Ligula Intestinalis Infection in a Native Leuciscid Hybrid (Alburnus Derjugini x Squalius Orientalis) in The Kürtün Dam Lake, Northeast Anatolia.

Taxonomic evaluations are needed to accurately determine the host selection of fish parasites. The present study is a multidisciplinary research in the field of basic and fish diseases sciences. The description of the hybrid species of Squalius orientalis and Alburnus derjugini and infection of Ligula intestinalis in these hybrid fish were reported for the first time from the Kürtün Dam Lake in northeast Turkey. A total of 450 fish were sampled in March, August, and October in 2020 using gillnets. Detailed morphological characteristics (n = 24) were compared to determine the difference among ancestors and hybrid species. The prevalence of L. intestinalis between the sampling periods and the size groups of fish (0 - 10, 11 - 15, and ≥16 cm in length) were examined. Moreover, the highest prevalence of the parasite was observed in October (78.94 %), with a size range of 0 - 10 cm in length (77.8 %). In addition, the total prevalence of the parasite was 48.44 %. The results revealed that most of the diagnostic metric and meristic features of hybrid fish were ranging between the data of S. orientalis and A. derjugini. According to previous reports, when hybrid individuals were compared with their ancestors in terms of prevalence, hybrid individuals were more susceptible to L. intestinalis infections. This study was unique as it provided the first record of L. intestinalis in a hybrid fish population.

Bacterial pathogens and health problems of Acipenser gueldenstaedtii and Acipenser baerii sturgeons reared in the eastern Black Sea region of Turkey.

Farming sturgeons is an economically important practice in a number of Asian and European countries. However, since it is not widely implementedin Turkey, fertilized eggs necessary for research and industrial activities are imported from Germany. Due to the interest of several fish farms in culturing sturgeon in Turkey and the lack of relevant data, this study investigated bacteria related health problems of two different sturgeon species, the diamond sturgeon (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii) and the Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baerii). The fungal, parasitic and bacterial pathogens found in these fish were investigated until the fish reached about 3 kg of weight (3+ years). A number of bacterial disease pathogens (Acinetobacter radioresistens, some Aeromonas and Pseudomonas species and Bacillus mycoides) and parasite Trichodina sp. and fungus Saprolegnia sp. were identified in the fish. Both phenotypic and molecular characterizations of the isolated bacteria were performed. Furthermore, swim bladder and spinal problems, cannibalism, tumor growth and mechanical injuries on the external surface of the fish were observed during the study period.

Effects of long-term heat stress and dietary restriction on the expression of genes of steroidogenic pathway and small heat-shock proteins in rat testicular tissue.

The aim was to investigate the effects of long-term heat stress and dietary restriction on the expression of certain genes involving in steroidogenic pathway and small heat-shock proteins (sHSPs) in rat testis. Sprague Dawley rats (n = 24) were equally divided into four groups. Group I and II were kept at an ambient temperature of 22°C, while Groups III and IV were reared at 38°C for 9 weeks. Feed was freely available for Group I and Group III, while Group II and Group IV were fed 60% of the diet consumed by their ad libitum counterparts. At the end of 9 weeks, testicles were collected under euthanasia. Total RNA was isolated from testis tissue samples. Expression profiles of the genes encoding androgen-binding protein, follicle-stimulating hormone receptor, androgen receptor, luteinising hormone receptor, steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), cyclooxygenase-2 and sHSP genes were assessed at mRNA levels using qPCR. Long-term heat stress decreased the expression of StAR and HspB10 genes while dietary restriction upregulated StAR gene expression. The results suggested that long-term heat stress negatively affected the expression of StAR and HspB10 genes and the dietary restriction was able to reverse negative effect of heat stress on the expression of StAR gene in rat testis.

Expression profile of interferon tau-stimulated genes in ovine peripheral blood leukocytes during embryonic death.

Early and efficient detection of embryonic death (ED) has a valuable impact as important as early pregnancy diagnosis in ruminants. Among early pregnancy diagnosis methods, detection of the expression of interferon tau-stimulated genes (ISGs) in peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs) is well documented in cows and ewes. Therefore, we hypothesized that the expression profile of ISGs in PBLs might also be useful for detecting ED in these animals. For this purpose, pregnant ewes were used as an experimental model. Pregnancy was detected on Day 18 after mating by transrectal ultrasonography. Pregnant ewes were divided into a control group (sham injection on Day 18, n = 10) and ED group (treated with 75 µg synthetic PGF2α on Day 18, n = 12). PBLs and plasma were collected on Days 0 (mating day), 15, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, and 25 by jugular venipuncture. Total RNA was isolated from PBLs. ISGs expression levels were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction in triplicate. Electrochemiluminescence immunoassay was used to measure progesterone (P4) levels in plasma. In the ED group, the P4 level declined to less than 1 ng/mL on Day 19 and remained at a low level until the end of the study. Compared with that on Day 0, receptor transporter protein 4 (RTP4) and ISG15 expression was upregulated on Day 15 and remained high until Day 21 in both groups, and RTP4 and ISG15 mRNA levels were attenuated on Days 23 and 25 only in the ED group (P < 0.001). Myxovirus resistance 1 expression was upregulated on Day 15 and remained high until Day 23 in both groups, but was attenuated on Day 25 in the ED group (P < 0.05). The B2-microglobulin mRNA level did not change significantly during the study in either group. These results indicate that the decline in P4 concentration was an immediate response to PGF2α and that the embryo may have survived longer than the CL on the basis of the extended period of ISGs expression. This suggests that the absence of P4 could be the reason for ED rather than a direct effect of PGF2α. In conclusion, the expression of ISGs, including ISG15, RTP4, and myxovirus resistance 1, but not B2-microglobulin, in PBLs may serve as a marker of ED.

D-dimer and D-dimer/fibrinogen ratio in predicting pulmonary embolism in patients evaluated in a hospital emergency department.

OBJECTIVES: The D-dimer level, fibrinogen level, and D-dimer/fibrinogen ratio are used in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism, but results vary. We evaluated these parameters in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism in emergency clinic patients. METHODS: In this prospective study, 200 patients (pulmonary embolism, 100 patients; no pulmonary embolism, 100 patients) had D-dimer and fibrinogen levels measured before intervention. Pulmonary embolism was diagnosed with computed tomography angiography or ventilation-perfusion scintigraphy. RESULTS: Compared with patients who did not have pulmonary embolism, patients who had pulmonary embolism had significantly greater mean D-dimer level (pulmonary embolism, 6±7 µg/ml; no pulmonary embolism, 1±1 µg/ml; P⩽0·001) and D-dimer/fibrinogen ratio (pulmonary embolism, 3±3; no pulmonary embolism, 0·4±0·4; P⩽0·001), but similar mean fibrinogen levels (pulmonary embolism, 337±184 mg/dl; no pulmonary embolism, 384±200 mg/dl; not significant). In patients who had pulmonary embolism, mean D-dimer level and D-dimer/fibrinogen ratio were greater in high-risk than non-high-risk patients. With D-dimer cutoff 0·35 µg/ml, sensitivity was high (100%) and specificity was low (27%) for pulmonary embolism. With D-dimer/fibrinogen ratio cutoff 0·13, sensitivity was high (100%) and specificity was low (37%) for pulmonary embolism. CONCLUSION: A D-dimer level <0·35 µg/ml may exclude the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism. At a D-dimer cutoff 0·5 µg/ml and D-dimer/fibrinogen ratio cutoff 1·0, the D-dimer/fibrinogen ratio may have better specificity than D-dimer level in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism, but the D-dimer/fibrinogen ratio may lack sufficient specificity in screening.