Trichosomoides crassicauda infection in laboratory Long-Evans rats

SUMMARY The significance of the wild Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus) in the transmission of pseudorabies virus (PrV) was examined. Tissue specimens (320) of 20 and serum samples of 43 wild Norway rats, live-trapped on a PrV-infected farm, were found not to contain detectable amounts of PrV or PrV neutralizing antibodies. Experimental oral exposure of 42 wild Norway rats and 37 Sprague-Dawley laboratory rats demonstrated the ld50 to be approximately 3 × 108 tcid50 in both groups. Scarification of the hard palate of 16 laboratory rats before oral inoculation resulted in a 40-fold reduction of the ld50. The ld50 following intranasal inoculations were 5,900 tcid50 in laboratory rats anesthetized with ether and 2,700 tcid50 both in wild rats and laboratory rats anesthetized with ketamine HCl. Severe pruritus leading to severe injury preceded death in most rats. Viral isolation efforts were successful in 169 of 297 tissue samples of 11 orally inoculated and moribund wild rats and 10 laboratory rats. The PrV was also isolated in 170 of 263 specimens taken from nine wild and eight laboratory rats (all moribund) following intranasal exposure. The viral distribution in carcasses of rats infected following oral or intranasal exposure was similar and restricted to nervous tissues, respiratory tract, pharynx, salivary glands and the mandibular lymphocenter. None of 105 tissue samples taken from seven wild rats and seven laboratory rats surviving oral exposure yielded PrV. The sera of eight surviving wild rats and 31 laboratory rats also did not contain detectable amounts of PrV neutralizing antibodies. Lateral transmissions between rats was not observed. It was concluded that the significance of infected wild rats in the transmission of PrV is limited to possible spread within an area if the infected carcasses are consumed or food rations are contaminated by oronasal secretions of infected rats.

Hemorrhagic cystitis (HC) is a major dose-limiting side effect of cyclophosphamide (CP). The mechanism by which CP induces cystitis is not clear. Recent studies demonstrate that nitric oxide; (peroxynitrite) is involved in bladder damage caused by CP. However, the molecular targets of peroxynitrite are not known. The present study is aimed at investigating whether proteins and DNA are molecular targets of peroxynitrite using a rat model. The experimental rats received a single i.p. injection of 150 mg kg(-1) body weight CP in saline and killed 6 or 16 h later. The control rats received saline. The bladders were used for histological and biochemical analysis. Nitrotyrosine and poly-(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) were localized immunohistochemically as indicators of protein nitration and DNA damage, respectively. Nitrite, malondialdehyde, protein thiol and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were assayed in the bladder. Hematuria and urinary bladder edema was observed in the CP-treated rats and histologically, moderate to severe damage to the urinary bladder was observed. The bladders of CP-treated rats stained strongly for nitrotyrosine as well as for PARP. Significant decrease in oxidized NAD levels was observed in the bladders of CP-treated rats 16 h following treatment with CP. Protein thiol was depleted and the activity of the peroxynitrite sensitive enzyme SOD was significantly reduced in the bladders of CP-treated rats. The results of the present study reveal that protein nitration, PARP activation and NAD+ depletion may play a critical role in the pathogenesis of CP-induced hemorrhagic cystitis. Based on the results we propose a mechanism for CP-induced cystitis.

Wild animals typically exhibit defensive behaviors in response to a wider range and/or a weaker intensity of stimuli compared with domestic animals. However, little is known about the neural mechanisms underlying “wariness” in wild animals. Wild rats are one of the most accessible wild animals for experimental research. Laboratory rats are a domesticated form of wild rat, belonging to the same species, and are therefore considered suitable control animals for wild rats. Based on these factors, we analyzed structural differences in the brain between wild and laboratory rats to elucidate the neural mechanisms underlying wariness. We examined wild rats trapped in Tokyo, and weight-matched laboratory rats. We then prepared brain sections and compared the basolateral complex of the amygdala (BLA), the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST), the main olfactory bulb and the accessory olfactory bulb. The results revealed that wild rats exhibited larger BLA, BNST and caudal part of the accessory olfactory bulb compared with laboratory rats. These results suggest that the BLA, BNST, and vomeronasal system potentially contribute to wariness in wild rats.

Rats are a reservoir of human- and livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). However, the composition of the natural S. aureus population in wild and laboratory rats is largely unknown. Here, 144 nasal S. aureus isolates from free-living wild rats, captive wild rats and laboratory rats were genotyped and profiled for antibiotic resistances and human-specific virulence genes. The nasal S. aureus carriage rate was higher among wild rats (23.4%) than laboratory rats (12.3%). Free-living wild rats were primarily colonized with isolates of clonal complex (CC) 49 and CC130 and maintained these strains even in husbandry. Moreover, upon livestock contact, CC398 isolates were acquired. In contrast, laboratory rats were colonized with many different S. aureus lineages—many of which are commonly found in humans. Five captive wild rats were colonized with CC398-MRSA. Moreover, a single CC30-MRSA and two CC130-MRSA were detected in free-living or captive wild rats. Rat-derived S. aureus isolates rarely harbored the phage-carried immune evasion gene cluster or superantigen genes, suggesting long-term adaptation to their host. Taken together, our study revealed a natural S. aureus population in wild rats, as well as a colonization pressure on wild and laboratory rats by exposure to livestock- and human-associated S. aureus, respectively.

Wild animals tend to avoid novel objects that do not elicit clear avoidance behaviors in domesticated animals. We previously found that the basolateral complex of the amygdala (BLA) and dorsal bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (dBNST) were larger in trapped wild rats compared with laboratory rats. Based on these findings, we hypothesized that the BLA and/or dBNST would be differentially activated when wild and laboratory rats showed different avoidance behaviors towards novel objects. In this study, we placed novel objects at one end of the home cage. We measured the time spent in that half of the cage and expressed the data as a percentage of the time spent in that region with no object placement. We found that this percentage was lower in the wild rats compared with the laboratory rats. These behavioral differences were accompanied by increased Fos expression in the BLA, but not in the dBNST, of the wild rats. These results suggest that wild rats show greater BLA activation compared with laboratory rats in response to novel objects. We also found increased Fos expression in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus, ventral BNST, and ventromedial hypothalamus, but not in the central amygdala of wild rats. Taken together, our data represent new information regarding differences in behavioral and neural responses towards novel objects in wild vs. laboratory rats.

The domestication process of the laboratory rat has been going on for several hundred generations in stable environmental conditions, which may have affected their physiological and behavioural functions, including their circadian system. Rats tested in our ethological experiments were laboratory-bred wild Norway rats (WWCPS), two strains of pigmented laboratory rats (Brown Norway and Long Evans), and two strains of albino rats (Sprague-Dawley and Wistar). Rats were placed in purpose-built enclosures and their cycle of activity (time spent actively outside the nest) has been studied for one week in standard light conditions and for the next one in round-the-clock darkness. The analysis of circadian pattern of outside-nest activity revealed differences between wild, pigmented laboratory, and albino laboratory strains. During daytime, albino rats showed lower activity than pigmented rats, greater decrease in activity when the light was turned on and greater increase in activity when the light was switched off, than pigmented rats. Moreover albino rats presented higher activity during the night than wild rats. The magnitude of the change in activity between daytime and nighttime was also more pronounced in albino rats. Additionaly, they slept outside the nest more often during the night than during the day. These results can be interpreted in accordance with the proposition that intense light is an aversive stimulus for albino rats, due to lack of pigment in their iris and choroid, which reduces their ability to adapt to light. Pigmented laboratory rats were more active during lights on, not only in comparison to the albino, but also to the wild rats. Since the difference seems to be independent of light intensity, it is likely to be a result of the domestication process. Cosinor analysis revealed a high rhythmicity of circadian cycles in all groups.

Renal cyst bleeding is a frequent problem in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). However, information is still limitedon its frequency, causative factors, and effects on enlargement of polycystic kidneys in ADPKD. We investigated the total volume of acute renal intracystic hemorrhage and its association with total kidney volume (TKV) in a large seriesofpatients with ADPKD on dialysis, referred forrenal transcatheter arterial embolization. All patients had undergone CT scan and MRI scan before the procedure.We evaluated factors potentially associated with acute renal intracystic hemorrhage.The association between thevolume of acute renal intracystic hemorrhage and the potential predisposing and associated factors was analysed by univariable and multivariable regressions. RESULTS: We enrolled 199 patients who underwent renal transcatheter arterial embolization from 2014 to 2018 (107 men, 92 women; mean age 59.1 ± 8.6years). The median volume of acute renal intracystic hemorrhage was 97.3ml (interquartile range 36.6-261.7ml). Multivariable analysis revealed that body weight, kidney stones, systolic blood pressure, and total volume of acute renal intracystic hemorrhage were significantly associated with TKV; age, body mass index, smoking, renal cyst infection, serum alkaline phosphatase, and TKV were significantly associated withthe volume ofacute renal intracystic hemorrhage ; and sex, age, dialysis vintage, TKV, and total volume of acute renal intracystic hemorrhage were significantly associated with the number of microcoils required to achieve renal transcatheter arterial embolization. Total volume of acute renal intracystic hemorrhage was significantly associated with TKV(r = 0.15, p = 0.0325)and wasgreater inyounger patients (r= - 0.32, p < 0.0001). Total volume of acute renal intracystic hemorrhagewas also correlated with the number ofmicrocoils required for renal transcatheter arterial embolization(r = 0.23, p = 0.0012). Acute renal intracystic hemorrhage is frequent among ADPKD patients on dialysis, and total volume of acute renal intracystic hemorrhage significantly associated with TKV.Total volume of acute renal intracystic hemorrhage was greater in younger patients with higher renal artery luminal size. These results suggest that renal cyst bleeding and renal artery blood flow may synergistically accelerate the enlargement of polycystic kidneysin ADPKDpatients on dialysis.

The purpose of the research is to study the parasite fauna in laboratory rats and mice in SPF-status and open-type vivariums and to compare the infection rate depending on the maintenance type within each type of samples.Materials and methods. The studies were conducted using life-time diagnosis (flotation method and Scotch-tape test), and the material were fecal samples from laboratory rodents and litter samples. Ten percent of the vivarium population and all newly arrived mice and rats in quarantine were examined. Fifty-four individual samples from pure line mice, and 24 litter samples were examined. A total of 234 samples were collected from the laboratory rats: 93 individual samples, 55 combined samples, and 17 sawdust samples; 69 samples were examined by Scotch-tape test.Results and discussion. Twenty six percent of the laboratory SPF vivarium mice were found to have protozoa: Giardia muris (11.1%) and Trichomonas sp. (20.4%). Nematodes Aspiculuris tetraptera (51.0%) and Syphacia obvelata (20.6%), and cestode Rodentolepis nana (12.0%) were recorded in the open-type vivarium mice. The laboratory open-type vivarium rats were found to have nematodes S. muris (up to 60.9%), A. tetraptera (5.4%), Trichosomoides crassicauda (1.8%), cestode R. nana (27.3%), protozoa Eimeria sp. (7.2%) and Giardia sp. (9.0%). The compared infection of individual with combined mouse fecal samples showed statistically significant differences for all parasites in general and for individual species. Pairwise comparisons of the infection showed that the combined sample detected R. nana statistically significantly more often versus the individual sample (27.3 vs. 5.4%, P &lt; 0.001). The comparison of the infection depending on the type of rat maintenance within each sample type did not show statistically significant differences.

In 105 patients CT studies were done prospectively after renal ESWL with a second generation lithotripter. 33 (31%) of the patients had renal oedema (n = 8), renal (n = 20) or extrarenal (n = 31) bleeding. Three of the 23 patients who had a three year follow-up had chronic renal changes, 10 had renal stones. As blunt renal trauma can be the cause of renal hypertension a longterm follow-up is necessary in ESWL patients, particularly if there was renal bleeding after treatment. Further studies are needed to determine the exact risk of renal hypertension after ESWL.

Prophylactic and Therapeutic Carboprost Tromethamine Bladder Irrigation in Rats with Cyclophosphamide-Induced Hemorrhagic Cystitis

Hemorrhagic cystitis inbone marrow transplantation

Out of 78 adult laboratory and wild rats investigated for parasitic diseases, 19.23% were diagnosed positive for spontaneous Hymenolepis diminuta infection. Infection was more in laboratory rats (24%) than wild rats (10.71%). Sex wise distribution of H. diminuta infection was also higher male laboratory rats than females while wild rat females were found free from this tapeworm. Value of hemoglobin was significantly decreased in H. diminuta infected laboratory rats than controls. Significant increased plasma protein values in H. diminuta infected wild rats than uninfected wild rats were observed. Serum values of alkaline phosphatase, SGPT and SGOT were significantly increased in H. diminuta infected wild rats than uninfected wild rats and other groups. Tissue enzyme studies revealed that although there were alterations of different enzymes in non-target organs of H. diminuta infected rats, but only lipid peroxidation, acetylcholinesterase and catalase were altered in target organ intestine. On SEM, the segments of H. diminuta showed width from 1120 to 1160 μm while length ranged from 120 to 150 μm. Most of segments had vertical lining and raised border on its each side of circumference. On necropsy examination, intestines were found to contain 25-40 mm long and about 1 mm wide, 3-4 or more tapeworms in each rat. Relative weight of intestine was significantly increased in H. diminuta laboratory rats than controls. Histopathologically, intestinal lumina showed varying number of H. diminuta segments with serrated borders. Occasionally, scolex of tapeworm attached with intestinal mucosa was also seen. H. diminuta infection caused pressure atrophy, compressed and atrophied villi, degeneration and desquamation of lining epithelium cells and excessive mucin secretion in intestinal mucosa and lumina. Occasionally, eosinophilic cellular infiltration was also observed. High prevalence of H. diminuta infection in rats is matter of concern as zoonosis in contact human beings.

Hemorrhagic Cystitis in a Cohort of Pediatric Transplantations: Incidence, Treatment, Outcome, and Risk Factors

Pediatric hemorrhagic cystitis

Laboratory animals, especially mice and rats, are commonly used in biomedical researches. This study was designed to evaluate the status of gastrointestinal parasites in Wistar rats using parasitological methods. Sixty Wistar rats in different ages which were being maintained conventionally were selected randomly from laboratory animal house. The contents of the gastrointestinal tract of the rats were examined by parasitological methods. All of the rats under study were infected with at least one parasite. Twelve genera of parasites were detected in the rats, the six of which were protozoa including Giardia muris, Entamoeba muris, Blastocystis spp., Eimeria spp., Tritrichomonas muris, and Cryptosporidium spp., and the six other ones were helminths including Hymenolepis nana, Syphacia muris, Syphacia obvelata, Strongyloides ratti, Trichosomoides crassicauda (bladder parasite), and Aspiculuris tetraptera. G. muris showed the highest prevalence rate (96%) followed by T. muris (95%). In addition, the lowest prevalence rate observed in this study was related to S. obvelata, S. ratti, T. crassicauda, and A. tetraptera, all with 1.5% prevalence. Consequently, it is crucial for researchers to monitor laboratory animals by health surveillance programs, essentially emphasizing the good laboratory practice (GLP) to ensure the quality, consistency, and reproducibility of data in their research.