Synovial fluid inflammatory cytokines and proteins in clinically healthy and arthritic joint of dromedary camels [Camelus dromedarius]

Analyzing the synovial fluid is one of the common methods to diagnose the articular problems to detect the stage and express the prognosis. Such gross, cytological, and biochemical analysis of synovial fluids can aid in the diagnosis of various joint diseases. Normal values for synovial fluid in the camels have been described previously; however, there are no reports regarding concentration of acute phase proteins and inflammatory cytokines in camelids synovial fluid. Hence, the present study tried to compare the synovial fluid inflammatory cytokines and acute phase proteins in clinically healthy and arthritic tarsal joints of dromedary camels. 46 male dromedary camels, 5 to 10 years old, were used in this study. 33 camels did not have any clinical articular abnormalities while 13 camels had gross articular problems such as lameness and swollen tarsal joints. Collecting the synovial fluids was extracted from the healthy and arthritic tarsal joints immediately after slaughter. Then, the concentration of haptoglobin, serum amyloid A, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and interferon-gamma were measured in samples. Concentration of all measured parameters in arthritic joints were significantly higher than clinically healthy joints [p<0.05]. The synovial fluid concentration of serum amyloid A, haptoglobin, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and interferon-gamma were 5.379, 4.285, 25.503, and 1.904 times higher in arthritic joints than normal joints, respectively. The articular inflammatory processes can increase the synovial fluid concentration of acute phase proteins and inflammatory cytokines. Information about the normal values of these parameters and their changing patterns may help camel rearing systems during arthrititis by assessing the health status of joints in the camels; in addition, the information about normal values can be diagnostically valuable when considering diseased animals

relationships among acute phase response proteins, cytokines, and enzymes during ovine experimental endotoxemia

The acute phase response is beneficial to the animal in restoring homeostasis, and measuring the circulating acute phase proteins, cytokines, and enzymes can be used to evaluate the innate immune system's responses to invader agents such as bacterial lipopolysaccharide. Measurement of these parameters has shown to be useful as diagnostic and prognostic markers in animal endotoxemia. The aim of the present experimental study was expression of the acute phase response following the induction of endotoxemia by Escherichia coli serotype O55:B5 in sheep and the relationships among the acute phase response parameters during endotoxemia and their changing patterns. Five clinically healthy 1-year-old Iranian fattailed ewes [25 +/- 1.5 kg, bodyweight] were randomly selected and lipopolysaccharide from Escherichia coli serotype O55:B5 was infused at 20 micro g/kg intravenously to each animal. Fluid therapy was performed in all ewes over 120 minutes after lipopolysaccharide injection and continued for 180 minutes. Blood samples were collected from all ewes prior and 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 24 hours after lipopolysaccharide injection and sera were separated. Serum concentrations of haptoglobin, serum amyloid A, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interferon-gamma, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase were assayed. The rapid and significant elevation of haptoglobin, serum amyloid A, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and interferon-gamma were seen after endotoxemia induction. Serum concentrations of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase were significantly decreased after intravenous lipopolysaccharide infusion. The results of the present experimental study showed that haptoglobin, serum amyloid A, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and interferon-gamma at all hours studied after endotoxemia induction were positively correlated together. These parameters were negatively correlated with superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase at all hours after lipopolysaccharide infusion. The results of the present experiment can provide evidence for associations among acute phase proteins, cytokines, and enzymes and their changes during endotoxemia in sheep

Correlations among homocysteine, cardiac troponin I and cardiac enzymes in different ages of clinically healthy male dromedary camels

Information regarding serum biochemical profile can reflect cardiovascular performance in animals. Although studies have evaluated the inter-relationship among cardiovascular biomarkers in animals and human beings, there are no reports of such a probable relationship in camelids. The aim of the present study was to provide data on the correlations among cardiovascular biomarkers in different ages of clinically healthy male dromedary camels to provide a basis for assessing cardiac muscle healthiness in this species. Thirty clinically healthy dromedary camels [Camelus dromedarius] were selected and divided into four age groups including 1-3 [n=7], 4-6 [n=7], 7-9 [n=8], and above 10 [n=8] years old. Blood samples were collected and sera were separated. Serum concentrations of homocysteine [Hcy], cardiac troponin I [cTnI], creatine kinase-myocardial specific isoenzymes [CK-MB], lactate dehydrogenase [LDH], alanine aminotransferase [ALT] and aspartate aminotransferase [AST] were evaluated. The results of the present study showed that there were significant correlations among cTnI and CK-MB [r=-0.853; p=0.015] and Hcy [r=0.916; p=0.004] in the 4 to 6-years-old group of clinically healthy male dromedary camels. LDH was significantly correlated with CK-MB in the 7 to 9-year-old group [r=-0.710; p=0.045]. There were no significant correlations among different factors of 1-3 and above 10-year-old groups [p>0.05]. The data provided here is the first report on cardiac health assessment parameters in dromedary camels. Moreover, the data is valuable in camel racing clubs, when an overall cardiac health and fitness is to be assessed. The correlation reported here might also be helpful for easier analysis of cardiac health status in dromedary camels. The data may be useful for assessing suspected cases of myocardial diseases and its changes maybe of prognostic value

Seroepidemiology and molecular detection of Brucella infection in Iranian horses: a provincial study

Brucellosis is a febrile zoonotic infection and has worldwide distribution among humans as well as animals. Although the seroprevalence of brucellosis in various animals has been described in Iran, there is only one report on equine brucellosis in the region. This study was carried out to determine the seroprevalence of brucellosis in racing clubs and private horse owners in the south of Iran and risk factors associated with the disease in horses. 312 randomly selected equine serum samples were investigated for the presence of antibodies against Brucella genus, using slide agglutination by Rose Bengal plate test [RBPT], serum agglutination test [SAT] and 2-mercaptoethanol [2-ME] test, using whole cell antigen. PCR assay was also used for detection of clinically suspected cases. Most seropositive horses in this study were asymptomatic. The true seroprevalence of brucellosis was found to be 9.9, 8 and 7% by RBPT, SAT and 2-mercaptoethanol tests, respectively. All horses with history of clinical signs [3.2% of all samples] had RBPT, SAT and 2-mercaptoethanol positive results. It was also revealed that age, sex and a history of contact with ruminants had no effect on acquiring the infection in positive cases. In the PCR, one of the three horses with fistula withers produced amplicon of 450 bp fragment of wbo sequences specific to Brucella spp. field strain. This study showed the seroprevalence of brucellosis in horses of Fars province and it was indicated that the PCR assay may be helpful in detection of clinically suspected horses

effect of mercury on thyroid function in sheep

The purpose of this experiment was to determine the effect of long-term low-dose administration of mercury [Hg] on thyroid function in sheep. In this experiment, 10 clinically healthy, adult, male Iranian sheep, aged approximately 1 year, were randomly allocated into the control [n=5] and mercury [Hg-]-treated [n=5] groups. Both groups were kept under identical conditions in terms of food and environment. The treatment group received mercuric chloride [5 mg/kg/day] orally for eight weeks. Blood samples were drawn between the hours of 0800 and 0900 from both groups on days 0, 14, 28, 42, 56 and 70. Thyroid function was evaluated by measuring the levels of the serum thyroid hormones, including triiodothyronine [T3], thyroxine [T4], free T3 [FT3], free T4 [FT4] and thyroid-stimulating hormone [TSH]. Hepatic function was evaluated in both groups by measuring alanine aminotransferase [ALT], aspartate aminotransferase [AST], gamma-glutamyltransferase [GGT] and total bilirubin [TBIL]. Renal function was assessed using serum creatinine [Cr] and blood urea nitrogen [BUN] levels. Serum T3 [from day 28 onwards] and serum T4, FT3, FT4 and TSH [from day 14 onwards] decreased in the Hg-treated group [p<0.05]. Serum ALT, AST and GGT increased from days 42, 56 and 70, respectively, when compared to the control group [p<0.05]. The concentrations of total protein and albumin decreased on day 70 and total bilirubin [TBIL], BUN and Cr levels increased on day 70 when compared to the control group [p<0.05]. It was concluded that chronic administration of Hg may expose sheep to the risk of hypothyroidism