Flow-cytometric Studies of the Phagocytic Capacities of Equine Neutrophils

Methodological aspects of flow-cytometric evaluation of the phagocytic properties of equine neutrophils were elucidated. The kinetics of attachment and ingestion were studied, and the phagocytic process was more rapidly completed when serum-opsonized yeast cells were used than with use of IgG-opsonized yeast cells. Trypan blue was successfully used to quench fluorescence of non-ingested yeast cells. There were only minor differences in the kinetics of phagocytosis between quenched and un-quenched samples, indicating that attachment is rapidly followed by ingestion. Trypan blue quenching caused loss of cells with light scattering properties of granulocytes, although this did not affect the determined frequencies of truly phagocytic neutrophils. Aggregation of yeast cells proved to be a disturbance but not an obstacle to the determination of frequencies of actively phagocytic cells. Flow cytometry is well suited for studies of phagocytosis of yeast cells by equine neutrophils, and the trypan blue quenching provides a means of eliminating false-positive events due to aggregation of yeast cells. The main advantage of the flow-cytometric method is the possibility of rapid processing of a large number of samples, making the method useful for studies of herds.     

绵羊自然感染贝氏莫尼茨绦虫对小肠黏膜免疫相关细胞的数量变化

运用组织学和组织化学染色法,分别对自然感染贝氏莫尼茨绦虫的成年绵羊（感染组）与正常成年绵羊（对照组）的小肠各肠段的上皮内淋巴细胞、浆细胞、杯状细胞和嗜酸粒细胞的分布和数量变化进行了比较研究。结果显示：感染组小肠各段上皮内淋巴细胞、浆细胞、杯状细胞和嗜酸粒细胞数量均显著高于对照组,其中感染组十二指肠、空肠和回肠的上皮内淋巴细胞数量分别比对照组增加了169.11%、230.38%和233.42%（P〈0.01）;嗜酸粒细胞数量分别比对照组增加了116.78%、123.87%和164.51%（P〈0.01）;浆细胞数量分别比对照组增加了127.34%、72.97%和328.26%（P〈0.01）;杯状细胞数量分别比对照组增加了33.40%、41.42%和133.17%。对照组和感染组上皮内淋巴细胞和杯状细胞从十二指肠到回肠均逐渐减少,相反,对照组和感染组嗜酸粒细胞数量从十二指肠到回肠均逐渐增多,对照组小肠固有层浆细胞数量从十二指肠到空肠增加,空肠到回肠减少,感染组小肠固有层浆细胞数量从十二指肠到回肠均逐渐增多;对照组十二指肠、空肠、回肠的上皮内淋巴细胞、上皮内杯状细胞、浆细胞和嗜酸粒细胞均差异极显著（P〈0.01）;感染组十二指肠、空肠、回肠的上皮内杯状细胞、浆细胞和嗜酸粒细胞均差异极显著（P〈0.01）,感染组上皮内淋巴细胞空肠与回肠差异极显著（P〈0.01）,但十二指肠与空肠差异不显著（P〉0.05）。研究结果表明,贝氏莫尼茨绦虫感染成年绵羊后,成年绵羊通过特异性黏膜免疫细胞上皮内淋巴细胞增生加强细胞免疫水平,浆细胞增生加强体液免疫水平,同时还通过非特异性黏膜免疫细胞,嗜酸粒细胞和杯状细胞的增生进一步加强黏膜免疫水平以抵抗贝氏莫尼茨绦虫对绵羊的感染。可见绵羊可以通过黏膜免疫相关细胞增生加强局部免疫力以监视虫体免疫逃逸来抵抗寄生虫的感染。     

Abnormal Sysmex XT‐2000iV DIFF scattergram in a cat with a prominent mastocytemia

A 2‐year‐old neutered male domestic shorthair cat was presented to the emergency service of the National Veterinary School of Toulouse (France) for acute vomiting and diarrhea with lethargy, inappetence, and adypsia for the past 48 hours. Complete blood counts were performed with the ProCyte DX at the emergency department and with the Sysmex XT‐2000iV at the laboratory 2 weeks later. The scattergrams from the two analyzers revealed similar unusual and abnormal dot plots. The Sysmex XT‐2000iV DIFF scattergram also showed no clear separation between different leukocyte populations. The eosinophil cluster was in an abnormal location compared with that of the “typical” location in a normal cat. A blood smear evaluation revealed the presence of numerous mast cells. Thus, we hypothesized that the Sysmex XT‐2000iV had detected the mast cell population, and this led to errors in the differential counts. To explore this hypothesis, we manually gated on the DIFF scattergram and performed a manual differential on the blood smear. With this new gating strategy, the Sysmex XT‐2000iV and manual differentials were similar. Thus, in the case of systemic mastocytosis, mast cells can be located between the lymphocyte, monocyte, and eosinophil clusters on scattergrams.     

Pelger–Huët Anomaly in a cat

A 14‐year‐old, spayed female Domestic Shorthair cat was referred to the Purdue University Veterinary Teaching Hospital (PUVTH) for iodine 131 treatment of hyperthyroidism. Upon arrival, a biochemistry profile and a CBC were performed. Approximately 50% of the neutrophils and all the eosinophils observed were hyposegmented with a mature, condensed chromatin pattern. Nuclei had a band to “dumbbell” shape, and rarely a round shape, suggesting a Pelger–Huët anomaly or a pseudo Pelger–Huët. Based on both a negative FeLV and FIV tests, the absence of any clinical signs to support an inflammatory process, and the persistence of this granulocytic morphology 6 months after its previous admission to the PUVTH, a diagnosis of Pelger–Huët anomaly was established in this cat.     

沙门菌感染对小鼠白细胞总数及其亚群动态变化的影响

为研究沙门菌感染对小鼠白细胞总数及其亚群动态变化的影响,采取腹腔注射的方法给小鼠接种6.5×10⁹ CFU/mL浓度的沙门菌0.1 mL/只,分别在4、6、8、12、16和24 h采集小鼠血液,应用全自动动物血液细胞分析仪检测感染小鼠的白细胞总数、淋巴细胞数、单核细胞数和粒细胞数,记录并分析小鼠24 h内白细胞总数及其亚群的动态变化。结果表明：模型组小鼠白细胞总数及其亚群均呈先升高后降低的趋势,且白细胞总数和粒细胞数的变化幅度最明显,与空白对照组比较差异极显著（P<0.01）。说明感染沙门菌能够刺激小鼠机体产生免疫应答,影响血液中白细胞总数及其亚群的动态变化。     

Time-related changes of the intestinal morphology of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., at two different soybean meal inclusion levels

Soybean meal (SBM) induces enteritis in the distal intestine of Atlantic salmon. The present study assesses the effects of SBM concentrations on the kinetics of the enteritis process. Fish of 300 g, kept at 12 °C, were fed diets with different SBM inclusions: 0%, 10% and 20% SBM for 57 days. Samples of the distal intestine of five fish per treatment were taken for histological and electron microscopical analysis. A semi-quantitative scoring system was used to assess the degree of the morphological changes induced by SBM feeding in the distal intestinal epithelium. The first signs of enteritis appeared earlier in the salmon fed the 20SBM diet than in those fed the 10SBM diet. Thereafter, the condition increased steadily, displaying no signs of recovery. Furthermore, at the lower concentration, the process marking the onset of enteritis began more gradually than at the higher concentration and it displayed a tendency to stabilize after 13–20 days of continuous feeding. Electron microscopy indicated that the endocytosis process was hampered at day 3 of 20SBM and at 7 days of 10SBM. Furthermore, a strong reduction of microvilli was already evident after 7 days of 20SBM feeding, thus indicating a decreased uptake capacity of the distal enterocytes. In addition, transformation and migration of eosinophilic granulocytes was observed, which, in combination with the lysozyme C immunoreactivity supports their protective role during the inflammatory process in the distal gut of Atlantic salmon. It can be concluded that the severity of enteritis and its kinetics are concentration-dependent, showing no signs of recovery during feeding with diets containing SBM.     

不同光照及给予不同剂量外源性褪黑素条件下褪黑素对鸡外周血中淋巴细胞和中性粒细胞消长规律的影响

本实验在不同光照及给予不同剂量外源性褪黑素的条件下,分组饲养幼龄鸡60只,研究褪黑素对鸡外周血中淋巴细胞和中性粒细胞消长规律的影响。采用翼下静脉采血,用白细胞分类计数法计数。结果表明:在给予不同光照时间的条件下,随着光照时间的延长,褪黑素的分泌水平受到抑制,导致具有特异免疫功能的淋巴细胞百分率下降,具有非特异免疫功能的中性粒细胞百分率上升,经统计分析表明不同组间的测定结果均存在显著差异;采用24h全天光照,用以模拟机体切除松果腺的情况,再给予一定剂量外源性褪黑素,导致机体内具有特异免疫功能的淋巴细胞百分率上升,具有非特异免疫功能的中性粒细胞百分率下降,经统计分析表明不同组间的测定结果均存在显著差异,并且高剂量褪黑素对机体的影响更为明显。说明内源性及外源性褪黑素水平对鸡外周血中淋巴细胞和中性粒细胞百分率均有显著影响。     

Distribution of eosinophil granulocytes and mast cells in the reproductive tract of female goats in the preimplantation phase

Changes in eosinophil granulocytes and mast cells post-insemination may affect conceptus implantation, but information regarding the numbers of such cells in the mammalian reproductive tract is limited. This study investigated the preimplantation distribution of eosinophil granulocytes and mast cells (MCs) in the reproductive tract organs of female goats. Uterus, uterine cervix and uterine tubes samples were obtained at slaughter. Cornu uteri were washed in phosphate buffer solution (each animal contained at least one embryo). Tissues were fixed in 10% neutral buffered formol, Carnoy solution and Mota’s fixative (basic lead acetate) for 48 h and embedded in paraffin. Six-micrometre-thick sections were stained with Congo red (for eosinophil granulocytes) and toluidine blue in 1% aqueous solution at pH 1.0 for 5 min (for MCs). In the uterus, MCs occurred in highest numbers in the myometrium. Higher MC numbers were observed in uterus, uterine and uterine tubes in the preimplantation (experimental) group (cycle synchronised through 7 days intravaginal sponge with 0.3 g P₄) compared with the control group (P < 0.05). Eosinophil granulocyte numbers were significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group (P < 0.05). These results indicate preimplantation-related changes in numbers of eosinophil granulocytes and MCs in goat reproductive tract organs.