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Cystic echinococcosis is a zoonotic parasitic disease caused by Echinococcus granulosus. The main hosts in the life cycle of this parasite are dogs and other carnivores; The intermediate hosts are human, sheep, goat, cattle, pig, buffalo, horse and camel. The parasite damages the tissue by forming lesions in the form of fluid-filled cysts in the liver. These lesions are bounded by a layer of local inflammatory cells formed by the host. In the layer formed by this inflammatory response, there are lymphocytes, neutrophils and eosinophil leukocytes, including macrophages. Samples taken from sheep with hydatid cysts in their livers were followed for pathological analysis, and then histopathological and immunohistochemical examinations were performed. After histopathological examinations, the types of macrophages involved in the local immune response against cysts in the liver were determined by immunohistochemical methods using anti-INOS and anti-IL-10 antibodies. INOS and IL-10 immunopositivity were detected in all samples. Statistically, no significant difference was observed between these immunopositivity. This showed that both macrophage types are involved in the local immune response to hydatid cyst, and that Th1 and Th2 immune response stimulation continues together. It was concluded that in future studies that will be planned and experimentally, it will be possible to reveal more clearly how these macrophage types take part in the local immune response.

Toxoplasmosis is a disease caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii, which occurs worldwide in mammals and birds. Brain is the primary target organ because Toxoplasma gondii is a ubiquitous intracellular parasite that causes most frequently life-threatening encephalitis in immunocompromised patients. Relation of tissue cysts number, histopathology score and acute phase proteins were investigated. In this study, 36 mice are infected with Me49 strain of Toxoplasma gondii. The control group has 6 healthy mice. After inoculation of Toxoplasma gondii, at 10., 15., 20., 30., 45., 60. days, 6 each mice euthanized after collection of blood samples. Hemopexin, haptoglobulin, macroglobulin, serum amyloid A and clusterin levels are determined by ELISA. Then, brain tissues were investigated histopathologically and lesions were scored. The average cyst numbers were determined by counting three samples (25 μl each) of each brain homogenate under light microscopy. Inflammatory reaction was observed on day 10 days after inoculation (d.a.i.) The lesions were characterized by perivascular mononuclear cell infiltration, focal mononuclear cell infiltration in the meninges, and glial proliferation. Tissue cysts were observed in all Toxoplasma gondii-infected groups. The highest lesion score was observed at 60 d.a.i. And the most tissue cyst number were on day 30. d.a.i. Serum levels of hemopexin, haptoglobulin, macroglobulin, serum amyloid A and clusterin were significantly higher than the control group on day 10–20., 10., 10–30., 10.,10–45 d.a.i., respectively. High level of acute phase proteins in mice on certain days infected with Toxoplasma gondii was exhibited a relationship between brain lesions and tissue cysts.

Hydatid cysts formed by the metacestodes of Echinococcus granulosus. Cattle suffering from hydatid cyst shows fluid-filled structures, especially in liver. These parasite-induced cysts localized by forming fibrous capsules in the liver. Fibrogenesis is the host immune response in the liver against these parasites. Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are localized perisinusoidal space also known as vitamin A-storing cells, characterize the important fibrogenic cell type. In this study, livers from 15 animals with hydatid cyst and 8 healthy animals were used. Hematoxylin and Eosin, masson trichrome staining were performed on the prepared liver sections. Microscopically, cysts were bordered eosinophilic necrotic debris blended with degenerate neutrophils, macrophages, eosinophils, lymphocytes, plasma cells and multinucleated giant cells, which extend into the adjacent fibrous connective tissue. In Masson trichrome staining, the fibrous connective tissue was observed surrounding of hydatid cyst. Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), collagen I, GFAP/collagen I, positive cells were investigated using either indirect single- or double-labeling immunohistochemical staining. The results indicated that anti-GFAP-positive staining was seen in areas including fibrous tissue just under the foreign body giant cells surrounding the cyst wall. In double immunohistochemical staining, it was observed that HSCs labeled with anti-GFAP antibody in the fibrous connective tissue also labeled anti-collagen I antibody. This study shows that HSCs may responsible for synthesis the collagen I in the development of parasitic fibrosis in cystic echinococcosis in the liver of cattle. © 2019, Indian Society for Parasitology.

Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is a protozoan parasite with the potential of causing severe encephalitis among immunocompromised humans and animals. Our previous study showed that T. gondii induces high nitric oxide (NO) production, high glial activation (GFAP) and neurofilament expressions, leading to severe neurodegeneration in toxoplasma encephalitis (TE) in the central nervous system (CNS). The aim of this experimental study was to investigate ADAMTS-13 expression and apoptosis in CNS and to identify whether they have any correlation with toxoplasmosis neuropathology and neurodegeneration. Mice were infected with ME49 strain T. gondii and the levels of ADAMTS-13, caspase 3, caspase 8, caspase 9, TNFR1 and Bcl-xL expressions were examined in brain tissues by immunohistochemistry, during the development and establishment of chronic infections at 10, 30 and 60 days post-infection. Results of the study revealed that the levels of ADAMTS-13 (P < 0.005), caspase 3 (P < 0.05), caspase 8 (P < 0.05), caspase 9 (P < 0.005) and TNFR1 (P < 0.05) expressions in the brain markedly increased while Bcl-xL expression decreased (P < 0.005). The most prominent finding from our study was that 10, 30 and 60 days post-infection ADAMTS-13 increased significantly and this may play an important role in the regulation and protection of the blood-brain barrier integrity and CNS microenvironment in TE. These results also suggest that T. gondii-mediated apoptosis might play a pivotal role and a different type of role in the mechanism of neurodegeneration and neuropathology in the process of TE. Furthermore, expression of ADAMTS-13 might give an idea of the progress and is critical for diagnosis of this disease. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first report on ADAMTS-13 expression in the CNS of T. gondii-infected mice.

ATMACA, HASAN TARIK/0000-0001-8379-4114 WOS: 000356990700002 PubMed: 25981437 A 1.5-month-old Kangal breed puppy from a dairy cattle farm died after showing severe diarrhoea and incoordination. Necropsy examination revealed multifocal pulmonary consolidation and necrosis and fibrinohaemorrhagic enteritis. Microscopically, there was necrotic and purulent bronchopneumonia, myocarditis and non-purulent encephalitis. In the jejunum and ileum there was villous atrophy and crypt hyperplasia with oocyst-like and schizont-like structures in the epithelia. Immunohistochemically, Neospora caninum antigen was detected in association with the intestinal protozoal structures, degenerative neurons and areas of necrosis in the lungs and heart. Polymerase chain reaction confirmed that the organism was N. caninum and not Toxoplasma gondii. The seroprevalence for N. caninum was 74.2% (49/66 animals) for the cattle and 57.1 A (4/7 animals) for dogs on this farm. This report documents fatal systemic neosporosis and enteroepithelial stages of N. caninum in a naturally infected puppy. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first definition of intestinal neosporosis in a naturally infected dog as well as the first evidence of fatal canine neosporosis in Turkey. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Kirikkale University Scientific Research CouncilKirikkale University [2008/44] This study was presented at the Cutting Edge Pathology Congress in Berlin in August 2014 as a poster presentation. The project was partly supported by Kirikkale University Scientific Research Council (project number: 2008/44). We thank Dr. M. Fatih Bozkurt, Afyon Kocatepe University, for supplying CPV antibody.

KABAKCI, Ruhi/0000-0001-9131-0933; ATMACA, HASAN TARIK/0000-0001-8379-4114 WOS: 000357000800001 The aim of the present study was to investigate the alterations of oxidative stress, hematological and biochemical parameters in experimental infection caused by Toxoplasma gondii in gerbil. A total of 16 gerbil, 8 of which were control and 8 was infection group, were used in the study. The gerbils were infected by intraperitoneal inoculation of 5000 T. gondii RH strain tachyzoites. In group of, the gerbil were sacrificed at 7th day after inoculation. At the end of this period, blood samples collected and erythrocyte malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) activities, plasma aspartat aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotranspherase (ALT) activities, total protein, albumin, globulin were determined. Besides, hematological parameters were analysed in whole blood. Aspartat aminotransferase and ALT activities and MDA concentrations and neutrophil percentage and total leukocyte counts increased significantly in infected group when compared to control. In infected group, SOD activities, albumin concentrations and lymhocyte percentage decreased when compared to control. The results of this study suggest that oxidative stress, hematological and biochemical alterations may contribute to the pathogenesis of toxoplasmosis in gerbils.

Oral, Akgun/0000-0002-5250-7335; bayir, yasin/0000-0003-3562-6727; Ozbek bilgin, Asli/0000-0001-9027-4299; UN, Harun/0000-0003-1772-282X; ATMACA, HASAN TARIK/0000-0001-8379-4114 WOS: 000408624600008 PubMed: 27681996 The purpose of this study was to examine potential long-term post-torsion changes that can occur in the histopathology, biochemistry and spermatogenesis of both torsioned and nontorsioned opposite testes. the study also determines the effect of zinc (Zn) administration on the testicular torsion/detorsion (T/D) damage on both testes. Forty-eight male rats, divided equally into eight groups: (SHAM), (SHAM+,Zn+), (T/D+, Zn- 1 month), (T/D+, Zn- 2 months), (T/D+, Zn- 3 months), (T/D+, Zn+ 1 months), (T/D+, Zn+ 2 months), (T/D+, Zn+ 3 months), have been used. Drug administration was carried out by adding 100 mu g (0.016 ml/rat) Zn per rat to drinking water in related groups. Testicular damage decreased superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH) and increased malondialdehyde (MDA) in the testis tissues of rats, while Zn administration increased SOD and GSH and decreased MDA in the testis tissues in comparison with the SHAM group. the beneficial effect of zinc sulphate was more evident on the nonrotated testis than the rotated testis. in the histopathological study, a significant decrease in torsion and detorsion injuries was observed in the treatment groups compared to the torsion and detorsion groups. We found a protective effect of zinc sulphate on oxidative stress as a result of T/D injuries in rats, especially for the nonrotated testis; results were supported histopathologically.

DINCEL, Gungor Cagdas/0000-0002-6985-3197; ATMACA, HASAN TARIK/0000-0001-8379-4114 WOS: 000375028200009 PubMed: 26966143 Oxidative stress (OS) plays an essential role in the pathogenesis of common neurodegenerative diseases. We have previously shown that Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) induces high nitric oxide (NO) production, glial activation, and apoptosis that altogether cause severe neuropathology in toxoplasma encephalitis (TE). The objective of this study was to investigate the cytotoxic effect of OS and to identify a correlation between the causes of T. gondii induced neuropathology. Expression levels of glutathione reductase (GR), Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1), neuron specific enolase (NSE), and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) were investigated. Results of the study revealed that the levels of GR (P

bayir, yasin/0000-0003-3562-6727; ATMACA, HASAN TARIK/0000-0001-8379-4114 WOS: 000386041500016 PubMed: 26956915 Context Nigella sativa L. (Ranunculaceae) (NS) is traditionally used to treat many conditions such as inflammation. Objective This study evaluates the effects of NS seeds ethanol extract in paracetamol-induced acute nephrotoxicity in rats. Materials and methods Forty-eight female Wistar Albino rats were divided into eight groups: I = sham; II = sham + 1000 mg/kg NS; III = sham + 140 mg/kg (N-acetyl cysteine) NAC; IV = 2 g/kg paracetamol; V = 2 g/kg paracetamol + 140 mg/kg NAC; VI, VII and VIII = 2 g/kg paracetamol + 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg NS, respectively. Paracetamol administration (oral) was carried out 1 h after NS and NAC administrations (oral), and all animals were sacrificed 24 h later. Results Paracetamol administration significantly increased serum urea (88.05 U/L) and creatinine (0.80 U/L) when compared with the sham group (49.80 and 0.31 U/L, respectively). However, serum urea level was reduced to 65.60, 56.00 and 54.18 U/L, with 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg doses of the extract, respectively. Also, serum creatinine level was reduced to 0.64, 0.57 and 0.52 U/L with 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg doses of the extract, respectively. NS administration increased superoxide dismutase and glutathione, and decreased malondialdehyde levels in the kidneys. Kidney histopathological examinations showed that NS administration antagonized paracetamol-induced kidney pathological damage. Discussion and conclusions The results suggest NS has a significant nephroprotective activity on paracetamol-induced nephrotoxicity. It may be suggested that the antiinflammatory and antioxidant effects of NS ethanolic extract originated from different compounds of its black seeds. Research fund of Ataturk UniversityAtaturk University [BAP-2012/077] This study was supported by the Research fund of Ataturk University (BAP-2012/077).

Babur, Cahit/0000-0002-6524-3260; ATMACA, HASAN TARIK/0000-0001-8379-4114 WOS: 000305100900054 In this study, fatal toxoplasmosis with severe neurological clinical signs was evaluated in 20 lambs of a sheep flock containing 90 Akkaraman sheep, 60 lambs and 3 rams. The clinical signs in infected lambs (n = 20) included incoordination, head shaking, tremors, shaking up, difficulty walking and subsequent death. No incidence of abortion observed in pregnant ewes. Two lambs with severe clinical signs were euthanized and necropsied following clinical and hematological examinations. Blood samples were also collected from the mothers of dead lambs and rams for Sabin-Feldman dye test to detect Toxoplasma gondii-specific antibodies. T. gondii infection was further confirmed by PCR analysis using T. gondii B1 gene specific primers. The histopathological findings included non-purulent myositis with T. gondii-like tissue cysts in the heart and skeletal musculature, severe necrotic vasculitis and multifocal necroses in the brain, liver and lungs. T. gondii immunoreactivity was present in the lungs, liver and spleen as well as tissue cyst-like structures. In differential diagnosis, Neospora caninum infection was excluded by immunohistochemical and PCR analyses. According to current literature, there has been no previous report on clinical toxoplasmosis in newborn lambs or goat kids, and the number of reports on clinical toxoplasmosis in small ruminants is limited to two adult goats with fatality following systemic toxoplasmosis. Our study indicated that toxoplasmosis occurs in lambs with severe neurological signs and subsequent death. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. Kirikkale University Research CouncilKirikkale University [21/2006] This study is financially supported by Kirikkale University Research Council Project with 21/2006 project number. The clinical toxoplasmosis cases were presented as oral presentation at XXIVth World Buiatrics Congress, 2008 Hungary and at the 4th national Veterinary Pathology Congress, 2008, Antalya, Turkey.

Bu çalışmada, bir buzağıda görülen baş anomalileri, hidranensefali ve serebellar hipoplazi olgusu anatomik, makroskobik, mikroskobik ve immunohistokimyasal yönden incelenmiştir. Anomaliler ve merkezi sinir sisteminde meydana gelen lezyonların Sığırların Virüsi İshali Virüsü ile ilişkisi immunohistokimyasal olarak ortaya konmuştur, In this study, cranial anomalies, hydranencephaly and cerebellar hypoplasia were reported macroscopically, microscopically and immunohistochemically in a calf. A relationship between Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus infection and malformations associated with central nervous system lesions were demonstrated

Objective: Contrast media (CM) are a major cause of nephropathy in high-risk patients. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of carnitine (CAR) in advanced nephrotoxicity due to CM administration in rats with glycerol-induced renal functional disorder. Methods: 40 rats were divided randomly into five groups (n=8): (1) healthy group; (2) glycerol only (GLY); (3) glycerol and CM (GLY1CM); (4) glycerol, CM and 200 mg kg(-1) carnitine (CAR200, Carnitene (R); Sigma-tau/Santa Farma, Istanbul, Turkey); and (5) glycerol, CM and 400 mg kg(-1) carnitine (CAR400). Kidney injury was induced with a single-dose, intramuscular injection of 10 ml kg(-1) body weight (b.w.) of GLY. CAR was administered intraperitoneally. CM (8 ml kg(-1) b.w. iohexol, Omni-paque (TM) T; Opakim Medical Products, Istanbul, Turkey) was infused via the tail vein to the rats in Groups 3-5. Results: L-carnitine administration significantly decreased serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen levels. Superoxide dismutase and glutathione activity increased significantly in the treatment groups compared with the nephrotoxic groups. CAR400 significantly reduced malondialdehyde levels to healthy levels. In the treatment groups, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-beta, transforming growth factor 1 beta, interleukin 1 beta and caspase-3 gene expression decreased compared with the nephrotoxic groups. TNF-alpha and nuclear factor kappa-beta (NF-kappa B) protein expression increased after CM and CAR administration reduced both TNF-alpha and NF-kappa B expressions. Histopathologically, hyaline and haemorrhagic casts and necrosis in proximal tubules increased in the nephrotoxicity groups and decreased in the CAR groups. Conclusion: The results reveal that L-carnitine protects the oxidant/antioxidant balance and decreases proinflammatory cytokines and apoptosis in CM-induced nephrotoxicity in rats with underlying pathology. Advances in knowledge: Depending on the underlying kidney pathologies, the incidence of CM-induced nephropathy (CIN) increases. Therefore, this is the best model to represent clinically observed CIN. Advances in knowledge: Depending on the underlying kidney pathologies, the incidence of CM-induced nephropathy (CIN) increases. Therefore, this is the best model to represent clinically observed CIN., Ataturk University Scientific Experimental Project Office [2013/52], This work was supported by the Ataturk University Scientific Experimental Project Office through project number: 2013/52.

Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is a protozoan parasite with the potential of causing severe encephalitis among immunocompromised humans and animals. Our previous study showed that T. gondii induces high nitric oxide (NO) production, high glial activation (GFAP) and neurofilament expressions, leading to severe neurodegeneration in toxoplasma encephalitis (TE) in the central nervous system (CNS). The aim of this experimental study was to investigate ADAMTS-13 expression and apoptosis in CNS and to identify whether they have any correlation with toxoplasmosis neuropathology and neurodegeneration. Mice were infected with ME49 strain T. gondii and the levels of ADAMTS-13, caspase 3, caspase 8, caspase 9, TNFR1 and Bcl-xL expressions were examined in brain tissues by immunohistochemistry, during the development and establishment of chronic infections at 10, 30 and 60 days post-infection. Results of the study revealed that the levels of ADAMTS-13 (P0.005), caspase 3 (P0.05), caspase 8 (P0.05), caspase 9 (P0.005) and TNFR1 (P0.05) expressions in the brain markedly increased while Bcl-xL expression decreased (P0.005). The most prominent finding from our study was that 10, 30 and 60 days post-infection ADAMTS-13 increased significantly and this may play an important role in the regulation and protection of the blood-brain barrier integrity and CNS microenvironment in TE. These results also suggest that T. gondii-mediated apoptosis might play a pivotal role and a different type of role in the mechanism of neurodegeneration and neuropathology in the process of TE. Furthermore, expression of ADAMTS-13 might give an idea of the progress and is critical for diagnosis of this disease. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first report on ADAMTS-13 expression in the CNS of T. gondii-infected mice.

DINCEL, Gungor Cagdas/0000-0002-6985-3197; ATMACA, HASAN TARIK/0000-0001-8379-4114 WOS: 000360323400014 PubMed: 26115941 Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular parasite with the potential of causing severe encephalitis among immunocompromised human and animals. The aim of this experimental study was to investigate the immunomodulatory and immunopathological role of nitric oxide (NO) in central nervous systems and to identify any correlation between toxoplasmosis neuropathology and investigate the consequences of the cellular responses protect against T. gondii. Mice were infected with ME49 strain T. gondii and levels of endothelial, neuronal and inducible nitric oxide synthase (eNOS, nNOS, iNOS), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and neurofilament (NF) were examined in brain tissues by immunohistochemistry, during the development and establishment of a chronic infection at 10 30 and 60 days post infection. Results of the study revealed that the levels of eNOS (p < 0.05), nNOS (p < 0.05), iNOS (p < 0.005), GFAP (p < 0.005) and NF (p < 0.005) were remarkably higher in T. gondii-infected mice than in uninfected control. The most prominent finding from our study was 10 and 30 days after inoculation data indicating that increased levels of NO not only a potential neuroprotective role for immunoregulatory and immunopathological but also might be a molecular trigger of bradyzoite development. Furthermore, this findings were shown that high expressed NO origin was not only inducible nitric oxide synthase but also endothelial and neuronal. We demonstrated that activation of astrocytes and microglia/macrophages is a significant event in toxoplasma encephalitis (TE). The results also clearly indicated that increased levels of NO might contribute to neuropathology related with TE. Furthermore, expression of NF might gives an idea of the progress and critical for diagnostic significance of this disease. (C) 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Gumushane Univesity, Scientific Research CouncilGumushane University [13.B0421.02.1] This work was supported by grants from Gumushane Univesity, Scientific Research Council (Project no: 13.B0421.02.1). This study was presented as an oral presentation in 3rd International Conference & Exhibition on Pathology Congress 2014, San Antonio, USA.

KISA, Ucler/0000-0002-8131-6810; Aydos, Tolga Resat/0000-0002-1832-9336; ATMACA, HASAN TARIK/0000-0001-8379-4114 WOS: 000343068800006 PubMed: 25539540 Background/aim: To investigate the effect of ozone and/or taurine treatment comparatively on testicular damage due to ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in an experimental torsion model in rats. Materials and methods: Adult Wistar rats with and without torsion/detorsion were used. In order to monitor the effect of ozone and/or taurine treatment on testicular damage due to I/R injury, following histopathological investigation apoptotic indexes were scored by TUNEL method. Moreover, tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (TNFR1), caspase 3, caspase 8, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha), and cytochrome C immunostainings were performed and the levels of malondialdehyde, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, catalase, total sulthydryl, and nitric oxide were determined in the testicular tissue. Results: Intraperitoneal ozone and/or taurine treatment prevented both histopathological damage and increase in the apoptotic index. Torsion did not exert an effect on the levels of TNFa and cytochrome C. Ozone and/or taurine treatment prevented increases in TNFR1, caspase 3, and caspase 8. The level of oxidative stress markers was unchanged. The increases in NO level and eNOS expression were prevented by ozone and/or taurine treatment in I/R groups. Conclusion: Using ozone therapy and/or taurine before reperfusion may be a solution for germ cell degeneration resulting from testicular torsion and related infertility. 1002 TOBITAK Short-Term R&D Funding ProgramTurkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK) [110S273] This study was supported by the 1002 TOBITAK Short-Term R&D Funding Program (Project No. 110S273).

Livestock vaccines aim to increase livestock product and improve the health and welfare of livestock animals in a cost-efficient manner and prevent disease transmission. Successful livestock vaccines have been generated for pathogens including bacterial, viral, protozoan, and multicellular pathogens. These livestock vaccines have a significant effect on animal health and products and on human health through growing safe food procurement and preventing zoonotic diseases. There are successful production of biotechnological-based animal vaccines licensed for use that include virus-like particle vaccines, gene-deleted marker vaccines, subunit vaccines, DIVA vaccines, and DNA vaccines. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2015.

The interactions among host immunity, pathogens, and environment are ever-going process of disease and health. In nature, there is an ongoing equilibrium between infectious agents and their susceptible host organisms. While challenge of immune-competent individuals to low pathogenic strains usually results in elimination of the infectious agent, the other host-pathogen matches generally produce clinical courses of the disease. On the other hand, many pathogens produce certain enzymes, toxins, or proteins, which lead to the increased cellular adhesion and invasion abilities and also increased pathogenicity. However, in some instances, host innate immunity shows nonspecific resistance to such infectious diseases and it is called host resistance. For example, Bacillus anthracis produces high mortality in its hosts, mammalian animals, including humans, but anthrax does not cause a fatal disease in the poultry. Otherwise, lineage 4 strain of the peste des petits ruminants which is prevalent in the Asian and Middle Eastern countries is responsible for the huge outbreaks among goat herds but not for sheep. These host resistance examples can be extended by host breed, age, and gender levels and the current knowledge has evidenced the presence of the disease resistance genes in the host genome. The completion of full genome mapping in human and several animals allows the scientists to analyze host resistance genes against such a specific disease by the comparison of sick and healthy individuals' bioinformatics data. This means that the next discovery will be the definition of host resistance genes and their relations with cellular immunity in infectious diseases. Keeping in view all these issues, we offered this special issue to the scientific community and we had an overwhelming response from them in form of 20 submissions including both research and review articles. Eight out of twenty submissions were accepted after a rigorous process of peer review. This special issue incorporates four review papers and four original research papers. The review papers introduce concepts and themes underpinning the research papers including the immune invasion strategies by various pathogens including bacteria, virus, and parasite and also the interplay of host immune cells. Muhammad Abubakar Hasan T. Atmaca Muhammad A. Zahoor Oguz Kul

81st Annual Meeting of the Deutsche-Gesellschaft-fur-Experimentelle-und-Klinische-Pharmakologie-und-Toxikologie-e-V -- MAR 10-12, 2015 -- Kiel, GERMANY, …, Deutsch Gesell Experimentelle & Klinische Pharmakologie & Pharmakologie e V

Cayir, Yasemin/0000-0001-9133-5460; Albayrak, Abdulmecit/0000-0002-1062-1965; UGAN, RUSTEM ANIL/0000-0002-4837-2343; ATMACA, HASAN TARIK/0000-0001-8379-4114 WOS: 000362680700008 PubMed: 25847324 Purpose The aim of this study is to show the effect of a new mechanism on endothelin (ET) receptors in the physiopathology of diabetes-related pulmonary injury. We tested the hypothesis that dual ET-1 receptor antagonism via bosentan can reverse diabetes-induced lung injury. Methods The rats (24 male) were separated into four groups: group 1 (HEALTHY): Control group; group 2 (DM): Streptozotocin 60 mg/kg (i.p.); group 3 (DM + BOS1): Diabetes + bosentan 50 mg/kg per-os; group 4 (DM + BOS-2): Diabetes + bosentan 100 mg/kg per-os. The bosentan treatment was initiated immediately after the onset of STZ-induced diabetes and continued for 6 weeks. Results In the treatment group, SOD activity was significantly increased, although GSH and MDA levels and TNF-alpha and TGF-beta gene expression were decreased. Bosentan 50 mg/kg and bosentan 100 mg/kg showed a significantly down-regulatory effect on ET-1, ET-A, and ET-B mRNA expression. Conclusions In conclusion, increased endothelin levels in the lung associated with diabetes may be one cause of endothelial dysfunction, cytokine increase, and oxidant/antioxidant imbalance in the pathogenesis of complications that may develop during diabetes. With its multiple effects, bosentan therapy may be an effective option against complications that may develop in association with diabetes.

Peste des petits ruminant (PPR) is a systemic viral disease of goats and sheep characterized by gastrointestinal and respiratory system lesions with high rate of mortality. Rhinitis, conjunctivitis, serous-mucopurulent naso-ocular discharge, pneumonia, coughing, dispnea, erosive-ulcerative oral lesions, and diarrhea are the most prominent clinicopathological features of the disease. Histopathologically, pseudomembraneous stomatitis, necrotic tonsillitis, fibrinohemorrhagic enteritis, and proliferative interstitial pneoumonia are seen. Syncytial cells and cytoplasmic and/or nuclear eosinophilic inclusion bodies are considered as pathognomonic. Like the other morbilli viruses, PPR virus can also cause lesions in the kidney, brain, and abomasum. The PPRV tropism can be explained by the mechanism in which PPRV binds to receptors on the cell surface. The PPR in small ruminants often shows coassociation with secondary viral, bacterial, and parasitary infections. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2015.

Contrast medium-induced nephropathy (CIN) remains as a problem with high incidence and mortality rates. The aim of this study is to examine the roles of infliximab (INF) in the glycerol (GLY) and CIN model in rats. The rats were separated into five groups (n=8): Healthy, GLY, GLY+CM, GLY+CM+INF 5 mg/kg intraperitoneally (i.p.), and GLY+CM+INF 7 mg/kg (i.p.). Antioxidant levels in the therapy groups were observed to be quite similar to those in the healthy group. In this study, while the kidney TNF-alpha, TGF-1 beta and Caspase 3 gene expressions' levels increased in the nephrotoxic groups, these levels were found to have decreased in the treatment groups. Moreover, histopathologic examination showed that hyaline, haemorrhagic casts and necrosis were increased in nephrotoxicity group, whereas they decreased in the therapy group. Furthermore, TNF-alpha and NF-kappa B expression were decreased with infliximab administrated groups similar to control group. In conclusion, we suggest that infliximab have protective roles on CIN. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved., Ataturk University Scientific Experimental Project Office [2013/54], This article was supported by the Ataturk University Scientific Experimental Project Office, Project Number: 2013/54

Das, Kusal/0000-0002-3641-2117; ATMACA, HASAN TARIK/0000-0001-8379-4114 WOS: 000339599800025 PubMed: 24857819 Protective effect of resveratrol on sodium fluoride-induced oxidative stress, hepatotoxicity and neurotoxicity were studied in rats. A total of 28 Wistar albino male rats were used. Four study groups were randomly formed with seven animals in each. The groups were treated for 21 days with distilled water (control group), with water containing 100 ppm fluoride (fluoride group), with resveratrol (12.5 mg/kg i.p., resveratrol group), or with 100 ppm fluoride + 12.5 mg/kg resveratrol i.p. (fluoride + resveratrol group). At the end of the trial, blood samples were collected by cardiac puncture and tissue samples were taken simultaneously. The total antioxidant and oxidant status in plasma and tissues as well as plasma 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine levels were measured. Histopathological analyses of rat liver and brain tissues were performed in all groups to identify any changes. In the fluoride group, the total oxidant levels increased in plasma, liver and brain and total antioxidant levels decreased, as did the plasma 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine levels. These changes were prevented by co-administration of resveratrol. In addition, fluoride-associated severe histopathological changes in brain and liver tissues were not observed in the fluoride + resveratrol group. Consequently, these data suggested that resveratrol had beneficial effects in alleviating fluoride-induced oxidative stress. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Kirikkale University Research FundKirikkale University [2011/44] Financial support for this Project (Project No: 2011/44) was provided by the Kirikkale University Research Fund.

Yayla, Muhammed/0000-0002-0659-3084; ATMACA, HASAN TARIK/0000-0001-8379-4114 WOS: 000339485800020 PubMed: 24833743 PURPOSE. We compared the anti-inflammatory effects of bosentan and dexamethasone in endotoxin-induced uveitis (EIU). METHODS. Endotoxin-induced uveitis was induced by subcutaneous injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 200 mu g) in Wistar rats. Rats were divided randomly into 10 groups (n=6). Bosentan at doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg were administered orally 1 hour before and 12 hours after LPS injection, and dexamethasone was administered by intraperitoneally 30 minutes before and 30 minutes after LPS injection at a dose of 1 mg/kg. Data were collected at two time points for each control and treatment; animals were killed at either 3 or 24 hours after LPS injection. Histopathologic evaluation and aqueous humour measurements of TNF-alpha level were performed, and endothelin-1 (ET-1), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and endothelin receptor A and B (EDNRA and B) expression were analyzed. RESULTS. The group treated with 100 mg/kg bosentan at 24 hours displayed significantly milder uveitis and fewer inflammatory cells compared to LPS-injected animals, and there were similar findings in the dexamethasone-treated group at 24 hours. The TNF-alpha levels in the dexamethasone treatment group were lower than those in the LPS-induced uveitis control group (P < 0.05); however, there was no difference between the dexamethasone and bosentan treatment groups at 3 and 24 hours after LPS administration. Bosentan treatment at doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg significantly decreased iNOS expression compared to LPS-injected animals (P < 0.001). The ET-1 expression was suppressed significantly by bosentan and dexamethasone at 3 and 24 hours after LPS administration (P < 0.001). The EDNRA expression in the bosentan treatment groups was statistically significantly lower than that in the LPS-induced uveitis control group at 3 and 24 hours after LPS administration (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS. Bosentan reduces intraocular inflammation and has similar effects as dexamethasone in a rat model of EIU. Ataturk University Scientific Experimental Project OfficeAtaturk University [2012/5] Supported by Ataturk University Scientific Experimental Project Office to Project Number 2012/5.

Terzi, Osman Safa/0000-0002-7877-8897; ATMACA, HASAN TARIK/0000-0001-8379-4114 WOS: 000335903900017 PubMed: 24704432 Toll-like receptor 11 (TLR11) is a specific receptor for Toxoplasma gondii and uropathogenic Escherichia coli and has recently been identified in the mouse brain. In the present study, TLR11 gene expression was measured in the mouse brain by Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Furthermore, the TLR11 protein expression profile was evaluated in neuroglia and neurons throughout the encephalitic period (10, 20, and 30 days after inoculation) in mice with experimentally induced T. gondii infection. In the brains of experimental (n = 21) and control (n = 7) mice, TLR11, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), cd11b, NeuN, TLR11/GFAP+, TLR11/cd11b+, and TLR11/NeuN+ cells were investigated using either indirect single- or double-labeling immunoperoxidase staining. The results indicated that TLR11 gene expression increased during chronic toxoplasmic encephalitis, and there was a variable degree of TLR11 immunopositivity among cd11b+, GFAP+, and NeuN+ cells in the brain. On the tenth day of infection, there was a significant increase in TLR11 protein and gene expression, which remained stable during the later stages of infection. In this experimental model, TLR11 expression was induced in astrocytes, neurons, and microglia/macrophages during the immune response to T. gondii infection. (C) 2014 IBRO. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Kirikkale University, Scientific Research CouncilKirikkale University [2012/56] This work was supported by grants from Kirikkale University, Scientific Research Council (Project no: 2012/56).

This report describes a case of fatal systemic toxoplasmosis in a 2.5-year-old mixed breed pregnant cat and its kittens. The pregnant cat was presented to the gynecology clinic with symptoms of dystocia. The ultrasound examination revealed the presence of five fetuses in the uterus, three of which were not alive, and consequently a cesarean section was performed. However, the mother cat and the remaining two live kittens died two and ten days after cesarean section, respectively. Pathologically, severe alveolar edema, tachyzoite-like structures in the alveolar macrophages and multifocal necroses in the lungs of mother cat were observed. An intense Toxoplasma gondii immunopositive reaction was observed in the cytoplasms of alveolar macrophages, bronchial and bronchiolar epithelia, necrotic foci in the lungs, and Kupffer cells of the liver. PCR analyses amplified T. gondii DNA in tissue samples of the mother cat and kittens. The present study provides strong evidence for a transplacental transmission of T. gondii infection with deadly outcome for the mother cat, fetuses and kittens. As to the authors' knowledge, this report is the first case of fatal congenital toxoplasmosis in domestic cats in Turkey.

YILDIZ, Kader/0000-0001-5802-6156; DINCEL, Gungor Cagdas/0000-0002-6985-3197; Terzi, Osman Safa/0000-0002-7877-8897; Deniz, Abdulkerim/0000-0002-5242-5671; ATMACA, HASAN TARIK/0000-0001-8379-4114 WOS: 000316039300014 PubMed: 22954788 The aim of the present study was to investigate in vivo efficacy of toltrazuril on Toxoplasma gondii tissue cysts following induction of chronic toxoplasmosis in 4-week-old lambs (n = 27) by inoculation of 1 x 105 T. gondii ME 49 strain oocysts (day 0). Beginning at the 15th day after inoculation, lambs in Group T20 and Group T40 were given toltrazuril orally 2 times, once every week (Baycox 5%, Bayer Animal Health) at a dose of 20 mg/kg and 40 mg/kg, respectively. Positive control (PC) lambs were not given any therapy, and 2 clinically healthy non-infected lambs were used as negative controls (Group NC). Two out of 9 lambs in PC group (oocyst inoculated but non-treated) were killed on toltrazuril treatment days (day 15 and 22) to evaluate the tissue cyst presence in their muscles. On day 90, the remaining 25 lambs were necropsied, and samples from the brain and 11 different muscle groups were collected. The tissues were examined for the presence of tissue cysts by histopathology, immunohistochemistry, nested-PCR and percoll gradient centrifugation. Anti-T. gondii antibodies were screened by IFAT throughout the experiment. The increased T. gondii seropositivity beginning from the 15th day of inoculation remained steady at Day 45 and Day 90 in Groups PC while it was significantly lower at Day 90 in toltrazuril receiving groups. In toltrazuril treated groups, histopathological findings included degenerative changes in the cyst wall, complete macrophage invasion to the cysts, and reduction or removal of the cysts in to to. Four out of 9 lambs (44.4%) in both toltrazuril treated group (Group T20 and T40) did not contain tissue cyst in any examined tissues while all positive control animals had T. gondii tissue cysts at least in one muscle group. The toltrazuril treatment efficacy on the cyst presence was determined as 44.4%. The number of the cysts in the musculature was significantly different between non-treated and toltrazuril treated lambs (X-2 = 6.613; p = 0.037). For the total number of cysts, the positive control lambs had higher number of cysts compared to both toltrazuril treated lambs (T20 and T40) (X-2 = 5.629; p = 0.018 and X-2 = 5.629; p = 0.018, respectively) while there were no differences between Group T20 and Group T40 (X-2 = 0.000; p = 1.000). According to PCR results, the brain and M. semitendinosus were positive in all 7 control lambs while 12 out of 18 lambs were positive in toltrazuril treated lambs. In conclusion, the results are promising as the toltrazuril treated lambs had markedly less parasite counts compared to those of untreated lambs. Further research should be conducted to reveal if toltrazuril treatment in sheep could be used as a strategy to minimize the cyst exposure of humans through consumption of raw or undercooked mutton. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Bayer Animal Health, GermanyBayer AG [D1HD12000062] This study was supported by Bayer Animal Health, Germany in terms of proof and concept (Project No: D1HD12000062). This report was submitted in XXVIth World Buiatrics Congress, Santiago Chile in 2010 as oral presentation.

In this study, we aimed to evaluate expression of IL-4, IL-10, TNF-α, IFN-γ and iNOS in lingual, buccal mucosa and lung epithelial tissue using immunoperoxidase technique and to compare with the tissues of control animals. The tissues used in the study were collected from 17 PPRV-affected and 5 healthy sheep and goats. In PPRV positive animals, the lungs, lingual and buccal mucosa had significantly higher iNOS, IFN-γ and TNF-α expressions compared to control group animals. There was no significant difference between PPRV positive and control groups for IL-4 and IL-10 expressions of epithelial tissues. In conclusion, the epithelial tissues infected by PPRV showed significant iNOS, IFN-γ and TNF-α expressions and they might play an important role in the initiation and regulation of cytokine response, as they take place in the first host barrier to be in contact with PPRV. It is suggested that the more epithelial damage produced by PPRV the more cytokine response may result in the infected epithelial cells. The first demonstration of iNOS expression and epithelial cytokine response to PPRV in natural cases is important because it may contribute to an early initiation of systemic immunity against PPRV infection, in addition to direct elimination of the virus during the initial epithelial phase of the infection

This study was undertaken for the determination of Sarcocysts species in sheep slaughtered in Kirikkale Municipality Slaughterhouse. For this study, oesophageal, diaphragm and intercostal muscles were collected from randomly selected 112 sheep out of 1131 sheep (814 sheep and 317 lambs) that were slaughtered from October 2005 to May 2006. The samples were examined for macro and microcyst of Sarcocysts spp. Macrocysts and microcysts were found in 58.92% of the overall samples. Microcysts were found in 47.32% and macrocysts were perceived in 20.53% of the sheep that were under examination. The distribution of the microcysts with respective to the age of the sheep was studied and it has been observed that 16.12% (5 in every 31 lambs) of the lambs under 1 year old and 59.25% (48 in every 81 sheep) of the sheep equal or older than 1 year old had possessed microcysts. Sarcocystis ovicanis (47.32%) and S. arieticanis (1.23%) were the species with the highest and lowest number of recurrences respectively. Macrocysts were observed in every sheep over one age. In addition, randomly selected oesophagi with macrocyst were examined histopathologically. Sarcocystis sporocysts were not found in dog feces.

ATMACA, HASAN TARIK/0000-0001-8379-4114 WOS: 000319162700003 PubMed: 23642259 Background: Toxoplasma gondii is a ubiquitous protozoan parasite that can infect humans and animals. The severity of toxoplasmosis varies according to the immune status of the individual, parasite strain, and host species. In mammalian species, it has been observed that severe lesions of acute toxoplasmosis form in visceral organs such as the liver, lung, and spleen. Some epidemiological studies have reported an association of T. gondii infection with liver cirrhosis. Methods: Acute infection was induced in fifteen 30-day-old normal Swiss albino mice. The mice were infected by intraperitoneal inoculation of 5000 T. gondii RH strain tachyzoites. The mice were sacrificed in groups of 5 at 2, 4, and 6 days after inoculation. Another group of 5 mice were used as the controls. Anti-glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and anti-T. gondii antibodies were used to compare GFAP-immunoreactive cells and anti-T. gondiiimmunopositive areas in the liver between the T. gondii-infected groups and the healthy controls, respectively. Results: There was a significant correlation between the numbers of GFAP-positive hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) when they were compared with T. gondii antigen immunostaining (p < 0.05). The amount of T. gondii immunostaining increased significantly with the increase in the number of HSCs. Conclusions: There is a significant relationship between the number of HSCs and T. gondii antigens, which may represent an active role of HSCs in liver pathology and the pathobiology of T. gondii-related hepatitis.

ATMACA, HASAN TARIK/0000-0001-8379-4114 WOS: 000269855800007 The present study was carried out to evaluate the effects of Pb and Hg ions, as well as (gamma)-radiation on serum parameters in Swiss albino mice. For this purpose, we determined the concentrations of albumin (ALB), total bilirubin (TB), as well as the levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) enzymes which are, especially, markers of liver injury. The study was carried out on 80 male mice. The animals were randomly divided into 4 groups. The control group (group I) mice were treated with tap water, whereas mice in group II 20 ppm Pb and those in group III 20 ppm Hg was orally given, and mice in group IV were treated with 10 Gy gamma-radiation for consecutive 14 days. The blood samples were collected from the mice at the end of the 7(th) and 14(th) day to determine the effect of exposure time on serum parameters. The AST, ALT, ALP and GGT levels, and the ALB and TB concentrations were determined by using an autoanalyzer. Serum analysis results indicated that there was an alteration in enzyme levels and concentrations of ALB and TB depending on exposure time in all treated groups when compared to controls. The levels of AST, ALT, ALP and GGT significantly increased in serum of mice in all treatment groups at. the end of 7 days, but enzyme levels showed a decrease at the end of 14(th) day. Even so, this decrease was still higher when compared to that of control and 7(th) day. Moreover, enzyme levels were higher in mice exposed to gamma-radiation than in Hg and Pb-treated ones, and difference was statistically significant (P

Haemangiomas are benign tumours of the vascular endothelium (4–6). Most haemangiomas are well circumscribed and are com posed of variably sized vascular spaces. These spaces are filled with erythrocytes and are lined by a single layer of uniform endothelial cells. These tumours have been called cavernous or capillary tumours (5). Haemangiomas are common in older dogs but infrequently occur in other domestic animals (5). Haemangiomas can be seen in very young horses, usually on the distal limbs (4). They are most common in the dermis and subcutis, especially of the legs, flank, neck, face, and eyelids (5). This report describes a cavernous haemangioma in the left ventricle in a 5-day-old female Simmental calf.