The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of a long-term sodium chloride bath on rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss naturally infected by Tetracapsuloides bryosalmonae. A total of 106 infected fish were divided into 2 groups. One group was left untreated and the other was treated with sodium chloride in increasing doses up a concentration of 0.8%. After 14 d, treatment was stopped and for a further 7 d the fish response to the sodium chloride bath was observed. Cumulative mortality was significantly lower in the treated group (19.2%) compared to the untreated group (31.5%) after 21 d. This corresponded to the lower but non-significant parasite intensity in kidney and spleen in the treated group after 14 d of treatment. However, lower prevalence of parasites in both tissues was recorded in the untreated group after 21 d of treatment, but a significant difference was observed only in spleen tissue. Furthermore, significant increases in leukocytes, hemoglobin, haematocrit, ferric reducing ability of plasma, and ceruloplasmin, and significant decreases in alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase activities were noticed in the treated group compared to the untreated group. In contrast, significant decreases in lysozyme concentration in the mucus and phagocyte oxidative burst in the blood were observed in the treated group. Histopathological examination revealed proliferative and reparative changes in parenchymatous tissues in the treated group. The 14- and 21-d salt bath used in rainbow trout with proliferative kidney disease was associated with a reduction in mortality and enhanced the reparative phase in the treated group.

• MeSH
• Sodium Chloride therapeutic use   MeSH
• Myxozoa classification   drug effects   MeSH
• Kidney Diseases drug therapy   parasitology   veterinary   MeSH
• Fish Diseases drug therapy   parasitology   MeSH
• Oncorhynchus mykiss * MeSH
• Parasitic Diseases, Animal drug therapy   parasitology   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Clinical Trial, Veterinary MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH

The T-2 toxin, a fungal metabolite produced by Fusarium molds, occurs in a range of agriculture products. Reduced availability of fish meal has led to increasing use of cereals as a source of protein in commercial aquaculture feeds, which has increased the potential for mycotoxin contamination. The purpose of this study was to investigate toxicity of T-2 toxin intake in common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) using haematological, biochemical and immunological parameters and oxidative stress indices. In a four-week feeding trial, fish were fed a commercial diet with 5.3 mg/kg T-2 toxin added. Ingestion of contaminated diet did not lead to mortality of fish, probably due to lower feed intake. On the other hand, it significantly affected haematological variables such as haematocrit, haemoglobin, red blood cell counts leading to anemia and white blood cell counts leading to leukopenia due to lymphopenia. Plasma glucose concentration and alanine amino transferase activity showed a significant increase while triglycerides concentration decreased. Activity of ceruloplasmin was significantly decreased in plasma. Further, liver glutathione S-transferase activity was significantly increased and catalase activity decreased, in parallel with a significant increase in caudal kidney catalase activity and a decrease in glutathione peroxidase activity. Finally, lipid peroxidation (detected as malondialdehyde) was significantly increased in the liver and caudal kidney. Changes in non-specific immune response and cytokine levels in head kidney indicated immune system sensitivity to T-2 toxin. Overall, the results demonstrate that this feed-borne mycotoxin is able to induce anaemia and oxidative stress and cause changes in the immune response of common carp.

• MeSH
• Diet veterinary   MeSH
• Hematologic Tests veterinary   MeSH
• Carps immunology   physiology   MeSH
• Animal Feed analysis   MeSH
• Oxidative Stress drug effects   MeSH
• Immunity, Innate drug effects   MeSH
• T-2 Toxin toxicity   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

Proliferative kidney disease (PKD) is an endoparasitic disease of salmonid fish caused by Tetracapsuloides bryosalmonae (Myxozoa: Malacosporea). This study presents a comprehensive view on PKD development in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) reared at an intensive fish breeding facility, with focus on mortality, pathology/histopathology, haematological findings and immune functions. Diseased and reference fish were sampled monthly and time course of natural infection was followed up from the onset of clinical signs (September 2014) to full recovery (January 2015). PKD- associated cumulative mortality was 30% with a peak value in October, while immunohistochemical testing indicated a continuous significant decrease in T. bryosalmonae numbers from September to December; with no parasites detected in January. During peak clinical infection, a significant decrease in red blood cell counts, haematocrit values, haemoglobin concentration, along with a reduction in lymphocytes and a significant phagocyte elevation corresponding with an increase in phagocyte oxidative burst were measured in comparison to control animals. Complement activity and total immunoglobulin plasma concentrations were also elevated, though only during the initial monitoring period (September). Individuals surviving PKD, recovered and were able to fully regenerate both renal structure and haematopoietic parameters to normal levels. Changes in the red blood cell parameters indicate anaemia and a decreased oxygen transportation capacity during the clinical disease phase. Together with an increased oxygen demand at higher temperatures and decreased oxygen solubility this could lead to decompensation and elevated mortality. The stimulation of immune parameters, and especially oxidative phagocytic burst, is likely to have had a strong effect on both, regeneration and elimination of the pathogenic agent.

• MeSH
• Disease Outbreaks veterinary   MeSH
• Myxozoa physiology   MeSH
• Disease Susceptibility veterinary   MeSH
• Kidney Diseases pathology   veterinary   MeSH
• Fish Diseases parasitology   MeSH
• Oncorhynchus mykiss parasitology   MeSH
• Parasitic Diseases, Animal parasitology   MeSH
• Temperature MeSH
• Aquaculture MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

Despite the high number of studies concerning seasonality of immune response in fish, information for some fish species is still scarce. Here, we assess seasonal changes in leukocyte counts and several immune parameters in three groups of farmed salmonids, i.e. brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis), brook trout x Arctic charr hybrids (Salvelinus fontinalis x Salvelinus alpinus alpinus) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) reared under the same conditions and fed with the same feed. Fish were sampled in five periods of the year (late April, early July, late August, early November and early February) and leukocyte counts, respiratory burst of blood phagocytes, lysozyme concentration in skin mucus and total complement activity were measured. Generalized linear models using fish body length as a continuous predictor and sampling period and fish species as categorical predictors, were significant for each of the parameters analysed. The highest seasonal variations in measured parameters were found in rainbow trout and lowest in hybrids. Our results confirm that measures of innate and adaptive immunity are strongly affected by season in all three groups of salmonids. The results will contribute to the improved assessment of immunocompetence in farmed fishes, essential for future sustainable development in aquaculture.

• MeSH
• Phagocytes immunology   MeSH
• Mucus chemistry   MeSH
• Hybridization, Genetic MeSH
• Complement System Proteins metabolism   MeSH
• Skin chemistry   MeSH
• Muramidase metabolism   MeSH
• Oncorhynchus mykiss immunology   MeSH
• Leukocyte Count veterinary   MeSH
• Trout immunology   MeSH
• Respiratory Burst * MeSH
• Seasons * MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

Novel hydrolytically stable gelatin nanofibers modified with sodium or calcium salt of oxycellulose were prepared by electrospinning method. The unique inhibitory effect of these nanofibers against Escherichia coli bacteria was examined by luminometric method. Biocompatibility of these gelatin/oxycellulose nanofibers with eukaryotic cells was tested using human lung adenocarcinoma cell line NCI-H441. Cells firmly adhered to nanofiber surface, as determined by scanning electron microscopy, and no signs of cell dying were detected by fluorescent live/dead assay. We propose that the newly developed gelatin/oxycellulose nanofibers could be used as promising scaffold for lung disease modeling and anti-cancer drug testing.

• MeSH
• Adenocarcinoma drug therapy   metabolism   pathology   MeSH
• Cellulose, Oxidized * chemistry   pharmacology   MeSH
• Escherichia coli growth & development   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Cell Line, Tumor MeSH
• Lung Neoplasms drug therapy   metabolism   pathology   MeSH
• Nanofibers chemistry   MeSH
• Gelatin * chemistry   pharmacology   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

Teleost fish include many different species, having a large economic and environmental impact. Glucose is a key source of energy for most vertebrate organisms. Fish as well as mammals maintain a specific level of blood sugar – glycaemia, which is influenced by multiple factors such as hormone production, diet, and temperature. Therefore, it is a useful indicator for scientists who need to check the immediate state of an organism. The most frequently used method of measuring glycaemia in farmed fish is spectrophotometry; however, this method is often inconvenient for field experiments. Here we report that basic spectrophotometry using oxidation of blood beta D-glucose by glucose oxidase (used in laboratory conditions) can be easily substituted with portable glucometer measurements, primarily designed for human samples. The possibility of use outside the laboratory and its small sample volume demands make this method very useful. Field studies often require fast sample processing and conditions of measurement are limited. Using the glucometer is a simple and elegant option. We tested 74 blood plasma samples (29 males, 45 females) of tench (Tinca tinca) both spectrophotometrically and using the human glucometer. Our results show a significant linear correlation (P < 0.001) between both methods. The main contribution of this study consists in comparability and interchangeability of results obtained from both presented methods.

• Keywords
• glukometr,
• MeSH
• Blood Chemical Analysis methods   instrumentation   MeSH
• Cyprinidae MeSH
• Glucose Oxidase MeSH
• Blood Glucose * analysis   MeSH
• Monitoring, Physiologic MeSH
• Spectrophotometry methods   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Male MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Comparative Study MeSH

The present study provides a comprehensive data on the antioxidant, antimicrobial and neutrophil-modulating activities of extracts from six medicinal plants--blackberry (Rubus fruticosus) leaves, chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) leaves, hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) leaves, lady's mantle (Alchemilla glabra) aerial parts, meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) aerial parts and raspberry (Rubus idaeus) leaves. In order to analyze the antioxidant activity of the herbs, several methods (ORAC, TRAP, HORAC and inhibition of lipid peroxidation) were used. Blackberry leaves and meadowsweet extracts revealed the highest antioxidant activities via all methods. All extracts studied blocked almost completely the opsonized zymosan particle-activated ROS production by neutrophils from human whole blood. On the other hand, the effect of extracts on phorbol myristate acetate-activated ROS production was much milder and even nonsignificant in the case of chokeberry leaves. This latter result suggests that extracts (apart from their antioxidative activity) interfere with the signaling cascade of phagocyte activation upstream of the protein kinase C activation. The antimicrobial activity of the investigated extracts against 11 human pathogens was investigated using three different methods. Meadowsweet and blackberry leaves extracts had the highest antimicrobial effect and the lowest minimal inhibiting concentrations (MICs) against the microorganisms tested.

• MeSH
• Anti-Infective Agents isolation & purification   pharmacology   MeSH
• Antioxidants isolation & purification   pharmacology   MeSH
• Gram-Negative Bacteria drug effects   growth & development   MeSH
• Gram-Positive Bacteria drug effects   growth & development   MeSH
• Plants, Medicinal chemistry   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Plant Leaves chemistry   MeSH
• Macrophages cytology   drug effects   metabolism   MeSH
• Microbial Sensitivity Tests MeSH
• Plant Components, Aerial chemistry   MeSH
• Neutrophils cytology   drug effects   metabolism   MeSH
• Opsonin Proteins pharmacology   MeSH
• Lipid Peroxidation drug effects   MeSH
• Polyphenols isolation & purification   pharmacology   MeSH
• Primary Cell Culture MeSH
• Reactive Oxygen Species antagonists & inhibitors   metabolism   MeSH
• Plant Extracts isolation & purification   pharmacology   MeSH
• Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate pharmacology   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH

Over the years, researchers have used presumptively neutral molecular variation to infer the origins of current species' distributions in northern latitudes (especially Europe). However, several reported examples of genic and chromosomal replacements suggest that end-glacial colonizations of particular northern areas may have involved genetic input from different source populations at different times, coupled with competition and selection. We investigate the functional consequences of differences between two bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus) haemoglobins deriving from different glacial refugia, one of which partially replaced the other in Britain during end-glacial climate warming. This allows us to examine their adaptive divergence and hence a possible role of selection in the replacement. We determine the amino acid substitution Ser52Cys in the major expressed β-globin gene as the allelic difference. We use structural modelling to reveal that the protein environment renders the 52Cys thiol a highly reactive functional group and we show its reactivity in vitro. We demonstrate that possessing the reactive thiol in haemoglobin increases the resistance of bank vole erythrocytes to oxidative stress. Our study thus provides striking evidence for physiological differences between products of genic variants that spread at the expense of one another during colonization of an area from different glacial refugia.

• MeSH
• Arvicolinae classification   genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Phylogeography MeSH
• Genetic Variation MeSH
• Hemoglobins chemistry   genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Molecular Sequence Data MeSH
• Amino Acid Substitution MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Geographicals
• United Kingdom MeSH

Lesions ranging from surface wounds to deep tissue wounds caused by cormorant predation were observed on several species of the farmed fish in Pohořelice, Czech Republic. Two-year-old stocked common carp Cyprinus carpio harvested in late March were examined for ectoparasites and endoparasites, injuries extent, and lysozyme concentration in skin mucus. Additionally, three body condition indices were measured. Endoparasite infection occurred only scarcely. Wounded fish were more susceptible to the ectoparasites Gyrodactylus spp. and Dactylogyrus spp. (Monogenea), and Ichthyophthirius multifiliis (Ciliophora). The intensity of infection of other ectoparasites Eudiplozoon nipponicum (Monogenea), Argulus spp. (Branchiura) and trichodinids (Ciliophora) did not significantly differ between wounded and control groups of fish. Lysozyme concentration in fish mucus was significantly higher in wounded fish and was positively associated with both the extent of damaged epithelium and Gyrodactylus spp. abundance. There were no differences in Fulton's condition factor and lipid content in muscle and liver tissues between wounded and non-wounded fish. Higher values of spleen-somatic index in wounded fish corresponded to increased intensity of parasite infection, most likely reflecting changes in immune system of infected fish. Although our results did not show any significant effect of cormorant attacks on fish condition, the wounded fish had significantly higher parasite numbers which could impact the growth or survival of the fish throughout the production season.

• MeSH
• Ectoparasitic Infestations parasitology   veterinary   MeSH
• Carps parasitology   MeSH
• Linear Models MeSH
• Muramidase analysis   MeSH
• Disease Susceptibility parasitology   MeSH
• Fish Diseases parasitology   pathology   MeSH
• Predatory Behavior MeSH
• Birds MeSH
• Wounds and Injuries parasitology   MeSH
• Seasons MeSH
• Fresh Water parasitology   MeSH
• Aquaculture MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Geographicals
• Czech Republic MeSH