Determination of reference values for tear production and intraocular pressure in Pygoscelis penguins of the Antarctic Peninsula.

BACKGROUND: According to the literature review, this is the first study investigating tear production (TP) and intraocular pressure (IOP) in the Pygoscelis penguins living in their natural habitat. The study aimed to establish normal values for standard ocular tests in the genus Pygoscelis, namely, the Adélie (Pygoscelis adeliae), gentoo (Pygoscelis papua), and chinstrap (Pygoscelis antarctica) penguins, in four different islands of Antarctica. Sampling was made by specifically using the left eye of the penguins. The Schirmer's tear test type I (STT-I) and the Tonovet® (rebound tonometer) were used to measure the TP and the IOP, respectively. RESULTS: The mean TP and IOP values of 129 Adélie, chinstrap, gentoo, and 120 adult Adélie, gentoo penguins were determined as 10.2 ± 4.0 mm/min and 38.9 ± 13.2 mmHg, respectively. No statistical difference was detected between the penguin species for the mean IOP values, while the difference was determined in all the locations. However, statistical differences in the mean TP values were determined between all locations. CONCLUSION: The results of this study provide a reference range of Schirmer's tear test (STT) and IOP values in Pygoscelis penguins and show that the IOP is significantly affected by locations. This result can be attributed to the harsh climatic conditions of the Antarctic Peninsula that change very quickly. The described data may help diagnose clinical pathological findings in Pygoscelis penguins. The STT and rebound tonometry appears to be safe and reproducible methods in Pygoscelis penguins, as the results were obtained quickly and were well tolerated by the birds. Based on our results, we propose that similar studies can be initiated in crowded colonies of three penguin species of this genus on the Antarctic Peninsula, the southern Shetland Islands, and other frequently visited islands in Antarctica.

The ocular pyogranulomatous lesion in a Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) from the Antarctic Peninsula: evaluation of microbiological and histopathological analysis outcomes.

In this study, it was aimed to present the results of microbiological, cytological, histopathological, and immunohistochemical analyses of ocular samples from an Antarctic (Ardley Island, King George Island) Gentoo penguin chick (Pygoscelis papua) with a pyogranulomatous lesion in the right eye. Samples were taken from both the healthy left eye and the lesion in the right eye. Conventional culture methods and phenotypic and molecular tests were used for bacterial isolation and identification, respectively. None of the isolates could be identified phenotypically. As a result, four of the five isolates obtained from the right eye were considered to belong to putative novel bacterial species and taxa as their similarity to GenBank data was below 98.75%. The isolates were considered to be Pasteurellaceae bacterium, Corynebacterium ciconiae, Cardiobacteriaceae bacterium, Actinomyces sp., and Dermabacteraceae bacterium. The only isolate from the left eye was identified as Psychrobacter pygoscelis. The cytological analysis demonstrated cell infiltrates composed mostly of degenerate heterophils, reactive macrophages, plasma cells, lymphocytes, and eosinophils. Based on histopathological findings, the lesion was defined as a typical pyogranulomatous lesion. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that the granuloma was positive for TNF-α, IL-4, MMP-9, IL-1ß, and IL-6. This is the first documented report of the unilateral pyogranulomatous ocular lesion in a Gentoo penguin chick, living in its natural habitat in Antarctica. This report also describes the isolation of four bacteria from the infected eye, which are considered to belong to novel Genus, species, or taxa. The primary bacterial pathogen that caused the ocular lesion was not able to be detected and remains unclear.

L-Carnitine ameliorates the liver by regulating alpha-SMA, iNOS, HSP90, HIF-1alpha, and RIP1 expressions of CCL4-toxic rats.

OBJECTIVES: Carbon tetrachloride (CCL4) toxicity triggers fibrosis, activating various mechanisms within the cell. We aimed to create damage with CCL4 and investigate the effectiveness of L-carnitine on the mechanisms we identified. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty rats were divided into 5 groups with equal number of rats in each group. Group I: Control group, Group II: L-carnitine group, 200 mg/kg L-carnitine twice a week, Group III: CCL4 group, 0.2 ml/100 gr CCL4, IP, dissolved in olive oil 2 times a week during 6 weeks; Group IV: L-carnitine + CCL4 group, 200 mg/kg L-carnitine 24 hr before 0.2 ml/100 g CCL4 application twice a week; Group V: CCL4 + L-carnitine, 200 mg/kg L-carnitine half an hour after 0.2 ml/100 g CCL4 application. The liver was evaluated histologically. Immunohistochemically stained with α-SMA, iNOS, HSP90, HIF-1α, and RIP1. TNF-α, TGF-ß, AST, ALT, ALP, and GGT measurements were evaluated. RESULTS: In the classical lobule periphery, an increase in lipid accumulation and a decrease in glycogen accumulation were observed. After immunohistochemical measurements and biochemical analyzes, an increase in the expression density of all proteins was observed in group III. In group IV and V, an improvement in tissue and a decrease in protein expression densities were observed. CONCLUSION: iNOS serves as a free radical scavenger in response to damage caused by increased toxicity of α-SMA, HSP90, and HIF-1α. Especially, increased RIP1 level in the tissue indicates the presence of necrosis in the tissue after CCL4-toxicity. Supplementing the amount of endogenous L-carnitine with supplementation provides a significant improvement in the tissue.

A case of Anthrax in two captive pumas (Puma concolor).

In this study, we aimed to report anthrax cases in two pumas, brought to the Pathology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Erciyes University for suspected poisoning upon their sudden death at the Kayseri Zoo, in Turkey. In the necropsy, enlargement and malacia were observed in the spleens. The cut surfaces of the spleens were in extreme red-blackish color. Bacillus anthracis was isolated as a pure culture from both samples which belong to dead pumas. B. anthracis isolates had pXO1 and pXO2 plasmids. Both isolates were found to be sensitive to eight antibacterials tested. This study demonstrates that feeding of the wild carnivorous kept in any zoo with the appropriate meats which belongs to healthy animals is extremely important.

Experimental Toxoplasmosis in Japanese Quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica).

OBJECTIVE: In this study, forming of experimental toxoplasmosis in quails; clinical, pathological, and serological determination of tissue lesions and bioassay techniques, which were aimed to compare them and determine pathogenesis. METHODS: A total of 120 one-year-old female quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) were divided into oral infection, parenteral infection, and control groups. The oral group was infected with 0.5 ml inoculum suspension containing 106 tachyzoites of Toxoplasma gondii, whereas the control group was administered 0.5 ml of saline. The parenteral group was further divided into the following four subgroups: intraperitoneal, intramuscular, intravenous, and cloacal. The quails of the parenteral group were also divided into two groups and one by control group within itself for the 105 and 104 doses of the tachyzoite inoculums. RESULTS: Because of acute toxoplasmosis, death occurred in a quail that as intramuscularly infected with 105 tachyzoites; the quail exhibited neurological clinical symptoms such as torticollis, ataxia, and tremor. In histopathologic examination, T. gondii tissue cysts were detected in infected quails that were intramuscularly infected with 105 tachyzoites. Mouse trials were conducted using tissues of seropositive quails and isolated from peritoneal fluids infected mice. By Sabin-Feldman dye test and indirect hemagglutination test, seropositivity was observed in quails infected with 105 and 104 tachyzoites. CONCLUSION: Similar studies and subclinical cases, which may overlooked was concluded for diagnosis of toxoplasmosis with useful bioassay applications and serological tests.