ISSN 1311-1477 (print); ISSN 131-3543 (online)
Bulgarian Journal of Veterinary Medicine
VOL. 12, No 1, MARCH 2009
CONTENTS
Published by the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Trakia
University,
6000 Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
Volume 12, Number 1, March 2009, Summaries
Haritova, a. M. & l. D. Lashev, 2009. Comparison of the pharmacokinetics of seven fluoroquinolones in mammalian and bird species using allometric analysis. Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 12, No 1, 3-24.
Allometric analysis is used to predict the pharmacokinetic behaviour of drugs in animal species where it has not been studied yet. This method was applied to calculate total body clearance, volume of distribution and elimination half-life of seven fluoroquinolone drugs. The results showed that provided information for quinolones’ pharmacokinetics was very close to real data, with the highest accuracy for marbofloxacin. On the contrast, the prediction of pharmacokinetics of enrofloxacin and its active metabolite ciprofloxacin was the most unreliable. Birds should be separately subjected to allometric scaling in order to receive more accurate results. The comparison of data among species showed that in rabbits, pigs, sheep, donkeys and wild animals as gorals, alpakas and oryxes, allometric scaling of fluoroquinolones could not always provide a reasonable accuracy. Therefore, the specificity of metabolism and excretion of a given drug should be taken into account.
Key words: allometric scaling, birds, fluoroquinolones, mammals, pharmacokinetics
Tatli Seven, P. & İ. Seven, 2009. Effects of selenium and vitamin C supplemented with high energy diet on the performance of broilers in cold (15 oC) environment. Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 12, No 1, 25-32.
One hundred and twenty one-day-old, Ross 308 broiler chicks were randomized into 1 control and 3 experimental groups each containing 30 birds. Each group was further divided into one main and two replicate subgroups. Group I (control) was fed the basal diet, group II (HE) was fed a high energy diet (3250 kcal/kg as starter diet; 3300 kcal/kg as grower diet), group III (HE+Se) was fed the HE diet supplemented with 1 mg/kg Se as sodium selenite, group IV (HE+Vit C) was fed the HE diet supplemented with 250 mg/kg vitamin C as ascorbic acid. The highest feed intake values were observed in the HE+vitamin C (P<0.01) during 4-40 days of age. Performance of the animals was positively affected by the supplementation of vitamin C and selenium, and the crude protein retention increased only in Group IV. Relative liver weight was the highest in group II (P<0.05) and relative thyroid weight - in the control group (P<0.05), but the relative weights of heart, lung, spleen and gizzard did not differ significantly among groups. With these results, we may suggest the supplementation of vitamin C and selenium in broilers exposed to cold environment instead of feeding them only with high energy.
Key words: broiler, cold-conditioning, high energy; performance, selenium, vitamin C
Azarnia, M., H. M. Koochesfahani, M. Rajabi, Y. Tahamtani & A. Tamadon, 2009. Histological examination of endosulfan effects on follicular development of BALB/c mice. Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 12, No 1, 33-41.
The effects of endosulfan on ovary structures of 50-day-old Balb/C mice were assessed. Peanut oil was used as solvent. The vaginal smear and body weight of the mice were recorded on a daily basis. Mice were divided into three groups: untreated controls, peanut oil-treated and endosulfan-treated. Both treated groups received 10 mg/kg endosulfan 35% emulsifiable concentrate in the same amount of peanut oil, and peanut oil only, respectively, injected intraperitoneally once a day for 7 days. On the 8th day after the first injection the animals were sacrificed, the ovaries removed and studied macroscopically and microscopically. In the endosulfan-treated group no significant alteration in the relative weight of ovary was observed when compared with both peanut oil and control groups. Significant decreases in the number of primordial, primary, growing, and Graafian follicles, corpus luteum and increased number of atretic follicles were observed vs peanut oil-treated and control groups (P<0.05). The diameters of the Graafian follicles and their oocytes, and theca and granulosa cell layers were decreased in the endosulfan group when compared with peanut oil treated and untreated groups (P<0.05). Endosulfan-induced reduction in ovarian size in mice was associated with a decrease in healthy ovarian follicles and corpora lutea and an increase in atretic follicles.
Key words: Balb/c mice, corpora luteum, endosulfan, follicular development
Alexandrov, M., R. Peshev, S. Lasarova, L. Doumanova, A. Tchorbanov & R. Bostandjieva, 2009. Heterophil emperipolesis in rabbit haemorrhagic disease. Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 12, No 1, 43-53.
Liver and spleen obtained from rabbits deceased after inoculation with rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) were studied by means of light, transmission electron and immunoelectron microscopy. Severe damages located within the nuclei and cytoplasm of many periportal hepatocytes and splenic macrophages were detected. However, the most prominent pathological lesions were multifocal liver necroses abundantly infiltrated with heterophil granulocytes, as well as heterophils found throughout the red pulp of the spleen. Ultrastructurally, unique cell interactions were established. The cytoplasm of many hepatocytes/splenic macrophages was invaded with heterophils. Therefore, the term emperipolesis (penetration of heterophils toward the hepatocytes/splenic macrophages) was preferred for outlining these lesions. It was assessed that the observed emperipolesis may play a key role in the rabbit haemorrhagic disease pathology, as well as it could be the main reason for the development of smaller RHDV particles found by electron microscopy in the RHDV-positive specimens.
Key words: electron microscopy, emperipolesis, immunoelectron microscopy, rabbit haemorrhagic disease, rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus
Behzadi, M. A., S. M. Razavi, H. Yazdanpoor, A. Mirzaei, A. Tamadon & M. Javdani Gandomani, 2009. Epidemiology of Cryptosporidium infection in ostriches (Struthio camelus) in Iran. Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 12, No 1, 55-61.
Avian cryptosporidiosis has been reported in more than 30 species of birds. To date, the species infecting birds are C. baileyi, C. galli and C. meleagridis. In this study, the prevalence of Cryptosporidium in southern Iran and the morphological characteristics of oocysts are described. Cryptosporidium oocysts were found in the faeces of 21 of 75 examined ostriches (28%) from 3 farms in southern Iran. The genus identity of the oocysts was confirmed by morphology. The mean (±SD) size of 102 oocysts was 4.4±1.14 × 3.9±0.96 µm (range 3.8–8.6 × 2.9–7.6 µm) with a shape index (length/width) of 1.13±0.13 (range 1.0–1.33). Data analyses indicated no significant effect of ostrich population on the prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection. Based on the odds ratio, an increase of 1 m2 space for each ostrich decreased the prevalence of disease by a factor of 0.99. Stressing conditions leading to immunosuppression or poor husbandry practices related to feed, water or hygiene, were apparently acting as predisposing factors to the onset of cloacal prolapse or other pathology related to the Cryptosporidium spp. found in this experiment, since the improvement in husbandry practices has stopped the mortality and clinical signs, even in the presence of the parasite. To our knowledge, this is the first report of Cryptosporidium spp. occurrence in ostriches in Iran.
Key words: Cryptosporidium spp., Iran, morphology, ostriches
Nazifi, S., S. M. Razavi, F. Hasanshahi & Z. Esmailnezhad, 2009. Effect of the severity of Theileria annulata infection on some haematological parameters and antioxidant enzymes in naturally infected cattle. Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 12, No 1, 63-71.
This study was conducted to assess the effect of the severity of Theileria annulata infection on some haematological parameters and antioxidant enzymes in naturally infected cattle. The diseased group comprised 50 dairy Holstein cattle, 2−3 years old, naturally infected with Theileria annulata that was further divided into 4 subgroups according to parasitaemia rates (<1%, 1-3%, 3-5%, >5%). As a control group, 20 non-infected cattle were also investigated. Blood samples were obtained for measuring haematological parameters and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX). There were significant differences in red blood cell counts (RBCs), packed cell volume (PCV), concentration of haemoglobin and methaemoglobin and activities of SOD and GPX between healthy cattle and those infected with Theileria annulata (P<0.05). As parasitaemia increased in infected cattle, a significant decrease was observed in RBCs (r=-0.934, P<0.01), PCV (r=-0.955, P<0.01), haemoglobin concentration (r=-0.950, P<0.01), and in SOD (r=-0.962, P<0.01) and GPX (r=-0.846, P<0.01) activities. In contrast, with increase in parasitaemia, a significant elevation in mean corpuscular volume (MCV) (r=0.466, P<0.01), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) (r=0.430, P<0.01) and concentration of methaemoglobin (r=0.944, P<0.01) was detected.
Key words: cattle, haematological parameters, oxidative stress, Theileria annulata, tropical theileriosis
Al-Sobayil, F. A., 2009. Locations and techniques for percutaneous renal biopsy in adult dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius). Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 12, No 1, 73-77.
The locations and techniques for performing renal biopsy in right and left kidneys of adult dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius) were described. The topographical anatomy of the right and left kidneys was determined on 5 cadavres of adult healthy camels preserved with 10% formalin. Renal biopsies were performed on 10 adult healthy camels after sedation with 2% solution of xylazine hydrochloride (Rompun® 0.1 mg/kg, IV) and local anaesthesia with lidocaine hydrochloride at the biopsy sites. The exact sites of collecting renal biopsies from the right and left kidneys were described. At each site, ten attempts were performed and the percentages of successful and failed attempts were recorded. The results showed that the right kidney of the dromedary lied under the 2nd to 4th right transverse processes of the lumbar vertebrae whereas the left kidney was below the left transverse processes of the 5th to 7th lumbar vertebrae.
Key words: dromedary camel, percutaneous renal biopsyTabatabaei Naeini, A., N. Ziaei Darounkolaei, O. Ziaei Darounkolaei & M. R. Tabandeh, 2009. Effect of amidotrizoate (Urographin 76%) on tear fluid total protein, lysozyme, sodium and potassium concentrations and tear electrophoresis after dacryocystography in donkeys. Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 12, No 1, 79-86.
Dacryocystography has been widely used in the assessment of the nasolacrimal duct system, particularly in patients with epiphora. In most instances, Lipiodol (oil-based contrast media) is the contrast agent of choice among the agents compared. In equids, the effects of Urographin 76%, an oil-based contrast medium on the tear parameters have not been determined in details yet. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of amidotrizoate (Urographin 76%) on the total protein, lysozyme, sodium and potassium concentrations, and electrophoresis of tears in clinically normal donkeys. Ten normal donkeys from both sexes were submitted to dacryocystography with Urographin 76%. Tear samples were collected before and 2 hours and 2 weeks post dacryocystography. All tested parameters changed significantly, but the electrophoretic diagram of all samples have not shown any quantitative changes. It is concluded that Urographin 76% was not the contrast agent of choice despite providing the greatest conventional radiographic image quality among contrast agents.
Key words: dacryocystography, donkey, electrophoresis, lysozyme, potassium, protein, sodium, tear, Urographin