Detection of chicken anemia virus and infectious bursal disease virus co-infection in broilers / Detecção do virus da anemia das galinhas em coinfecção com o vírus doença infecciosa bursal em frangos

This survey aimed to investigate chicken anemia virus (CAV) in broilers flocks experimenting retarded growth and increasing mortality since the fourth day of age. Clinically, chickens presented depression, paleness, depigmentation and retarded growth. At necropsy, chickens presented CAV-compatible lesions. Samples from liver, spleen and thymus were tested by PCR for a 675-bp fragment of the CAV VP-1 gene, and all tested samples were positive. Serological and molecular techniques did not detect other pathogens, such as adenovirus, reovirus, astrovirus, infectious bursal disease and avian infectious bronchitis virus. These results showed that chicken anemia virus (CAV) may occur since the first few days of life in broilers - a fact not as yet reported -, associated with high pathogenic Infectious Bursal Disease Virus (IBDV) vaccine strain may induce a persistent growth retarded for several weeks in broilers.

Este estudo investigou a manifestação do vírus da Anemia Infecciosa das Aves (VAIA) em lotes de frangos que apresentavam retardo no crescimento e aumento da mortalidade observado a partir do quarto dia de idade. Clinicamente, as aves apresentavam depresão, palidez, despigmentação e retardo de crescimento. À necropsia, as aves apresentavam lesões compatíveis com a infecção pelo vírus da Anemia infecciosa das aves (VAIA). Amostras de fígado, baço e timo foram examinadas por PCR que amplifica um frangmento de 675 pb do gene VP-1 do VAIA. Todos os órgãos examinados foram positivos para o vírus da Anemia Infecciosa das Aves. Os demais patógenos, como adenovírus, reovírus, astrovírus, vírus da doença infecciosa bursal e coronavírus aviário não foram detectados pelas diferentes técnicas laboratoriais, como sorologia, PCR ou PAGE. Os resultados mostraram que o vírus da Anemia Infecciosa das Aves (VAIA) pode manifestar-se clinicamente nos primeiros dias de vida dos frangos – um fato ainda não reportado – associado ao vírus vacinal da doença infecciosa bursal (DIB) cepa forte pode induzir um persistente retardo de crescimento, por várias semanas, em frangos.

Ultrastructural changes of the renal tubular cells and hepatocytes of neonatal rats suckled milk from mothers subjected to subchronic toxicity of cadmium chloride

Neonatal off springs from female rats administered cadmium chloride by the oral route [0.5 mg.kg[-1]. day[-1] throughout their entire gestation and lactation periods. The pups were nursed their mothers until they weaned at the age of 28 days. At the end of the experiment, neonatal rats were anaesthetized by ether, then dissected and liver and kidney tissues were rapidly removed and processed for transmission electron microscopic examination. The uItrastructural observations of the proximal convoluted tubules were the absent of the apical microvilli, basal striation and endocytotic-lysosomal apparatus. Meanwhile hepatocytes showed few, sporadic mitochondria in concomitant with ill developed rough and smooth endoplasmic reticula. In addition to the apoptosis of hepatocytes. In conclusion, cadmium was transmitted via milk to the rat pups and potentially toxic to proximal convoluted tubular cells and to less extent to hepatocytes with multifactor mechanisms of cadmium toxicity

Skeletal anomalies of gabapentin in pregnant female albino rats

Gabapentin is one of the new antiepileptic drugs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the skeletal anomalies of gabapentin in pregnant female albino rats. Thirty virgin female albino rats were used and classified into three equal groups each consisted of 10 rats. The first group received nothing except regular diet and tap water and considered as negative control. The second group received 1 ml saline daily orally from the 1st day till the 20th day of gestation. The third group received gabapentin in a single dose of 324 mg/kg body weight in 1 ml saline orally daily from the 1st day to the 20th day of gestation. On the 20th day of pregnancy, rats were sacrificed and the uterine horns promptly exposed, the number of alive fetuses was detected as well as the number of fetal resorptions. Individual fetal weight, crown- rump length [CRL] and bipareital diameter were recorded. Then fetuses were eviscerated and placed into alizarin red stain for detection of osseous skeleton. The numbers of fetal resorptions in the negative and positive control rats were 5% and 4.6% respectively. The number of fetal resorptions in gabapentin treated dams was 42%. The numbers of examined alive fetuses were 85, 82, and 28 in negative control, positive control and gabapentin treated rats respectively. There were significant decrease in the weight, CRL and bipareital diameter measures in fetuses of third group [gabapentin treated] compared to those in the first group [negative control]. Fetuses stained with alizarin stain of dams treated with gabapentin revealed incomplete ossification of skull bones as parietal, interpareital, occipital, frontal, lacrimal and occipital bones. Also, there were incomplete ossifications of vertebral, metacarpal and metatarsal bones. It can be concluded that gabapentin is experimentally a teratogenic drug. It can be recommended that further studies must be done to evaluate teratogenicity of gabapentin in humans. Mothers taking it during pregnancy have to check regularly their fetuses till the end of pregnancy. But it is preferred that those women should be advised to use a contraceptive method during treatment with this drug to avoid its teratogenic effect

Assessment of chromium toxicity on pregnant mice and their fetal development

Chromium is a naturally occurring element, present in several valence states. Hexavalent chromium compounds [Cr VI] have been known to be more toxic than trivalent [Cr III] compounds. Exposure to chromium could be environmental due to its natural occurrence in rocks and soil as well as due to water, air and soil pollution resulting in high chromium concentrations in plants and food. On the other hand, industrial exposure could also occur as chromium enters into many industries leading to occupational hazards. The aim of the present work was to study the potential developmental toxicity of hexavalent chromium [potassium dichromate] in female mice exposed to chromium during gestation. The study was conducted on one hundred and twenty female mice which were mated with adult males. The day the vaginal plug was seen was considered day 0 of gestation. Mice were divided into four equal groups, each group consisted of thirty mice. Group I[controls], group II [treated with 10 ppm Cr VI], group III [treated with 25 ppm Cr VI], and group IV [treated with 50 ppm Cr VI]. All types of treatment were given via drinking water and started on day 6 through day 15 of gestation [period of organogenesis]. The parameters investigated in this study were maternal and fetal parameters. Maternal parameters included clinical signs of toxicity, food consumption. body weight, as well as absolute and relative organ weights. Fetal parameters included number of implantation sites, number of live and dead fetuses, number of resorptions [early and late], and fetal body weight. Gross external fetal examination, skeletal examination as well as visceral examination were done to detect any fetal malformations. The present study revealed that low concentration [10 ppm] of potassium dichromate [Cr VI] caused few signs of maternal and fetal toxicity while concentrations of 25 ppm and 50 ppm resulted in maternal and fetal toxicity, which was pronounced with the 50 ppm concentration. Maternal toxicity included general signs of toxicity [diminished activity, excessive salivation and hair loss], significant decrease in food consumption, in body weight and in absolute organ weights. Fetal toxicity included significant increase in number of dead fetuses. as well as early and late resorptions; significant decrease in fetal body weight i.e. growth retardation; and significant increase in fetal skeletal malformations in the form of cranial retardation, -absence of sacrum, shortening of long bones and absence of phalanges. No significant gross external fetal or visceral abnormalities were detected in any of the treated groups of mice compared to the control group

Evaluation of teratogenic and pathological effect of salicylates [aspirin] in albino rats: possible protective effect of VIT. C

Salicylates are drugs that are commonly used in treatment of many rheumatic disorders such as carpal tunnel syndrome, low back ache and headache which usually occur in females during childbearing age. Also aspirin in low dose is used as anti thrombolic and prophylactic drug in pre-eclampsia. This experimental study was carried out to investigate the facial adverse effect of aspirin when used during pregnancy and the possible protective effect of Vit. C versus aspirin, beside a histopatbological study. This work was conducted on 50 pregnant female rats divided into 5 groups. Group I [control group] pregnant rats given saline orally by gastric tube for 20 days [whole period of gestation]. Group II pregnant rats given aspirin orally by gastric tube daily starting from 1[st] day of gestation till twentieth day [whole period of gestation] Group III pregnant rats given aspirin orally versus ascorbic acid [Vit C] Orally from 1[st], day of gestation till 20[th], day. Group IV pregnant rats were given aspirin orally daily starting from 9[th], day of gestation till 20[th], day. Group V. pregnant rats were given aspirin orally daily together with ascorbic acid [Vit. C] from 9[th] day of gestation till 20[th], day. The results showed that the pregnant rats which were treated with aspirin from start of gestation showed significant prolongation in duraton of pregnancy up to 35 significant decrease in number of living new borns and multiple skeletal anomalies plus abnormal tail torsion and absence of forelimb buds. When ascorbic acid [Vit. C] was given together with aspirin the result showed fewer number of faetal mortality and there was a significant decrease in incidence of malformation White rats treated with aspirin after 9[th], day of gestation showed no abnormalities histopathological examination of the aspirin treated group showed interstitial haemorrhages in organs [lung, liver, kidneys and intestine] while the group treated with aspirin + Vit C there is no interstitial haemorrhages in organs It was concluded that aspirin ingestion in the 1st. half of pregnancy has a teratogic effect and it is possible that co-administration of natural free radical scavengers as vitamin c may be of benefit to pregnant women on aspirin therapy

study of the effect of sodium valproates on brain neurotransmitters GABA and 5HT and its teratogenic effect an experimental study

White albino rats were given sodium valproates 400mg / kgm / day for 21 days in males and till 20th day of gestation in females compared to other group of rats didn't receive any drug. The effect of the drug on rats showed significant elevation of GABA concentrations in all tested brain areas and 5HT in cerebral cortex and midbrain, while reduced 5HT in thalamus and hypothalamus. Maternal adminstration of Sodium Valproates induced non Significant change in the number of resorption and live fetuses, as well as number of implantation. Fetuses revealed spina bifida [30%], absence of angle of mandible and ossific centers in upper and lower limbs [15%] and short neck [15%]. Side effects of sodium Valproates such as sedation and weight gain could be attributed to increase of GABA concentration, whereas increased appetite may be due to decreased 5HT in hypothalamus. The anticonvulsant effect of Sodium Valproates could be due to such increase of GABA and to some extent incease of 5HT