Effects of fake and original perfumes on the presence, numbers, and distribution of mast cells in selected tissues in rats.

Background: Perfumes, whether original or fake, are considered of great economic value. However, overzealous use of perfumes could be associated with local or systemic side effects. Aim: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of daily use of original and fake perfumes on numbers and distribution of mast cells in several organs and tissues of Wistar rats. Methods: Three different kinds of original perfumes coded as O1, O2, and O3 and their fake counterparts coded as F1, F2, and F3 were applied once daily directly on the skin of rats for 28 consecutive days. At the end of the study, representative tissue samples were taken and processed for histopathological examination using Hematoxylin and Eosin, toluidine blue, and Wright's stains. Results: A significant (p < 0.05) elevation in mast cell count was observed in F3, O3, F1, and F2 compared to the control group. The majority of mast cells were distributed in the hepatic perivascular tissues, peribronchial and pleural tissues. There was a significant (p < 0.05) elevation in mast cell count in along the interalveolar wall, peribronchial area, and pleura tissues in F1 and O3 groups. Conclusion: Results of this study indicated that repeated use of both original and fake perfumes was associated with an increased number of mast cells in different body organs and tissues.

Exposure assessment of bisphenol A by drinking coffee from plastic cups.

BACKGROUND: Human exposure to plastic and Bisphenol-A (BPA) is very wide in food or beverage containers and baby bottles that have contacted polycarbonate and epoxy resin. Currently a traditional beverage in Arabian culture is served in plastic cups instead of glass cups in different occasions. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the possible BPA leach from the grade 5 drinking coffee plastic cups into the coffee and whether the use of plastic cups instead of glass ones to serve hot Arabian coffee poses a health risk. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Oral administration of such coffee to three different groups of rats were undertaken. Each group consisted of 10 males and 10 females. The first group (G1) was gavaged 1.5 ml of hot water in glass cups. The second group (G2) was gavaged 1.5 ml of hot water in plastic cups while the third one (G3) was gavaged 1.5 ml of Arabian coffee in plastic cups. Serum concentrations of Bisphenol-A were measured 4 weeks later. Complete postmortem examination was conducted and representative tissue samples were subjected to histopathological evaluation. RESULTS: In the control group receiving water kept in a glass cup had 24 ± 2 µg/L serum concentration and the second group was 36 ± 4 µg/L while in the third group was 29 ± 6 µg/L. No significant postmortem changes or histopathological findings were present in the studied animals. CONCLUSIONS: Bisphenol-A can be leached from food-grade plastic cups into hot drinks within short period of time, posing a significant impact to public health.

Establishment of reference intervals of selected blood biochemical parameters in Shami goats.

BACKGROUND: Reference intervals (RIs) of various blood biochemical parameters are used in assessing the clinical health and nutritional status of animals. Blood biochemical analyte RIs are not currently available in Shami goats. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine the RIs of selected blood biochemical analytes in Shami goats. METHODS: Blood from 120 animals (females N = 70; males N = 50) was used to determine the RIs of total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), globulin, fibrinogen (FIB), urea, creatinine (CRT), AST, ALT, ALP, GGT, glucose (GLU), calcium (Ca), sodium (Na), potassium (K), and chloride (CL) using commercially available kits. RESULTS: The RIs for selected blood biochemical analytes in Shami goats were: TP (34.9-83.5 g/L), ALB (22.3-55.1 g/L), globulin (9.9-50 g/L), FIB (2.19-5.45 g/L), urea (0.55-9.5 mmol/L), CRT (11.4-221 µmol/L), aspartate aminotransferase (7.9-299 U/L), ALT (2.3-49 U/L), ALP (7.7-950 U/L), GGT (4.5-185 U/L), GLU (1.3-6.8 mmol/L), Ca (1.65-2.6 mmol/L), Na (120-180 mmol/L), K (3.7-6.3 mmol/L), CL (91.9- 125 mmol/L), and the albumin:globulin ratio (0.45-3.9). CONCLUSIONS: The RIs of the selected blood biochemical analytes in Shami goats were determined in this study. These results can be used in the clinical diagnosis of diseases in Shami goats and to evaluate their general health and nutritional status.

Breed-specific reference intervals of hematologic variables in Shami goats (Capra aegagrus hircus) with the possible effects of age and sex.

BACKGROUND: Shami goats are an economically and sentimentally important breed of goats in the Mediterranean region. Shami goats are known for superior fecundity and productivity compared with other indigenous breeds. Shami goats also appear to be more susceptible to various infectious and production-related diseases. Therefore, the establishment of breed-specific hematologic reference intervals (RIs) is required. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to establish breed-specific RIs of some hematologic variables in Shami goats and to report the effects of age and sex on these values. METHODS: A total of 100 Shami goats were used to determine the total red blood cell (RBC) count, packed cell volume (PCV), hemoglobin concentration, mean cell volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), mean cell hemoglobin (MCH), total whitle blood cell (WBC) count, absolute values, and the percentages of neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, basophils, and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratios (N/L), using traditional manual laboratory methods. RESULTS: Reference intervals of several variables in Shami goats were generated according to the American Society of Veterinary Clinical Pathology guidelines. Females were found to have significantly higher RBC, MCHC, and WBC values, while males were found to have significantly higher MCV values and lower neutrophil and lymphocyte numbers. Adult goats were found to have significantly higher RBC, PCV, MCV, MCH, WBC values, and neutrophil and lymphocyte numbers compared with juvenile goats. CONCLUSION: Data presented here could be used as baseline information to evaluate the health status of Shami goats and assist in reaching a diagnosis for several pathologic diseases.

Biochemical and molecular investigation of thermal manipulation protocols during broiler embryogenesis and subsequent thermal challenge.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the current study was to evaluate the effect of different thermal manipulation (TM) protocols during embryogenesis on thermotolerance acquisition parameters during subsequent thermal challenge (TC) at posthatch day 28. A total of 1500 fertile chicken eggs were divided randomly into five treatments (300 eggs each): control was maintained at 37.8 °C and 56 % relative humidity (RH) whereas, TM1, TM2, TM3 and TM4 were subjected to 38.5, 39, 39.5 and 40 °C for 18 h and 65 % RH daily during embryonic days ED 12-18. Hatched chicks from each treatment group allocated randomly into two sub-treatment groups (thermo-neutral, naïve (TN) and thermal challenge (TC). At day 28 of age, chicks subjected to TC by adjusting room temperature to 42 °C for 6 h while naïve chicks kept under regular conditions (22 ± 1 °C and 50-60 % RH). Chick's response to TC evaluated by determination of plasma T3, T4, corticosterone, total proteins, albumin, selected enzymes and some electrolytes at the beginning (0 h) and after 1, 3 and 5 h of TC in TM and TN chicks. Furthermore, pectoral and thigh muscles mRNA expression of Atrogin-1, CK, avUCP, DIO3, DIO2 were evaluated in TC and TN sub-treatment groups. RESULTS: TM induced a significant reduction in free T3 and elevation in total proteins and albumin in plasma with significant down-regulation of Atrogin-1 and DIO2 and significant up-regulation of DIO3 mRNA expression in muscle of TM chicks compare to control. During TC at day 28, decrease in the concentrations of plasma free T3, total proteins and albumin with increase in T4 have been detected in control and TM chicks. TC induced up-regulation of Atrogin-1 and DIO3 with down-regulation of DIO2 gene expression in muscles of all TC chicks. CONCLUSION: The present study indicated that, TM improved thermotolerance acquisition by decreasing basal metabolic rate and muscle injury during thermal stress. Basal metabolic rate decreased via reduction of plasma T3 concentration with up and down regulation of expression of DIO3 and DIO2, respectively in muscles. Muscle injury protected by stimulation of protein biosynthesis and down-regulation of Atrogin-1 expression.

Detection and molecular characterization of bovine leukemia viruses from Jordan.

Bovine leukemia virus (BLV) is distributed worldwide. BLV has many effects on the health status and productivity of infected animals and is a potential risk for humans. In this study, we aimed to investigate the presence of and genotype bovine leukemia viruses on Jordanian dairy farms. Nested PCR coupled with RFLP and direct sequencing of a partial fragment of the env gene were carried out. Two BLV genotypes were found, genotypes 1 and 6. These genotypes were identified by nested PCR-RFLP of 444 bp of the env gene by restriction digestion with HaeIII, Bcl I and Pvu II. However, BLV-Jordan-10 seems to represent an entirely new genotype in our phylogenetic analysis. The nucleotide sequence identity between these two Jordanian BLV genotypes (1 and 6) was 96.2 %. The nucleotide sequence identity between Jordanian BLV genotype 1 and other reference BLV genotype 1 strains ranged from 99 % to 99.5 %. The nucleotide sequence similarity of the Jordanian BLV genotype 6 to other BLV genotypes ranged from 90 % to 96.7 %. A neutralizing motif and CD8(+) T-cell epitope were found in the env protein of both Jordanian isolates. In this study, we documented the presence of two BLV genotypes (1 and 6) on Jordanian dairy farms.

Clinical and histopathological evaluation of MDP/collagen induced arthritis rat model (MCIA) after treatment with Urtica dioica, plantago major and Hypericum perforatum L herbal mixture.

This study was done to assess the effects of Urtica dioica, Plantago major and Hypericum perforatum L herbal mixture in the MCIA rat model. In addition, a new pathological and clinical arthritis lesion assessment was developed. Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were immunized with bovine type II collagen and muramyl dipeptide (MDP). Commercial herbal extracts were administered daily to the rats after the immunization for the course of experiment (90 days). Rats were boosted with a second collagen-MDP emulsion 60 days after the first immunization. Paws were daily evaluated macroscopically for redness, swelling, distortion, or ankylosis of the joints. On the day of sacrifice, rat paws were assessed for histopathologic changes. Herbal mixture administration decreased the clinical lesion manifestation in the MCIA rat model and led to development of similar or slightly more severe histopathological lesions compared to rats that did not receive the treatment. The clinical arthritis signs appeared as early as 13 days after the first MDP/collagen injection and with peak incidence at 20 days post-immunization. Histopathologically, animals showed changes ranging from mild to very severe. Administration of the herbal mixture used in this study had a clinical therapeutic effect on the course of the clinical manifestations in the MCIA model, but the herbal treatment had no such effect on the histopathological lesion development and even led to slightly more severe lesions. Rats in the MCIA model developed prominent clinical and histopathological changes that were comparable to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) lesions in humans.

Unusual presentation of splenic myelolipoma in a dog.

A 13-year-old dog was presented with clinical signs of anemia, vomiting, weight loss, and progressive abdominal distension. Abdominal ultrasonography and radiography revealed a large mass, which was removed surgically. Cytologic and histologic evaluation of the mass revealed a mixture of fat and hematopoietic tissue, consistent with a splenic myelolipoma.

Accuracy of ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration of the liver and cytologic findings in dogs and cats: 97 cases (1990-2000).

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the accuracy of ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration of the liver and cytologic findings in dogs and cats. DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: 56 dogs and 41 cats. PROCEDURE: Medical records of dogs and cats evaluated from 1990 to 2000 by use of cytologic and histopathologic examination of the liver were reviewed. Histologic and cytologic diagnoses were categorized as vacuolar hepatopathy, inflammation, neoplasia, cirrhosis, primary cholestasis, shunt, normal, and other. RESULTS: Overall agreement between the histopathologic diagnosis and cytologic diagnosis was found in 17 of the 56 (30.3%) canine cases and 21 of the 41 (51.2%) feline cases. Vacuolar hepatopathy was the category with the highest percentage of agreement. Vacuolar hepatopathy was identified via cytologic examination in 7 of 11 and 15 of 18 dogs and cats, respectively, in which histopathologic examination revealed that it was the predominant disease process. However, it was also the category that was most commonly misdiagnosed via cytologic examination. Inflammatory disease was accurately identified cytologically in 5 of 20 and 3 of 11 dogs and cats, respectively. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Acknowledging the limitations of cytology and the extent of discrepancies between cytologic and histopathologic findings in dogs and cats will help clinicians make better decisions in diagnosing liver disease.