Evaluation of different diagnostic methods for diagnosis of Lumpy skin disease in cows

Viral isolation, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), dot blot hybridization (DBH), and indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (iELISA) were used for the diagnosis of lumpy skin disease in clinically infected, fevered, and apparently normal dairy cows. Lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) was isolated from skin biopsies and blood samples collected from clinically infected cows in percentages of 72% and 20%, respectively. The virus recovered from blood samples collected from fevered cows in percentage of 33.3%. Both PCR and DBH detected viral DNA in 100% of skin biopsies collected from clinically infected cows whereas the detection rates in blood samples collected from clinically infected animals were 100% and 84% using PCR and DBH, respectively. Viral DNA was detected in blood samples collected from fevered cows using PCR and DBH in percentages of 77.8% and 66.6%, respectively. Only 19.1% of blood samples collected from in-contact cows was positive for both of PCR and DBH. Detection rates of antibodies against LSDV using iELISA in serum samples collected from clinically infected and fevered cows were 56% and 11.1%, respectively, whereas all in-contact cows had no antibodies against the virus.

Thymoquinone reduces hepatic glucose production in diabetic hamsters

The aim of this study was to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the glucose lowering effects of thymoquinone in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic hamsters in terms of hepatic glucose production. Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of 65 mg/kg body weight of STZ. Treatment with thymoquinone commenced 4 weeks after induction of diabetes at a daily dose of 50 mg/kg body weight by gastric gauge. Blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin levels were significantly reduced depending on periods of the treatment. Thirty days after commencement of thymoquinone-treatment, hepatocytes were isolated using collagenase to determine liver glucose production. Glucose production after 2 h incubation of the isolated hepatocytes with gluconeogenic precursors (alanine, glycerol and lactate) was significantly lower in hamsters treated with thymoquinone as compared to that in vehicle controls. The results of this study demonstrate that the antidiabetic action of thymoquinone is at least partially mediated through a decrease in hepatic gluconeogenesis.

Mechanisms of the hypoglycaemic and immunopotentiating effects of Nigella sativa L. oil in streptozotocin-induced diabetic hamsters

The aim of this study was to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the hypoglycaemic effect of N. sativa oil (Nigella sativa oil) in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic hamsters, in terms of hepatic glucose production, and to investigate the possible immunopotentiating effect of N. sativa oil on peritoneal macrophages. Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of 65 mg/kg body weight of STZ. Treatment with N. sativa oil commenced 6 weeks after induction of diabetes at a dose of 400 mg/kg body weight by gastric gavage. Isolated hepatocytes were collected using collagenase to determine liver glucose production. Phagocytic activity was evaluated by injection of fluorescent latex (2 microm diameter) intraperitoneally, followed 24 h later by collection of peritoneal macrophages. N. sativa oil reduced blood glucose from 391+/-3.0 mg/dl before treatment to 325+/-4.7, 246+/-5.9, 208+/-2.5 and 179+/-3.1 mg/dl after the first, second, third and fourth weeks of treatment, respectively. Hepatic glucose production from gluconeogenic precursors (alanine, glycerol and lactate) was significantly lower in treated hamsters. Treatment with N. sativa oil significantly increased the phagocytic activity and phagocytic index of peritoneal macrophages and lymphocyte count in peripheral blood compared with untreated diabetic hamsters. Our data indicate that the hypoglycaemic effect of N. sativa oil is due to, at least in part, a decrease in hepatic gluconeogenesis, and that the immunopotentiating effect of N. sativa oil is mediated through stimulation of macrophage phagocytic activity either directly or via activation of lymphocytes.

Isulinotropic properties of Nigella sativa oil in Streptozotocin plus Nicotinamide diabetic hamster

The present study was designed to investigate the possible insulinotropic properties of Nigella sativa L. (N. sativa) oil in Streptozotocin plus Nicotinamide-induced diabetes mellitus in hamsters. Nicotinamide was injected intraperitoneally 15min before injection of Streptozotocin intravenously. Oral treatment with N. sativa oil began 4 weeks after induction of diabetes. Serum insulin was measured by enzymeimmunoassay. Islets insulin was stained using anti-insulin monoclonal antibody. Significant decrease in blood glucose level together with significant increase in serum insulin level were observed after treatment with N. sativa oil for 4 weeks. Big areas with positive immuno-reactivity for the presence of insulin were observed in the pancreases from N. sativa oil-treated group compared to non-treated one using immunohistochemical staining. Therefore, our data show that the hypoglycemic effect of N. sativa oil in Streptozotocin plus Nicotinamide diabetic hamsters resulted, at least partly, from a stimulatory effect on beta cell function with consequent increase in serum insulin level. These results indicate that N. sativa oil has insulinotropic properties in type 2-like model.