Effect of an 1800 MHz electromagnetic field emitted during embryogenesis on the blood picture of one-day-old domestic hen chicks (Gallus gallus domesticus)

Exposure to artificial electromagnetic fields emitted mainly by mobile telephony has been steadily increasing with the development of modern technology. Haematological indices are among the most common indicators of the body’s physiological status. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of an 1800 MHz electromagnetic field emission on the blood picture of one-day-old domestic hen chicks. During the experiment, chick embryos were exposed to artificial electromagnetic fields throughout incubation for 13 ´ 2 min/day, 4 ´ 10 min/day and 1 ´ 40 min/day. After hatching, blood was collected from 10 one-day-old chicks from each group to determine: red blood cell count, haemoglobin concentration, haematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration, white blood cell count, and leukocyte differential count. In addition, the heterophil/lymphocyte ratio was calculated. The present study is probably the first to show an increase in the red blood cell count, haemoglobin concentration, haematocrit, white blood cell count, segmented heterophils and the heterophil/lymphocyte ratio, and a decrease in lymphocyte percentage of embryos exposed to an 1800 MHz electromagnetic field. The observed changes may be indicative of the stress-inducing effect of EMF on living organisms

Novel Mode of Trisiloxane Application Reduces Spider Mite and Aphid Infestation of Fruiting Shrub and Tree Crops

Application of pesticides leads to contamination of the natural environment, which entails the necessity to seek solutions that use substances which do not pose ecological hazards. The presented investigations tested the efficacy of a preparation containing organomodified trisiloxane and a cross-linking agent (Siltac EC) to limit the number of two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) on the leaves of raspberry (Rubus idaeus) and blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum), as well as the numbers of green apple aphid (Aphis pomi) on apple trees (Malus domestica). The high effectiveness (more than 90%) of Siltac against spider mite on raspberry and blackcurrant leaves was rapid and persisted at least by two- three weeks after spraying. There was observed an inhibition of pest developing (i.e. significant decrease of eggs and larvae). Similar effect occurred per an apple tree shoot and the number of living apple aphids was reduced by more than 93% in comparison to untreated trees. In all experiments, the effectiveness of Siltac was similar and usually longer lasting than control pesticides. Moreover, no phytotoxicity of the tested preparation was observed during the investigations. In conclusion, on the basis of the presented results it was found that Siltac EC could be a good alternative to the currently used plant protection chemicals

Impact of point source pollutants on the distribution of selected water parameters in the Vistula River in Puławy, Poland

Human activities have a complex and multidimensional impact on water quality. The concentration of inhabitants, production and services intensifies influence of urban agglomerations on water in rivers. Among many sources of surface water pollution, the most important are sewage discharges. The aim of the research was to determine the effect of point discharge of treated industrial and municipal wastewater on the distribution of selected water chemical parameters in the Vistula River in Puławy. The studies were carried out in 2018–2019. Samplings were collected in five sampling points and tested in the hydrochemical laboratory. The obtained data were statistically analysed to investigate differences between the sampling points. The negative impact of wastewater discharge on the water quality in the Vistula was found. However, the pollution level decreased with the flow of the river. The parameters tested at measurement point located 1200 m below the discharge approached the values recorded above the sewage outfall. The presented observations of changes in the concentration of pollutants indicate the self-purification capacity of a river. However, for each watercourse flowing through urbanized areas, it is an individual feature. It depends on a number of factors and requires regular monitoring studies taking into account hydrochemical analysis of watercourses

Antibacterials in Aquatic Environment and Their Toxicity to Fish

Antibacterial agents are commonly present in aquatic environment at low concentrations. Terrestrial animal farms, human medicine and aquaculture are main sources of water contamination with antibacterials. Antibiotics were proved to be directly toxic to fish causing oxidative stress, general stress response, histopathological lesions, hematological, metabolic, and reproductive disorders, as well as immunosuppressive and genotoxic effects. Environmentally realistic low concentrations of antibiotics also disturb aquatic bacterial communities causing alterations in fish symbiotic microbiota and induce emergence of antibiotic-resistant pathogenic bacteria by exerting selective pressure on spread of antibiotic-resistance genes

Effects of Oxytetracycline and Gentamicin Therapeutic Doses on Hematological, Biochemical and Hematopoietic Parameters in Cyprinus carpio Juveniles

Hematological, biochemical and hematopoietic effects of therapeutic doses of two antibiotics, oxytetracycline (OTC) and gentamicin (GEN), in clinically healthy common carp juveniles were studied. The fish were divided into four groups: controls 1 and 2 (untreated or injected with 0.6% NaCl solution), and two groups treated with antibiotics (orally with 75 mg/kg OTC four times every two days or injected with a single dose (4 mg/kg) of GEN dissolved in 0.6% NaCl). Blood and head kidneys were sampled from all fish 3 days post-treatments for hematological, biochemical and hematopoietic tissue analyses. No major alterations in the values of hematological and serum biochemical parameters occurred following administration of OTC or GEN. Glucose concentrations were significantly lower in both groups of fish subjected to injections (Control 2 and GEN), while the oxidative metabolic activity of phagocytes increased in the antibiotic-treated groups (significantly in OTC). More alterations were observed in hematopoietic tissue. Immunocytochemical analysis revealed that G caused a significant increase in the rate of cell proliferation (PCNA-positive cells) and an increase in the frequency of apoptotic cells (caspase-positive). The frequency of lymphoid lineage decreased, which was related to a decrease in the abundance of mature lymphocytes in GEN-treated fish. Percentages of neutrophilic lineage were significantly elevated in OTC and GEN groups compared to controls. The obtained results showed no considerable hematotoxicity or hepatotoxicity of therapeutic doses of OTC and GEN to carp

Effects of geomagnetic field deprivation on germination and early growth of maize variety San (Zea mays L. cv. San)

The geomagnetic field (GMF) represents one of the major environmental factors which may suffer either natural or anthropogenic disturbances. According to available literature data, many plants species responds to GMF changes and its ab-normalities can adversely affect live organisms. The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of GMF deprivation on se-lected morphological and physiological parameters of maize vari-ety San (Zea mays L. cv. San). The examined parameters included germination capacity, seedling growth, fresh and dry weight, the water content and the level of disorganization of seedling cell membranes.The obtained results suggest that GMF deprivation caused a reduction of germination capacity of maize. Moreover, roots of seedlings growing under disturbed GMF conditions (GMF inten-sity approx. 12 μT) were significantly longer as compared to the control group (GMF intensity approx. 38–42 μT). Fresh weight, dry weight, and coleoptiles length showed no differences among the groups. However, significantly lower electrolyte leakage was observed in maize seedlings of the experimental group

The effect of methionine and folic acid administered in ovo on the blood biochemical parameters of chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus)

ABSTRACT: Methionine is one of the most frequently supplemented amino acids in raising of poultry. However, an overdose of methionine can cause hyperhomocysteinemia. Folic acid, taking part in the process of homocysteine remethylation, is a factor affecting the reduction of the concentration of this amino acid. The study was carried out in 2 stages. The experiment of step I was to investigate the effect of methionine and/or folic acid administration in ovo in the early stage of embryogenesis (E4), and the experiment of the second stage – in the late stage of embryogenesis (E17) on the following biochemical parameters of chicken blood: glucose concentration in whole blood and concentration of homocysteine and uric acid in plasma of domestic chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus). Our results confirm that methionine supplementation may increase the concentration of uric acid and homocysteine. Moreover, we demonstrated that folic acid administered during embryogenesis decreased homocysteine concentration, also in groups simultaneously supplemented with methionine, especially in the initial stage of postnatal life of the bird