Potential effect of Nigella sativa against Diethylnitrosamine-induced hepatocarcinogenesis in rats

Objective of the investigation was the study of potential protective effects of the watery extract of Nigella sativa against diethylnitrosamine induced hepatocarcinogenesis in rats. N. sativa was administered to rats for protection against diethylnitrosamine-induced hepatocarcinogenesis. It was administered prior to, simultaneously with or after injection of diethylnitrosamine. Five groups of Wister rats were used. Group A was administered diethylnitrosamine and N. sativa simultaneously, group B was administered only diethylnitrosamine and group C received only N. sativa. These three groups were maintained for up to eight weeks. Group D received N. sativa six weeks after administration ofdiethylnitrosamine,while group E (“protective group”) received N. sativa on day 1 and diethylnitrosamine six weeks later. These two groups were maintained for up to 12 weeks. All rats were subjected to partial hepatectomy to enhance carcinogenesis. P-isoform of glutathione s transferase (GST-P) was detected in the cytoplasm and nuclei of hepatocytes. The number of GST-P positive foci was significantly smaller in test groups (A, D, E), particularly in groups A and E, when compared with to those in group B, indicating that N. sativa has protective effects against diethylnitrosamine induced liver cancer in rats, even in the very early stages of hepatocarcinogenesis

Immunohistochemical investigation of amyloid ß-protein (Aß) in the brain of aged cats

To clarify the immunohistochemical features of amyloid deposits and cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), the distribution of the amyloid ß-protein subtypes Aß40, Aß42, Aß43 and Aß precursor protein (APP) were examined in the brains of fourteen aged cats (7.5-21 year-old). Two types of plaques were detected. The first type was characterized by Aß positive antigenic material and detected in the cortical layers of the frontal and parietal lobes of all examined cats. The second type was characterized by diffuse positive immune staining representing diffuse plaques, which were detected only in the very aged cats (17-21 years old) and distributed throughout the cortical layers of the parietal lobes. Vascular amyloid and the amyloid deposits were strongly positive-stained with the antibody Aß42. APP was exhibited in neurons and axons while the staining was stronger in the very aged cats (17-21 years old). Our findings suggest that the feline forms a spontaneous model for understanding the early changes of normal brain aging and the early stage of amyloid ‚-protein deposition

Field efficacy study of a novel ready-to-use vaccine against mycoplasma hyopneumoniae and porcine circovirus type 2 in a Greek farm

Background: The primary objective of this study was to assess the efficacy, under field conditions, of a novel ready-to use Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (M hyo) and Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) combination vaccine given to piglets as one vaccination (1-shot) at 3 weeks of age. The study was carried out according to a controlled, randomised, and blinded design in a Greek pig herd with clinical M. hyo and subclinical PCV2 infection. Moreover, based on serology at the time of vaccination, the average PCV2 titre was 9.15 log2 and represented the level of maternally derived antibodies (MDA). In total 602 healthy suckling piglets, originating from 4 weekly farrowing batches were allocated randomly, within litters, to one of two groups. The pigs in one group were vaccinated with the test product and the other pigs were injected with saline. Results: Vaccination significantly reduced lesions of craneo-ventral pulmonary consolidation in vaccinated group [expressed as lung lesion score (LLS)] (Mixed model ANOVA: p < 0.0001). The mean LLS was 17.1 in the controls and 10.6 in the treatment group, respectively. The average daily weight gain (ADWG) during the finishing (54 g better in the treatment group) and whole study period (34 g better in vaccinated animals) was significantly greater in vaccinated than control pigs. The vaccinated pigs had a significant reduction of PCV2 viraemia when compared with the controls. Conclusions: The test product was considered effective in the face of average MDA, based on significantly reduced severity of LLS and PCV2 viral load, as well as improved ADWG in vaccinated versus control pigs. © The Author(s). 2018

Surgical management of recurrent cervical sialoceles in four dogs

Recurrent cervical sialoceles were diagnosed in four dogs associated with inadequate excision of the sublingual gland. Three dogs were managed by resection of the remnants of the sublingual gland via an oral approach. One dog was managed through a ventral approach as identification of the sublingual gland was not possible with the oral approach. The outcome was favourable in all cases and no relapses were detected after a median follow-up time of 10 months

A clinical case of chicken infectious anemia disease and virus DNA detection in naturally infected broilers in Greece

In this study, chicken infectious anemia virus (CIAV) DNA was detected from 12-day-old broilers. Clinical history showed that the clinical features were diarrhea, blue wing disease, depression, and death. Necropsy findings were pale liver, severe atrophy of bursa of Fabricius and thymus, and discoloration of the bone marrow as well as hemorrhages subcutaneously and a few in skeletal muscles. The majority of the necropsied broilers had developed gangrenous dermatitis. Histopathology showed hypoplasia of bone marrow and depletion of lymphocytes in spleen, bursa, and subcapsular thymic cortex. Karyorrhexis of lymphocytes was scattered in the thymic cortex and most pronounced in the bursal follicles. Eosinophilic intranuclear inclusion bodies were mainly located in lymphocytes of thymus, with a few in hemopoietic cells of bone marrow. CIAV DNA was detected by polymerase chain reaction from bursa, thymus, and bone marrow. A virus strain was detected and generically characterized in 639 base pairs of VP1 gene. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the Greek isolate was clustered together with isolates from Alabama, China, Slovenia, and Bangladesh