Comparative studies of xanthine oxidase inhibitors viz. allopurinol and febuxostat against induced hyperuricaemia in a poultry model.

In this study, an attempt was made to evaluate the relative efficacy of two important anti-gout agents, viz. allopurinol and febuxostat, in the control of hyperuricaemia/gout using a poultry model. A 21-day study was conducted on 48 Vencobb-400 broiler chicks randomly divided into four groups. In one group hyperuricaemia/gout was induced by the oral administration of diclofenac (group D); in two other groups the ameliorative effect of the two drugs under study was investigated by providing both simultaneously, i.e. diclofenac and allopurinol (group DA), diclofenac and febuxostat (group DF); and the fourth group was kept un-induced and untreated as a control (group C). Both allopurinol and febuxostat inhibit xanthine oxidase enzymes, thereby reducing the production of uric acid. The birds kept on diclofenac alone exhibited the highest level of hyperuricaemia, clinical signs of gout, and overt adverse changes in the visceral organs, whereas these changes were lesser in allopurinol- and febuxostat-treated groups. Furthermore, haematological, biochemical, patho-morphological, and ultra-structural studies using transmission electron microscopy were carried out to evaluate the pathology and, thus, the ameliorative effect of allopurinol and febuxostat. The findings proved that allopurinol and febuxostat carry definite ameliorative potential as anti-hyperuricemic and anti-gout agents in poultry, which was better expressed by febuxostat compared to allopurinol.

Characteristics of Bachaur bull semen.

The Bachaur is a mediumized draft purpose breed which has been recognized by ICAR-National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR) Karnal, India, and presently is on the verge of extinction. Since there are no data regarding the seminal parameters of this breed, this work was performed to evaluate seminal parameters of freshly ejaculated semen. A total of three healthy breeding Bachaur bulls aged 2.5-5 years were selected for the study which were maintained under identical managemental conditions. Semen parameters of these bulls were studied across 10 ejaculates. The average scrotal circumference and testicular weight of the three bulls were 27.78 ± 1.2 cm and 400.67 ± 26.6 g, respectively. The average overall volume (mL), pH, concentration (million/mL), liveability (%), abnormality (%), HOST (%) and acrosome integrity (%) were 2.20 ± 0.19, 6.86 ± 0.06, 1245.60 ± 23.49, 85.09 ± 0.91, 4.13 ± 0.06, 81.16 ± 1.18 and 83.54 ± 1.32, respectively. The average overall mass motility of three Bachaur bulls was 3.57 ± 0.06 in 0-5 scale and individual motility averaged 84.78 ± 1.70 per cent. The volume of ejaculates in Bachaur bull seemed to be lower as compared to other exotic and Indian breeds. However, the semen parameters with regard to mass motility, liveability, abnormalities, hypo-osmotic swelling test (HOST) and acrosomal integrity seemed similar to other exotic and Indian breeds.

Nano-selenium on reproduction and immunocompetence: an emerging progress and prospect in the productivity of poultry research.

Nanotechnology, an emerging and promising technology, has been implicated to revolutionize the poultry industry. The main aspect of nanotechnology was to modify or alter the particle size into nanometers and thereby alter the physical as well as chemical features of the particular molecules. Selenium (Se), an essential trace element, can play an immense role in the maintenance of diverse physiological functions, body metabolism and cellular homeostasis, and the performance of poultry. Selenium nanoparticles (Se-NPs) are of growing importance due to its nutrients digestibility, medicinal therapy, targeted drug delivery system, and production of vaccines. Se-nanoparticles are having importance due to its high bioavailability and digestive efficiency. Se-NPs have been implicated to increase relative weights of immune-related organs (burse and thymus) to enhance immunity and thereby modulate egg production as well as the reproductive performance of birds. The present review is highlighted on the significant role of nano-selenium on reproductive performance and immunocompetence in poultry as comparative advantages over conventional sources of Se in poultry diets.

Unravelling of nitric oxide signalling: A potential biomarker with multifaceted complex mechanism associated with canine inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an important chronic condition associated with the infection affecting the gastrointestinal tract (G.I.) in dogs. Several factors' viz. gastrointestinal tract lymphoid tissue (GALT), permeability defects, genetic, ischemic, biochemical, psychosomatic disorders, infectious and parasitic agents, dietary allergies, and adverse drug reactions are associated with inflammatory bowel disease. The most noticeable clinical signs are vomiting, diarrhea, changes in appetite, weight loss, anorexia, ascites and peripheral edema. Nitric oxide (NO), a pleiotropic free radical messenger molecule plays an immense role in playing mucosal inflammation in the intestine through activation of NO synthase enzyme (iNOS). The complex mechanism associated with inflammation in the G.I. tract is also correlated with the expression of iNOS, enzymatic activity, and NO production. NO exerts a beneficial role in maintaining epithelial permeability as well as the immune response in acute colitis. But the excessive production of NO causes adverse effects. In the review, the author suggests that a complex phenomenon is associated with competing biochemical pathways triggered by NO through the regulation of mucosal inflammation in inflammatory bowel disease. This review is a unique compilation about the role of NO in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease of the dogs.

Characterization of arsenic-induced cytotoxicity in liver with stress in erythrocytes and its reversibility with Pleurotus florida lectin.

Arsenic is one of the most hazardous substances in the environment known to cause toxicity in multiple organs. Cell adhesion, morphological alterations, cell proliferation, terminal deoxyuridine triphosphate nick-end labeling (TUNEL) and caspase-3/CPP32 fluorometric protease assay were important biomarkers to assess apoptosis in cells. This study aimed to evaluate arsenic-induced apoptosis in the hepatocytes of rat and its protective efficacy with coadministration of ascorbic acid (AA) and Pleurotus florida lectin (PFL) individually. Results of the present study also showed that arsenic caused cytotoxicity by elevating morphological alterations, TUNEL-positive nuclei, caspase-3 activity and DNA damage and reducing cell adhesion and cell proliferation in a time-dependent manner. The apoptosis in hepatocytes was reverted to normal value after coadministration of mushroom lectin in arsenic-exposed rat. The study provided significant evidence that PFL has antiapoptotic property against arsenic-induced toxicity. The beneficial effect of PFL was proportional to its duration of exposure. Retard activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase, enhanced lipid peroxidation as well as protein carbonyl in erythrocytes caused by arsenic could also be maintained toward normalcy by supplementation of AA and PFL. These antioxidative effects were exhibited in a time-dependant manner. In rat, treatment with AA and PFL prevented alteration of plasma enzyme activities caused by arsenic. The results concluded that treatment with PFL has significant role in protecting animals from arsenic-induced erythrocytic damage. This finding might be of therapeutic benefit in people suffering from chronic exposure to arsenic from natural sources, a global problem especially relevant to millions of people on the Indian subcontinent.

Subclinical arsenicosis in cattle in arsenic endemic area of West Bengal, India.

Arsenic is ubiquitously found metalloid that commonly contaminates drinking water and agricultural food. To minimise the ecotoxicological effect of arsenic in the environment, it is important to ameliorate the deleterious effects on human and animal health. We investigated the effects of arsenic on cattle by estimating arsenic concentration in biological samples of cattle that consumed contaminated drinking water and feedstuffs directly or indirectly. We have selected arsenic prone village that is Ghentugachi, Nadia district, West Bengal, India, along with arsenic safe control village, Akna in Hoogli district, West Bengal, India. It is found that arsenic is deposited highly in blood, urine and faeces. Agricultural field is contaminated through cattle urine, hair, faeces, cow dung cakes and farmyard manure. Bioconcentration factor and biotransfer factor are two important biomarkers to assess the subclinical toxicity in cattle, as they do not exhibit clinical manifestation like human beings.

Effect of Pleurotus florida lectin (PFL) on arsenic-induced activities of splenocytes in rat.

The present study was undertaken to investigate the protective effect of Pleurotus florida lectin (PFL) against arsenic-induced cytotoxicity and oxidative damages in freshly isolated splenocytes of rodents. Our finding indicated that arsenic caused reduction in cell adhesion, morphological alterations, cell proliferation, nitro blue tetrazolium (NBT) index, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, catalase (CAT) activity and relative mRNA expression of SOD2 in relation to housekeeping gene glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) and increased production of nitric oxide (NO), protein carbonyl (PC) and lipid peroxidation levels (LPO) assembled to play key factors for cytotoxicity and oxidative stress. PFL normalized cellular damages and enhanced SOD production pathway relating to gene expression. Further studies are needed to address effective phytochemicals of the edible mushroom and their mechanism.

Arsenic residue in the products and by-products of chicken and ducks: a possible concern of avian health and environmental hazard to the population in West Bengal, India.

Arsenicosis caused due to drinking of arsenic contaminated ground water is a major environmental health hazard throughout the world. We evaluated the ecotoxicological effect of arsenic on chicken and duck in an arsenic endemic zone. The concentration of arsenic was higher in chicken and duck feed and their by-products than that in the respective samples of control area. Arsenic concentration in the eggs of both chicken and duck was higher than that in the respective samples of control area. Thus, we concluded that arsenic enters into food chain through the intake of contaminated eggs. Furthermore, adverse health effect of arsenic on avian population is due to the alteration in haematobiochemical indices.

Age-related anatomical variation and morphometric studies on the optic tectum in post-hatch broiler chicken.

In this investigation the morphological and morphometrical features of the optic tectum in post-hatch broiler chicken were studied macroscopically and microscopically. The present study was conducted on 70 day old broiler chicks which were reared up to 42 days. The whole experimental period of study was divided into seven groups (from group I to VII) at weekly interval (days 0, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42). The optic lobes were paired and spherical to oval eminences located on the ventro-lateral part of the midbrain in broiler chicken. There was significant increase in length and width of the optic lobes with the advancement of age. Histological analysis of optic tectum shows six basic layers from the external surface to internal one towards the optic ventricle. Different layers of optic tectum were identified as stratum opticum, stratum griseum superficial, stratum griseum central, stratum album central, stratum griseum periventriculare and stratum fibrosum periventriculare with several types of neurons. Among all six layers of the optic tectum the stratum griseum superficial layer showed very high degree of secondry differentiation and evolved into nine sub- layers in all age groups of broiler chickens. Three main cell types had been identified that is, small to medium sized stellate shaped neuron, pyramidal neuron and fusiform neuron, beside these multipolar neuron were also evident. The thickness of all layers of optic tectum significantly increases with the advancement of age of the birds. The optic ventricle was lined with a layer of cuboidal ependymal cells.

Canine rabies: An epidemiological significance, pathogenesis, diagnosis, prevention, and public health issues.

Rabies is a zoonotic disease caused by rabies virus of the genus Lyssa virus and family Rhabdoviridae. It affects all mammals and is prevalent throughout the world and endemic in many countries except in Islands like Australia and Antarctica. It is highly fatal, but preventable. Disease causes threat to public health because rabid dogs bite humans, resulting in thousands of deaths every year. Around 59,000 people die every year from rabies in the world. Dogs play a vital role in most of the human exposure in rabies endemic areas. Transmission of virus occurs through the bite of an infected dog. Disease is manifested by fatal nervous symptoms leading to paralysis and death. Direct fluorescent antibody technique is the gold standard for the diagnosis of the disease in animals and humans. Prevention of rabies involves the vaccination of dogs and humans before or after an exposure. This review describes the etiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, its prevention and control strategies.

Metabolic adaptations to arsenic-induced oxidative stress in male wistar rats.

The present study was planned to investigate the effect of arsenic in rats on several biochemical indices of oxidative stress. Rats were exposed to arsenite in drinking water for upto 12 weeks. Chronic exposure to arsenic for a period of 12 weeks significantly (p < 0.05) increased arsenic burden in blood, liver, and kidney. Several intrinsic antioxidant defenses were activated after a 4-week exposure to arsenic. Some remained elevated, but others became depressed over a longer exposure period. Alterations in most of the biochemical variables reached statistical significant (p < 0.05). Arsenic significantly (p < 0.01) reduced mRNA expression of the superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) gene with respect to the glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) gene. These observations indicated that prolong exposure to arsenic causes induction of oxidative stress and biochemical alterations.

Influence and Implications of the Molecular Paradigm of Nitric Oxide Underlying Inflammatory Reactions of the Gastrointestinal Tract of Dog: A Major Hallmark of Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Nitric oxide (NO), a pleiotropic free radical messenger molecule, is responsible for the various cellular function of the gastrointestinal mucosa. It plays a major role in the maintenance of perfusion, regulation of microvascular, epithelial permeability, and immune functions. Nitric oxide exerts its beneficial effect on the initiation and maintenance of inflammation in human inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). But the accelerated production of NO triggers activation of the inducible form of the NO synthase enzyme (iNOS) that leads to damages of the intestinal membrane. Nitric oxide synthase enzyme is responsible for the higher production of NO from l-arginine and causes an inflammatory condition in the intestinal epithelium. Nitric oxide induces nitrative DNA damage and oxidative DNA damage in the cellular system. Accelerated production of NO enhances iNOS activity that is associated with cytotoxicity and apoptosis of gastrointestinal epithelial cells in the dog. Chronic inflammation leads to angiogenesis that is modulated by the immune system in IBD. Chronic inflammation is a major risk factor for the development of gastrointestinal malignancies. Nitric oxide participates in mucosal inflammation in the intestine through invigoration of NO synthase enzyme. The intrinsic complex mechanism is correlated with the inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract and is also correlated with the expression of iNOS, enzymatic activity and NO production. Nitric oxide employs a significant role in modulating epithelial permeability with accelerated immune response in acute colitis. But the enormous generation of NO causes adverse effects on the mucosal cell during the inflammatory process in IBD. In this review, a complex episode of NO generation with altered biochemical pathways was assessed for the regulation of mucosal inflammation in inflammatory bowel disease of dogs. This review is a unique compilation of the role of NO in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease of dogs. Nitric oxide plays a key role in modulating cancer in the gastrointestinal tract. This review seeks to explore the characteristics of NO as a major hallmark of canine inflammatory bowel diseases.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), the most significant chronic inflammatory condition, is characterized by the painful infection in the gastrointestinal tract among dogs. Nitric oxide (NO) plays a significant role in counteracting the inflammation in the mucosa of the intestine. But prolonged chronic inflammation in the submucosal layers leads to accelerated production of NO that causes harmful effects on the cellular system of the intestine of IBD cases. In IBD, a complex mechanism has occurred in the intestine of dogs.

Sodium arsenite mediated immuno-disruption through alteration of transcription profile of cytokines in chicken splenocytes under in vitro system.

Arsenic is a ubiquitously found metalloid that commonly contaminates drinking water and agricultural food. To understand the ecotoxicological effects of arsenic in environment, it is essential to ameliorate the deleterious effects on human and animal health, particularly on the immune response. We investigated the effects of inorganic arsenic (iAs) on the immune response of chicken splenocytes. Both 1 and 10 mM concentrations of sodium arsenite treatment significantly reduced (P<0.001) splenocyte proliferation and phagocytic activity compared to concanavalin A (ConA) stimulated cells at 24, 48 and 72 h of incubation. Nitrous oxide (NO) production was significantly higher (P<0.001) at 24 h and subsequently declined in the higher dose group, while there was a gradual decline from 24 to 72 h in the lower dose group. Comparison of two different concentration of arsenic treatment also revealed time dependent differences. Relative quantification of expression of IFNγ and IL2 revealed that both genes were significantly down regulated (P<0.001) at both concentrations at each time point. iNOS gene was rapidly down regulated in splenocytes at 24 h at the high doses of As treated splenocyte, a gradual decreasing trend at low doses. Down regulation of IL-2 gene expression in response to As was further evidenced by a significant reduction (P<0.001) in the release of IL-2 into the splenocyte culture medium. We suggest that arsenic, a potent immunotoxic agent, modulates non-specific immune responses and alters the expression of cytokines in a dose and time dependent manner.

Prospects and future perspectives of selenium nanoparticles: An insight of growth promoter, antioxidant and anti-bacterial potentials in productivity of poultry.

Nanoparticles have been attracted attention in poultry research due to their low toxicity, higher bio-availability, high surface area with sustained drug release. Dietary supplementation with selenium nanoparticles (Se-NPs) plays a regulatory role in maintaining growth performance, feed conversion ratio (FCR), antioxidant defense as well as microbial control. Se-NPs have emerging importance in modulating intestinal health through the maintenance of beneficial microbes (microflora) as well as the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA). Se-NPs regulate intrinsic redox status by scavenging free radicals. The antioxidant potentiality of Se-NPs is influenced by the activation of the seleno-enzymes such as thioredoxin reductase and glutathione peroxidase family (GPx) involved in scavenging of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS). The emerging significance of Se-NPs on antimicrobial activity has been exploited due to their bio-accumulative effects and biocompatibility potentiality in the cellular systems against poultry pathogens. The present review highlights on growth performance, antioxidant defense, and anti-bacterial potentiality of Se-NPs in poultry and also provide insight into its significance in the poultry industry.

Effect of chronic intake of arsenic-contaminated water on blood oxidative stress indices in cattle in an arsenic-affected zone.

This study aimed to determine the hemato-biochemical picture and blood oxidative stress in zebu cattle in an arsenic-contaminated zone. Significant decline in total erythrocyte count, packed cell volume, and total plasma protein was observed in cattle of that area in comparison to uncontaminated zone. There was significant elevation of plasma enzyme activities of both alanine aminotransaminase and aspertate aminotransaminase. Increased corpuscular osmotic fragility also proved to be a mechanism for deviation from normal functioning of erythrocytes. Cattle in the affected zone showed a significantly higher arsenic burden in blood. Those animals further showed decreased superoxide dismutase, catalase activities of erythrocytes, and plasma nitrite level, but increased lipid peroxidation and protein carbonyl level. Our finding concluded that cattle of the arsenic-contaminated zone is suffering from a subclinical form of arsenic toxicity, which is proved through altered hemato-biochemical indices and a certain extent of oxidative stress with higher arsenic concentration in blood.

Ground water arsenic contamination in West Bengal, India: a risk of sub-clinical toxicity in cattle as evident by correlation between arsenic exposure, excretion and deposition.

Arsenic contamination of ground water in West Bengal, India, is a great concern for both human and livestock populations. Our study investigated and correlated the arsenic concentration in the drinking water, urinary excretion and deposition of total arsenic in hair of cattle at an arsenic contaminated zone in West Bengal. The results of our study indicated that the average concentration of arsenic in tube well water in contaminated villages ranged from 0.042 to 0.251 ppm and a statistical significant (p < 0.01) difference was seen when compared to samples from a non-contaminated zone. The arsenic concentration in urine and hair of cattle ranged between 0.245-0.691 ppm and 0.461-0.984 ppm, respectively. A close relationship was found between the total arsenic in drinking water urinary excretion (r² = 0.03664, p < 0.05) and the arsenic concentration in hair (r² = 0.03668, p < 0.05). Our findings indicate that quantification of arsenic concentration in cattle urine and hair can serve as biomarkers for both present and past exposure in cattle population.

Inhibition of Oxidative Stress and Enhancement of Cellular Activity by Mushroom Lectins in Arsenic Induced Carcinogenesis.

Chronic arsenicosis is a major environmental health hazard throughout the world, including India. Animals and human beings are affected due to drinking of arsenic contaminated ground water, due to natural mineral deposits, arsenical pesticides or improperly disposed arsenical chemicals. Arsenic causes cancer with production of free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) that are neutralized by an elaborate antioxidant defense system consisting of enzymes and numerous non-enzymatic antioxidants. Dietary antioxidant supplements are useful to counteract the carcinogenesis effects of arsenic. Oyster mushroom lectins can be regarded as ingredients of popular foods with biopharmaceutical properties. A variety of compounds have been isolated from mushrooms, which include polysaccharides and polysaccharopeptides with immune-enhancing effects. Lectins are beneficial in reducing arsenic toxicity due to anticarcinogenetic roles and may have therapeutic application in people suffering from chronic exposure to arsenic from natural sources, a global problem that is especially relevant to millions of people on the Indian subcontinent.

Chronic arsenicosis in goats with special reference to its exposure, excretion and deposition in an arsenic contaminated zone.

Thirty goats were selected randomly from a village of Nadia district, West Bengal according to the previous reports of human being suffering from chronic arsenicosis. Environmental samples viz. drinking water, rice plants and grass used for goat and biological samples viz. blood, urine, faeces, hair and meat were collected to evaluate the arsenic status. It was found that arsenic concentration in both environmental and biological samples was significantly (p<0.01) higher rather than respective samples on control zone. Bio-concentration factor (BCF) and bio-transfer factor (BTF) are indicated to evaluate the subclinical toxicity in goat as they do not exhibit clinical manifestation like human beings.

Evidence of antiapoptotic properties of Pleurotus florida lectin against chronic arsenic toxicity in renal cells of rats.

Chronic arsenic exposure results in toxicity in humans and causes many toxicologic manifestations. Apoptosis was measured by cell adhesion, morphologic alterations, cell proliferation, terminal deoxyuridine triphosphate nick-end labeling (TUNEL), and caspase-3/CPP32 fluorometric protease assay. Results of the present study suggested that arsenic administration in rats caused apoptosis by elevating morphologic alterations, TUNEL-positive nuclei, caspase-3 activity, and DNA damage and by reducing cell adhesion and cell proliferation in a time-dependent manner. The apoptosis in renal cells of arsenic-exposed rats reverted to normal values after coadministration of mushroom lectin. This study provided significant evidence that Pleurotus florida lectin has an antiapoptotic property by protecting from arsenic-induced toxicity. The beneficial effect of Pleurotus florida lectin was proportional to its duration of exposure. This finding might be of therapeutic benefit in people suffering from chronic exposure to arsenic from natural sources, a global problem that is especially relevant to millions of people on the Indian subcontinent.

Pleurotus florida lectin normalizes duration dependent hepatic oxidative stress responses caused by arsenic in rat.

Natural contamination of arsenic in ground water is a major health problem throughout the World. It is one of the most hazardous substances in the environment known to cause toxicity in multiple organs via oxidative stress. The molecular basis for arsenic toxicity involves direct or indirect damage to protein, lipid and DNA. Various studies have focused on the possible toxic effects of arsenic on membrane components and its correlation with oxidative damage. The present study was aimed to mitigation of arsenic induced hepatic oxidative stress by dietary modulation using of mushroom lectin in rats. Animals were divided into four groups; the first group was used as control. Groups 2, 3 and 4 were arsenic (20 ppm) exposed through drinking water, arsenic exposed plus oral ascorbic acid (25 mg/kg body weight) and arsenic exposed plus oral mushroom lectin (150 mg/kg body weight) respectively for a period of 12 weeks. We observed significant alterations in the antioxidant enzymes, oxidative stress intermediates and SOD(2) gene expression profile on arsenic exposure. These alterations were restored by co-administration of Pleurotus florida lectin which was as potent as standard antioxidant viz. ascorbic acid. The findings of the experiment suggested that P. florida lectin has capability of modulating arsenic mediated toxic effects and could be helpful in ameliorating them.