Serum sialic acid levels in calves with pneumonia

Neopterin, procalcitonin, total sialic acid, paraoxonase-1 and selected haematological indices in calves with aspiration pneumonia

This study aims to determine serum neopterin, procalcitonin, total sialic acid (TSA), paraoxonase-1 (PON1), and some haematological indices in calves with aspiration pneumonia (ASP). The patient group consisted of 30 calves of the Simmental breed, 0–28 days old, diagnosed with ASP upon clinical examination, anamnesis, auscultation examination, and radiographic results. The control group consisted of 10 healthy calves, otherwise with the same characteristics. A significant difference was found between calves with ASP and the control group of calves in serum iron (Fe, P < 0.001), total iron-binding capacity (TIBC, P < 0.05), PON1, TSA, procalcitonin, neopterin, and total leukocyte count (WBC) indices as a result of the analyses (P < 0.001). Serum procalcitonin concentration was found to be 285.71 ng/ml in the ASP group and 30.34 ng/ml in the control group. Serum neopterin concentration was found to be 37.68 nmol/l in the ASP group and 15.14 nmol/l in the control group. Serum procalcitonin, neopterin, and TSA concentrations were found to be significantly higher in the ASP group compared to the control group. It was concluded that biomarkers such as serum procalcitonin, neopterin, and TSA are high in calves with ASP, and as a result, these markers provide diagnostically and prognostically important information.

The Effect of Metaphylactic Use of Tildipirosin for the Control of Respiratory Disease in Long-Distance Transported Dairy Calves

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of two metaphylactic strategies using tildipirosin for the control of bovine respiratory disease (BRD) in dairy calves transported to a heifer raising facility within their first week of life. A total of 2,100 calves were enrolled in the study. Animals were transported for ~1,715 km, from dairies located in Minnesota to a calf raising facility located in New Mexico, where they were housed in individual hutches until weaning. Three days after arrival, calves were randomly allocated into three groups: (1) META1: single subcutaneous (SQ) injection of tildipirosin (Zuprevo™, Merck Animal Health) at enrollment at 4 mg/kg; (2) META2: SQ injection of tildipirosin at enrollment and 17 days later; (3) CON: untreated controls. The BRD incidence was 11.4, 10.8, and 9.4% for calves enrolled in the CON, META1, and META2, respectively (P = 0.44). Lung lesions diagnosed through ultrasonography was found in 21.0, 21.0, and 21.8% of calves enrolled in CON, META1, and META2, respectively (P = 0.99). Mortality tended to be greater for CON calves in comparison to META2 calves (1.5 vs. 0.6%, P = 0.06), but did not differ between calves enrolled in CON and META1 groups (1.5 vs. 1.2%, P = 0.55). Growth was not affected by metaphylaxis. The average daily gain for calves enrolled in CON, META1, and META2 was 517, 518 and 525 g, respectively (P = 0.25). Blood analysis revealed that some of the markers of inflammation assessed were influenced by metaphylaxis. At 27 days after enrollment, META2 calves had decreased concentrations of haptoglobin, serum amyloid A, and aspartate aminotransferase, compared to CON calves (P < 0.05). Additionally, CON calves had increased concentrations of globulins and lower albumin to globulin ratio than META2 calves at the end of the weaning period (P < 0.05). In conclusion, tildipirosin metaphylaxis did not decrease the incidence of BRD nor did it have an impact on weight gain. However, metaphylaxis with two injections of tildipirosin at enrollment and 17 days later tended to reduce mortality and improved the systemic inflammatory status of calves during the preweaning period.

Evaluation of serum sialic acid level in buffaloes naturally infected with Theileria annulata

Tropical theileriosis, caused by Theileria annulata, is the most economically important disease of domestic buffaloes and causing major losses in livestock production in Iran. Sialic acids are often involved in interaction between the cells and the infectious agents by regulating the molecular relations as well as mediating a variety of cell-cell adhesion processes in the immune response. This study was conducted to assess the effect of T. annulata infection on sialic acid concentration in blood sera in naturally infected buffaloes. T. annulata-infected (n = 22) and uninfected control (n = 20) adult buffaloes were selected. Theileria infection was revealed by Giemsa-stained peripheral blood and was confirmed by nested-PCR using T. annulata-specific primers. Based on the detected parasitemia, the infected animals were subgrouped into low <1 %, moderate 1-3 %, high 3-5 %, and very high >5 %. Hematological parameters and the concentrations of total sialic acid (TSA), lipid-bound sialic acid (LBSA), and protein-bound sialic acid (PBSA) were measured and correlated to parasitemia. The results showed significant differences (P < 0.05) in red blood cells (RBCs), packed cell volume (PCV), hemoglobin (Hb), and sialic acid concentrations between infected and control groups. As the parasitemia increased accordingly, a significant decrease in RBCs, PCV, Hb and increase in the mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), and serum sialic acids was observed. We concluded that T. annulata infection could elevate the serum sialic acid concentrations. The increased levels of serum sialic acid concentrations during parasitemia presumably stimulate the host immune response and influence the parasite-host cell adhesion.

The effect of proanthocyanidin on formaldehyde-induced toxicity in rat testes

BACKGROUND/AIM

This study investigated the effect of proanthocyanidin (PA) against formaldehyde (FA)-induced lipid peroxidation damage and morphological changes in rat testes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty-one Wistar albino rats were randomized into 3 groups: control, FA, and FA + PA groups. Plasma and tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) and total sialic acid (TSA) levels were measured. Testes tissues were observed by light and electron microscopy.

RESULTS

TSA (plasma and tissue) levels decreased and MDA (plasma) significantly increased (P < 0.05) in rats treated with FA compared to the controls. Tissue MDA levels were not significantly different. Several necrotic changes were observed in testes tissues by light and electron microscopy. Disordering in epithelia of seminiferous tubules, vacuolization between germinal epithelium cells, and separated basement membranes were observed by light microscope. Immunopositivity in Leydig cells decreased in the FA group (P < 0.05). In the FA + PA group there were more immune Leydig cells reacting immune-positively than in the FA group (P < 0.05). Ultrastructurally, FA also caused disorganization and loss of mitochondrial cristae, and dilatation in endoplasmic reticulum in testes.

CONCLUSION

The results suggest that PA has a protective effect on FA toxicity in testes.