ISSN 1311-1477 (print); ISSN 131-3543 (online)
Bulgarian Journal of Veterinary Medicine
VOL. 12, No 2, JUNE 2009
CONTENTS
Published by the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Trakia
University,
6000 Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
Volume 12, Number 2, June 2009, Summaries
Siddiki, A. M. A. M. Z. & M. Masuduzzaman, 2009. Cryptosporidium and cryptosporidiosis: A brief review. Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 12, No 2, 91-111.
Cryptosporidium parvum is an important zoonotic protozoan that has been found in human and animal populations throughout the world. It has a predilection for epithelial cells in the digestive tracts of a wide variety of hosts (humans, livestock, companion animals, wildlife, birds, reptiles and fish). The zoonotic form of infection was also reported by many investigators and led to many cross transmission studies to understand the complex epidemiology of cryptosporidiosis. More importantly, the opportunistic pathogen can produce an infection that may be chronic and even life-threatening for undernourished infants and AIDS patients. The waterborne transmission through drinking water or swimming pool is quite common resulting in a number of outbreaks in many countries worldwide. While many physical and chemical methods are employed to remove the oocysts from drinking water, it is still difficult to completely remove it through any single technique. The parasite has a unique intracellular but extracytoplasmic location and several other unusual features like presence of relict mitochondria, unique life cycle features like production of two types of oocysts, ability to autoinfection and lack of host specificity. Until now numerous in vivo and in vitro drug trials have been conducted against this important opportunistic pathogen but none was found to be completely effective against cryptosporidiosis. Recent release of complete genome sequences for C. parvum and C. hominis has facilitated further studies of this pathogen. It is expected that the use of modern bioinformatic tools along with mass spectrometry can be very useful to understand the global proteome of this parasite. Efforts to design a satisfactory treatment of cryptosporidiosis have not been successful due to a lack of understanding of basic cellular and molecular biology of the parasite. Therefore, considerable research is underway to explore the biology of C. parvum which will eventually lead to identification of suitable drug targets. In this review we attempted to highlight different biological aspects of Cryptosporidium along with present status of research and future directions.
Key words: biology, Cryptosporidium, genome, parasite, protozoan
Dzhelebov, P. V., D. I. Gundasheva, M. J. Andonova, R. M. Mihaylov & E. P. Slavov, 2009. Effects of experimental prolonged strenuous exercise on haematological parameters in dogs. Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 12, No 2, 112-118.
Six experimental male, mongrel dogs (1.5–3.5 years of age), were submitted to a prolonged strenuous exercise until exhaustion, in order to study its effects on some haematological parameters. The time course of haemoglobin concentration (Hb), red blood cells counts (RBC counts), haematocrit (Hct) and red blood cells indices were measured: before exercise, right after exercise (0 hour), on 2nd hour, 4th hour, 24th hour, 48th hour, 72nd hour, 7th day and 14th day after exercise. Hb and RBC counts decreased right after exercise, on 4th hour, 48th hour, 72nd hour, 7th day and 14th day after exercise. Hct decreased significantly on 48th hour and 72nd hour after exercise. Mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) decreased statistically significantly right after exercise and on 48th hour. Mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) decreased only right after exercise, while mean corpuscular volume (MCV) changed right after exercise and on 2nd and 24th hour.
Key words: dog, erythrocyte indices, erythrocytes, exercise, haematocrit, haemoglobin
Nazifi, S., M. Saeb, N. Ghafari, I. Razeghian, S. M. Razavi, F. Vosoughi, F. Dehghani & H. Orangi, 2009. Reference values of oxidative stress parameters in adult native Iranian goats. Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 12, No 2, 119-124.
The present study was performed on 132 clinically healthy Iranian native goats from both sexes (36 male and 96 female). The blood concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) were determined. The reference values for oxidative stress parameters of adult clinically healthy Iranian native goats were as followed: SOD 778.65−1190.50 U/g Hb, GPX 266.67−322.00 U/g Hb, CAT 1536.29−2215.63 U/g Hb and MDA 0.346−0.801 mmol/l. There were no significant differences in oxidative stress parameters between the two sexes.
Key words: catalase, glutathione peroxidase, Iranian native goats, malondialdehyde, reference values, superoxide dismutase
Fazio, E., P. Medica & A. Ferlazzo, 2009. Seasonal patterns of circulating b-endorphin, adrenocorticotropic hormone and cortisol levels in pregnant and barren mares. Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 12, No 2, 125-135.
The study was carried out to investigate the changes of circulating b-endorphin, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol concentrations in 18 Thoroughbred mares (n=12 pregnant and n=6 barren), aged 5-18 years, over a 12–month period. Blood samples were collected monthly from April to March. In pregnant mares there were no significant changes in b-endorphin and ACTH levels (P>0.05), but higher cortisol levels at the 1st (P<0.05) and at the 8th (P<0.01) and lower at the 11th gestation month (P<0.01) were observed, as compared to barren mares. Pregnant mares showed higher b-endorphin levels in August (P<0.05), lower ACTH levels in July (P<0.05) and higher cortisol levels in May (P<0.05), as compared to the previous month. Barren mares showed lower cortisol levels in April (P<0.05) and in November (P<0.01) and higher levels in March (P<0.001), as compared to pregnant mares and in the 1st post-partum month values. Barren mares exhibited higher b-endorphin levels in September (P<0.05) and lower in November (P<0.01) and December (P<0.01), vs the previous month. One-way RM-ANOVA showed a seasonal effect for b-endorphin (P<0.001), ACTH (P<0.001) and cortisol (P<0.001) changes in pregnant mares, and for b-endorphin (P<0.0001) and cortisol (P<0.0001) changes in barren mares.
Key words: adrenocorticotropic hormone, b-endorphin, cortisol, mare, pregnancy, seasonality
Abbas, B. A. & A. B. Aldeewan, 2009. Occurrence and epidemiology of Brucella spp. in raw milk samples at Basrah province, Iraq. Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 12, No 2, 136-142.
Four hundred and twenty samples of raw cow, buffalo and sheep milk were collected through August 2006 to July 2007 from different sites in the Basrah province of Iraq and tested in the milk ring test to detect Brucella antibodies. Positive results were obtained in 24.2% of samples. By means of the enrichment broth technique, 62 Brucella isolates, 33 Brucella abortus isolates (biotypes 2, 3, 4 and 6); 25 B. melitensis isolates (biotypes 2 and 3), and 4 B. ovis isolates were recovered. The highest incidence of Brucella in raw milk samples was found out in sheep’s milk followed by buffalo’s raw milk. The prevalence of Brucella isolates was high in spring and summer months whereas a lower incidence was found out in cold months. Antibiotic sensitivity tests of the isolates were performed. All Brucella isolates showed an ability to grow within the temperature range 18-44 oC and at pH 4–9.
Key words: Brucella spp., buffalo, cow, milk, sheep
Koinarski, V. Ts., P. N. Prelezov, S. Okursoy & Ts. V. Koinarski, 2009. Comparative studies on some epidemiological aspects of eimeriosis in turkeys between some regions in Bulgaria and Turkey. Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 12, No 2, 143-148.
By means of turkeys’ faecal samples flotation with NaCl solution, the species composition of Eimeria spp. has been determined in 16 settlements in the Republic of Bulgaria and 4 settlements in the Republic of Turkey. In Bulgaria, the following species were detected: Eimeria adenoeides; E. meleagridis; E. meleagrimitis; E. gallopavonis; E. subrotunda, as well as Isospora heisini, whereas in Turkey − Eimeria adenoeides; E. meleagridis; E. meleagrimitis and E. subrotunda. The species E. subrotunda was observed for the first time in Bulgaria. The highly pathogenic species E. adenoeides was the dominant one in Bulgaria. In Turkey, E. meleagrimitis was the most prevailing. From all 1077 turkeys studied in Bulgaria and 161 in Turkey, 586 (54.4%) and 28 (17.4%) were infected with Eimeria, respectively. The infection in our country was generally with a low intensity – up to 50 oocysts per gramme faeces − in 371 (63.6%) of affected birds. Only in 5 birds (0.01%) a high-intensity infection was observed with 500 to 8200 oocysts per gramme faeces.
Key words: coccidia, Eimeria, epidemiology, protozoa, turkeysRadad, K., A. Hashim, E. E. G. El-Sharqawy & M. S. El-Din Youssef, 2009. Histopathological effects of methomyl on Sprague-Dawley rats after repeated application. Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 12, No 2, 149-157.
Among pesticides, carbamates are most commonly used for the control of agricultural plagues with potential toxicity to exposed animals and humans. In the present study, methomyl (2 mg/kg b.w.) was given to Sprague-Dawley rats, three times weekly for three months. Histopathological examination of tissue specimens revealed that liver, kidneys, lungs, testicles and spleen were markedly affected after methomyl exposure. Liver showed focal and diffuse activation of Kupffer's cells, necrobiotic changes in the hepatocytes, focal areas of necrosis, apoptotic changes and increase in the mitotic figures. Kidneys had glomerular swelling, periglomerular fibrosis, degeneration of the tubular epithelial cells and dysplastic changes in renal tubules. Lesions in the lungs consisted of necrosis and sloughing of bronchiolar epithelial lining and lymphocytic perivascualr accumulations. The testicles exhibited necrosis of seminiferous tubular cells and formation of intratubular giant cells. Spleen showed congestion, haemosiderosis and lymphocytic depletion. In conclusion, methomyl was found out to be potentially toxic to liver, kidneys, lungs, testicles and spleen.
Key words: histopathology, methomyl, pesticides, rat, toxicology
Todorova, I., N. Goranov, R. Simeonov & H. Hubenov, 2009. A case of generalized tetanus in a cat. Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 12, No 2, 158-162.
A case of generalized tetanus observed in a cat with open fracture of the tibia during the period after the osteosynthesis is presented. The specific clinical symptoms of the disease – hyperextension of the muscles of the legs, neck, tail, facial muscle alterations (trismus, risus sardonicus, third eyelid prolapse), hypersensitivity to noise stimuli accompanied with tetanic convulsions of limbs, were followed out for a period of 8 days. The intensive medicamentous therapy did not result in a favourable outcome and consequently, the cat was euthanized.
Key words: cat, surgical intervention, tetanus