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Purpose: The Rayong oil spill incident of 2013 leaked over 50,000 barrels of crude oil into the Gulf of Thailand. This study assessed trends and changes in the haematological, renal, and hepatic indices among the Rayong oil spill clean-up workers 5 years after the spill. Methods: Haematological, renal, and hepatic indices measured for 570 oil spill clean-up workers at baseline and annually during 5-year follow-ups were analysed. Haemoglobin (Hb), haematocrit (Hct), white blood cell (WBC) count, red blood cell (RBC) count, and platelet count for haematological function, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) for hepatic function, and creatinine (Cr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) for renal function were assessed. The longitudinal measures of haematological, renal and hepatic indices were analysed using analysis of variance for repeated measures. The generalised estimating equations (GEE) were used to assess trends of these indices and associated factors, including exposure level. Results: Increasing trends were observed per year for WBC (0.52 ± 0.03 × 103 cells/μL), Cr (0.01 ± 0.00 mg/dL), platelet (0.31 × 103 μL per year), and BUN (0.24 ± 0.03 mg/dL). Decreasing trends of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were observed (1.54 ± 0.21 IU/L per year). Clean-up workers with high exposure to the oil spill had a significantly higher average of WBC and lower average of BUN than low-exposure and unknown-exposure workers. Gender and age were significantly associated with creatinine changes. Conclusion: Results of this study show the differences between baseline and follow-up haematological, renal, and hepatic indices and trends of these indices. The long-term changes in the indices in this study show worsening renal functions after oil spill and possibility of cardiovascular effects. These findings contribute to expanding knowledge on the long-term health effects of oil spills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Various substances released from modern complex human societies which enter the aquatic ecosystems produce alterations in survivability of aquatic biota. This study assesses the consequence of exposure to industrial effluents containing potentially hazardous constituents, especially soap industrial waste effluent, relative to fish physiology, growth and survival, particularly food fish such as Clarias gariepinus. Five hundred (500) fingerlings of C. gariepinus (15.65 ± 0.02 g) randomly stocked at 50 fish per tank in duplicates were exposed to varying concentration (0, 0.32, 0.66, 1.31 and 2.63%) of homogenous effluent sample and fed Durante® floating feed at 5% of the body weight in two instalments per day for 180 days. The growth performance and feed utilization data were generated to determine the growth performance indices. The haematological parameters of the fish were also determined following routine methods of fish haematology. Result: Generally, fish in the control had significantly (p < 0.05) better growth performance indices compared with the exposed fish. It was also observed that most of the significant increase or decrease observed in the growth performance was concentration dependent. Increase in HES concentration which significantly increases (p < 0.05) WBC count of the experimental fish was observed to decrease (p < 0.05) the HGB level of the fish. Significantly higher (p < 0.05) levels of RBC (3.02 ± 0.03 × 106/µL) and HCT (36.70 ± 1.68%) were recorded in the control fish. However, all the exposed fish had significantly higher (p < 0.05) levels of platelet count compared with the control. Conclusion: This study concluded that exposure to concentrations of soap effluent induced stress, inhibited growth and altered the haematological indices of the exposed fish. Uncontrolled discharge of soap effluent into receiving water bodies, apart from affecting the wellbeing of an important freshwater food fish, there is every probability of possible accumulation of the chemical/toxic additives of the soap effluent which could have serious implications considering the man as the major and final recipient of these toxic bioaccumulated chemicals via the food chain and the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Malaria has continued to be a threat to man and his wellbeing, especially Africans and Asians. New antimalarial drugs are urgently needed to mitigate malaria treatment failure due to resistant Plasmodium species. Medicinal plants used by indigenous Nigerians for treating fever and malaria such as Sida acuta Burm.f. (Malvaceae) could be a promising source of lead compounds for developing new generations of antimalarial drugs. The effects of ethanol extract of S. acuta leaves (EESAL) on malaria parasitemia, haematological and biochemical status of P. berghei-infected mice were investigated, using the 4-day curative test. Methodology: EESAL was prepared by maceration method. The phyto-constituents and acute toxicity profile of the extract were evaluated using standard protocols. In addition, malaria parasitemia and chemo-suppression, and indicators of haematological and biochemical status of P. berghei-infected mice treated with EESAL were assessed. Results: At 200, 400 and 600 mg/kg/d b.w., p.o doses for 4 consecutive days, EESAL significantly (p < 0.05) decreased parasitaemia and suppressed malaria parasite by 89.64%, 95.95% and 97.38%, respectively comparable to negative control. The reduction in percentage malaria parasitemia by EESAL is comparable to Artemether (140 mg/kg/d b.w., p.o) used as standard antimalarial drug in this study. The packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin (Hb) concentration, and red blood cell (RBC) and white blood cell (WBC) counts of negative control are significantly (p < 0.05) higher than normal control. However, parasitized-EESAL-treated mice have significantly (p < 0.05) higher PCV value, Hb concentration and RBC and WBC counts than negative control. Similarly, treatment of parasitized mice with EESAL restored some indicators of the antioxidant, lipid peroxidation, lipid profile and liver status altered by malaria. In addition, EESAL was tolerable up to 5000 mg/kg b.w., p.o. Conclusion: These results indicate that the EESAL possesses antimalarial activity and normalizes alterations in haematological and biochemical status of malaria-infected mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The habitats of air breathing freshwater catfish Heteropneustes fossilis are prone to oxygen deficiency and mostly contaminated with the organic and inorganic pollutants. But the fish is known for its greater adaptive capability even in adverse environmental condition and is regarded as champions in tolerating such type of aquatic environments. Therefore, it seems to be a suitable model for the study of toxicological effect of the paraquat dichloride (1, 1′-dimethyl-4, 4′-bipyridinium dichloride), a recognized contact herbicide which is highly noxious to humans and animals. The aim of this study was to investigate the toxicity of paraquat (PQ) when used in sub-lethal concentrations of 6 mg/L and 12 mg/L respectively, as determined from the LC50 value. The oxidative stress markers in liver, kidney and intestine of the fish; alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatise enzymes in the blood serum and haematological parameters of the fishes were evaluated at 6 h, 24 h, 48 h, 5 days, 10 days and 14 days post treatment with 6 mg/L and 12 mg/L of PQ. The results revealed the increased concentration of glutathione-S-transferase (GST), specifically after 10 days of treatment with 12 mg/L paraquat concentration, along with significant increase in the concentration of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and malondialdehyde after 14 days of PQ exposure (12 mg/L concentration), when tallied against the control. However, the concentration of non-enzymatic reduced glutathione (GSH) was decreased significantly in treated fishes after 14 days (12 mg/L concentration) as GST uses GSH as a substrate to detoxify substances, hence enabling more defence against ROS production in H. fossilis. Haematological indices like the RBC count and haemoglobin concentration manifested a significant reduction, while the WBC count significantly increased on exposure to both 6 mg/L and 12 mg/L concentrations of PQ as compared to control fish. These findings clearly indicated the increased concentration of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, GST) and reduction in non enzymatic GSH enabled the fish to survive during the PQ exposure period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes in white blood cells, leukogram patterns, the positive acute-phase protein (APP) fibrinogen and negative APPs (albumin and arylesterase) were monitored to evaluate their potential as sensitive indicators throughout the course of therapy in canine skin Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection. The study was performed on 15 male mixed-breed dogs, divided in three groups of 5 dogs each. Dogs from group A were injected subcutaneously with P. aeruginosa bacterial culture (1 × 10 CFU/mL) at a dose of 0.3 mL/kg and treated with enrofloxacin (5 mg/kg, s.c.) on post infection hour 48 for 10 consecutive days. Dogs from group B were infected and treated with a combination of enrofloxacin (at above-mentioned dose and intervals) and parthenolide (feverfew extract 90 mg, 0.7 % parthenolide). The schedule consisted of daily oral intake of two capsules of feverfew beginning on post infection hour 4 and continued for 6 days. The control group C included healthy dogs, injected s.c. with 0.3 mL/kg physiological saline. The haematological indices and APPs were assayed before infection and on 4th, 24th, 48th and 72nd hours and on 7th, 10th and 14th days after infection. Infected and antibiotic-treated dogs responded with significant leukocytosis, left shift, eosinopaenia and lymphopaenia between hours 24 and 72. In this group, fibrinogen increased substantially by post infection hours 24 ( p < 0.01 vs 0 h; p < 0.05 vs group C), 48 ( p < 0.001 vs 0 h; p < 0.05 vs group C) and 72 ( p < 0.001 vs 0 h; p < 0.01 vs group C) while albumin reduction was marked by hours 48 ( p < 0.05 vs 0 h) and 72 ( p < 0.05 vs 0 h; p < 0.001 vs group C) and day 7 ( p < 0.01 vs 0 h; p < 0.001 vs group C). The combination of enrofloxacin and parthenolide modified, at a significant extent, the deviations in studied parameters except for eosinophil percentage, which persisted low. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of dietary inclusion of fermented pigeon pea meal (FPPM) on growth response, apparent nutrient digestibility, haematological indices and serum biochemistry of cockerel chicks was studied using 240-day-old cockerel chicks allotted to four dietary treatments consisting of 60 birds each. Four experimental diets were formulated to include FPPM at 0, 50, 100 and 150 g/kg inclusion levels, respectively. Each of the diets was fed to 60 birds replicated six times with ten birds per replicate. The feeding trial lasted for 56 days. Results indicated that final live weight (linear (L). quadratic (Q): P < 0.05), weight gain (L.Q: P < 0.01), feed intake (Q.: P < 0.05) and coefficient of total tract apparent crude protein digestibility ( P < 0.05) were reduced with increasing dietary inclusion of FPPM. Similar improved feed-to-gain ratios were obtained for chicks fed the control and those fed a diet containing 50 g/kg FPPM. Coefficient of total tract apparent ether extract and ash digestibility were not affected ( P > 0.05) by the inclusion of FPPM. Haemoglobin and serum uric acid concentrations were also reduced ( P < 0.05) with increasing dietary inclusion of FPPM. Chicks fed with 150 g/kg FPPM had the least ( P < 0.05) packed cell volume, red blood cell and neutrophil count. It was concluded that dietary inclusion of up to 50 g/kg FPPM could be used in the ration for cockerel chicks without imposing any threat on the growth response, nutrient digestibility and blood constituents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present was carried out to investigate the effects of monogenean infection on haematological indices of grass carp , Ceteopharyngodon idella. In this regard, some haematological indices were measured in two adult groups of grass carp including healthy and infected fish. According to our results, the values of red blood cells (RBCs), haemoglobin (Hb) decreased significantly in infected fishes ( P < 0.05). In contrast, the white blood cells (WBCs) values increased significantly in infected fishes ( P < 0.05). In contrast, the WBC values increased significantly in infected fishes. In conclusion, our results showed that monogenean infection by Gyrodactylus spp. and Dactylogyrus spp. can affects health condition of grass carp through alternation of haematology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes in the haematological indices like haemoglobin, mean corpuscular haemoglobin, colour index, iron, total red blood corpuscles, white blood corpuscles and blood glucose in albino rats during Trypanosoma evansi infection and the influence of some hormones like hydrocortisone, insulin and thyroxine on these changes have been investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes in haematological indices like haemoglobin, iron, red blood corpuscles and white blood corpuscles were studied in Calotes versicolor during single and multiple type of helminth infection and single and multiple organ infection. The haemoglobin content, iron content and total count of RBCs decreased during helminth infection, whereas the total count of WBCs increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Values of some haematological indices were assessed in 30 Barbus grypus (mean length, 22.88 ± 4.16 cm; mean weight, 101.01 ± 58.50 g). The fishes were randomly selected from ponds of Dashte Azadegan Aquaculture Centre. The blood samples were collected from the caudal vein after adaptation to laboratory conditions. The values of the haematological parameter were measured using standardized and approved methods. The following values (mean±SD) were recorded. Packed cell volume (PCV), 46 ± 5.71%; haemoglobin (Hb), 9.5 ± 4.58 g/dL; white blood cell, 3,196.6 ± 716.54 in each mm; red blood cell, 1,378,667 ± 195,408.2 in mm, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration, 34.68 ± 20.23%; mean corpuscular haemoglobin 12.53 ± 70.02 (pg); mean corpuscular volume, 7.58 ± 34.1 (fl); neutrophils, 25.40 ± 6.04%; lymphocytes, 72.2 ± 4.58%; monocytes 1.13 ± 0.97% and eosinophil 0.6 ± 0.67%. A significant ( p < 0.05) interaction was found between total length, weight and PCV as PCV value increases with increasing weight and length. Data obtained from this study will serve as baseline haematological parameters for use in monitoring of health and productivity of B. grypus regarding the increasing interest in this fish for aquaculture purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]