The coagulation system in horses with colic

Colic in horses very often induces changes in the coagulation system causing the development of disseminated intravascular clotting. It is promoted by blood concentration and an increase in exposition of coagulation activators with a simultaneous decrease in coagulation inhibitors activity, mainly antithrombin III. Progressing blood platelets aggregation supports production of microthromboses and plugging capillary vessels. The progression of this processes causes complications in basic disease and becomes the reason for therapeutic failure. Determination of coagulation system indexes such as the number of platelets, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, thrombin time, concentration of fibrinogen and fibrinogen degradation products, and D-dimmer and antithrombin III contents enables diagnosis and facilitates appropriate therapy of colic in horses.     

Preliminary results of monitoring research on zearalenone presence in blood of women with neoplastic lesions in reproductive system

The aim of the monitoring of zearalenone presence in the blood plasma of women with neoplastic lesions in the reproductive tract was to asses whether the phytosteride is noted in the patients blood and whether the correlation exists between its presence and the incidence of particular neoplasm. The presence of zearalenone or its metabolite--alpha-zearalenole, was noted in 13.51% of the examined women. In 60% of the patients with the confirmed presence of the xenobiotic it was noted in the lowest concentrations. These patients had neoplastic lesions of Carcinoma corpus uteri type.     

Thyroid hormones concentrations and ECG picture in the dog

Disorders of the thyroid gland activity are the most commonly encountered disturbances of endocrine origin in the dog. Hypo- or hyperthyroidism may disturb the function of the cardiovascular system and cause arrhythmias. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of thyroid gland activity on electrocardiogram (ECG) picture in the dog by comparing ECG curves of healthy dogs, dogs with hypothyroidism and dogs with cardiac insufficiency caused by endocardiosis of the mitral valve. The study was performed on 38 dogs, patients of the Department of Internal and Parasitic Diseases with Clinic for Horses, Dogs and Cats in Wroc?aw. The animals were assigned to 3 groups: Group I--control group, 13 clinically healthy dogs; Group II--14 dogs with diagnosed cardiac insufficiency caused by endocardiosis of the mitral valve; Group III--11 dogs with hypothyroidism. Clinical examination of the animals was conducted according to the following pattern: anamnesis, general clinical examination, cardiological examination (ECG, USG of the heart) and laboratory analysis (triacylglycerydes, cholesterol, T3, T4, FT4). In this study, the significant influence of thyroid gland activity on ECG picture of the evaluated dogs was found. In the dogs with hypothyroidism a decrease in the sino-atrial node activity was observed, which led to decreased heart rate. In dogs with hypothyroidism, the innerheart conduction was reduced, which was demonstrated by prolongation of the P wave, QRS complex and the QT interval.     

Pathomorphological and immunohistochemical study of selected markers of tumour cell proliferation in equine sarcoids

The purpose of the study was a pathomorphological and immunohistochemical analysis of tumour cells and connective tissue in equine sarcoids. Investigations were performed using histopathological, ultrastructural, immunohistochemical (PCNA, p53, cytokeratin, vimentin) and histochemical (Ag-NORs) methods. The study was conducted on 50 sarcoids originating from 36 horses and classified as occult, verrucous, fibroblastic and a mixed type of sarcoid based on their clinical appearance. Most of the tumours were located on the girth (30%), neck (24%), head (12%), and legs (12%). The average age of the horses at the first clinical examination was 5.7 years. The sarcoids occurred on the skin of mares (61%), geldings (31%) and stallions (8%), the predominant was Wielkopolska breed (41%) and mixed breeds with Wielkopolska breed (41%). The predominant colour was bay (80%). The data showed that the presence of characteristic, microscopic features was variable but it was not consistent enough to allow differentiation of the clinical types based on histopathology. PCNA expression was not characteristic for the clinical type of sarcoid but it appeared to be a useful tool for the determination of the biological activity of the tumour and the probability of its recurrence. No relationship was found between AgNORs and cell proliferation. The study demonstrated the presence of p53 positive cells in the epidermal and fibroblastic portions. Numerous p53-positive cells were observed in the sarcoids and tended to recurrence. The staining for cytokeratin and vimentin makes the diagnosis of tumour easier. The immunohistochemical studies of PCNA, and p53 are of great significance to the prognosis.     

Contents of selected heavy metals in the liver, kidneys and abdominal muscle of the brown hare (Lepus europaeus Pallas, 1778) in Central Pomerania, Poland

The content of iron, zinc, copper, manganese, lead, and cadmium was determined in the kidney, liver, and abdominal muscle of the brown hare (Lepus europaeus), a species known for its bioindicative potential in environmental quality assessment. The animals assayed were divided into immature (in their first year of life; n=25) and adult (n=39). The hares were acquired in an area situated far away from major cities and direct impacts of industrial and transport pollution. The zinc content found in the assayed hare's muscles (25.9 microg/g w.w.) and that of manganese in the kidneys, liver, and muscles (2, 2.51 i 0.85 microg/g w.w., respectively) tended to be higher than those reported from the brown hare elsewhere in Europe. The content of cadmium (particularly in the kidneys) and lead proved substantial and close to those typical of the hare inhabiting industry-affected areas. Analysis of the data pooled for all the individuals showed Zn and Cd contents to increase with age in the kidneys, the liver Cd content increasing with age as well; on the other hand, the age-Cu content was negative. In addition, a number of significant correlations between the metals themselves were revealed, particularly with respect to Zn-Cd correlation in kidneys (r(s)=0.47), Fe-Cd, Zn-Cu, Mn-Zn, Mn-Cu, and Mn-Pb in the liver (r(s) of 0.42, 0.86, 0.72, 0.79, and 0.42, respectively), and Zn-Cu in the muscle (r(s)=0.56). The kidney cadmium content was higher by 81% in the adult than in the immature hare, the adult hare muscle copper content being lower by 15.5%.     

Mapping of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">ms8</Emphasis> male sterility gene in sweet pepper (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Capsicum annuum</Emphasis> L.) on the chromosome P4 using PCR-based markers useful for breeding programmes

The nuclear male sterility gene ms8 is expected to facilitate the production of sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) hybrids as it provides means for hybridization without the labor-intensive hand emasculation of female inbred lines. The development of molecular markers linked to ms8 locus will help the breeding practice for the selection of hybrid parental lines. In this study, F₂ population resulting from a cross between the sweet pepper male sterile line 320 and the male fertile variety Elf was used to identify DNA markers linked to the ms8 locus. With the use of RAPD–BSA technique, seven markers linked to the ms8 locus were found. Four of them were converted into SCAR markers. In addition, two COSII/CAPS markers linked to the ms8 locus were identified. Comparative mapping with reference pepper maps indicated that the ms8 locus is located on the lower arm of the pepper chromosome P4. Identified markers are useful for molecular breeding, however, at present markers tightly linked to ms8 locus are still lacking. Identification of molecular markers linked to the ms8 locus and determination of its chromosomal localization are useful for fine mapping and also provide the perspective for ms8 gene cloning.     

Electrolyte level and blood pH in dogs infected by various 18S RNA strains of Babaesia canis canis on the early stage of babesiosis

The purpose of the studies was to determine electrolyte disturbances and blood pH changes in dogs with babesiosis and possibly show a connection between the Babesia (B.) canis strain causing the infection and the intensity of these irregularities. 40 animals (group 1) with early babesiosis and 40 healthy dogs (group 2) were studied and their blood pH and blood levels of potassium, chlorides; calcium and sodium were determined. At the same time, molecular typing of parasites was carried out to detect which B.canis strain (18S RNA-A or 185 RNA-B) had caused the disease in dogs of group 1. In group 1, four dogs were acidaemic, twelve had normal blood pH, and 24 were alkalaemic. Potassium concentration was below normal in 16 out of 40 dogs (40%) and normal in 24 dogs. Hypochloremia was present in 36 out of 40 dogs; chloride was normal in the remaining four animals. Serum sodium concentration was low in 16 of 40 dogs, normal in 20 of 40 dogs and high in four dogs. Calcium concentration was normal in all 40 dogs. In dogs of group 2 no abnormalities of haematological or blood biochemical parameters were observed. 29 out of the 40 dogs of group 1 were infected with the 18S RNA-A strain and eleven with the 18S RNA-B strain of Babesia canis canis. We did not observe any correlation between the type of strain causing the infection and the electrolyte disturbances in the serum of sick dogs. Hypocalaemia was observed in ten specimen infected with 18S RNA-A and six infected with 18S RNA-B. Additionally, in dogs infected with 18S RNA-A, hypochloraemia (28), hyponatraemia (10), hypernatraemia (2) were observed, as well as blood pH drop (4) or increase (14). The 18S RNA-B-infected dogs suffered from hypochloraemia (8), hyponatraemia (6), hypernatraemia (2) and increase in blood pH (10).The studies conducted did not answer the question of whether the type of electrolyte disturbances in dogs with babesiosis can be connected with the strain of the parasite that induced the disease, as happens in the case of other clinical parameters (Adaszek et al., 2009). Further studies in this respect, conducted on a larger group of animals, are necessary.     

Apoptosis of peripheral blood leukocytes from rabbits infected with non-haemagglutinating strains of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV)

The report demonstrates that the induction of apoptosis in peripheral blood granulocytes and lymphocytes of rabbits infected with three non-haemagglutinating RHDV strains (English Rainham, German Frankfurt, and Spanish Asturias) is a crucial determinant of the pathogenesis of rabbit haemorrhagic disease. Apoptosis was measured by flow cytometric detection of caspase activity. These studies demonstrated that the investigated RHDV (rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus) viral strains affected leukocyte apoptosis to varying degrees. Enhanced leukocyte apoptosis was detected between 4 and 36h after infection and was more pronounced in lymphocytes than in granulocytes. The data presented here thus provide a preliminary understanding of the kinetics of apoptosis in leukocytes of rabbits infected with RHDV.     

Upregulation of LENK and VIP in paracervical ganglion neurons supplying the urinary bladder of tetrodotoxin- and resiniferatoxin-treated female pigs

Both resiniferatoxin (RTX) and tetrodotoxin (TTX) have been reported to be effective in several clinical trials aiming to cure urinary bladder dysfunction. The goal of this experiment was to study the effect of intravesical administration of RTX and TTX on the chemical coding of paracervical ganglion (PCG) neurons that supply the urinary bladder in pigs. The vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and the opioid family member Leu5-enkephalin (LENK) are both known for their regulatory effects in the function of the porcine genitourinary tract. The PCG neurons innervating the urinary bladder were identified by application of the retrograde tracer Fast Blue (FB), injected into the bladder wall prior to intravesical RTX or TTX administration. Immunocytochemical detection of LENK and VIP expression in the FB-labelled perikarya revealed that in the control group 25.15% of the FB-positive PCG neurons contained LENK, and 9.22% of them expressed VIP. Intravesical infusion of RTX resulted in an increase in the number of LENKIR neurons to 48.19% and VIP-IR perikarya to 11.25%. Optional treatment with TTX induced increase of LENK-IR neurons up to 81.67% and VIP-IR population to 16.46% of the FB-positive PCG cells. The present results show that both neurotoxins affect the chemical coding of PCG nervous cells supplying the porcine urinary bladder and that they stimulate both LENK and VIP expression. Furthermore, the results indicate a possible involvement of LENK and VIP neurons in the mechanisms of action of RTX and TTX in the therapy of overactive bladder disorder.     

Genomic and genetic aspects of heart failure in dogs - a review

The most common causes of heart failure in dogs are valvular disease, predominantly endocardiosis, and myocardial disease, predominantly dilated cardiomyopathy. They are related to changes in the expression of several genes in the heart muscle and in peripheral blood nuclear cells which could be considered as prognostic or diagnostic markers of heart disease in dogs. Since many human genetic markers of heart failure have turned out to be useless in dogs, the screening for genomic markers of canine heart failure could give more insight into the molecular pathology of these diseases and aid the development of new treatment strategies.