In this historical context, the Mediterranean Sea faces an increasing threat from emerging pollutants such as pharmaceuticals, personal care products, heavy metals, pesticides and microplastics, ...which pose a serious risk to the environment and human health. In this regard, aquatic invertebrates and fish are particularly vulnerable to the toxic effects of these pollutants, and several species have been identified as bio-indicators for their detection. Among these, bivalve molluscs and elasmobranchs are now widely used as bio-indicators to accurately assess the effects of contaminants. The study focuses on the catshark
and on the Mediterranean mussel
. The first one is a useful indicator of localised contamination levels due to its exposure to pollutants that accumulate on the seabed. Moreover, it has a high trophic position and plays an important role in the Mediterranean Sea ecosystem. The bivalve mollusc
, on the other hand, being a filter-feeding organism, can acquire and bioaccumulate foreign particles present in its environment. Additionally, because it is also a species of commercial interest, it has a direct impact on human health. In conclusion, the increasing presence of emerging pollutants in the Mediterranean Sea is a serious issue that requires immediate attention. Bivalve molluscs and elasmobranchs are two examples of bio-indicators that must be used to precisely determine the effects of these pollutants on the marine ecosystem and human health.
Water and sediment from Faro and Ganzirri lakes were tested for cadmium, mercury, and lead. These heavy metals have been assessed in serum and muscles of Striped Mullet Mugil cephalus . A haemogram ...was performed to find effects of heavy metals on haematological variables. Student's t -test showed higher Pb levels in sediments of Ganzirri Lake than Faro Lake. Two-way analysis of variance showed higher Cd and Pb concentration in muscles samples of Striped Mullet from Ganzirri Lake than from Faro Lake. Significant differences were found among haematological parameters as well. Mullet from Ganzirri Lake had lower white and red blood cell and trombocyte counts and higher mean corpuscular haemoglobin and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration than those from Faro Lake. Our results indicate a significant presence of lead in the environmental produces an accumulation of this metal in fish muscles. Received April 2, 2014; accepted June 16, 2014.
Raman spectroscopy is a rapid qualitative and quantitative technique that allows the simultaneous determination of several components in biological fluids. This methodology concerns an alternative ...technique to distinguish between non-healthy and healthy subjects. Leishmaniasis is a zoonosis of world interest, the most important agent is L. infantum. Dogs are the principal reservoirs affected by a broad spectrum of clinical features. During a clinical exam, blood samples were collected in tubes without anticoagulants, from twenty two dogs. One aliquot was used for serological test for Leishmaniasis, one aliquot was subjected to the Raman spectroscopic analysis. Animals were divided into two groups of equal subjects, Leishmania group (LG) constituted by infected dogs, and control group (CG) constituted by healthy dogs. The acquired spectra were different in the region 1200-1370 cm
, in which it is possible to distinguish the amide III vibration (~ 1300 cm
). In LG, an evident shift to the shortwave region is observed in spectral frequencies of the band centered at ~ 1250 cm
. Our results distinguished between LD group and CG. Further studies are necessary to exclude the effect of metabolic modification due to disease on the recorded spectra changes and to consolidate the achievability of Raman spectroscopy as rapid and less expensive diagnosis of Leishmaniasis.
Introduction:
Bivalve molluscs like
Mytilus galloprovincialis
are valuable bioindicators due to their filter-feeding lifestyle, wide distribution, and ability to concentrate xenobiotics. Studying the ...effects of pharmaceuticals on these molluscs is crucial given their presence in surface waters. This study investigated the response of
M. galloprovincialis
to chlorpromazine (Cpz), an antipsychotic with antiviral activity against influenza, HIV, and coronaviruses in human cells.
Methods:
In this study, we examined the 14-day impact of chlorpromazine (Cpz) on the model species
M. galloprovincialis
at two concentrations (Cpz 1: 12 ng
L-1
or 37 pM; Cpz 2: 12 µg
L-1
or 37 nM). To ensure controlled exposure, a stock solution of Cpz was prepared and introduced into the tanks to match the intended concentrations. Seawater and stock solutions were refreshed every 48 h. The primary focus of this study centered on evaluating cell viability, cell volume regulation, and oxidative stress indicators.
Results:
Although cell volume regulation, as assessed by decreasing regulatory volume Regulation volume decrease, did not show statistically significant changes during the experiment, digestive cell viability, on the other hand, showed a significant decrease (
p
< 0.01) in the Cpz 2 group, suggesting effects on the general health and survival of these cells. Biochemically, in both Cpz 1 and Cpz 2, superoxide dismutase activity increased, while catalase (CAT) decreased, causing an elevated lipid peroxidation thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances and protein carbonyls, particularly in the Cpz 2 group. The level of reduced glutathione (GSH) increased in both exposures, whereas the level of GSSG increased only in the Cpz 1 group. Consequently, the GSH/GSSG ratio was elevated in the Cpz 2 group only.
Discussion:
A comparison of the magnitudes of anti- and pro-oxidative manifestations indicated a pro-oxidative shift in both exposures. These findings show that Cpz induces non-specific symptoms of biochemical and cellular disturbances in
M. galloprovincialis
even at the low picomolar concentration.
The evaluation of thermoregulation in homeothermic animals is important for their health assessment. Body temperature is influenced by the circadian rhythm, which, through certain signals, is ...regulated by the suprachiasmatic nucleus. Temperature is collected by various methods; to reduce the invasiveness of rectal temperature sampling, considered the most accurate, infrared thermography has been used. The aim of the present review was to describe the circadian variability of average body temperature in several domestic animal species. In addition to variations due to the circadian rhythm, a number of conditions that can influence body temperature have also been studied. One example of this is exercise, which occurs in the case of domestic animals such as horses, dogs, and donkeys. In particular, it has been analysed in athletic horses, where, following intense exercise, the circadian rhythm of temperature is altered. The daily temperature variation during pregnancy and the neonatal period was also analysed. The circadian rhythm of temperature is influenced by the gestational period of sheep and goats, but this is affected differently depending on the type of species. The same is true for the neonatal period, in kids, lambs, and cattle, where the circadian rhythm is established at different times.
The aim of this study is to evaluate the toxic effects of different concentrations of cigarette butt leachate (CBL) (0.0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2.0 µL L-1) on blood biochemistry, oxidative stress ...biomarkers, and the biochemical profile of the liver and muscle of Nile tilapia fish (Oreochromis niloticus) after 21 days. Increased activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in plasma, and decreased activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in fish exposed to CBL, indicated cytotoxicity. Elevated cholesterol, triglycerides, and glucose levels, coupled with reduced total protein, albumin, and globulin levels in the plasma, indicated impaired liver function in the fish. An increase in creatinine showed kidney damage. Increased superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and catalase (CAT) activities, along with the decrease in liver glutathione (GSH) content and total antioxidant capacity in the hepatocytes of fish exposed to CBL, indicated the occurrence of oxidative stress. Malondialdehyde (MDA) elevation indicated heightened lipid peroxidation in CBL-exposed fish hepatocytes. Raman spectroscopy revealed altered biochemical profiles in fish liver and muscle post-CBL exposure. The results demonstrated that exposure to CBL led to a decrease in phospholipid levels, collagen destruction, changes in phenylalanine levels, and a decrease in the levels of lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids in fish liver and muscle tissue. Furthermore, the metabolites and compounds of cigarette butt juice were detectable in the liver and muscle tissue of fishes. In conclusion, this study showed that exposure to CBL can have adverse effects on fish health.
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•Exposure to Cigarette butts leachate changed blood biochemical parameters.•Exposure to Cigarette butts leachate induced oxidative stress in Nile tilapia.•Cigarette butts leachate altered the metabolic profile in fish tissues.
This study aimed to evaluate the change of white blood cell count, serum concentration of cortisol, C-reactive protein, albumin and globulin fractions in horse after road transport, and to assess the ...linkage among hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) and inflammatory reaction. From 10 horses blood samples were collected at rest, before road transport (218 km) (BT); after unloaded (AT), 30 and 60 min after unloaded (AT30 and AT60) in order to assess white blood cell count (WBC), serum cortisol, C-reactive protein (CRP), total proteins, albumin, α1-, α-2, β1-, β2- and γ-globulins. WBC, cortisol, CRP, α1-, α-2 and β2-globulins values increased after road transport than rest condition (p < 0.001). Albumin and A/G ratio showed lower values after road transport than rest (p < 0.001). Pearson's test showed a negative correlation between cortisol and the values of WBC, CRP, α1-, α2-, β1-, β2- globulins, and a positive correlation between WBC and serum concentration of CRP, α1- and α2-, β1-, β2-globulins at AT and AT30. The results showed that road transport evokes an inflammatory like-status in horses. Moreover, the activation of HPA and the onset of acute phase reaction in response to road transport seem to be interconnected with effects on horse's immune status.
Pregnancy and lactation are physiological periods that result in an increased metabolic demand that, if not satisfied, could provoke a threat to homeostasis. In this study changes in the values of ...Non-Esterified Fatty Acids (NEFA) and β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), glucose, insulin, thyroid hormones, milk composition and yield were investigated in buffaloes during the late pregnancy and early lactation. From a total of 50 buffaloes, blood samples were collected -7±5 days before expected calving; +7±5; +30±5 and +50±5 days post-partum; milk samples were collected at the same post-partum time points. On serum samples, the values of Non-Esterified Fatty Acids (NEFA), β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), glucose, insulin, Triiodothyronine (T3), Thyroxine (T4) and Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) were evaluated. On milk, fat %, protein %, lactose %, somatic cells score (SCS), milk yield and daily milk production (DMP) were assessed. Peripartum period significantly influenced all studied parameters (P<0.05). Milk constituents and productivity statistically changed throughout monitoring period (P<0.005). Milk yield resulted positively correlated with insulin and TSH values, negatively correlated with NEFA and BHB. Insulin was negatively correlated with lactose % and positively correlated with SCS. The obtained results showed that the peripartum period and lactation are accompanied by marked changes in some biochemical variables and in the thyroid hormones values in Italian Mediterranean Buffaloes. Moreover, the relationship found between TSH values and milk yield seems to suggest a possible role of thyroid gland on the maintenance of lactogenesis. This study underlines the importance of monitoring the hormonal status of buffalo during the transition period in order to understand when adjustments of regulatory mechanisms break through physiological limits predisposing the buffalo to metabolic problems.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
The aim of the present study was to investigate eye temperature modifications after road transport in athletic horses habituated to travel. Eight adult Italian saddle horses traveled 100 km and, two ...weeks later, 300 km. Eye temperature (ET), rectal temperature (RT) and serum cortisol concentration were assessed before (T1), after (T2) and 60 min (T3) after the road transport. ET was evaluated with infrared thermography (IRT) in three regions of interest: EL1 (medial canthus), EL2 (central cornea) and EL3 (lateral canthus). Two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) for repeated measures showed statistically higher values at T2 and T3 for EL1 (p < 0.01), EL2 (p < 0.01) and EL3 (p < 0.01) following the 100 km journey. RT (p < 0.01) showed higher values at T2 and T3 after the 100 km journey and higher values at T2 (p < 0.01) following the 300 km journey. ET values were positively correlated with RT at T1, T2 and T3 following the 100 km journey and at T2 following the 300 km journey and positively correlated with serum cortisol concentration at T1, T2 and T3 following the 100 km journey and at T2 and T3 following the 300 km journey. Eye temperature monitoring with IRT allows quick and practical strategies to monitor an animal’s physiological state and welfare during daily activities.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Blood parameters in fish provide a rich source of information about metabolites, blood cells and biochemical markers that reflect individual differences in health, disease, diet and habitat. ...Haematological and biochemical parameters were investigated in 80 cultured striped bass
Morone saxatilis
, in order to evaluate a possible correlation between biometric indices (weight and total length) and blood parameters in this species of fish. For this purpose, blood samples were collected from each fish to evaluate the haematological profile (white blood cells, WBC; red blood cell, RBC; haemoglobin concentration, Hb; haematocrit, Hct; mean corpuscular volume, MCV; mean corpuscular haemoglobin, MCH; mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration, MCHC; thrombocytes, TC), and some biochemical parameters (glucose, GLU; serum total protein, TP; total cholesterol, CHOL and triglycerides, TRIG)
. The obtained results showed a statistically significant positive relationship between the weight of fish and RBC and TRIG.
All the other studied parameters showed no correlation with the biometric indices. This study evaluates the possible correlation between biometric indices (weight and total length) and blood parameters, representing a valid contribution to the knowledge of the blood parameters of Striped bass and could be used as reference for a comparison in further studies to evaluate the health status of this species of fish in different cultured system, because assessment of these parameters may be used as quick tool for health status, stress and poor aquaculture management.
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