Blood fibrinogen concentrations in New Zealand white rabbits during the first year of life

The aim of this study was to examine the reference range of blood plasma fibrinogen, which belongs to the group of moderate acute phase protein in rabbits. The experiment followed the dynamics of blood plasma fibrinogen (Fb) during the first year of life in 12 New Zealand White rabbits, 6 males and 6 females, starting at 1 month of age until the 7th month. It was shown that fibrinogen concentrations increased with the age. There was a statistically significant difference in Fb concentrations in rabbits at 3 (P<0.05), 6 (P<0.01) and 7 months of age (P<0.001) compared to levels obtained at 1 month of age in both genders. At ages of 1, 2 and 3 months, fibrinogen values were higher in male rabbits while in 7-month-old rabbits, plasma fibrinogen levels in females were significantly higher than those in male rabbits (P<0.01)

Field study on plasma haptoglobin concentrations and total milk somatic cell counts in cows with untreated and treated mastitis

The aim of the present study was to determine plasma haptoglobin concentrations in cows in field conditions. Experiments were carried out a total of 106 cows, divided in 5 groups. The 1stgroup comprised 25 cows with low milk somatic cell counts (SCC), without microbiological findings used as controls; the IIndgroup -23 cows with untreated subclinical mastitis with high milk SCC and without microbiological findings; the IIIrdgroup: 13 cows with untreated subclinical mastitis with high milk SCC and with microbiological findings. The IVthgroup consisted of 17 cows with subclinical mastitis, high milk SCC, microbiological findings, treated with tetracycline HCL 200 mg, neomycin 250 mg, bacitracin 2000 IU, prednisolone 10 mg (Mastijet fort\uae, MSD Animal Health), and the Vthgroup - 28 cows with clinical mastitis treated with Mastijet fort\uae, MSD Animal Health. Our results showed that the mean plasma haptoglobin concentrations in the I (control) group was 0.054\ub10.003 g/L. In the IIndgroup (0.288\ub10.04 g/L) Hp was 5.2 times higher that the mean values of controls (P<0.001). Mean Hp concentration of group III was also statistically significantly different (P<0.001) than that of the control group. The value of Hp in group IV (0.215\ub10.04 g/L) was significantly lower (P<0.05) that mean values of IIndgroup but substantially higher (P<0.001) vs controls. The concentration of haptoglobin in cows of the Vthgroup was statistically significantly lower (P<0.001) compared both with control and IIndgroups. In this study, total somatic cell count showed statistically significant differences (P<0.001) between the control and experimental groups

Acute phase proteins: a review of their function, behaviour and measurement in chickens

This review brings together and consolidates the large amount of research on acute phase proteins (APPs) that has been undertaken in chickens. Acute phase proteins are secreted from the liver as a result of inflammation or infection that can be measured in plasma. They have been well-characterised in other farm animal species and have been measured in a wide variety of poultry research areas. The acceleration in chicken APP research is in response to increased interest in ways the immune responses of the chicken can be measured and compared during infection or environmental or nutritional changes. All APPs that have been identified and characterised in chickens are described in the following review and their responses during infection discussed. The APPs are tabulated with basal values and classification to provide a comparative and useful reference. The ways APPs can be measured in chickens and the assays available are also described. This review will detail the functions of the positive APPs in chickens and their behaviour during an APR

Age at first birth in women is genetically associated with increased risk of schizophrenia

Prof. Paunio on PGC:n jäsenPrevious studies have shown an increased risk for mental health problems in children born to both younger and older parents compared to children of average-aged parents. We previously used a novel design to reveal a latent mechanism of genetic association between schizophrenia and age at first birth in women (AFB). Here, we use independent data from the UK Biobank (N = 38,892) to replicate the finding of an association between predicted genetic risk of schizophrenia and AFB in women, and to estimate the genetic correlation between schizophrenia and AFB in women stratified into younger and older groups. We find evidence for an association between predicted genetic risk of schizophrenia and AFB in women (P-value = 1.12E-05), and we show genetic heterogeneity between younger and older AFB groups (P-value = 3.45E-03). The genetic correlation between schizophrenia and AFB in the younger AFB group is -0.16 (SE = 0.04) while that between schizophrenia and AFB in the older AFB group is 0.14 (SE = 0.08). Our results suggest that early, and perhaps also late, age at first birth in women is associated with increased genetic risk for schizophrenia in the UK Biobank sample. These findings contribute new insights into factors contributing to the complex bio-social risk architecture underpinning the association between parental age and offspring mental health.Peer reviewe

Blood serum concentrations of total proteins and main protein fractions in weaning rabbits experimentally infected with E. coli

The objective of the present Study was to evaluate the changes in the concentrations of major blood proteins associated with experimental E. coli infection in weaning rabbits. For that, in the assay group. 12 weaning White New Zealand rabbits (45 days old) were orally infected with a bacteria] suspension of enteropathogenic E. coli strain type O15:H- (6.10(7) cfu) whereas the 6 control rabbits received only 0.9% NaCl solution. Serum total protein. albumin, globulin and lysozyme concentrations as well as plasma fibrinogen concentrations were measured before (0h) and 1, 3, 7, 11 18 and 30 days after oral treatment. In parallel. presence of coliforms was investigated in rectal samples on clays 0, 1, 6, 11, 16, 25 and 30. Infected rabbits began to excrete E. coli strains on (lay 2 after administration, whereas the first signs of diarrhoea were observed on day 5. Between days 11 and 18 severe diarrhoea was found in all rabbits and then clinical signs gradually disappeared although 3 rabbits continue to excrete the bacteria on day 30. In inoculated rabbits, hypoproteinemia and hypo-albuminemia compared to control values were evidenced since the 7(th) day whereas the blood concentrations of lysozyme and fibrinogen at a lesser extend were dramatically increased on days 11 - 18 and on days 3-18 respectively, leading to a significantly lowered albumin/globulin ratio since the 11(th) day. These results confirm that albumin is a negative acute phase protein (APP) while fibrinogen and lysozyme were 2 positive APP in response to an experimental bacterial infection in rabbit

Variations of acute phase protein (haptoglobin, fibrinogen and ceruloplasmin) concentrations in weaning rabbits after experimental infection with E.coli

Infections with E. coli are a common cause of diarrhoea in weaning rabbits. The present study was conducted to evaluate the changes in the blood concentrations of haptoglobin (Hp), ceruloplasmin (Cp) and fibrinogen (Fb) during experimentally induced E. coli infection in weaning rabbits. A total of 18 rabbits, 40-45 days old and weaned at 4 weeks were used: 12 were inoculated with the E. coli strain type 015:H- suspension (6. 107 cfu) and the 6 remained rabbits served as controls. Blood samples for acute phase proteins (APPs) analysis were collected before (0 h) and at 24 th and 72th hours and on days 7, 11, 18 and 30 after inoculation. The presence of coliforms was investigated in rectal samples on days 1, 6, 11, 16, 25 and 31. The excretion of the 015:H- type began 2 days after experimental challenge in 3 rabbits and was intensified on day 3 whereas mild to severe diarrhoea episodes were observed between the 5 th day to the 21st day in all rabbits except 2. In parallel, bacterial excretion gradually declined. Moreover, Hp concentrations dramatically increased after E. coli inoculation since 24th hours, reached maximal values on day 7 (multiplied by a factor 9) and remained significantly elevated compared to basal values until the 30th day. By contrast, significant changes in Fb and Cp concentrations compared to initial values appeared later (on days 3 and 7 respectively), less intense (maximal concentrations observed on day 11 were only roughly doubled) and were more transient (normal values were obtained on days 30 and 18 respectively). Increases of all APP concentrations were associated with the intensity of the diarrhoea. Moderate positive correlations were evidenced between Hp and Cp or Fb concentrations while Cp and Fb concentrations were strongly correlated. The time course and the magnitude of changes of these APPs induce to consider Cp and Fb as slow reacting positive APPs while Hp has to be classified as a rapid major positive APP useful for early detection of bacterial infections in weaning rabbits, before the clinical appearance of diarrhoea and faecal excretion of E. coli

Blood serum concentrations of total proteins and main protein fractions in weaning rabbits experimentally infected with E. coli

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the changes in the concentrations of major blood proteins associated with experimental E. coli infection in weaning rabbits. For that, in the assay group. 12 weaning White New Zealand rabbits (45 days old) were orally infected with a bacterial suspension of enteropathogenic E. coli strain type O15:H- (6.107 cfu) whereas the 6 control rabbits received only 0.9% NaCI solution. Serum total protein, albumin, globulin and lysozyme concentrations as well as plasma fibrinogen concentrations were measured before (0h) and I, 3, 7, 11, 18 and 30 days after oral treatment. In parallel, presence of coliforms was investigated in rectal samples on days 0, 1.6. 11, 16, 25 and 30. Infected rabbits began to excrete E. coli strains on day 2 after administration, whereas the first signs of diarrhoea were observed on day 5. Between days 11 and 18 severe diarrhoea was found in all rabbits and then clinical signs gradually disappeared although 3 rabbits continue to excrete the bacteria on day 30. In inoculated rabbits, hypoproteinemia and hypo-albuminemia compared to control values were evidenced since the 7th day whereas the blood concentrations of lysozyme and fibrinogen at a lesser extend were dramatically increased on days 11-18 and on days 3-18 respectively, leading to a significantly lowered albumin/globulin ratio since the 11th day. These results confirm that albumin is a negative acute phase protein (APP) while fibrinogen and lysozyme were 2 positive APP in response to an experimental bacterial infection in rabbits

Comparison of the results of serum total protein concentration measured by 3 methods: Preliminary results

The present study provides the results from a comparative study of the 3 commonly used methods for total protein (TP) measurement. The experiments were carried out with 6 dogs (4-7 year-old, weighing 12.8 ± 1.4 kg). Five blood samples were obtained by saphena venepuncture from all dogs, during the time course of the experimentally induced infection with Staphylococcus intermedius, administered subcutaneously at a dose rate of 5 ml of 1.109 CFU/ml within 14 days. TP concentration was measured by 2 macro protein techniques - biuret method (commonly used) and method of Lowry, and a modified version of biuret method (micro protein technique), suggested by Popov. Serum TP concentration determined by the method of Lowry was significantly (P < 0.001) higher than the ones obtained by standard biuret and Popov's methods. The mean differences between TP values obtained by standard biuret technique and Lowry's method and, Lowry's and Popov's method were 18.6 g/l and 23.5 g/l, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between standard biuret method and its modified version suggested by Popov

Effects of castration-induced visceral obesity and antioxidant treatment on lipid profile and insulin sensitivity in New Zealand white rabbits

Molecular mechanisms, responsible for the impaired insulin-sensitivity state due to the obesity are not fully understood in both humans and animals. The purpose of this study was to i