Immunotoxicity of aminocarb : I. Comparative studies of sublethal exposure to aminocarb and dieldrin in mice

Immunotoxicity of a carbamate pesticide, aminocarb (Matacil), introduced orally in sublethal doses to C57B1/6 inbred mice, has been compared to the immunosupressive effects of the organochlorine pesticide, dieldrin (served as a positive control), in bacterial and viral infections. In vivo infection of pesticide-exposed mice with Salmonella typhimurium and mouse hepatitis virus 3 (MHV3) showed that two subsequent LD₅₀ doses of aminocarb did not decrease the resistance of animals to the pathogens, whereas exposure to dieldrin resulted in augmented mortality. In vitro studies showed that the spread of MHV3 virus infection and virus-induced cytopathic effects (cpe) were augmented in peritoneal macrophages after exposure to aminocarb, albeit to a much less extent than in the dieldrin group. Similarly, a decrease in the anti-MHV3 IgM serum antibody titer by aminocarb was less marked than in the dieldrin group. Alternatively, immunization of animals with a neutral antigen, sheep red blood cells (SRBC), showed a significant increase in the anti-SRBC humoral response 10 days after a single oral exposure to LD₅₀ aminocarb. The cellular immune response, determined by mixed lymphocyte reaction, was unaffected by sublethal aminocarb exposure. In addition, macrophage antigen processing of a single protein, avidin, was unaffected by aminocarb, contrary to the inhibition of avidin processing in macrophages from dieldrin-gavaged mice. The data do not indicate that immunotoxic properties are associated with aminocarb, and only slight effects with high sublethal doses of orally given aminocarb on macrophage susceptibility to the MHV3 viral pathogen were observed at a terminal phase of the disease.     

Thermographic Evaluation of Racehorse Performance

The present study was aimed at identifying the key thermographic diagnostic areas essential for monitoring the effect of training on racehorses. The study involved monitoring 15 racehorses in 13 imaging sessions over a period of 10 months. Temperature measurements were made at a total of 46 regions of interest (ROIs) at the distal parts of the limbs and the back. To account for the influence of ambient temperature on each ROI measurement, values were adjusted to a constant ambient temperature of 12°C, estimated using regression analysis. The horses in the study were divided into two groups based on the value of success rate in racing competition. During the research period, none of the horses were identified as injured by routine veterinary investigation. Successful horses had significantly warmer adjusted ROI temperatures than their less successful counterparts at both carpal joints, the third metacarpal bones, the left fetlock joint, the left front short pastern bone, the left tarsus joint, and the caudal part of the thoracic vertebrae. The study tested a protocol for recording body surface temperature in racehorses, which was shown to increase reliability by adjusting for variations in ambient temperature. When analyzed on the basis of sporting performance, the protocol identified 14 ROIs that were associated with superior performance, most of which were at the limbs on the left side.     

Genetic resistance of carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) to Trypanoplasma borreli: influence of transferrin polymorphisms

In serum most of the iron molecules are bound to transferrin (Tf), which is a highly polymorphic protein in fish. Tf is an essential growth factor for mammalian trypanosomes. We performed a series of experiments with Trypanoplasma borreli to detect putative correlations between different Tf genotypes of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) and susceptibility to this blood parasite. Five genetically different, commercially exploited carp lines (Israelian 'D', Polish 'R2' and 'K', Ukrainian 'Ur', Hungarian 'R0') and a reference laboratory cross ('R3xR8') were challenged with T. borreli and parasitaemia measured to determine susceptibility to the parasite. Among the commercial carp lines, Israelian 'D' carp were identified as most and Polish 'R2' carp as least susceptible, and used to produce a next generation and reciprocal crosses. These progenies were challenged with T. borreli and parasitaemia measured. We demonstrated significant effects of genetic background of the carp lines on susceptibility to T. borreli. This genetic effect was preserved in a next generation. We also observed a significant male effect on susceptibility to T. borreli in the reciprocal crosses. Serum samples from a representative number of fish from two infection experiments were used for Tf genotyping by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE), identifying DD, DG and DF as most frequent Tf genotypes. We could detect a significant association of the homozygous DD genotype with low parasitaemia in the least susceptible 'R2' (and 'K') carp lines and the lack of a such an association in the most susceptible 'D' carp line. Upon examination of parasite growth in vitro in culture media supplemented with 3% serum taken from fish with different Tf genotypes, we could show a faster decrease in number of parasites in culture media with serum from DD-typed animals.     

Effect of steroidal and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on inflammatory markers in calves with experimentally-induced bronchopneumonia

The influence of treatment with steroidal (SAIDs) and non-steroidal (NSAIDs) anti-inflammatory drugs on inflammatory markers in thirty, 6-8 week old calves with induced bronchopneumonia was investigated. Animals received a single intravenous treatment with meloxicam (0.5 mg/kg body weight), flumethasone (0.05 mg/kg body weight) or sterile 0.9% NaCl (10 ml per animal). Body temperature, respiratory and heart rate, concentration of prostaglandins PGE2, PGF2alpha, thromboxane (TXB2), leukotriene (LTB4) and malonyldialdehyd (MDA) and proinflammatory cytokines i.e. tumor necrosis factor (TNFalpha) and interferon (INFalpha) were recorded in serum, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and blood platelets (BP). A significant reduction of main inflammatory mediators PGE2, PGF2alpha,TXB2 and MDA after meloxicam treatment in calves with induced bronchopneumonia indicates a beneficial effect on the inflammatory processes. Contrary to effects observed by flumethasone, meloxicam induced an increase of LTB4 and INFalpha indicating that it is not immunosuppressive.     

The effect of administration of copper nanoparticles to chickens in their drinking water on the immune and antioxidant status of the blood

The aim of this experiment was to determine what dosage of copper (Cu) nanoparticles, added to a standard dietary supplementation with copper sulfate, would improve antioxidant and immune defense in chickens. The experiment was conducted with 126 broiler chickens assigned to seven treatments with three pens per treatment and six broiler chickens per pen. The basal‐diet treatment did not receive Cu nanoparticles (nano‐Cu) and as shown by analyses it was Cu‐deficient (?29% vs. National Research Council (NRC) recommendations; 5.7 vs. 8 mg/kg). Broiler chickens received nano‐Cu (0.5, 1.0 or 1.5 mg/kg body weight per day) via a tube into the crop over three 3‐day periods (days 8–10, 22–24 and 36–38) or three 7‐day periods (days 8–14, 22–28 and 36–42). As a result, in the nano‐Cu‐treated broilers the total experimental Cu intake was from ?11% to +96% versus NRC recommendations. At the age of 42 days of broilers, their blood indices were determined. The obtained results showed that correction of the deficient basal diet of chickens with nano‐Cu to a level of copper exceeding the NRC recommendation by 54% increased the antioxidant potential of the organism and inhibited lipid peroxidation. At the dosage of +96% versus NRC, some symptoms of a deterioration in antioxidant status appeared (a decrease in the level of glutathione plus glutathione disulfide and an increase in superoxide dismutase, catalase and ceruloplasmin activity and in lipid hydroperoxide content). Additionally, +7% versus the recommended Cu dietary level was followed by unfavorable results, indicating a deterioration in red blood cell parameters and stimulation of the immune system (an increase in interleukin‐6, immunoglobulin A (IgA), IgM and IgY). To conclude, it was shown that it is possible to simultaneously increase antioxidant and immune defense of chickens by supplementing their diets with nano‐Cu – up to 12 mg per bird during 6 weeks of feeding, that is to a level no more than 7% over the NRC recommendation for growing broiler chickens.     

Mutual relations between PAHs derived from atmospheric deposition,enzymatic activity,and humic substances in soils of differently urbanized areas

Purpose

The aim of this study was to determine the mutual relations between polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) originated from atmospheric emissions and enzymatic activity and humic substances in soils at differently urbanized area, on an example of the Lublin city, east Poland.

Materials and methods

The chosen areas represented three differently urbanized environments: old tenement houses and modern residential blocks, mixture of different building and rural landscape, and typical rural environment with smallholding farms, respectively. On each of the urban, suburban, and rural areas, one representative plot was chosen on fallow lands classified as luvisol derived from loess. The soil samples were collected from the top 25 cm layer. The following properties were determined: pH, organic carbon, total nitrogen, humic and fulvic acids, PAHs content (14 PAHs from US EPA list), and the activities of the following enzymes: dehydrogenases, acid phosphatase, alkane phosphatase, protease, and urease.

Results and discussion

Higher contents of organic C and total N were found in the rural soil samples. The share of humic acid was similar in all soils investigated, ranging from 19.38 to 25.27%, while fulvic acid values differ significantly between urban and rural areas. The urban soils indicated much lower share of fulvic acids (9.78–10.99%) than those of rural (29.02–29.32%). Consequently, the values of the C_HA:C_FA ratio of the urban soil were approximately two times higher than those of the rural soil. The results showed that both the rate of humification and the activity of dehydrogenases, acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, and proteases in the soils increased in the following sequence: urban < suburban < rural.

Conclusions

The results showed that an increase of PAHs in the urbanized areas affect other soil properties. The phenanthrene/anthracene and fluoranthene/pyrene ratios pointed to coal combustion as the principal source of PAHs in the investigated soils. The PAH content in the urbanized area inhibit humification processes in the soil and the activity of dehydrogenases, acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, and proteases.