Detection of serum amyloid-A concentration in the calf clinically diagnosed with pneumonia, enteritis and pneumoenteritis / A detecção de amilóide-A concentração sérica na panturrilha com diagnóstico clínico de pneumonia, enterite e pneumoenterites

ABSTRACT: The aim of this study is to determine serum amyloid-A (SAA) concentration in the cases of pneumonia, pneumoenteritis, and enteritis which are frequently encountered in calves in veterinary medicine. Although a great deal of experimental studies has been conducted in this field, studies on naturally infected calves are quite few. Eighty calves at the age of 0-6 months were used in the study and the calves were divided into four groups. Due to the clinical examination, the calves diagnosed with pneumonia (Group P; n=20), with pneumoenteritis (Group PE; n=20) and with enteritis (Group E; n=20) formed the disease group as the healthy ones formed the control (Group C; n=20) group. After the body temperatures of all calves were taken, blood samples were obtained from Jugular vein for haematological and biochemical measurements. As haematological, white blood cell (WBC), red blood cell (RBC), hemoglobin (Hb) and hematocrit (Hct) measurements were performed in Veterinary Hematology Analyzer. Serum amyloid-A (SAA), interleukin 1 (IL-1β), interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) concentration measurements were carried out with ELISA reader by using commercial kits. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), albumin (ALB), total bilirubin (T. Bil), total protein (TP), gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentration measurements were conducted in autoanalyzer by using commercial kits. In all disease groups (P, PE, and E) body temperature, haematologic parameters (WBC, RBC, Hb and Hct), serum biochemical parameters (AST, ALT, ALB, T. Bil, TP, GGT and BUN), SAA concentration and serum concentrations of cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α) were determined to be higher in comparison to the control group (P<0.005). According to these findings, routine measurement of serum SAA concentration in veterinary medicine is considered to be beneficial in determining the severity of the disease, in selecting the proper treatment, in monitoring the applied treatment, and detecting subclinical diseases. In the light of these findings we acknowledge that routine measurements of serum SAA concentration from the moment the calves are diagnosed with pneumonia, enteritis and pneumoenteritis in veterinary medicine until the actual cause is determined (bacteria, virus, parasites, etc.) would avail the clinician to, identify the severity of the disease, select the appropriate treatment and monitor the effectiveness of the treatment.

RESUMO: O objetivo deste estudo é determinar amilóide A (SAA) da concentração sérica nos casos de pneumonia, pneumoenterites e enterite, que são frequentemente encontrados em bezerros em medicina veterinária. Apesar de uma grande quantidade de estudos experimentais terem sido realizados neste campo, os estudos sobre animais com infecção natural são muito poucos. 80 vitelos com a idade de 0-6 meses de idade foram utilizados no estudo e os animais foram divididos em quatro grupos. Devido ao exame clínico, os bezerros diagnosticados com pneumonia (Grupo P; n=20), com pneumoenterites (Grupo PE; n=20) e com enterite (Grupo E; n=20) formaram o grupo de doença, como as saudáveis, ​​formando o grupo controle (Grupo C; n=20). Após as temperaturas corporais de todos os bezerros, foram tomadas amostras de sangue que foram obtidas de veia jugular para medições hematológicas e bioquímicas. Como hematológica, glóbulos brancos (WBC), glóbulos vermelhos (RBC), hemoglobina (Hb) e hematócrito (HCT) foram realizados em Hematologia Veterinária Analyzer. O soro amilóide-A (SAA), a interleucina 1 (IL-1β), interleucina 6 (IL-6), fator de necrose tumoral (TNF-α) medidas de concentração foram efectuadas com um leitor de ELISA, utilizando kits comerciais. Aspartato aminotransferase (AST), alanina aminotransferase (ALT), albumina (ALB), bilirrubina total (T. Bil), proteína total (TP), gama glutamiltransferase (GGT), ureia (BUN) às medições das concentrações foram realizadas em auto-analisador por utilizandos kits comerciais. Em todos os grupos de doenças (P, PE, e E), a temperatura corporal, parâmetros hematológicos (WBC, RBC, Hb e Hct), parâmetros bioquímicos de soro (AST, ALT, ALB, T. Bil, TP, GGT e BUN), a concentração SAA e as concentrações séricas de citocinas (IL-1β, IL-6 e TNF-α) foram determinadas a ser mais elevadas em comparação com o grupo controle (P<0,005). De acordo com estas descobertas, a medição rotineira da concentração de soro SAA em medicina veterinária é considerada benéfica para determinar a gravidade da doença, na selecção de um tratamento adequado, no seguimento do tratamento aplicado e para a detecção de doenças subclínicas. À luz desses resultados, reconhecemos que as medições de rotina da concentração SAA soro do momento em que os bezerros são diagnosticadas com pneumonia, enterite e pneumoenterites em medicina veterinária, até que a causa real seja determinada (bactérias, vírus, parasitas, etc.), seria aproveitar o clínico, a fim de identificar a gravidade da doença, além de seleccionar o tratamento adequado e monitorar a eficácia do tratamento.

Histological evaluation of the effects of borax obtained from various sources in different rat organs / Evaluación histológica de los efectos del borax obtenido de diversas fuentes en diferentes órganos de rata

Boron is an essential element for life and intake via different sources into the body. Because effects of boron and compounds on the body has not been studied enough especially in tissue level, we planned this study to evaluate the effects of borax the most intaken form of boron compound on different intraabdominal organs histologically and also clinically. 42 male rats divided into equal 7 groups and different toxicological doses consistent with its LD50 dose (5000 mg/kg/d) were administered by gavage except control and sham groups. In the study, 2 different kinds of borax one of which was produced for research and the other for agriculture but the same formulation, were used and their effects were also compared. As a result it was found that borax did not cause any histological changes in kidney, large intestine, liver and stomach in lower doses. But if doses were increased, a slightly inflammatory cell migration was detected without clinical signs in liver and large intestine. However, when a single very high dose of borax was administered, very high edema, inflammatory cell migration and neovascularization was observed and clinically 2 out of 6 rats died within 5 hours. We suggested that very high dose intake of borax may cause sudden death and also during long periods and higher dose intake may pave the way of inflammatory bowel diseases. At the same time, in boron related studies we advice that the kind of boron and also their source should be evaluated carefully and the most suitable compound should be chosen in case of faulty results.

El boro es un elemento esencial para la vida e ingresa a través de diferentes fuentes al cuerpo. Dado que los efectos del boro y sus compuestos en el cuerpo no se han estudiado lo suficiente, especialmente a nivel tisular, se planificó este estudio para evaluar sus efectos y la forma de consumo más común del compuesto de boro sobre diferentes órganos intraabdominales a nivel histológico y clínico. Cuarenta y dos ratas macho divididas en 7 grupos, con diferentes dosis toxicológicas de acuerdo con su dosis DL50 (5000 mg/kg/d) administradas por sonda, excepto en los grupos control y simulado. En el estudio fueron usados 2 tipos diferentes de boro, uno producido para la investigación y el otro para la agricultura, pero de la misma formulación, y sus efectos fueron comparados. Se encontró que el boro no causó cambios histológicos en el riñón, intestino grueso, hígado y estómago en dosis bajas. Sin embargo, al aumentar la dosis, se detectó una leve migración de células inflamatorias, sin signos clínicos, en el hígado e intestino grueso. Por otra parte, cuando se administró una sola dosis muy alta de boro, se observó un amplio edema, migración de células inflamatorias y neovascularización; clínicamente 2 de 6 ratas murieron dentro de 5 horas. Sugerimos que la ingesta de dosis muy altas de bórax pueden causar la muerte súbita, además la ingesta de dosis altas y durante periodos de tiempo prolongado puede causar enfermedades inflamatorias del intestino. Es recomendable que en los estudios relacionados con el boro, el tipo de boro así como su fuente sean evaluados cuidadosamente, eligiendo el compuesto más adecuado en caso de resultados erróneos.

Field trial on comparative efficacy of four fasciolicides against natural liver fluke infection in cattle.

A controlled trial was conducted to evaluate the current efficacy of albendazole (ABZ), rafoxanide (RFX), triclabendazole (TRC) or clorsulon (CLS) against Fasciola hepatica in naturally infected cattle. This trial was conducted in Turkey during the spring, the time of year when liver fluke infection is endemic. Fifty crossbred cattle were selected for inclusion in the trial based on finding eggs of F. hepatica in the feces. The cattle were weighed and randomly allotted into five groups of 10 cattle and treatments were as follows: Group 1 served as non-treated control (CONT), Group 2 was treated orally with ABZ at 12 mg/kg, Group 3 was treated orally with RFX at 10 mg/kg, Group 4 received TRC orally at 12 mg/kg and Group 5 received CLS administered subcutaneously (s.c.) at 2 mg/kg. On day 0 (inclusion day), individual fecal samples were collected on days 0 (inclusion day), 7, 14, 28 and 56, after treatment. The drug efficacy was assessed as a percentage of the egg or fluke reduction and body weight gain relative to the untreated control. The results in the study showed a mean reduction of egg counts by 66.7%, 68.2%, 78% and 84.2% in Groups 2-5, respectively. In conclusion, our results indicate that CLS is a highly effective compound for the treatment of F. hepatica in cattle under these field conditions.

Efficacy of azithromycin dihydrate in treatment of cryptosporidiosis in naturally infected dairy calves.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of azithromycin treatment of cryptosporidiosis in naturally infected calves under field conditions. Fifty Holstein calves with cryptosporidiosis infection were divided into 5 groups: 1 group (10 calves) was unmedicated and served as the control group and was given distilled water only, whereas the other groups (10 animals per group) were medicated orally with azithromycin at the doses of 500 (group 1), 1,000 (group 2), 1,500 (group 3), and 2,000 mg (group 4) PO once daily for 7 days. The animals were examined clinically and fecal samples were collected on the 1st (inclusion day), 7th, 14th, and 21st days of the study. Drug efficacy was assessed by evaluating diarrhea, oocyst shedding, and weight gains from days 1 to 21 (4 assessments). Significant differences were observed in reductions of oocyst shedding (P < .05) and the fecal diarrhea incidence (P < .05) in groups 3 and 4 when compared with groups 1 and 2 and the control group. Weight gain of medicated calves was significantly higher than that of the unmedicated calves throughout the study (P < .05). The drug significantly suppressed oocyst shedding and resulted in significant improvements in clinical signs. Therefore, this suppression may have significant effect on the reduction of environmental contamination by cryptosporidial oocysts. From the economic point view, authors suggest that the most effective dose of azithromycin for the treatment of cryptosporidiosis in calves should be at 1,500 mg/d for 7 days.