Evaluation of Eimeria adenoeides Preinfection on the Severity of Histomoniasis in Turkeys.

The objectives of this study were to evaluate whether a preinfection of Eimeria adenoeides (EAD) or Eimeria tenella (ET) could affect the severity of subsequent histomoniasis in turkeys (Experiment 1) and if previous exposure to EAD infection, when a single or multiple inoculations of EAD were administered with sufficient time for complete cecal recovery, would affect the severity of HM incidence and lesions (Experiment 2). In Experiment 1, 200 poults were assigned to 1 of 5 groups, as follows: unchallenged negative control, positive challenge control inoculated with 105 HM, EAD at 500 oocysts/bird and Histomonas meleagridis (HM), EAD at 2500 oocysts/bird and HM, or ET at 9 × 106 oocysts/bird and HM. ET and EAD were inoculated on day 15 and HM on day 20. In Experiment 2, the trial consisted of two different challenge ages to evaluate short- or long-term EAD effects before HM challenge. Poults (n = 260) were assigned to either early-HM-challenged groups (HM on day 19 challenge control or EAD at 2500 oocysts/bird on day 14 with HM on day 19) or late-HM-challenged groups (HM on day 35 challenge control, EAD at 2500 oocysts/bird on day 14 and HM on day 35, or EAD at 100 oocysts/bird every 2-3 days during the first 3 weeks and HM on day 35). An unchallenged negative-control group was used for both the early- and late-challenge phases in Experiment 2. Mortalities were recorded, and surviving poults were scored for histomoniasis-related hepatic and cecal lesions. In Experiment 1, preinfection with both doses of EAD reduced the mortality as well as the cecal and hepatic lesions caused by histomoniasis. In Experiment 2, neither short- nor long-term preinfection with EAD had an effect on histomoniasis-related mortality or lesions. Differences between Experiments 1 and 2 may be due to the level of infection caused by the prechallenge with EAD and the resulting destruction of cecal tissue.

Evaluación de la preinfección por Eimeria adenoeides sobre la severidad de la histomoniasis en pavos. Los objetivos de este estudio fueron evaluar si una preinfección por Eimeria adenoeides (EAD) o Eimeria tenella (ET) podría afectar la severidad de la histomoniasis subsequente en pavos (Experimento 1); y si la exposición previa a la infección por E. adenoeides, cuando se administraron una o varias inoculaciones de E. adenoeides con tiempo suficiente para la completa recuperación cecal, afectaría la gravedad de la incidencia y las lesiones de Histomonas meleagridis (Experimento 2). En el Experimento 1, se asignaron 200 pavipollos en cinco grupos, de la siguiente manera: control negativo no desafiado, control de desafío positivo inoculado con 105 de H. meleagridis, un grupo con E. adenoeides a 500 ooquistes/ave e H. meleagridis (HM), otro grupo con E. adenoeides a 2500 ooquistes/ave y H. meleagridis, o E. tenella a 9×106 ooquistes/ave y H. meleagridis. Se inocularon E. tenella y E. adenoeides el día 15 y H. meleagridis el día 20. En el Experimento 2, el ensayo consistió en dos edades de exposición diferentes para evaluar los efectos de E. adenoeides a corto o largo plazo antes del desafío con H. meleagridis. Los pavipollos (n = 260) se asignaron a los grupos de desafío temprano con H. meleagridis (H. meleagridis en el día 19 en el grupo control de desafío o E. adenoeides con 2500 ooquistes/ave el día 14 y con H. meleagridis en el día 19) o los grupos de desafío tardío con H. meleagridis (H. meleagridis en el día 35 del control de desafío, E. adenoeides a 2,500 ooquistes/ave el día 14 y H. meleagridis en el día 35, o E. adenoeides con 100 ooquistes/ave cada 2-3 días durante las primeras 3 semanas y H. meleagridis en el día 35). En el Experimento 2, se utilizó un grupo de control negativo no desafiado para ambas fases de exposición temprana y tardía. Se registraron la mortalidad y los pavipollos supervivientes se asignaron puntuaciones en cuanto a lesiones hepáticas y cecales relacionadas con histomoniasis. En el Experimento 1, la preinfección con ambas dosis de E. adenoeides redujo la mortalidad, así como las lesiones cecales y hepáticas causadas por histomoniasis. En el Experimento 2, ni la preinfección a corto ni a largo plazo con E. adenoeides tuvo un efecto sobre la mortalidad o las lesiones relacionadas con la histomoniasis. Las diferencias entre los Experimentos 1 y 2 pueden deberse al nivel de infección causado por el desafío previo con E. adenoeides y la destrucción resultante del tejido cecal.

Evaluation of live-attenuated Histomonas meleagridis isolates as vaccine candidates against wild-type challenge.

Repeated serial in vitro passage of Histomonas meleagridis, the etiological agent of histomoniasis (blackhead) of turkeys, was demonstrated to markedly achieve attenuation and reduction of virulence as compared to the original wild-type isolate. Four experiments were performed to evaluate the route (oral vs. intracloacal) and age (day-of-hatch vs. d 14) for administration of attenuated H. meleagridis isolates as vaccine candidates against homologous or heterologous wild-type challenge. Attenuated H. meleagridis were developed from 2 different strains (Buford strain originating in Georgia; PHL2017 strain originating in Northwest Arkansas). Buford P80a (passage 80, assigned as isolate lineage "a" following repeated passage) was selected as the primary vaccine candidate and was evaluated in Experiments 1-3. Experiment 4 evaluated selected candidates of attenuated PHL2017 (P67, P129) and Buford (P80a, P200a, P138b, P198c) strains against Buford wild-type challenge. As has been demonstrated previously, wild-type H. meleagridis cultures administered orally after 1 day of age were not infective in the current studies, but infection with wild-type cultures could be induced orally at day-of-hatch. Infection was effectively achieved via the intracloacal route at day-of-hatch and in older turkeys (d 21, d 28-29, d 35). Intracloacal inoculation of turkeys with the attenuated passaged isolates as vaccine candidates at d 14 was shown to produce significant (P < 0.05) protection from mortality, reduction in body weight gain, as well as reduction in hepatic and cecal lesions in these experiments following challenge with either the homologous wild-type isolate or from a wild-type strain obtained years later from a geographically disparate area of the United States. Inoculation with the attenuated H. meleagridis isolates at day-of-hatch, either orally or cloacally, did not produce significant protection against subsequent wild-type challenge. While offering significant protection with minimal vaccine-related negative effects, the protection from cloacal vaccine administration was neither significantly robust nor encouraging for industry application using the methods evaluated in the present manuscript since mortalities and lesions were not completely reduced which could thereby potentially allow transmission from residual infection and shedding within a flock.

Research Note: Evaluation of boric acid as a chemoprophylaxis candidate to prevent histomoniasis.

Histomoniasis, caused by the protozoan parasite Histomonas meleagridis, is a disease to which turkeys are especially susceptible. Currently, no chemoprophylaxis compounds are available to mitigate this disease. Boric acid (BA) exhibits antifungal, antiseptic, and antiviral properties and has been used in the treatment of yeast infections. Based on these characteristics, an experiment was conducted to evaluate whether BA might be an efficacious prophylaxis against challenge with wild-type H. meleagridis (WTH). On day-of-hatch, poults were randomly assigned to either a basal control diet or a BA diet (basal diet + 0.2% BA). Groups consisted of a nonchallenged control (NC; basal diet), 0.2% BA + challenge (BA; 0.2% BA diet), and a positive-challenged control (PC; basal diet). On day 21, challenged groups were intracloacally inoculated with 2 × 105 WTH cells/turkey, and lesions were evaluated on day 14 postchallenge. Individual body weights were recorded on day 0, 21, and 35 to calculate the prechallenge and postchallenge body weight gain (BWG). The BA group resulted in lower prechallenge day 0 to day 21 BWG (P = 0.0001) than the NC group. Postchallenge day 21 to day 35, BWG was also lower (P = 0.0503) in the BA group than the PC group. No differences between the BA and PC groups were detected for mortalities associated with histomoniasis. Moreover, liver and cecal lesions were not statistically different between the BA and PC groups. Taken together, these data suggest that BA was not efficacious in the prevention or reduction of histomoniasis disease severity when provided at 0.2% dietary concentration under these experimental conditions.

Research Note: Evaluation of dietary administration of sodium chlorate and sodium nitrate for Histomonas meleagridis prophylaxis in turkeys.

Histomoniasis is currently a re-emerging disease of major significance for many commercial turkey and broiler breeder production companies because of the unavailability of drugs or vaccines. The protozoa Histomonas meleagridis (HM) requires the presence of enteric microflora to promote the disease. The objectives of this research note were to evaluate the effect of dietary administration of sodium chlorate (SC) and sodium nitrate (SN) in vitro and in vivo for HM prophylaxis in poults. A total of 128 day-of-hatch female poults obtained from a commercial hatchery were wing-tagged and randomly assigned into 1 of 4 experimental groups: negative control (NC), positive control, dietary inclusion of SC (3,200 ppm) and SN (500 ppm). Poults from groups SC and SN started on their respective diets on day 12. All groups, except the NC, were challenged with 2 × 105 HM on day 19. Controls were fed a basal diet, identical to the treatment diets but not supplemented with SC or SN. Body weight gain (BWG) was determined weekly, starting on day 1 until day 28, and postchallenge morbidity and mortality were recorded. On day 28 of age, all surviving poults were lesion scored for hepatic and cecal lesions. Ceca and distal ileum were collected on day 28 for bacterial recovery on selective media for total aerobic, lactic acid bacteria, or gram-negative bacteria. The addition of SC and SN in the in vitro growth of HM greatly reduced the growth of the protozoa after 20 h of incubation when compared with the control nontreated group (P < 0.05). However, dietary supplementation of SC and SN had no effect against HM in vivo, as was demonstrated by BWG, the severity of lesions in the liver and ceca or bacterial recovery of treated poults when compared with the positive control group.

Lipidograma e sensibilidade à insulina em éguas Mangalarga Marchador / Lipidogram and insulin sensitivity in Mangalarga Marchador mares

A dislipidemia é um achado comum, porém não determinante, na síndrome metabólica equina (SME). O objetivo do presente trabalho foi caracterizar a dislipidemia em animais obesos com risco de SME. Para isso, 18 éguas foram alocadas em grupos, de acordo com escore corporal (EC) de 1 a 9: no grupo ideal, animais com EC de 4,5 a 5,5 (n= 6), no grupo sobrepeso, com EC de 6 a 7 (n= 6) e no grupo obeso, animais com EC de 7,5 a 9 (n= 6). Coletaram-se amostras de sangue em jejum de concentrado para determinação de triglicerídeos, colesterol total, glicemia e concentração de insulina. Valores preditivos de sensibilidade à insulina (RISQI) e de secreção ß-pancreática (MIRG) foram calculados. O grupo obeso apresentou níveis maiores em relação aos outros grupos de triglicerídeos (P=0,001) e acima do ideal em concentrações de colesterol (P=0,012). Não foi observada diferença nas concentrações plasmáticas de glicose (P=0,53), de insulina (P=0,10) ou de RISQI (P=0,46). Houve diferença entre os grupos nos valores de MIRG (P=0,048), tendo o grupo obeso obtido resultados maiores quando comparado com o grupo ideal. O aumento do EC foi associado ao aumento das concentrações plasmáticas de colesterol e triglicerídeos, o que caracteriza um estado de dislipidemia e de elevação da secreção das células ß-pancreáticas.(AU)

Increased indicators of fat metabolites are found in Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) subjects, although these parameters are not included in the EMS definition described in the literature and in its diagnosis. The objective of this study was to characterize dyslipidemia in obese insulin resistant mares. 18 mares were allocated in three groups according to body condition score (BCS) in a 1 to 9 scale. In the Ideal group there were animals with BCS 4.5 to 5.5 (n= 6), in the Overweight group, the BCS were 6 to 7 (n= 6), and in the Obese group (n= 6), BCS 7.5 to 9. Concentrate fasting blood samples were taken to determine triglycerides, total cholesterol, glucose, and insulin concentrations in plasma. Insulin sensitivity proxy (RISQI) and ß-pancreatic secretion proxy (MIRG) were calculated from glucose and insulin data. The Obese group had higher triglyceride levels (P= 0.001), compared to other groups, and higher total cholesterol compared to the Ideal Group (P= 0.012). No differences in plasma glucose (P= 0.53), insulin (P= 0.10) concentrations and insulin sensitivity (RISQI: P= 0.463) were seen among groups. The Obese Group had a higher ß-pancreatic secretion (MIRG: P= 0.048) compared to the Ideal Group. The increased BCS was related to the plasma fat metabolites a higher ß-pancreatic secretion.(AU)

A ação do óleo de pequi (Caryocar brasiliense) no processo cicatricial de lesões cutâneas em ratos / The effect of the Pequi oil (Caryocar brasiliense) in the healing of skin lesions in mice

RESUMO O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar o efeito do óleo de pequi no processo cicatricial de lesões cutâneas em ratos. A pesquisa foi iniciada após a provação da CEUA- FACID sob o nº de protocolo 005/12 e obedeceu aos princípios éticos da experimentação animal de acordo com a Lei Federal nº 11.794/2008. Foram utilizados 20 ratos machos, Wistar (Rattusnorvegicus), peso corpóreo de 300-350g, divididos aleatoriamente em dois grupos iguais: GI- controle (C); GII- tratado com óleo de pequi (T). Cada grupo foi dividido em dois subgrupos, de cinco animais cada, conforme os tempos experimentais estudados de 7(A) e 14(B) dias. Após anestesia e antissepsia foi produzida cirurgicamente ferida circular de 2,5 cm de diâmetro na região dorso lombar do animal. Os animais do Grupo II foram tratados com aplicação tópica diária de 1 ml do óleo de pequi, respeitando os tempos experimentais descritos. Concomitante à mensuração da área da lesão, os ratos foram eutanasiados para realização do processamento histológico e análise do percentual de regressão das lesões. No grupo GII nos diferentes tempos experimentais de 7 e 14 dias foi observado maior percentual de regressão das lesões em relação ao GI (p < 0,05). A partir da análise histológica foi possível detectar que no GII houve menor número de células inflamatórias e maior número de fibroblastos em relação ao GI nos diferentes tempos experimentais (p < 0,001). Conclui-se que o uso do óleo de pequi apresentou influência positiva no processo de reparo de lesões cutâneas em ratos, por promover maior velocidade do reparo tecidual, fato evidenciado pelo fechamento mais rápido das feridas e observação de características inflamatórias reduzidas no grupo tratado em relação ao grupo controle, sugerindo que a inflamação pode já ter regredido no grupo tratado.

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of pequi oil in the healing process of skin lesions in rats. The research was initiated after the ordeal of CEUA- FACID with protocol No. 005/12 and following the ethical principles of animal experimentation according to the Federal Law No. 11,794 / 2008. 20 Wistar rats were used (Rattus norvegicus), with body weight ranging from 300-350g. They were randomly divided into two groups: GI control (C) and GII treated with pequi oil (T). Each group was divided into two subgroups of five animals each, according to the experimental study of 7 days (A) and 14 (B) days. After anesthesia and antisepsis, a circular wound of 2.5 cm of diameter was surgically inflicted in the lumbar dorsal region of the animal. The animals in Group II were treated with daily topical application of 1 ml of pequi oil, respecting the described experimental times. Concomitantly with the measurement of the injury area, the rats were euthanized so that a histological processing and a regression analysis of the percentage of injuries could be performed. In GII, at different experimental times of 7 and 14 days, there were a higher percentage of lesions regression compared to GI (p <0.05). From the histological examination it was possible to detect that, at GII, there were a lower number of inflammatory cells and increased number of fibroblasts compared to IM at different time of the trial (P <0.001). It is concluded that the use of pequi oil presented positive influence on the healing process of skin lesions in rats by promoting quicker tissue repair, as indicated by the faster closure of the wounds and the observation of reduced inflammatory characteristics in the group treated compared to the control group, suggesting that the inflammation could have already receded in the treated group.

Efeito do gel da babosa (Aloe barbadensis Mill. ) associado ao ultrassom em processo inflamatório agudo / Effect of aloe (Aloe barbadensis Mill. ) gel combined with ultrasound in the acute inflammatory process

O presente trabalho teve por objetivo analisar a ação antiinflamatória do gel da Babosa a 2 por cento (Aloe barbadensis Mill.) associado ao Ultrassom pulsátil no modelo de edema de pata. Foram utilizados 25 ratos Wistar, (200-250 g), divididos em 5 grupos de 5 animais cada. Grupo1 (controle): ratos tratados com solução salina a 0,9 por cento; Grupo 2: ratos tratados topicamente com gel de A. barbadensis Mill. a 2 por cento; Grupo 3: animais tratados com Ultrassom; Grupo 4: ratos tratados com gel de A. barbadensis Mill. a 2 por cento associado ao Ultrassom; Grupo 5 (controle positivo): ratos tratados com Indometacina na dose de 5 mg Kg-1. Os animais dos grupos 1 e 5 receberam os respectivos tratamentos por via intra-peritoneal 30 minutos antes da injeção intra-plantar de carragenina e os grupos 2, 3 e 4 foram tratados por aplicação tópica de gel de A. barbadensis Mill. a 2 por cento, Ultrassom pulsátil e gel de A. barbadensis Mill. associado ao Ultrassom respectivamente 15 minutos após a indução do edema. Os animais do grupo 04 demonstraram redução significativa do edema quando comparados ao grupo controle, ao mesmo tempo, que se mostrou comparável à indometacina. Observou-se que o gel de aloe associado à fonoforose é capaz reduzir a formação do edema de pata em ratos.

This work aimed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory action of 2 percent aloe (Aloe barbadensis Mill.) gel combined with pulsed ultrasound in the paw edema model. Twenty-five Wistar rats (200-250 g) were divided into 5 groups of 5 animals each. Group1 (control): rats treated with 0.9 percent saline; Group 2: rats topically treated with 2 percent aloe gel; Group 3: rats treated with ultrasound; Group 4: rats treated with 2 percent aloe gel combined with ultrasound; Group 5 (positive control): rats treated with indomethacin at 5 mg Kg-1. Animals of groups 1 and 5 were intraperitoneally treated 30 min before intraplantar carrageenan injection and groups 2, 3 and 4 were treated by topical application of 2 percent aloe gel, pulsed ultrasound and aloe gel combined with ultrasound, respectively, 15 min after edema induction. Animals of group 4 had a significant reduction in edema relative to controls and showed to be comparable to indomethacin. Aloe gel combined with phonophoresis is capable of reducing paw edema formation in rats.

Cardiopulmonary exercise testing early after catheter-balloon mitral valvuloplasty in patients with mitral stenosis.

Seven female patients (age 27 to 53 yr) with significant mitral stenosis performed continuous, incremental, maximal treadmill exercise tests the day before and within 3-5 days after catheter-balloon valvuloplasty. Mitral valve area determined by the echo-Doppler method increased from 0.9 +/- 0.3 cm2 to 1.9 +/- 0.7 cm2 (p < 0.02). Mean left atrial pressure was reduced from 24 +/- 8 to 13 +/- 7 mmHg (p < 0.01) and mean pulmonary artery pressure from 36 +/- 13 to 28 +/- 10 mmHg (p < 0.02) with a non-significant increase in cardiac output from 3.6 +/- 1.2 to 4.0 +/- 1.7 l/min. After catheter-balloon valvuloplasty all patients reached a higher maximal workload during exercise, and mean value of oxygen consumption and pulmonary ventilation were significantly lower in submaximal workloads. The calculated ventilatory equivalent for oxygen was significantly reduced in submaximal and in maximal workloads after catheter-balloon valvuloplasty. Peak oxygen consumption and the ventilatory anaerobic threshold were not changed after catheter-balloon valvuloplasty (pre 15.59 +/- 2.72 vs post 16.90 +/- 3.44 and pre 12.10 +/- 2.55 vs post 12.62 +/- 2.71 ml/kg/min, respectively). We concluded that after catheter-balloon valvuloplasty the cost of breathing was reduced and the oxygen consumed was more effectively utilized during exercise. Increases in peak oxygen consumption and in ventilatory anaerobic threshold would require circulatory and metabolic adaptations in response to increased physical activity and were not observed when cardiopulmonary tests were performed early after catheter-balloon valvuloplasty.