Haematology, biochemistry and morphological features of peripheral blood cells in captive Boa constrictor

The common boa (Boa constrictor) belongs to the family Boidae and represents one of the most popular traded and kept snake species in captivity. The early diagnosis, prevention and prophylaxis of diseases in this species, and in reptiles in general, still pose major challenges, also due to the lack of reliable reference values. This prompted us to conduct a study on clinically healthy captive B. constrictor to assess their basic health parameters in the blood (haematological and biochemical values, stress markers). Several parameters differed significantly between younger (<3 years) and older (≥3 years) boas; in the latter, the percentages of eosinophils, the haemoglobin and haematocrit levels, as well as the albumin and total protein levels, were higher. In male snakes, cholesterol levels were significantly higher than in females. Light and electron microscopy as well as immunohistochemistry served to identify and determine the morphological features of peripheral blood cells, that is, heterophils, basophils, eosinophils, azurophils, monocytes, lymphocytes, thrombocytes and erythrocytes. Leukocyte subpopulations, that is, T and B cells and monocytes, were also identified based on specific marker expression. The study provides data on haematological, biochemical and stress hormone levels, suitable as reference values, and on the blood cell morphology of B. constrictor which can serve as a guideline for further research on this species.

Differences in Left atrial stain, endothelial glycocalyx and arterial elasticity between ESUS, lacunar and atherosclerotic type of stroke

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: None.

Background and Aims

Patients with stroke are at high risk to develop cardiovascular complications. We assessed endothelial glycocalyx, aortic elastic properties, left atrial and ventricular function in patients with lacunar, atherosclerotic and stroke of undetermined source (ESUS).

Patients and methods

In 75 patients (age 55.2 ± 10.6) with acute cerebral stroke (25 lacunar, 20 atherosclerotic and 30 ESUS) and 20 controls with similar risk factors, we measured: (1) perfused boundary region (PBR) of the sublingual arterial microvessels (range 5–25 µm), a marker inversely related with glycocalyx thickness, (2) pulse wave velocity (PWV), central systolic blood pressure (cSBP), and augmentation index (AIx), (3) Left atrial (LA) strain using speckle-tracking imaging, and (4) left ventricular global longitudinal strain.

Results

Compared with controls, patients with stroke had higher PWV (11.38 ± 3.62 vs 9.51 ± 1.57 m/sec, p = 0.045), PBR (2.10 ± 0.27 vs 1.94 ± 0.20, p = 0.039) and central SBP (139.64 ± 26.31 vs 116.36 ± 37.23 mmHg, p = 0.039), while ventricular (-17.902 ± 3.77 vs - 19.87 ± 1.17%, p = 0.025) and atrial deformation (24.8 ± 9.99 vs 39.05 ± 2.08%, p &lt; 0.001) were impaired in patients with stroke (p &lt; 0.05).

LA reservoir strain was more reduced in ESUS patients compared to other 2 stroke types (ESUS 21.7 ± 6.6%, Lacunar 25.6 ± 13.2%, atherosclerotic 22.3 ± 7.8%, P &lt; 0.05).

Regarding endothelial glycocalyx, PBR5-9 (the smallest vessels with diameter 5-9 μm) was higher in patients with ESUS than in the other two types of stroke (ESUS 1.22 ± 0.12 μm, LACUNAR 1.19 ± 0.12 μm, ATHEROSCLEROTIC 1.15 ± 0.09 μm, p &lt; 0.05), despite the fact that PBR5-25 was similar between all stroke types (ESUS 2.09 ± 0.23 μm, LACUNAR 2.13 ± 0.33 μm, ATHEROSCLEROTIC 2.09 ± 0.24 μm, p = 0.8).

PWV was significantly higher in patients with atherosclerotic stroke (15.57 ± 5.50 m/sec, p = 0.007), while in patients with lacunar it was mildly elevated (10.53 ± 3.22 m/sec) and in ESUS patients it was moderately increased (11.7 ± 3 m/sec).

Conclusions

Patients with stroke have impaired atrial strain, endothelial glycocalyx and arterial elasticity, compared with controls. Arterial stiffness is more affected in atherosclerotic stroke, while LA deformation and glycocalyx of small size micro vessels are more affected in ESUS patients.

The midterm differential effects of heat-not-burn and conventional cigarettes on coronary flow, vascular function and oxidative stress are independent of nicotine levels

Introduction

Heat-not-burn cigarette (HNBC) constitutes a non-combustible smoke product linked to reduced exposure to carbon monoxide (CO).

Methods

We compared the effects of HNBC to those of tobacco cigarette (TCig) on endothelial and coronary function as well as on nicotine levels, oxidative stress and platelet activation after 1 month of switching to HNBC.

We examined 75 smokers. Of those, 50 were switched to HNBC and 25 continued Tcig for 1 month.

At baseline and at 1 month, we assessed a) coronary flow reserve (CFR) by echocardiography b) flow-mediated dilation (FMD) c) Cotinine blood levels, a stable metabolite of nicotine d) malondialdehyde (MDA), a marker of oxidative stress and thromboxane B2 (TXB2), a marker of platelet activation e) the exhaled CO and the number of cigarettes and/or heat stick of HNBC used. Fagerstrom score, a marker of dependence from smoking habit was also calculated.

Results

Compared to Tcig smoking, switching to HNBC for 1-month improved CO (difference in CO between groups: 10.42 ppm; 95% CI 3.07 to 17.76, p=0.007), FMD (difference in FMD=4.3%; 95% CI: 1.23 to 7.51, p=0.009; and CFR (difference in CFR =0.98; 95% CI: 0.23 to 1.80, p=0.02). MDA and TXB2 concentration significantly decreased in subjects switching to HNBC compared to tobacco smokers (difference MDA=0.38 nmol/L; 95% CI 0.10 to 0.66, p=0.009, 45pg/mL; 95% CI 5.28 to 86.31, p=0.03). None of the aforementioned parameters changed in the control group at 1 month compared to baseline (p&gt;0.05).

Cotinine blood levels were similar between the TC cig and HNBC group both at baseline and after one month of use (p&gt;0.05). However, cotinine blood levels at baseline and 1 month correlated with the number cigarettes used at baseline (r=0.45 p=0.04) or the number of heat sticks used at one month (r=0.50, p=0.03) respectively, Baseline Fagerstrom score was also associated with number of heat sticks used at 1 month (r=0.48, p=0.04) and cotinine levels at baseline and at 1 month (p=0.50, p=0.03 and r=0.57, p=0.01 respectively).

Conclusions

HNBCs exert a less detrimental effect on vascular function platelet activation and oxidative stress than tobacco smoking that is independent of nicotine levels and is linked with the parallel reduction the exhaled of CO.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.

Differences in left atrial stain, endothelial glycocalyx and arterial elasticity between ESUS, lacunar and atherosclerotic type of stroke

Background and purpose

Patients with stroke are at high risk to develop cardiovascular complications. We assessed endothelial glycocalyx, aortic elastic properties, left atrial and ventricular function in patients with lacunar, atherosclerotic and stroke of undetermined source (ESUS).

Methods

In 68 patients (age 56,1±10.9) with acute cerebral stroke (22 lacunar, 19 atherosclerotic and 27 ESUS) and 20 controls with similar risk factors, we measured: (1) perfused boundary region (PBR) of the sublingual arterial microvessels (range 5–25 μm), a marker inversely related with glycocalyx thickness, (2) pulse wave velocity (PWV), central systolic blood pressure (cSBP), and augmentation index (AIx), (3) LA volume and strain using speckle-tracking imaging, and (4) left ventricular global longitudinal strain.

Results

Compared with controls, patients with stroke had higher PWV (11,38±3,62 vs 9,51±1,57 m/sec, p=0,045), PBR (2,10±0,27 vs 1,94±,020, p=0,039) and central SBP (139,64±26,31 vs 116,36±37,23 mmHg, p=0,039), while ventricular (−17,902±3,77 vs −19,87±1,17%, p=0,025) and atrial deformation (24,8±9,99 vs 39,050±2,08%, p&lt;0.001) were impaired in patients with stroke (p&lt;0.05).

LA reservoir strain was more reduced in ESUS patients compared to other 2 stroke types (ESUS 21,7±6,6%, Lacunar 25,6±13,2%, atherosclerotic 22,3±7,8%, P&lt;0.05).

Regarding endothelial glycocalyx, PBR5–9 (the smallest vessels with diameter 5–9 μm) was higher in patients with ESUS than in the other two types of stroke (ESUS 1,22±0,12 μm, LACUNAR 1,19±0,12 μm, ATHEROSCLEROTIC 1,15±0,09 μm, p&lt;0.05), despite the fact that PBR5–25 was similar between all stroke types (ESUS 2,09±0.23 μm, LACUNAR 2,13±0,33 μm, ATHEROSCLEROTIC 2,09±0,24 μm, p=0.8).

PWV was significantly higher in patients with atherosclerotic stroke (15,57±5,50 m/sec, p=0,007), while in patients with lacunar it was mildly elevated (10,53±3,22 m/sec) and in ESUS patients it was moderately increased (11,7±3 m/sec).

Conclusion

Patients with stroke have impaired atrial strain, endothelial glycocalyx and arterial elasticity, compared with controls. Arterial stiffness is more affected in atherosclerotic stroke, while LA deformation and glycocalyx of small size micro vessels are more affected in ESUS patients.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.

Inter-observer agreement for clinical examinations of foot lesions of sheep

In sheep, the diagnosis of foot lesions is routinely based on physical examination of the hoof. Correct diagnosis is important for the effective treatment, prevention and control of both infectious and non-infectious causes of lameness. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the level of inter-observer agreement for clinical examination of ovine foot lesions. Eight observers of varying experience, training and occupation performed foot examinations on a total of 1158 sheep from 38 farms across North England and Wales. On each farm, a group of two to four observers independently examined a sample of 24 to 30 sheep to diagnose the presence or absence of specific foot lesions including white line lesions (WL), contagious ovine digital dermatitis (CODD), footrot (FR), inter-digital dermatitis (ID) and toe granuloma (TG). The inter-observer agreement of foot lesion assessments was examined using Fleiss kappa (κ), and Cohen's κ examined the paired agreement between the test standard observer (TSO) and each observer. Scoring differences with the TSO were examined as the percentage of scoring errors and assessed for evidence of systematic scoring bias. With the exception of WL (maximum error rate 33.3%), few scoring differences with the TSO occurred (maximum error rate 3.3%). This suggests that observers can achieve good levels of reliability when diagnosing most of the commonly observed foot conditions associated with lameness in sheep.

Detection of the genome of Chlamydophila abortus in samples taken from the uteri of 304 sheep at an abattoir

A PCR was used to detect the genome of Chlamydophila abortus in samples of uterine tissue collected from 304 sheep by a sterile technique at an abattoir. The stage of pregnancy of the sheep was determined by measuring the dimensions of the embryo/fetus, and its morphology was recorded. Only samples from non-pregnant sheep and sheep up to 100 days of gestation were retained; the clinical history of the animals was unknown. The total prevalence of the chlamydial genome was 30.9 per cent, with a significantly higher prevalence in the pregnant animals (46.9 per cent). Higher detection rates were recorded during early gestation than during mid-gestation.

Early pregnancy diagnosis in swine by direct radioimmunoassay for progesterone in blood spotted on filter paper

A direct radioimmunoassay method for the measurement of progesterone in blood dried on filter paper has been developed for the early pregnancy diagnosis in sows, as well as for monitoring progesterone levels during the oestrous cycle. Pregnancy diagnosis was performed with 95 sows on Days 17-22 after artificial insemination (AI). The cut-off value for pregnancy diagnosis of 7.5 ng/ml was calculated (mean+/-2S.D.) from the progesterone concentrations measured on the same days from non-inseminated animals. There were 85 cases considered pregnant on the basis of progesterone concentration, leaving 10 animals non-pregnant. The accuracy for the positive cases was 98.8%. Two of the 10 sows considered as negative subsequently farrowed, giving an accuracy of 80%. The overall accuracy of the method was 96.8%. The blood-spot assay may be a useful tool for early pregnancy diagnosis in swine, with respect to sampling, simplicity, speed and accuracy.

Descriptive epidemiology of the 2001 foot-and-mouth disease epidemic in Great Britain: the first five months

In February 2001, foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) was confirmed in Great Britain. A major epidemic developed, which peaked around 50 cases a day in late March, declining to under 10 a day by May. By mid-July, 1849 cases had been detected. The main control measures employed were livestock movement restrictions and the rapid slaughter of infected and exposed livestock. The first detected case was in south-east England; infection was traced to a farm in north-east England to which all other cases were linked. The epidemic was large as a result of a combination of events, including a delay in the diagnosis of the index case, the movement of infected sheep to market before FMD was first diagnosed, and the time of year. Virus was introduced at a time when there were many sheep movements around the country and weather conditions supported survival of the virus. The consequence was multiple, effectively primary, introductions of FMD virus into major sheep-keeping areas. Subsequent local spread from these introductions accounted for the majority of cases. The largest local epidemics were in areas with dense sheep populations and livestock dealers who were active during the key period. Most affected farms kept both sheep and cattle. At the time of writing the epidemic was still ongoing; however, this paper provides a basis for scientific discussion of the first five months.

Defective growth hormone secretion in primary microcephaly

The 24 hr variations of plasma growth hormone (GH) and/or GH secretion provoked by oral glucose load or by insulin-induced hypoglycemia were studied in five microcephalic children. Low levels of GH and, especially, complete lack of secretory episodes were detected in three of the five children, two of whom were brothers. GH deficiency may constitute the principal or a contributing factor of impaired growth in some microcephalic children. A possible association between the cerebral abnomality and the pituitary hypofunction is suggested. An analogy is made between the present cases and the neuroendocrine complexes reported as Kallmann's and de Morsier's syndromes, respectively.