Influence of treatment with gum acacia on renal vascular responses in a rat model of chronic kidney disease.

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted in order to investigate the effects of adenine-induced chronic kidney disease (CKD) on renal blood flow and biochemical changes in rats, and to assess the effect of treatment with gum acacia (GA) thereon. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CKD was induced by feeding rats with adenine (0.25% w/w, five weeks). Concomitantly, some of these rats were also given gum acacia (GA) (15% w/v in the drinking water). Before animals were sacrificed, changes in renal blood flow (RBF) were monitored in anaesthetized rat preparations. Several biochemical and histological renal function tests were also conducted. RESULTS: Adenine-induced CKD significantly impaired the vasopressor actions of acetylcholine, sodium nitroprusside and phenylephrine and concomitant treatment with GA abated these responses. Additionally, plasma concentrations of urea, creatinine, uric acid, indoxyl sulfate, nitrite and nitrate and urinary excretion of protein were all significantly increased by adenine. GA significantly mitigated the severity of adenine-induced changes. CONCLUSIONS: Adenine-induced CKD in rats significantly impaired renal vascular responses to acetylcholine, sodium nitroprusside and phenylephrine and this was mitigated by treatment with GA. This provides another experimental evidence for the usefulness of GA in the amelioration of CKD.

Some physiological and histological aspects of the gastrointestinal tract in a mouse model of chronic renal failure.

INTRODUCTION: It has been reported that mice with 5/6 nephrectomy- induced chronic renal failure (CRF) have reduced gastrointestinal transit (GIT) and increased fecal moisture content (FMC). We have recently shown that feeding adenine (0.2%, w/w) to mice can be used as a model of CRF. Here, we investigated the possible effects of adenine-induced CRF on several in vivo and in vitro aspects of GIT physiology and histology of the stomach, duodenum, ileum and colon in mice. METHODS: The effects of CRF induced by feeding adenine (0.2%, w/w for 2 or 4 weeks) on the gastric emptying index (GEI), GIT, FMC and bead expulsion test (BET) were investigated. GIT was measured by the charcoal meal test and GEI by the difference between full and empty stomach weights. Fresh and dried feces were weighed to calculate the FMC. Renal function was assessed histologically, and biochemically in plasma and urine. The light microscopic histology of the different parts of the gut, as well as the in vitro contractility of the isolated ileum was also assessed. RESULTS: Feeding adenine for 2 or 4 weeks resulted in CRF. The BET was significantly increased in mice given adenine for 2 but not 4 weeks, while the GEI was significantly increased in mice treated with adenine for 4 but not 2 weeks. No significant differences between control and adenine-treated mice were found in GIT, FMC or the histology of the different parts of the gut. Acetylcholine-induced contractions of the ileum of adenine-treated rats were not significantly different from those of the controls. DISCUSSION: Feeding adenine for either 2 or 4 weeks resulted in CRF, but it would appear that this model produces effects on the gastrointestinal tract that are milder than those reported before in animal models with 5/6 nephrectomy-induced-CRF.

The seroprevalence of cystic hydatidosis in Oman.

The presence of antibodies against Echinococcus granulosus in sera from 306 humans and 390 camels in Oman was investigated by indirect haemagglutination assays. Only one of the human and five of the camel sera gave positive reactions. The reactivities of the human sera were confirmed by ELISA. These results, together with isolated reports of hydatid cysts, indicate that E. granulosus is endemic in Oman, although with a low prevalence.

Suspicion of a case of lymphocytic leukaemia in a camel (Camelus dromedarius) in Sultanate of Oman.

The peripheral blood picture of a suspected case of lymphocytic leukaemia in a dromedary camel is described. The authors discuss their findings. This condition seems rare in comparison with the results of a large number of blood samples examined during the last ten years.

Clinical and subclinical colloid goitre in adult camels (Camelus dromedarius) at Kordofan region of Sudan.

Colloid goitre was diagnosed in adult camels in the Kordofan region of the Sudan. The disease is characterized by gross enlargement of the thyroid, histopathological follicular changes, reproductive disorders, low concentrations of circulating thyroid hormones (T3, T4) and normocytic normochromic anaemia. The possible cause of the condition is discussed and iodine supplementation is recommended.

Note on Onchocerca armillata in the Sudanese camel (C. dromedarius). A histological and anatomo-pathological approach.

Aortic onchocercosis due to O. armillata was diagnosed in 45 (41%) out of 109 Sudanese camels. Although the thoracic aorta was regularly affected, involvement of other vessels such as the abdominal aorta, brachiocephalic, pulmonary and costocervical arteries was not excluded. Gross examination of the affected blood vessels revealed tortuous tunnels of parasitic tracks readily visible in the intimal surface of the vessels. Nodular lesions were more common on the adventitia. Microscopically, the lesions showed irregulary elevated intimal surfaces. The underlying tunica media contained a varying number of encapsulated and partially mineralized parasitic fragments. The inflammatory response varied in intensity and location and consisted of eosinophils, lymphocytes, macrophages and occasional giant cells.

Isolation of Brucella abortus from experimentally infected dromedary camels in Sudan: a preliminary report.

Six camels were experimentally infected with two strains of Brucella abortus, four with S19 and two with a field bovine strain. In all cases antibody titres were detected within 6 to 11 days. Serum agglutination titres peaked between days 11 and 32 and complement fixation titres between days 11 and 52; both titres then declined steadily. No clinical signs were observed in the four camels inoculated with S19. Slight non-specific symptoms were seen in the two camels infected with the field bovine strain. On post mortem examination no gross lesions were observed although histopathological sections showed focal granulomata in the liver and a generalized lymphadenitis. The organism was recovered mainly from the lymph nodes of the head and genital tract.

Concurrent infection with Mycobacterium farcinogenes and Actinobacillus lignièresi in slaughtered cattle.

Concurrent infection with Actinobacillus lignieresii and Mycobacterium farcinogenes was detected in slaughtered cattle. The lesions were confined to the retropharyngeal, mandibular and parotid lymph nodes. The actinobacillus granulomas were seen either inside the caseous lesions or between the caseous part and the epithelioid zone of bovine farcy granuloma. In concomitant infections, actinobacillosis was always in the early active phase, whereas in actinobacillosis alone, active as well as healed stages were encountered.

Clinical zinc and copper deficiencies in cattle of western Sudan.

Clinical cases of both Zn and Cu deficiencies are reported in a cattle farm in Kordofan Region of the Sudan after drought. The animals showed general weakness, stunted growth, infertility, parakeratosis and achromotrichia. There was macrocytic hypochromic anaemia and low Cu and Zn concentrations in sera. The condition was more prevalent in zebu-Friesian crosses than the local breeds. Drought and marginal or low Cu and Zn content in pasture may be the predisposing factors.

Spontaneous release of mycophages from lysogenic bovine strains.

Mycophages were successfully isolated from lysogenic bovine strains without previous exposure to physical or chemical agents. These mycophages were exposed to 53 mycobacterial strains using ATCC 607 as an indicator strain. These strains included rapidly growing strains, human, bovine, avian, murine and BCG strains of different geographical origin. Mycophages PM/90/69 produced lysis of human bovine, murine, BCG strains and most of the rapidly growing strains; whereas Mycophage V24 was sensitive to some rapidly growing strains only. Avian strains were resistant to both mycophages.