Faecal prevalence and histopathological evaluation of coccidiosis in bovine calves.

Bovine coccidiois, caused by Eimeria spp. is widely prevalent around the globe and responsible for huge economic losses by causing morbidity and mortality among young calves. The present study was designed to evaluate the prevalence as well as to evaluate histopathological alterations associated with it. The faecal samples were collected from 700 bovine calves upto two month of age from August 2019 to July 2021 and screened for Eimeria oocycts. The intestinal tissue samples of 37 calves were also collected which died during the study period after showing symptoms of diarrhea and examined for histological lesions. The faecal prevalence of Eimeria observed in our study was 2.29% (16/700) while in tissue samples only two out of 37 were found positive for Eimeria infection. Tissue sections revealed various stages of Eimeria gametogony, variable congestion, haemorrhage, and necrosis along with cryptic dilatation and mononuclear cell infiltration. Coccidia was not found to be associated with season, age and sex of calf. Bovine coccidiosis was found to be endemic with low prevalence but severe onset characterized by moderate to severe congestion and inflammatory reaction mainly in the ileum and caecum.

Protective role of chickpea seed coat fibre on N-nitrosodiethylamine-induced toxicity in hypercholesterolemic rats.

N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA) is one of the important carcinogenic nitrosamines frequently present in human environment and food chain that poses a significant human health hazard. This study was planned to investigate the protective role of dietary fibre on NDEA-induced toxicity in hypercholesterolemic rats. Oral administration of NDEA at a dose of 100mg/kg diet to experimental rats under hypercholesterolemic conditions evoked severe biochemical and pathological changes. Supplementation of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) seed coat fibre in the diet along with NDEA reduced its biochemical and pathological effects. There was a reduction in the hepatotoxic effects of NDEA as evidenced by decreased hepatic degeneration and improved liver weight index. Administration of NDEA resulted in a significant increase in the osmotic fragility of erythrocytes. The antioxidant activity of experimental animals decreased in the NDEA-fed group, which was evident by increased in vitro lipid peroxidation (LPO) of erythrocytes. However, chickpea seed coat fibre considerably reduced the peroxidative damage done by NDEA. Administration of NDEA also resulted in a significant increase in LPO in all the tissues to a varying degree, although the effect on antioxidant potential was variable in different tissues. However, chickpea seed coat fibre reduced the effect of NDEA on LPO and antioxidant potential of various tissues, providing reasonable protection against NDEA-induced oxidative stress and hence its toxicity. Histopathological analysis of different tissues (heart, liver and lungs) showed decrease in the severity of pathological changes among the experimental animals when they were given NDEA along with chickpea seed coat fibre in the diet as compared with giving NDEA alone. Our study therefore, emphasizes the importance of including dietary fibre in the diet, in combating the ill-effects of nitrosamines such as NDEA, particularly on the antioxidant status of the body.

N-nitrosodiethylamine-induced toxicity in relation to oxidative stress and development of atherosclerosis in hypercholesterolemic diet-fed rabbits.

N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA) is an important carcinogenic nitrosamine frequently present in human environment, besides being a part of the human food chain by virtue of its reported presence in various foodstuffs and beverages. This study was planned to investigate the toxicity of NDEA in relation to the development of atherosclerosis in experimental rabbits. Oral administration of NDEA at 50mg per day along with hypercholesterolemic diet to rabbits resulted in significant increase in osmotic fragility of erythrocytes as well as increased in vitro lipid peroxidation (LPO) of erythrocytes. The plasma total lipids, cholesterol and glycerides continued to increase during the feeding of hypercholesterolemic diet with or without NDEA. However, after the cessation of hypercholesterolemic diet, decrease in the lipid fractions was relatively less in the experimental group receiving NDEA. Administration of NDEA in the hypercholesterolemic diet did not affect the total lipid content in the liver, although it marginally increased the hepatic cholesterol levels. Histopathological changes in different tissues (heart, aorta and liver) were relatively more severe in experimental rabbits receiving NDEA treatment as compared to the control ones. Our study therefore indicates that oral administration of NDEA results in increased LPO of blood and decreased lipid clearance, which may in turn result in increased degree of atherosclerosis.

Impact of hypercholesterolemia on toxicity of N-nitrosodiethylamine: biochemical and histopathological effects.

N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA) is an important carcinogen frequently present in human environment and food chain. Nitrosamines such as NDEA produce oxidative stress due to generation of reactive oxygen species and alter the antioxidant defence system in the tissues. The present investigation was aimed at studying its toxicity under hypercholesterolemic conditions. NDEA administration brought about hepatic degeneration as evidenced by the significant decrease in liver weight index of both normal as well as hypercholesterolemic animals. Hypercholesterolemia did not affect the hemoglobin (Hb) content in experimental animals but resulted in an increase in the osmotic fragility of erythrocytes. The antioxygenic potential of experimental animals decreased in both, the NDEA-fed group as well as in the group that was also supplemented with a hypercholesterolemic diet. This was evident by increased in vitro lipid peroxidation (LPO) of erythrocytes. Administration of NDEA resulted in a substantial and significant increase in LPO in all the tissues under normal as well as hypercholesterolemic conditions. Addition of hypercholesterolemic diet in general, increased LPO in all the tissues to varying degrees but its effect was maximal in the liver. Effect of NDEA administration on antioxygenic enzymes under normal as well as hypercholesterolemic conditions was variable in different tissues. Histopathological analysis of different tissues (heart, liver, lungs, spleen and kidneys) showed mild to severe pathological changes among the control and experimental groups.