Gastrointestinal Helminths in Horses in Serbia and Various Factors Affecting the Prevalence

PURPOSE

Data on gastrointestinal infections in horses in Southeastern Europe are limited; thus, this study aimed to add to the existing knowledge on this topic by reporting on the prevalence of intestinal parasites of horses in the territory of the Republic of Serbia.

METHODS

In the period from April 2017 to December 2018, parasitological examination of 548 samples from horses of different breed, age and sex from four regions and 18 districts of the country was performed. Coprological diagnostic was done by using qualitative methods without concentration and qualitative methods with concentration of parasitic elements. Quantification of the obtained results was performed using semi-qualitative faecal egg count.

RESULTS

Four helminthoses were detected in the examined samples: P. equorum (8.57%), O. equi (3.65%), strongylid eggs (71.17%) and Anoplocephala spp. (0.91%). The total prevalence of helminthoses was 77.19%. Monoinfections were significantly more present 70.07% compared to coinfections (7.12%). The highest prevalence of helminthoses was detected in free-ranging horses (93.10%-27/29), in autumn 86.67% (117/135) and winter 79.71% (165/207), in Šumadija and West Serbia region (100%), and in the youngest category (100%). Significant difference (p < 0.001) was detected in the prevalence of monoinfections by strongylids and O. equi and also coinfections by strongylid/P. equorum between horses of different age categories.

CONCLUSION

Obtained results are of great contribution to clinical parasitology and pathology, especially from the aspect of animal health, welfare and preservation of horse population.

Determination of all pKa Values of Some di- and Tri-Carboxylic Unsaturated and Epoxy Acids and Their Polylinear Correlation with the Carboxylic Group Atomic Charges

For a series of seven unsaturated and seven epoxy di- and tricarboxylic acids, p Kaa values were determined potentiometrically in aqueous media at 25 °C and an ionic strength of 0.1 M (NaCl). The thermodynamic p Kaa values were correlated with the atomic charges of carboxylic group calculated by the MNDO-PM3 semiempirical MO method.

Study of Retention Parameters Obtained in RP-TLC System and Their Application on QSAR/QSPR of Some Alpha Adrenergic and Imidazoline Receptor Ligands

The retention constant (R(0)(m)) is determined for 11 selected adrenergic and imidazoline receptor ligands by reverse-phase-thin layer chromatography. It is established that the retention behavior of investigated compounds mostly depends on geometrical, electrostatic, and hydrogen bonding properties. Good correlations among hydrophobic parameters R(0)(m) versus log P for all eleven tested compounds are obtained. The satisfactory correlations are found between R(0)(m) versus apparent partition coefficient octanol-buffer pH 7.4 (log P') or apparent partition coefficient in four liposome systems (log K'(M)) and hypotensive activity (pC(25)) for five imidazolines. The results confirm the suitability of this parameter in quantitative structure-property and structure-activity relationships studies of these drugs.

Acidity constants of cefetamet, cefotaxime and ceftriaxone; the effect of the substituent at C3 position

Ionization constants of three cephalosporin antibiotics, cefetamet (CEF), cefotaxime (CFX) and ceftriaxone (CFTR) are determined using pH-potentiometric titrations at I=0.1 M (NaCl) and t=25 degrees C. Cefetamet and cefotaxime have three ionization groups: carboxylic, amide and aminothiazole. Besides those three, ceftriaxone possesses an hydroxytriazinone group as new and additional ionization center. In acid medium two overlapping acid-base processes are occurring with acidity constants being: pK1 2.93 (COOH) and pK2 3.07 (aminothiazole) for cefetamet, and pK1 2.21 (COOH) and pK2 3.15 (aminothiazole) for cefotaxime. In the case of ceftriaxone the situation is even more complicated, three overlapping processes coexist with pK1 2.37 (COOH), pK2 3.03 (aminothiazole) and pK3 4.21 (hydroxytriazinone). Protolysis of amide group is happening in the alkaline medium as completely separated process from those in acid medium. The acidity constants which correspond to amide group are pK3 10.65 (CEF), pK3 10.87 (CFX) and pK4 10.74 (CFTR). The influence of the C3 substituent on the dissociation process of the neighboring ionization group, particularly carboxylic group, was considered. The differences in acidity of CEF, CFX and CFTR (pK1: 2.93, 2.21 and 2.37, respectively) are likely to be caused by the stereoelectronic properties of substituents in the beta-position to the carboxylic group due to the combined inductive, hyperconjugative and resonance effects.

Determination of the ionization constants of 4-iodo-2,6-dimethylphenylcarbamoylmethyl iminodiacetic acid

In order to develop a radiopharmaceutical for hepatobiliary scintigraphy with better hepatobiliary properties new ligand for complexation of 99mTc, 4-iodo-2,6-dimethylphenylcarbamoylmethyl iminodiacetic acid (METHYLIODIDA), was synthesized. Acid-base equilibria of METHYLIODIDA were studied potentiometrically, because these data are important for determination of complex formation conditions. It was established that METHYLIODIDA undergoes a complex acid-base equilibrium due to its zwitterionic nature and four proton-binding sites. The stoichiometric ionization constants were determined at 25 degrees C and constant ionic strength 0.1M (NaClO(4)): pK1=1.7+/-0.1; pK2=2.44+/-0.07; pK3=6.29+/-0.02 and pK4=10.91+/-0.06, respectively.

Determination of bifonazole in creams containing methyl- and propyl p-hydroxybenzoate by derivative spectrophotometric method

A second order derivative spectrophotometric method for the determination of bifonazole in the presence of methyl- and propyl p-hydroxybenzoate as preservatives has been developed. The determination was performed in a 0.1 M HCl solution at 241.5 nm, a wavelength corresponding to the intersection of the second order derivative spectra (2D) of methyl- and propyl p-hydroxybenzoate with the axis (zero-crossing point). On the basis of the knowledge of acidity constants and solubility, as well as of the investigations of zero-order and 2D spectra of bifonazole and preservatives, these conditions were chosen as optimal ones. A calibration curve constructed for bifonazole concentrations ranging from 1.5 to 15 microg/ml had a correlation coefficient of 0.9998. Reliability and reproducibility of the method was checked by analyzing laboratory mixtures of bifonazole and preservatives (recovery 99.97-102.7%; RDS 0.48-1.46%). The proposed method was applied for the determination of bifonazole in a commercial cream formulation. The mean value of bifonazole obtained per 100 g cream was 1.029 g (102.9% of the labeled claim) with a RSD of 0.60%.

Spectrophotometric and HPLC determination of fleroxacin in tablets

The paper describes and compares spectrophotometric and HPLC determination of fleroxacin in commercial tablets. The optimum conditions for spectrophotometric assay were found to be at pH < 3.5 (0.1 M HCl) at a wave length of 286 nm. HPLC analysis was carried out on a Beckman ODS 5 microns column in a pH 3 phosphoric acid solution (detector wave length 254 nm).

Study of acid-base equilibria of fleroxacin

The acid-base equilibria of fleroxacin were studied by means of potentiometry and spectrophotometry. It was established that fleroxacin undergoes a complex acid-base equilibrium due to its zwitterionic nature and two proton-binding sites of similar acidity. The stoichiometric equilibrium constants were determined at 25 degrees C and constant ionic strength 0.1 M (NaCl). The acidity constants pK1 = 5.59 +/- 0.01 and pK2 = 8.08 +/- 0.04 were found by potentiometry, and pK1 = 5.61 +/- 0.03 and pK2 = 8.11 +/- 0.06 by spectrophotometry. The distribution diagram of the corresponding ionic species is given.

[Urinary system tumors in patients with endemic nephropathy on chronic hemodialysis]

We studied 161 patients who started dialysis from January 1st 1979 to December 31st 1993. Out of 79 males, 26 (32.91%) had the diagnosis of urothelial tumors, and out of these 22 patients (84.61%) had tumors of the upper urothelium. Twenty one (80.76%) of the patients were operated. The predialysis period starting with tumor diagnosing was 61.92 months averaging. The average survival of these hemodialysed patients was 46.07 months. Out of 82 females, 22 (26.82) had tumors of the urinary tract, and out of these 21 patients (95.45%) had tumors of the upper urothelium. Eighteen (81.81%) of them were operated. The predialysis period starting with tumor diagnosing was 84 months, on the average. The average survival was 37.39 months. The results confirm high frequency of tumors of the upper urothelium in patients with endemic nephropathy.

[The significance of objective functional classification in the evaluation of physical fitness in patients after myocardial infarction]

Coronary disease decreases physical fitness of patients. This is due to decreased inotropic and chronotropic cardiac reserves. The study concerned 400 male patients, aged 40-50 years, one year after infarction of the myocardium and appropriate rehabilitation. The aim of the investigation was to define the importance of subjective and objective criteria for the evaluation of physical fitness of patients. On the basis of results of physical testing the patients were divided into two groups: group A (n = 200), patients with ischaemic ECG changes, and group B (n = 200), patients without ischaemic ECG changes. The results of the trail revealed the necessity of measuring the maximal oxygen demand the index of functional aerobic capacity, the maximal heart-rate frequency, and the index of chronotropic heart-rate.

[Disorders of heart rhythm in patients with mitral valve prolapse detected by continuous electrocardiography]

Prolapse of the mitral valve is a frequent occurrence. It is usually benign. However, because of frequent arrhythmias that can provoce sudden death, its detection and treatment are of great importance. In 20 patients with prolapse of the mitral valve the authors detected arrhythmias on a 24-hour electrocardiogram. The results were as follows: ventricular arrhythmias in 50% of patients; auricular arrhythmias in 50% of cases; atrioventricular and sinoatrial block in 5% of subjects, and block of the left bundle-branch in 2% of patients.

[The effect of rehabilitation procedures on pulmonary function in patients with chronic obstructive bronchitis]

Modern treatment of patients with chronic obstructive bronchitis consists of a parallel and simultaneous carrying out of medicinal treatment and appropriate rehabilitation. The authors studied the effect of rehabilitation on the pulmonary function in 31 patients (rehabilitation group A-1) with chronic obstructive bronchitis within three weeks (position drainage on the oscillation table and vibro-message for 15-30 min. after aerosol-therapy, and respiratory diaphragmatic exercises). The control group was composed of 30 patients (medical group A-2) with chronic obstructive bronchitis treated with medicaments only. On the basis of the results before and after the treatment, the authors established that only group A-1 patients showed, at the end of treatment, a statistically greater forsed expiratory volume in the first second, reduced thoracic gas volume, reduced specific resistance and increased lung conduction in airways.

Hemodynamic mechanisms of the effect of nitroglycerin in patients with acute myocardial infarction

We studied the hemodynamic response to intravenous nitroglycerin (NTG) in 40 patients with and without acute heart failure (hemodynamic subsets I-IV) during acute myocardial infarction. Hemodynamic measurements were performed by right heart catheterization. The results showed that NTG response influenced mainly the preload and to a lesser extent the afterload, however these changes were dependent on initial hemodynamic status. The changes in mean arterial pressure and cardiac index were predominantly related to pretreatment pulmonary wedge pressure and slightly to systemic vascular resistance. Response to NTG could be predicted with 85% probability as a decrease of pulmonary wedge pressure, with 58% probability as a decrease in mean arterial pressure and cardiac index, and with 32% probability as an increase in cardiac index and a decrease in systemic vascular resistance. These results indicate that NTG therapy could have optimal results in patients with elevated pulmonary wedge pressure and normal cardiac index, while in the subsets with low mean arterial pressure or low cardiac index potentially deleterious decrease in these values could occur. Therefore the optimal condition for use of intravenous nitroglycerin in the patients with acute heart failure is isolated pulmonary congestion.