Narrow-band ultraviolet B therapy attenuates cutaneous T-cell responses in hapten-induced, experimental contact dermatitis in beagles.

BACKGROUND: In human medicine, narrow-band ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) phototherapy has been used to treat various T-cell-mediated skin diseases. However, the effect of NB-UVB on inflamed canine skin remains uncertain. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of NB-UVB phototherapy on the skin of dogs with hapten-induced contact dermatitis. ANIMALS: Seven healthy beagles without skin problems. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Dogs were irradiated with varying doses of NB-UVB to determine the minimal erythema dose (MED). After determining the MEDs of six dogs (excluding one of the seven whose skin did not show a visible reaction), we investigated the effect of NB-UVB on their inflamed skin by topically applying 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB), which causes type 1 helper T cell (Th1)- and cytotoxic T-cell (Tc)1-induced skin inflammation. We then irradiated the skin with NB-UVB. We analysed the treated skin samples via histopathological and immunohistochemical methods, and TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labelling (TUNEL) to demonstrate apoptotic cells. We also analysed the cytokine gene transcription via real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR. RESULTS: The NB-UVB MEDs caused mild inflammatory changes yet no severe epidermal exfoliations in the irradiated skin. In DNCB-treated skin irradiated by the NB-UVB MEDs, TUNEL-positive dermal apoptotic cells were increased significantly compared with those of DNCB-treated, nonirradiated skin. INF-γ and TNF-α transcription levels in DNCB-treated, irradiated skin were significantly lower than those in the DNCB-treated, nonirradiated skin. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Phototherapy using NB-UVB MEDs attenuated cutaneous Th1 and Tc1 cytokine responses with minimal skin damage in a canine model of hapten-induced contact dermatitis.

Meeting ultraviolet B radiation requirements of amphibians in captivity: a case study with mountain chicken frogs (Leptodactylus fallax) and general recommendations for pre-release health screening.

Conservation breeding programmes are a tool used to prevent amphibian extinctions. The husbandry requirements of amphibians are complex. Ongoing research is needed to ensure optimal management of those captive-bred animals destined, in particular, for reintroduction. The UV-B and vitamin D3 requirements of amphibians are largely unknown. Metabolic bone disease has been reported in a number of species. These include the Critically Endangered mountain chicken frog (Leptodactylus fallax) reared in captivity on diets supplemented with a high-calcium multivitamin and mineral supplement containing vitamin D3 but without UV-B provision. Captive-bred L. fallax being reared for reintroduction to Montserrat were provided with UV-B radiation from metamorphosis and were fed on insects supplemented with vitamins and minerals. Overlapping heat, light and UV-B gradients were provided, mimicking what we believe best represents the natural situation and thereby facilitated self-regulation of UV-B exposure. A subset of 10 frogs was periodically radiographed to assess skeletal health. Radiographic bone density and anatomical integrity appeared unremarkable when compared with a wild caught L. fallax. In addition to other routine health-screening, we recommend that radiography be performed to a structured schedule on a subset of all captive-bred and reared amphibians to assess skeletal health and to gauge the appropriateness of captive husbandry. We demonstrate here that, through the appropriate provision of a combination of both UV-B radiation and dietary supplementation, L. fallax can be bred and reared in captivity with healthy skeletal development.

Minimal erythema dose (MED) in normal canine skin by irradiation of narrow-band ultraviolet B (NB-UVB).

Narrow-band UVB (NB-UVB) is light over a very narrow band of wavelengths (around 311 nm) that is concentrated in the therapeutic range and minimally in the sunburn range. It has therefore become the phototherapy treatment of choice for skin diseases. The minimal erythema dose (MED) on canine skin for standardizing dosage schedules in NB-UVB treatment and histopathological analyses were performed in these dogs. In all 32 dogs tested, the MED ranged from 432 to 864 mJ/cm(2). There were no significant differences in MED among breeds, sex and age groups. Histopathology obtained from areas irradiated by MED showed only mild vascular dilatation. These findings might be valuable for the application of NB-UVB phototherapy to canine skin diseases.

Diagnosis and treatment of vitiligo in a sub-adult eastern black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis michaeli).

A captive-born female sub-adult Eastern black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis michaeli) developed areas of non-ulcerated, non-pruritic depigmentation around the nares at 2 yr of age. Over the subsequent 18 mo, the symmetrical multifocal depigmented macules increased in size and distribution to include facial fold crypts, interdigital skin, lips, nares, palmar carpi, ventral abdomen, ventral mandible, axillae, lateral brachium and antebrachium, lateral thighs, ventral tail, and perineal region with an estimated 15% of the skin affected. Facial fold skin biopsies revealed multifocal hypopigmentation with melanin incontinence and mild perivascular lymphohistiocytic dermatitis. The gross appearance and histologic lesions were consistent with vitiligo. Treatment with UV-B narrowband phototherapy was performed on the lateral thighs, lateral elbows, palmar carpi, and rostral maxilla for a period of 12 mo. Significant repigmentation of the treatment areas was achieved.

Changes in some biochemical indicators of bone turnover after ultraviolet irradiation of dairy cows.

The effect of ultraviolet irradiation on some biochemical indicators of bone turnover in dairy cows was determined. The irradiation was performed using a stationary system for two months and comprised a regimen of 10 days irradiation followed by 10 days rest. After ultraviolet irradiation, significant differences in the activities of serum alkaline phosphatase (P < 0.001) and bone alkaline phosphatase isoenzyme (P < 0.05) and concentration of osteocalcin (P < 0.01) were demonstrated. The results suggest that supplementary ultraviolet irradiation during winter could be used as a simple but reliable method of preventing the development of generalised metabolic bone disorders in dairy cows.

[Effect of UV radiation and the autotransfusion of UV-irradiated blood on the content of cationic proteins in the neutrophilic granulocytes of calves]. / Vliianie UF izlucheniia i autotransfuzii UF-obluchennoi krovi na soderzhanie kationnykh belkov v neitrofil'nykh granulotsitakh teliat.

A study was made of the influence of UV-irradiation (254 nm) of blood in vitro, of the autotransfusion of UV-irradiated blood (AUVIB), and of the mixture of UV-irradiated and intact blood in vitro on the content of bactericidal cation proteins (CP) in blood neutrophil of calves suffered from dyspepsia and broncho-pneumonia. Age differences were noticed in CP contents and their decrease in neutrophils following AUVIB in vivo and administration of the mixture of blood in vitro. The decrease in cell CP contents is presumably due to neutrophil degranulation and CP release into the blood plasma. Since the initial mechanisms of neutrophil degranulation are located on the cell surface, the CP release is supposed to result from a membranotropic effect of UV-irradiated blood on the intact autologous blood. This effect may explain the increase in nonspecific resistance of organism after the AUVIB, being one of the main therapeutic phenomena of the AUVIB-therapy.

[Effect of ultraviolet-irradiated autologous blood on the biochemical indices of sheep with a Corynebacterium infection]. / Vliianie na obluchenata s ultravioletovi luchi autogenna kruv vurkhu niakoi biokhimichni pokazateli pri ovtse s korinebakterialna infektsiia.

Twelve sheep were used in two groups of six animals each (a control and a test one). Both control and test animals were infected with a 24-hour broth culture of Corynebacterium pyogenes. The infection was followed up in the course of five days after which the animals of both groups were subjected to autohemotransfusion, whereas the blood transfused with the controls was not treated, and the blood transfused with the test animals was treated with ultra violet rays in vitro. Following the transfusion of both untreated and treated blood the amount of blood sugar rose, it reaching higher levels in the case UV-treated blood. There were changes in the total protein and the protein fractions induced by the Corynebacterial infection, however, the initial levels were more rapidly restored in the case of transfusing UV-treated blood. With autohemotransfusion the values of glutamate-oxalacetate transaminase and glutamate-pyruvate transaminase in all animals dropped. The change was more rapidly and more strongly expressed with the transfusion of UV-treated blood.

[Effect of the in vitro ultraviolet irradiation of autogenous blood on hematological, biochemical and biological indices in sheep with experimentally induced sepsis]. / Vliianie na obluchenata s ultravioletovi luchi in vitro autogenna kruv vurkhu niakoi khematologichni, biokhimichni i biologichi pokazateli pri ovtse s eksperimentalno predizvikan sepsis.

Studies were carried out with 10 sheep infected with a 24th hour broth culture of strain 1088 of Corynebacterium pyogenes. The animals were divided into two groups of 5 each--control and test. Autotransfusion of untreated blood was carried out with the control group, and autotransfusion of UV-treated (in vitro) blood--with the test group. Used was a M-LK5 type lamp, and irradiation lasted 10 min. The autotransfusion of both treated and untreated blood was well tolerated by the sheep. It did not cause deviations from the normal clinical indices. It was established that the autohemotransfusion with untreated blood did not bring about changes in reactions that could be clinically followed up in the course of the disease. On the other hand, the autohemotransfusion of blood that was treated in vitro with ultra-violet rays had a beneficial effect on the body as a whole and on the individual clinical indices.