Marine-Derived Biologically Active Compounds for the Potential Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, systemic autoimmune disease with a prevalence rate of up to 1% and is significantly considered a common worldwide public health concern. Commercially, several traditional formulations are available to treat RA to some extent. However, these synthetic compounds exert toxicity and considerable side effects even at lower therapeutic concentrations. Considering the above-mentioned critiques, research is underway around the world in finding and exploiting potential alternatives. For instance, marine-derived biologically active compounds have gained much interest and are thus being extensively utilized to confront the confines of in practice counterparts, which have become ineffective for 21st-century medical settings. The utilization of naturally available bioactive compounds and their derivatives can minimize these synthetic compounds’ problems to treat RA. Several marine-derived compounds exhibit anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and can be effectively used for therapeutic purposes against RA. The results of several studies ensured that the extraction of biologically active compounds from marine sources could provide a new and safe source for drug development against RA. Finally, current challenges, gaps, and future perspectives have been included in this review.     

Glomerular lesions in dogs infected with Leishmania organisms

OBJECTIVE: To histologically identify glomerular lesions in dogs infected with Leishmania organisms. ANIMALS: 41 dogs (17 sexually intact males and 14 sexually intact and 10 ovariohysterectomized females) that had positive results when tested for leishmaniosis as determined by use of serologic evaluation (indirect fluorescent antibody test, titers of 1:80 to 1:640) and direct microscopic identification of the protozoal organisms. PROCEDURE: Urine samples were collected by use of cystocentesis and examined by qualitative SDS-agarose gel electrophoresis (AGE). All dogs had non-selective (glomerular) or mixed (glomerular and tubular) proteinemia. Specimens were obtained from each dog during ultrasound-assisted renal biopsy and used for histologic examination. Each specimen was stained with H&E, periodic acid-Schiff, Goldner's trichrome, methenamine silver, and Congo Red stains. Specimens were adequate for evaluation when they contained at least 5 glomeruli/section, except for specimens stained with Congo Red in which 1 glomerulus/section was adequate. RESULTS: Examination of renal biopsy specimens revealed various glomerular lesions in all dogs and interstitial or tubular (or both) lesions in 23 of 41 (55%) dogs. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Glomerular lesions that develop in dogs during infection with Leishmania organisms can be classified histologically as mesangial glomerulonephritis, membranous glomerulonephritis, membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis, and focal segmental glomerulonephritis. Tubulointerstitial histopathologic conditions were not observed as the primary lesion, despite being evident in 23 of 41 (55%) dogs. Use of SDS-AGE for qualitative evaluation of proteinuria and successive collection of specimens during renal biopsies following diagnosis of nonselective glomerular proteinuria provides the possibility for early identification of renal lesions.     

Osteolytic osteomyelitis associated with visceral leishmaniasis in a dog

A dog was examined with a history of weight loss and lameness of the left hind limb. A painful response to examination of the left hip joint, and lymphadenopathy were noted. Amastigote forms of Leishmania sp. were observed by cytology in samples from the popliteus lymph node, and anti-Leishmania sp. antibodies at a titer of 1:640 were detected in serum by indirect immunofluorescence. Radiological changes included osteolysis and a periosteal proliferative reaction in the left femoral greater trochanter. These changes were histologically characterized as an osteolytic granulomatous osteomyelitis associated with amastigotes within macrophages. Non-decalcified fragments of the periosteum were processed for immunohistochemistry, observed with prominent immunolabelling of amastigotes of Leishmania sp. within macrophages. The diagnosis was further confirmed by positive PCR for Leishmania sp., belonging to the Leishmania donovani complex.     

Increasing cherry tomato yield using fish effluent as irrigation water in Northeast Brazil

The rational use of water in arid and semi-arid zones is fundamental for resource sustainability. The integration of aquaculture with agriculture appears to be an excellent way of saving water, disposing aquaculture effluents and providing additional fertilizer to the agricultural crop. The objective of this study was to test the feasibility of using fish effluent to irrigate cherry tomatoes cultured with different types of organic fertilizers. A field experiment was carried out in a randomized complete block design in a 2 × 5 factorial scheme, with four replications. The treatments consisted of the combination of two irrigation water types (well water and fish effluent) with five fertilizers (cow manure, chicken manure, vermi-compost, commercial compost and a control without fertilization). Evaluations for tomato fruit number, productivity and mean fruit weight were performed. Statistical analyses were done in the following harvest periods: 0–25, 0–50, 0–75 and 0–100% of the harvest days. On the first three harvest periods analyzed, treatments irrigated with fish effluent had higher fruit number and productivity. This effect was more evident when the organic fertilizer used did not attend all plant needs. The higher productivity observed in effluent treatments was related to the increase in fruit number. The higher productivity in treatments with fish effluent has a special importance for small farmers, to whom fertilizers are often cost prohibitive or unavailable.     

Hematologic and serum biochemical changes in Salmonella ser Typhimurium-infected calves

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate hematologic and serum biochemical changes in Salmonella ser Typhimurium-infected calves. ANIMALS: 16 male 3- to 4-week-old dairy calves. PROCEDURE: 13 calves were experimentally infected with S Typhimurium (strains IR715 and CS401, which are derivatives of ATCC 14028), and 3 calves were uninfected controls. Several hematologic and serum biochemical parameters were measured. RESULTS: Hematologic changes included increases in PCV, RBC count, and hemoglobin concentration, associated with a transitory leukopenia characterized by neutropenia and lymphopenia. Biochemical findings included hypoglycemia, increased BUN, creatinine, and fibrinogen concentrations, and decreased sodium, total CO2, calcium, total protein, and albumin concentrations. Increased total bilirubin concentration associated with decreased conjugated bilirubin concentration was also observed. No significant changes in aspartate aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase, alkaline phosphatase, and creatinine kinase activities were detected. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Experimental salmonellosis of calves results in marked to severe dehydration, accompanied by metabolic acidosis, hypoglycemia, and an acute inflammatory response associated with increased fibrinogen concentrations and severe neutropenia immediately after inoculation.     

Pregnancy rate after fixed‐time transfer of cryopreserved embryos collected by non‐surgical route in Lacaune sheep

This study investigated the feasibility of applying fixed‐time (cryopreserved) embryo transfer in ewes. Embryos (n = 106) were non‐surgically recovered from superovulated donors (n = 39) on day 6–7 after oestrus. Straws containing one or two embryos (morulae and/or blastocysts) subjected to either slow freezing (SF, n = 62) or vitrification (VT, n = 44) were randomly used within fixed‐time embryo transfer on Day 8.5. Recipient ewes were nulliparous (n = 58) bearing corpora lutea after synchronous oestrous induction protocol. The pregnancy rate was higher (p = .03) in SF (39.4%) than VT (16.9%) and survival rate tended (p = .08) to be higher in SF than in VT (25.8% vs. 15.9%). Lambing rates were similar (p = .13) between SF (20.9%) and VT (15.9%). Embryos recovered by non‐surgical route after cervical dilation treatment and later cryopreserved by either slow freezing or vitrification produced reasonable pregnancy rates after FTET.     

Toxoplasma gondii in edible fishes captured in the Mediterranean basin

The issue of whether market fish can be involved in the transmission of Toxoplasma gondii in the marine environment is highly debated since toxoplasmosis has been diagnosed frequently in cetaceans stranded along the Mediterranean coastlines in recent times. To support the hypothesis that fishes can harbour and effectively transmit the parasite to top‐of‐the‐food‐chain marine organisms and to human consumers of fishery products, a total of 1,293 fishes from 17 species obtained from wholesale and local fish markets were examined for T. gondii DNA. Real‐time PCR was performed in samples obtained by separately pooling intestines, gills and skin/muscles collected from each fish species. Thirty‐two out of 147 pooled samples from 12 different fish species were found contaminated with T. gondii DNA that was detected in 16 samples of skin/muscle and in 11 samples of both intestine and gills. Quantitative analysis of amplified DNA performed by both real‐time PCR and digital PCR (dPCR) confirmed that positive fish samples were contaminated with Toxoplasma genomic DNA to an extent of 6.10 × 10^?2 to 2.77 × 10⁴ copies/ml (quantitative PCR) and of 1 to 5.7 × 10⁴ copies/ml (dPCR). Fishes are not considered competent biological hosts for T. gondii; nonetheless, they can be contaminated with T. gondii oocysts flowing via freshwater run‐offs (untreated sewage discharges, soil flooding) into the marine environment, thus acting as mechanical carriers. Although the detection of viable and infective T. gondii oocysts was not the objective of this investigation, the results here reported suggest that fish species sold for human consumption can be accidentally involved in the transmission route of the parasite in the marine environment and that the risk of foodborne transmission of toxoplasmosis to fish consumers should be further investigated.     

Multicentric squamous cell carcinona in a paca (Agouti paca) resembling Bowen's disease

An 8-yr-old female paca (Agouti paca) was admitted at the Veterinary Hospital of the Belo Horizonte Zoo (Brazil) with an ulcerated cutaneous nodule of approximately 1.5 cm in diameter in the left ear. One week later, other cutaneous nodules were detected in various body locations. The animal died during a surgical procedure to remove the tumors. All cutaneous nodules were histologically similar with features of squamous cell carcinoma. Considering the predominant in situ nature of the lesion as well as its multicentric localization, the disease reported here closely resembles Bowen's disease, which has been described in humans and which has been identified as a rare neoplastic disease of cats, with one single report in a dog. This is the first report of a neoplastic disease in Agouti     

Changes in haptoglobin, C-reactive protein and pig-MAP during a housing period following long distance transport in swine

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a housing period following long distance transport on haptoglobin (Hp), C-reactive protein (CRP) and pig major acute phase protein (pig-MAP) in swine. After transportation, 80 gilts were allotted to group A, B, C, or D. Blood samples were collected on arrival and 28 days later; additional samples were collected from Group C on day 14, and from Group D on days 3, 5 and 14. Acute phase proteins (APPs) in Group A were significantly lower on day 28 than on day 1; the opposite occurred in Group B because of a tail biting episode. In Group C, values remained elevated on day 14 and showed a reduction on day 28; in Group D elevated levels detected on day 14 were preceded by a decrease from days 1 to 5. The results indicate that stressors associated with transportation and new accommodation can cause an increase in APPs that could be useful indicators of welfare during transport and routine management.     

Corynebacterium urealyticum urinary tract infection in a cat with urethral obstruction

Corynebacterium urealyticum is an uncommon cause of urinary tract infections in cats. However, it is difficult to diagnose and if left untreated it may result in irreversible bladder lesions. C urealyticum is a multiantibiotic-resistant bacterium whose culture requires special care. Risk factors for the occurrence of this infection include urological procedures, foreign bodies, bladder mucosa abnormalities, immuno-suppressed states and antibiotic treatment. This report describes an unusual case of C urealyticum urinary infection in a young cat with pre-existing urethral obstruction. C urealyticum was isolated in pure cultures from two urine samples. Clinical and ultrasound features, results of the urinalysis and urine culture are described as well as therapeutic treatment and eventual favourable outcome to treatment with amoxycillin-clavulanic acid.