BACKGROUND: Free cyanide is a potent toxic agent in the aquatic environment.  Freshwater fish are the most cyanide-sensitive group with high mortality at free cyanide concentrations above 20 μg/L. Exposure to cyanide ions can cause stress, increased mortality and place an appreciable metabolic load on fishes. Rhodanese is a ubiquitous mitochondrial enzyme in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes that detoxifies cyanide (CN-) by converting it to thiocyanate (SCN). OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this investigation was to determine and compare the pattern of tissue distribution of Rhodanese in different tissues of four native Barbus fish including Mesopotamichthys sharpey, Tor grypus, Luciobarbus xanthopterus and Luciobarbus barbulus. METHODS: Fishes (10 from each species) with length of 32.5 ± 6.5 and weight of 440 ± 110   were collected from five major fishing reservoirs of Karoun River including Gotvand, Shushtar, Molasani, Darkhoine and Ahvaz. Rhodanese activity was assayed by the method of Sorbo in the liver, kidney, gill and intestine. The unit of enzyme activity was defined as micromoles thiocyanate formed per minute at 37 °C and pH 9.2 and enzyme activity was expressed as U/mg protein. RESULTS: Rhodanese activity was detected in all tissues studied, albeit in different amounts. Specific activities of Rhodanese (U/mg protein) in different tissues ranged from 0.135 to 0.337 in the liver, 0.113 to 0.262 in the kidney, 0.121 to 0.157 in the gill, and 0.094 to 0.162 in the intestine, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The highest activity of Rhodanese in all four species was observed in the liver and kidney, followed by the gill and intestine. Our results suggest that Rhodanese may be functional in many physiological activities in these species which needs to be clarified in detailed.

BACKGROUND: Opioids and nitric oxide (NO) are functionally linked in the regulation of intestinal motility. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the role of NO in the opium induced bowel dysfunction in mice. METHODS: Sixty-six male mice received incrementally doses of the following treatments in six groups for 5 consecutive days: 1) Opium (0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5 and 0.6mg/30g/day), 2) N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 5,7.5,10,15 and 20mg/kg/day), 3) L-arginine (5-20mg/kg/day), 4) Opium+L-NAME, 5) Opium+L-arginine and 6) distilled water. At the end of the treatment, the abdomen was opened; some pieces of duodenal and proximal colon were taken to determine NO synthase (NOS) expression and nitrite levels, and some isolated rings from those parts of small and large intestine were prepared and transferred to the organ bath system to study intestinal motility. RT-PCR was used to determine the NOS gene expression. To determine the small intestinal transit, 30 mice in six groups, were used for oral administration of charcoal+gum in vivo. RESULTS: Opium decreased amplitude of the duodenum and ileum contractions, but increased frequency of duodenal and mid colon contractions (P<0.05). While the gene expression of inducible, neuronal and endothelial NOS was increased in colon (P<0.05), a reduced neuronal and endothelial NOS gene expression was shown in duodenum. The charcoal+gum transit was decreased in opium-treated animals compared to the control group (19.9%). However, L-arginine increased this transit while L-NAME decreased it. CONCLUSIONS: Opium induced intestinal smooth muscle spasms, which result in the decreased intestinal movements. The alterations in NOS gene expression may be a compensation mechanism against opium-induced intestinal dysfunction.

The study was carried out to evaluate the effect of Saccharomyces boulardii (Sb) on performance and intestinal integrity in broilers. &nbsp;A total of 300 day old Vencobb chicks were randomized in 5 groups, each with 6 replications (5x6) 10 birds per replicate. Groups provided with Sb ( 2 × 108 cfu/kg) in 0,0.02,0.04,0.08 and 0.16 mg/L in D1, D2, D3, D4, D5 respectively through water up to 42 days of age with adlibitum isonitrogenous and isocaloric ration. The results revealed, a significant (p&lt;0.05) improvement in body weight gain, better FCR with increased concentration of Sb in water (D5). No significant variation was observed in feed intake with the level of Sb in water. Intestinal villus height, cryptal depth increased in groups with increased Sb. The results suggest that supplementation of Sb &nbsp;at 0.16mg/L through drinking water &nbsp;improved &nbsp;the performance of the broilers by increasing the absorption capacity in the gut.&nbsp;

The study was carried out to evaluate the effect of Saccharomyces boulardii (Sb) on performance and intestinal integrity in broilers. &nbsp;A total of 300 day old Vencobb chicks were randomized in 5 groups, each with 6 replications (5x6) 10 birds per replicate. Groups provided with Sb ( 2 × 108 cfu/kg) in 0,0.02,0.04,0.08 and 0.16 mg/L in D1, D2, D3, D4, D5 respectively through water up to 42 days of age with adlibitum isonitrogenous and isocaloric ration. The results revealed, a significant (p&lt;0.05) improvement in body weight gain, better FCR with increased concentration of Sb in water (D5). No significant variation was observed in feed intake with the level of Sb in water. Intestinal villus height, cryptal depth increased in groups with increased Sb. The results suggest that supplementation of Sb &nbsp;at 0.16mg/L through drinking water &nbsp;improved &nbsp;the performance of the broilers by increasing the absorption capacity in the gut.&nbsp;

AbstractTartrazine is artificial colorant used in food, drug and cosmetic industries in addition to its many benefits through color, but as an artificial dye, it may cause many health problems for humans and animals. Current study was planned to demonstrate suspected effect of tartrazine on small intestines, in addition to obvious the properties of olive oil in reducing biochemical effects and histopathological changes on small intestines. The biochemical results showed (ALT, AST and ALP) significant increase (P &lt;0.001) in tartrazine second group when compare with control group. Third group, the liver enzyme which mention above showed result better than the second tartrazine group but also these parameters were less than control group, (P &lt;0.001). The histopathological results showed the control group showed normal histological appearance of intestinal structures. The second group which treated with tartrazine for 21 days, the intestine showed desquamation of mucosa and submucosa layers, distribution of goblet cells and hemorrhage. The third group which treated with olive oil and tartrazine show relatively normal histological appearance of intestine. This study agreed with many studies about the presence of a harmful effect of tartrazine, in addition to the presence of many benefits of olive oil, according to other studies.

Persistence of the vaccine RH strain of Toxoplasma gondii was studied by bioassay and histologically in 14 pigs. Pigs were euthanatized 2, 4, 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 29, 36, 42, 52, 57, and 76 days after IM inoculation with 100,000 T gondii tachyzoites. Viable T gondii tachyzoites derived from the RH strain were isolated by bioassay in mice inoculated with tissues of pigs euthanatized up to 14 days after vaccination. Except for fever, pigs vaccinated IM with the RH strain remained clinically normal. Two other pigs inoculated IV with 100,000 T gondii tachyzoites of the RH strain became ill, and 1 pig was comatose by 4 days after inoculation. These findings indicate that route of inoculation may influence the response of pigs to T gondii. To evaluate protective immunity in pigs vaccinated with the RH strain, 16 age-matched pigs were allotted to 4 groups (A-D) of 4 pigs each. Eight pigs (groups A and C) were vaccinated IM with 100,000 RH strain tachyzoites and 8 pigs (groups B and D) were nonvaccinated controls. Pigs of groups A and C were challenge-inoculated orally with a lethal dose of T gondii oocysts (100,000 oocysts) 81 days after vaccination, pigs of groups B and D were inoculated similarly 220 days after vaccination. The concentration of T gondii at 3 days after challenge inoculation of pigs vaccinated 81 days earlier was reduced 100,000-fold in mesenteric lymph nodes, compared with that in a nonvaccinated pig euthanatized at 3 days after challenge inoculation. Another nonvaccinated pig became comatose and had to be euthanatized at 7 days after challenge inoculation, numerous tachyzoites were in its mesenteric lymph nodes, intestines, and liver. The vaccinated pigs generally remained clinically after challenge inoculation with oocysts. Toxoplasma gondii was not isolated by bioassays from tissues of 5 of 8 vaccinated pigs, but was recovered from all nonvaccinated pigs. Results indicate that protective immunity persisted in pigs for at least 7 months after vaccination with the nonpersistent RH strain of T gondii.

The efficacy of a beef-based, chewable formulation of ivermectin against a mixed infection of Ancylostoma braziliense and A tubaeforme was determined in cats. Ivermectin administered orally at approximately 24 microgram/kg of body weight was 92.8% effective against adult A braziliense and 90.7% effective against adult A tubaeforme. The number of eggs per gram of feces had decreased 98.1% by 7 days after treatment. Clinical signs of hookworm disease also decreased after treatment. Location of adult parasites within the small intestine, percentage of infecting larvae that developed to the adult stage, and egg size in cats with infections of A braziliense and A tubaeforme were similar to those reported for cats with separate infections of either species.

Lactase, maltase, sucrase, and alkaline phosphatase activities were determined in the intestinal mucosa from 3 locations in the small intestine and 4 locations in the large intestine 1 year after extensive large-colon resection (group 1; n = 5) and 1 year after sham operation (group 2; n = 3) in horses. Lactase, maltase, and sucrase activities were similar (P > 0.05) between group-1 and group-2 horses in all locations measured in the intestinal tract. Alkaline phosphatase activity in the remaining large colon of group-1 horses was significantly (P < 0.05) greater than the activity in the large colon of group-2 horses. Decreased apparent digestion of phosphorus and a negative phosphorus balance are persistent features of large-colon resection in horses. Increases in alkaline phosphatase activity in the remaining colon of horses with extensive large-colon resection may be a specific functional adaptive mechanism that attempts to counteract the derangements in phosphorus metabolism.

Twenty-one mixed-breed pony foals, reared and maintained under parasite-free conditions, were used to test the efficacy of ivermectin in oral drench and paste formulations (200 microgram/kg) against 11-day-old migrating larvae of Parascaris equorum. Three replicates of 4 foals and 3 replicates of 3 foals were formed on the basis of age. Foals in replicates of 4 were randomly allocated to be indicators, or to receive vehicle (control) or ivermectin paste or ivermectin liquid. Foals in replicates of 3 were randomly allocated to receive vehicle or ivermectin paste or ivermectin liquid. The recovery of larvae from the lungs, liver, and small intestines of the indicator foals showed that 99.9% of the larvae were in the lungs 11 days after inoculation (day 0 of treatment). The recoveries of larvae from lungs and small intestines of controls at 25 days after inoculation indicated that all larvae had migrated to the small intestine by this time. The mean length of larvae recovered from the lungs (11 days after inoculation) was 0.87 mm; the mean length of those recovered from the small intestine (25 days after inoculation) was 3.65 mm. Using larvae recovered from small intestinal contents for calculations, ivermectin in both formulations was 100% effective against 11-day P equorum (P less than 0.01, compared with control group geometric mean of 1498.4).

Thirteen 3-week-old pigs that had been allowed to nurse for the first 16 to 18 hours after birth were orally inoculated with 1 X 10(6.5) TCID(50) of porcine rotavirus. All developed diarrhea, anorexia, and vomiting by postinoculation (PI) hour 30. These signs had abated by PI day 6. Villus blunting in the small intestine was most severe in the jejunum and ileum of pigs euthanatized between PI days 3 and 5. Villi had returned to nearly normal length by PI day 6, although fused villi were seen in a few locations in the distal portion of the jejunum and in the ileum. Virus was detected in the feces of inoculated pigs by isolation in cell cultures and by electron microscopy during the 7-day course of the experiment. There was 1 extraintestinal virus isolation from the lung of 1 pig at PI day 2. Infection and disease developed in the presence of serum-neutralizing antibody obtained by nursing seropositive sows. There was no significant change in neutralizing antibody titers in the 3-week-old pigs over the course of the experiment. In this experimental work, a model to study rotavirus infection in 3-week-old pigs has been developed.