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Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton,... 2020African trypanosomes are naturally transmitted by bloodsucking tsetse flies in sub-Saharan Africa and these transmission cycles can be reproduced in the laboratory if...
African trypanosomes are naturally transmitted by bloodsucking tsetse flies in sub-Saharan Africa and these transmission cycles can be reproduced in the laboratory if clean tsetse flies and suitable trypanosomes are available for experiments. Tsetse transmission gives access to more trypanosome developmental stages than are available from in vitro culture, albeit in very small numbers; for example, the sexual stages of Trypanosoma brucei have been isolated from infected tsetse salivary glands, but have not yet been reported from culture. Tsetse transmission also allows for the natural transition between different developmental stages to be studied.Both wild-type and genetically modified trypanosomes have been successfully fly transmitted, and it is possible to manipulate the trypanosome environment inside the fly to some extent, for example, the induction of expression of genes controlled by the Tet repressor by feeding flies with tetracycline.
Topics: Animals; Female; Humans; Insect Vectors; Life Cycle Stages; Male; Parasitology; Salivary Glands; Trypanosoma brucei brucei; Trypanosomiasis, African; Tsetse Flies
PubMed: 32221913
DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0294-2_4 -
Polish Journal of Veterinary Sciences Sep 2022Helicobacter pullorum (H. pullorum) is a bacterium that colonizes the intestines of poultry and causes gastroenteritis. Because these species are known as human and/or...
Helicobacter pullorum (H. pullorum) is a bacterium that colonizes the intestines of poultry and causes gastroenteritis. Because these species are known as human and/or animal pathogens, identification of H. pullorum is becoming increasingly necessary. The bacterium has been linked to colitis and hepatitis in humans after being transmitted by infected meat consumption. Misdiagnosis of other enteric zoonotic pathogens such as Campylobacter and other Helicobacter species makes the diagnosis of H. pullorum extremely difficult. This study focused on the molecular detection of H. pullorum from the stomach (proventriculus and gizzard) of different avian species as new target organs for detection and transmission between avian species. Proventriculus and gizzards were obtained from 40 freshly dead chickens and resident wild birds (n=40). Diarrhea was found in the farms that were surveyed. DNA was extracted from all collected samples to conduct PCR amplification. The samples were screened for Helicobacter genus-specific 16s using C97 and C05 primers. To confirm the existence of H. pullorum, the positive samples were sequenced. H. pullorum was recorded in two out of 40 chicken samples. In addition, H. pullorum was recorded in one out of 40 resident wild birds. The 16S rRNA gene sequence for Helicobacter genus-specific in poultry and wild birds showed a 100% homology. In conclusion, broiler chickens and resident wild birds are possible reservoirs for H. pullorum, according to this report, and possibly act as a source of infection for humans via the food supply.
Topics: Animals; Chickens; Egypt; Helicobacter; Helicobacter Infections; Humans; Poultry; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Stomach
PubMed: 36155992
DOI: 10.24425/pjvs.2022.142019 -
Journal of Hazardous Materials May 2023As biota are increasingly exposed to plastic pollution, there is a need to closely examine the sub-lethal 'hidden' impacts of plastic ingestion. This emerging field of...
As biota are increasingly exposed to plastic pollution, there is a need to closely examine the sub-lethal 'hidden' impacts of plastic ingestion. This emerging field of study has been limited to model species in controlled laboratory settings, with little data available for wild, free-living organisms. Highly impacted by plastic ingestion, Flesh-footed Shearwaters (Ardenna carneipes) are thus an apt species to examine these impacts in an environmentally relevant manner. A Masson's Trichrome stain was used to document any evidence of plastic-induced fibrosis, using collagen as a marker for scar tissue formation in the proventriculus (stomach) of 30 Flesh-footed Shearwater fledglings from Lord Howe Island, Australia. Plastic presence was highly associated with widespread scar tissue formation and extensive changes to, and even loss of, tissue structure within the mucosa and submucosa. Additionally, despite naturally occurring indigestible items, such as pumice, also being found in the gastrointestinal tract, this did not cause similar scarring. This highlights the unique pathological properties of plastics and raises concerns for other species impacted by plastic ingestion. Further, the extent and severity of fibrosis documented in this study gives support for a novel, plastic-induced fibrotic disease, which we define as 'Plasticosis,'.
Topics: Animals; Microplastics; Plastics; Environmental Monitoring; Cicatrix; Birds; Water Pollutants, Chemical
PubMed: 36867907
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131090 -
Current Pharmaceutical Design 2021Trypanosoma brucei are protozoan parasites that cause the lethal human disease African sleeping sickness and the economically devastating disease of cattle, Nagana....
Trypanosoma brucei are protozoan parasites that cause the lethal human disease African sleeping sickness and the economically devastating disease of cattle, Nagana. African sleeping sickness, also known as Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT), threatens 65 million people and animal trypanosomiasis makes large areas of farmland unusable. There is no vaccine and licensed therapies against the most severe, late-stage disease are toxic, impractical and ineffective. Trypanosomes are transmitted by tsetse flies, and HAT is therefore predominantly confined to the tsetse fly belt in sub-Saharan Africa. They are exclusively extracellular and they differentiate between at least seven developmental forms that are highly adapted to host and vector niches. In the mammalian (human) host they inhabit the blood, cerebrospinal fluid (late-stage disease), skin, and adipose fat. In the tsetse fly vector they travel from the tsetse midgut to the salivary glands via the ectoperitrophic space and proventriculus. Trypanosomes are evolutionarily divergent compared with most branches of eukaryotic life. Perhaps most famous for their extraordinary mechanisms of monoallelic gene expression and antigenic variation, they have also been investigated because much of their biology is either highly unconventional or extreme. Moreover, in addition to their importance as pathogens, many researchers have been attracted to the field because trypanosomes have some of the most advanced molecular genetic tools and database resources of any model system. The following will cover just some aspects of trypanosome biology and how its divergent biochemistry has been leveraged to develop drugs to treat African sleeping sickness. This is by no means intended to be a comprehensive survey of trypanosome features. Rather, I hope to present trypanosomes as one of the most fascinating and tractable systems to do discovery biology.
Topics: Animals; Biology; Cattle; Trypanosoma; Trypanosoma brucei brucei; Trypanosomiasis, African; Tsetse Flies
PubMed: 33463458
DOI: 10.2174/1381612827666210119105008 -
Poultry Science May 2021The extracellular calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) and vitamin D receptor (VDR) play important roles in regulating calcium mobilization, calcium absorption, and calcium...
Molecular distribution and localization of extracellular calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) and vitamin D receptor (VDR) at three different laying stages in laying hens (Gallus gallus domesticus).
The extracellular calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) and vitamin D receptor (VDR) play important roles in regulating calcium mobilization, calcium absorption, and calcium homeostasis, and they could be potential therapeutic targets to osteoporosis in laying hens. The present study investigated the molecular distribution of CaSR and VDR and the localization of CaSR in the kidney, proventriculus (true stomach), duodenum, jejunum, ileum, colon, cecum, shell gland, and tibia of laying hens at 3 different laying stages (19, 40, and 55 wk). The results showed that the relative mRNA abundance of CaSR in the kidney, ileum, proventriculus, duodenum, and colon was higher (P < 0.05) than the other tissues at 40 and 55 wk. The relative mRNA abundance of CaSR in the tibia was higher (P < 0.05) at 55 wk than at 40 wk. However, there were no significant differences in the relative protein abundance of CaSR among all tested tissues at peak production or in each tissue at the 3 different laying stages (P > 0.05). The relative mRNA abundance of VDR was higher (P < 0.05) in the small intestine (duodenum, jejunum, and ileum) when compared with other tissues at the 3 different laying stages. The relative protein abundance of VDR in the duodenum was higher (P < 0.05) than that in the proventriculus, colon, and cecum. There were no significant differences in the VDR expression among the tested tissues at the 3 different laying stages (P > 0.05). The immunohistochemical results showed that the positive staining was found widely in each tissue. Moreover, different laying stages did not affect the localization of CaSR except for the tibia tissue. In conclusion, similar to VDR, CaSR was widely expressed not only in the gut but also in the tibia and shell gland in laying hens. The expression level of CaSR and VDR in all tested tissues was unchanged at the different laying stages.
Topics: Animals; Cecum; Chickens; Female; Ileum; Receptors, Calcitriol; Receptors, Calcium-Sensing
PubMed: 33752067
DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2021.101060 -
BioMed Research International 2020Defensins are a class of antimicrobial peptides in vertebrates that function as the first line of innate immunity with potent antimicrobial and immunomodulatory...
Defensins are a class of antimicrobial peptides in vertebrates that function as the first line of innate immunity with potent antimicrobial and immunomodulatory activities. Fourteen defensins, namely, avian -defensin 1 to 14 (-14), have been identified in chickens. Before characterizing the role of s in innate immunity during the early development of chickens, we collected tissue segments from the liver, spleen, and gastrointestinal (GI) tract including the esophagus, crop, proventriculus, gizzard, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, cecum, and colon from broilers at days 1, 3, 7, 14, and 28. After RNA isolation and reverse transcription, we determined the expression levels of the 14 genes in these tissues during the first 28 days after hatching by real-time PCR. The results suggested the s were widely expressed in the chicken liver, spleen, and gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Interestingly, we did not detect expressed in the GI tract, even in the liver and spleen. Additionally, s were differentially expressed in the chicken GI tract. and were expressed most abundantly in the proximal GI tract, especially the esophagus and crop. Moreover, , , , and were expressed in an inverted-V pattern with the peak being the observed expression at days 3, 7, or 14 in the chicken spleen, esophagus, duodenum, and cecum. Other s presented biphasic or inverted-V expression patterns in different tissues. The expression levels of all detected s were strengthened after hatching rather than decreasing steadily. Therefore, s were found to be expressed widely in the chicken liver, spleen, and GI tract and their expression levels were primarily up regulated during the early development of chicken, implying the potential essential roles of s in early innate defense and infection resistance of chickens.
Topics: Aging; Animals; Chickens; Digestive System; Organ Specificity; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; Spleen; beta-Defensins
PubMed: 33490238
DOI: 10.1155/2020/2567861 -
Anatomia, Histologia, Embryologia Jan 2024This study aimed to evaluate radiographic and sonographic features, and histogram parameters based on grayscale ultrasound of the liver and spleen in healthy toco...
This study aimed to evaluate radiographic and sonographic features, and histogram parameters based on grayscale ultrasound of the liver and spleen in healthy toco toucans. Fifteen adult toco toucans (Ramphastos toco), seven females and eight males, weighing approximately 650 g, were enrolled in the study. On the right lateral radiographic view, the liver was visualized in the midventral region of the coelomic cavity; ultrasonographically, the liver was located in the middle portion of the coelomic cavity in close relationship to the heart, and thoracic and abdominal air sacs. Two hepatic lobes were identified; the right lobe was larger than the left one. The spleen was visualized in 10 toco toucans on radiographs and only in eight toucans on ultrasound exams. The gallbladder was identified only on ultrasound. On the right lateral radiographic view, the spleen was visualized dorsal to the proventriculus and ventral to the lungs/air sacs as an oval shape. Ultrasonographically, the spleen was observed caudal to the liver, cranial to the proventriculus and craniodorsal to the ventriculus. There was no significant difference in spleen length for either radiographic or ultrasound measurements. The brightness intensity (BI) for mean gray level (G) and standard deviation of gray levels (S ) in the liver were 101.315 (± 16.170) and 12.453 (± 2.616), respectively. Mean G and S levels in the spleen were 63.940 (± 18.321) and 7.494 (± 3.595), respectively. In conclusion, the sonographic features and histogram parameters indicated that the liver is more echogenic and heterogeneous than the spleen, which must be considered for diagnosing alterations in these organs.
Topics: Female; Male; Animals; Spleen; Abdomen; Liver; Ultrasonography; Heart; Birds
PubMed: 38230831
DOI: 10.1111/ahe.13011 -
Toxins Feb 2021The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of mycotoxin binders in reducing the adverse effects of co-occurring dietary aflatoxin B (AFB), deoxynivalenol...
The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of mycotoxin binders in reducing the adverse effects of co-occurring dietary aflatoxin B (AFB), deoxynivalenol (DON) and ochratoxin A (OTA) on laying hens. Three hundred and sixty 26-week-old Roman laying hens were randomly allocated into four experimental groups with 10 replicates of nine birds each. The four groups received either a basal diet (BD; Control), a BD supplemented with 0.15 mg/kg AFB + 1.5 mg/kg DON + 0.12 mg/kg OTA (Toxins), a BD + Toxins with Toxo-HP binder (Toxins + HP), or a BD + Toxins with TOXO XL binder (Toxins + XL) for 12 weeks. Compared to the control, dietary supplementation of mycotoxins decreased ( < 0.10) total feed intake, total egg weight, and egg-laying rate, but increased feed/egg ratio by 2.5-6.1% and mortality during various experimental periods. These alterations induced by mycotoxins were alleviated by supplementation with both TOXO HP and XL binders ( < 0.10). Furthermore, dietary mycotoxins reduced ( < 0.05) eggshell strength by 12.3% and caused an accumulation of 249 μg/kg of DON in eggs at week 12, while dietary supplementation with TOXO HP or XL mitigated DON-induced changes on eggshell strength and prevented accumulation of DON in eggs ( < 0.05). Moreover, dietary mycotoxins increased relative liver weight, but decreased spleen and proventriculus relative weights by 11.6-22.4% ( < 0.05). Mycotoxin exposure also increased alanine aminotransferase activity and reduced immunoglobulin (Ig) A, IgM, and IgG concentrations in serum by 9.2-26.1% ( < 0.05). Additionally, mycotoxin exposure induced histopathological damage and reduced villus height, villus height/crypt depth, and crypt depth in duodenum, jejunum and (or) ileum ( < 0.05). Notably, most of these histological changes were mitigated by supplementation with both TOXO HP and XL ( < 0.05). In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that the mycotoxin binders TOXO HP and XL can help to mitigate the combined effects of AFB, DON, and OTA on laying hen performance, egg quality, and health.
Topics: Aflatoxin B1; Animal Feed; Animal Husbandry; Animals; Bentonite; Cell Wall; Chickens; Dietary Supplements; Eggs; Female; Food Microbiology; Ochratoxins; Trichothecenes; Yeasts
PubMed: 33671260
DOI: 10.3390/toxins13020156 -
Veterinary Research Forum : An... 2020The black proventriculus is a necropsy finding sign observed during post-mortem examinations of dead young chicks up to 10 days of age and due to variation in color of...
The black proventriculus is a necropsy finding sign observed during post-mortem examinations of dead young chicks up to 10 days of age and due to variation in color of the affected proventriculus organ, it may be ignored in some cases, in particular when the disease occurs simultaneously with other well-recognized infections of two weeks old chicks. In late January 2018, several live and dead chicks with a history of an unusual increase in mortality showing no clinical signs but sudden dead were referred to the poultry clinic of Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran. General routine postmortem examination revealed color changes (light green to dark green color) in the wall of proventriculus together with some degrees of congestion in the lungs and liver of the dead chicks. Microbiology tests revealed that the causative agent was strain O142 and histopathological examination indicated that the color changing of the organ was due to necrosis of glandular epithelium with locally extensive or diffuse hypercellularity by lymphocytes and macrophages with hemorrhages. In conclusion, black proventriculus due to strain O142 was responsible for the sudden death of young chicks and based on antibiogram, selective antibiotics should be used for the treatment of the affected flocks.
PubMed: 33643598
DOI: 10.30466/vrf.2020.119777.2830 -
BMC Zoology Dec 2022Gallinula chloropus (Linnaeus, 1758) is a wild aquatic omnivorous bird characterized by a marked resistance to harsh environmental conditions and a worldwide...
BACKGROUND
Gallinula chloropus (Linnaeus, 1758) is a wild aquatic omnivorous bird characterized by a marked resistance to harsh environmental conditions and a worldwide distribution. In this study, anatomical, morphometrical, histochemical, and immunohistochemical techniques were employed to study the structure of the gastrointestinal tract of Gallinula chloropus.
RESULTS
The esophagus appeared tubular with no distinct crop. Both superficial (SPG) and deep (DPG) proventricular glands were present. The DPG filled about two-thirds of the total wall thickness. Histochemically, the mucosubstances revealed mixed alcian blue-PAS positive reactions. They were mainly localized in the acini of the esophageal glands and SPG, gastric surface epithelium, duct system of DPG, and intestinal goblet cells. The highest number of goblet cells per every 1 mm of the intestinal mucosa was seen within the ileum and rectum, 2555 ± 468 and 2607 ± 653 respectively. Notably, glucagon immunoreactive (IR) cells were abundant in the mucosa of the small and large intestines and the proventriculus, while somatostatin IR cells were concentrated within the acini of the DPG. IR cells for the mitosis marker phospho-histone H3 (PHH3) were highest within the entire intestinal crypts and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissues (MALT). In contrast, cells IR for the apoptosis marker C.CASP3 were remarkable in epithelial cells at the tips of intestinal villi and in MALT, reflecting the dynamic nature of the latter mentioned structures.
CONCLUSIONS
The findings of the present study advance our knowledge of the gross and microscopic anatomy of the gastrointestinal tract in wild birds and could help to enhance the productivity of Aves via improving gut health.
PubMed: 37170387
DOI: 10.1186/s40850-022-00161-6