Seasonal Variation in the Haematological Parameters of the Adult Mallard Duck in a Tropical Environment

Duck production is a growing poultry enterprise in Nigeria and they are mostly reared in extensive management system. However, the haematological profiles as influenced by the tropical environment have not been well documented. The objective of the present study was to examine the seasonal variation in the haematological parameters of the adult Mallard duck in the tropical environment of Nigeria; as they effects duck production adversely. The Erythrocyte, leucocyte and platelet counts, as well as the erythrocyte osmotic fragility of the domestic duck of the mallard breed during the wet and dry seasons in the hot humid tropical environment of the Experimental Animal Unit of the Department of Veterinary Physiology, Biochemistry and Pharmacology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria was investigated. The study showed that the values of the packed cell volume (PCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and platelet were significantly higher in the dry season than in the wet season, but the red blood cell (RBC), haemoglobin (Hb), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), total and differential leucocyte values were similar in the two seasons. The erythrocyte fragility was also higher in the dry season. In conclusion the higher PCV, MCH and platelet values in the dry season might have resulted from haemoconcentration occasioned by higher evaporative heat loss, which is a common occurrence in the dry season. The higher erythrocyte fragility could have been the result of stress induced by the high ambient temperature during the dry season, or higher metabolic rate associated with lactic acid accumulation, which has been shown to increase erythrocyte osmotic fragility.

Vitamins C and E alone and in combination partly protect against chronic ethanol-induced toxicity in rat erythrocytes

Oxidative stress is part of the mechanisms involved in ethanol toxicity. We investigated effects of vitamins C (VC), E (VE) and the combination of VC+VE on chronic ethanol-induced toxicity in rat erythrocytes. The following groups were treated for 30 days: control (C), VC (200 mg/kg), VE (200 mg/kg), VC (200 mg/kg) + VE (200 mg/kg), ethanol 4 g/kg, ethanol + VC, ethanol + VE and ethanol + VC + VE. The doses of vitamins and ethanol were selected for per kilogram of animal’s body weight. Blood samples collected at the end of treatments were analyzed for erythrocyte osmotic fragility and plasma scavenging activity. The washed erythrocytes were used to determine superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and malondialdeyde (MDA). Ethanol induced erythrocyte fragility (p < 0.001) and increased lipid peroxidation (p < 0.001) in rat erythrocytes. Furthermore, there were significant decreases in plasma scavenging (p < 0.001), SOD (p < 0.001), CAT (p < 0.01) and GPx (p < 0.001) activities in erythrocytes of ethanol-treated animals. Although VC or VE alone restored all of ethanol-induced disturbances to near normal (p > 0.05) but there were still significant differences compared to control animals. Combination therapy completely corrected ethanol-induced erythrocyte fragility, lipid peroxidation and prooxidant/antioxidant imbalance. We showed the beneficial effects of VC and VE combination in decreasing erythrocyte fragility and lipid peroxidation in both ethanol and control groups. Therefore this combination treatment may provide a new potential alternative for prevention of ethanol toxicity which deserves consideration and further examination.

In vitro-Modulation of HbS Erythrocyte Parameters By Prednisolone Testing For Fe2+/Fe3+ Ratio, HbS Gelation and Osmotic Fragility

Aim: The study is targeted at the sickle cell disease. It has been discovered that some drugs or medications taken for certain ailments are either pro-sickling or anti-sickling in nature. In this study, acorticosteroid by the name of prednisolone was investigated to determineits possible effects on human haemoglobin-S gelation, erythrocyte fragility and Fe2+ and Fe3+ concentrations. Materials and Method: The blood sample of 5ml was collected from adult male and female donors by vein puncture using a 5 ml syringe and needle. The blood samples were confirmed as HbSS using standard haemoglobin electrophoresis. Various concentrations of the drug (0.05, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5 and 1 mg/ml) were used to determine the effects on human haemoglobin-S, gelation rate, erythrocyte fragility, Fe2+& Fe3+ concentrations. Absorbance reading was taken at 540 nm using a spectrophotometer. Results: The results showed that Prednisolone increased haemoglobin S gelation at all concentrations (p< 0.05) when compared to the control. The Fe2+/Fe3+ ratio showed a reduction in haemoglobin values at 0.3, 0.5 and 1.0 mg/ml concentrations when compared to the control and a slight increase at 0.05 and 0.1 mg/ml. For Erythrocyte Fragility, there was destabilization of red cell in all concentrations. Conclusion: This study suggests that this drug could have some undesirable effects on sickle cell subjects.

Oxidant markers and their impact on antioxidant status and erythrocyte fragility in theileriasis in calves

The present study has been carried out on the calves less than one month of age suffering from clinical Theileriosis. All the cases came to Referral veterinary polyclinic, IVRI, Izatnagar, Bareilly for treatment during 2015. Erythrocytic LPO in clinically affected calves were significantly (P less than0.05) higher than healthy animals. GSH, and SOD values in ailing calves were significantly (P less than 0.05) lower than healthy control and postreated calves. Catalase was also higher in infected calves but non significant. The hemoglobin concentration was significantly (P less than 0.05) lower in ailing animals. The erythrocyte fragility at 0.9%, 0.8% and 0.6% NaCl concentration was significantly (P less than 0.05) higher than the control group. However, there were less erythrocytic fragility observed in NaCl 0.4% and 0.2% concentration in infected animals. In conclusion, anemia occurs in Theileria annulata infection is due to corpuscular oxidative damage as revealed from lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status which contribute to RBC fragility and consequent anemia.

Extracellular histones induce erythrocyte fragility and anemia

Key Points Histones promote in vitro erythrocyte aggregation, sedimentation, fragility, and spleen retention in a concentration-dependent manner. Histones induce in vivo anemia, an increase in splenic hemoglobin content, as well as thrombocytopenia and leukopenia within a few minutes.