Haematological and Biochemical Profile of Balb-c Mice

Background: Animal models are widely used in scientific research because of the ability to generate information from an organism like everything under a given experimental condition. Hematological and biochemical tests in laboratory animals are essential for the validation of several scientific studies. In addition, it standardizes physiological values   for these animals according to their sex, age, lineage, environment, and nutritional status. The present work aims to establish reference values   for biochemical and hematological standards in Balb/c mice, for males and females.Materials, Methods & Results: A total of 50 male and female mice were used at reproductive age. The procedures for collecting, processing, and analyzing the samples were standardized.  The collected blood samples were immediately transferred to eppendorf tubes containing heparin, and intended for hematological and biochemical evaluation. The hematological evaluation consisted of Red blood cell count (RBC), Leukocyte counts (WBC), Platelet counts (PLT), Hematocrit (HCT), Hemoglobin concentration (HGB), Mean corpuscular volume (MCV), and Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC). Already the quantified biochemical parameters were: urea, creatinine, alanina aminotransaminase (ALT), aspartato aminotransaminase (AST) and fosfatase alcalina (FAL). The differential leukocyte count was also performed. Hematological results obtained for males and females were: 9.19 ± 3.35 (106/mm³) and 7.3 ± 2.01(106/mm³) of RBC; 35.8 ± 6.7% and 38.44 ± 3.93% of HCT; 11.51 ± 2.17 g/dL and 11.85 ± 1.56 g/dL of HGB; 45.83 ± 15.03 fL and 60.26 ± 18.25 fL of VCM; 31.80 ± 1.15% and 31.88 ± 0.99% of MCHC; and, 5380 ± 1994.21(10³/mm³) and 3564 ± 1071(10³/mm³) of WBC.  The platelet counts were 878.92 ± 84.19 and 678.28 ± 227.21, for males and females respectively. And for differential leukocyte counts, for males and females: eosinophils 2.12 ± 1.09% and 2.16 ± 1.71%; monocytes 2.84 ± 1.03% and 2.68 ± 1%; lymphocytes 68 ± 8.36% and 71.76 ± 5.9%; neutrophils 27.04 ± 8.55% and 22.96 ± 5.54%. Basophils were not quantified in the samples. As for the biochemical parameters, values of 54.16 ± 27.8 UI/L and 29.72 ± 4.4 UI/L of  ALT; 89.56 ± 47.73 UI/L and 71.32 ± 8.12 UI/L of AST; 3.76 ± 2.08 UI/L and 2.32 ± 0.85 UI/L of  FAL; 31.76 ± 21.08 mg/dL and 41.48 ± 13.61 mg/dL of urea; and 0.76 ± 0.18 mg/dL and 0.44 ± 0.11 mg/dL of creatinine.Discussion: The mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, leukocyte, and platelet counts diverged from those   found in literature. For the biochemical values, it was observed that creatinine values were different from those exhibited by other authors. Such divergences might be explained by the activity of endocrine organs, such as the production and/or release of activation/differentiation factors, and stress, applied methodology, lineage, or individual variability.  In addition, differences in the methodologies applied may be responsible for variations in hematological and biochemical values, requiring the standardization of the equipment and reagents used, as well as the adoption of a range that represents the minimum and maximum values within the normal physiological standard for given mouse lineage. In conclusion, the values presented in the present work are within the variation curve for rodents, and can be used as reference for other studies that use these animals

Haematological and Biochemical Values of Immunosuppressed BALB/c NUDE and C57BL/6 SCID Mice

Background: The emergence of the NUDE and SCID immunosuppressed mice lineages generated knowledge on various mechanisms of lymphocyte maturation and human autoimmune diseases. Information on haematological and biochemical parameters of these lineages is still scarce, making it impossible to infer homeostasis by comparing data, or to detect genetic influences on the parameters for these species. Haematological and biochemical tests were carried out on Balb/c NUDE and C57BL/6 SCID mice of both sexes, aiming to analyse the presence of genetic influence on possible variations of such parameters and to verify reference values for both lineages.Materials, Methods & Results: One hundred and forty mice (Mus musculus) of the Balb/C NUDE and C57BL/6 SCID lineages were used in the present study. The animals were previously anesthetized, the blood collection procedure was performed by cardiac puncture and the samples were collected in the presence of heparin and intended for haematological and biochemical evaluation, under standardized conditions. The haematological evaluation consisted of red blood cell count, leukocyte counts, platelet counts, haematocrit, haemoglobin concentration, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC). The quantified biochemical parameters were: urea, creatinine, alanine aminotransaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransaminase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). While analysing the obtained data, it was possible to observe that only females presented divergences (P < 0.05) in the red blood cell series, in haemoglobin and in mean haemoglobin concentration (MCH). Regarding the analysis of the white blood cell series, females only presented differences (P < 0.05) in the leukocyte count. For males, there were variations (P < 0.05) in the counts of leukocytes, eosinophils, lymphocytes and neutrophils. Biochemical tests revealed significant variations (P < 0.05) in ALP and creatinine in females, and ALT, AST and ALP in males.Discussion: As a result of variations due to factors such as genetics, age, diet, sex and environmental conditions, it is of great importance that each research group establishes its own hematological and biochemical reference values for the mice strain used. In this way, possible variations and their causes can be determined, aiding in evaluations of homeostatic and pathological conditions for these animals, as well as their choice and analysis of results obtained in experimental procedures. Thus, the differences found only in females for parameters of the red blood cell series may be due to gene mutations responsible for haematopoiesis or the genetic background. Furthermore, in case of divergences found in the leukocyte parameters, females and males can present different immune responses due to their sex hormones, and females apparently have better performance in these responses. Regarding the other differences found in the leukogram parameters only in males, higher values in the NUDE lineage was attributed to possible stress situations increased by the genetic hormonal factors of the lineage. In addition, a correlation with anaesthetic administration is suggested regarding the variations found in the biochemical parameters, added to the stress generated at the muscular level. In conclusion, this study has presented pioneer values which enable expanding the still scarce knowledge database on immunosuppressed animals, aiding in future studies conducted with the Balb/c NUDE and C57BL/6 SCID lineages

Haematological and Biochemical Profile of Balb-c Mice

Background: Animal models are widely used in scientific research because of the ability to generate information from an organism like everything under a given experimental condition. Hematological and biochemical tests in laboratory animals are essential for the validation of several scientific studies. In addition, it standardizes physiological values   for these animals according to their sex, age, lineage, environment, and nutritional status. The present work aims to establish reference values   for biochemical and hematological standards in Balb/c mice, for males and females.Materials, Methods &amp; Results: A total of 50 male and female mice were used at reproductive age. The procedures for collecting, processing, and analyzing the samples were standardized.  The collected blood samples were immediately transferred to eppendorf tubes containing heparin, and intended for hematological and biochemical evaluation. The hematological evaluation consisted of Red blood cell count (RBC), Leukocyte counts (WBC), Platelet counts (PLT), Hematocrit (HCT), Hemoglobin concentration (HGB), Mean corpuscular volume (MCV), and Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC). Already the quantified biochemical parameters were: urea, creatinine, alanina aminotransaminase (ALT), aspartato aminotransaminase (AST) and fosfatase alcalina (FAL). The differential leukocyte count was also performed. Hematological results obtained for males and females were: 9.19 ± 3.35 (106/mm³) and 7.3 ± 2.01(106/mm³) of RBC; 35.8 ± 6.7% and 38.44 ± 3.93% of HCT; 11.51 ± 2.17 g/dL and 11.85 ± 1.56 g/dL of HGB; 45.83 ± 15.03 fL and 60.26 ± 18.25 fL of VCM; 31.80 ± 1.15% and 31.88 ± 0.99% of MCHC; and, 5380 ± 1994.21(10³/mm³) and 3564 ± 1071(10³/mm³) of WBC.  The platelet counts were 878.92 ± 84.19 and 678.28 ± 227.21, for males and females respectively. And for differential leukocyte counts, for males and females: eosinophils 2.12 ± 1.09% and 2.16 ± 1.71%; monocytes 2.84 ± 1.03% and 2.68 ± 1%; lymphocytes 68 ± 8.36% and 71.76 ± 5.9%; neutrophils 27.04 ± 8.55% and 22.96 ± 5.54%. Basophils were not quantified in the samples. As for the biochemical parameters, values of 54.16 ± 27.8 UI/L and 29.72 ± 4.4 UI/L of  ALT; 89.56 ± 47.73 UI/L and 71.32 ± 8.12 UI/L of AST; 3.76 ± 2.08 UI/L and 2.32 ± 0.85 UI/L of  FAL; 31.76 ± 21.08 mg/dL and 41.48 ± 13.61 mg/dL of urea; and 0.76 ± 0.18 mg/dL and 0.44 ± 0.11 mg/dL of creatinine.Discussion: The mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, leukocyte, and platelet counts diverged from those   found in literature. For the biochemical values, it was observed that creatinine values were different from those exhibited by other authors. Such divergences might be explained by the activity of endocrine organs, such as the production and/or release of activation/differentiation factors, and stress, applied methodology, lineage, or individual variability.  In addition, differences in the methodologies applied may be responsible for variations in hematological and biochemical values, requiring the standardization of the equipment and reagents used, as well as the adoption of a range that represents the minimum and maximum values within the normal physiological standard for given mouse lineage. In conclusion, the values presented in the present work are within the variation curve for rodents, and can be used as reference for other studies that use these animals

Co-infection with arthropod-borne pathogens in domestic cats

<div><p>Abstract The role of several feline vector-borne pathogens (FVBP) as a cause of disease in cats has not been clearly determined. In fact, with the exception of Bartonella spp. and hemoplasmas, FVBP in cats has not been clearly determined in Brazil yet. The present study aimed at identifying, by using molecular methods, the presence of FVBP in three cats showing non-specific clinical signs and inclusions suggestive of hemoparasites in blood smears. Cytauxzoon felis, ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum’, Ehrlichia sp. closely related to Ehrlichia canis, and Anaplasma sp. closely related to Anaplasma phagocytophilum were detected in blood samples from two out of three sampled cats. Both cats positive for multiple FVBP did not show hematological and biochemical abnormalities. The present work emphasizes the need for molecular confirmation of co-infection by multiple FVBP in cats presenting non-specific clinical signs and inclusions resembling hemoparasites in blood smears.</p></div