Alenka Nemec Svete

The effect of the combination of acids and tannin in diet on the performance and selected biochemical, haematological and antioxidant enzyme parameters in grower pigs.

BackgroundThe abolition of in-feed antibiotics or chemotherapeutics as growth promoters have stimulated the swine industry to look for alternatives such as organic acids, botanicals, probiotics and tannin. The objective of the present study was to compare the effects of a combination of acids and tannin with diet with organic acids and diet without growth promoters on the growth performance and selected biochemical, haematological and antioxidant enzyme parameters in grower pigs. Tannin is more natural and cheaper but possibly with the same effectiveness as organic acids with regard to growth performance.MethodsThirty-six 7 week old grower pigs, divided into three equal groups, were used in a three week feeding trial. Group I was fed basal diet, group II basal diet with added organic acids and group III basal diet with added organic and inorganic acids and tannin. Pigs were weighed before and after feeding and observed daily. Blood was collected before and after the feeding trial for the determination of selected biochemical, haematological and antioxidant enzyme parameters. One-way ANOVA was used to assess any diet related changes of all the parameters. Paired t-test was used to evaluate changes of blood parameters individually in each group of growers before and after feeding.ResultsNo clinical health problems related to diet were noted during the three week feeding trial. The average daily gain (ADG) and selected blood parameters were not affected by the addition to basal diet of either acids and tannin or of organic acids alone. Selected blood parameters remained within the reference range before and after the feeding trial, with the exception of total serum proteins that were below the lower value of reference range at both times. The significant changes (paired t-test) observed in individual groups before and after the feeding trial are related to the growth of pigs.ConclusionDiet with acids and tannin did not improve the growth performance of grower pigs but had no deleterious effects on selected blood parameters. The possibility of beneficial effects of adding acids and tannin in diets on growth performance over a longer period, however, could not be excluded.

Oxidative stress markers in canine atopic dermatitis

There are no data in the veterinary literature relating to oxidative stress in canine atopic dermatitis (CAD). The study aimed to determine levels of oxidative stress markers, plasma malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), whole blood glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD), in 15 CAD patients and 17 healthy dogs. A correlation between CADESI (Canine Atopic Dermatitis Extent and Severity Index) score and MDA was also determined. Significantly higher plasma MDA levels were found in patients than in healthy dogs. The significant, highly positive correlation determined between CADESI score and MDA in the patient group indicates an association between the severity of CAD and the extent of oxidative damage to membrane lipids. There were no significant differences in TAC, GPX and SOD between patients and healthy dogs. Our findings suggest that oxidative stress with increased lipid peroxidation could be involved in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis in dogs.

Superoxide Dismutase: A Predicting Factor for Boar Semen Characteristics for Short-Term Preservation

Superoxide dismutase (SOD), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in seminal plasma were evaluated on the basis of receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis as predictors for distinguishing satisfactory from unsatisfactory boar semen samples after storage. SOD on day 0 correlated significantly with progressive motility (r = −0.686; P < 0.05) and viability (r = −0.513; P < 0.05) after storage; TBARS correlated only with motility (r = −0.480; P < 0.05). Semen samples that, after 3 days of storage, fulfilled all criteria for semen characteristics (viability > 85%, motility > 70%, progressive motility > 25%, and normal morphology > 50%) had significantly lower SOD levels on the day 0 than those with at least one criterion not fulfilled (P < 0.05) following storage. SOD levels of less than 1.05 U/mL predicted with 87.5% accuracy that fresh semen will suit the requirements for satisfactory semen characteristics after storage, while semen with SOD levels higher than 1.05 U/mL will not fulfill with 100% accuracy at least one semen characteristic after storage. These results support the proposal that SOD in fresh boar semen can be used as a predictor of semen quality after storage.

LACK OF SOLUBLE TUMOR NECROSIS FACTOR ALPHA RECEPTOR 1 AND 2 AND INTERLEUKIN-1β COMPARTMENTALIZATION IN LUNGS OF MICE AFTER A SINGLE INTRATRACHEAL INOCULATION WITH LIVE PORPHYROMONAS GINGIVALIS

Porphyromonas gingivalis aspiration pneumonia induces local and systemic cytokine responses, but the dynamic of the immune response following lung exposure to live P. gingivalis is poorly understood. Groups of 50 12-week-old male BALB/c mice were inoculated intratracheally with live P. gingivalis ATCC 33277 using low dose (2 × 105 colony-forming units [CFU]), high dose (2.9 × 109 CFU), or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS; sham-inoculated), and the 3 groups were sacrificed at 2, 6, 24, 72, 168 hours. Lung and serum samples were collected for tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), soluble TNF-α receptors (sTNFRs), interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6 analysis and lung histology. Pneumonia, only observed in the high-dose group, was associated with an early increase in lung TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, whereas no significant changes were observed in lung sTNFRs. Serum sTNFRs were significantly increased in high-dose animals at all times. IL-1β elevation occurred earlier in serum than in lungs. IL-1β was also significantly elevated in serum from low-dose animals at 6 hours. Serum IL-6 and sTNFRs remained raised at 7 days, whereas all other measured cytokines returned to basal levels with resolution of pneumonia. Development of pneumonia is dependent on the P. gingivalis dose; however, part of the cytokine response is unique to the systemic compartment, even in animals that do not develop pneumonia.

Markers of oxidative stress in dogs with heart failure

We tested the hypothesis that indirect measures of oxidative stress (vitamin E, glutathione peroxidase, and malondialdehyde) differ in dogs in heart failure resulting from either myxomatous mitral valve disease or dilated cardiomyopathy. Dogs were classified according to the International Small Animal Cardiac Health Council (ISACHC) classification. Additionally, the effect of cardiac therapy on oxidative stress parameters and N-terminal pro–B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in advanced stages of congestive heart failure was investigated. There were no significant differences in oxidative stress parameters between healthy dogs and the individual groups of cardiac patients. Significantly lower malondialdehyde (MDA) was observed in the ISACHC II group in comparison to ISACHC groups III and I. A significant positive correlation in treated patients was observed between NT-proBNP and MDA, NT-proBNP and vitamin E, as well as between MDA and vitamin E (and lipid-standardized vitamin E). No significant differences in any of the measured parameters were found between treated and non-treated cardiac patients. Our results suggest an association between MDA (the extent of lipid peroxidation) and NT-proBNP, vitamin E and NT-proBNP, as well as between MDA and vitamin E in treated canine patients. Plasma vitamin E concentration was maintained in all stages of cardiovascular disease in these canine patients.

Plasma Total Antioxidant Capacity and Activities of Blood Glutathione Peroxidase and Superoxide Dismutase Determined in Healthy Dogs by Using Commercially Available Kits

Abstract Data on the values of selected blood antioxidant parameters, i.e. total antioxidant capacity, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase in healthy dogs, are lacking. There are no published accepted standard reference methods for their determination. The aim of this study was to determine the values of plasma total antioxidant capacity and the activities of whole blood glutathione peroxidase and erythrocyte superoxide dismutase in 30 healthy client-owned dogs (19 females, 11 males). The effect of age and sex on the measured antioxidant parameters was also investigated. Antioxidant parameters were determined with an automated biochemical analyser, using the commercially available Randox kits. No significant difference in age, weight, and antioxidant parameters was determined between females and males. A significant positive effect of age (p = 0.002, r2 = 0.284) on superoxide dismutase activity was confirmed. There was no effect of sex on any of the antioxidant parameters measured. However, we observed a tendency of the effect of sex (p = 0.063, r2 = 0.118), as well as age (p = 0.073, r2 = 0.111), on the activity of glutathione peroxidase. Our results are in part comparable with the results of other studies in which the same types of methods and samples were used to determine antioxidant parameters. In conclusion, the sex and age of dogs should be taken into consideration when planning a study on antioxidant status parameters.

Plasma and skin vitamin E concentrations in canine atopic dermatitis

Background: Altered homeostasis of vitamin E has been demonstrated in human atopic dermatitis. Data on plasma and skin vitamin E concentrations in canine atopic dermatitis (CAD) are not available. Objective: To determine vitamin E concentrations in plasma and skin of atopic dogs. Animals and Methods: Vitamin E concentrations in plasma and full-thickness skin biopsies of 15 atopic dogs were related to CAD extent and severity index (CADESI-03) scores and compared to the equivalent concentrations in 17 healthy dogs. Statistically significant differences of measured parameters between the two groups were determined by the nonparametric Mann Whitney U test and correlations between CADESI-03 scores and vitamin E concentrations were evaluated by the Spearman rank test. A value of P < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: Plasma concentrations of vitamin E were significantly lower in atopic dogs than in healthy dogs, with median values of 29.8 and 52.9 μmol/L, respectively. Skin vitamin E values did not differ significantly between patients and healthy controls. The median concentration of skin vitamin E in atopic dogs was higher than that in healthy dogs. No significant correlations were found between CADESI-03 score and plasma vitamin E or skin vitamin E concentrations. Conclusions: Significantly lower plasma vitamin E concentrations in atopic dogs than in healthy controls indicate altered homeostasis of vitamin E in CAD. Clinical importance: Further investigation into vitamin E supplementation in CAD is warranted.

Systemic inflammation in dogs with advanced-stage heart failure

BackgroundAlthough human studies have shown that inflammation plays a role in the development of congestive heart failure, scarce information exists on white blood cell count (WBC) and differential cell counts in various stages of heart failure in man and dogs. A few studies demonstrated increased concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP), a major acute-phase protein, in cardiac diseases in dogs. Our research aimed to investigate whether CRP concentration, WBC and neutrophil count (NEUT), as markers of systemic inflammation, are elevated in canine cardiovascular patients. We also aimed to find out whether there is an association between CRP concentration and WBC and NEUT, as well as associations between these inflammatory markers and selected echocardiographic parameters. Sixty-two client-owned canine cardiac patients and 12 healthy dogs were included in the study. The patients were classified into International Small Animal Cardiac Health Council classes (ISACHC I–III). The serum CRP concentration was determined using a canine CRP test kit. WBC and NEUT were determined using an automated hematology analyzer.ResultsSignificantly higher serum CRP concentration, WBC and NEUT were found in the decompensated stage of heart failure (ISACHC III) compared with healthy dogs and with patients in ISACHC group II and ISACHC group I. Serum CRP concentration significantly positively correlated with WBC (r = 0.65, P < 0.001) and NEUT (r = 0.58, P = 0.002) in the ISACHC III group, while no significant correlations were found in the ISACHC I and II groups. A significant negative correlation between serum CRP concentration and the left ventricular ejection fraction (r = − 0.49, P = 0.046) and a significant positive correlation between CRP and the E wave velocity of the mitral valve inflow (r = 0.52, P = 0.046) were found in the ISACHC III group.ConclusionsThe CRP concentration, WBC and NEUT were significantly increased in advanced-stage heart failure patients in comparison with compensated patients and healthy dogs, which indicate the presence of systemic inflammation. However, normal CRP concentration and normal WBC and NEUT can also be present in heart failure.

Plasma coenzyme Q10 concentration, antioxidant status, and serum N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide concentration in dogs with various cardiovascular diseases and the effect of cardiac treatment on measured variables

OBJECTIVE To determine the plasma total antioxidant capacity, erythrocyte superoxide dismutase activity, whole blood glutathione peroxidase activity, and plasma coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) concentration in dogs with various stages of cardiovascular diseases and in healthy dogs; assess the influence of cardiac treatment on the levels of antioxidant variables, plasma CoQ10 concentration, and serum N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) concentration, and determine any correlation between the disease severity (NT-proBNP concentration) and antioxidant variables or CoQ10 concentration. ANIMALS 43 dogs with various types and stages of cardiovascular diseases (congenital and acquired) and 29 healthy dogs. PROCEDURES Blood samples were collected from all dogs for spectrophotometric assessment of antioxidant variables. Plasma CoQ10 concentration was determined with a high-performance liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization-tandem mass spectrometry method. Serum NT-proBNP concentration was measured with an ELISA. RESULTS Values for antioxidant variables did not differ among groups of dogs with cardiovascular diseases, regardless of disease stage or treatment. Plasma CoQ10 concentration was significantly increased in treated dogs with congestive heart failure (CHF), compared with untreated patients. However, plasma CoQ10 concentration did not differ among heart failure classes. A significant, negative correlation between serum NT-proBNP and plasma CoQ10 concentrations was identified in treated CHF-affected dogs, suggesting that low plasma CoQ10 concentration may be associated with increased severity of CHF. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE The antioxidant variables evaluated were not altered in dogs with CHF, regardless of cardiac disease stage or treatment. Further investigation into the possible effects of CoQ10 supplementation in dogs with advanced stages of CHF is warranted.

Endogenous plasma coenzyme Q10 concentration does not correlate with plasma total antioxidant capacity level in healthy untrained horses.

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is an essential cofactor in the mitochondrial electron transport pathway, and is also the only known endogenously synthesized lipid-soluble antioxidant. The aim of the present study was to determine, for the first time, endogenous plasma CoQ10 concentration and its correlation with plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and serum total cholesterol (TC) in a population of healthy untrained horses. Thirty-one horses were included in the study. Plasma CoQ10 concentration ranged from 0.380 to 2.090 mg/L, which is in general agreement with plasma CoQ10 concentration in humans. The study demonstrated no significant correlation between plasma CoQ10 and TAC, which indicates that CoQ10 does not contribute to the TAC of equine plasma significantly. In contrast to humans, no significant correlation was found between CoQ10 and TC in investigated horses. The results warrant further studies on CoQ10 supplementation in healthy untrained horses and subsequent determination of correlations between CoQ10 and TAC.