The greater mouse-eared bat (Myotis myotis) is a flagship species for the protection of hibernation and summer maternity roosts in the Western Palearctic region. A range of pathogenic agents is known to put pressure on populations, including the white-nose syndrome fungus, for which the species shows the highest prevalence and infection intensity of all European bat species. Here, we perform analysis of blood parameters characteristic for the species during its natural annual life cycle in order to establish reference values. Despite sexual dimorphism and some univariate differences, the overall multivariate pattern suggests low seasonal variation with homeostatic mechanisms effectively regulating haematology and blood biochemistry ranges. Overall, the species displayed a high haematocrit and haemoglobin content and high concentration of urea, while blood glucose levels in swarming and hibernating bats ranged from hypo- to normoglycaemic. Unlike blood pH, concentrations of electrolytes were wide ranging. To conclude, baseline data for blood physiology are a useful tool for providing suitable medical care in rescue centres, for studying population health in bats adapting to environmental change, and for understanding bat responses to stressors of conservation and/or zoonotic importance.

• MeSH
• Chiroptera blood   physiology   MeSH
• Hematocrit standards   MeSH
• Hematologic Tests standards   MeSH
• Hibernation MeSH
• Climate MeSH
• Reference Values MeSH
• Seasons MeSH
• Sentinel Species physiology   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Geographicals
• Arctic Regions epidemiology   MeSH

BACKGROUND: While commercial poultry and captive birds are exposed to antimicrobials through direct medication, environmental pollution may result in contamination of wild birds. Fluoroquinolones are commonly used medications to treat severe avian bacterial infections; however, their adverse effects on birds remain understudied. Here, we examine toxicity of enrofloxacin and marbofloxacin during the egg incubation period using the chicken (Gallus Gallus domesticus) as a model avian species. Laboratory tests were based on eggs injected with 1, 10 and 100 μg of fluoroquinolones per 1 g of egg weight prior to the start of incubation and monitoring of chick blood biochemistry, reproductive parameters and heart rate during incubation. RESULTS: Eggs treated with fluoroquinolones displayed reduced hatchability due to embryonic mortality, particularly on day 13 of incubation. Total hatching success showed a similar pattern, with a significantly reduced hatchability in low and high exposure groups treated with both enrofloxacin and marbofloxacin. From 15 to 67% of chicks hatching in these groups exhibited joint deformities. Hatching one-day pre-term occurred with a prevalence of 31 to 70% in all groups treated with fluoroquinolones. Embryonic heart rate, measured on days 13 and 19 of incubation, increased in all enrofloxacin-treated groups and medium and high dose groups of marbofloxacin-treated eggs. Blood biochemistry of chicks sampled at hatch from medium dose groups showed hypoproteinaemia, decreased uric acid and increased triglycerides. Chicks from the enrofloxacin-treated group displayed mild hyperglycaemia and a two-fold rise in the blood urea nitrogen to uric acid ratio. Principal components analysis based on blood biochemistry clearly separated the control bird cluster from both enrofloxacin- and marbofloxacin-treated birds. CONCLUSIONS: Fluoroquinolones induce complex adverse effects on avian embryonic development, considerably reducing the performance of incubated eggs and hatching chicks. Cardiotoxicity, which quickens embryonic heart rate, meant that the total number of heart beats required for embryogenesis was achieved earlier than in the standard incubation period, resulting in pre-term hatching. Our data suggest that enrofloxacin has a higher potential for adverse effects than marbofloxacin. To conclude, care should be taken to prevent exposure of reproducing birds and their eggs to fluoroquinolones.

• Keywords
• Antibiotics, Avian embryonic heart rate, Enrofloxacin, Hatchability, Marbofloxacin, Pre-term hatching, Reproduction,
• MeSH
• Anti-Infective Agents toxicity   MeSH
• Enrofloxacin toxicity   MeSH
• Fluoroquinolones toxicity   MeSH
• Hypoproteinemia chemically induced   veterinary   MeSH
• Chickens * blood   MeSH
• Chick Embryo drug effects   MeSH
• Poultry Diseases chemically induced   MeSH
• Reproduction drug effects   MeSH
• Heart Rate drug effects   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Chick Embryo drug effects   MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Anti-Infective Agents MeSH
• Enrofloxacin MeSH
• Fluoroquinolones MeSH
• marbofloxacin MeSH Browser

In underground hibernacula temperate northern hemisphere bats are exposed to Pseudogymnoascus destructans, the fungal agent of white-nose syndrome. While pathological and epidemiological data suggest that Palearctic bats tolerate this infection, we lack knowledge about bat health under pathogen pressure. Here we report blood profiles, along with body mass index (BMI), infection intensity and hibernation temperature, in greater mouse-eared bats (Myotis myotis). We sampled three European hibernacula that differ in geomorphology and microclimatic conditions. Skin lesion counts differed between contralateral wings of a bat, suggesting variable exposure to the fungus. Analysis of blood parameters suggests a threshold of ca. 300 skin lesions on both wings, combined with poor hibernation conditions, may distinguish healthy bats from those with homeostatic disruption. Physiological effects manifested as mild metabolic acidosis, decreased glucose and peripheral blood eosinophilia which were strongly locality-dependent. Hibernating bats displaying blood homeostasis disruption had 2 °C lower body surface temperatures. A shallow BMI loss slope with increasing pathogen load suggested a high degree of infection tolerance. European greater mouse-eared bats generally survive P. destructans invasion, despite some health deterioration at higher infection intensities (dependant on hibernation conditions). Conservation measures should minimise additional stressors to conserve constrained body reserves of bats during hibernation.

• MeSH
• Ascomycota physiology   MeSH
• Chiroptera blood   microbiology   physiology   MeSH
• Hibernation * MeSH
• Body Mass Index MeSH
• Host-Pathogen Interactions * MeSH
• Skin Diseases blood   microbiology   pathology   veterinary   MeSH
• Mycoses blood   microbiology   pathology   veterinary   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH

Oxidative stress plays a dual role in infections. Free radicals protect against invading microorganisms, and they can also cause tissue damage during the resulting inflammation. In the process of infection, there is generation of reactive species by myeloperoxidase, NADPH oxidase, and nitric oxide synthase. On the other hand, reactive species can be generated among others, by cytochrome P450, some metals, and xanthine oxidase. Some pathologies arising during infection can be attributed to oxidative stress and generation of reactive species in infection can even have fatal consequences. This article reviews the basic pathways in which reactive species can accumulate during infectious diseases and discusses the related health consequences.

• MeSH
• Communicable Diseases immunology   physiopathology   MeSH
• Metals metabolism   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Metabolic Networks and Pathways MeSH
• NADPH Oxidases metabolism   MeSH
• Oxidative Stress * MeSH
• Peroxidase metabolism   MeSH
• Nitric Oxide Synthase metabolism   MeSH
• Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System metabolism   MeSH
• Free Radicals immunology   metabolism   toxicity   MeSH
• Xanthine Oxidase metabolism   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Review MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Metals MeSH
• NADPH Oxidases MeSH
• Peroxidase MeSH
• Nitric Oxide Synthase MeSH
• Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System MeSH
• Free Radicals MeSH
• Xanthine Oxidase MeSH

BACKGROUND: Galantamine is a drug used for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and some other cognitive disorders. It is an inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase; however, interaction with nicotinic acetylcholine receptors has also been reported. Owing to the significant role of cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathways in neuro-immunomodulation, we decided to examine the effect of galantamine on tularemia-infected BALB/c mice. METHODS: Animals were infected with Francisella tularensis LVS and treated with galantamine (0.1 mg/kg of body weight). Total mortality over the course of tularemia infection was assessed and interleukin 6 (IL-6) and interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) in plasma samples were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Apart from the cytokine assays, biochemical markers such as inorganic phosphate, uric acid, lactate dehydrogenase, gamma glutamyltransferase, creatinine phosphokinase and amylase were assayed. RESULTS: The modulation of immunity by galantamine depended on two opposing processes: up-regulation of IFN-gamma and down-regulation of IL-6. Tularemia infection resulted in significant nephropathy, as hyperphosphataemia and hyperuricaemia occurred in infected animals. In addition, galantamine resulted in the mitigation of nephropathy, and markers of kidney dysfunction were modulated. Alterations in mortality were also found in this study. CONCLUSIONS: Galantamine can significantly influence the immune response via the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway. Despite the decrease in IL-6 levels, galantamine treatment enhanced protection against the intracellular pathogen F. tularensis, resulting in the remission of some pathology and reduced mortality.

• Keywords
• Acetylcholinesterase, Immunity, Tularemia, Inflammation,
• MeSH
• Survival Analysis MeSH
• Francisella tularensis drug effects   MeSH
• Galantamine pharmacology   therapeutic use   MeSH
• Interferon-gamma blood   MeSH
• Interleukin-6 blood   MeSH
• Mice, Inbred BALB C MeSH
• Mice MeSH
• Tularemia blood   drug therapy   microbiology   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Mice MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Galantamine MeSH
• Interferon-gamma MeSH
• Interleukin-6 MeSH

The present experiment was aimed at assessing the application of neostigmine, an acetylcholinesterase (AChE) pseudo-irreversible inhibitor with poor penetration through the hematoencephalitic barrier, and the neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh). The experiment was done to evaluate their ability to modulate an infectious disease: tularemia. Mice infected with Franciselle tularensis and exposed to either ACh or neostigmine had a higher mortality and spleen bacterial burden when compared to infected mice exposed to saline solution only. The activated cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway suppressed pathways necessary for tularemia resolution. Administration of AChE inhibitors to the individuals suffering from tularemia is contra-indicatory. Drugs based on AChE inhibition should be restricted when tularemia or disease with a similar pathogenesis is suspected.

• Keywords
• Francisella tularensis, cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway, cholinergic system, immunomodulation, intracellular pathogen, parasympathicus,
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

BACKGROUND: The grey partridge is an important game bird in Europe that has declined considerably over the last decades. The production and release of farm-bred birds can be threatened by infectious agents. The objective of this study was to describe the outbreak, pathology, and blood and tissue biochemical responses in a flock of grey partridges naturally infected with Mycoplasma gallisepticum. RESULTS: Morbidity and mortality rates were 100% and 60%, respectively. Necropsy revealed an accumulation of caseous exudate within the infraorbital sinuses, tracheitis, pneumonia and airsacculitis. There were significant increases in activities of lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase and amylase, and levels of total protein and glucose in Mycoplasma-infected birds when compared to control. Catalase showed significantly lower activity in the heart, lungs, liver and gonads of Mycoplasma-infected birds. Glutathione-S-transferase activity was elevated in the eye and the associated infraorbital sinus and kidneys, and decreased in the liver. Decreased levels of reduced glutathione were found in the heart, kidneys, liver and gonads. The activity of glutathione reductase was lower only in the lungs. Compared to healthy birds, mycoplasmosis in the grey partridge caused significant differences in the level of lipid peroxidation in lungs and plasma (p < 0.05), while the ferric reducing antioxidant power was lower in the heart and kidneys (p < 0.01). Significant correlations among responses of the antioxidant parameters were found namely in the heart, lungs, spleen, liver and plasma. There were also numerous significant inter-tissue correlations of all the studied antioxidant parameters. CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrates the high susceptibility of grey partridges to natural infection by M. gallisepticum, the severity of the disease based on histopathology, and the modulation of blood chemical profiles and oxidative stress-associated parameters in the avian hosts, thus enhancing the understanding of the pathogenesis of mycoplasmosis in birds. Moreover, the reported reference values can be useful for the evaluation of the state of health in grey partridges.

• MeSH
• Antioxidants analysis   MeSH
• Respiratory System pathology   MeSH
• Disease Outbreaks veterinary   MeSH
• Galliformes blood   microbiology   MeSH
• Mycoplasma gallisepticum * MeSH
• Mycoplasma Infections epidemiology   microbiology   pathology   virology   MeSH
• Bird Diseases epidemiology   metabolism   microbiology   pathology   MeSH
• Polymerase Chain Reaction veterinary   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Male MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Geographicals
• Czech Republic epidemiology   MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Antioxidants MeSH

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to investigate biochemical and oxidative stress responses to experimental F. tularensis infection in European brown hares, an important source of human tularemia infections. METHODS: For these purposes we compared the development of an array of biochemical parameters measured in blood plasma using standard procedures of dry chemistry as well as electrochemical devices following a subcutaneous infection with a wild Francisella tularensis subsp. holarctica strain (a single dose of 2.6 × 10⁹ CFU pro toto). RESULTS: Subcutaneous inoculation of a single dose with 2.6 × 10⁹ colony forming units of a wild F. tularensis strain pro toto resulted in the death of two out of five hares. Plasma chemistry profiles were examined on days 2 to 35 post-infection. When compared to controls, the total protein, urea, lactate dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase were increased, while albumin, glucose and amylase were decreased. Both uric and ascorbic acids and glutathione dropped on day 2 and then increased significantly on days 6 to 12 and 6 to 14 post-inoculation, respectively. There was a two-fold increase in lipid peroxidation on days 4 to 8 post-inoculation. CONCLUSIONS: Contrary to all expectations, the present study demonstrates that the European brown hare shows relatively low susceptibility to tularemia. Therefore, the circumstances of tularemia in hares under natural conditions should be further studied.

• MeSH
• Time Factors MeSH
• Francisella tularensis * MeSH
• Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances MeSH
• Oxidative Stress * MeSH
• Serum Albumin metabolism   MeSH
• Tularemia metabolism   pathology   veterinary   MeSH
• Hares * MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Male MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances MeSH
• Serum Albumin MeSH

The purpose of the present study was to employ two methods-square wave voltammetry (SWV) performed on screen printed sensors and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP)-as suitable tools for the assay of low-molecular-weight antioxidants (LMWAs). LMWAs were assayed by both methods and the resulting data were statistically compared. Plasma samples from five Cinereous vultures accidentally intoxicated with lead were used to represent real biological matrices with different levels of LMWAs. Blood was collected from the birds prior to and one month after treatment with Ca-EDTA. SWV resulted in two peaks. The first peak, with the potential value of 466 ± 15 mV, was recognized as ascorbic and uric acids, while the second one (743 ± 30 mV) represented glutathione, tocopherol, ascorbic acid and in a minor effect by uric acid, too. Contribution of individual antioxidants was recognized by separate assays of LMWA standards. Correlation between peaks 1 and 2 as well as the sum of the two peaks and FRAP was analysed. While peak 1 and the sum of peaks were in close correlation to FRAP results (correlation coefficient of 0.97), the relation between peak 2 and FRAP may be expressed using a correlation coefficient of 0.64. The determination of thiols by the Ellman assay confirmed the accuracy of SWV. Levels of glutathione and other similar structures were stable in the chosen model and it may be concluded that SWV is appropriate for assay of LMWAs in plasma samples. The methods employed in the study were advantageous in minimal sample volume consumption and fast acquisition of results.

• Keywords
• Cinereous vultures, analytical methods, ascorbate, glutathione, lead intoxication, uric acid,
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH