ISSN 1311-1477 (print); ISSN 131-3543 (online)
VOLUME 17, NUMBER 3, SEPTEMBER 2014
CONTENTS
Published by the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Trakia
University,
6000 Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
Volume 17, Number 3, September 2014, Summaries
Paarvanova, B., T. Slavov, V. Ivanov & I. Ivanov, 2014. Thermal dielectroscopy study of submembrane spectrin network in animal erythrocytes. Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 17, No 3, 165-172.
The shape and mechanical properties of mammalian erythrocytes depend on the conformational flexibility of their submembrane spectrin network. By contrast, avian erythrocytes are ovoid and non-deformable even though they also have such spectrin network. Using thermal dielectroscopy we isolated and studied erythrocytes from domestic mammals (cow, horse, dog and goat) and birds (chicken, turkey, pigeon and duck). Both erythrocyte suspension resistance and capacitance changed abruptly at the spectrin denaturation temperature, Td, determined with standard deviation of ± 0.2 °C. The frequency dependence of these changes occurring at Td, revealed the dielectric relaxation of dipoles, associated with the spectrin network. The critical frequency, fc, of this relaxation reflected the segmental mobility of spectrin while the Td corresponded to the thermal stability of spectrin. The spectrin network was more flexible and thermally labile in mammalian erythrocytes (fc and Td were 2–2.5 MHz and 50±1°C, respectively, compared to 0.6–1 MHz and 54±1 °C in avian erythrocytes). The species-related differences in Td and fc between mammals and birds were attributed to the cytoskeleton which existed in avian but was absent in mammalian erythrocytes.
Key words:
dielectric spectroscopy, dipole polarisation, erythrocyte membrane, spectrin
denaturation, undermembrane network
Mosleh, N., s. Nazifi & f. Ghanadzadegan, 2014. effect of three different photoperiod schedules on serum leptin and lipid profile, abdominal fat pad adiposity and triglyceride content in broiler chickens. Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 17, No 3, 173-182.
This study was aimed at evaluating the effect of three different light regimens on serum leptin, lipid profile, abdominal fat pad triglyceride content and adiposity of broiler chickens. For this purpose, 60 one-day-old broiler chickens (Cobb 500) were distributed in three light-proof controlled rooms (20 chicks per room). All birds were reared under continuous light until 1 week of age. Then the chicks were treated as follows: 1. Continuous lighting (CL) programme (23L:1D), 2. Non intermittent restricted lighting programme (NIL) (6L:18D from day 7 to 28, 23L:1D from day 29 to 42) and 3. Intermittent lighting programme (IL) (1L:3D cycles). At day 42 of age, sera were collected from fasted chicks of each group and serum leptin levels and lipid profile were assayed. Then, abdominal fat weight and triglyceride content were evaluated. Feed intake, body weight and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were determined at the end of the experiment. Body weight of chickens reared under IL was slightly higher than other groups, but there was no significant difference among groups. Use of IL and NIL lighting schedules improved FCR. IL and NIL lighting programmes significantly reduced abdominal fat percentage in comparison with CL programme (P<0.05). Serum leptin levels were significantly higher in CL group in comparison with other groups (P<0.05). Blood leptin levels were positively correlated with abdominal fat pad size or adiposity in all groups. Serum triglyceride, cholesterol, lipoproteins (HDL, LDL,VLDL) and abdominal fat pad triglyceride content of birds under different photoperiod schedules did not differ significantly (P>0.05). In conclusion, use of IL and NIL programmes can enhance production efficiency and decrease adiposity and serum leptin level with no appreciable effect on abdominal fat pad triglyceride and serum lipid profile in broiler chickens.
Key words: abdominal fat pad adiposity, broiler chicken, leptin, photoperiod schedules
Rezaie, A., M. Pashmforosh, M. Haghi Karamallah, A. Fazlara, N. Haghighat & A. shahriari, 2014. Hepatoprotective effect of caffeine on diethylnitrosamine-induced liver injury in rats. Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 17, No 3, 183-190.
In the current study, we investigated the protective effects of the caffeine (Caff) on hepatic damage induced by diethylnitrosamine (DEN) administration in rats. Animals were divided into four groups with 10 animals in each group. Animals in group 1 were untreated (control). Rats in group 2 were injected with a single dose of 200 mg/kg DEN, intraperitoneally (DEN group), those from group 3 were intraperitoneally injected with 100 mg/kg caffeine daily for four weeks (Caff group) and rats from group 4 (DEN+Caff) received the same DEN dose as group 2 and daily caffeine treatments as group 3. After 4 weeks, blood was collected for analysis of activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP. Liver specimens were taken for histopathological examination. The single intraperitoneal administration of 200 mg/kg DEN to rats resulted in significantly elevated levels of serum AST, ALT and ALP indicative of hepatocellular damage. Histopathological examination revealed proliferation of stellate cells, necrosis, cell swelling and karyomegaly in DEN and DEN+Caff groups, with lower intensity in the DEN+Caff group. The results from the present study suggested that caffeine exhibited hepatoprotective properties against diethylnitrosamine-induced hepatocellular damage in rats.
Key words:
caffeine, diethylnitrosamine, liver, rat, toxicity
Valchev, I., L. Lazarov, Ts. Hristov, D. Kanakov, R. Binev & Y. Nikolov, 2014. Blood triiodothyronine, thyroxine and thyroid-stimulating hormone concentrations in mulard ducks with experimental aflatoxicosis. Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 17, No 3, 191-198.
The aim of the experiment was to evaluate the effect of aflatoxin В1 applied either independently or in combination with Mycotox NG on blood plasma triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in mulard ducks. Four groups of 20 ten-day-old birds each were used. The control group received compound feed according to the species and the age. The feed of group ІІ was supplemented with 0.5 mg/kg aflatoxin B1, of group ІІI – with 0.8 mg/kg aflatoxin B1, whereas group IV received compound feed with 0.5 mg/kg aflatoxin B1 and 2 g/kg Mycotox NG. Blood hormone concentrations were assayed on the 21st and 42nd day in samples collected from v. metatarsalis medialis. Lower blood T3 and T4 were established in groups II and III. The addition of 2 g/kg Mycotox NG to the feed of group IV had not a significant protecting effect against the adverse effects of aflatoxin B1 on blood triiodothyronine and thyroxine concentrations.
Key words: aflatoxicosis B1, ducks, Mycotox NG, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3)Parvanov, P. & N. Rusenova, 2014. Etiology and clinicoepidemiological profile of apiaries with colony collapse disorder-like symptoms in Bulgaria. Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 17, No 3, 199-206.
Field clinicoepidemiological and laboratory etiological examinations were performed in apiaries with colony collapsе disorder (CCD)-like symptoms in different regions in Bulgaria. The survey included 5,785 bee families in 41 apiaries, which were depopulated by 3,043 (52.6%) families. In 30 apiaries (71.8 %), the depopulation occurred in the spring (March-April) and in 11 apiaries (26.8%) bees left the hives in the autumn (September-October). The depopulation consisted in a dramatic decrease in the number of bees (the bees disappeared) until only queens with 20–30 bees were left and the family perished. In all apiaries except in one (n=40) Nosema ceranae infection was established. The results from questionnaires and clinicoepidemiological studies in affected apiaries allowed rejecting depopulation factors such as starvation, inadequate and poor-quality feed stores, varroatosis, pesticide intoxication, genetically modified cultures, high-voltage, electromagnetic and radiofrequency influences. Severe Nosema ceranae infection probably combined with viral infection resulting in disturbed repair of the intestinal epithelium, nutritional and energy deficiency and impossibility of flying bees to return to their hives were outlined as the main causes for the rapid collapse of bee families and depopulation of hives.
Key
words:
bee family, colony
collapsе
disorder,
cause, death, Nosema
ceranae
Simeonova, G. & S. Ktistakis, 2014. Retrospective analysis of mortality predictors in dogs with acute respiratory failure. Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 17, No 3, 207-216.
The aim of the present study was to investigate common clinical and laboratory parameters in dogs suffering from acute respiratory failure caused only by respiratory system disorders, using multiple regression analysis, in order to determine early factors with prognostic significance for survival or death, as well as to suggest a simple score system predicting reliably the probability of lethal outcome. The retrospective investigation was based on data from medical records of dogs suffering from acute respiratory failure, admitted to the Small Animal Clinic of Trakia University, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria between 2007 and 2010. Thirty eight animals, fulfilling the inclusion criteria for the study, were divided in two groups: survived and non-survived. Relationship between signalments, clinical, and laboratory variables and outcomes were evaluated by means of logistic regression analysis. Age over 6 years, heart rate (HR) over 160 min–1, weak pulse, capillary refill time (CRT) above 2 s, respiratory rate (RR) above 40 min–1, the presence of parenchymal lung disease, and non-traumatic lesion turned out to be individual mortality predictive factors. The only three predictors of outcome retained by the multivariate logistic regression model in the present work were RR higher than 40 min–1; CRT above 2 s; and weak pulse. According to our scoring system, a total score bellow 8 points predicted survival with sensitivity 100%, specificity 80.77%, and positive and negative predictive values of 70.6% and 100%, respectively. Dogs that received more than 18 points would die (100% specificity) and those with 12 points were considered with 50% chances to survive (sensitivity 66.67%, specificity 92.31%, positive and negative predictive values of 80.0% and 85.7%, respectively). Based on ROC curve analysis this scoring system classified correctly 91.85% of cases with AUC=0.915 (p=0.0001).
Key words:
dog, mortality predictors, respiratory failure, scoring system
Sergelidou, E. & D. Dinev, 2014. Prevalence of developmental skeletal abnormalities in the dog in bulgaria: a 6-year survey. Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 17, No 3, 217-222.
A 6-year survey (1 October 2006 – 1 October 2012) on the prevalence of developmental skeletal abnormalities in dogs was performed based on patients’ records of the Small Animal Clinic to the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine – Stara Zagora, Bulgaria. From the total number of 6,097 dogs with surgical disorders, developmental skeletal disorders were diagnosed in 230 dogs (3.78%). The incidence of diagnoses was as followed: hip dysplasia (64.35%), panosteitis (16.96%), elbow dysplasia (12.61%), hypertrophic osteodystrophy (3.48%), osteochondrosis (2.62%). The most commonly affected breeds were German shepherd (33.4%), Central Asian Shepherd (7.83%), Golden Retriever and Rottweiler (6.52%), Labrador Retriever (4.78%), and the least frequently – small canine breeds and hunting dogs. Male dogs were more frequently affected. Most of the patients were under 3-years old (91.30%) and all recorded panosteitis cases were in dogs younger than 3 years of age.
Key words:
bones, developmental disorders, dog, joints
Panahi, S., N. Mosleh & M. Abbaszadeh Hasiri, 2014. Evaluation of the transmission potential and infectivity of h9n2 avian influenza virus in dogs fed infected chicken carcasses. Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 17, No 3, 223-230.
Despite the frequent reports of avian influenza A virus infections in dogs and cats, which have attracted the attention of veterinary practitioners and scientists in the respective fields of virology and epidemiology during the last decade, few reports are available regarding the natural exposure of dogs to low pathogenic viruses in field conditions. This may be important in the epidemiology of viruses in dogs on chicken farms. One of the possible causes of the interspecies transmission of viruses may be the consumption of infected carcasses by dogs. This hypothesis was examined by feeding dogs with experimentally H9N2 infected chicks. To this end, 8 dogs were selected and divided into two groups: test (n=5) and control (n=3). The dogs were fed commercial and standard diets during a 3-week adaptation period and from day 4 to 10 after being fed chicken carcasses. The test group was given H9N2 infected chicken carcasses, whereas the control group was fed on healthy ones from days 1 to 3 of the experiment. Clinical signs including depression, sneezing, coughing, nasal and ocular discharge, respiratory and heart rate changes, and rectal temperature, were monitored daily from day 0 to 10. Faeces and nasal swabs were collected on a daily basis for virus detection via RT-PCR during the experimental period. HI tests for antibody titre measurement were also performed on each day of the experimental period. The results of the study indicated that the aforementioned clinical parameters remained normal in both the test and control groups. No signs of viruses were detected in the nasal swab and faeces of dogs in both groups. HI test results showed no considerable antibody titer against the H9N2 virus in either group. In conclusion, it seemed unlikely that the consumption of H9N2 infected chicken carcasses by dogs could be a cause of infection in dogs.
Key words: dog, HI, H9N2, influenza, interspecies transmission, PCRAlcigir, M. E. & S. A. Vural, 2014. A case of malignant trichoepithelioma (matrical carcinoma) in a cat: Pathomorphological and immunohistochemical findings. Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 17, No 3, 231-238.
Malignant trichoepithelioma (MTE) or matrical carcinoma is a neoplastic change of matrical and inner root sheet cells. It is generally described in dogs, with no sex predisposition. In this case, a glassy skin mass was taken from a 8-year-old, female mixed breed cat. Histopathologically, it was presented with the typical matrical cells islands, central keratinisation and necrosis, hyalinated collagens, ghost cells and trichohyaline granules. Masson’s trichrome stain differentiated epithelial cells from connective tissue in the subcutis. Immunohistochemistry (ABC immunperoxidase method) revealed the malignancy of matrical cells. The Ki67 marker was especially helpful to show the malignancy potential of cells. The Her2neu marker, one of epidermal growth factors, reacted to invasive cells located at the periphery of islands. Connexin 43 was usefull to show loss of connection in malignant cells. Due to the less frequent occurrence and unusual localisation of MTE, the described case aimed at revealing microscopical and immunohistochemical findings by using potential markers of MTE tumours in the skin of cats.
Key words: cat, immunohistochemistry, malignant trichoepithelioma, pathomorphology