Murat Arslan

Frequency of dog erythrocyte antigen 1.1 in 4 breeds native to different areas in Turkey

BACKGROUND Dog erythrocyte antigen (DEA) 1.1 is the most important RBC antigen clinically, as it is highly immunogenic and causes acute hemolytic transfusion reactions (HTR) in sensitized dogs. OBJECTIVES The aims of this study were to determine the frequency of DEA 1.1 expression in 4 Turkish dog breeds, and to estimate the potential risk of HTR when blood from a DEA 1.1-positive donor is administered to a DEA 1.1-negative recipient following sensitization by a prior mismatched transfusion. METHODS EDTA blood samples (n = 178) were typed for DEA 1.1 using a commercial gel-column agglutination test (ID-Gel-Test Canine DEA 1.1). Probabilities of sensitization and risk of an HTR were calculated. RESULTS The frequency of positivity for DEA 1.1 among Kars (n = 59), Kangal (n = 53), Akbash (n = 50), and Catalburun (n = 16) breeds was 71.2%, 67.9%, 60.0%, and 50.0%, respectively. Potential risk for occurrence of an HTR after administration of blood from a dog of the same breed ranged from 12.5% to 14.8%, whereas HTR induced by blood of a dog from a different breed ranged from 7.2% to 25.3%. CONCLUSIONS The frequency of DEA 1.1-positive dogs among 4 Turkish breeds is high compared with that of most other breeds previously surveyed. The predicted risk of both sensitization and occurrence of DEA 1.1-related HTR following transfusion between dogs of either the same or different Turkish breeds was considerable. Although few dogs are transfused ≥4 days after the first transfusion, we recommend that (1) all donors and recipients be typed for DEA 1.1, (2) DEA 1.1-negative recipients receive only DEA 1.1-negative blood, and (3) blood be cross-matched prior to transfusing any dog ≥4 days after the first transfusion. These guidelines are also applicable to other breeds and countries.

Seroprevalence of enzootic bovine leukosis in Trakya district (Marmara region) in Turkey

In this study, 481 cattle belonging to 77 farms from nine localities in Trakya district in the Marmara region of Turkey were blood sampled and serologically tested for enzootic bovine leukosis (EBL). Antibodies to bovine leukosis virus (BLV) were detected in 51 cattle sera (11%) belonging to nine farms in five localities. Cattle tested were mostly female Holstein or Brown Swiss of ages ranging between 18 months and 10 years. Analysis of the relationships between age, breed or sex and seropositivity to EBL in seropositive herds indicated no significant associations (p > 0.05). The relationship between seropositivity and haematological changes was also studied, and seropositive cattle had higher lymphocyte percentage and lower neutrophil percentage than seronegative cattle (p < 0.001).

Effects of chronic stress on cognitive functions and anxiety related behaviors in rats

The effects of 100 dB prenatal and chronic postnatal white noise stress (WNS) on some cognitive functions and behaviors in rats were investigated. For this purpose, 60 female Sprague-Dawley rats and their 90 male offspring were used. Pregnant rats were divided into Prenatal Stress (PS) and Prenatal Control (PC) groups. WNS was applied to PS group between the 14th and 21st days of their pregnancy, while PC rats were left undisturbed. After weaning, 40 male pups of PS dams were assigned to prenatal + chronic postnatal stress (PSCS) and prenatal stress + non-stress (PSN) groups. Pups of PC dams were divided into Control (CON) and Corticosterone (CORT) groups. During the postnatal 30th and 51st days, WNS was applied to PSCS and CORT rats everyday for 45 minutes, while PSN and CON groups were left undisturbed. The effects of stress on adult male offspring were investigated using Morris water maze and defensive withdrawal tests. Blood samples were collected after each test for serum corticosterone measurements. Blood samples of CORT rats were collected before the stress application and at the 1st, 7th, 14th, and 21st days of the stress period, immediately after cessation of the stress application. There were no significant differences among groups for learning and behavior tests. Corticosterone levels of CORT rats were significantly higher after the stress period than before stress application. These results indicate that although chronic 100 dB WNS induces a stress response by increasing corticosterone levels, it does not affect cognitive functions and anxiety related behaviors of adult male offspring.