Characteristics of local pulmonary response following intranasal application of Aspergillus fumigatus conidia

In this study, histopathology of local pulmonary response following intranasal inoculation of different doses of Aspergillus fumigatus conidia in laboratory rats was evaluated. Development of response was evaluated on days seven and twenty one, following conidia inoculation by cell infiltration and by presence of A. fumigatus conidia in homogenates of lung tissue. Total and differential peripheral blood leukocyte counts and state of leukocyte adhesion/aggregation were monitored to estimate the presence of systemic response in infected individuals. Mycological examination revealed the presence of conidia in lung tissue homogenates of infected animals, with high number of non-germinating spores on day twenty one, following the inoculation of lower conidia dose. Histopathological examination revealed the presence of lymphocytes perivascularly and in vascular lumen in the lungs. Presented data demonstrate pulmonary immune response following A. fumigatus conidia administration

Toxigenic and pathogenic fungi in Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus Berk., 1769) from natural populations in semiagricultural habitats

In this study, the presence of toxigenic and pathogenic fungi was detected in individuals of natural populations of Norway rats from semiagricultural habitats. The presence of fungi was noted in 19 out of 30 (63%) individuals examined. Six fungal species were isolated and identified, of which majority belonged to Hyphomycetes (Deuteromycotina) and Mucor racemosus from Zygomycotina. All of detected species are of public health importance and some of them might influence animals health.U ovom radu su prikazana istraživanja prisustva toksigenih i patogenih gljiva u jedinkama sivog pacova (Rattus norvegicus Berk., 1769) iz prirodnih populacija sa polupoljoprivrednih staništa (Omoljica, Kovin, Leštane, Ovča). Detekcija prisustva gljiva u biološkom materijalu (bris kože nosne šupljine i homogenat pluća) je vršena na selektivnoj Sabouraud Maltose Agar (SMA) podlozi. Istraživanje je pokazalo prisustvo šest vrsta gljiva od kojih pet pripada klasi Hyphomyceta (Deuteromycotina), a Mucor racemosus klasi Zygomycotina. Vrste roda Aspergillus su detektovane u homogenatima pluća šest jedinki, a Penicillium kod pet jedinki. Paecilomyces varioti je izolovan iz tkiva šest jedinki sivog pacova. Brisevi kože nosne šupljine su dali pozitivne rezultate u 15 (50%) od 30 jedinki (četiri pozitivna za Aspergillus, četiri za Penicillium, šest za Paecilomyces varioti i jedna za Mucor racemosus). Međutim, u samo 9 slučajeva zabeleženo je poklapanje prisustva gljiva u koži nosne šupljine i pluća. Nalazi koji pokazuju prisustvo patogena, izazivača teških gljivičnih oboljenja, ukazuju na sivog pacova kao na potencijalni rezervoar ovih agenasa. Dobijeni podaci predstavljaju, prema našem saznanju, prve podatke o prisustvu gljiva kod pacova iz prirodne sredine zabeležene kod nas.Projekat ministarstva br. 14303

Toxigenic and pathogenic fungi in Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus Berk., 1769) from natural populations in semiagricultural habitats

In this study, the presence of toxigenic and pathogenic fungi was detected in individuals of natural populations of Norway rats from semiagricultural habitats. The presence of fungi was noted in 19 out of 30 (63%) individuals examined. Six fungal species were isolated and identified, of which majority belonged to Hyphomycetes (Deuteromycotina) and Mucor racemosus from Zygomycotina. All of detected species are of public health importance and some of them might influence animals health

Helminth fauna of Mus musculus Linnaeus, 1758 from the suburban area of Belgrade, Serbia

The helminth fauna of the house mouse (Mus musculus Linnaeus, 1758) was studied on the basis of 429 host individuals from the suburban area of Belgrade. Eleven helminth species were recorded: three cestode species - Catenotaenia pusilla, Rodentolepis fraterna, and Cysticercus (= Strobilocercus) fasciolaris [larval stage of Taenia taeniaeformis (Batsch, 1821)]; and eight nematode species - Heligmosomoides polygyrus, Syphacia sp., Aspiculuris tetraptera, Syphacia obvelata, Heterakis spumosa, Trichuris muris, Mastophorus muris, and Gongylonema sp. Within the general helminth fauna, H. polygyrus was found to be the most prevalent species (39.2%) and caused the highest infection intensity. Prevalences of A. tetraptera, C. pusilla, and S. obvelata ranged from 12.8% to 6.1%, while the remaining species showed prevalences ranging from 4.9% (for Syphacia sp.) to 0.2% (for Gongylonema sp.). All the species found in males were also present in females, with the exceptions of M. muris and Gongylonema sp. No significant differences were found between males and females regarding prevalence (P%), mean infection intensity (MI), or mean abundance (MA)

IMMUNE-RELATED HEALTH-RELEVANT CHANGES IN NATURAL POPULATIONS OF NORWAY RAT (RATTUS NORVEGICUS BERKENHOUT, 1769): WHITE BLOOD CELL COUNTS, LEUKOCYTE ACTIVITY, AND PERIPHERAL ORGAN INFILTRATION

Abstract — Basic immune-related health-relevant changes (total and differential white blood cell counts and activity, leukocyte tissue infiltration, and related pathohistology) were assessed in wild Norway rats from urban habitats. Comparative measurements were conducted in individuals of several laboratory strains of Norway rat in order to gain insight into environmental effects on the health of wild rats. Changes in leukocyte counts and activity along with tissue infiltration were noted only in wild rats, indicating systemic as well as tissue inflammation in these animals. Coincidence of these changes with chronic inflammatory pulmonary and kidney disease was observed in the majority of affected rats. Key words: Wild Norway rats, leukocytes, tissue inflammation Udc 612.017:5

HELMINTH FAUNA OF MUS MUSCULUS LINNAEUS, 1758 FROM THE SUBURBAN AREA OF BELGRADE, SERBIA

Abstract — The helminth fauna of the house mouse (Mus musculus Linnaeus, 1758) was studied on the basis of 429 host individuals from the suburban area of Belgrade. Eleven helminth species were recorded: three cestode species-Catenotaenia pusilla, Rodentolepis fraterna, and Cysticercus ( = Strobilocercus) fasciolaris [larval stage of Taenia taeniaeformis (Batsch, 1821)]; and eight nematode species- Heligmosomoides polygyrus, Syphacia sp., Aspiculuris tetraptera, Syphacia obvelata, Heterakis spumosa, Trichuris muris, Mastophorus muris, and Gongylonema sp. Within the general helminth fauna, H. polygyrus was found to be the most prevalent species (39.2%) and caused the highest infection intensity. Prevalences of A. tetraptera, C. pusilla, and S. obvelata ranged from 12.8 % to 6.1%, while the remaining species showed prevalences ranging from 4.9 % (for Syphacia sp.) to 0.2 % (for Gongylonema sp.). All the species found in males were also present in females, with the exceptions of M. muris and Gongylonema sp. No significant differences were found between males and females regarding prevalence (P%), mean infection intensity (MI), or mean abundance (MA)

Gender Differences in Pulmonary Inflammation Following Systemic Cadmium Administration in Rats

Objective To examine the presence of gender differences in pulmonary inflammation evoked by acute systemic cadmium administration in rats. Methods Presence of basic indicators of lung inflammation (inflammatory cytokine lung content, leukocyte infiltration and activity of cells recovered from lungs by enzyme digestion) was analyzed and compared in animals of the two sexes. Results Intraperitoneal administration of cadmium (1.0 mg/kg) resulted in higher cadmium content in lungs of female rats. Higher tumor necrosis factor (TNF) content was noted in lung homogenates of male rats, while interleukin-6 (IL-6) content was slightly, but signifaicantly greater in lungs of female rats. Increased leukocyte infiltration was observed in lungs of male rats, mainly due to neutrophils. Increased responsiveness to phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) stimulation was noted in cells recovered from lungs of male rats. Rise in intracellular content of myeloperoxidase (MPO) was noted in lung cells from cadmium-treated rats of both sexes, but higher in cells from male rats. Conclusion Presented data documented a more intense pulmonary inflammatory response to systemic cadmium administration in males, with higher IL-6 levels in lungs of female individuals. These sex differences in proinflamatory activity of cadmium in lungs should be taken into consideration in studying the remote toxicity of this heavy metal