Hisex chickens were infected with 1,450 embryonated Ascaridia galli eggs and treated with a new synthesized basic mixed salt (Zn(x)Co(y)Mn(1-x-y)) x (OH)6SO4 x 2H2O). The worm burden was determined and sex ratios for A. galli of M:F = 1.4 and M:F = 2 in untreated and treated chickens, respectively, were found. A decrease in the mean establishment rate of A. galli in treated chickens was observed. The levels of zinc, cobalt and manganese were determined in liver and muscle of the host and in male and female A. galli. The survival of the chickens and gain in body weight were improved, and the restoration of microelement content was observed by treatment with the salt. A positive effect of the basic Zn-Co-Mn salt was also observed in the nematode microelement levels. Significant differences were found between the levels of zinc, cobalt and manganese in male and female A. galli.

The biogenic elements zinc, manganese and cobalt are essential for metabolic processes in animals. Compounds of nGly.Me(2+)A. mH2O (Me(2+)=Zn(2+), Mn(2+), Co(2+); A=Cl(-), SO4(2-), n=1, 2; m=2, 5), as supplements in the diet, were used separately on different experimental groups of male Hisex chickens to correct the mineral deficiency caused by Ascaridia galli infections. An amelioration of body weight gain, reduction of mortality and restoration of trace element levels were estimated in infected chickens. A mathematical model has been proposed for A. galli population kinetics in chickens, taking into account the stimulating effect of these elements on the nematodes. The model parameters are considered as phenomenological constants of the host-parasite system. An agreement with experimental data is observed using, for the parameters psi, alpha, micro and micros, values equal to those calculated in previously investigated A. galli-chicken systems. For parameter nu (immunological constant) the same value was obtained as in a previous experiment with high infection. This model is likely to be suitable for a range of host-nematode systems, including varying degrees of infection and treatment with different trace elements.

A newly synthesized basic mixed salt (Zn(x)Co(y)Mn(1-x-y)) x (OH)6SO4 x 2H2O) was administered to chickens with ascaridiosis. Improvement in survival, gain in body weight (of 19.03%) and restoration of microelement content were observed in the treated chickens. An increase in the gain in body weight of 7.62% in uninfected treated chickens was also observed. The establishment of Ascaridia galli populations in chickens, and chicken growth in control and infected hosts, untreated and treated, were modelled mathematically. Some kinetic parameters (the rate of reduction of the nematode population nu and the relative rate mu of gain in body weight of the host) were determined. The values of nu =0.027 day(-1) and nu*=0.032 day(-1) were calculated for the reduction rates in infected, untreated chickens and in infected, treated chickens, respectively. The worm burden in infected, treated chickens was 20.4% lower than in infected, untreated chickens.

The effect of dietary cobalt from three different sources on uninfected and Ascaridia galli-infected Hisex chickens, has been studied. The chicken diet was supplemented with 0.06 Co2+ kg-1 food either in the form of two glycine-cobalt compounds or mixed zinc-cobalt basic salt. An excess of dietary cobalt in small doses increases the gain of body weight and decreases host mortality. A greater bioefficiency of cobalt was established in infected chickens. A mathematical model has been used to provide a quantitative interpretation of the observed results. The model solutions of the kinetics of worm numbers and body weight are in a good agreement with experimental data. The model is valid for different degrees of A. galli infections and for treatment with different trace elements. The value of the kinetic parameter, regarded as a phenomenological constant of the host immune response, depends on the degree of infection.

Data from seven experiments with Ascaridia galli-infected chickens have been considered. The results of treatment with neutral and basic copper, zinc and copper-zinc salts and inorganic and organic manganese compounds have been compared. An optimal therapy, containing a pure Cu basic salt (Cu2(OH)3Cl) and an organic Mn compound (2Gly.MnCl2.2H2O), is proposed to correct mineral deficiencies and pathological symptoms and to ensure lower mortality and higher gains in body weight. A mathematical model has been proposed for the growth of a healthy chicken. The relative rates for two growth stages have been determined by the model using data from mean chicken weights. The time course of the average biomass of a single A. galli has been theoretically derived from the same logistic equation describing chicken growth, which in turn might explain, phenomenologically, the mechanisms involved in the biomass growth of eukaryote organisms.

The action of mixed salts of copper and zinc (basic and neutral) on Hisex chickens experimentally infected with Ascaridia galli has been studied. The data show that the lowest host mortality and decrease in body weight gain and the highest reduction in nematode loading occurs in infected chickens treated with basic salts (in comparison with infected chickens, untreated or treated with neutral salts). A mathematical model has been proposed to provide a quantitative interpretation of the observed results. The model solutions of the kinetics of parasite numbers and of the gain in body weight are in a good agreement with the experimental data. One of the kinetic parameters in the model is defined as a phenomenological constant of the host immune response. Its value is determined in the case of infected and untreated chickens.

Lithium, unlike sodium, increases brain lipid extraction in adult C57 Black mice. This effect seems to be related to a higher amount of brain proteolipids in the extract.

Behavioural disturbances after lithium injection only appear in mice with concentrations above 8 microequivalents per brain. Below this value, no fixation of lithium occurs in the brain. At higher concentrations, the amount of lithium found in the brain and associated with brain lipids increases gradually to reach a plateau. Moreover, although lithium increases the extraction of proteolipids, it does not seem to have an affinity for these compounds.

Calcium levels have been determined in brain of C57Bl mice and in the Quaking dysmyelinating mutant during the myelination period. In control mice, calcium content per gram brain is maximum at 20 days, at the acme of myelination, and decreases thereafter to reach a plateau at 30 days. This variation does not occur in the mutant where the level is 50% lower than maximum in controls and stable at 15 days after birth. In control mice, the variation may be related to the level or to the qualitative variation of some glycolipids and proteolipids as it disappears in lipid extract after Folch wash.

Subcutaneously injected stearic acid is taken up by the brain through the 'blood-brain barrier' and is incorporated into synaptosomal lipids (as well as into other brain compartments). Phospholipids are potent acceptors (choline phosphatides, ethanolamine phosphatides, serine phosphatides). Moreover a high level of radioactivity was found in non-esterified fatty acids.

Selenium (Se) supplementation may prevent the formation of free radicals and lipid peroxidation processes in trichinellosis. The oxidative-antioxidant status of male Wistar rats infected or uninfected with Trichinella spiralis (Nematoda) and supplemented or unsupplemented with Sel-plex (Alltech) was tested through blood biomarkers. Sel-plex was applied to restore antioxidant defense system. The oxidative marker was malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration. The antioxidant markers were superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities and concentrations of Se and vitamin E. The animals were allocated into four groups. The experiment covered 8 weeks post infection. A mathematical model was proposed for the time course of host body weight. The model solutions were in good agreement with the experimental data. The relative rates of body weight gain were determined as growth kinetic parameters. The supplementation of the rats with dietary Se improved their antioxidant status. Increases by 10% in SOD activity, 6% in GPx activity, 13% in vitamin E concentration, 17% in plasma Se concentration, and 19% in liver Se concentration, respectively, and a decrease by 18% in serum MDA concentration were recorded in the infected and supplemented towards infected and unsupplemented rats. The reduction of muscle larvae after Sel-plex application was 63%. The mortality in infected and uninfected animals did not differ significantly. No statistically significant differences were established between the growth of the control and infected rats. At week 8, the body weight gain in the supplemented rats (both uninfected and infected) was 30% higher, compared to that in unsupplemented ones. Diet with Se could be beneficial in the treatment of diseases correlated with considerable oxidative stress, particularly parasitoses.

The benefits of feeding avilamycin (Surmax/Maxus, Elanco Animal Health) to broiler chickens were demonstrated in a floor pen study (two trials) in which avilamycin was fed at 10 ppm in a 45-day growout. Final live weight of broilers fed avilamycin was significantly (P < or =.01) heavier (90 g) than that of control broilers fed for an equal number of days. Feed conversion was numerically but not significantly improved by avilamycin. Dressing percentage (hot eviscerated carcass weight/live weight) of broilers fed avilamycin was significantly improved (P < or =.01) relative to that of control broilers fed for an equal number of days.

The aim of this study was to determine the parasite fauna of the chicken in Van Province in 2002 and 2003. The material of the present study included endoparasites and ectoparasites determined by rutine parasitological examinations. Direct, flotation and sedimentation techniques for endoparasites were used. The total of endoparasites and ectoparasites were determined as 85% and 76% respectively. The ratios of endoparasites obtained from the chicken were coccidial oocystis 65%, Echinostoma spp. 2%, Davania proglottina 8%, Raillietina spp. 10%, Trichostrongylus tenuis 4%, Dispharynx nasuta 1%, Ascaridia galli 13%, Heterakis gallinarum 15%, Capillaria spp. 30% whereas ratios of ectoparasites were Goniocotes hologaster 32%, Lipeurus heteragraphus 6%, Eomenacanthus stramineus 42%, Menacanthus cornutus 11%, Menopon gallinae 22%.

Grape seed proanthocyanidin extract (GSPE) has been widely used as a human food supplement for health promotion and disease prevention. However, there was little information regarding its application in animal nutrition. The aim of the current study is to determine the effect of GSPE at different concentrations on chicken performance, and the status of antioxidant/oxidant system after the Eimeria tenella infection. In the first experiment, GSPE incorporated in the diet at 5, 10, 20, 40, and 80 mg/kg significantly decreased mortality and increased weight gain after the E. tenella infection, and the protective effect of GSPE was dose-dependent. The lowest mortality and the greatest growth gains were recorded in the group of birds fed with GSPE between 10 to 20 mg/kg. In the second experiment, 12 mg/kg of GSPE supplementation in the diet significantly reduced the mortality and lesion scores in birds after the infection with 5 x 10(4) and 1 x 10(5) oocysts of E. tenella. The weight gains also improved significantly. After the oral infection with 5 x 10(4) and 1 x 10(5) of E. tenella, analysis of the status of antioxidant/oxidant system revealed that plasma NO increased significantly from 7.11 to 21.31 mumol/L, plasma superoxide dismutase (SOD) decreased from 126.55 to 111.14 U/mL, and malondiadehyde increased, suggesting oxidative stress was increased in circulation. However, supplementation of 12 mg/kg GSPE reduced the level of plasma NO from 21.31 to 14.73 mumol/L and increased plasma SOD activities from 111.14 to 133.27 U/mL. The effects of incorporation of GSPE into the poultry diet on the concentration of plasma NO, malondiadehyde, and SOD indicated that the lower concentration of dietary GSPE was able to restore the balance of antioxidant/oxidant system that was exerted by the oxidative stress after the parasite infection. The current results suggested GSPE can act as an antioxidant in diet to improve the performance of broiler chickens and remedy the clinical symptoms caused by the oxidative stress of E. tenella infection.

The efficacy of piperazine dihydrochloride (Ascarex D, Rexolin Chemicals AB, Helsingborg, Sweden) was evaluated against natural infections of Ascaridia galli in broiler breeders. The compound was administered in the drinking water at a concentration of 1 or 2%. Efficacy against mature A. galli in controlled anthelmintic tests was 83%, 94% and 100% in birds given 64, 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight of drug respectively. Efficacy against immature worms was 86%, 60% and 100%. In a trial conducted in the field the frequency of fowls which were positive for nematode eggs was reduced from about 50% to 3% following treatment. Egg production in the field trial did not fall and there were no other side-effects associated with use of the drug.

The deficit of selenium is related to immunity worsening. Selenium improves an immune answer and raises disease resistance. The aim of our work was to study the influence of organic selenium in comparison with inorganic selenium on the factors of unspecific resistance and state of humoral immunity of chicken-broilers.

When Road-Island breed chickens were given fodder which included toxin in concentration of 16 mg/kg or T-2 toxin in concentration of 10 Mg/kg, that resulted in the decrease of the live weight, increase in the relative weight of the liver, kidneys, pancreas and heart, as well as the decrease of concentration of Bacillus genus bacteria in the caecum and rectum content compared with the control group chickens. No distinctions were observed in activity of alanine aminotransferase and concentration of total protein in the blood plasm. The drinking of probiotic preparation BPS-44 when feeding with forage contaminated by HT-2 or T-2 toxin resulted in the increase of the live weight, normalization of relative weights of viscera, increase in concentration of Bacillus genus bacteria in the intestine compared with chickens which received only mycotoxins.

Arachidonic acid cascade activated by cyclooxygenase is an important source of reactive oxygen species. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can shift an oxidative-antioxidative balance towards antioxidation by inhibiting cyclooxygenase. The aim of the study was to assess the influence of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs on the oxidative-antioxidative balance using animal model. MATERIAL AND METHODS:. In the study acetylosalicic acid (ASA) as COX-1 and COX-2 inhibitors, and nimesulide as selective COX-2 inhibitor were used. An investigation was carried out on rats (of both sex), divided into two groups of ten animals each. Rats were given intragastrically for three weeks: acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) at doses of 2 and 10 mg/kg bw/day diclofenac at doses of 1 and 5 mg/kg bw/day, and nimesulide at doses of 2.5 mg and 12.5 mg/kg bw/day. Control group received water. Total antioxidant capacity, nitrotyrosine and TBARS in plasma, sulfhydryl groups in whole blood, and thiobarbiturate (TBARS) in hemolysates of erythrocytes concentrations were assessed. RESULTS: The applied doses of diclofenac significantly increased TBARS and nitrotyrosine concentrations and decreased total antioxidant capacity whereas ASA quite the opposite: decreased TBARS and nitrotyrosine concentrations and increased total antioxidant capacity. Nimesulide only at the dose of 12.5 mg/kg bw/day caused a decrease in plasma TBARS and nitrotyrosine concentration. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated the potential antioxidant properties of ASA and nimesulide but not the other non-selective NSAIDs--diclofenac which turned out to exert pro-oxidative effects. ASA appears to possess stronger antioxidant activity than nimesulide.

The goal of this study was to investigate the effect of selenium deficit replenishment in patients with bronchial asthma (BA) on manifestations of oxidative stress and conditions of the antioxidant system (AOS). The need of correction of selenium deficit in BA-patient is determined by the increased needs in antioxidants due to chronic inflammatory process responcible for pathogenesis of BA. Latvia and also Eastern Finland, Byelorussia, some regions of Ukraine, some regions of the NorthWestern Russia, New Zealand belong to endemic areas with marked selen deficit in soils and foodstuff. Twenty patients (7 men and 13 women) with selen deficit and verified diagnosis of BA have been examined. In addition to basic therapy all patients received organic selenium SelenoPRECISE,("PharmaNord") 200 microg daily for 16 weeks. This caused statistically significant increase of plasma selenium from 50.94+/-7.58 microg/l to 63.59+/-10.87 microg/l (p<0.001), the increase of selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase (from 38.64+/-10.72 U/g Hb to 58.57+/-14.64 U/g Hb, p<0.001). Treatment of patients with selenium also normalized parameters charecterizing oxidative stress (chemiluminescence). The use of selenium in addition to basic therapy allows to abolish or alternate manifestations of oxidative stress by correcting the antioxidant system.

The activity of selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase (GPX), liver concentration of vitamin E, and plasma and liver selenium levels were used for estimation of the antioxidant status of broiler chickens infected with Ascaridia galli. These biomarkers were recorded in an experiment covering 70 days p.i. At the same time the establishment rate of A. galli in chicken intestines, gain in the host body weight and chicken survival were studied. Broiler chickens (Cobb hybrids) were infected with 1450 embryonated A. galli eggs and treated with Sel-plex. A mathematical model was applied to determine the rate of nematode reduction and the relative rate of gain of host body weight, which are essential kinetic parameters of parasite-host interaction. The activity of GPX increased with both elevated selenium and reduced infection levels. The concentrations of selenium and vitamin E, and the GPX activity in the infected chickens demonstrated a similar pattern of change with time after day 30 p.i. The supplementation of the broilers with dietary selenium in the form of Sel-plex improved their antioxidant status. Increases by 29% in vitamin E concentration, 15% in GPX activity, and 22% in liver selenium concentration, respectively, were recorded in the infected and treated, compared to infected and untreated broilers.