Histological aspects concerning the stomach of grass snake Natrix Natrix

Recent studies have described the importance of snakes, in relation to their utility in several medicinal fields. However, gaps are common in the field of snake histology, which is part of the basic knowledge on these animals. Similarly, not enough information has been published on the digestive system of the grass snake (Natrix natrix). Natrix natrix was first described in 1758, by Linnaeus. It is sometimes called the ringed snake or water snake, and it belongs to Reptilia Class, Squamata Order, Serpentes Suborder, Colubridae Family, Natrix Genus. The grass snake is widely distributed in mainland Europe, northern Africa and the Middle East. It is considered one of the most common snakes in Romania. The gastric wall reveals four layers: mucosa, submucosa, muscular layer and serosa. The mucosa has projections to the lumen, similar to those of the mammals and is composed of a lining epithelium with non-ciliated simple columnar cells (cambered), lamina propria and gastric glands. Lamina propria is composed of richly vascularized connective tissue. Two categories of glands were observed: mucosal glands, located on top, made of mucosal cells, with flattened nuclei at basal pole and vacuolar cytoplasm; serous glands, located at the bottom, made of serous cells, with central spherical nuclei and intensely colored cytoplasm. The submucosa is well represented and richly vascularized. The muscle layer of the wall was composed of an inner circular, and an outer longitudinal layer. the maximum thickness is associated with the posterior area. The serosa is composed of richly vascularized and innervated connective tissue

Insights into the Animal’s Mind

Although it was believed that the mind is an “exclusive ability” of human beings, many animals possess excellent perceptual and cognitive skills that sometimes surpass those of humans. For example, sensory abilities such as sight, hearing, and smell are much better developed in some animals than in humans. Also some animals are capable of using tools, to live in a hierarchical society, and to develop empathy towards animals of different species (Striedter 2013). Here, we discuss cognitive features in animals with small brain, as well as, in animals with larger brains. To understand animal’s mind, this chapter examines the animal’s brain from structural (anatomy: brain size, connectome and modularity, i.e. lamination and minicolumns) and functional (learning, cognition, and mind) perspectives

New S-alkylated 1,2,4-triazoles incorporating diphenyl sulfone moieties with potential antibacterial activity

Abstract: Alkylation of the 5-{4-[(4-bromophenyl)sulfonyl]phenyl}-4-(3/4-methylphenyl)-2,4-dihydro-3H-1,2,4-triazole-3-thiones 3a,b with various alkylation agents, i.e., ethyl bromide, phenacyl bromide and ethyl chloroacetate, afforded the S-substituted 1,2,4-triazoles 4-6a,b. The structures of these new compounds were elucidated by elemental analysis and IR, UV, 1 H-NMR, 13 C--NMR and MS spectroscopy. The newly synthesized products were tested for their antibacterial effects

First evidence of Anaplasma platys and Hepatozoon canis co-infection in a dog from Romania - A case report.

Anaplasma platys was first identified and described in North America as a Rickettsia-like, platelet-specific organism in dogs with infectious canine cyclic thrombocytopenia. In Europe, A. platys has so far mainly been described for some Mediterranean countries. Here, we describe a case of A. platys infection in a dog from Romania, confirmed by PCR. Additionally, the dog had a co-infection with Hepatozoon canis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of A. platys infection in Romania and the first case of a co-infection with A. platys and H. canis altogether. Both pathogens should be considered as possible disease agents in dogs suffering from disease associated with tick bite in south-eastern Europe

Properties of Basil and Lavender Essential Oils Adsorbed on the Surface of Hydroxyapatite

The research conducted in this study presented for the first time results of physico-chemical properties and in vitro antimicrobial activity of hydroxyapatite plant essential oil against Gram-positive bacteria (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and S. aureus 0364) and Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli ATCC 25922). The samples were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy to determine the morphology and structure of the nanocomposites of hydroxyapatite coated with basil (HAp-B) and lavender (HAp-L) essential oils (EOs). The values of the BET specific surface area (SBET), total pore volume (VP) and pore size (DP) were determined. The results for the physico-chemical properties of HAp-L and HAp-B revealed that lavender EOs were well adsorbed on the surface of hydroxyapatite, whereas basil EOs showed a poor adsorption on the surface of hydroxyapatite. We found that the lavender EOs hydroxyapatite (HAp-L) exhibited a very good inhibitory growth activity. The value of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) related to growth bacteria was 0.039 mg/mL for MRSA, 0.02 mg/mL for S. aureus and 0.039 mg/mL E. coli ATCC 25922. The basil EO hydroxyapatite (HAp-B) showed poor inhibition of bacterial cell growth. The MIC value was 0.625 mg/mL for the HAp-B sample in the presence of the MRSA bacteria, 0.313 mg/mL in the presence of S. aureus and 0.078 mg/mL for E. coli ATCC 25922

Preparation and Characterization of Dextran Coated Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Thin Layers

In the present study, we report the synthesis of a dextran coated iron oxide nanoparticles (DIO-NPs) thin layer on glass substrate by an adapted method. The surface morphology of the obtained samples was analyzed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), optical, and metallographic microscopies. In addition, the distribution of the chemical elements into the DIO-NPs thin layer was analyzed by Glow Discharge Optical Emission Spectrometry (GDOES). Furthermore, the chemical bonds formed between the dextran and iron oxide nanoparticles was investigated by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Additionally, the HepG2 viability incubated with the DIO-NPs layers was evaluated at different time intervals using MTT (3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay. The goal of this study was to obtain a DIO-NPs thin layer which could be used as a coating for medical devices such as microfluidic channel, microchips, and catheter. The results of the surface morphology investigations conducted on DIO-NPs thin layer suggests the presence of a continuous and homogeneous layer. In addition, the GDOES results indicate the presence of C, H, Fe, and O signal intensities characteristic to the DIO-NPs layers. The presence in the IR spectra of the Fe-CO metal carbonyl vibration bonds prove that the linkage between iron oxide nanoparticles and dextran take place through carbon–oxygen bonds. The cytotoxicity assays highlighted that HepG2 cells morphology did not show any noticeable modifications after being incubated with DIO-NPs layers. In addition, the MTT assay suggested that the DIO-NPs layers did not present any toxic effects towards HEpG2 cells

Whole genome sequencing and phylogenetic characterisation of rabies virus strains from Moldova and north-eastern Romania.

BackgroundRabies is the oldest fatal zoonotic disease recognised as a neglected tropical disease and is caused by an RNA virus belonging to the genus Lyssavirus, family Rhabdoviridae.Methodology/principal findingsA deep molecular analysis was conducted on full-length nucleoprotein (N) gene and whole genome sequences of rabies virus from 37 animal brain samples collected between 2012 and 2017 to study the circulation of rabies virus (RABV) variants. The overall aim was to better understand their distribution in Moldova and north-eastern Romania. Both Sanger and high throughput sequencing on Ion Torrent and Illumina platforms were performed. Phylogenetic analysis of the RABV sequences from both Moldova and Romania revealed that all the samples (irrespective of the year of isolation and the species) belonged to a single phylogenetic group: north-eastern Europe (NEE), clustering into three assigned lineages: RO#5, RO#6 and RO#7.Conclusions/significanceHigh throughput sequencing of RABV samples from domestic and wild animals was performed for the first time for both countries, providing new insights into virus evolution and epidemiology in this less studied region, expanding our understanding of the disease

Insights into the impact of manure on the environmental antibiotic residues and resistance pool.

The intensive use of antibiotics in the veterinary sector, linked to the application of manure-derived amendments in agriculture, translates into increased environmental levels of chemical residues, AR bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARG). The aim of this review was to evaluate the current evidence regarding the impact of animal farming and manure application on the antibiotic resistance pool in the environment. Several studies reported correlations between the prevalence of clinically relevant ARB and the amount and classes of antibiotics used in animal farming (high resistance rates being reported for medically important antibiotics such as penicillins, tetracyclines, sulfonamides and fluoroquinolones). However, the results are difficult to compare, due to the diversity of the used antimicrobials quantification techniques and to the different amounts and types of antibiotics, exhibiting various degradation times, given in animal feed in different countries. The soils fertilized with manure-derived products harbor a higher and chronic abundance of ARB, multiple ARG and an enriched associated mobilome, which is also sometimes seen in the crops grown on the amended soils. Different manure processing techniques have various efficiencies in the removal of antibiotic residues, ARB and ARGs, but there is only a small amount of data from commercial farms. The efficiency of sludge anaerobic digestion appears to be dependent on the microbial communities composition, the ARB/ARG and operating temperature (mesophilic vs. thermophilic conditions). Composting seems to reduce or eliminate most of antibiotics residues, enteric bacteria, ARB and different representative ARG in manure more rapidly and effectively than lagoon storage. Our review highlights that despite the body of research accumulated in the last years, there are still important knowledge gaps regarding the contribution of manure to the AMR emergence, accumulation, spread and risk of human exposure in countries with high clinical resistance rates. Land microbiome before and after manure application, efficiency of different manure treatment techniques in decreasing the AMR levels in the natural environments and along the food chain must be investigated in depth, covering different geographical regions and countries and using harmonized methodologies. The support of stakeholders is required for the development of specific best practices for prudent – cautious use of antibiotics on farm animals. The use of human reserve antibiotics in veterinary medicine and of unprescribed animal antimicrobials should be stopped and the use of antibiotics on farms must be limited. This integrated approach is needed to determine the optimal conditions for the removal of antibiotic residues, ARB and ARG, to formulate specific recommendations for livestock manure treatment, storage and handling procedures and to translate them into practical on-farm management decisions, to ultimately prevent exposure of human population