Inflammation and oxidative stress can contribute to the development and progression of heart failure. This study aimed to investigate the association between inflammatory and oxidative stress markers ...in dogs with congestive heart failure (CHF). Associations between the disease severity marker N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and markers of inflammation and oxidative stress were also determined.
Thirty-seven dogs with cardiovascular diseases (dilated cardiomyopathy, DCM (16 dogs), myxomatous mitral valve disease, MMVD (21 dogs)) and ten healthy dogs were included in this prospective study. The patients were further divided into groups with (26) and without CHF (11). We found a significantly higher serum concentration of C-reactive protein (P = 0.012), white blood cell (P = 0.001), neutrophil (P = 0.001) and monocyte counts (P = 0.001) in patients with CHF compared to control dogs. The concentration of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) was significantly higher in patients with CHF compared to patients without CHF (P = 0.030). No significant difference was found in most of the measured parameters between MMVD and DCM patients, except for glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and NT-proBNP. In patients with CHF, TNF-α correlated positively with malondialdehyde (P = 0.014, r = 0.474) and negatively with GPX (P = 0.026, r = - 0.453), and interleukin-6 correlated negatively with GPX (P = 0.046, r = - 0.412). NT-proBNP correlated positively with malondialdehyde (P = 0.011, r = 0.493). In patients without CHF none of the inflammatory and oxidative stress markers correlated significantly. Furthermore, in the group of all cardiac patients, GPX activity significantly negatively correlated with NT-proBNP (P = 0.050, r = - 0.339) and several markers of inflammation, including TNF-α (P = 0.010, r = - 0.436), interleukin-6 (P = 0.026, r = - 0.382), white blood cell (P = 0.032, r = - 0.369), neutrophil (P = 0.027, r = - 0.379) and monocyte counts (P = 0.024, r = - 0.386).
Inflammatory and oxidative stress markers are linked in canine CHF patients, but not in patients without CHF. These results suggest complex cross communication between the two biological pathways in advanced stages of CHF.
The stress response, which involves joint activity of the nervous and endocrine systems, is one of the basic adaptive mechanisms that ensures the survival of the individual. The activation of the ...sympathetic nervous system, the sympathetic-adrenal-medullary axis, and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis enables organisms to respond to endogenous and exogenous challenges. Repeated short-term stress leads to long-term stress, which disrupts physiological homeostasis. Unlike domestic animals, wild animals are not protected from environmental and weather influences or treated for diseases. In addition, climate change, habitat fragmentation and loss, and urban stressors (such as light, noise and chemical pollution; xenobiotics; traffic; and buildings) affect individual wildlife and populations. In this review, we have attempted to depict the magnitude of the stress response in wildlife and related domestic animals as well as in captive and free-ranging animals. The intensity of the stress response can be estimated by determining the concentration of glucocorticoids in body fluids, tissues, and excreta. A comparison of results from different studies suggests that domestic animals have lower fecal and hair glucocorticoid concentrations than related wild animals. Additionally, fecal and hair glucocorticoid concentrations in captive animals are higher than in free-ranging animals of the same species. As there are limited data on this topic, we cannot draw definitive conclusions about glucocorticoid concentration and stress response. Further studies are needed to clarify these issues.
Scientific studies on the physiological responses of young horses to workloads are limited. Therefore, the aim of our study was to determine the basal values of some cardiovascular, thermoregulatory, ...hematological, and biochemical parameters in 10 purebred Lipizzan fillies aged 4 years in the initial phase of training, and their responses to a graded workload, i.e., by lunging for 15 min in four exercise tests at 2-week intervals. The basal values of the measured parameters were within a range for warm-blooded horses and mostly increased after exercise in all four exercise tests. Resting heart rates were above physiological values at the baseline but decreased as the study progressed. Bilateral symmetry of body surface temperatures (BSTs) was confirmed at rest and after exercise. The highest BSTs were measured at the cranial, followed by the caudal and distal body regions. A moderate increase in cortisol and a small increase in lactate concentration indicated a low intensity of workload. The results presented contribute to the knowledge of the complex physiological processes that occur in young horses during exercise and provide a basis for further research into the field of sports physiology and welfare, as well as the conservation and development of the Lipizzan breed.
The aim of this study was to investigate the differences in the effects of high-intensity laser therapy (HILT) on skin surface temperature and vein diameter in the carpal joint region in racehorses ...with clipped and non-clipped treatment areas. The study included 20 Thoroughbreds split into two equal groups: clipped coat and non-clipped coat. Horses underwent thermographic examination to detect changes in skin surface temperature at the medial surface of the carpal joint, followed by ultrasonographic examination to assess changes in the diameter of the medial palmar vein before and after HILT. The increase in skin surface temperature after HILT was significantly lower in the group with clipped coat than in the non-clipped group. The group with clipped coat showed a greater increase in vessel diameter. There was a significantly weak negative correlation between the changes in average skin surface temperature and vein diameter in both groups. In conclusion, an efficient photothermal effect can be achieved in skin with a non-clipped coat and clipping the treatment area increases photobiostimulation of the tissue, while reducing the photothermal effect. Further research is needed to specify the parameters for the treatment of skin with clipped and non-clipped coat in order to perform effective laser therapy.
The influence of different stress parameters in racing pigeon flocks, such as the presence of diseases and environmental conditions at the time of the races, were described. A total of 96 racing ...pigeons from 4 pigeon flocks were examined, and health monitoring was carried out. No helminth eggs and coccidia were found. Trichomonas sp. was confirmed in subclinical form. Paramyxoviruses and avian influenza viruses were not confirmed, but circovirus infections were confirmed in all flocks. Chlamydia psittaci was confirmed in one flock. Blood samples were collected, and HI antibody titers against paramyxoviruses before and 25 days after vaccination were determined. To improve the conditions during racing and the welfare of the pigeons, critical points were studied with regard to stress factors during the active training season. Serum corticosterone levels were measured in the blood serum of four different categories of pigeons from each flock. Corticosterone levels were almost twice as high in pigeons from the category that were active throughout the racing season, including medium- and long-distance racing, compared to the other three categories that were not racing actively. Within five hours of the finish of a race, the average serum corticosterone level was 59.4 nmol/L in the most physically active category. The average serum corticosterone level in this category remained at 37.5 nmol/L one month after the last race.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of shiitake mushroom (
) supplementation on the hematology and biochemical blood parameters of young Thoroughbred racehorses. The study was conducted ...with 20 horses divided into two groups: the supplemented and the control group. The supplemented group was given 30 g of
daily for four months. One blood sample was collected four times from each horse at four-week intervals. The hematology analysis in the supplemented group showed a higher level of monocytes at day 56 when compared to the control group (
= 0.000986). Biochemical analysis showed that alkaline phosphatase is most sensitive to shiitake mushroom supplementation, with statistically significant lower levels in supplemented group compared to the control group on all individual days of blood sampling. It was also found that supplementation had an effect on the decrease of glucose levels on days 28 (
= 0.009109) and 56 y (
= 0.025749), on reduction aspartate aminotransferase level on day 56 (
= 0.017258) and a decrease of lactic acid on day 28 of sampling (
= 0.037636). Cholesterol levels decreased consistently in all individual days of blood sampling. Further studies are needed to show the influence of supplementation with shiitake mushroom in larger groups of horses over a longer period.
Introduction The aim of our study was to measure fecal glucocorticoid metabolite (FGM) concentrations in captive and free-ranging male and female mountain gazelles ( Gazella gazella ) during their ...circannual cycle. In addition, FGM concentrations were used to track the intensity of the adrenocortical response in mountain gazelles during the same period. Methods Fecal samples were collected from the ground in the Hatay Mountain Gazelle Wildlife Development Area in the Hatay Province of Türkiye (36°32’ N, 36°32′ E) in each season of the year (December, April, July, September). The sex of the animals was determined by detecting the SRY gene of the Y chromosome in DNA isolated from the fecal samples. FGM was extracted from dried fecal samples with methanol, and its concentration was measured using a previously partially validated ELISA. Results and discussion The results indicate that season is the most important factor explaining the variability in FGM concentrations in mountain gazelles. In animals of both sexes, the highest concentrations of FGM were observed in September. The values were significantly higher in the captive population, perhaps due to unpredictable stress. In July, FGM concentrations were low in both populations. As a result of the overall analysis across seasons, the comparison of FGM concentrations between captive and free-ranging animals revealed higher concentrations in captive animals only in September but not in other seasons, although higher concentrations have been previously reported for several wild captive species. Due to predation risk, the presence of offspring can be considered a critical point in the biological cycle for the welfare of free-ranging mountain gazelles, as suggested by the higher FGM concentrations in the free-ranging population in July. The high number of visitors could be a challenge for mountain gazelles in captivity, as indicated by higher FGM concentrations during September. Sex had no effect on the FGM concentrations of either population.
•Time course of the reproductive activity was determined in ewes of three breeds.•Ewes were reared in the field conditions and followed over a period of 2.5 years.•General pattern of breeding season ...for ewes at temperate latitudes was confirmed.•Significant variations in reproductive patterns were determined between breeds.
The aim of this study was to establish the time course of the annual reproductive cycle in ewes of the Jezersko-Solchava, Bovec and Istrian breeds (n=24, 8 of each breed) with various production features in the sub-Mediterranean region under field conditions. The ewes were followed over a period of 2.5 years, starting at the age of 3 months. Serum progesterone concentrations used for the evaluation of ovarian activity were measured twice monthly with a 10-day interval. The studied ewes displayed a general pattern of annual reproductive activity known for sheep breeds of moderate latitudes, correlating negatively with photoperiod (P<0.0001), but some differences were observed between them regarding puberty onset and the resumption of ovarian activity after lambing. In the Jezersko-Solchava and Bovec breeds, puberty started in the first autumn after their birth, at the average ages of 7.7±1.4 and 8.5±1.5months, respectively. The majority of the Istrian ewes entered puberty in the following autumn, at the age of 18 months, confirming the late sexual maturity of this breed. Ovarian activity continued until the early spring, lasting on average 3.9±0.6 moths in Jezersko-Solchava, 4.0±0.6months in Bovec and 3.7±0.6months in Istrian ewes.
Breeding season in mature Jezersko-Solchava and Bovec ewes started in early autumn and ended rapidly with pregnancies in all studied ewes of these breeds. Spring lambing in mature Jezersko-Solchava ewes was followed by the resumption of ovarian activity in June 2011, indicating an early timing of the breeding season in this sheep breed. Pregnancies in Jezersko-Solchava ewes were confirmed from August 2011 on with a 100% pregnancy rate in October 2011. Ovarian activity was detected in August 2011 in 75% of the Bovec ewes and 100% of the Istrian ewes. In November 2011, all of the Bovec ewes were pregnant, while in Istrian ewes, pregnancy rate only reached 75%. Our results indicate important differences in the patterns of annual reproductive activity in various native sheep breeds that are bred under identical environmental and geographical conditions.
Cortisol levels were measured in hair, blood and milk in two different cattle breeds, kept under different breeding conditions and with different genetic merit for milk production. Cows and heifers ...of Holstein and Busha breeds were selected for the study. Cortisol concentration was determined by immunoassays. Cortisol accumulation was determined in proximal (close to the skin) and distal (far from the skin) segments of the hair shaft. The influence of hair colour and washing prior to extraction and analysis was also examined in order to establish additional factors that may have an impact on hair cortisol concentrations. Concentrations of cortisol determined in the proximal and distal segments of the shaft were significantly higher in Holstein than Busha cows and heifers (P<0.05 and P<0.01, respectively). In Holstein cows, no significant difference was found between concentrations in black and white hair. In hair washed with isopropanol, cortisol concentration was significantly lower compared to unwashed hair (P<0.01). Thus, cortisol concentration in hair varies with the technique of hair processing (washing), but not with colour in Holstein cows. Blood serum cortisol concentrations in Holstein cows and heifers were significantly higher than in Busha cows and heifers, (P<0.01 and P<0.05, respectively). Milk cortisol in Holstein cows was significantly higher than in Busha cows (P<0.05). The higher cortisol concentrations in Holstein cows are assumed to be the result of intensive breeding and physiological adaptation to high milk production.
Key words: cattle; cortisol; hair; blood; milk
KONCENTRACIJA KORTIZOLA V DLAKI, KRVI IN MLEKU KRAV ČRNO-BELE PASME IN PASME BUŠA
Izvleček: Ugotavljali smo koncentracijo kortizola v dlaki, krvi in mleku pri govedu dveh pasem, ki se razlikujeta po mlečnosti in pogojih reje. Raziskavo smo izvedli na kravah in telicah črno-bele pasme in pasme buša. Koncentracijo kortizola smo ugotavljali z imunoencimskimi metodami. Akumulacijo kortizola smo določili v proksimalnem (bliže koži) in distalnem (dlje od kože) delu dlake. Obenem smo ugotavljali vpliv barve in pranja dlake na koncentracijo kortizola. Tako v proksimalnem kot v distalnem delu dlake je bila koncentracija kortizola pri kravah črno-bele pasme v primerjavi s kravami pasme buša statistično značilno višja (P<0,01 in P<0,05). Pri primerjavi koncentracije kortizola med črno in belo dlako črno-belih krav nismo ugotovili statistično značilnih razlik. V dlaki, ki smo jo pred izvedbo določanja koncentracije kortizola oprali z izopropanolom, smo v primerjavi z neoprano dlako ugotovili statistično značilno nižjo vrednost kortizola (P<0,01). Rezultati torej kažejo, da je koncentracija kortizola v dlaki odvisna od načina priprave vzorca (pranje dlake), barva dlake pri črnobeli pasmi pa ne vpliva na koncentracijo kortizola.. V krvnem serumu krav in telic črno-bele pasme je bila koncentracija kortizola statistično značilno višja (P<0,01 in P<0,05) kot pri kravah in telicah pasme buša. Tudi v mleku krav črno-bele pasme je bila koncentracija kortizola statistično značilno višja (P<0,05) kot pri kravah pasme buša. Predvidevamo, da je višji nivo kortizola pri črno-beli pasmi rezultat intenzivne reje in fiziološke prilagoditve na visoko mlečnost.
Ključne besede: govedo; kortizol; dlaka; kri; mleko
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