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Antibiotic overuse in poultry feeds has disastrous implications; consequently, long-term alternatives must be developed. As a result, the current study aims to assess the impact of Aspergillus niger filtrate (ANF) high in organic acids grown on agro-industrial residue of faba bean (AIRFB) on quail diet, as well as their influence on bird productivity, digestion, carcass yield, blood chemistry, and intestinal microbiota. A total of 240 Japanese quails (aged 7 d) were used in this study, divided equally among 5 experimental groups with 48 quails each. Group 1 (G1) received a basal diet without any ANF, group 2 (G2) received a basal diet supplemented with 0.5 mL ANF/kg diet, group 3 (G3) received a basal diet supplemented with 1.0 mL ANF/kg diet, group 4 (G4) received a basal diet supplemented with 1.5 mL ANF/kg diet, and group 5 (G5) received a basal diet supplemented with 2 mL ANF/kg diet. The performance parameters were monitored at 1 to 3, 3 to 5, and 1 to 5 wk. Adding ANF increased body weight at 3 and 5 wk, as well as body weight gain at 1 to 3, 3 to 5, and 1 to 5 wk, compared to the control diet. The ANF fed quails had the highest feed conversion ratio compared to the control group. The addition of ANF to the quail diet had no effect on the weight of the carcass, gizzard, heart, liver, giblets, or dressing; however, it did lower triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, and very low-density lipoprotein while increasing high-density lipoprotein levels. The quail groups that received ANF had enhanced immunological indices such as IgG, IgM, IgA, and lysozymes. It also increased the levels of superoxide dismutase and total antioxidant contents, as well as catalase, and digestive enzymes such as protease, amylase, and lipase. However, it lowered the blood MDA levels compared to control. It has been demonstrated that the total gut microbiota, Escherichia coli, total coliforms, and the population of Salmonella are all reduced in ANF-fed quails. Histological examination of ANF quails' liver and intestinal sections revealed normal hepatic parenchyma, typical leaf-like intestinal villi, and comparatively short and frequently free lumina. In conclusion, Japanese quail showed improvements in performance, digestive enzymes, antioxidant indices, immunity, and capacity to reduce intestinal pathogenic bacteria after consuming diet supplemented with ANF., Competing Interests: DISCLOSURES The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Free gossypol (FG), the primary antinutritional component in cottonseed meal, can adversely affect the growth and health of poultry. Although younger geese are particularly sensitive to FG, the precise effects of FG on geese remain elusive. This study aimed to investigate the effects of gossypol acetate (GA), a form of FG, on the growth, serum biochemical parameters, and intestinal health of goslings. Seventy-two healthy male goslings, aged 7-day-old with similar body weight (BW), were randomly divided into 3 groups: a control group and 2 GA-treated groups (GA25 and GA50), which were orally administered GA (25 and 50 mg/kg BW) daily for 14 d. The results showed that oral administration of GA significantly suppressed BW, altered serum parameters, and impaired intestinal health in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Specifically, GA adversely affected intestinal morphology, induced oxidative stress, and inflammation, diminished immune function, and increased intestinal permeability and apoptosis of intestinal cells, consequently impairing nutrient absorption and utilization of goslings. Overall, these data indicate that GA adversely affects the growth, serum parameters, and intestinal health of goslings, providing valuable information further to understand the toxic effects of gossypol on goslings., Competing Interests: DISCLOSURES The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

This study explored the ability of formic acid (FA) to replace antibiotics in broiler chicken diets. It examined how FA affected the chickens' growth, carcass characteristics, blood chemistry, and gut bacteria. The experiment randomly assigned 300 one-day-old (Ross 308) broiler chicks to 5 groups, each divided into 6 replicates with 10 unsexed chicks. The following were the treatments: 1st group, negative control (NC): only received a basal diet; 2nd group, positive control (PC): received a basal diet supplemented with 0.5 grams of Colistin antibiotic per kilogram of diet; 3rd, 4th, and 5th groups (FA2, FA4, and FA6) these groups received a basal diet along with formic acid added at increasing levels: 2, 4, and 6 Cm 3 per kilogram of diet, respectively. Results found no significant differences in live body weight (LBW) or body weight gain (BWG) between treatment groups, except for LBW at one week and BWG at 0 to 1 and 4 to 5 wk of age. No significant variations were found in feed intake (FI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) among the treatment groups, excluding FI and FCR at 1 to 2 wk of age. The treatments significantly impacted carcass traits, dressing percentage, breast meat, thigh meat, spleen, giblets, blood levels of urea, creatinine, total protein, globulin, and albumin, as well as the activity of enzymes alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in chicks fed different diets compared to control groups. The addition of FA to the diet significantly impacted antioxidant levels. Also, the FA2 group had the highest total bacterial count (TBC). However, the FA6 group was the opposite; it had the lowest levels of harmful bacteria, such as E. coli and Coliform. Supplementing broiler diets with formic acid improves blood parameters, antioxidant activity, and gut bacteria counts, with 4.0 cm³ formic acid/kg diet supplementation promoting optimal broiler health and product quality., Competing Interests: DISCLOSURES The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Detecting progesterone (P4) concentration in cow serum is essential for monitoring the pregnancy progress after fertilization and is significant for the dairy farming industry and veterinary medicine. This study reports enzyme-free immunomagnetic beads (IMBs)-based competitive immunoassay for detecting P4 by P4-bovine serum albumin (BSA)-modified biosensors. The anti-P4 antibody-conjugated IMBs serve as collectors to capture P4 in undiluted serum samples to prevent the biosensor surface from biosample contamination and as insulated labels to report the electron-transfer resistance signal of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurement. The IMBs and P4-containing samples were mixed for 15-30 min, capable of obtaining stable P4@IMB complexes. The 0.2-kGauss pulsed magnetic field (PMF) of the 20-s pulse width and 20-s relaxation time applied for 5 min can shorten the immunoreaction time between the P4@IMBs and the P4-BSA-modified biosensor and reduce the IMB's nonspecific adsorption on the biosensor surface. This competitive immunoassay's cut-off value and detection limit were 7.71 ng/mL and 7.33 ng/mL, respectively, which is lower than the serum's P4 plateau concentration (over 8 ng/mL) of dairy cows on days 6-16 of estrus cycles and that in pregnancy. The IMB-based immunoassay combining the PMF attraction and the label-free EIS measurement exhibits promising potential for rapidly detecting P4 in undiluted serum., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest All authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Hematologic and blood biochemical values are key tools for assessing primate health. A long-term behavioral study of howler monkeys at a single site (La Pacífica, Guanacaste, Costa Rica), afforded the opportunity to develop baseline values for a large group of animals, evaluating differences between adult males and females and comparing to a report in the same population two decades later., Methods: In 1998, 64 free-ranging mantled howler monkeys were anesthetized and sampled for hematologic and biochemical analysis., Results: Blood analysis is reported for 29 adult females, 9 juvenile females, 19 adult males and 3 juvenile males. Four adults were excluded due to external injury or disease. There were few significant differences between adult females, juvenile females, and adult males., Conclusions: Baseline blood parameters are useful for determining normal values for howler monkey populations. The values for total protein, blood urea nitrogen, glucose, liver enzymes and potassium differed from a later study in 2019 may indicate changes that are influencing howler monkey health., (© 2024 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

The evaluation of hematological and plasma biochemical parameters and the subsequent establishment of reference intervals facilitate the diagnosis of the health status of animals. This work aimed to determine the blood parameters of wild specimens of the stingrays Potamotrygon motoro and Potamotrygon orbignyi from the lower Solimões River region, Amazonas, Brazil. One hundred forty-one stingrays were captured, 92 specimens of P. motoro and 49 of P. orbignyi, of both sexes and at different stages of development. No effect of sex was observed on the blood parameters of juvenile animals for both species. P. motoro neonates presented a distinct hematological and biochemical profile, with significantly lower hematocrit values, hemoglobina, number of erythrocytes, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, monocytes, plasma glucose, total proteins, albumin, and globulin. On the other hand, total cholesterol and urea levels were significantly higher in this same group compared to juveniles of the same species. Comparison between species revealed lower values of triglycerides and total cholesterol in P. orbignyi of both sexes. The results obtained are pioneering for these Amazonian species in white water environments and will serve as a basis for evaluating the health status of wild stingrays. Thus, from the analysis of the blood of the P. motoro and P. orbignyi stingrays, it was possible to observe good health conditions., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

No reference intervals for serum biochemistry and haematology of sea turtles in Thailand exists to assist veterinarians who are responsible for sea turtle health management and treatment. This study determined serum biochemistry and basic haematology of healthy juvenile green sea turtles (n = 92) in captivity in Thailand following the American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology (ASVCP), Quality Assurance and Laboratory Standards Committee (QALS) guidelines for the determination of reference intervals in veterinary species. Biochemistry tests, including blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, uric acid, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase were analysed using an IDEXX VetTest Chemistry Analyzer. Haematology parameters were measured manually using a microhaematocrit for packed cell volume (PCV), Neubauer counting chamber for red blood cell count and cyanmethemoglobin method for haemoglobin concentration. mean corpuscular volume and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration were calculated using the PCV, red blood cell count and haemoglobin. Turtles in this study were found to have higher mean values for PCV (28.70%), haemoglobin (92.13 g/L), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (327.03 g/L), uric acid (247.15 μmol/L), alanine aminotransferase (16.53 IU/L), aspartate aminotransferase (209.44 IU/L), and alkaline phosphatase (245.08 IU/L) compared to sea turtles in Brazil. The reference intervals established using high numbers of healthy turtles in this study will assist veterinarians with diagnostic and treatment decisions when evaluating laboratory results for juvenile green sea turtles., (© 2024 The Authors. Australian Veterinary Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Australian Veterinary Association.)

Background: Biochemical measurements are commonly evaluated using population-based reference intervals; however, there is a growing trend toward reassessing results with within-subject variation (CV I )., Objectives: We aimed to estimate the CV I of 16 biochemical analytes using a large database of dogs and cats, which refers to the results of routine health checkups., Methods: Pairs of sequential results for 16 analytes were extracted from a database of adult patients. The second result was divided by the first result to produce the ratio of sequential results (rr), and the frequency distribution of rr was plotted. From the plots, the coefficient of variation (CV rr ) was calculated. Analytical variation (CV A ) was calculated using quality control data, and CV I was estimated as follows: CV I = CV rr / 2 1 / 2 2 - CV A 2 1 / 2 . Estimated CV I was compared with previously reported CV I using the Bland-Altman plot analysis., Results: From the database, 9078 data points from 3610 dogs and 3743 data points from 1473 cats were extracted, with 5468 data pairs for dogs and 2270 for cats. Sampling intervals ranged from 10 to 1970 days (median 366) for dogs and 23 to 1862 days (median 365) for cats. Bland-Altman analysis showed most CV I plots fell within the limits of agreement; however, positive fixed biases were observed in both dogs and cats., Conclusions: Our study introduces a novel approach of estimating CV I using routine health checkup data in dogs and cats. Despite biases, our method holds promise for clinical application in assessing the significance of measurement result differences., (© 2024 The Authors. Veterinary Clinical Pathology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology.)

Annual health records were retrospectively analyzed for a colony of ring-tailed lemurs ( Lemur catta ) inhabiting St. Catherines Island, Georgia, USA to establish baseline hematological and serum biochemical parameters and determine sex- and age-related differences. Summarized complete blood count and serum biochemistry panel results are presented for 85 blood samples collected from 54 lemurs at annual health exams during 1998-2003. Within each of four age classes (infant, <1 yr; juvenile, 1-5 yr; adult, ≥ 6 yr), data were stratified and summarized based on sex. Lemur age was a significant positive predictor of mean corpuscular hemoglobin; absolute concentrations of neutrophils, monocytes, and band cells; serum concentrations of blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, globulins, lipase, and total protein; and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) activity. Lemur age was a significant negative predictor of albumin:globulins ratio; alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity; and serum concentrations of calcium, cholesterol, glucose, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and triglycerides. Neutrophil proportions increased with aging and lymphocyte proportions decreased with aging, particularly in females. Recent steep population declines of wild ring-tailed lemurs make their successful husbandry and medical care an increasingly pressing concern. These biomedical data will aid in clinical diagnosis and treatment of lemurs in human care, and support conservation efforts for this species.

Large herbivores are subject to handling and social stress in captivity. These may affect blood biochemical values, which motivated this research. Twelve healthy common eland (Taurotragus oryx) were monitored for 12 months. The animals were handled monthly, and blood samples were collected. Samples from every second month were analysed for 14 blood biochemical parameters. Temperament throughout the handling, as the summation of various behavioural responses, was calculated as a proxy of the stress generated during handling. Social behaviour was recorded each month, and the agonistic interactions were used to calculate the social rank, which was considered a proxy of social stress. Generalised Linear Mixed Models were designed to test the effects of temperament and social rank on the blood biochemical parameters while keeping sex, age, body condition, and body weight as covariates. The results show that the temperament during handling influences blood levels of albumin, alkaline phosphate, blood urea nitrogen, glucose, total bilirubin, and total protein; however, social rank has little influence, affecting just albumin. The ranges observed in the values of these biochemical parameters were still within their reference intervals, implying the absence of pathology or physiological problems during the study. The results suggest that blood biochemical values of physically restrained common eland should be carefully interpreted, even in animals already habituated to routine handling. On the contrary, social rank has low effects on the blood biochemical parameters., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

In the last years, there has been an increasing interest in llamas, not only as part of a productive system, but mostly as companion animals. Most reports regarding clinical biochemistry and haematology include few llamas and details about their health status are not available. The present study aims to provide haematological and biochemical parameters for llamas of known health status. Twenty-three non-pregnant females and seven males that live in Buenos Aires, Argentina (34°36'S, 58°22'W, at sea level) were studied. Llamas were clinically healthy, in good nutritional status. Animals were kept at grass and were fed hay bale or pellets and water ad libitum. Blood samples were collected by jugular venipuncture in spring. Packed cell volume, leucocyte count, differential white cell count, platelets count, urea, creatinine, total proteins, albumin, alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, glucose, calcium and phosphate were assessed. No significant differences were observed between males and females, except for platelet count and calcium, which was greater in males (P˂0.01). Values obtained for the different parameters were similar to those previously reported, except for monocytes, alkaline phosphatase, glucose and calcium, that were lower and lymphocytes and platelets count, that were higher in this study. In conclusion, different ambient and methodological conditions might affect some parameters. The parameters hereby presented are representative of llama's population living at sea level in South America., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Whole blood analysis can evaluate numerous parameters, including pH, pCO₂, pO₂, HCO₃ - , base excess, glucose, electrolytes, lactate, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, bilirubin, and hemoglobin. This valuable tool enables clinicians to make more informed decisions about patient care. However, the current body of literature describing perioperative whole blood analysis in Dorset sheep ( Ovis aries ) is small, so clinicians lack adequate information to guide their decision-making when evaluating test results. We evaluated arterial and venous whole blood pH, bicarbonate, pCO₂, lactate, creatinine, and blood urea nitrogen before and for the first 24 hours after surgery in 2 cohorts of male and female Ovis arie s undergoing one of 2 major cardiovascular procedures, a Single-Stage Fontan or an inferior vena cava to pulmonary artery extracardiac conduit implantation (IP-ECC). The cohort undergoing a Single-Stage Fontan, which is the more complex procedure, exhibited greater deviation from baseline measurements than did the cohort undergoing the IP-ECC for lactate, bicarbonate, and creatinine. The cohort undergoing the IP-ECC showed no significant deviation from baseline for any parameters, potentially indicating a better safety margin than expected when compared with the Single-Stage Fontan. Together, these results indicate the clinical value of arterial and venous whole blood measurements in perioperative management of sheep and can provide a reference for clinicians managing sheep after significant cardiovascular procedures.

Background: Biological variation helps determine whether population-based or subject-based reference intervals are more appropriate to assess changes in serial analytical values. Previous studies have investigated the biological variation of biochemical analytes weekly or with variable frequency over 5-14 weeks in cats, but none have considered biological variation at less frequent intervals over 1 year., Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the long-term biological variation of 19 biochemical analytes in clinically healthy cats., Methods: A prospective, observational study in which 15 clinically healthy, client-owned cats were sampled for serum biochemical analyses every 8 weeks for 1 year. Frozen serum samples were single-batch analyzed. Restricted maximum likelihood estimation was used to determine the coefficients of variation (CV), describing variation within each cat, between cats, and the analytical variation. These CVs were used to determine the indices of individuality and reference change values (RCVs)., Results: Albumin, alkaline phosphatase, creatine kinase, and globulin had high indices of individuality, indicating that they are best evaluated by RCVs. Phosphorus, potassium, chloride, sodium, symmetric dimethylarginine, and total CO 2 had low indices of individuality, indicating that population-based reference intervals are appropriate. Alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, blood urea nitrogen, calcium, cholesterol, creatinine, glucose, total bilirubin, and total protein had intermediate indices of individuality, indicating that RCVs may provide additional insight into the interpretation of analyte measurements beyond the population-based reference intervals., Conclusions: For many analytes, the biological variation detected was similar to that reported in prior studies. Clinicians should consider the biological variation of analytes to best interpret clinically relevant changes in serial analyte measurements., (© 2022 American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology.)

Despite the paucity of published literature on elasmobranch hematology and biochemistry, great interspecific diversity has been observed. Blood samples from 43 undulate rays ( Raja undulata ) (23 males, 20 females) hatched and raised at Oceanogràfic Aquarium, were analyzed for hematology and plasma biochemistry. Animals were divided into two age groups: 1 yr old (28 skates) and 2 yr old (15 skates). All individuals were clinically healthy on physical examination. Weight, total length, standard length, and disc width were recorded. No statistically significant differences were observed between male and female juvenile skates for the evaluated morphometric, hematologic, and plasma biochemical values. Once reference intervals (RI) were determined, blood samples from seven healthy adult skates housed at the same aquarium were collected for comparison. Statistically significant differences were observed in cholesterol, triglycerides, alkaline phosphatase, blood urea nitrogen, chloride, and sodium between juvenile and adult skates. This is the first article describing hematological and plasma biochemical RI for this species, increasing the clinical knowledge on elasmobranch blood analytics. These data will serve as a valuable diagnostic and research tool for professionals working with undulate rays and closer relatives in aquariums and in the field. Further studies using larger elasmobranch sample sizes are needed to determine reliable species-specific baseline health values and to evaluate the effect of intrinsic and extrinsic parameters on blood analytics more accurately.

Accurate, timely, and cost-effective blood chemistry analysis is an essential tool for directing emergency treatment, monitoring the health status of captive and free-ranging individuals and flocks, and improving the efficacy of conservation actions. Blood samples were obtained from 52 canvasbacks ( Aythya valisineria ) that were captured on San Francisco Bay, California, during December 2017 as part of a long-term study. Reference values and clinical agreement were determined for blood chemistry and plasma protein parameters among four commonly used point-of-care devices (VetScan ® VS2, i-STAT ® , AlphaTRAK ® 2 glucometer, refractometer) and two gold standard laboratory analyzers (Roche cobas ® c501, Helena SPIFE 3000 system). Canvasback reference values were generally within expected ranges for Anatidae species with the exception of higher upper limits for sodium and chloride. Creatine kinase and aspartate transaminase values exceeded a published threshold for diagnosis of capture myopathy even though study birds were captured using low-stress techniques and successfully released. With the exception of higher alkaline phosphatase in hatch-year canvasbacks, no age or sex differences were observed for any analyte in this population that was captured during a nonbreeding period. Analysis of analyzer agreement found raw VetScan aspartate transaminase, calcium, glucose, and uric acid values; corrected VetScan albumin, potassium, sodium, and total protein values; raw i-STAT glucose and potassium values; and corrected i-STAT sodium and chloride values were clinically interchangeable with Roche cobas values. Raw VetScan and i-STAT glucose values were also interchangeable. However, none of the Roche or point-of-care analyzer plasma protein values were in clinical agreement with gold standard electrophoresis values. The findings of this study highlight the need for analyzer- or technique-specific reference values and provide biologists and veterinarians quantitative reference values using currently available analyzers to better assess and respond to the health of individuals and populations.

Objective: To compare the level of agreement of measurement of analytes (sodium, chloride, potassium, urea nitrogen [UN], creatinine, glucose) in a population of healthy adult cats between the point-of-care (POC) analyzer and laboratory analyzer. To establish reference intervals for the POC analyzer in healthy adult cats., Design: Prospective observational study., Setting: University teaching hospital., Animals: Fifty-five cats were screened. Seven cats were excluded due to aggression that prohibited phlebotomy, and 1 cat was excluded due to prolonged restraint; 47 cats were enrolled., Interventions: None., Measurements and Main Results: In this patient population, reference intervals for the POC analyzer were calculated: sodium 145-157 mmol/L; chloride 116-124 mmol/L; potassium 3.4-5.5 mmol/L; UN 5.71-13.9 mmol/L (16-39 mg/dl); creatinine 74.3-189.2 mmol/L (0.84-2.14 mg/dl); and glucose 4-11.8 mmol/L (72-213 mg/dl). Comparison between the POC analyzer and laboratory analyzer using the Bland-Altman method was performed. The bias for each analyte is as follows: sodium 1.55 mmol/L; chloride 0.99 mmol/L; potassium 0.21 mmol/L; UN -0.25 mmol/L (-0.7 mg/dl); creatinine 9.73 mmol/L (0.11 mg/dl); and glucose 0.5 mmol/L (9.79 mg/dl)., Conclusions: Reference intervals for each analyte were similar to other chemistry analyzers. There was no significant difference between the POC and laboratory analyzers in analysis of UN, with a statistically significant difference observed with sodium, potassium, chloride, creatinine, and glucose. However, the values are likely not sufficiently different to alter initial clinical decisions regarding patient care., (© Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society 2022.)

A wild adult male giant panda that was rescued from a nature reserve in Sichuan Province, China, has died. The panda had been in poor physical condition: it was wheezing and had increased serum amylase. A pathological examination was performed in order to determine the cause of death. Gross examination revealed 1380 mL of yellowish fluid in the abdominal cavity, 356 nematodes in the digestive tract and one filling the pancreatic duct, contractions and variably-sized dark purple areas in the spleen, a collapsed right lung and consolidation of the left lung. Acute pancreatitis was confirmed histopathologically via edema, focal necrosis and hemorrhage with inflammatory cell infiltration. Other major histopathological changes included serous-hemorrhagic pneumonia, lymphocytic necrosis and depletion in the spleen, and degeneration and necrosis of renal tubular epithelial cells. The nematodes were identified as Baylisascaris schroederi via molecular assays. In conclusion, the cause of death of the giant panda was determined to be multiple organ dysfunction syndrome caused by baylisascariasis-induced acute pancreatitis. To our knowledge, this is the first report of fatal baylisascariasis-induced acute pancreatitis in the giant panda., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Vascular toxicity induced by xenobiotics is associated with dysfunctions or damage to endothelial cells, changes in vascular permeability or dysregulation of the vascular redox state. The aim of this study was to determine whether per os administration of zearalenone (ZEN) influences selected hemostatic parameters in prepubertal gilts. This study was performed on female gilts divided into a control group which received placebo and an experimental group which received ZEN at a dose of 5.0 µg·kg -1 b.w. × day -1 . On days 14, 28 and 42, blood samples were collected from the animals for analyses of hematological, coagulation and fibrinolysis parameters, nitric oxide, von Willebrand factor antigen content and catalase activity. The results demonstrated that the treatment of gilts with ZEN at a dose below no observable adverse effect level did not affect the primary hemostasis and the blood coagulation cascade. However, ZEN could have temporarily affected the selected indicators of endothelial cell function (increase of von Willebrand factor, decrease of nitric oxide levels) and the oxidative status plasma (decrease of catalase activity) of the exposed gilts. In summary, these results suggest that the adaptive response to ZEN-exposure can induce a transient imbalance in the vascular system by acting on vascular endothelial cells.

Background: Blood biochemistry and reference intervals help to differentiate between healthy and ill dogs as well as to provide information for the prognosis, evaluation, and monitoring; however, these intervals are often obtained from adult animals. It is essential to understand that puppies and adults are physiologically different, which justifies the need to obtain age-specific biochemical reference intervals. The aim of this research was to assess the potential effect of age, sex, body size, and their interaction on routine biochemical analytes and physiological constants (body temperature, heart rate, and respiratory rate). To carry out the research, we selected 197 healthy dogs of both sexes and different body sizes (small, medium and large) classified by age: group I (4-8 wk), group II (9-24 wk), group III (25-52 wk), and group IV (> 52 wk). The biochemical analysis included the measurement of the enzymatic activity of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and the concentrations of cholesterol, triglycerides, total proteins, albumin, globulins, glucose, urea, and creatinine. Statistical analyses used analysis of variance (ANOVA) and a general linear model (GLM), which allows the comparison of multiple factors at two or more levels (p < 0.05)., Results: The results of this study showed that ALT, total protein, albumin, globulin, urea, creatinine, and body temperature levels were lower in puppies than in adult dogs of group IV (p < 0.05), while the enzymatic activity of ALP, LDH, glucose concentration, and heart rate were higher. Whereas sex, body size and the interaction did not show a significant effect (p > 0.05)., Conclusions: Some biochemical components are influenced by age. For this reason, this manuscript contributes with additional data for the clinical interpretation of blood biochemical results in puppies., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

The intravenous (IV) usage of diuretic agents such as furosemide may cause changes in clinical signs, electrocardiographic (ECG) indices and serum electrolytes (sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, phosphorus and magnesium) concentrations in dromedary calves. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical, ECG and biochemical effects of two-dose IV administration of furosemide in dromedary calves. A total of 21 clinically healthy male dromedary calves with the age of 5 (± 1) months and weight of 95 (± 5) kg were studied. The animals were randomly divided into three groups of control (normal saline), low-dose furosemide (2.5 mg/kg) and high-dose furosemide (5 mg/kg). Two IV injections with 12-hr intervals were administered in all animals. The clinical and ECG parameters were measured at 0 (baseline), 2 (T2), 24 (T24) and 48 (T48) hours after drug administration. Serum concentrations of electrolytes were measured at T0, T24 and T48 hr. The results of this study showed no changes in clinical parameters (heart rate, rectal temperature, respiratory rate and Unruminal motility), ECG indices and also no significant changes in serum electrolytes levels. Under conditions with free access to fresh water, two-dose IV injection of furosemide (2.5 and 5 mg/kg) could be administered in healthy dromedary calves., (© 2020 The Authors. Veterinary Medicine and Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

The effects of season, location, species, and sex on body weight and a comprehensive array of blood chemistry and hematology analytes were compared for free-ranging western ( Aechmophorus occidentalis ) and Clark's ( Aechmophorus clarkii ) grebes. Birds (n = 56) were collected from Puget Sound, WA, and Monterey Bay and San Francisco Bay, CA, from February 2007 to March 2011. The data supported generalization of observed ranges for most analytes across Aechmophoru s grebe metapopulations wintering on the Pacific coast. Notable seasonal and location effects were observed for packed cell volume (winter 6% greater than fall; winter California [CA] 5% greater than Washington [WA]), total white blood cell count (CA 3.57 × 10 3 cells/µL greater than WA), heterophils (WA 10% greater than CA), lymphocytes (winter 19% greater than fall), heterophil to lymphocyte ratio (fall 5.7 greater than winter), basophils (CA greater than WA), plasma protein (WA about 10 g/L [1.0 g/dL] greater than CA), plasma protein to fibrinogen ratio (winter about 15 greater than fall), potassium (CA 2 mmol/L greater than WA), and liver enzymes (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase: WA greater than CA). Within California, season had a greater effect on body mass than sex (mean winter weights about 200 g greater than fall), whereas within a season, males weighed only about 80 g more than females, on average. These data give biologists and veterinarians quantitative reference values to better assess health at the individual and metapopulation level.

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of dietary inclusion of silkworm pupae meal (SPM) on nutrient digestibility, nitrogen utilization, gastrointestinal physiology and blood biochemical parameters in rabbits. Thirty Termond White rabbits were divided into three groups: SBM - fed a diet containing 10% soybean meal (SBM), SPM5 - fed a diet containing 5% SBM and 5% SPM, and SPM10 - fed a diet containing 10% SPM., Results: Nutrient digestibility and nitrogen retention decreased with increasing SPM inclusion levels in rabbit diets. The dietary inclusion of SPM caused a significant increase in the stomach pH. Group SPM10 rabbits were characterized by the highest cecal tissue and digesta weights. The lowest cecal pH was noted in group SPM5. The relative weights of colonic tissue and digesta tended to increase with increasing levels of SPM. The total and intracellular activity of bacterial α-galactosidase decreased significantly in both SPM groups. The replacement of SBM with SPM led to a decrease in the activity of bacterial β-glucuronidase in the cecal digesta. The intracellular activity of bacterial α-arabinofuranosidase increased, and its release rate decreased in the cecum of rabbits in SPM groups. The extracellular activity of bacterial β-xylosidase in the cecal digesta tended to decrease in group SPM10. The highest extracellular and intracellular activity of bacterial β-cellobiosidase in the cecal digesta was noted in the SPM5 treatment. The lowest and the highest activity of bacterial N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAGase) was observed in groups SBM and SPM10. The SPM10 treatment contributed to a decrease in the cecal concentrations of butyric, iso-valeric and valeric acids. The lowest total concentration of putrefactive short-chain fatty acids (PSCFAs) was observed in group SPM10. The cecal concentration of propionic acid tended to increase in group SPM5, whereas the cecal concentration of iso-butyric acid tended to decrease in group SPM10. The colonic concentration of iso-valeric acid was lowest in group SPM5. SPM treatments resulted in a significant increase in plasma albumin concentration. Plasma urea concentration was significantly higher in group SPM10 than in SBM and SPM5., Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that rabbit diets can be supplemented with SPM at up to 5%.

Background: Reference intervals for haematology and serum biochemistry parameters were developed for free-ranging Lumholtz's tree-kangaroo (Dendrolagus lumholtzi) using 35 samples from 12 female and 15 male free-ranging animals. Captive tree-kangaroos (n = 12) were also sampled for comparison. Differences were found between free-ranging and captive animals in white blood cell and neutrophil counts, and levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin, creatine kinase, phosphate, triglycerides and lipase. These differences may be attributed to diet, activity, capture methods or age group. Reference intervals generated may be used for both free-ranging and captive Lumholtz's tree-kangaroos. This study provides a valuable tool for the assessment of health in rescued and captive tree-kangaroos and will aid in investigations into population health and disease in free-ranging Lumholtz's tree-kangaroos., Objective: To develop reference intervals (RIs) for haematology and serum biochemistry parameters in Lumholtz's tree-kangaroos., Methods: Haematological and serum biochemical RIs were determined using 35 samples from 27 clinically healthy Lumholtz's tree-kangaroos from the Atherton Tablelands region of Queensland examined between 2014 and 2019. Haematology and serum biochemistry parameters were measured from 16 samples from 12 captive animals for comparison., Results: Reference intervals based on 35 samples from free-ranging animals showed higher mean and standard deviation values for white blood cell and neutrophil counts, and levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin, creatine kinase, phosphate, triglycerides and lipase than results for 16 samples from captive animals. Captive individuals showed higher mean values than free-ranging individuals for albumin, protein, creatinine as well as Hb, MCV, MCH and MCHC., Conclusion: The haematological and serum biochemistry RIs developed for Lumholtz's tree-kangaroos in this study will provide a valuable tool during clinical examination and investigations into disease and population health by veterinarians and researchers. The differences in parameters between free-ranging and captive animals are consistent with differences in diet, age cohort, activity or capture methods. Reference intervals generated from free-ranging animals should also be valid for captive Lumholtz's tree-kangaroos., (© 2021 Australian Veterinary Association.)

A 10-week feeding trial was run to investigate the separate and simultaneous effects of exogenous enzymes (Enz), probiotics (Pro), and Pro-Enz mixtures on the hematology indices, serum biochemical parameters, and innate-immunity status of juvenile Siberian sturgeon. The fish (138.06 ± 3.64 g) were randomly dispersed into 12 tanks (20 individuals per tank) and fed with Enz (Phytase, protease, and xylanase), Pro (Pediococcus pentosaceus and Lactococcus lactis), and Pro-Enz cocktail. At the end of the feeding bioassay, the highest values of red blood cell count, hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit level, and lymphocyte percentage followed by the lowest neutrophil percentage were obtained in Pro-Enz treatment (P < 0.05). Despite a significantly lower level of alkaline phosphatase in the fish fed with Pro supplemented diet (P < 0.05), no significant difference was found in the serum level of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase among the experimental groups (P > 0.05). Total protein content was significantly upregulated in serum and skin mucus samples from those fed with supplemented diets compared to the control group (P < 0.05). In both serum and skin mucus samples, higher immune responses in terms of lysozyme activity, immunoglobulin M, total protein was seen in Pro-Enz treatment compared to the control group followed by the serum complement components (P < 0.05). The results indicate that the combinational supplementation of Siberian sturgeon diet with the exogenous enzymes and probiotics modulates the physiometabolic responses and innate immune system to a higher grade than their individual supplementation., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The present study investigated the effects of overripe pulp and green peel extract and powder of banana fruit (Musa. cavendish) on haematological, biochemical, immunological, health, and performance of Holstein dairy calves. In all, 40 newborn calves were randomly divided into four groups of 10 animals. In the control group, animals received no banana meal. In group 1, calves were supplemented with 2 g (dry matter)/kg body weight/day of overripe banana pulp extract. The calves in group 2 were supplemented with 1 g (dry matter) of overripe banana pulp extract/kg body weight/day and 1 g (dry matter) of green banana peel extract/kg body weight/day. The animals in group 3 were supplemented with 2 g/kg body weight/day of green banana peel powder. The feeding period of calves on the tested supplements was 5 days. Blood samples and other evaluations were taken on day 0 (at birth, before supplementation) and on days 7, 15 and 30. Just a trend towards better average daily weight gain was seen in groups 2 and 3 than others (p = 0.073). Significant group and sampling time interactions were seen for the quantities of RBC (group 1 was lower than other groups at day 30), MCV (group 3 was lower than other groups at day 30) and MCH (group 1 was higher than other groups at day 30) (p < 0.05). A trend towards significance in values of IgG (group 1 was lower than other groups at days 15 and 30) and bilirubin (higher values at day 7 in groups 1 and 2 than control, higher amounts at days 15 and 30 in groups 3 and 2 than control, respectively) was also observed. In conclusion, banana supplementation in neonatal calves had beneficial effects on the values of RBC, MCV, MCH, bilirubin, IgG and average daily weight gain in dairy calves., (© 2021 The Authors Veterinary Medicine and Science Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Glyphosate formulations, widely applied non-selective systemic herbicides, are progressively becoming the most controversial pesticides on the market due the adverse effects they pose to humans and environment. The information on these potential hazardous effects to the handlers of the pesticide remains obscure. This study investigated effects of glyphosate-based herbicide on growth performance, seminal parameters and hemato-biochemical profiles in male guinea pig. Forty sexually mature male guinea pigs weighing between 393.3 and 418.4 g were divided into four groups of 10 animals each and orally administered 0, 186, 280 and 560 mg/kg body weight of WILLOSATE daily for 60 days. Daily feed intake and body weight gain were recorded. At the end of experimental period all animals were humanely sacrificed, and blood samples and vital organs were collected for appropriate analysis. Results showed a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in body weight gain (-102.2%), final body weight (-9.8%) and feed intake (-13.1%) of animals following sub-chronic exposure of WILLOSATE. The weights of the liver and kidney increased significantly (p < 0.05) by 25.4% and 28.8%, respectively, while testicular weights decreased (p < 0.05) by 24% with increasing doses of WILLOSATE. A decrease in sperm motility (-67.9%), viability (-52.7%) and concentration per vas deferens (-40.7%), and an increase in sperm major (28.1%) and minor (45.3%) morphological aberrations were recorded in WILLOSATE - exposed guinea pigs when compared to controls. There was a dose-dependent increase (p < 0.05) in MCV and WBC and a decrease in Hb content and RBC, as well as serum content in total protein (-11.8%). The serum content of cholesterol (37.8%), urea (87.1%), creatinine (22.4%), ALAT (74.2%) and ASAT (88.7%) were significantly higher in treated groups compared to controls. These results point toward the toxic effects of WILLOSATE on vital organs and reproductive function of the body at high doses and long-term exposure., (© 2021 The Authors Veterinary Medicine and Science Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Haematological and biochemical parameters play important roles in safeguarding animal health and preventing disease, but the blood reference values of many wild animals are still unknown. Recently, few descriptions of the blood parameters of Siberian tigers (Panthera tigris altaica) have been reported because these tigers comprise an endangered species; however, it is extremely difficult to obtain blood samples necessary for these analyses. This study presents 14 haematological and 16 biochemical parameters of 133 Siberian tigers, of which 112 and 21 were from Heilongjiang Siberian Tiger Park (HB) and Hailin Siberian Tiger Park (HD), China, respectively. Our study is the first to determine the following parameters in Siberian tigers: red blood cell volume distribution width, platelet count, mean platelet volume, amylase (AMY), sodium/potassium, globulin and albumin/globulin levels. As the data for total bilirubin and AMY were not statistically significant, no statistical analysis was conducted for these parameters. Few parameters were significantly different according to sex and region (p < 0.05). The concentration of alkaline phosphatase decreased with age, whereas the creatinine (CREA) increased with age. The CREA concentration of tigers raised in HB was much lower than that of tigers raised in HD. The data obtained in this study provide a reference for monitoring the health of wild and captive Siberian tigers and will add important information to the standards for haematological and biochemical parameters of wild felines., (© 2020 The Authors Veterinary Medicine and Science Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Tetracyclines are antibiotics widely used in human and veterinary medicine. Effects on the immune system and inflammatory response, including effects on blood leukocytes proliferation and function and in cytokines synthesis, have been described. Chemically modified tetracyclines (CMT) have lost their antimicrobial activity, but maintain these other properties. This study analyzes the effect of chemically modified tetracycline-8 (CMT-8) on the evolution of complete blood count, blood chemistry, the mRNA expression of selected cytokines and peripheral blood lymphocyte subpopulations distribution in healthy dogs. CMT-8 at a dose of 10 mg/kg once daily was administered per os to six healthy dogs. A control group of five healthy dogs, living in the same conditions than dogs treated with CMT-8, received placebo with an identical therapeutic regimen. When given at the doses used in this study, no side effects of CMT-8 were detected, suggesting a good tolerance and a limited toxicity of the drug. Dogs treated with CMT-8 showed a gradual increase in mean corpuscular hemoglobin. The administration of CMT-8 in healthy dogs did not affect blood mRNA expression of IFN-γ, TNFα, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12 p40 and IL-13. However, the lymphocytes expressing class II MHC on their surface decreased during the first two weeks of CMT-8 treatment and subsequently increased for the next three months. Considering the absence of antimicrobial properties of the drug, the effects of CMT-8 detected in this study seem to be unrelated to the classical antimicrobial activity attributed to tetracyclines., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The present study was carried out to investigate the effects of dietary bovine lactoferrin (BLF) or chitosan nanoparticles (CHN) alone or in combinations on serum biochemical indices, antioxidative capacity, transcriptomic responses, non-specific immunity, and resistance of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) against challenge with Aeromonas hydrophila. Fish were fed on the basal diet with no supplements and served as control (CTR), and six other experimental diets containing different levels of BLF (800 and 1200 mg per kg diet), CHN (500 and 1000 mg per kg diet), and their combinations (400 mg BLF plus 250 mg CHN per kg diet, and 600 mg BLF plus 500 mg CHN per kg diet) for 45 days. At the end of the experiment, serum, and tissue specimens (liver and kidney) were collected, fish in all groups were challenged with A. hydrophila and then observed for another ten days to calculate the RPS. Compared to the CTR group, no significant differences were recorded in TP, ALB, GLO, BUN, and CREAT values among all treatments. Serum LYZ, ALT, AST, and ALP enzyme activities were significantly increased in all experimental groups over the CTR (P < 0.05), and their highest values were recorded in the combined treatments. Moreover, dietary supplementation with CHN (1000 mg/kg) and combined treatments significantly increased the SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px enzyme activities compared to other groups (P < 0.05). The highest mRNA expression levels of IGF-1 gene in liver, and IL-1β, and IFN-γ genes in kidneys were found in CHN (1000 mg/kg) group and combined treatments more than other groups. Interestingly, no, or mild histopathological alterations were noticed in the hepatopancreas and posterior kidney of the treated groups. A significantly higher RPS was identified in the combined treatments challenged with A. hydrophila compared with the CTR group. This study exemplifies the positive impacts of dietary supplementation with BLF or CHN alone or combinations on the antioxidative status, immunity, and disease resistance of Nile tilapia., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Bats play a key role as reservoir hosts of many emerging viral diseases with zoonotic potential. However, little is known about the laboratory reference intervals (RIs) of bats, especially Egyptian fruit bats ( Rousettus aegyptiacus ). The aim of this study was to obtain haematological, biochemical and electrophoretic RIs from captive fruit bats. Blood was collected from 21 R. aegyptiacus (11 females and 10 males). Complete blood cell count was performed using an impedance cell counter followed by the morphologic analysis of blood smears. Clinical biochemistry was performed with an automated spectrophotometer and agarose gel electrophoresis was carried out with an automated instrument. Reference intervals were determined using the Reference Value Advisor V2.1, following the American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology guidelines. Possible differences related to sex or sexual maturity were also investigated. The RIs for most of the analytes investigated were similar to those of other types of bats and other mammalian species. Haematology revealed mild polychromasia and slightly lower haematocrit, haemoglobin, leukocyte and lymphocyte counts compared to other bats. Glucose levels varied possibly due to stress, the anaesthetic protocol and fasting time. Creatine kinase was higher, while triglycerides were lower compared with domestic mammals and other bats. No sex- or age-related differences were found. Serum protein electrophoresis showed five fractions (albumin, α-, β 1 -, β 2 - and γ-globulins). The values recorded in this study could be helpful as a reference biological dataset to monitor the health status of wild and captive R. aegyptiacus and, possibly, of other Chiroptera.

The present prospective randomized experimental study was designed to determine the effects of doxapram on haematological, serum biochemical and antioxidant status in dogs after propofol anaesthesia. Twenty-four healthy male mixed breed dogs, aged 1-2 years, weighing 20.4 ± 2.6 kg was studied. Each dog was anaesthetized twice, with at least one week for washout. Animals were sedated with acepromazine (0.1 mg/kg) intramuscularly. Forty minutes later, anaesthesia was induced using intravenous (IV) propofol (4 mg/kg) titration and maintained for 30 min by propofol (0.2 mg kg -1  min -1 ). After propofol was discontinued, doxapram (2 mg/kg) hydrochloride was administrated IV in PD treatment while an equal volume of saline was administrated in PS treatment. Blood parameters were analysed in four times: immediately before sedation (T1), after treatment (T2), after complete recovery (T3) and 24 hr later (T4). Haematological assessments revealed no significant difference between treatments except in haematocrit which was significantly reduced at T4 (24 hr later) in PD. A decreasing trend of all haematological variables was observed after doxapram administration until recovery, except monocyte, mean corpuscular haemoglobin, red blood cell distribution width and platelet count. Serum urea, creatinine, glucose, cholesterol, direct bilirubin concentration and alanine aminotransferase activity were not changed following doxapram administration compared to the PS treatment. After doxapram administration, Creatinine (T3), Albumin (T2) and Protein (T2 & T3) decreased while Glucose (T2 & T3) and BT (T3) increased. Antioxidant parameters measured showed no difference between treatments or time. Doxapram (2 mg/kg) IV did not induce any major negative effects on haematological, serum biochemical variables and oxidant/antioxidant status in dogs after propofol anaesthesia., (© 2020 The Authors Veterinary Medicine and Science Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Russian Sturgeon Acipenser gueldenstaedtii are an important, critically endangered, roe-producing species. Despite a wealth of knowledge pertaining to other members of family Acipenseridae, there is very limited published information regarding baseline blood analytes in Russian Sturgeon. The objectives of this study were (1) to establish reference intervals for a suite of hematological and biochemical data and (2) to compare plasma chemistry data to two point-of-care (POC) cartridges, tested on the VetScan iSTAT 1 analyzer, that use heparinized whole blood for the assessment of clinically normal, aquacultured adult Russian Sturgeon sedated with eugenol (AQUI-S 20E) at a single institution. Reference intervals are reported. The calculated hematocrit measured by the POC analyzer tended 4-5% lower than the spun packed cell volume, confirming the importance of spun packed cell volume as a reliable measurement of red blood cell mass. Various analytes, notably whole-blood urea nitrogen, glucose, sodium, total carbon dioxide, chloride, ionized calcium, and anion gap, were significantly different by both POC cartridges. This study successfully produced reference intervals for blood analytes in adult Russian Sturgeon under managed care and creates a foundation for future studies into the effects of extrinsic and intrinsic factors and variations of analytical methodologies on blood analytes in this species., (© 2020 American Fisheries Society.)

To investigate the effects of replacing maize with various levels of raw and processed oak fruit in diet on productive performance of laying hens and egg quality traits, the total number of 168 Bovans white laying hens (30-week age) were randomly distributed between 28 replicate cages and assigned to 7 experimental diets. Based on a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement of treatments including two dietary levels (10% and 20%) of raw, soaked or boiled oak fruit as well as a corn-soybean meal-based diet, 7 experimental diets with 4 replicates and 6 chickens per replicate cages were evaluated during an 8-week period. The data were analysed using GLM procedure of SAS. Significantly higher feed consumption was observed in 10% boiled oak compared with soaked oak (p < .05). Significantly improved feed conversion ratio was observed in 10% boiled oak compared with soaked oak (p < .05). Diet inclusion of 10% oak fruit caused significant increased shell weight. Significant interaction between oak level and processing method on the egg-specific gravity was observed (p < .05), and higher egg-specific gravity was detected in hens fed the diets included 20% boiled or 20% raw oak compared to 20% soaked oak. Significantly increased blood LDL level was observed in hens fed the diets that included boiled and soaked oak (p < .05). In conclusion, based on the results of the present study, 10% boiled oak can be substituted corn in diet of laying hens with no unfavourable effect on performance., (© 2020 The Authors Veterinary Medicine and Science Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Reference intervals of blood analytes are important diagnostic tools that clinicians use as a basis for making clinical decisions and that have been documented for many fish species. Although the effects of dietary supplementation on hematology and blood biochemistry variables in clownfish have been shown, there are no published reference intervals to date for routine hematology and blood biochemistry panels for these popular cultured marine fish (including Amphiprion spp.). The objective of this study was to establish de novo reference intervals for selected hemogram data and, using whole-blood analysis, commonly utilized chemistry analytes in two species of aquacultured clownfish: the Tomato Clownfish Amphiprion frenatus and Saddleback Clownfish A. polymnus. This study is based on blood samples from 25 clinically normal Tomato Clownfish and 38 clinically normal Saddleback Clownfish from two clownfish production facilities in Florida. Guidelines by the American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology were followed to generate robust reference intervals from the data collected. We report descriptive statistics and reference intervals for several hematology (n = 12) and biochemistry (n = 8) analytes using a small sample size and a small amount of blood per sample. The blood analyte data from this study are comparable with hematology and biochemistry data that have been reported in other teleost species. These results provide baseline health data for clownfish species that can be used in various clinical settings while also serving as a springboard for further research studies., (© 2020 American Fisheries Society.)

Antemortem blood biochemical and blood gas analyses are routinely used in health screening and diagnosis of disease in domestic veterinary species. These testing modalities are not routinely performed in poultry, in part, due to the distance from the diagnostic laboratory. Portable blood analyzers such as the i-STAT and VetScan (VS2) can be used to obtain results on the farm without delay, potentially offering a more practical option for poultry practitioners. We investigated the time effect on blood chemistry values and compared the results obtained using the i-STAT and VS2 with those obtained using conventional laboratory analyzers (GEM Premier 3000 and Cobas c501, respectively). We tested blood from 60 healthy chickens. Each sample was tested in triplicate using each of the portable analyzers and once using conventional analyzers. All samples were analyzed within 60 minutes of collection. The concentrations of some analytes were outside the limit of detection of the portable analyzers (i.e., bile acids). Although statistically significant differences were found for some biochemical analytes over time, the actual mean or median differences were too small to be considered of clinical importance. As observed in mammals, significant time-dependent changes in blood gas analytes were observed in whole blood samples exposed to ambient air. Correlation coefficients between portable and conventional analyzers were moderate to high for most of the analytes. For the most part, there was an agreement between the portable and conventional analyzers. We identified constant and proportional biases in the measurement of multiple analytes by both the i-STAT and VS2. Future studies are warranted to establish analyzer-specific reference intervals for poultry., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Povidone-iodine (Polidine) is a synthetic broad-spectrum antiseptic and being applied topically to treat wounds and prevent their infection. It is however used by poultry farmers, field veterinarians, and other animal health workers with the claim that it is effective for treatment of infectious bursal disease when administered orally. Hence, an acute oral toxicity study was conducted to ascertain its safety profile. Ten cockerel chicks were randomly selected and divided into 2 groups of 5 chicks per group. One group served as the negative control, whereas the other group was administered povidone-iodine at a dose of 2,000 mg/kg of BW orally. The blood sample was collected at the end of the study to determine changes in hematological and biochemical parameters. In addition, vital organs were also harvested and preserved for histopathological examinations. The result showed that the median lethal dose (LD 50 ) of the povidone-iodine is higher than 2,000 mg/kg of BW in cockerels. There were no significant changes in the hematological parameters measured. Biochemical evaluation (renal and liver function test) showed an increase in aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase levels after administration of povidone-iodine. The study indicated that the LD 50 of povidone-iodine is higher than 2,000 mg/kg of BW of cockerels, and there were increases in urinary and liver enzymes at this dose., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Laboratory-controlled physiological data for the multimammate rat ( Mastomys natalensis ) are scarce, despite this species being a known reservoir and vector for zoonotic viruses, including the highly pathogenic Lassa virus, as well as other arenaviruses and many species of bacteria. For this reason, M. natalensis is an important rodent for the study of host-virus interactions within laboratory settings. Herein, we provide basic blood parameters for age- and sex-distributed animals in regards to blood counts, cell phenotypes and serum chemistry of a specific-pathogen-monitored M. natalensis breeding colony, to facilitate scientific insight into this important and widespread rodent species.

Background: Breed specific reference ranges for selected blood parameters are recommended for proper interpretation of blood tests, but there are only few reports dealing with ponies. The purpose of this study was to investigate if blood parameters differ among ponies' classes and to check if general normal values for equine species are applicable to ponies., Results: All, except total protein concentration, biochemical parameter significantly (p < 0.05) differed among ponies' classes. The most pronounced difference was noted in blood lactate concentrations, higher (p < 0.001) in the smallest ponies (class A). In all groups of ponies muscle enzymes (aspartate aminotransferase and creatine kinase) and urea were high when compared to normal values for equine species, but triglycerides and creatinine were low. Blood lactate concentration was high in comparison with normal values for horses only in class A ponies'., Conclusions: In healthy ponies, blood lactate concentration significantly differs between height classes. Normal values for equine species should not be directly applied to interpret the lactate, triglycerides, aspartate aminotransferase and creatine kinase values in ponies.

We determined venous blood gas, acid-base, and biochemical parameters for thirteen free-ranging Indian flying foxes (Pteropus giganteus) in Myanmar, using a handheld i-STAT analyzer with CG8+ and CHEM8 cartridges. For field-based projects, portable blood analyzers enable identification and management of electrolyte and acid-base imbalances and collection of physiologic data, but present logistical challenges., (© Wildlife Disease Association 2021.)

Clinical health checks including blood testing before brumation in fall are an important tool in reptile medicine and help to reduce the risk of complications during brumation. Electrophoresis may be useful for the evaluation of liver cell function and the detection of antigenic stimulation. The goal of this study was to compare species-specific reference intervals for plasma chemistry analytes and capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) for a variety of pet chelonian species in fall. Lithium heparinized samples were collected from 68 clinically healthy spur-thighed tortoises ( Testudo graeca ), 79 red-eared sliders ( Trachemys scripta elegans ), and 30 map turtles ( Graptemys spp.) from September to November 2016 and 2017. During the same period, 128 equivalent samples were collected from Hermann's tortoises ( Testudo hermanni ) and the obtained data was used for comparison. Chemistry analytes were measured from plasma using an autoanalyzer and electrophoresis was carried out by CZE. Significant variations ( P < 0.0001) between the species were found for several analytes including total protein, percent albumin, and albumin: globulin ratio, α-, β-, and γ-globulin, alkaline phosphatase, glutamate dehydrogenase, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, bile acids, creatine kinase, urea, uric acid, inorganic phosphorus, total calcium, and potassium. The variations in albumin (g/l) measured by CZE were also significant ( P = 0.0064). No significant variations were detected for sodium levels. The results demonstrate the importance of species-specific reference intervals and provide reference intervals for the plasma chemistry and capillary zone electrophoresis in three chelonian species.

The flash glucose monitoring system (FGMS) Freestyle Libre provides estimates of blood glucose by constantly measuring the glucose concentration of the interstitial fluid through a sensor inserted in the subcutaneous space. The aim of this study was to evaluate the applicability and accuracy of the FGMS in dogs with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). Seven dogs with DKA examined at the Veterinary Hospital of the State University of Londrina were included in this study. The sensor was placed on the dorsal cervical region, shortly after the diagnosis of DKA was confirmed and maintained for 5 d. The measurement of blood glucose was performed simultaneously with the veterinary portable blood glucose meter (PBGM) AlphaTRAK 2 every 2 to 4 h and with the hexokinase method every 12 h. The PBGM's precision was evaluated following the ISO15197:2013 criteria. Blood glucose estimates were strongly associated (r = 0.89; P < 0.0001), and the mean absolute relative difference in relation to the PBGM was 25.2% (-70.4% to 101.9%). The evaluation of these data using the consensus error grid analysis showed that 95.4% and 94.8% of the samples were in Zones A and B (clinically acceptable) using the PBGM and the hexokinase method as a reference, respectively. The ISO15197:2013 criteria were not met. There was no difference in the accuracy of the device among days (P = 0.74); however, there was a difference between the hydration status (P = 0.019) and blood glucose ranges (hypoglycemic, euglycemic, and hyperglycemic; P < 0.0001), in which it was less precise in measuring the blood glucose range in hypoglycemic dogs. Therefore, it can be concluded that in spite of the fact that the device did not meet the ISO 15197:2013 criteria, the FGMS evaluated presents good clinical precision and can be a valuable tool in treating dogs with diabetic DKA., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The present work was designed to assess the potential hemato-biochemical protective action, immunemodulatory and antioxidant conclusions of varied concentration of white mulberry Morus alba leaves (MAL) extract supplementation on Nile tilapia (Oreochromis .niloticus). A total two hundred and forty of O. niloticus were haphazardly sorted into four groups. The control (CT) group was fed on basal diet. A group MAL 1 , MAL 3 and MAL 5 was fed on 1, 3 and 5 g/kg MAL respectively for thirty days. On day thirty one, half of replicates in each group were challenged by 0.5 ml × 10 8 Aeromonas hydrophila where, the residual replicates were kept without challenge. A. hydrophila challenged tilapias revealed anemia that alleviated by supplementation with 5 g/kg MAL also, recovers the shift of leucogram prompted by the challenge. Elevation of alkaline phosphatase, aminotransferases, lactate dehydrogenase and malondialdehyde (ALP, ALT, AST, LDH and MDA) in CT, MAL 1 and MAL 3 in the challenged replicates respectively where within normal at MAL 5 . Supplementation with MAL 5 showed more potent antioxidant and immune reaction than MAL 1 and MAL 3 . There were a rapid increase of immunoglobulin M, lysozymes, nitric oxide, catalase and superoxide dismutase and their allied genes expression (IgM, CAT and SOD) in MAL groups with contrast in CT challenged groups. Where in challenged groups, there was suppression in genes expression of interleukins (8 and 1 beta) and interferon ɤ (IL8. IL-1β and INFɤ). Tilapias challenged by A. hydrophila unveiled plentiful surge in the percentage of mortality in CT challenged fish (80%), followed by the groups supplemented with MAL 1 and MAL 3 were (73.33%) where MAL 5 was 20%. The mortalities have been halted from the 6 th , 13 th , 14 th and 15 th days in, MAL 5 , MAL 3 , MAL 1 , and CT correspondingly. These previous results could be fulfilled that using of MAL 5 g/kg protect tilapias from hemato-biochemical alterations and enhance its immune feedback, antioxidant defense and resistance against A. hydrophila., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The current trial investigated the roles of β-carotene and phycocyanin extracted from Spirulina platensis on growth, serum biochemical, digestive enzymes, antioxidant defense, immune responses, and immune gene expression in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Fish (1.52 ± 0.10 g) were randomly stocked to three treatments with three replicates (12 fish per replicate) in nine aquaria (60 L glass aquarium for each), and reared for 70-days. Three tested diets were formulated to be isonitrogenous and isolipidic, and were offered for experimental fish until ad-libitum three times daily at 09:00 a.m., 11.00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. The first diet (control) was without supplementation. About 50 mg β-carotene and 50 mg phycocyanin kg -1 were supplemented to the other experimental diets, respectively. Results indicated that feed intake was not (P > 0.05) differ among experimental diets. Compared to control diet wight gain and specific growth rate were significantly (P < 0.05) in fish fed diet containing β-carotene, while, the highest weight gain and the best FCR were detected in phycocyanin diet. Survival fish among treatments was significantly (P < 0.05) differ and the highest survival rate was showed in fish fed diet supplemented with phycocyanin. Either β-carotene or phycocyanin significantly (P < 0.05) improved the intestinal digestive enzymes compared with control diet, where the highest values of chymotrypsin, trypsin, lipase and amylase were noticed in fish fed phycocyanin. Diets supplemented with β-carotene and phycocyanin significantly (P < 0.05) improved hematology parameters contents compared with to the control diet, and the best contents were detected in fish fed diet supplemented with phycocyanin. The highest significant (P < 0.05) phagocytic, lysozyme, immunoglobulin M (IgM), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) activities were recorded in diet supplemented with phycocyanin. The transcripts of interferon gamma and interleukin 1β genes were (P < 0.05) up-regulated in the liver of fish fed diet supplemented with β-carotene and phycocyanin, but expression of HSP70 gene down-regulated in fish fed β-carotene and phycocyanin containing diet compared control. The highest gene expression of the interferon gamma and interleukin 1β was observed in fish fed phycocyanin., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Organic products of animals are getting more accepted by consumers. Using herbal additives may lead to more health animal products. In this research it is hypothesized that Lavandula angustifolia and/or Mentha spicata essential oils would be helpful to enhance production performance in laying hens., Objectives: This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of Lavandula angustifolia and Mentha spicata essential oils on performance, egg traits and blood variables in laying hens., Methods: 144 Lohmann LSL-Lite laying hens from 42 until 56 weeks of age were used in a completely randomized design in four treatments and six replicates (six birds per replicate). The treatments consisted of: (a) control group (basal diet), (b) basal diet supplemented with 250 mg/kg diet lavender essential oil (LEO), (c) basal diet supplemented with 250 mg/kg diet mint essential oil (MEO), and (d) basal diet supplemented with both LEO and MEO., Results: Using LEO and/or MEO did not affect body weight changes, feed intake, egg weight, egg index, yolk index, Haugh unit, egg shell weight and egg shell thickness. Feeding LEO, individually or in combination with MEO, did not affect FCR compared with the control group (p < .05), however, feeding MEO individually increased feed conversation ratio (FCR) compared to LEO and the control group during 42-56 weeks (p < .05), as well as decreasing egg mass compared to LEO (p < .05). Feeding LEO increased egg production compared to MEO and combination of MEO and LEO (p < .05)., Conclusions: In conclusion, dietary supplemental MEO (250 mg/kg) may increase FCR, and LEO (250 mg/kg) is more effective than MEO (250 mg/kg) for egg production and egg mass purposes; besides MEO (250 mg/kg) negatively affected FCR compared with the control group. In addition, no specific beneficial effect of dietary supplemental MEO and/or LEO on the other measured variables was detected., (© 2020 The Authors. Veterinary Medicine and Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

The Antillean manatee Trichechus manatus manatus can be found along the northern and northeastern coasts of Brazil. Previous studies on the clinical biochemistry of these animals were conducted in North America and the Caribbean, whereas little is known regarding these parameters in South American manatee populations. Accordingly, the objective of the present study was to examine the hematology and clinical biochemistry of Antillean manatees of different sexes and from different environments in northeast Brazil. Whole-blood and serum samples were obtained from healthy individuals. The hemogram analysis was performed and the levels of blood biochemical components were determined using an automated platform. The only statistically significant difference observed in the hemogram was a higher number of heterophils in manatees that were screened during the dry season of the year. Clinical biochemistry profiling revealed that free-ranging manatees presented lower levels of creatinine. Albumin was detected in higher concentrations in animals from rehabilitation captivity, and amylase presented higher levels in manatees that were kept in acclimation captivity. Free-ranging manatees showed higher serum aspartate aminotransferase levels than manatees in rehabilitation captivity. These results can aid veterinarians and conservation professionals in the development of better captive management procedures and in the clinical approach to manatees., (© 2020 American Fisheries Society.)

Objectives: This research aimed to evaluate the performance of a closed blood collection system and to compare it with an open system in terms of feasibility, tolerability by the donor, quality of blood collected and bacterial contamination., Methods: Eight feline blood donors were prospectively and randomly subjected to both collection methods. Heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR) and blood pressure (BP) were evaluated before sedation, after sedation and after blood collection. The duration of the donation, the formation of a hematoma, and the degree of hemolysis and packed cell volume (PCV) of each blood unit were evaluated. Aliquot samples were aseptically collected from each unit and tested for bacterial contamination by culture and PCR on days 0, 14 and 28 of storage., Results: There was no significant difference between collection methods for HR and RR at any time point. Before sedation, the mean systolic BP was significantly higher with the closed system (closed 169 mmHg, open 137 mmHg; P  = 0.003). The average duration of collection was significantly shorter with the closed system (closed 3 mins 10 s, open 8 mins; P  = 0.035); however, the prevalence of a successful blood collection with a single venipuncture and hematoma formation were not significantly different between systems. The mean unit PCV was significantly higher with the open system (closed 31%, open 34%; P  = 0.026). On bacterial culture, 15/16 units were negative at all time points (closed 7; open 8). Using PCR, 5/16 units were positive for Ralstonia species for at least one time point (closed 3; open 2)., Conclusions and Relevance: Our designed closed system appears to be well adapted to feline blood collection and was well tolerated by the donors, performing similarly to an open system, and could represent a valuable clinical device for the development of a feline blood bank, namely feline blood storage.

Mandrills are large-bodied terrestrial forest primates living in particularly large social groups of several hundred individuals. Following these groups in the wild to assess differences in diet over time as well as among individuals is demanding. We here use isotope analyses in blood and hair obtained during repeated captures of 43 identified free-ranging mandrills (Mandrillus sphinx) from Southern Gabon, to test how dietary variation relates to the season as well as an individual's age and sex. We measured the stable carbon (δ 13 C‰) and nitrogen (δ 15 N‰) isotope ratios in 46 blood and 214 hair section samples as well as from a small selection of mandrill foods (n = 24). We found some seasonal isotopic effects, with lower δ 13 C values but higher δ 15 N values observed during the highly competitive long dry season compared to the fruit-rich long rainy season. Variation in δ 13 C was further predicted by individual age, with higher δ 13 C values generally found in younger individuals suggesting that they may consume more high canopy fruit than older individuals, or that older individuals consume more low canopy foliage. The best predictor for δ 15 N values was the interaction between age and sex, with mature and reproductively active males revealing the highest δ 15 N values, despite the observation that males consume substantially less animal food items than females. We interpret high δ 15 N values in these mature male mandrill blood and hair sections to be the result of nutritional stress associated with intense male-male competition, particularly during mating season. This is the first study showing isotopic evidence for nutritional stress in a free-ranging primate species and may spark further investigations into male mandrill diet and energy balance., (© 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

This study was conducted to test the effects of maternal 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25OHD 3 ) supplementation on serum parameters, intestinal morphology and microbiota in suckling piglets. The experiment started on day 107 of gestation and lasted until piglets were weaned on day 21 of lactation. Thirty-two sows were allocated randomly to two treatments (ND diet, basal diet with 2000 IU/kg of vitamin D 3 ; 25-D diet, basal diet with 50 μg/kg 25OHD 3 ). Results showed that maternal 25-D treatment increased ( p < 0.05) serum 25OHD 3 concentration in the umbilical cords, which led to higher ( p < 0.05) serum 25OHD 3 concentration of suckling piglets from 25-D sows. The GSH-Px activity in colostrum was higher ( p < 0.05), as well as SOD and GSH-Px activities in milk, were higher ( p < 0.05) in 25-D sows than ND sows. Compared with piglets suckling ND sows, piglets suckling 25-D sows had higher ( p < 0.05) serum SOD activity on day 7, 14 and 21 of lactation. On day 21 of lactation, piglets form 25-D sows had greater ( p < 0.05) serum levels of GH and IGF-I and lower ( p < 0.05) serum DAO activity than those from ND sows. Piglets from 25-D sows had higher ( p < 0.05) jejunal villus height than those from ND sows. Feeding 25OHD 3 to sows tended to increase ( p < 0.10) the species richness in the colonic digesta of suckling piglets, as reflected by the α-diversity index of Chao-1. In the caecal digesta, the α-diversity for bacterial community analysis of Simpson and Shannon was lower ( p < 0.05) in 25-D piglets than ND piglets. The relative abundances of colonic Alloprevotella and caecal Lactobacillus were significantly higher, while the population of caecal [Eubacterium]&#95;coprostanoligenes&#95;group was lower ( p < 0.05) in 25-D piglets than ND piglets. In conclusion, maternal 25OHD 3 supplementation partly improved antioxidant status in sows and suckling piglets and altered gut microbiota in the hindgut of piglets.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of oral administration of calcium (Ca) formate in the postpartum of high-producing dairy cows on calcemia, on other blood biochemical markers, and on the occurrence of diseases at the beginning of lactation. One hundred and twenty healthy Holstein cows, distributed according to the lactation order (first, second, third and fourth to sixth), were treated or not with oral Ca formate (two doses: one after calving and one 24 h later; equivalent to 50 g of Ca per dose), comprising 8 groups (n = 15). The following variables were measured in the blood serum of samples collected after calving (0 h) and after 24, 48, 72, and 96 h: total Ca, phosphate (P), magnesium (Mg), non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), glucose, total protein (TP), albumin (Alb), urea nitrogen (BUN), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT). Blood BHB was also measured at 7, 14, and 21 DIM. For the assessment of disease occurrence, cows were distributed in treated (n = 60) and untreated (n = 60) groups and in hypocalcemic (n = 71) and normocalcemic (n = 49) groups. Two-way repeated measures ANOVA and a chi-square test were used for comparisons. The lactation order did not influence the studied blood constituents, except for primiparous cows which had the highest calcemia. Serum Ca was lower up to 24 h and increased after 48 h and subclinical hypocalcemia (SCH) ([Ca] < 2.125 mmol/L) was more frequent in cows with a higher number of lactations. Treatment with Ca formate had no effect on the variation of serum Ca and the other studied variables in the first days of lactation. Treated and untreated cows did not differ in terms of milk yield at 21 DIM, the presentation of diseases at the beginning of lactation, the rate of discard or death up to 60 DIM and the frequency of SCH (60 % and 58 %, respectively). Hypocalcemic cows became more ill (64.8 % vs. 42.9 %; P = 0.028) and had a higher frequency of retained placenta (43 % vs. 20.7 %; P < 0.001). Oral administration of Ca formate after calving and 24 h later is not justified as a preventive measure to be adopted indiscriminately in dairy herds. Studies involving larger number of animals may clarify whether the selective treatment of cows with a higher risk of hypocalcemia is advantageous., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Background: Reference intervals (RIs) of various blood biochemical parameters are used in assessing the clinical health and nutritional status of animals. Blood biochemical analyte RIs are not currently available in Shami goats., Objectives: This study aimed to determine the RIs of selected blood biochemical analytes in Shami goats., Methods: Blood from 120 animals (females N = 70; males N = 50) was used to determine the RIs of total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), globulin, fibrinogen (FIB), urea, creatinine (CRT), AST, ALT, ALP, GGT, glucose (GLU), calcium (Ca), sodium (Na), potassium (K), and chloride (CL) using commercially available kits., Results: The RIs for selected blood biochemical analytes in Shami goats were: TP (34.9-83.5 g/L), ALB (22.3-55.1 g/L), globulin (9.9-50 g/L), FIB (2.19-5.45 g/L), urea (0.55-9.5 mmol/L), CRT (11.4-221 µmol/L), aspartate aminotransferase (7.9-299 U/L), ALT (2.3-49 U/L), ALP (7.7-950 U/L), GGT (4.5-185 U/L), GLU (1.3-6.8 mmol/L), Ca (1.65-2.6 mmol/L), Na (120-180 mmol/L), K (3.7-6.3 mmol/L), CL (91.9- 125 mmol/L), and the albumin:globulin ratio (0.45-3.9)., Conclusions: The RIs of the selected blood biochemical analytes in Shami goats were determined in this study. These results can be used in the clinical diagnosis of diseases in Shami goats and to evaluate their general health and nutritional status., (© 2020 American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology.)