Comparative haematological investigations in two bird species from the order Psittaciformes: Psittacula krameri and Melopsittacus undulatus

The knowledge of the hematological parameters itʼs one of the most important indicators of the health evaluation. The aim of these studies was to investigate the main hematological values, including the morphology and the morphometry of the blood cells, in a comparative way of two bird species belonging to the order Psittaciformes: Psittacula krameri and Melopsittacus undulatus. Five adult birds from each species were analyzed, the blood samples being taken from the jugular vein on EDTA containers. In Psittacula krameri the values obtained were: RBC = 2.98x106/μl (±0.16); Hb = 14.46 g/dl (±0.76); HCT = 43.4% (±3.21); MCV = 145.62 fl (±2.95); MCH = 48.58 pg (±1.23); MCHC = 33.36 g/dl (±1.33); thrombocytes = 116x103/μl (±25,84); leucocytes: WBC = 14.46x103/μl (±1.21), heterophils = 52.74% (±4.04), eosinophils = 0.48% (±0.44), basophils = 1.28% (±1.7), monocytes = 6.18% (±1.47) and lymphocytes = 39.32% (±3.79). In Melopsittacus undulatus the following values were obtained: RBC = 4.04x106/μl (±0.15); Hb = 15.26 g/dl (±0.86); HCT = 54.2% (±5.12); MCV = 134.08 fl (±7.98); MCH = 37.81 pg (±1.14); MCHC = 28.26 g/dl (±1.39); thrombocytes = 86.2x103/μl (±6.98); leucocytes: WBC = 21.42x103/μl (±1.85), heterophils = 39.4% (±3.93), eosinophils = 0.28% (±0.33), basophils = 4.22% (±1.36), monocytes = 8.82% (±1.32l) and lymphocytes = 47.28% (±3.89). H/L ratio was higher in parrots. Average morphometric values of the blood cells in showed significant differences for monocytes which are larger in Psittacula krameri (p≤0.001), less differences for the heterophils, lymphocytes and platelets which are also larger in Psittacula krameri (p≤0.01) and very reduced differences for erythrocytes (except the nucleus width), eosinophils and basophils (p≤0.01). The researches concluded that there are differences regarding the most of the parameters, even if they are related species, including the morphometric values

Anemia description in Babesia spp. infected dogs

Babesiosis is a tick-borne malaria-like illness caused by species of the intraerythrocytic protozoan Babesia. Infection in dogs may occur by tick transmission, direct transmission via blood transfer from dog bites, blood transfusions or transplacental transmission. The most common mode of transmission is by tick bite, as the Babesia parasite uses the tick as a reservoir. The study was undertaken between 2015-2017 in Physiology and Pathophysiology laboratory, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Iasi on 21 dogs of different breeds and age. Babesia infected dogs represented 4,3% of the total number of investigated blood samples. Due to Babesia spp. affinity for erythrocytes, anemia is the most commonly diagnosed disorder in babesiosis, being observed in 11 patients (52,4%). Direct action of parasites on erythrocytes by producing toxins or indirectly by stimulating an autoimmune response leads to destruction of red blood cells in large numbers according to the degree of parasitemia. The average value of erythrocytes, hemoglobin and hematocrit are inversely proportional to the expressed parasitemia by the studied individuals. As previous studies have shown before, in Babesia spp. infected dogs, anemia is accompanied by monocytosis. The increase in monocyte counts correlates to the leukocyte proliferation found in babesiosis. Monocytosis certifies the chronic evolution of the disease and the autoimmune character induced by the development of the parasitic stages

Haematological diagnosis of anemia in dogs and cats

Anemia is part of the erythrocytic system pathology and is characterized by a decrease in hemoglobin and in number of red blood cells in circulating blood, which is a common disorder both in animals and in humans. This study proposes to identify types of anemia according to morphological and etiopathogenetic criteria in 26 patients. The diagnosis of anemia in dogs and cats was based on anamnestic data, clinical and paraclinical examinations. By quantitative haematological determinations and blood smear examination, there were identified 13 cases of normocytic normochromic anemias, 4 of macrocytic hyperchromic anemias and 9 of microcytic hypochromic anemias. Depending on the number of immature erythrocytes circulating in the blood, were identified 7 cases of hyperregenerative anemias, 6 hyporegenerative, 10 generative and one normoregenerative anemias, 2 of these cases remaining unclassified. Regarding the etiopathogenesis of anemias, were identified 11 cases of parasitic hemolytic anemias, 4 cases of autoimmune hemolytic anemias, one case of infectious hemolytic anemia, 2 cases of posthemorrhagic anemias and 8 hemolytic anemia associated with unknown causes. The results obtained indicate 92.3% of peripheral hemolytic anemias and 7.7% of anemias caused by excessive red blood cell loss

Hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic effect of acrylamide from potato chips in mice

Potato chips are considered to be potentially health risk products because they contain several substances with toxic potential effect upon various organs. These snacks contain acrylamide, a multi-organ carcinogenic effect substance and monosodium glutamate, used to improve the taste quality, but which has toxic effects upon several organs. In order to test the effect of potato chips diet upon different organs, two experiment were conducted. In an experiment were used adult mice aged between 4-6 months and in the other young mice of 17-20 days. They were fed for 60 days with potato chips representing 80% of the daily diet. In the first 30 days of experiment the adult mice gain weight, but at the end of the experiment they lost 10-15% from the initial weight measured at the beginning of the experiment. Histopathological modifications were noticed in internal organs of both young and adult mice. Liver presented changes in architecture, necrosis areas, hepatocytes with macrovesicular steatosis, and hydropic degeneration. Into the renal cortex, enlarged glomeruli, mesangial cell proliferation, and reduced urinary spaces were observed along with vascular congestion. Also, in the kidney were noticed renal tubules degeneration, narrow lumens and swelling epithelia. Degenerations were also present in most of intestinal tunics where villi fusion, villi atrophy, modifications in epithelia, in subepithelial connective tissue, and changes in smooth muscle fibers were observed

Osseointegration evaluation of ZrTi alloys with hydroxyapatite-zirconia-silver layer in pig's tibiae

In this work we studied the main surface characteristics together with the in vivo osseointegration of three Zr-Ti alloys with hydroxyapatite-zirconia-silver (HAP-ZrO2- Ag) coating layer. The main purpose was to provide a quantitative evaluation and interpretation from micro to nano scale of the processes involved in the osseointegration of the HAP-ZrO2-Ag coated Zr-Ti specimens in a pig model. The surface characteristics were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). After the insertion of the implants into pig tibia, the osseointegration was investigated by means of biochemical analysis as well as bone histomorphometric and computed tomography measurements. The results of this in vivo study sustains that the capacity of the Zr-Ti specimens coated with HAPZrO2- Ag to promote osteogenesis is significant during the first month after implantation as compared with the control, being influenced by the interactions between bone tissue and HAP-ZrO2-Ag surfaces, but also by the chemical composition of the alloys

Effect of ochratoxin A on the intestinal mucosa and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissues in broiler chickens

The immunotoxic effect of ochratoxin A (OTA) on the intestinal mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue and its cytotoxic action on the intestinal epithelium were studied in broiler chickens experimentally treated with the toxin. From the 7th day of life, 80 male broiler chickens (Ross 308) were randomly divided into four groups of 20 birds each. The three experimental groups (E1-3) were treated with OTA for 28 days (E1: 50 μg/kg body weight [bw]/day; E2: 20 μg/kg bw/day; E3: 1 μg/kg bw/day) and the fourth group served as control. Histological examination of the intestinal mucosa and immunohistochemical staining for identification of CD4+, CD8+, TCR1 and TCR2 lymphocytes in the duodenum, jejunum and ileocaecal junction were performed, and CD4+/CD8+ and TCR1/TCR2 ratios were calculated. OTA toxicity resulted in decreased body weight gain, poorer feed conversion ratio, lower leukocyte and lymphocyte count, and altered intestinal mucosa architecture. After 14 days of exposure to OTA, immunohistochemistry showed a significant reduction of the lymphocyte population in the intestinal epithelium and the lamina propria. After 28 days of exposure, an increase in the CD4+ and CD8+ values in both the duodenum and jejunum of chickens in Groups E1 and E2 was observed, but the TCR1 and TCR2 lymphocyte counts showed a significant reduction. No significant changes were observed in Group E3. The results indicate that OTA induced a decrease in leukocyte and lymphocyte counts and was cytotoxic to the intestinal epithelium and the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue, altering the intestinal barrier and increasing susceptibility to various associated diseases

Global Patterns and Controls of Nutrient Immobilization On Decomposing Cellulose In Riverine Ecosystems

Microbes play a critical role in plant litter decomposition and influence the fate of carbon in rivers and riparian zones. When decomposing low-nutrient plant litter, microbes acquire nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) from the environment (i.e., nutrient immobilization), and this process is potentially sensitive to nutrient loading and changing climate. Nonetheless, environmental controls on immobilization are poorly understood because rates are also influenced by plant litter chemistry, which is coupled to the same environmental factors. Here we used a standardized, low-nutrient organic matter substrate (cotton strips) to quantify nutrient immobilization at 100 paired stream and riparian sites representing 11 biomes worldwide. Immobilization rates varied by three orders of magnitude, were greater in rivers than riparian zones, and were strongly correlated to decomposition rates. In rivers, P immobilization rates were controlled by surface water phosphate concentrations, but N immobilization rates were not related to inorganic N. The N:P of immobilized nutrients was tightly constrained to a molar ratio of 10:1 despite wide variation in surface water N:P. Immobilization rates were temperature-dependent in riparian zones but not related to temperature in rivers. However, in rivers nutrient supply ultimately controlled whether microbes could achieve the maximum expected decomposition rate at a given temperature