Therapeutic Intervention with Dietary Chitosan Nanoparticles Alleviates Fish Pathological and Molecular Systemic Inflammatory Responses against Infections

Marine bio-sourced chitosan nanoparticles (CSNP) are antimicrobial and immunomodulatory agents beneficial for fish medicine. Herein, dietary CSNP was investigated for the amelioration of the systemic inflammatory responses of an induced fish model. One hundred and forty-four rainbow trout were assigned to one pathogen-free and non-supplemented group (negative control), and three challenged groups: non-supplemented (positive control), CSNP-preventive, and CSNP-therapeutic. After a feeding experiment extended for 21 days, the organosomatic indices (OSI) and molecular aspects were assessed. After a challenge experiment extended for further 28 days, CSNP-therapeutic intervention was assessed on fish survival and systemic inflammatory responses on pathology, histo-morphology, and molecular aspects. With CSNP administration, OSI nonsignificantly decreased and the relative expression of targeted inflammatory-mediator genes was significantly increased. The CSNP-therapeutic fish showed an RPS of 80% as compared to the positive control group, and CSNP-therapeutic administration retained the highest gene expression augmentation up to 28 days after the challenge. Notably, the splenic reticulin fibers framework of the CSNP-therapeutic group retained the highest integrity among the groups during the infection. After recovery, reticulin fibers density in the CSNP-therapeutic samples was significantly higher than in the negative control group, which indicates high innate immunity. Thus, CSNP showed promising biotherapeutic features enhancing fish resistance against infections.     

Biochemical and histological effects of gibberellic acid on Locusta migratoria migratoria fifth instar larvae

Experiments were conducted to assess the effect of gibberellic acid (GA₃), a plant growth regulator, on Locusta migratoria migratoria fifth instar larvae. Newly emerged larvae were exposed to various concentrations of GA₃ administered by topical application or by forced ingestion. Results showed that treated insects exhibited toxic symptoms with a dose-dependent mortality. GA₃ toxicity was also demonstrated by perturbation of the moult processes. In fact, we noted that treated insects present exuviations difficulties due to the impossibility to reject the old integuments causing mortality in the 5th instar larvae. Histological study of proventriculus revealed alterations in the epithelial cells and absence of apolysis phenomenon. Data also showed that GA₃ induced significant quantitative variation of haemolymph metabolites. These changes result in a significant decrease in the total concentration of proteins and carbohydrates and an increase in the total concentration of haemolymph lipids.     

DNA extraction from bovine mummified fetuses and detection of factor XI gene deficiency in the mummies

Genomic DNA extracted from bovine mummified tissue is valuable material for detection of some genes that may contribute to fetal abnormalities. In this study bovine genomic DNA was extracted from the hardened tissue samples of ten bovine mummified fetuses. The amount of genomic DNA extracted from 2 g of the mummified tissues by the phenol/chloroform-ethanol method was low (less than 4 microg/ml) for all samples. The extracted DNA was then amplified by the GenomiPhi DNA amplification system. After amplification, the amount of DNA was increased to more than 100 microg/ml for all samples. This amplification system was shown to be a good tool for amplifying the genomic DNA of the mummified fetuses. The amplified genomic DNA was used for testing the mummies for Factor XI gene deficiency, an autosomal recessive deficiency involved in the early stages of the intrinsic blood coagulation pathway. Exon 12 of the Factor XI gene of the mummies was amplified by PCR. Two of the ten mummified fetuses were heterozygous for the Factor XI gene as indicated by the presence of two amplified DNA fragments of 320 bp and 244 bp. Factor XI deficiency has already been described in Holstein cattle. However, no report is available for bovine fetus. In this study, DNA was extracted and amplified from the bovine mummified fetuses, and the samples were successfully tested for Factor XI gene deficiency in the mummies.     

Morphological and scanning electron microscopic studies of the tongue of the Egyptian fruit bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus) and their lingual adaptation for its feeding habits

This study was carried out on the tongues of 12 adult normal healthy Egyptian fruit bats of both sexes. The tongue is protrusible, elongated flat with a rounded apex and its wide and thickness increase gradually toward the lingual root. There are four types of lingual papillae; two mechanical and two gustatory. The tongue divided into three parts (anterior, middle and posterior), each part subdivides into three regions; two lateral regions and median region, in addition to the lingual apex to the anterior region. The lingual papillae close to the median region of the tongue were posteriorly directed toward the pharynx, while theses present on the lateral regions of the tongue are directed medioposteriorly. There are sex subtypes of the filiform papillae; three on the anterior part (small, conical and giant), two on the middle part (cornflower and leaf-like papillae) while the posterior part contain rosette shape filiform papillae, in addition to transitional papillae and conical papillae. Two gustatory papillae represented by; small number of fungiform papillae which scattered among the filiform papillae on lingual apex and two lateral regions of the anterior and middle part of tongue, while the three circumvallate papillae on the posterior part were arranged in a triangle form.     

Microscopic examination of the intestinal wall and selected organs of minipigs orally supplemented with humic acids

Humic acids are used to prophylactically treat intestinal diseases in a wide number of species, yet the mechanism of action remains unknown. The general assumption has been that humic acids act locally; however studies using young piglets show orally supplemented humic acids can penetrate the intestinal wall, and thus potentially act systemically. The objective of this study was to determine if humic acids could also cross the intestinal barrier in adult pigs and be detected in other organs. Adult minipigs (>18 months old) orally received either 1 g humic acids/kg body weight (verum, n = 3) or placebo (control, n = 3), for 2 weeks. At the end of the feeding period tissue samples were harvested from the intestine, various glands and organs. Unstained tissue samples were examined by light microscopy for the presence of humic acid particles. No humic acid particles were detected in any of the unstained tissues from verum or control pigs.     

Virulence factors and markers in Escherichia coli from calves with bacteremia

Relative pathogenicity of 151 Escherichia coli isolates from 36 calves with bacteremia after necropsy was studied by measurement of the LD50 after mice were inoculated IP with E coli isolates. Study of virulence factors and markers revealed that the pathogenicity of E coli was associated with the production of hydroxamate siderophores and with resistance to serum bactericidal effects. Production of colicins, including colicin V, and of surface antigen 31A was correlated with virulence. The close association between phenotypic expression of virulence factors and markers was consistent with a hypothesis of a localization of genes coding for virulence factors and markers on the same plasmid.     

Clinicopathological and ultrasonographic findings in 40 water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) with traumatic pericarditis

Forty buffaloes with traumatic pericarditis were examined to characterise the ultrasonographic findings in buffaloes with traumatic pericarditis, determine the extent of the lesions and assess the prognosis. The most noticeable clinical presentations were presternal oedema (73 per cent) and jugular and mammary vein distension (88 per cent). Laboratory findings included neutrophilic leucocytosis, elevated total protein concentration, hypoalbuminaemia, hypergammaglobulinaemia and increased concentration of free fatty acids. Ultrasonographically, fluid in the pericardium appeared as either mild or massive anechoic accumulations containing fibrin threads or were imaged as homogenous, echogenic pericardial effusions. Moderate to severe corrugation of the reticular wall was observed. Deposits of fibrinous tissue interspersed with fluid pockets were seen between the reticulum, dorsal ruminal sac and diaphragm. Perireticular and mediastinal abscesses were imaged and appeared as echogenic lines with anechoic, echogenic, homogenous or heterogeneous contents. Additional ultrasonographic findings included hepatomegaly, dilation of the caudal vena cava, hepatic and portal veins, ascites, echogenic pleural effusions and vegetations of the tricuspid, mitral and pulmonary valves. The ultrasonographic findings were confirmed at postmortem examination.     

火鸡疫病:对兽医的新挑战

现代火鸡业,定位于产量高、品质好、价格低,且要与消费者对禽肉产品的需求相一致,预防火鸡疫病以保障人类健康是现代火鸡业的导向性目标.……     

Biodiversity in Mediterranean buffalo using two microsatellite multiplexes

The present study was carried out to investigate genetic diversity in Nile-Delta and Southern-Egypt buffalo populations in comparison with the Italian buffalo utilizing two microsatellite multiplexes. A total of 104 animals classified into three groups were used, 28, 38 and 38 representing the Nile-Delta, Southern-Egypt and Italian buffalo, respectively. The 15 studied microsatellites were CSSM38, CSSM70, CYP21, CSSM42, CSSM60, MAF65, BM0922, CSSM19, INRA006, ETH02, BM1706, BMC1013, CSSM47, INRA026 and CA004. All studied microsatellites showed allelic polymorphism. Number of polymorphic alleles ranged between 4 alleles (CSSM38, CSSM70 and CYP21) and 11 alleles (CA004). Pairwise Chi-square test for Nile Delta and Southern Egypt showed significant differences in allelic distribution at five loci, CSSM70, CSSM38, BM0922, ETH02 and BM1706. Italian buffalo showed the lowest percentage of observed heterozygotes (65%), while the Southern Egypt showed the highest (71%). Both the Italian and the Delta populations deviated significantly (P < 0.05) from HW equilibrium. Italian buffalo is relatively the most inbred population while the Southern-Egypt buffalo is the only outbred population. High level of genetic differentiation (F_ST estimates) between the Italian group and each of the Delta and Southern-Egypt group (0.083 and 0.076, respectively) was observed while Southern-Egypt group showed a lower level of genetic differentiation with the Delta group (0.014). Italian buffalo had the greatest genetic distance values with the two Egyptian groups (0.25 and 0.23) while much lower values between the Southern-Egypt and the Delta groups (0.06) was observed. Genetic variation between the Italian buffalo and the Egyptian buffalo was detected in 14 (out of 15) microsatellite loci. While a lower level (than that between Egyptian and Italian) of genetic variation between Southern-Egypt and Delta buffalo populations was expressed by 5 loci. It was concluded that the Southern-Egypt buffalo could be considered as distinct population from the Delta buffalo. In addition, Southern-Egypt group, being the only group with non-significant global deviation from HW equilibrium, the most heterozygous, and the only outbred population as well, is expected to respond more favorably to selection.