Petar Džaja

Liver enzymes and blood metabolites in a population of free-ranging red deer (Cervus elaphus) naturally infected with Fascioloides magna

We investigated the effects of Fascioloides magna infection on the serum biochemistry values of the naturally infected red deer population in eastern Croatia. The investigation was performed on 47 red deer with F. magna infection confirmed patho-anatomically in 27 animals (57.4%). Fibrous capsules and migratory lesions were found in 14 deer while only fibrous capsules without migratory lesions were found in 13 deer. In 13 deer both immature and mature flukes were found, in 5 deer only immature flukes were found and in 9 deer only mature flukes were found. Fascioloides magna infected deer with fibrous capsules and migratory lesions had significantly higher values for lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH) and globulin, and lower values for albumin/globulin ratio and glucose compared to uninfected deer. Fascioloides magna infected deer with fibrous capsules without the presence of migratory lesions had higher values for alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and globulin, and lower values for albumin/globulin ratio and glucose, than the uninfected deer. The number of immature flukes was positively correlated with values of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT), LDH, GLDH, urea and triglycerides. The number of migratory lesions was positively correlated with GGT, GLDH, globulin and urea values. The creatinine value was positively correlated with the number of mature flukes. The trial showed that F. magna infection causes significant changes in serum biochemistry. Moreover, these changes do not completely resemble changes following F. hepatica infection. Further investigation of changes in liver enzymes and other serum metabolites in controlled, experimentally induced fascioloidosis in red deer is needed to better understand the pathogenesis of F. magna.

Blood lipids and fatty acid composition of abdominal fat in castrated and intact male common pheasant (Colchicus colchicus)

The study was undertaken to examine the effects of castration on plasma lipids and on the fatty acid profile of abdominal fat in male pheasants. Thirty pheasants reared in a commercial pheasantry were included in the experiment. Half the pheasants were castrated at 8 weeks of age and the other half underwent sham surgery at the same age. Plasma levels of triglycerides and high density lipoproteins (HDL) were significantly higher in the castrated pheasants. Values for cholesterol tended to be higher in castrated pheasants although without statistical significance. The fatty acid content of the abdominal fat from castrated and intact pheasants were primarily composed of oleic acid (42.58%–40.33%), followed by palmitic acid (25.25%–27.33%), linoleic (14.05%–12.65%) and stearic acid (8.95%–9.40%). Castration also significantly influenced the fatty acid composition of abdominal fat. Compared to the intact pheasants, the fatty acid content of abdominal fat from castrated pheasants contained higher values for saturated fatty acids (SFA) and lower values for unsaturated fatty acids (UFA), unsaturated to saturated fatty acids ratio (UFA/SFA) and polyunsaturated to saturated fatty acids ratio (PUFA/SFA).

Effects of cimetidine on broiler fattening and on stress-induced gizzard erosion in chicken

The work describes the effects of cimetidine on stress-induced gizzard erosions (Experiment A) and the influence of the long-term application (42 days) of the same drug on weight gain and feed consumption during broiler fattening (Experiment B). For Experiment A, 60 male, three-day-old chicks were divided into two groups: C (n = 30)--control chicks treated with 0.5 ml saline; CIM (n = 30)--chicks treated with cimetidine in a dose of 5 mg/kg body weight (b. w.) intragastrically. All chicks were stressed using a modified water-immersion stress method according to which the chicks, after 24 h of feed deprivation, were immersed in tap water (17 degrees C) for a few seconds. Under chloroform anaesthesia ten chicks from each group were killed 1, 2 and 3 h after the stressing. The morphometric analysis of gizzard erosion (GE) and histopathological examinations of gizzards were performed for each chick. In Experiment B, 32 one-day-old broilers of both sexes were used. The control group was untreated (n = 16) while the CIM group (n = 16) was fed the same diet supplemented with 10 mg of cimetidine per kilogram of feed throughout the fattening period (42 days). The results of Experiment A showed decreased mean length of the GE in the cimetidine-treated birds as compared with the GE lesions of the controls. In Experiment B, the treated chicks had reduced liveweight (1835.1 g), carcass weight (1474.6 g) and increased feed consumption (2115 g of feed per kilogram of weight gain) compared to the controls in which the same parameters were 1898.5 g, 1574.2 g and 1797 g, respectively. The results show that while stress-induced GE of chicks can be medicated pharmacologically, long-term application of the same substance impairs the results of fattening.

Estimation of red deer (Cervus elaphus) post mortal interval based on the biochemical parameters of vitreous fluid using linear regression analyses

Vitreous fluid is a stable biological fluid, which is well-protected from contamination and post mortem degradation, which makes it suitable in forensic pathology for determination of the post mortem interval (PMI). The present study was conducted to discover the correlation between increasing PMI and levels of various vitreous biochemical parameters (sodium, calcium, magnesium, chloride, potassium, phosphor, AST, urea, creatinine, total protein, glucose, total cholesterol). The estimation of PMI in red deer is of great interest in cases of illegal hunting. The vitreous humour samples were collected from six red deer carcasses. The eyes were enucleated, covered by parafilm and aluminium foil, packed in a small container and maintained at +4 oC. Sampling of vitreous fluid was done again at 8, 10 and then regularly each 10 hours until finally 90 hours after death. A significant linear correlation was found for potassium, sodium and chloride (P<0.0001). The present study revealed that biochemical analysis of vitreous fluid could be used to determine post mortem interval in red deer

Impact of L-arginine (a nitric oxide synthesis precursor), and N-omega-nitro-L-arginine- methyl-ester (L-NAME) (a non-selective nitric oxide synthase inhibitor) Chronic, Subchronic, and Acute Toxicity-Induced Lesions on Ascites– Pulmonary Hypertension Syndrome Development in Broiler Chickens

Experiment A. Chronic toxicity. 140 one day-old male broiler chicks divided in four groups. Every other day: intraperitoneal (ip) L-NAME (LN, 10 mg/kg BW) ; L-arginine (LA, 100 mg/kg BW), L-arginine and a L-NAME combination (100 and 10 mg/kg BW, respectively), and physiological saline (0.90% w/v ; 0.5 mL/kg BW). Seven birds were euthanized weekly during their first five weeks of life. Experiment B. Subchronic toxicity. Equal doses of the same substances: ip every eight hours into 38 day- old birds over 36 hours. Experiment C. Acute toxicity. Thirty day-old birds: one ip dose of various concentrations of L-NAME (50, 100 and 150 mg/kg BW) ; L-arginine (100 mg/kg BW) and saline (0.5 ml/kg BW). All the birds were euthanized after six hours. The end of experiment A: the gross finding of ascites- pulmonary hypertension syndrome (PHS) confirmed vasoconstrictory effect of L-NAME in five birds (LN). Toward the end of experiment A ; in experiment C: histopathological findings (myocardial/pulmonary oedema /LN/ ; congestion/ haemorrhages /LA/) the most prominent (higher LN-doses /100 and 150 mg/kg BW/). Irreversible myocardiolysis and hepatocellulolysis: confirmed in all three experiments (LN). Focal myocardial degeneration solely: in the L- NAME/L-arginine simultaneously treated group. Haematological and blood chemistry values ; stress index value ; and relative organ weights agreed with well-known literature data on PHS. Experiments A and C. The severity of LN- provoked hypoxic changes and plentiful haemorrhages (LA) - dose and time dependent. Mild changes in L-NAME/L-arginine group confirmed a protective role of LA.T defensive behaviors of a group of freshly-caught central Asiatic cobras, Naja oxiana, were evoked by the proximity of an experimenter. The cobras responded by hooding and holding 13-22% of their total body length in an elevated or vertical posture. From this vertical posture the cobras would launch defensive sham (closed-mouth) strikes; these strikes were typically associated with a short “burst”-like hiss and were more frequent in the smaller specimens studied. The presence of the experimenter provoked an increase in the cobra’s ventilatory rib movements as well as the tongue flick rates; the latter metric was strongly correlated with the height of vertical posturing, strike frequency and hissing frequency. Most of the observed behaviors’ results from the cobras’ visual perception are interpreted as a visual display intended as a deterrent. This interpretation raises interesting and previously unexplored, questions about intra and interspecific variation of these displays (within both Naja and the Hemibungarini), as well as the relationship between these defensive behaviors and (repeatedly evolved) ability to “spit” venom.Rūta Budreckienė Lithuanian University of Health Sciences Department of Biochemistry Ruta.Budreckiene@lsmuni.lt www.lsmuni.lt Phone +370 611 57980 Contact There is visible positive influence of all three shampoos in the photos of hairs cross-section: keratin flakes of hair surface became straighter. In the photos of hair cross-section before bathing (Fig.2) keratin flakes are detached from hair surface. The maximum visible changes are conditioned after bathing with X3 shampoo (Fig 3). As expected, the influence of shampoos for ridge‘s and breast‘s hair was different: ridge‘s hair cross-section diameter of all three dogs has increased after bathing with all exploratory shampoos, except labrador retriever (his ridge‘s hairs cross-section diameter reduced after bathing with shampoos X1 and X2). Specific characteristics of breed it can influence. There were expected to reduce breast‘s hair cross. In most cases, breast‘s hair cross-section diameter of dogs reduced after bathing, except german jagdterrier: his hair‘s cross-section diameter increased after bathing with X1 shampoo. Raito of convolution is the difference of straight and convoluted speciments, expressed percentage by straight speciment lenght. It was expected increase in ratio of convolution just for german jagdterrier ridge‘s hair because coat of this breed liable to curl. Breast‘s hair is less wavy and curly because it is thin and flexible, so their ratio of convolution reduced. All forecasts in german jagdterriers breed case have proved with each shampoo (Table 1). Labrador retriever and german shepherd ridge‘s hair ratio of convolution reduced after bathing with every shampoo, because their coat is thick, hair is resilient, disobedient. However, breast‘s hair ratio of convolution increased after bathing with shampoo XBackground Natural honey (honey) is considered as a part of traditional medicine all over the world. It has both antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, useful in stimulation of wounds and burns healing and gastric ulcers treatment. The aim of this study, for the first time, was to investigate the antioxidant properties and protective role of honey against carcinogen chemical aflatoxin (AF) exposure in rats, which were evaluated by histopathological changes in liver and kidney, measuring level of serum marker enzymes [aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanin aminotransferase (ALT), gamma glutamil transpeptidase (GGT)], antioxidant defense systems [Reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione reductase (GR), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and catalase (CAT)], and lipid peroxidation content in liver, erythrocyte, brain, kidney, heart and lungs.

ECCRINE CARCINOMA IN THE FOOT OF AN ASIAN ELEPHANT (ELEPHAS MAXIMUS)

A case of eccrine carcinoma of the interdigital foot glands in a 39-yr-old female Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) from Zagreb Zoo is described. The tumor between the toenails of the right forefoot was surgically removed 3 yr before postmortem examination (2003), and the histopathologic diagnosis was compound eccrine carcinoma characterized with glandular tubular and papillary proliferations, mild cellular pleomorphism, proliferation of the myoepithelial cells with mucoid secretions, and necrosis. Immunohistochemistry revealed strong immunoreactivity to S-100 protein, estrogen, and high-molecular weight cytokeratin. This elephant also had chronic renal fibrosis with uremia.