Infection model for the reproduction of eperythrozoonosis in splenectomized SPF primary piglets

Reported in this paper is an infection experiment in which whole blood infected with Eperythrozoon (Ep.) suis was applied to bacterioscopically Ep. suis negative SPF primary piglets for the purpose of doubtless diagnosis of eperythrozoonosis (EEZ) of swine. EEZ could thus be clinically, bacterioscopically, haematologically, biochemically, pathologico-anatomically, and histologically reproduced. Such experimental infection, on top of splenectomy of EEZ-suspicious store pigs, was found to be an additional step for adequate diagnosis on the basis of animal experiments. Immediate and reliable diagnosis of EEZ was found to be generally possible solely by clinical, bacterioscopic, and haematological examinations.     

胰吸虫与肝片形吸虫成虫抗原的酶联免疫印迹分析

用SDS-PAGE和酶联免疫印迹试验(ELIB)分析胰吸虫成虫(EP）及其与肝片形吸虫成虫(Fh)交叉／共同抗原的分子量和免疫活性。SDS-PAGE结果显示，胰吸虫和肝片形吸虫成虫抗原的多肽均达30余条，EP抗原分子量在123kd以下，主带4条；Fb抗原分子量在83kd以下，主带4条；两者具相同分子量的多肽6条。ELIB结果显示，抗原与同源抗血清呈现颜色较深、数量较多的区带，而与异源抗血清则呈现数量不等的交叉／共同反应区带，表明两虫之间存在交叉／共同抗原性多肽。     

Listeriosis in Sheep: Tick-Borne Fever used as a Model to Study Predisposing Factors

Three groups of 6 months old lambs, each group consisting of 5 animals, were infected experimentally with Ehrlichia phagocytophila (Ep), Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) and Ep/Lm, respectively. All the animals had a period with fever and reduced appetite after infection, and these symptoms were most pronounced in the group with the combined infection (Ep/Lm). One animal in group Lm developed listeric meninigo-encephalitis.Lm was isolated from blood samples from both groups infected with Lm during the first week after infection, and from faecal samples during the first 2 weeks. Lm was also isolated from organs from several animals in these 2 groups at post-mortem examination.Group Ep/Lm developed the highest reciprocal geometrical mean titres and the stromgest delayed hypersensitivity reaction against Lm.After infection, a fall in serum iron and albumin was recorded, and the groups infected with Ep had a substantial fall in neutrophils.The myeloid : erythroid ratio in the bone marrow tended to decrease in Group Ep/Lm after infection.An increase in leucocyte counts and total protein content was found in the cerebrospinal fluid in the 2 groups infected with Lm, The experiment indicates that the blood changes induced by tick-borne fever viz, neutropenia and probably also impaired function of the neutrophils, may predispose for listeric septicaemia, but probably not for listeric meningo-encephalitis.     

Artifactual Prolongation of the Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time Associated With Hemoconcentration in Dogs

An inappropriate blood-to-anticoagulant ratio can cause an artifactual prolongation of the activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and prothrombin time (PT). In a drug safety study in dogs, we observed a 4-to 5-second increase in the APTT from baseline coincident with increased hematocrit values (56% to 65%) secondary to drug-induced vomiting and diarrhea. The PT and platelet counts were unchanged, and there was no clinical evidence of bleeding associated with venipuncture. Although we were unable to sample the same dogs to investigate the possible effect of hemoconcentration on the prolonged APTT, the question was addressed by an in vitro study. The hematocrit value for citrated blood samples collected from healthy beagle dogs was increased by the addition of aliquots of red blood cell/plasma mixtures in vitro while maintaining a 9:1 blood-to-anticoagulant ratio. There was a 2-to 4-second prolongation of the APTT associated with hematocrit values of 55% to 61 %, but the PT was not prolonged. Adjustment of the blood-to-anticoagulant ratio corrected the prolongation. This study emphasizes the important relationship of the blood-to-anticoagulant ratio when measuring coagulation tests in hemoconcentrated samples.     

Erythropoiesis regulation during the development of ascites syndrome in broiler chickens: a possible role of corticosterone

The ascites syndrome in broiler chickens is attributed to metabolic burdening, which results from intensive genetic selection for rapid growth coupled with exposure to extreme environmental conditions, such as low ambient temperature. These conditions impose on the broilers difficulties in fulfilling tissue demands for oxygen, and the birds exhibit a decrease in blood oxygen saturation and high hematocrit values. It is unknown whether the increase in hematocrit results from alteration in erythropoiesis or from fluid exudation out of the blood system to the abdominal cavity. The present study was conducted to examine the association between abnormal stress response and erythropoiesis process in ascitic broilers. Ascitic chickens revealed a uniquely continuous stress response: expressing an increase (P < or = 0.05) in plasma corticosterone concentration 2 to 3 wk before death. At 5 wk of age, ascitic broilers exhibited an increase (P < 0.05) in hematocrit, blood cell count, and packed cells and blood volumes, with no significant change in plasma volume. These results confirm an accelerated erythropoiesis process in ascitic birds. Increased blood cell production in ascitic birds was matched by an increase (P < 0.05) in the proportion of immature red blood cells (23%) in comparison with broilers that remained healthy (7%), and by decreased (P < 0.05) hemoglobin content relative to red blood cells. We conclude that continually increased corticosterone concentrations, as an inducer of erythropoiesis proliferation and differentiation arrest, in ascitic chickens, resulted in increased production of red blood cells (partially immature) with decreased hemoglobin content; this decrease in hemoglobin might have contributed to enhanced development of hypoxemia and to aggravation of the syndrome.     

Body weight, total body water and hematocrit in diarrheic piglets

Piglets aged 12 to 72 h in which diarrhea had been induced by enteric Escherichia coli infection or sucrose gavage were studied with respect to body weight, total body water concentration (determined by tritiated-water dilution) and hematocrit. Sucrose-induced diarrhea reduced body weight by 13 to 17%, and E. coli diarrhea, by 8 to 9%. Neither age nor diarrheal treatment affected total body water concentration, although diarrheic piglets tended to have higher hematocrit values at all ages. There was a significant daily cycle in the piglets' hematocrit values, so hematocrit might be a less valid reflector of neonates' whole body hydration status than of adults'. It was concluded that diarrheic neonatal piglets lose body water and dry matter in a ratio similar to that of normal body water and dry matter concentrations, thus their bodies have normal total body water concentrations and normal average specific heat values.     

Left basilar systolic murmur in retired racing greyhounds

Nineteen of 28 (67%) Greyhounds enrolled in the Blood Donor Program at The Veterinary Teaching Hospital, The Ohio State University (Columbus, OH), had a left basilar systolic murmur. Ten Greyhounds with murmurs and 9 without murmurs were evaluated to gain knowledge about the pathogenesis of this murmur. Echocardiograms were performed without sedation by means of a GE Vivid 7 Echocardiographic System with a continuous ECG; systolic arterial blood pressure (SABP) was measured with an Ultrasonic Doppler Flow detector model 811-B. The mean peak aortic velocity in the Greyhounds with murmurs (2.15 m/s; range, 1.8-2.2 m/s) was significantly higher than in the Greyhounds without murmurs (1.89 m/s; range, 1.6-2.0 m/s) (P < .001); there were no significant differences between groups for aortic valve or annulus diameter, fractional shortening, pulmonic velocity, SABP, hematocrit, serum protein concentration, or red blood cell counts. In this study, Greyhounds with soft, left basilar systolic murmurs had mildly (but significantly) higher mean peak aortic velocities than similar dogs without murmurs. In the dogs with murmurs (and higher velocities), we could not identify structural abnormalities, such as valvular lesions or other congenital defects. There was no inverse correlation between the systolic murmur and the higher hematocrit and red blood cell counts observed in this breed. This 1-2/6 basilar systolic murmur is common in Greyhounds, and it does not appear to be of any clinical consequence.     

A single sea lamprey attack causes acute anemia and mortality in lake sturgeon

The effects of sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus parasitism on hematological variables have not been quantified for lake sturgeon Acipenser fulvescens. Our study objectives were to (1) assess changes in lake sturgeon hematology immediately after a single sea lamprey attack and after a 2-week recovery period and (2) assess changes in the histological condition of major hematopoietic organs. Lake sturgeon from four size-groups (470-570, 570-650, 650-760, and 950-1,500 mm fork length) were individually subjected to a sea lamprey attack in a series of 55 experimental trials. Survival of lake sturgeon after a single sea lamprey attack was size dependent, with fish in smaller size-groups exhibiting higher direct and indirect mortality than individuals in larger size-classes. The most sensitive blood chemistry variable was hematocrit: each 1% decline in hematocrit resulted in a 5.1% increase in mortality risk. Other important variables were plasma protein level, with a 10-g/dL decline resulting in a 4.2% increase in mortality risk; and hemoglobin, with a 1-g/dL decline resulting in a 2.9% increase in mortality risk. Most of the surviving lake sturgeon were unable to restore hemoglobin, hematocrit, and plasma protein to pre-attack levels by the end of the 2-week recovery period. We developed an index of histological spleen condition, which indicated that short-duration (< 5-d) sea lamprey attachments depleted red blood cell reserves faster than longer-duration attacks. Our study results indicate that sea lamprey parasitism has the potential to induce acute anemia in lake sturgeon and that nonlethal attacks on smaller (< 760-mm) fish can have serious physiological implications.     

裙带菜膳食纤维对小鼠肠蠕动及血液流变学的影响

目的：研究裙带菜膳食纤维对小鼠的肠蠕动和血液流变的调节作用。方法：将60只小鼠分为正常对照组、水不溶性裙带菜膳食纤维低剂量组（5%）、高剂量组（10%），连续30d，取30只小鼠进行肠蠕支实验。另外，将30只小鼠统一摘除右眼取血，测定其血液流变学指标中的血细胞比容及全血高切、低切表现粘度。结果：裙带菜膳食纤维高剂量组小鼠的炭末推进百分率与正常对照组相比有明显的差异（P＜0.01）；裙带菜膳食纤维高剂量小鼠的血细胞比容、全血高切、低切表观粘度及红细胞聚集指数均明显低于对照组（P＜0.01或P＜0.05）。结论：裙带菜膳食纤维增强小鼠的肠蠕动并且可以降低血细胞比容及全血高切、低切表现粘度，可提高血液的流动性。     

内皮素对哈萨克公羊生理生化指标的影响

为探究内皮素(ET)对羊生理生化指标的影响,选取5只新疆哈萨克公羊,采用不完全拉丁方试验设计,每只羊一次性静脉注射0.7nmol/kg ET-1或ET-3,对照组注射1g/L BSA生理盐水。结果显示,注射ET-1或ET-3后同对照组比,心率降低21%~36%(P0.01),红细胞总数增加10%~14%(P0.01),血红蛋白含量增加14%~17%(P0.05),红细胞比容增加14%~16%(P0.05);血糖含量增高27%~53%(P0.05),而且从这些指标改变的幅度和持续时间看,ET-1比ET-3作用强。在整个试验过程中未观察到羊呼吸频率、白细胞总数及分类计数和血浆蛋白浓度的影响(P0.05)。研究结果提示,ET可调控反刍动物心血管活动、红细胞比容,并参与血糖稳态调节,而且这些作用可能主要是通过内皮素A受体(ET-A)介导的。     

Bilateral renal ischemia as a model of acute kidney injury in cats

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of 1h, bilateral, warm ischemia-reperfusion kidney injury as a model of acute kidney injury in the cat. Four adult healthy cats underwent 60 min of bilateral, in vivo renal warm ischemia; three cats were sham operated controls. Kidney function was evaluated with creatinine and BUN concentration, urine protein: creatinine, and glomerular filtration rate. Post-reperfusion endothelin and renin was measured by ELISA and RT-qPCR. Blood pressure (BP), platelet count, and platelet aggregation were monitored. Renal biopsy specimens were evaluated histopathologically. There was significant reduction in renal function characterized by severe azotemia and proximal tubular brush border loss. Changes in renin or endothelin gene expression or serum concentration were not detected. No changes were detected in BP. Platelet count and hematocrit decreased markedly after ischemia and reperfusion. Sixty minutes bilateral renal ischemia is an effective model for acute renal injury.     

传染性喉气管炎病毒(ILTV)糖蛋白gB在重组鸡痘病毒中的表达

本试验首先用ＰＣＲ方法扩增出ＩＬＴＶ ｇＢ基因,将其克隆到质粒ｐＵＣ１１９中,并进行了序列分析。将克隆的ｇＢ基因再亚克隆到禽痘病毒转移载体质粒中,然后,通过质脂体方法转染由禽痘病毒感染的鸡胚成纤维细胞（ＣＥＦ）中,筛选蓝色的重组病毒,并对其进行了６轮蚀斑纯化。该重组病毒通过ＰＣＲ方法鉴定证明其基因组中含有完整的鸡传染性喉气管炎ｇＢ基因,Ｗｅｓｔｅｒｎ ｂｌｏｔ实验证明了该重组鸡痘病毒表达了鸡传染性喉气管炎ｇＢ糖蛋白。     

Innocent Cardiac Murmur in Puppies: Prevalence,Correlation with Hematocrit,and Auscultation Characteristics

Background

The aims of this study were to establish the prevalence of innocent cardiac murmurs in clinically healthy puppies, to investigate a possible correlation between the presence of an innocent murmur and hematocrit, and to describe the auscultation characteristics of innocent murmurs.

Hypothesis

Lower hematocrit contributes to the genesis of innocent murmurs.

Animals

Five hundred and eighty‐four client‐owned clinically healthy puppies, between 20 and 108 days old.

Methods

Two cross‐sectional surveys with a 1‐year (n = 389 pups) pilot and a half‐year (n = 195 pups) principal study periods. Cardiac auscultation was performed by a single, board‐certified cardiologist. Hematocrit was measured with an automatized hematology analyzer. Echocardiography was performed only on puppies with a cardiac murmur in the principal study.

Results

In the pilot study, 15% of the dogs had a murmur. Innocent murmur was diagnosed in 28% of the 195 dogs in the principal study. Innocent murmurs were systolic, mostly with a musical character and with a maximal intensity of 2 of 6, and mostly with the point of maximal intensity in the left cardiac base. The hematocrit was significantly lower in the group with a murmur compared to the group without (P = .023).

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Innocent murmur was a common finding in puppies at the age when the first veterinary controls usually take place. Physiologic anemia contributes to the genesis of innocent murmurs in puppies. Rising hematocrit in growing puppies can explain the spontaneous disappearance of innocent murmurs with aging. Hematocrit did not differentiate innocent murmurs from abnormal murmurs.     

洋姜治疗仔猪贫血的试验研究

本研究以洋姜治疗仔猪贫血,通过检测血清铁、血红蛋白、红细胞压积、转铁蛋白、网织红细胞数等指标的变化,验证该药对仔猪贫血的治疗效果。结果表明,饲喂洋姜7d后,试验组中血清铁和红细胞压积显著高于对照组(P0.05),试验组血红蛋白、转铁蛋白浓度与对照组相比,差异极显著(P0.01)。饲喂15d后,试验组仔猪血清铁、血红蛋白、红细胞压积、转铁蛋白浓度与对照组相比,差异极显著(P0.01)。而试验期内2组间网织红细胞数差异均不显著(P0.05)。说明洋姜能显著提高血液中铁离子、血红蛋白水平,有效增加转铁蛋白饱和度,对治疗仔猪贫血具有较好的效果。     

鸡传染性贫血病毒与马立克氏病病毒共感染SPF鸡群免疫抑制协同作用的研究

将鸡传染性贫血病毒（Chicken infectious anemia virus,CIAV or CAV）和马立克氏病病毒（Marek s dis-ease virus,MDV）人工单一和共同感染1日龄的SPF鸡,感染后分别于14、21、28、35日龄检测鸡体红细胞压积的变化,并检测鸡群疫苗免疫3周后的抗体反应,以探讨CAV与MDV共感染对鸡体的免疫抑制是否有协同作用。结果表明,在血液分析方面,CAV与MDV共感染组较病毒单一感染组与对照组差异极显著,共感染不仅加重了鸡群贫血现象,而且延长了贫血的病理症状;而在禽流感病毒（Avian influenza virus,AIV）H5/H9疫苗、新城疫病毒（Newcastle disease virus,NDV）疫苗和传染性法氏囊病毒（Infectious bursal disease virus,IBDV）疫苗免疫后3周的抗体检测中,CAV与MDV共感染组较其它各实验组差异极显著,抗体滴度大大低于其它实验组;此外,CAV与MDV共感染组,鸡体生长状况明显差于实验各组,有6只鸡只死亡（6/25）,比病毒单一感染时的死亡率大大增加。综上研究证明,CAV与MDV共感染在免疫抑制作用上有协同作用。     

Lymphocyte subpopulations and hematologic variables in dogs with congestive heart failure

Alterations in lymphocyte subpopulations and in other hematologic variables have been documented in people with heart failure. The purpose of the current study was to compare flow cytometric and hematologic variables in dogs with congestive heart failure (CHF) to healthy controls. CD4+ peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and CD8+ lymphocytes were analyzed by flow cytometry, and white blood cell count, platelet count, hematocrit, and hemoglobin were determined by a complete blood count. Twenty-five dogs with CHF (International Small Animal Cardiac Health Council [ISACHC] class 2 [n = 12] and ISACHC class 3a [n = 13]) and 13 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Compared with the controls, dogs with CHF had markedly lower percentages of CD4+ PBMC, CD8+ lymphocytes, hematocrit, and hemoglobin, but markedly higher leukocytes, neutrophils, and platelets. There were no differences in these variables between dogs with dilated cardiomyopathy (n = 6) and those with chronic valvular disease (n = 19). Dogs in ISACHC class 3a had a markedly lower total lymphocyte number, CD4+ and CD8+ cells, and hematocrit, but markedly higher leukocyte and neutrophil numbers relative to the control group. CD4+ and CD8+ subpopulations and other blood cell variables are altered in dogs with CHF. Future studies to determine possible clinical implications of these changes are warranted.     

A Single Sea Lamprey Attack Causes Acute Anemia and Mortality in Lake Sturgeon

Abstract

The effects of sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus parasitism on hematological variables have not been quantified for lake sturgeon Acipenser fulvescens. Our study objectives were to (1) assess changes in lake sturgeon hematology immediately after a single sea lamprey attack and after a 2-week recovery period and (2) assess changes in the histological condition of major hematopoietic organs. Lake sturgeon from four size-groups (470–570, 570–650, 650–760, and 950–1,500 mm fork length) were individually subjected to a sea lamprey attack in a series of 55 experimental trials. Survival of lake sturgeon after a single sea lamprey attack was size dependent, with fish in smaller size-groups exhibiting higher direct and indirect mortality than individuals in larger size-classes. The most sensitive blood chemistry variable was hematocrit: each 1% decline in hematocrit resulted in a 5.1% increase in mortality risk. Other important variables were plasma protein level, with a 10-g/dL decline resulting in a 4.2% increase in mortality risk; and hemoglobin, with a 1-g/dL decline resulting in a 2.9% increase in mortality risk. Most of the surviving lake sturgeon were unable to restore hemoglobin, hematocrit, and plasma protein to pre-attack levels by the end of the 2-week recovery period. We developed an index of histological spleen condition, which indicated that short-duration (<5-d) sea lamprey attachments depleted red blood cell reserves faster than longer-duration attacks. Our study results indicate that sea lamprey parasitism has the potential to induce acute anemia in lake sturgeon and that nonlethal attacks on smaller (<760-mm) fish can have serious physiological implications.

Received August 3, 2011; accepted February 2, 2012.     

The pharmacokinetics, pharmacological responses and behavioral effects of acepromazine in the horse

After intravenous (i.v.) injection, acepromazine was distributed widely in the horse ( V_d = 6.6 litres/kg) and bound extensively (>99%) to plasma proteins. Plasma levels of the drug declined with an α phase half-life of 4.2 min, while the β phase or elimination half-life was 184.8 min. At a dosage level of 0.3 mg/kg acepromazine was detectable in the plasma for 8 h post dosing. The whole blood partitioning of acepromazine was 46% in the plasma phase and 54% in the erythrocyte phase.
Penile prolapse was clearly evident at doses from 0.01 mg/kg to 0.4 mg/kg i.v., and the duration and extent of protrusion were dose related. Hematocrit levels were significantly lowered by administration of 0.002 mg/kg i.v. (about 1 mg to a 500 kg horse) and increasing dosages resulted in greater than 20% lowering of the hematocrit from control levels. Pretreatment of horses with acepromazine also reduced the variable interval (VI 60) responding rate in all horses tested.
These data show that hematocrit changes are the most sensitive pharmacological responses to acepromazine, followed by changes in penile extension, respiratory rate, VI responding and locomotor responses. Acepromazine is difficult to detect in plasma at normal clinical doses. However, because of its large volume of distribution, its urinary elimination is likely prolonged, and further work on its elimination in equine urine is required.     

Detection of chicken anemia virus DNA in the thymus of naturally infected chicks in turkey.

In this study, 94 clinically ill 11-28-day-old chicks belonging to eight broiler units from the Marmara region were investigated clinically for changes in hematocrit values and for the presence of chicken anemia virus (CAV) DNA. CAV DNA was detected by polymerase chain reaction in the thymus of 8.5% of the chicks. These chicks showed clinical signs of diarrhea, anorexia, depression, and growth retardation. The hematocrit values of these chicks were between 24% and 38%. At necropsy, hemorrhages were observed in the leg and pectoral muscles. Atrophy was noted in the thymus and in the bursa of Fabricius of positive chicks, and hemorrhages in the proventriculus of one positive chick were observed. This report describes the first detection of CAV DNA in chicks in Turkey.     

Prognostic Value of Clinical Nutritional Assessment in Canine Patients.

This makes it difficult to identify the patient population most likely to benefit from nutritional support. Five clinically used indicators of nutritional status (serum albumin, hematocrit, hemoglobin, total peripheral lymphocyte count, and a "body condition" score) were evaluated on admission for 105 dogs that wer hospitalized at the Veterinary Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania for serious illness or major surgery. The prognostic relationship between these admission measurements and clinical outcome (discharged vs. died in hospital) was examined. Abnormally low serum albumin, hematocrit, and hemoglobin were associated with poor ultimate clinical outcome (p< 0.01). Hypoalbuminemia has a strong association with protein-calorie malnutrition although serum levels of albumin can be affected by many non-nutritional processes. Admission serum albumin level can predict clinical outcome and may identify a population of critically ill canine patients that could benefit from nutritional support.