Search

High-performance breeds of ruminants often exhibit production disorders which can be accompanied by a disturbed acid-basal balance. Most of the disorders in the acid-basal balance are closely related to digressions in the diet norms of these animals. A deficiency or surplus of energy equally cause disorders in the acid-basal status of the organism. Metabolic acidosis is the most frequent of the four types of basic disorders in the acid-basal balance in ruminants. It appears as a consequence of rumen acidosis, ketosis, or diarrhea. Acute disorders in the acid-basal balance are far more dangerous than chronic ones. Therapy of the basic diseases is generally sufficient compensation for the effects of the acid-basal disorders, but in certain cases it is necessary to perform alkalization, that is, acidification of the rumen content using the necessary preparations.

A relatively simple gas-chromatographic method, using SP-1200 or SP-1220 stationary phases was developed for the determination of volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations in the blood plasma of ruminants. Analysis of the aqueous standard VFA mixture yielded results similar to data reported in the literature. The retention time of n-valeric acid was 240 to 330 s. For VFA analysis of blood plasma samples of 4 ml volume were used. VFAs were extracted from the sample with ethanol, the sample was centrifuged, the supernatant was made alkaline by adding NaOH and evaporated to dryness under N2 gas flow. The residue was dissolved in an aqueous solution of formic acid and injected directly onto the gas-chromatographic column. The method was used to determine the VFA concentrations of plasma from the V. ruminalis sinistra and A. carotis communis of ram lambs of 40 kg body mass and fed a concentrate-rich diet. The method was found to be of satisfactory sensitivity and accuracy. Zusammenfassung Gaschromatographische Bestimmung der flüchtigen Fettsäuren im Blut von Wiederkäuern Es wurde eine relativ einfache Methode zur Bestimmung der flüchtigen Fettsäuren im Blutplasma von Wiederkäuern entwickelt, wobei SP 1200 oder SP 1220 als stationäre Phasen dienten. Die Analyse wäßriger Standardlösungen, die Gemische flüchtiger Fettsäuren enthielten, ergaben Resultate, die sich mit Daten in der Literatur decken. Die Retentionszeit für die n-Valeriansäure betrug 240-330 s. Für die Bestimmung der flüchtigen Fettsäuren im Blutplasma wurde ein Probenvolumen von 4 ml verwendet. Die flüchtigen Fettsäuren wurden mit Äthanol extrahiert, die Proben wurden dann zentrifugiert, der Überstand mittels NaOH alkalisch gemacht und im N2-Strom eingedampft. Der Rückstand wurde in wäßriger Ameisensäurelösung gelöst und direkt in die Säule injiziert. Die Methode wurde zur Bestimmung der Konzentrationen der flüchtigen Fettsäuren im Plasma der V. ruminalis sinistra und der A. carotis communis von kraftfutterreich gefütterten männlichen Lämmern (Körpergewicht: 40kg) herangezogen. Die Methode erwies sich bezüglich der Empfindlichkeit und Genauigkeit als zufriedenstellend. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Összefoglaló. A COVID-19 világméretű járvány kapcsán már jól ismertek az általános akut tünetek, mint a láz, a száraz köhögés, a nehézlégzés, a tüdőgyulladás, a hasi panaszok, a hasmenés, az ízérzés- és szaglásvesztés. Talán kevésbé ismertek a betegség neurológiai szövődményei: az encephalitis, a fejfájás és szédülés, az ischaemiás stroke, az akut haemorrhagiás nekrotizáló encephalopathia, de agitáltság és exekutív funkciózavar is kialakulhat. Hosszabb távon az úgynevezett poszt-COVID-szindróma jelenhet meg, perzisztáló testi panaszokkal, krónikusfáradtság-érzéssel, depresszióval, mentális problémákkal. A perifériás idegrendszeri betegségek közül a Guillain-Barré-szindróma fordul elő gyakrabban. Jelen közleményünkben egy diplegia nervi facialis, dysarthria és négy végtagot érintő szubjektív paraesthesiák miatt hospitalizált 41 éves férfi betegünk esetét ismertetjük, akinek felső légúti tünetekkel és lázzal járó SARS-CoV-2-infekciót 10-14 nappal követően jelentek meg neurológiai tünetei. Elektrofiziológiai és liquor laboratóriumi vizsgálat során alátámasztott módon, ritka Guillain-Barré-szindróma-variáns - bifacialis paresis paraesthesiával - igazolódott. Fontos, hogy a vírus idegrendszeri szövődményeit is ismerjük, mert az esetszámok a jövőben várhatóan növekedni fognak. Orv Hetil. 2021; 162(45): 1803-1807. Summary. After the worldwide spread of COVID-19, common symptoms are already well known as fever, coughing, shortness of breath, pneumonia, abdominal pain and diarrhea, either loss of olfaction or sense of taste. Neurological complications are perhaps less known as headache, dizziness, agitation, executive dysfunction or, in particular cases, viral encephalitis and acute hemorrhagic necrotizing encephalitis may also occur. In COVID-19 patients, ischemic stroke or cerebral vein thrombosis are also more commonly related to the increased risk of thrombosis. In the long term, so called post-COVID syndrome can emerge in the form of fatigue, depression or many other mental disorders. The most common disease of the peripheral nervous system is Guillain-Barré syndrome. This chapter reviews a case of a 41-year-old man presented to the Department of Neurology with facial diplegia, dysarthria and intermittent paresthesia of the upper and lower extremities. 10-14 days before the onset of neurological symptoms, he has gone through COVID-19 infection that involved fever and upper respiratory tract symptoms. Electrophysiology and liquor samples showed typical signs of a rare Guillain-Barré syndrome subtype - bifacial weakness with paresthesias. We are reviewing the neurological complications of the virus due to the expected increase of case numbers. Orv Hetil. 2021; 162(45): 1803-1807.

Introduction: Bobtail lizards (Tiliqua rugosa) are native to Australia. The only previous study on the hematology of this species documented just 6 animals., Objectives: The aims of this study were to characterize the light microscopy, ultrastructure and cytochemistry of blood cells, and evaluate CBCs of captive Bobtail lizards., Methods: Over 2 consecutive summers, heparinized venous blood was collected from the ventral coccygeal vein of 46 clinically healthy, captive indoor- or outdoor-housed adult Bobtails. Complete blood cell counts and smear evaluations were performed, and cytochemical stains and transmission electron microscopy were used to further characterize blood cells., Results: The eosinophils of this species were uniformly vacuolated: a unique feature not previously reported in reptiles. Heterophils were the predominant leukocyte, with fewer lymphocytes, azurophilic and nonazurophilic monocytes, occasional eosinophils, and basophils. Thrombocytes were frequently clumped. Slight polychromasia (0-15% of erythrocytes) was typically present. Hemogregarine parasites were seen on some smears. The range of CBC results was often wide. The PCV ranged from 11% to 38%. Total plasma proteins by refractometry were between 3.5 and 7.8 g/dL. Hemoglobin ranged between 2.6 and 12.6 g/dL by the modified hemoglobin-hydroxylamine method. Manual RBC count was 0.35-1.27 × 10 6 /μL, and WBC count was 2.86-22.66 × 10 3 /μL. Bobtail lizards housed outdoors had lower PCVs than indoor-housed animals. Bobtails with hemogregarine infections had lower PCVs than noninfected lizards., Conclusions: Ranges for CBC data were often very wide, influenced by preanalytic and analytic factors. Hemogregarine infection is associated with a decreased PCV, suggesting that some hemogregarine species are pathogenic in this population., (© 2016 American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology.)

Background: Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity is often measured in human effusions to help in differentiating between transudates and exudates. Few studies have been performed using effusion samples from animals., Objectives: The purpose of the study was to determine whether LDH can be used to differentiate between transudative and exudative effusions in dogs and cats (including postmortem samples), and whether there is a difference between different laboratory methods of LDH measurement., Methods: Lactate dehydrogenase activity was measured in canine and feline effusions that were submitted to the Murdoch University Veterinary Hospital Clinical Pathology Laboratory over approximately 12 months using 2 wet and one dry chemistry methods, including 10 effusions collected postmortem. Results were compared to classification using traditional methods for effusion types., Results: Lactate dehydrogenase activity was significantly higher in exudates than in transudates, significantly different depending on the method of measurement, and significantly higher in all effusions collected postmortem. An LDH effusion:serum ratio of < 0.5 was associated with transudates. There was no significant difference between samples collected into EDTA or plain serum tubes, in frozen and thawed samples, or after storage at 4°C for 3-7 days., Conclusions: Measurement of LDH activity may be useful in helping to differentiate between transudates and exudates in cats and dogs. The method of measurement must be known and kept consistent if cutoff values are to be used. The LDH activity was increased in all effusions collected from animals after death, potentially invalidating its use postmortem., (© 2016 American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology.)

Qualitative tests for C-reactive protein (CRP) are available for use in dogs, and provide a rapid in-house method of detecting acute inflammation. The aim of this study was to compare results from a qualitative CRP lateral flow test (Teco CRP FASTest) to those obtained from a quantitative CRP ELISA and to traditional methods of detecting inflammation, including total leukocyte and neutrophil numbers, presence of immature neutrophils and a left shift, presence or absence of toxic changes in neutrophils and plasma fibrinogen concentration in whole blood and serum samples collected from 113 client-owned dogs. More dogs had CRP FASTest positive results than had quantitatively increased CRP (ELISA) or increases in traditional methods used for measuring inflammation. Few dogs had increases in markers of inflammation but no elevated CRP. The qualitative CRP FASTest was found to be a sensitive test for detecting increased CRP concentration and was positive more frequently than were traditional markers of inflammation.

Rumen-protected choline (RPC) was evaluated for effects on the lipid and glycogen content of the liver and metabolic variables in the blood plasma of dairy cows. Thirty-two Holstein cows were allocated into two groups (RPC group with RPC supplementation and control group without RPC supplementation) 28 days before the expected calving. Cows were fed the experimental diet from 21 days before calving until day 60 of lactation. The diet of the RPC group was supplemented with 100 g/day of RPC from 21 days prepartum until calving and 200 g/day of RPC for 60 days postpartum, providing 25 and 50 g of choline, respectively. Liver samples were taken by percutaneous needle biopsy, then analysed for total lipid (TLl), triglyceride (TGl) and glycogen (GLYl) contents on days -21, +7, +35 and +60 relative to calving. Blood was collected on the same sampling days and 21 days after calving. Glucose, non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA), β-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA), triglyceride (TGp), total cholesterol (TCh), urea, ammonia and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were determined from blood samples. The TLl and TGl contents were 25.0 ± 4.3 g and 25.3 ± 3.8 g per kg wet weight (mean ± SEM), respectively, lower in the RPC group than in the control animals. No significant differences were observed in the GLYl concentrations between the two groups. However, a lower TGl: GLYl ratio was shown in the liver of cows fed the RPC diet as compared to the controls. RPC supplementation decreased BHBA while increasing TGp concentrations were shown in the blood of cows fed the RPC diet, possibly as a consequence of improved lipoprotein synthesis in, and triglyceride excretion from, the liver, together with a reduced rate of ketogenesis.

The aim of the study was to test the effect of rumen-inert fat supplements of different chemical forms or containing different unsaturated/saturated (U/S) fatty acid contents on milk production, milk composition and liver and blood metabolic variables of high-yielding dairy cows in the peripartal period. Thirty Holstein-Friesian dairy cows were divided into three equal groups and fed a corn silage-based diet, without fat supplementation (control) or supplemented with 11.75 MJ NEl per day of calcium soaps of palm oil fatty acids (CAS; U/S=61/39) or with 11.75 MJ NEl per day of hydrogenated palm oil triglyceride (HTG; U/S=6/94). Each diet was fed from 25+/-2 d prior to the expected calving to 100+/-5 d post partum. Compared with the control, both CAS and HTG supplementation resulted in an increase of the average milk yield. Milk fat content and fat-corrected milk yield were higher in the HTG group but lower in the CAS group than in the control group. In all groups liver triglyceride concentrations (TGL) increased from 15 d prepartum to 5 d post partum, and then decreased thereafter. At 5 d TGL was lower in the HTG group than control or CAS cows. No significant differences were detected in TGL among dietary treatments at 15 d prepartum and 25 d post partum. Higher plasma glucose and insulin and lower non-esterified fatty acids and beta-hydroxybutyrate concentrations and aspartate aminotransferase activity were measured in the HTG group than in the control or CAS groups at 5 d or 25 d post partum. Our results show that HTG may provide a better energy supply for high-yielding dairy cows in negative energy balance than CAS around calving.

Hematologic and plasma biochemistry parameters of the white stork (Ciconia ciconia) were studied. Blood samples were taken from a total of 80 adult white storks kept in captivity in Hungarian zoos and bird repatriation stations, between 2002 and 2006. Hematologic (packed cell volume, 46.3% +/- 5.3%; hemoglobin concentration, 127.8 +/- 20.4 g/L; red blood cell counts, 2.28 +/- 0.35 10(12)/l/l; white blood cell counts, 21.6 +/- 4.2 10(9)/l/ l; heterophils, 61.0% +/- 9.8% [13.1 +/- 3.2 x 10(9)/L]; lymphocytes, 34.3% +/- 9.1% [7.4 +/- 2.5 x 10(9)/L]; monocytes, 3.44% +/- 2.3% [0.78 +/- 0.57 x 10(9)/L]; eosinophils 0.75% +/- 0.91% [0.16 +/- 0.21 x 10(9)/L]; basophils 0.38% +/- 0.56% [0.04 +/- 0.07 x 10(9)/L]) and plasma biochemistry values (aspartate aminotransferase, 267.5 +/- 145.8 U/L; L-gamma-glutamyltransferase, 47.6 +/- 49.3 U/L; lipase, 70.3 +/- 60.6 U/L; creatine kinase, 443.9 +/- 182.2 U/L; lactate dehydrogenase, 880.4 +/- 293.6 U/L; alkaline phosphatase, 177.5 +/- 116.6 U/L; amylase, 917.6 +/- 314.3 U/L; glutamate dehydrogenase, 7.3 +/- 4.0 U/L; total protein, 45.2 +/- 8.1 g/L; uric acid, 459.2 +/- 254.3 micromol/L; and bile acids, 46.3 +/- 20.5 micromol/L) were determined. The results obtained can be used as reference values, because there are no established values previously reported for adult white storks.

In the regulation of energy metabolism, the liver plays an important role in the reinforcement of energy production. In periparturient cows the energy homeostasis turns into a negative energy balance that may shift the physiological regulation of energy balance towards pathological processes. Propylene glycol (PG), as a complementary source of energy used in the nutrition of dairy cows, alters systemic thyroid hormone economy; however, the exact mechanism through which highly glycogenic feed supplements impact liver metabolism is little known. Previous studies showed that only leptin receptors are expressed in the liver of cows, and now we report that leptin mRNA is expressed in the liver of cows as well. The present results show that the mRNA of leptin and its receptors are differentially modulated by the increased energy content of the feed consumed. Simultaneous changes in hepatic type I deiodinase activity suggest that hepatic modulation of the leptin system by PG supplementation may be mediated by an increased local thyroxine-triiodothyronine conversion. Since PG supplementation with simultaneous T4-T3 turnover and increased hepatic leptin- and short-form leptin receptor mRNA were not associated with a significant change in hepatic total lipid levels, it is suggested that the leptin system, directly or indirectly modulated by thyroid hormones, may represent a local defence mechanism to prevent fatty liver formation.

In a model experiment, Holstein-Friesian dairy cows were fed on a corn-silage-based diet supplemented with 11.75 MJ NE1 per day of calcium soaps of palm oil fatty acids (CAS) or hydrogenated triglyceride (HTG) or without fat supplementation (control). All diets were fed to the cows over a period from 21 +/- 3 days (d) prior to the expected calving to d 100 +/- 5 postpartum. On d 25 (basal sample) and d 14 prepartum as well as on d 5 and 25 postpartum liver samples were collected by percutaneous biopsy. Total lipid content, fatty acid composition and glycogen of liver tissues were determined. At d 5 postpartum, both control and CAS cows had higher liver lipid (P < 0.05) and lower glycogen (P < 0.05) concentrations than cows in the HTG group. No significant (P < 0.05) differences were detected in liver fat content among the groups at d 14 prepartum or d 25 postpartum. The glycogen concentration slightly decreased in the liver of cows in each treatment group from d 14 prepartum to d 5 postpartum; however, this decrease was more intensive in both the control and CAS groups than in the HTG group. The variations in liver lipid concentrations were accompanied by significant changes in the proportion of C16:0, C16:1n-7, C18:0, C18:1n-9, C18:2n-6 and C20:4n-6 fatty acids in the liver lipids. The results show that HTG supplementation exerted more advantageous effects on liver lipid and glycogen metabolism than did CAS supplementation.

Functional defects of platelets are often studied by in-vitro aggregation tests with chemical compounds such as ADP, epinephrine and ristomycin (ristocetin). The aim of the present work was to investigate the effect of some diseases and that of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug treatment on platelet aggregation in dogs. The examination had been carried out on 115 dogs by a Carat TX4 optical aggregometer (Entec GmbH, Ilmenau, Germany) first used in veterinary practice. The dogs were divided in three groups: healthy (control) dogs (n = 43), diseased dogs with normal haemostasis profile (n = 44), and dogs suffering from arthropathies with normal haemostasis profile treated with the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs ketoprofen or carprofen (n = 21). Following establishment of normal platelet aggregation curves in healthy dogs we found that some diseases such as diabetes mellitus, Cushing's disease, mastocytoma and lymphoma increased or decreased the aggregation maximum of platelets or caused changes in the feature of the aggregation curve. Carprofen treatment had no effect on platelet aggregation while ketoprofen decreased the aggregation maximum. These results showed that Carat TX4 aggregometer proved a useful instrument in studying platelet aggregation in platelet-rich plasma of dogs. For clinical pathologists it is important to know that the effects of some diseases and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug treatments have to be taken into account when in-vitro platelet aggregation is evaluated. Based on our results and on those of other studies, we think standardization in aggregation methodology is highly recommended in veterinary laboratories.

Background: Veterinary clinical pathology is a relatively new and emerging discipline in Europe that has gained momentum with the recent establishment of a specialty college. In this situation, veterinary faculties may face challenges in understanding and defining what clinical pathology is and how it can best be integrated into existing curricula. In addition, many schools in Europe may not yet have available a critical mass of suitably qualified faculty capable of teaching in all areas of clinical pathology., Objective: The main purpose of this report is to describe the goals, procedures adopted, teaching material produced, and proposed future activities of a major European initiative designed to develop a veterinary clinical pathology curriculum., Methods: Four working subgroups were formed to establish a list of course objectives and topics and prepare a series of lectures. These contents were reviewed and discussed several times at a series of general meetings., Results: An undergraduate course on veterinary clinical pathology was designed with course objectives, a list of topics and a CD-ROM consisting of 24 lectures., Conclusions: The results of this project could be useful in the establishment or improvement of training programs in veterinary clinical pathology at the undergraduate level in Europe and in other places around the world. The provision of teaching resources for faculty could help to instill in veterinary students a strong understanding of the discipline and promote development of advanced training programs and career opportunities in clinical pathology in Europe.

Free radical and antioxidant parameters in healthy dogs (n=10) and dogs with non-Hodgkin lymphomas (n=11) were measured in blood and lymph node tissue samples before chemotherapy. Enzymatic and other biochemical measurements were performed. We found that (i) free radical concentrations based on ESR spectra of tissues correlated with higher proliferative character; (ii) lymphoma cases showed an impaired antioxidant status; (iii) tumors with low oxidative burst capacity and higher reduced/oxidized glutathione ratio responded better to chemotherapy; and (iv) affected blood and lymph nodes were under strong oxidative stress.

This study investigated lipid peroxidation (LPO) changes during intestinal ischaemia-reperfusion with and without deferoxamine or L-arginine treatment. White Wistar rats were allotted into four groups as follows: sham-operated (Group SOP), ischaemia-reperfusion only (Group I/R), I/R with deferoxamine (Group D) or L-arginine (Group A) treatment. Concentration of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), overall concentration of malondialdehyde and 4-hydroxy-alkenals (LPO586), activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) of the jejunal homogenates were determined. The same analytes except LPO586 were assayed in RBC haemolysates. Measurements of ferric reducing ability (FRAP), total antioxidant status (TAS) and nitric oxide (NO) concentrations of plasma samples were also completed. The only significant change observed in the SOP group was an increased SOD activity after the ischaemic period. In the I/R group significant increase of intestinal LPO586 concentration was observed during hypoxia that was followed by similar changes in intestinal and RBC TBARS and plasma FRAP values upon reperfusion. In Group D the intestinal TBARS and LPO586 concentrations were significantly lower while FRAP and NO concentrations were significantly higher compared to the I/R group. At the same time RBC TBARS concentration and GPX activity significantly decreased within Group D. In Group A the intestinal LPO586 concentration was significantly lower than in the I/R group whilst RBC TBARS concentration showed a similar pattern. Plasma FRAP and NO concentration showed similar changes to those seen in Group D. It is concluded that I/R increased the LPO in the intestinal tissue and altered some parameters of plasma and RBCs, too. Deferoxamine treatment prevented these effects, while the usefulness of L-arginine remained doubtful.