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Effects of vitamin C and magnesium L-threonate treatment on learning and memory in lead-poisoned mice Full text
2021
Bislimi Kemajl | Mazreku Ilir | Halili Jeton | Aliko Valbona | Sinani Kushtrim | Hoxha Liridon
The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of vitamin C (vit C) and magnesium L-threonate (MgT) on the learning ability and memory of mice intoxicated with lead acetate.
Show more [+] Less [-]Rift Valley fever – a growing threat to humans and animals Full text
2021
Kwaśnik Małgorzata | Rożek Wojciech | Rola Jerzy
Rift Valley fever (RVF) is a zoonotic, vector-borne infectious disease of ruminants and camels transmitted mainly by the Aedes and Culex mosquito species. Contact with the blood or organs of infected animals may infect humans. Its etiological factor is the Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) of the Phlebovirus genus and Bunyaviridae family. Sheep and goats are most susceptible to infection and newborns and young individuals endure the most severe disease course. High abortion rates and infant mortality are typical for RVF; its clinical signs are high fever, lymphadenitis, nasal and ocular secretions and vomiting. Conventional diagnosis is done by the detection of specific IgM or IgG antibodies and RVFV nucleic acids and by virus isolation. Inactivated and live-attenuated vaccines obtained from virulent RVFV isolates are available for livestock. RVF is endemic in sub-Saharan Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, but in the last two decades, it was also reported in other African regions. Seropositive animals were detected in Turkey, Tunisia and Libya. The wide distribution of competent vectors in non-endemic areas coupled with global climate change threaten to spread RVF transboundarily. The EFSA considers the movement of infected animals and vectors to be other plausible pathways of RVF introduction into Europe. A very low risk both of introduction of the virus through an infected animal or vector and of establishment of the virus, and a moderate risk of its transmission through these means was estimated for Poland. The risk of these specific modes of disease introduction into Europe is rated as very low, but surveillance and response capabilities and cooperation with the proximal endemic regions are recommended.
Show more [+] Less [-]Assessment of the usefulness of image reconstruction in the oblique and double-oblique sagittal planes for magnetic resonance imaging of the canine cranial cruciate ligament Full text
2021
Przeworski Adam | Adamiak Zbigniew | Nowicki Michał | Mieszkowska Marta | Tobolska Angelika | Głodek Joanna
The aim of the study was to determine the quality and significance of the magnetic resonance image of the canine knee after reconstruction in the oblique and double-oblique sagittal plane. This reconstruction and 3D images are rarely used in common protocols due to the longer study time they require. The study aimed to demonstrate significance for such diagnostic images in specific sequences in order to stimulate consideration of their more frequent use in diagnosis of diseases of the cruciate ligament in dogs.
Show more [+] Less [-]Investigation of the prevalence of Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae in Southern Xinjiang, China Full text
2021
Zhao Jin-yu | Du Yi-zhou | Song Ya-ping | Zhou Peng | Chu Yue-feng | Wu Jun-yuan
It is very important to monitor the infection of Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae as a potential threat to the sheep industry. Southern Xinjiang is a major sheep breeding base in China, however, there is no relevant information concerning the infection of the region’s ovine stock with this bacteria at present. This study aimed to address this knowledge gap.
Show more [+] Less [-]High-throughput sequencing in vaccine research Full text
2021
Pasik Katarzyna | Domańska-Blicharz Katarzyna
The world of vaccines has changed tremendously since the time of Louis Pasteur. In the present day, it is regarded as vaccinology, a discipline which includes not only the knowledge of vaccine production, strategies for its delivery and influence on the clinical course of disease and the response of the host immune system but also regulatory, ethical, economic and ecological aspects of their use. A hundred years after Pasteur created the first vaccine, there was another scientific breakthrough of great importance in this field, i. e. Sanger sequencing. Progress in genome sequencing and other molecular techniques over the intervening 40 years has been enormous. High-throughput sequencing (HTS) platforms and bioinformatics tools are becoming widely available, falling in cost, and results are achieved very quickly. They enable the construction of modern vaccines, as well as the assessment of their safety, effectiveness and impact on the host organism and the environment. These techniques can also provide a tool for quality control of vaccines. Unprecedented possibilities are opened up by the HTS technique, but limiting factors on its implementation have to be contended with such as lack of reference materials and problems with method optimisation or validation. In the face of the current COVID-19 pandemic, a significant role is allotted to this sequencing technique while an effective vaccine against the disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 is sough.
Show more [+] Less [-]Echinacea purpurea extract (cichoric acid) exerts an anti-inflammatory effect on yak PBMCs and regulates the TLR4 signalling pathway Full text
2021
Xue Cai-hua | A Shun-xian | Wang Meng-jie | Wu Qiang | Liu Jia-hua | Zhang Long-fei | Wu Yun | Wu Hua | Chai Sha-tuo
Inflammation is one of the main causes of impaired health in livestock and some of its processes weaken animal productivity and impact human health. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of echinacea extract (cichoric acid – CA) on yak peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), inflammatory-related factors, and the toll-like receptor (TLR)4 signalling pathway induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in these PBMCs.
Show more [+] Less [-]First report of multiple drug-resistant gastrointestinal nematodes of sheep in Arbat District, Sulaymaniyah, Iraq detected by in vivo and in vitro methods Full text
2021
Dyary Hiewa Othman | Banaz Hamasalih Qadir
The control of gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs) in small ruminants is principally dependent on anthelmintic therapy, which encounters the rising problem of anthelmintic resistance (AR) development. Veterinarians reported anthelmintic failure in several sheep farms in Arbat District, Sulaymaniyah, northern Iraq, which called for a systematic study about the efficacy of three commonly used drugs: albendazole, ivermectin, and levamisole.
Show more [+] Less [-]Modification of a haematoxylin, eosin, and natural saffron staining method for the detection of connective tissue Full text
2021
Ceccopieri, Cassandra | Skonieczna, Joanna | Madej, Jan P.
Modification of a haematoxylin, eosin, and natural saffron staining method for the detection of connective tissue Full text
2021
Ceccopieri, Cassandra | Skonieczna, Joanna | Madej, Jan P.
The aim of our study was to optimise an existing staining procedure: haematoxylin-eosin saffron (HES). The method follows the classical haematoxylin and eosin protocol with the addition of a staining step using natural saffron to better identify the collagen fibres. The saffron solution was obtained by dissolving ground saffron stigmas in absolute alcohol. In order to test the HES method for its staining ability on four main types of collagen (I, II, III, and IV), specific tissues (skin, tooth, cartilage, aorta, spleen, and penis) were chosen. The procedure showed a sharp differentiation between muscle, stained red or pink, and connective tissue, stained bright yellow or orange. HES allows the diagnosis of reticulin fibrosis undetected in HE and in previous saffron staining procedures. HES represents an advantageous alternative to HE staining giving highly reproducible results with high diagnostic value.
Show more [+] Less [-]Modification of a haematoxylin, eosin, and natural saffron staining method for the detection of connective tissue Full text
2021
Ceccopieri Cassandra | Skonieczna Joanna | Madej Jan P.
The aim of our study was to optimise an existing staining procedure: haematoxylin-eosin saffron (HES). The method follows the classical haematoxylin and eosin protocol with the addition of a staining step using natural saffron to better identify the collagen fibres.
Show more [+] Less [-]Effect of negative energy balance on plasma metabolites, minerals, hormones, cytokines and ovarian follicular growth rate in Holstein dairy cows Full text
2021
Effect of negative energy balance on plasma metabolites, minerals, hormones, cytokines and ovarian follicular growth rate in Holstein dairy cows Full text
2021
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of negative energy balance (NEB) on the final growth of the dominant ovarian follicle in Holstein cows. Cows at 14 to 21 d postpartum from an intensive dairy farm were randomly selected and allocated into a positive energy balance group (PEB, with β-hydroxybutyric acid (BHBA) level < 1.2 mmol/L, n = 15) and an NEB group (BHBA > 1.2 mmol/L, n = 15). Plasma samples were collected at 21, 50 and 55 d postpartum to assess the concentrations of energy metabolites, minerals, hormones and cytokines. Ovaries were examined by transrectal ultrasound on days 50 and 55 (120 hours later) to evaluate the diameter of the largest follicle. Compared with PEB cows, there were a more severe body condition loss and a lower milk yield in NEB cows (P < 0.05) and these had greater concentrations of plasma BHBA, non-esterified fatty acids, triglycerides, urea nitrogen, growth hormone, interleukin 6, and fibroblast growth factor 21 and lesser concentrations of plasma glucose, total cholesterol, insulin, insulin-like growth factor 1, insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3, leptin, brain-derived neurotrophic factor and angiopoietin-like protein 8 on d 21 (P < 0.05), while plasma minerals were not affected by energy status (P > 0.05). These changes persisted until the end of the study period (50–55 days postpartum) resulting in a lower follicular growth rate for cows in the NEB than the PEB group. These observations indicate that follicular growth rate is associated with measurable changes in energy metabolite, hormone and cytokine concentrations caused by early postpartum NEB.
Show more [+] Less [-]Effect of negative energy balance on plasma metabolites, minerals, hormones, cytokines and ovarian follicular growth rate in Holstein dairy cows Full text
2021
Song Yuxi | Wang Zhijie | Zhao Chang | Bai Yunlong | Xia Cheng | Xu Chuang
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of negative energy balance (NEB) on the final growth of the dominant ovarian follicle in Holstein cows.
Show more [+] Less [-]A preliminary study on semen collection, its evaluation, and testicular and sperm morphometries in the wild proboscis monkey (Nasalis larvatus) Full text
2021
Zainuddin, Zainal Zahari | Tarmizi, Mohamed Reza Mohamed | Chee, Yap Keng | Erut, Alvin | Fitri, Wan Nor | Salleh, Annas
A preliminary study on semen collection, its evaluation, and testicular and sperm morphometries in the wild proboscis monkey (Nasalis larvatus) Full text
2021
Zainuddin, Zainal Zahari | Tarmizi, Mohamed Reza Mohamed | Chee, Yap Keng | Erut, Alvin | Fitri, Wan Nor | Salleh, Annas
The proboscis monkey (Nasalis larvatus) is an endangered species with a declining population. This article describes the first successful attempt at sperm collection and evaluation, and the testicular and sperm morphometries of the wild proboscis monkey in Sabah, Malaysia. Eight semen collection procedures using electro-ejaculation and digital manipulation were conducted in three wild adult male proboscis monkeys. A total of 21 ejaculates were collected. The testicular biometry was measured with the aid of ultrasonography. Sample evaluation included semen volume and pH and sperm concentration, viability, and abnormality. The sperm morphometry was undertaken using phase contrast microscopy. The mean (±SD) total testicular volume of these animals was 5.77 cm³ (±1.58). Semen collection by electro-ejaculation resulted in an 84% success rate, while digital manipulation did not result in any ejaculation. Each animal showed different semen characteristics, where the volume was 5–540 μL, pH 8–9, and sperm concentration 0.041–83.00 ×106/mL. The percentage of abnormal sperm was high at 76.8% (±89.60), largely due to midpiece abnormality. Normal sperm had a spherical head and long tail with a head : midpiece : tail length ratio of 1 : 2: 8. The social status of these animals may contribute to the generally low quality of the semen. The techniques and data from this study are useful for future conservation and application of assisted reproductive technology in this species.
Show more [+] Less [-]A preliminary study on semen collection, its evaluation, and testicular and sperm morphometries in the wild proboscis monkey (Nasalis larvatus) Full text
2021
Zainuddin Zainal Zahari | Tarmizi Mohamed Reza Mohamed | Chee Yap Keng | Erut Alvin | Fitri Wan Nor | Salleh Annas
The proboscis monkey (Nasalis larvatus) is an endangered species with a declining population. This article describes the first successful attempt at sperm collection and evaluation, and the testicular and sperm morphometries of the wild proboscis monkey in Sabah, Malaysia.
Show more [+] Less [-]