Simona Marafioti

Influence of different salinity on haematological and biochemical parameters of the widely cultured mullet, Mugil cephalus

This study investigates and reports on the effects of salinity levels on haematological and biochemical parameters of the widely cultured mullet, Mugil cephalus. For this purpose, 45 mullet caught in Faro Lake (Italy) were acclimated and fed with commercial diet for 20 days prior to the start of experiments that lasted for 20 days. After acclimation, fish were divided into three equal groups and subjected to 25‰ (Group A), 45‰ (Group B) and 35‰ of salinity (Group C), respectively. Statistical analysis and linear regression showed a significant influence of salinity levels on erythrocyte, haemoglobin, haematocrit, leucocytes and trombocytes and on all biochemical parameters except on osmolarity. These results add to our understanding of the effects of salinity levels on the physiological and biochemical parameters of Mugil cephalus and, in particular, improve our ability to select salinity levels for optimal growth for aquaculture and breeding of this species.

Automatic analysis to assess haematological parameters in farmed gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata Linnaeus, 1758)

The haematological parameters (RBC, Hb, PCV, WBC, TC, MCV, MCH, and MCHC) in farmed gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) were measured using an automatic method. We then compared the outcomes using the traditional manual method. After blood collection (T0), all samples were immediately analyzed using both the manual and automatic methods. The samples were successively divided into five different aliquots and stored at +4°C to evaluate the effect of the storage time on haematological parameters, measured with the automatic method, at 6, 24, 48, 72, and 96 h after collection. Paired t-tests were applied between the values obtained at T0 with the manual and automatic methods and no statistical difference was observed. One-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that parameters measured with the automatic system were significantly affected by the storage time (p < 0.0001). These results provide an innovative automatic method for the determination of haematological parameters in sea bream and suggest that the haematological profile can be accurately assessed within 6 h from blood collection.

Effect of storage time on haematological parameters in mullet, Mugil cephalus

The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of storage time at +4 °C on red blood cell count (RBC), haematocrit (Hct), haemoglobin (Hb), white blood cell count (WBC), thrombocyte count (TC), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) in mullet (Mugil cephalus) using an automatic method. After blood collection (T0), all samples were analyzed using both the manual and automatic method. To test the validation of the automatic method, a paired t‐test was applied, and no statistical difference was observed. The samples were successively divided into four different aliquots and stored at +4 °C to assess the haematological parameters using the automatic method. The first aliquot was refrigerated for 6 h, the second one for 24 h, the third one for 48 h and the last one at for 72 h. One‐way repeated‐measures ANOVA showed a significant effect of storage time (P < 0.05) on Hb, WBC, TC, MCH and MCHC. These results suggest that haematological parameters can be assessed within 6 h from blood collection when samples are stored at +4 °C because long‐term storage modifies the results of the analyses. Further studies on these parameters could be still needed in various fish species to validate an appropriate method for haematological analysis useful not only for the evaluation of the health status of animal living in captivity and in aquaculture but also to have reliability environmental haematological biomarkers. Copyright

Electrophoretic Serum Protein Fraction Profile During the Different Physiological Phases in Comisana Ewes

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of different physiological phases on serum total proteins and their fractions of ten Comisana ewes housed in Mediterranean area. From each animal, blood samples were collected at different physiological phases: late pregnancy, post-partum, early, mid-, end lactation and dry period. On all samples serum total proteins were determined by the biuret method, and albumin, α-globulins, β(1) -globulins, β(2) -globulins and γ-globulins concentrations were assessed using an automated system. One-way repeated measures analysis of variance was applied to determine the significant effect of different physiological phases on the parameters studied. During the late pregnancy and post-partum, total proteins, β1- and β2-globulins and γ-globulins showed the highest values. Starting from post-partum, α-globulins increased to reach their peaks in mid-lactation. Early lactation was characterized by low γ-globulins values. The increase in serum albumin concentration and the drop in some globulin fractions determined the significant increase in albumin/globulin ratio. The obtained results contributed to improve the knowledge on electrophoretic profile during the different physiological phases in ewes, confirming that pregnancy and lactation periods affect the protein metabolism. Particularly, serum protein fractions pattern could give information about dehydration, plasma volume expansion and hepatic function, which occur during the different physiological phases. Dynamics of the protein profile - from pregnancy to dry period - which are provided by our results, could be considered as guidelines for the management strategies to guarantee the nutritional needs of these animals during the different physiological phases and to avoid a decline of productive performance and consequently an economic loss.

Training‐induced modifications of circadian rhythmicity of peroxidative parameters in horses

The aim of this study was to evaluate the daily rhythms of peroxidative parameters in untrained and trained horses. Blood samples were collected every 4 h for a 48-h period for the determination of reactive oxygen metabolites test (d-ROMs), antioxidant barrier (Oxy-ads), thiol antioxidant barrier (SHp) and lipid peroxidation (LPO). Two-way anova showed a significant effect of time of day on all parameters studied, except on LPO. Higher values of Oxy-ads and SHp were observed in trained horses during both days of monitoring (p < 0.01). All studied parameters, except for LPO, showed robust daily rhythms. Their acrophases occurred during the day in untrained horses and in the evening in trained horses. Our results showed that training increases antioxidative capacity and demonstrated that the daily rhythms of antioxidative parameters can be modified by training.

Comparison of daily distribution of rest/activity in companion cats and dogs

The aim of this study was to characterize cats and dogs’ locomotor activity patterns in relation to housing conditions and owner interaction. Five adult cats and five adult dogs belonging to ten different owners were enrolled in the study. Animals were housed in apartments having daily access to the garden. Total locomotor activity (TLA) was recorded for one week by means of Actiwatch-Mini®. The amount of activity was higher during the photophase than during the scotophase both in cats and dogs. Cats showed no daily rhythmicity of TLA, while dogs exhibited a daily rhythmicity with diurnal acrophase and high robustness values. We can claim that owner’s presence influenced TLA of two studied species in different way: dogs showed higher amount of TLA and robustness, while cats lost their rhythmicity.

ADP-induced platelet aggregation after addition of tramadol in vitro in fed and fasted horses plasma

Adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-induced platelet aggregation in fed and fasted horses after addition of tramadol hydrochloride was evaluated in vitro. On 10 horses citrated blood samples were collected 2h after feeding (fed animals) and 21 h after feeding (fasted animals). Final concentrations of ADP 1 and 0.5 μM, and tramadol hydrochloride (1, 15, 30, 45 and 60 min after the addition of tramadol) were used to determine the maximum degree and initial velocity of platelet aggregation. Repeated measures multifactor analysis of variance (MANOVA) was used to evaluate the effect of feeding/fasting condition, ADP concentration and addition of tramadol. Findings showed statistical differences (P≤0.05) on studied parameters after addition of tramadol to different ADP concentrations in fed and fasted horses. The clinical relevance of these results is that tramadol provides many advantages as a therapeutic option; in fact, it is an inexpensive and a relatively new analgesic in equine veterinary medicine. Further investigations would be appropriate to compare the effects of different opioids but also using different concentrations of tramadol associated with other drugs in order to have substances which can regulate the functional activity of the platelets and to extend the knowledges on equine platelet aggregation.

Application of the iButton® for measurement of the rumen temperature circadian rhythms in lambs

The aim of this study was to investigate the daily rhythm of rumen temperature (Trumen) in lambs by means of the iButton®. Temperature data loggers were orally implanted in five, clinically healthy, male Comisana lambs (150 ± 5 days old; 31.5 ± 1 kg) under natural environmental conditions in order to record the daily course of Trumen. After six days of implantation, animals were slaughtered and iButtons® were recovered from the rumen. One-way repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA), applied to evaluate the effect of time of day on Trumen, showed significant differences (p < 0.0001) in all days of monitoring. The application of the statistical analysis of cosinor indicated the existence of a significant daily rhythm (p < 0.001), with nocturnal acrophase (from 17.21 to 20.59 h). These findings provide new information on the relationship between circadian rhythms of rectal and rumen temperature, improving knowledge about their temporal organization in ovine species.

Effects of hydrocortisone and aminophylline on the aggregation of equine platelets in vitro

The purpose of this study was to evaluate in vitro the effects of hydrocortisone and aminophylline on adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-induced platelet aggregation in horses. Blood samples from 30 healthy Thoroughbred horses were collected by via jugular venipuncture to assess platelet aggregation. Platelet-rich and platelet-poor plasma were prepared from all samples by centrifugation and divided into three different aliquots. In the first aliquot, platelet aggregation was measured after platelet activation with 1 µM and 0.5 µM ADP (Group A). In the other two aliquots, the effect of a 10 min preincubation with hydrocortisone (Group B) or aminophylline (Group C) on ADP-induced aggregation at final ADP concentrations of 1 µM and 0.5 µM was observed. Platelet aggregation, recorded by an aggregometer, was evaluated by measuring the maximum degree of platelet aggregation and the initial velocities of platelet aggregation were obtained. Our results demonstrated the inhibitory effect of hydrocortisone and the induction effect of aminophylline on equine platelet responses in vitro.

Comparison between circadian motor activity in pony and horse

En este estudio hemos investigado la influencia de la masa corporal con respecto al ritmo circadiano de toda la actividad motora en los ponis y los caballos. Han sido utilizados seis sanos Shetland poni con una masa corporal de 180 ± 30 kg y seis sanos caballos biotipo Sella Italiana con una masa corporal de 530 ± 20 kg clinicamente sanos. Los animales han sido equipados con registrador de datos Actiwatch-Mini® para grabar toda la actividad motora. La aplicacion de ANOVA dos vias mostro un efecto altamente significante de la hora del dia y de la masa corporal sobre la actividad motora. El analisis del Cosinor ha identificado los parametros periodicos y ellos acrofases en los dos dias de seguimiento. Mesor y amplitud fueron estadisticamente mas alto en los caballos que en los ponis y ninguna significativa diferencia estadistica se encontro sobre las acrofases y robustez. En conclusion suponemos que las diferencias sobre la cantidad de toda la actividad motora en animales de diferente biotipo, como poni y caballo, podrian ser diferencias fisicas.