Animal mortality

About: Animal mortality is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 526 publications have been published within this topic receiving 14887 citations.

Toxicity and biodistribution of a first-generation recombinant adenoviral vector, encoding aquaporin-1, after retroductal delivery to a single rat submandibular gland.

Abstract: Before conducting a phase 1/2 clinical trial of a serotype 5 adenovirus encoding human aquaporin-1 (AdhAQP1) for the treatment of radiation-damaged salivary glands, we have conducted a detailed toxicity and biodistribution study in adult rats. AdhAQP1 (2 × 108–2 × 1011 particles) was delivered to a single submandibular gland by retroductal cannulation. Administration of this vector resulted in no animal mortality or morbidities, and no adverse signs of clinical toxicity. In addition, over the 92-day time course of the study, with both male and female rats, there were no consistent treatment-related changes in serum indicators of hepatic, renal, and cardiac functions. Importantly, we also observed no vector-associated effects on either water consumption by, or hematocrit levels in, study animals. However, three suggestive mild gender-related response differences were seen. Female, but not male, rats exhibited small reductions in food consumption (∼10–15%) and body weight gain (5–10%), and evidence of persi...

Different Uses of Ozone: Environmental and Corporate Sustainability. Literature Review and Case Study

Abstract: An extensive and interdisciplinary literature review was carried out to evaluate the uses of synthetically produced ozone in many different application areas. The objective of the study was to investigate the disinfectant and purifying effectiveness of this natural compound and evaluate its use as an economically and environmentally sustainable alternative to treatments that often involve the adoption of pharmaceutical agents. Being a natural substance, the potential environmental sustainability of the use of ozone in areas such as water disinfectant; pesticide action in agriculture; and antibiotic, anti-inflammatory and antiviral actions in animal husbandry and fish farming are of interest. In addition to environmental sustainability, economic sustainability is also important for companies employing ozone in their processes. Thus, a case study was proposed that represents the use of ozone in a pilot swine farm located in Northern Italy, both as an alternative to pharmaceutical drugs for the animals and as an air and water purifier. The case study demonstrates the economic sustainability of ozone use, especially in the medium run, along with its ability to reduce animal mortality (by about 2%), as well as decrease use of pharmaceutical antibiotics.

Evaluation of the effects of low molecular weight heparin on inflammation and collagen deposition in chronic coxsackievirus B3-induced myocarditis in A/J mice.

Abstract: Coxsackievirus, Group B, type 3 (CVB3) infection of A/J male mice induces chronic myocarditis with increased interstitial fibrosis and collagen deposition. Heparin, a naturally occurring sulfated glycosaminoglycan, has both anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic activities besides its well-known anticoagulant activity. This study determined whether heparin treatment could decrease either cardiac inflammation or fibrosis in chronic CVB3-induced myocarditis. Control mice were either untreated or treated with heparin (4 micrograms/g body weight, subcutaneously 5 times weekly) beginning 2 days before infection of other groups. Additional groups received either virus only (1 x 10(4) plaque-forming units [PFU]), virus followed by heparin beginning 14 days after CVB3 inoculation, or virus and heparin beginning 2 days before CVB3 inoculation. Animals were sacrificed 14, 28, and 58 days after infection. Heparin treatment begun either before or after virus inoculation reduced animal mortality by approximately 20%. Heparin did not alter virus infection or replication in the heart. Histologically, only animals treated with heparin before virus inoculation showed reduced myocardial inflammation, and only at day 58. However, heparin treatment begun either before or after virus infection significantly decreased collagen deposition in the heart (fibrosis).