feces is the main source of infecting human beings. However, consumption of infected improperly cooked viscera of the intermediate hosts including sheep, goats, cattle, or other herbivores containing the larval stages of this parasite is the other potential source of infection of human beings. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to investigate the prevalence of this parasite in stray dogs of Shiraz, the capital city of the Fars Province in Southern part of Iran. In a cross-sectional study, 85 stray dogs including 48 males and 37 females were captured at different parts of Shiraz city and the nasopharyngeal area, nasal turbinates, sinuses, eusthasian tubes, and brain were examined for L. serrata. The adult parasites were collected and fixed, cleared, and stained using formalin, alcohol, azocarmine, and lactophenol. A total of 65 (76.5%) dogs were infected with L. serrata. Age, sex, weight, and geographical locations did not have significant effects in the prevalence rate of this parasite. The number of parasites recovered from each dog ranged from 1 to 19 with an average of 4.06 per infected dog. The maximum length and width of the mature Linguatula were 80 and 10 mm for female parasites and 20 and 3 mm for the male ones, respectively. From the above results, it could be concluded that the rate of infection in dogs and possibly other carnivores, herbivores, and man is high in this locality, and strict control measures should be conducted to overcome the risk of infection with this zoonotic disease.

Psidium guajava Linn. leaf extract is used in Nigerian ethnomedicine to treat many disorders such as diarrhea, cough, gastroenteritis, gastric pain, and inflammatory disorders. The effects of the chlorofrom extract of the leaves on some hematological and biochemical parameters were investigated in mice. The animals were divided into three groups of eight animals per group. The first group served as the control, while the second and the third groups were given orally 24.3 and 45.9 mg/ml of the extract, respectively, for 28 days. The parameters investigated in the study include packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cell count (RBC), hemoglobin concentration (HBC), total white blood cell (WBC) count, mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and total and conjutate bilirubin and creatinine. Significant (p 

Analyses for alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities, and iron concentration were carried out in infected and uninfected cattle in order to determine the degree of hepatic damage and blood iron status caused by Theileria annulata and Babesia bigemina. Blood samples from 30 infected and 20 uninfected cattle with T. annulata and also from 40 infected and 20 uninfected cattle with B. bigemina were taken. The biochemical analyses revealed increased serum AST and ALP activities in infected cattle with T. annulata and B. bigemina compared with uninfected cattle (P T. annulata and B. bigemina when compared with uninfected cattle (P T. annulata- and even in B. bigemina-infected cattle with severe intravascular hemolysis. The increased activities of serum enzymes indicated the hepatic injuries associated with infection with T. annulata and B. bigemina.

A retrospective study in dogs presented to the Chulalongkorn Small Animal Teaching Hospital, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand, from January 2001 to December 2003 was carried out. A total of 917 dogs were diagnosed with canine dirofilariasis and other concurrent tick-borne transmitted diseases by the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University. The highest occurrence within each year was observed in November 2001 (40 cases), April 2002 (41 cases), and July 2003 (36 cases), respectively. Of the total 917 positive cases, a single infection of dirofilariasis was detected in 869 dogs (94.8%; group 1), while 37 dogs (4.0%; group 2) were diagnosed with dirofilariasis and ehrlichiosis, 4 dogs (0.4%; group 3) with dirofilariasis and hepatozoonosis, and 7 dogs (0.8%; group 4) with dirofilariasis, ehrlichiosis, and babesiosis, respectively. Laboratory data comprising hematological and blood chemistry profiles were evaluated and compared among groups. Group 4 was defined as moderate microcytic anemia and was significantly different with regard to hematological profiles from others (P < 0.05). In addition, severe thrombocytopenia was observed in both groups 2 and 4 (65.4 × 103 and 59.0 × 103 cells/μl, respectively). The hepatobiliary profiles in all groups revealed increases in serum alanine aminotransferase and serum alkaline phosphatase activities indicative of hepatocellular damage. These epidemiological results serve as baseline information for preventive strategies against blood parasites in the endemic area. Moreover, both biochemical and hematological abnormalities should be considered as appropriate monitors during disease interventions.

Haemostatic mechanisms in humans are formed by two activation pathways, named tissular factor pathway and contact system pathway, and a common pathway, that promotes the formation of the fibrin clot. These mechanisms have also been identified in other mammals. In this work we evaluate their presence in the armadillo Chaetophractus villosus, a mammal of the neotropical Xenarthra Order. Twenty animals (ten males and ten females), previously adapted to captivity, were used. Fibrinogen (Fbg) was measured at the beginning and at the end of the experimental period; prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and thrombin time (TT) were measured at the same time during the experience. Neither Fbg nor the other parameters evaluated showed sex-related differences, but Fbg diminished during the experimental period. TT related to PT and APTT showed longer times and larger dispersion of the individual values. Compared to the human beings, PT and TT were longer and APTT was shorter. Considering those results, we conclude that C. villosus has the same basic coagulation system as human beings. However, in this species the contact system pathway seems to play a greater role in the activation of the coagulation system than it does in man, and the common pathway appears to limit the velocity of the system.

Haematological and serum biochemical data have been collected from a total of 19 captive-bred Australian native murids (Plains rat, Spinifex hopping-mouse and Central rock-rat). These animals were maintained in a captive population at Alice Springs Desert Park (NT, Australia) and are all central desert inhabitants of Australia. They are currently listed as common, threatened and critically endangered, respectively. Given the status and size of these animals, only small sample numbers and volumes were analysed. The study, however, provides some basic haematology and serum biochemistry information for these three species and will serve as an effective management tool for assessing and monitoring the health status of individuals, particularly those in captivity.

The major activity of androgens in promoting erythropoiesis is mediated by the ability of these steroids to increase erythropoietin (EPO) production. Testosterone exerts a nephrotrophic action which is evidenced by an increased renal mass following chronic administration of this steroid. The increased renal mass, in turn, may be associated with an increased capacity for production of EPO by the organ. The present study was thus designed to test the hypothesis that chronic administration of testosterone induces an EPO-hypersecretory state (EPO-HS) defined as a condition of higher than normal EPO synthesis and secretion in response to well-known erythropoietic stimuli, such as hypoxia, anaemia or cobalt. In addition, since 5α-dehydrotestosterone (5α-DHT) was found to be more active than testosterone in stimulating EPO production, the effect of inhibition of the 5α-reductase by finasteride on both constitutive and stimulated EPO secretion was also estimated. Female adult mice receiving 2 mg testosterone propionate three times a week for 3.5 weeks increased their erythrocyte production rates at day 4 and at the time of each sampling points thereafter during the injection period. Average renal weight was about 1.8 times higher in testosterone-treated than in vehicle-treated mice. When mice were hypertransfused at the end of the injection period and exposed to hypobaric air, both RBC-59Fe uptake and plasma EPO concentration (pEPO) were several times greater in androgen-treated than in vehicle-injected mice. No changes were observed in both parameters under normobaric conditions Testosterone treatment altered neither the plasma disappearance (t 1/2) of radiolabelled rh-EPO nor the erythropoietic response to exogenously administered rh-EPO. pEPO was similar into normoxic male and female mice and neither orchidectomy nor finasteride (10 mg/kg/day for 12 days) modified these levels. Significant differences were seen in pEPO levels between male and female mice under hypoxic conditions. Orchidectomy and finasteride both lowered the hypoxia-dependent increment in pEPO in male mice to levels that were not significantly different from those of hypoxic female mice. In summary, an EPO-HS followed chronic administration of testosterone in mice, which may or may not be related to the nephrotrophic effect of this androgen. Since finasteride adversely affected stimulated-EPO production in mice, it is suggested that the testosterone effect on stimulated-EPO secretion is mediated by DHT. In contrast, the findings of unchanged baseline pEPO in either orchidectomised or finasteride-treated mice suggest that constitutional EPO production is not influenced by testosterone.