Veterinary Research Forum

Abstract Cranial cruciate ligament rupture is one of the most common causes of osteoarthritis in dogs. Surgical stabilization is obligatory and tibial plateau levelling osteotomy (TPLO) is the most commonly used surgical technique. Studies on the long-term monitoring of matrix metallo-proteinases (MMPs) and acute-phase proteins are limited, especially those with parallel monitoring of changes in the serum, synovial fluid (SF) and urine. We aimed to describe long-term changes in 1) MMPs: gelatinases and caseinases, 2) APPs: ceruloplasmin, haptoglobin and paraoxonase-1, and 3) the correlation of MMPs in the serum, SF and urine with lameness in dogs 2 and 6 months undergoing TPLO. From 17 dogs diagnosed with cranial cruciate ligament rupture, sera, SF and urine samples were collected preoperative 2 and 6 months after the surgery. Relative activity (RA) of MMPs was measured in all samples using zymography. Acute-phase proteins were measured in the serum and SF using spectrophotometry and agarose gel electrophoresis. Relative activity of MMPs in serum was not change at different sampling points. In SF, a marked decrease in MMPs RA was evident, however, only RA of caseinases was significantly reduced during the recovery period. In urine, RA of caseinases was positively correlated with the lameness score with decreasing activity trend during time. Serum and synovial acute-phase proteins were not changed after surgery, which was consistent with the agarose gel analyses. Decreased activity of caseinases pointed to reduced degradation of extracellular matrix after TPLO. Synovial and urine caseinases are potential biomarkers in predicting the recovery outcome following stifle stabilization.

Abstract This study was conducted to determine the effect of different cage densities and meat storage periods on some meat quality parameters in drumstick and breast meat of brown and white spent hens. The study used three different cage densities as low (5 hens per cage), normal (seven hens per cage) and high (10 hens per cage) including 396 hens as 198 Hy-Line Brown (HB) and 198 Isa Tinted (IT). The feeding of chickens was ad libitum (20 - 60 weeks). At the end of the study, a total number of 54 chickens (27 HB and 27 IT) were slaughtered. Some chemical and microbiological analyses were carried out by separating the drumstick and breast area of the slaughtered chickens. According to the results of the research, the redness and yellowness values of the breast area were higher in the ITs. The effect of cage density was significant only for yellowness in the drumstick area. The effects of storage time, lightness and yellowness in the drumstick area and lightness value in the breast area were found to be significant. Bacterial density and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances values of both breast and drumstick regions of spent hens were higher in HBs, while pH values were higher in ITs. The bacterial density in the meat was increased during the storage period. In conclusion, cage density, genotype and storage time affected the microbiological and chemical quality of spent chicken meat. With this result, it can be said that meat quality studies, which mostly focus on broilers, are also important in spent hens.

Abstract Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2) are among one of the most prevalent and important infectious agents, which cause a severe economic impact on pig farming worldwide. Circulation of these viruses together in the same pig population may lead to the syndemic infection with altered pathogenicity and thereby pathology and clinical manifestation of the diseases. The present study evaluated syndemic infection between PRRSV and PCV2 in the pig population reared in the backyard farms in Mizoram state of India. The syndemicity between PRRSV and PCV2 was confirmed by clinico-pathological studies followed by simultaneous detection of both the viruses in tissue samples by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR), immunohisto-chemistry and SYBR green-based real-time PCR / RT- PCR. The syndemicity resulted to a more severe respiratory disease in affected pigs. Pathological studies on affected pigs revealed a combined picture of hemorrhagic lesions with lymphadenopathy. The SYBR green-based absolute quantification assay estimated the PCV2 load in more quantities than that of PRRSV in all the tissues. The highest PRRSV load was detected in the lungs, while the highest PCV2 load was detected in mesenteric and inguinal lymph nodes. The co-circulation of different pathogenic viruses and their persistent infections in a population is always a matter of great concern to pig producers across the world. The present findings highlighted the similar situation with syndemic infection of PRRSV with PCV2 for the first time in Mizoram, India, that caused severe respiratory disease in affected pigs.

Abstract Surgery commonly causes post-operative pain that should be alleviated to prevent complications. In addition to the use of synthetic drugs, there has been a widespread desire to use medicinal plants for surgical pain management. Thymoquinone (TQ), a constituent of Nigella sativa black seeds, exhibits a potent anti-oxidant property. Celecoxib (CLX), a potent non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, is widely used in pain management. In the present study, the effects of TQ and CLX on pain caused by hind paw surgical incision were compared. Fifty-six rats were divided into four groups of 14 rats as intact, vehicle, TQ, and CLX groups. In each group, six rats were planned to record pain-related behaviors on days 1 - 10 and eight rats were designed for determination of serum biochemical alterations on days 1 (four rats) and 3 (four rats) after surgery. Oral administrations of TQ and CLX at a same dose of 10.00 mg kg^-1 alleviated paw lifting number (spontaneous pain) and paw withdrawal threshold evoked by von Frey filaments on metal mesh floor, improved the decreased contents of serum total anti-oxidant capacity and superoxide dismutase, and restored the increased levels of serum malondialdehyde and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. The results suggested that TQ by employing anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms, might relieve the pain induced by hind paw plantar incision, being comparable with CLX.

Abstract Phthalate esters, such as dibutyl phthalate (DBP), are extensively utilized and human and animal exposure leads to serious toxic effects, including hepatotoxicity. In the present study the protective effects of royal jelly (RJ) on DBP-induced liver damage was investigated. A total number of 40 Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into eight groups (n = 5): control (corn oil), DBP (500 mg kg^-1), RJ (200 mg kg¹), Quercetin (QCN; 50.00 mg kg^-1), RJ (100 mg kg^-1) + DBP, RJ (200 mg kg^-1) + DBP, RJ (300 mg kg^-1) + DBP, QCN (50.00 mg kg^-1) + DBP. After 28 days of daily oral gavage treatment, animals were euthanized. The insulin resistance index, lipid profile and hepatic enzymes were measured on the collected serum samples. Moreover, oxidative and nitrosative stress biomarkers were determined in the liver. Histopathological alterations and ultimately cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) activity was also assessed. Data obtained revealed that RJ significantly reduced the insulin resistance index and liver enzymes level in RJ-DBP groups. At the same time, RJ recovered the DBP-induced oxidative stress and restored the DBP-depleted glutathione. Moreover, RJ improved lipid profile and reduced significantly the DBP-induced hepatic CYP 2E1 activity in RJ-DBP groups. Dibutyl phthalate induced-hepatic damage such as necrosis of hepatocytes and scattered bleeding was alleviated in RJ-DBP group. Our data suggested that the administration of RJ could protect the DBP-induced hepatic functional and structural alterations. The RJ protective effects might be attributed to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and reduced CYP 2E1 activity.

Abstract Exposure to extreme temperature conditions such as occurs in certain occupations is known to induce male infertility. In humans and most of the mammals, it has been shown that whole-body heat stress (HS) decreases fertility and produces defective embryos. Hence, the present study aimed at gaining some insights into the mechanisms producing defects after HS. In the present study, 56 mature male Wistar rats were randomly categorized into eight groups (n = 7), including group 1: Control, groups 2: Bioactive peptides (BPs; 10.00 mg kg^-1), groups 3, 4, and 5: Heat-stressed (37.00, 39.00, and 43.00 ˚C for 20 min, respectively), and groups 6, 7, and 8: Heat-stressed along with BPs (10.00 mg kg^-1), respectively. All treatments were administered orally once per day. The HS was induced through the immersion of rat scrotums in a water bath. After 45 days, rats were sacrificed and left testes were removed, fixed, and used for histological and immunohistochemical studies. Harvested right testes were also used for oxidative stress assessments and molecular analyses. Heat stress increased testicular tissue damage, elevated oxidative stress and reactive oxygen species production, and increased germ cells apoptosis, p53 and caspase 3 expressions, and Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. Treatment with BPs as a substance with anti-oxidant properties ameliorated the damage caused by HS. The results of this study highlight the protective role of BPs in the reproductive tract under HS. Bioactive peptides may have potential function against testicular tissue oxidative stress and apoptosis.

Abstract This study evaluated the impact of combining piperine and prednisolone on clinical symptoms and immune responses in Wistar rats with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) induced by Freund's complete adjuvant due to piperine known anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. The RA rats were randomly divided into five groups (n = 10): The RA rats were treated with phosphate-buffered saline, RA rats treated with piperine (100 mg kg^-1 orally), RA rats treated with prednisolone (10.00 mg kg^-1 orally), and RA rats treated with a combination of piperine and prednisolone (half doses of each orally). Treatment started on day five post-induction when all rats had a clinical score of ≥ 1. Disease symptoms were monitored every other day until day 23 post-induction. Combining the two medications at half doses led to a more significant reduction in disease severity, weight improvement, and histopathological changes compared to using each drug alone at the full doses. The combined treatment group exhibited the most favorable response in C-reactive protein, myeloperoxidase, and nitric oxide biochemical tests compared to the other treatment groups. The combined treatment group showed decreased expression of T-bet and RORɣt genes. However, there was no statistically significant difference in the expression of Foxp3 and GATA3 genes compared to the group receiving prednisolone alone. Overall, combining piperine with prednisolone may prove to be a beneficial approach for managing RA.

Abstract Sudden death has been thoroughly well defined and investigated in human medicine and its definition is not as rigorously established in veterinary medicine. In this case a 7-year-old German Shepherd was brought to the Small Animals Clinic of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Belgrade in very poor state. Despite treatment, the dog died 15 min after being admitted to the clinic. Since poisoning was suspected, the owners requested an autopsy. The dog was taken to the Department of Forensic Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade for necropsy. Pathomorphological examinations revealed rupture of the mesentery with mesenteric volvulus. In addition, a large number of adult forms of Dirofilaria immitis were found in the right atrium, ventricle and in truncus pulmonalis. Further examinations of the respiratory system revealed clusters with partially degraded adult parasites in the lobes. The dog died due to mesenteric volvulus which was a rare finding, with an even rarer finding that was lung nodules with adult D. immitis parasites.