Aim:This study was performed to evaluate the diagnostic value of hepatocyte-derived microRNA (miRNA)-122 in acute and chronic hepatitis of dogs.Materials and Methods:A total of 26 dogs presented at Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, 16 dogs out of 26 showing clinical signs of hepatic insufficiency were subjected to clinical, ultrasonographic, hematobiochemical and ultrasound-guided fine-needle biopsy for cytological and histopathological investigations. On the basis of these results, 7 dogs out of 16 dogs were found to be suffering from acute hepatitis and 9 dogs suffering from chronic hepatitis. 10 clinically healthy dogs were kept as control. Serum hepatocyte-derived miRNA-122 was analyzed by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction in all dogs.Results:The dogs suffering from acute hepatitis manifested jaundice, vomiting, and depression while dogs with chronic hepatitis manifested anorexia, abdominal distension, weight loss, and melena. Hematological parameters showed normocytic normochromic anemia and thrombocytopenia in both acute and chronic hepatitis groups. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and total bilirubin were significantly higher than control values in acute hepatitis. In chronic hepatitis, total protein and albumin were significantly lower than control values with normal ALT, AST, ALP, and gamma-glutamyltransferase values. Ultrasonography revealed a diffuse decrease in hepatic echogenicity in acute hepatitis while the increase in hepatic echogenicity and anechoic ascetic fluid in chronic hepatitis. Cytology revealed hepatic vacuolar degeneration and histopathology revealed necrosis and apoptosis of hepatocyte in acute hepatitis while revealed massive fibrous tissue proliferation in hepatic parenchyma in chronic hepatitis. Serum miRNA-122 analysis, normalized for glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase expression revealed a significant increase in acute hepatitis accompanied with elevation in ALT and AST, while in chronic hepatitis, elevation of serum miRNA-122 was accompanied with ALT and AST of the normal range.Conclusion:Serum hepatocyte-derived miRNA-122 is of diagnostic value and highly stable blood indicator for the detection of hepatocellular injury in dogs than aminotransferases, especially in cases where aminotransferases do not exceed normal serum level.

Baraka T. A., M. T. El-Sherif, A. A. Kubesy, J. Illek: Clinical Studies of Selected Ruminal And Blood Constituents in Dromedary Camels Affected by Various Diseases. Acta Vet. Brno 2000, 69: 61-68.Selected ruminal and blood constituents were investigated in a group of 81 dromedary camels affected by various diseases including simple indigestion (SI, n = 38), ruminal acidosis (RA, n = 19), frothy bloat (FB, n = 3), trypanosomiasis (TR, n = 11), caseous lymphadenitis (CL, n = 6), contagious skin necrosis (CSN, n = 4) and in healthy camels (NC, n = 38 ). Body temperature was taken, pulse and respiratory rate were measured, and mucous membranes and ruminal motility were examined in each animal. Samples of ruminal fluid were examined for physical characteristics (pH, colour, consistency), protozoan activity and biochemical constituents including ammonia nitrogen (2.63 ± 0.16, 2.38 ± 0.20, 1.91 ± 0.01, 3.21 ± 0.35, 3.19 ± 0.11, 3.11 ± 0.27, and 2.40 ± 0.09 mmol/L for the groups SI, RA, FB, TR, CL, CSN, and NC, respectively), total VFA, total proteins, calcium, inorganic phosphorus, sodium (113.49 ± 8.16, 71.49 ± 9.19, 52.50 ± 8.25, 107.4 ± 10.27, 122.48 ± 8.7, 119.88 ± 5.01, and 109.83 ± 5.62 mmol/L for the groups SI, RA, FB, TR, CL, CSN, and NC, respectively), blood samples were tested for total erythrocyte count, haemoglobin concentration, packed cell volume, mean cellular volume (15.96 ± 1.53, 23.15 ± 3.18, 22.68 ± 3.91, 14.78 ± 0.86, 20.4 ± 2.98, 20.03 ± 0.34 and 19.75 ± 0.88 fl. for the groups SI, RA, FB, TR, CL, CSN, and NC, respectively), mean cell haemoglobin, mean cell haemoglobin concentration, and total and differential leukocyte counts.Blood serum samples were tested for concentrations of total proteins, calcium, inorganic phosphorus, sodium, potassium (5.58 ± 0.5, 4.46 ± 0.41, 1.03 ± 0.13, 4.26 ± 0.33, 5.56 ± 0.38, 5.05 ± 0.34 and 5.47 ± 0.37 mmol/L for the groups SI, RA, FB, TR, CL, CSN, and NC, respectively), and chlorides. Compared with normal camels, significant changes were found in the group RA for ruminal pH and concentraion of VFA, calcium and sodium (p < 0.001), ruminal ammonia, blood haemoglobin and serum chloride concentrations (p < 0. 01), and blood serum sodium and potassium concentrations (p < 0.05); in the group of FB for ruminal pH and ammonia, urea, inorganic phosphorus, and sodium concentrations, blood haemoglobin, BUN, and blood serum sodium concentrations (p < 0.001); in the group SI for ruminal urea, mean cell volume (p < 0.001) and haemoglobin concentration (p < 0.01); in the group TR for ruminal inorganic phosphorus (p < 0.001), ruminal urea and blood serum chlorides (p < 0.01), and ruminal urea, calcium, and potassium concentrations, erythrocyte count, and blood serum sodium and potassium concentrations (p < 0.05); in the group CL for ruminal ammonia, calcium, BUN and blood serum chloride (p < 0.001), ruminal urea and blood serum potassium and inorganic phosphorus concentrations, erythrocyte count and PCV (p < 0.01); in the group CSN for ruminal inorganic phosphorus and blood serum ...

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The forestomach contents of 20 dromedary camels were examined for total, generic and species composition of ciliate protozoa. The geometric mean value of total ciliate protozoa was 13.9 X 10 4 / ml with values ranging from 4.9 to 109.4 X 10 4 / ml. A total of ten genera containing 31 species and 16 forms were identified. Five species of Entodinium (E. biconcavum, E. bimastus, E. ekendrae, E. parvum and E. tsunodai) and Ostracodinium trivesticulatum represent a new host record. Two new spinated forms of Diplodinium cameli were observed, one has a single spine arising from the left lateral surface near the posterior end and the second has an additional spine on the posterior right lateral surface. Previous reports on concentration and species composition in the camel are summarized and compared to the present results.