Hematological Traits Research Articles

Inherited polygenic effects on common hematological traits influence clonal selection on JAK2V617F and the development of myeloproliferative neoplasms

Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) are chronic cancers characterized by overproduction of mature blood cells. Their causative somatic mutations, for example, JAK2V617F, are common in the population, yet only a minority of carriers develop MPN. Here we show that the inherited polygenic loci that underlie common hematological traits influence JAK2V617F clonal expansion. We identify polygenic risk scores (PGSs) for monocyte count and plateletcrit as new risk factors for JAK2V617F positivity. PGSs for several hematological traits influenced the risk of different MPN subtypes, with low PGSs for two platelet traits also showing protective effects in JAK2V617F carriers, making them two to three times less likely to have essential thrombocythemia than carriers with high PGSs. We observed that extreme hematological PGSs may contribute to an MPN diagnosis in the absence of somatic driver mutations. Our study showcases how polygenic backgrounds underlying common hematological traits influence both clonal selection on somatic mutations and the subsequent phenotype of cancer.

ВЛИЯНИЕ СКАРМЛИВАНИЯ ФУКУСОВОЙ КРУПКИ НА ГЕМАТОЛОГИЧЕСКИЕ ПОКАЗАТЕЛИ ПРОМЫШЛЕННЫХ КУР-НЕСУШЕК

The research aim has been studying of effect of additive from fucus seaweeds on commercial layers hematologic parameters. The experimental poultry group has received feed additive with 30% dry focus grit. Blood samples have been taken in 14, 30 and 60 days of the experiment. Fucus seaweed usage in layer diet has exerted significant influence on layers hematologic traits and improved layer organism resistanсe.

Different quantities of manganese oxide nanoparticles incorporated feed on the growth and haematological traits of common carp Cyprinus carpio var. communis

In recent times, nanoparticles have been used as raw ingredients for biofertilizers, mineral supplements in animal feed, and pharmaceuticals. Manganese plays a vital role in enhancing fish's growth and biological function. The present research work aimed to analyze the various quantities of manganese oxide nanoparticles on common carp growth and its haematological traits. Synthesized manganese oxide (Mn3O4) nanoparticles were illustrated using UV-visible Spectroscopy (UV-Vis), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Energy Dispersive X–Ray Spectroscopy (EDAX), X–Ray Diffraction (XRD), and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Six different feeds were prepared by incorporating different quantities of manganese oxide nanoparticles (Feed I (control-0mg), Feed II(3mg/100g), Feed III(6mg/100g), Feed IV(9mg/100g), Feed V(12mg/100g), and Feed VI(15mg/100g)) with common ingredients such as groundnut oil cake, fish meal, tapioca flour, and wheat flour. On the completion of 21 days, feed utilization and haematological characteristics of Common carp were assessed. The UV-Vis showed that manganese oxide nanoparticles exhibit strong adsorption peaks at 220nm. SEM image observed at the wavelength range from 9.22 nm to 9.35 nm. The size of the particles was in the 45-55 nm range. The EDAX spectrum recorded two peaks between 0.40 and 6 kev. The XRD graph shows that the diffraction peaks are indexed as 103, 004, 213, 204, 303, and 215. FT-IR spectrum measured at the wavelength range from 500-4000cm-1. Most of the growth parameters and haematological parameters were higher in feed III, containing 6mg of Manganese oxide nanoparticles. Therefore, results show that manganese oxide incorporated feed enhances the growth and haematological traits in common carp compared to control feed.

In Silico, In Vitro, and In Vivo Evaluation of Caffeine-Coated Nanoparticles as a Promising Therapeutic Avenue for AML through NF-Kappa B and TRAIL Pathways Modulation.

Advancements in nanoscience have led to a profound paradigm shift in the therapeutic applications of medicinally important natural drugs. The goal of this research is to develop a nano-natural product for efficient cancer treatment. For this purpose, mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNPs) were formulated, characterized, and loaded with caffeine to develop a targeted drug delivery system, i.e., caffeine-coated nanoparticles (CcNPs). In silico docking studies were conducted to examine the binding efficiency of the CcNPs with different apoptotic targets followed by in vitro and in vivo bioassays in respective animal models. Caffeine, administered both as a free drug and in nanomedicine form, along with doxorubicin, was delivered intravenously to a benzene-induced AML model. The anti-leukemic potential was assessed through hematological profiling, enzymatic biomarker analysis, and RT-PCR examination of genetic alterations in leukemia markers. Docking studies show strong inter-molecular interactions between CcNPs and apoptotic markers. In vitro analysis exhibits statistically significant antioxidant activity, whereas in vivo analysis exhibits normalization of the genetic expression of leukemia biomarkers STMN1 and S1009A, accompanied by the restoration of the hematological and morphological traits of leukemic blood cells in nanomedicine-treated rats. Likewise, a substantial improvement in hepatic and renal biomarkers is also observed. In addition to these findings, the nanomedicine successfully normalizes the elevated expression of GAPDH and mTOR induced by exposure to benzene. Further, the nanomedicine downregulates pro-survival components of the NF-kappa B pathway and upregulated P53 expression. Additionally, in the TRAIL pathway, it enhances the expression of pro-apoptotic players TRAIL and DR5 and downregulates the anti-apoptotic protein cFLIP. Our data suggest that MSNPs loaded with caffeine, i.e., CcNP/nanomedicine, can potentially inhibit transformed cell proliferation and induce pro-apoptotic TRAIL machinery to counter benzene-induced leukemia. These results render our nanomedicine as a potentially excellent therapeutic agent against AML.

Biological Selenium Nanoparticles in Quail Nutrition: Biosynthesis and its Impact on Performance, Carcass, Blood Chemistry, and Cecal Microbiota.

This study was conducted to examine the influence of dietary supplementation of biological nano-selenium (BNSe) on productive performance, hematology, blood chemistry, antioxidant status, immune response, cecal microbiota, and carcass traits of quails. In total, 180 Japanese quails (1week old) were randomly allocated into four groups, with five replicates of nine chicks each in a complete randomized design. The 1st group was fed a control diet without BNSe, and the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th treatments were fed diets supplemented with BNSe (0.2, 0.4, and 0.6g /kg feed, respectively). The best level of BNSe in body weight (BW) and body weight gain (BWG) parameters was 0.4g/kg diet. Feed conversion was improved (P < 0.01) by adding BNSe in quail feed compared with the basal diet without any supplementation. The inclusion of different BNSe levels (0.2, 0.4, 0.6g/kg) exhibited an insignificant influence on all carcass traits. The dietary addition of BNSe (0.4 and 0.6g/kg) significantly augmented aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity (P = 0.0127), total protein and globulin (P < 0.05), white blood cells (WBCs) (P = 0.031), and red blood cells (RBCs) (P = 0.0414) compared with the control. The dietary BNSe supplementation significantly improved lipid parameters, antioxidant and immunological indices, and increased selenium level in the blood (P < 0.05). BNSe significantly increased (P = 0.0003) lactic acid bacteria population number and lowered the total number of yeasts, molds, total bacterial count, E. coli, Coliform, Salmonella, and Enterobacter (P < 0.0001). In conclusion, adding BNSe up to 0.4 and 0.6g/kg can boost the growth, lactic acid bacteria population number, hematology, immunological indices, antioxidant capacity, and lipid profile, as well as decline intestinal pathogens in growing quail.

The first Chinese with Hb Chile leading to chronic anemia and methemoglobinemia: a case report

BackgroundHemoglobin (Hb) Chile [β28(B10) Leu > Met; HBB: c.85 C > A] is a rare hemoglobin variant caused by a missense mutation in the HBB gene. Only one case of Hb Chile has been reported worldwide so far. It is an unstable hemoglobin, characterized by cyanosis associated with chronic methemoglobinemia and hemolytic anemia induced by sulfonamides or methylene blue.Case presentationA 9-year-3-month-old girl had mild anemia of unknown etiology for more than 6 years. She had a slight pallor without other symptoms or signs. The complete blood count revealed normocytic normochromic anemia with a sometimes-elevated reticulocyte count, and the bone marrow cytology showed marked erythroid hyperplasia, but the tests related to hemolysis were normal. Therefore, the whole exome sequencing was performed and showed a heterozygous mutation for HBB: c.85 C > A. With asymptomatic methemoglobinemia confirmed later, she was eventually diagnosed with Hb Chile.ConclusionsThis is the first report of Hb Chile in China and the second worldwide. This case shows that Hb Chile is clinically heterogeneous and difficult to diagnose and expands our understanding on the clinical and hematological traits of the disease.

Polygenic Germline Risk of Common Haematological Traits Drives Clonal Selection on JAK2V617F and Development of Myeloproliferative Neoplasms

Polygenic germline loci are a major contributor to population variation in common blood cell traits, but little is known about how such predisposition influences clonal selection and cancer. Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) are rare chronic haematological cancers characterised by the abnormal overproduction of mature blood cells leading to elevated blood cells parameters, and are driven by somatic mutations, e.g. JAK2V617F. JAK2 mutations result in a spectrum of phenotypes from asymptomatic clonal haematopoiesis (CH) to distinct MPN subtypes characterised by increased red blood cells (polycythaemia vera; PV) and platelets (essential thrombocythaemia; ET) respectively. Compared to MPN, mutant JAK2 is much more common in the population, the vast majority of whom do not meet, or go on to develop, disease defining characteristics of MPN. Little is understood about why only a minority of individuals with mutated JAK2 develop more severe haematological manifestations that fulfil the clinical criteria of MPN and the factors that influence blood count heterogeneity in MPN. We assessed how polygenic germline scores (PGS), based on associated genetic variants, for 29 haematological traits drive JAK2V617F positivity in UK Biobank (UKBB) (n=540 mutation carriers, 161,994 non-carriers). Accounting for the recognised predisposition towards MPN driven by the JAK2 46/1 haplotype and other known germline variants associated with MPN, we found significant positive associations with JAK2V617Fclones for the PGSs of plateletcrit (PGS PCT) and monocyte count (PGS MONO) ( P =9.510 -4 and 0.0036 respectively with FDR&amp;lt;0.05 for small clones [VAF &amp;lt;0.1, n=397]; 0.033 and 0.0022 with FDR adjusted P = 0.31 and 0.064 for large clones [VAF 0.1 or greater, n=143]). Empowered by genome-wide association study data associated with JAK2V617F positivity in the full UKBB data (n = 1,125 mutation carriers, 338,919 non-carriers), we identified strong evidence that genetically predicted monocytes (odds ratio [OR] 1.31, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.15-1.49, P=4.610 -5) and plateletcrit (OR 1.52, CI=1.29-1.78; P=3.010 -7) are causal risk factors for JAK2V617F clonal expansion. We genotyped genome-wide SNPs in 761 MPN patients whom had detailed somatic mutation data, and built PGSs for blood cell traits in patients and 30,305 healthy controls. Germline predisposition to several higher red-cell traits increased the odds of PV (OR 1.22, CI=1.01-1.47 to 1.57, CI=1.34-1.86]), while high PGSs for two platelet traits predisposed to ET (OR 1.56, CI=1.44-1.70; OR 1.72, CI=1.44-2.02). Results were validated in MPN and healthy controls from UKBB. Importantly, extreme PGS for blood cell traits associated with an MPN diagnosis in the absence of somatic driver mutations in both patients and UKBB, potentially mimicking the haematological phenotype of clonal disease. We confirmed that the heritability of MPN subtype via polygenic predisposition to normal blood traits was independent of known germline MPN and CH risk loci. In summary, by analysing two large MPN disease cohorts and UKBB, we provide new insights into the interaction between germline polygenic variation involved in basic haematopoiesis and clonal selection on somatic driver mutations in blood. We demonstrate that genetically predicted haematological traits can causally influence clonal selection on mutant JAK2, and the polygenic predisposition of blood cell traits influences the phenotype of subsequent blood cancer. Our results highlight an independent and causal new component of the overall susceptibility to clonal disease and provide a novel framework for considering an individual's genetic background in the context of their clinical presentation.

Investigating Causal Effects of Hematologic Traits on Lung Cancer: A Mendelian Randomization Study.

Observational studies have suggested blood cell counts may act as predictors of cancer. It is not known whether these hematologic traits are causally associated with lung cancer. Two-sample bidirectional univariable Mendelian randomization (MR) and multivariable MR (MVMR) were performed to investigate the causal association between hematologic traits and the overall risk of lung cancer and three histologic subtypes [lung adenocarcinoma, squamous cell lung cancer, and small cell lung cancer (SCLC)]. The instrumental variables of 23 hematologic traits were strictly selected from large-scale genome-wide association studies. Inverse-variance weighted method and five extra methods were used to obtain robust causal estimates. We found evidence that genetically influenced higher hematocrit [OR, 0.845; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.783-0.913; P = 1.68 × 10-5] and hemoglobin concentration (OR, 0.868; 95% CI, 0.804-0.938; P = 3.20 × 10-4) and reticulocyte count (OR, 0.923; 95% CI, 0.872-0.976; P = 5.19 × 10-3) decreased lung carcinoma risk, especially in ever smokers. MVMR further identified hematocrit independently of smoking as an independent predictor. Subgroup analysis showed that a higher plateletcrit level increased the risk of small cell lung carcinoma (OR, 1.288; 95% CI, 1.126-1.474; P = 2.25 × 10-4). Genetically driven higher levels of reticulocyte count and hematocrit decreased lung cancer risk. Higher plateletcrit had an adverse effect on SCLC. Hematologic traits may act as low-cost factors for lung cancer risk stratification. Further studies are required to elucidate the potential mechanisms underlying the dysregulation of homeostasis related to hematologic traits, such as subclinical inflammation.

Assessing the safety of lipid-modifying medications among Chinese adolescents: a drug-target Mendelian randomization study

BackgroundWith increasing hypercholesterolemia prevalence in East Asian adolescents, pharmacologic interventions (e.g., HMGCR inhibitors (statins) and PCSK9 inhibitors) may have to be considered although their longer-term safety in the general adolescent population is unclear. This study aims to investigate the longer-term safety of HMGCR inhibitors and PCSK9 inhibitors among East Asian adolescents using genetics.MethodsA drug-target Mendelian randomization study leveraging the Global Lipid Genetics Consortium (East Asian, n = 146,492) and individual-level data from Chinese participants in the Biobank clinical follow-up of Hong Kong’s “Children of 1997” birth cohort (n = 3443, aged ~ 17.6 years). Safety outcomes (n = 100) included anthropometric and hematological traits, renal, liver, lung function, and other nuclear magnetic resonance metabolomics. Positive control outcomes were cholesterol markers from the “Children of 1997” birth cohort and coronary artery disease from Biobank Japan.ResultsGenetic inhibition of HMGCR and PCSK9 were associated with reduction in cholesterol-related NMR metabolomics, e.g., apolipoprotein B (HMGCR: beta [95% CI], − 1.06 [− 1.52 to − 0.60]; PCSK9: − 0.93 [− 1.56 to − 0.31]) and had the expected effect on the positive control outcomes. After correcting for multiple comparisons (p-value < 0.006), genetic inhibition of HMGCR was associated with lower linoleic acid − 0.79 [− 1.25 to − 0.35]. Genetic inhibition of PCSK9 was not associated with the safety outcomes assessed.ConclusionsStatins and PCSK9 inhibitors in East Asian adolescents appeared to be safe based on the outcomes concerned. Larger studies were warranted to verify these findings. This study serves as a proof of principle study to inform the medication safety among adolescents via genetics.

Dominance is common in mammals and is associated with trans-acting gene expression and alternative splicing

BackgroundDominance and other non-additive genetic effects arise from the interaction between alleles, and historically these phenomena play a major role in quantitative genetics. However, most genome-wide association studies (GWAS) assume alleles act additively.ResultsWe systematically investigate both dominance—here representing any non-additive within-locus interaction—and additivity across 574 physiological and gene expression traits in three mammalian stocks: F2 intercross pigs, rat heterogeneous stock, and mice heterogeneous stock. Dominance accounts for about one quarter of heritable variance across all physiological traits in all species. Hematological and immunological traits exhibit the highest dominance variance, possibly reflecting balancing selection in response to pathogens. Although most quantitative trait loci (QTLs) are detectable as additive QTLs, we identify 154, 64, and 62 novel dominance QTLs in pigs, rats, and mice respectively that are undetectable as additive QTLs. Similarly, even though most cis-acting expression QTLs are additive, gene expression exhibits a large fraction of dominance variance, and trans-acting eQTLs are enriched for dominance. Genes causal for dominance physiological QTLs are less likely to be physically linked to their QTLs but instead act via trans-acting dominance eQTLs. In addition, thousands of eQTLs are associated with alternatively spliced isoforms with complex additive and dominant architectures in heterogeneous stock rats, suggesting a possible mechanism for dominance.ConclusionsAlthough heritability is predominantly additive, many mammalian genetic effects are dominant and likely arise through distinct mechanisms. It is therefore advantageous to consider both additive and dominance effects in GWAS to improve power and uncover causality.

Effects of Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) leaf and seeds on biochemical and hematological feature

The aim of current research to examine the effect of dried leaves, DL, and seeds, SE. of Coriandrum sativum on some biological and hematological traits. 30 male rabbits aged (93-115) days, separated randomly into 3 equal groups, treatment 1, T1, taken the basal meal represented as control group, and other treatments, T2 and T3, supplemented the basal nutrition mixed with 5% of DL and SE, respectively, for 12 weeks. At the termination of experiment, blood and sera samples collected and separated for estimating hematological and biochemical traits, as well as, liver was collected for histological study. The statistical evaluation of T3 results was demonstrated a raising in hematological parameters significantly (P<0.05) in comparison with T2 and T1. Additionally, the concentration of serum globulin and protein elevated significantly (P<0.05) in rabbits provided SE and DL in comparison with rabbits in T1 group. Besides, the values of AST, ALT and glucose showed a decline (P<0.05) in rabbits given DL and SE C.sativum comparing T1. The histological studies of liver in T3 rabbits same as that of control rabbits. In conclusion, ground seeds of C sativum could improve the histological, serological and biochemical features more than dried leaves.

Blood phytosterols in relation to cardiovascular diseases and mediating effects of blood lipids and hematological traits: a Mendelian randomization analysis.

Short-term clinical trials have shown the cholesterol-lowering potentials of phytosterols, but their impacts on cardiovascular disease (CVD) remain controversial. This study used the Mendelian randomization (MR) to investigate the relationships between genetic predisposition to blood sitosterol concentration and 11 CVD endpoints, along with the potential mediating effects of blood lipids and hematological traits. Random-effect inverse-variance weighted method was used as the main analysis of MR. Genetic instruments of sitosterol (seven SNPs, F=253, and R2=15.4%) were derived from an Icelandic cohort. Summary-level data of the 11 CVDs were obtained from UK Biobank, FinnGen, and publicly available genome-wide association study results. Genetically predicted one unit increment in log-transformed blood total sitosterol was significantly associated with a higher risk of coronary atherosclerosis (OR: 1.52; 95% CI: 1.41, 1.65; n=667,551), myocardial infarction (OR: 1.40; 95% CI: 1.25, 1.56; n=596,436), all coronary heart disease (OR: 1.33; 95% CI: 1.22, 1.46; n=766,053), intracerebral hemorrhage (OR: 1.68; 95% CI: 1.24, 2.27; n=659,181), heart failure (OR: 1.16; 95% CI: 1.08, 1.25; n=1,195,531), and aortic aneurysm (OR: 1.74; 95% CI: 1.42, 2.13; n=665,714). Suggestive associations were observed for an increased risk of ischemic stroke (OR: 1.06; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.12; n=2,021,995) and peripheral artery disease (OR: 1.20; 95% CI: 1.05, 1.37; n=660,791). Notably, blood non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (nonHDL-C) and apolipoprotein B mediated about 38-47%, 46-60%, and 43-58% of the associations between sitosterol and coronary atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, and coronary heart disease, respectively. However, the associations between sitosterol and CVDs were less likely to depend on hematological traits. The study suggests that genetic predisposition to higher blood total sitosterol is linked to a greater risk of major CVDs. Moreover, blood nonHDL-C and apolipoprotein B might mediate a significant proportion of the associations between sitosterol and coronary diseases.

A signature of platelet reactivity in CBC scattergrams reveals genetic predictors of thrombotic disease risk

AbstractGenetic studies of platelet reactivity (PR) phenotypes may identify novel antiplatelet drug targets. However, such studies have been limited by small sample sizes (n < 5000) because of the complexity of measuring PR. We trained a model to predict PR from complete blood count (CBC) scattergrams. A genome-wide association study of this phenotype in 29 806 blood donors identified 21 distinct associations implicating 20 genes, of which 6 have been identified previously. The effect size estimates were significantly correlated with estimates from a study of flow cytometry–measured PR and a study of a phenotype of in vitro thrombus formation. A genetic score of PR built from the 21 variants was associated with the incidence rates of myocardial infarction and pulmonary embolism. Mendelian randomization analyses showed that PR was causally associated with the risks of coronary artery disease, stroke, and venous thromboembolism. Our approach provides a blueprint for using phenotype imputation to study the determinants of hard-to-measure but biologically important hematological traits.

Influence of dietary mannan-oligosaccharides supplementation on hematological characteristics, blood biochemical parameters, immune response and histological state of laying hens

This study aimed to determine the influence of dietary mannan-oligosaccharides (MOS) on the immune system, hematological traits, blood biochemical parameters, and histological state of laying hens. At 34 wk of age, The Mandarah chicken strain's 120 laying hens and 12 cocks were divided into 4 groups, each with 30 hens and 3 cocks. The first group performed as a control group, which nourished on a basal diet. The second, third, and fourth experimental groups received 0.1, 0.2, and 0.5 g/kg of MOS and a base diet, respectively. Birds obtained MOS at numerous doses significantly (P ˂ 0.05) raised serum levels of immunoglobulin Y (IgY), immunoglobulin M (IgM), and avian influenza (AI) antibodies compared to control birds. Furthermore, adding MOS at a level of 0.1 g/kg diet significantly improved the immune response of the control group. Additionally, compared to the control group, treated birds with MOS at various dosages did not significantly enhance hematological parameters such as red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs), hemoglobin, and hematocrit. Compared to control birds, birds fed MOS at all levels exhibited considerably lower serum cholesterol, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) values. Also, compared to other treated birds, MOS-treated birds displayed improved histological examination of the small intestine, isthmus, and testis compared to the control group, particularly in birds fed MOS at 0.1 and 0.2 g/kg diet. It could be concluded that using MOS at 0.1 or 2 g/kg diet can successfully improve the physiological performance and overall health of laying hens.

Genetic examination of hematological parameters in SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19

People hospitalized with COVID-19 often exhibit altered hematological traits associated with disease prognosis (e.g., lower lymphocyte and platelet counts). We investigated whether inter-individual variability in baseline hematological traits influences risk of acute SARS-CoV-2 infection or progression to severe COVID-19. We report inconsistent associations between blood cell traits with incident SARS-CoV-2 infection and severe COVID-19 in UK Biobank and the Vanderbilt University Medical Center Synthetic Derivative (VUMC SD). Since genetically determined blood cell measures better represent cell abundance across the lifecourse, we also assessed the shared genetic architecture of baseline blood cell traits on COVID-19 related outcomes by Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses. We found significant relationships between COVID-19 severity and mean sphered cell volume after adjusting for multiple testing. However, MR results differed significantly across different freezes of COVID-19 summary statistics and genetic correlation between these traits was modest (0.1), decreasing our confidence in these results. We observed overlapping genetic association signals between other hematological and COVID-19 traits at specific loci such as MAPT and TYK2. In conclusion, we did not find convincing evidence of relationships between the genetic architecture of blood cell traits and either SARS-CoV-2 infection or COVID-19 hospitalization, though we do see evidence of shared signals at specific loci.

Characterizing the polygenic architecture of complex traits in populations of East Asian and European descent

To investigate the polygenicity of complex traits in populations of East Asian (EAS) and European (EUR) descents, we leveraged genome-wide data from Biobank Japan, UK Biobank, and FinnGen cohorts. Specifically, we analyzed up to 215 outcomes related to 18 health domains, assessing their polygenic architecture via descriptive statistics, such as the proportion of susceptibility SNPs per trait (πc). While we did not observe EAS–EUR differences in the overall distribution of polygenicity parameters across the phenotypes investigated, there were ancestry-specific patterns in the polygenicity differences between health domains. In EAS, pairwise comparisons across health domains showed enrichment for πc differences related to hematological and metabolic traits (hematological fold-enrichment = 4.45, p = 2.15 × 10–7; metabolic fold-enrichment = 4.05, p = 4.01 × 10–6). For both categories, the proportion of susceptibility SNPs was lower than that observed for several other health domains (EAS-hematological median πc = 0.15%, EAS-metabolic median πc = 0.18%) with the strongest πc difference with respect to respiratory traits (EAS-respiratory median πc = 0.50%; hematological-p = 2.26 × 10–3; metabolic-p = 3.48 × 10–3). In EUR, pairwise comparisons showed multiple πc differences related to the endocrine category (fold-enrichment = 5.83, p = 4.76 × 10–6), where these traits showed a low proportion of susceptibility SNPs (EUR-endocrine median πc = 0.01%) with the strongest difference with respect to psychiatric phenotypes (EUR-psychiatric median πc = 0.50%; p = 1.19 × 10–4). Simulating sample sizes of 1,000,000 and 5,000,000 individuals, we also showed that ancestry-specific polygenicity patterns translate into differences across health domains in the genetic variance explained by susceptibility SNPs projected to be genome-wide significant (e.g., EAS hematological-neoplasm p = 2.18 × 10–4; EUR endocrine-gastrointestinal p = 6.80 × 10–4). These findings highlight that traits related to the same health domains may present ancestry-specific variability in their polygenicity.

Effects of garlic, onion, and apple cider vinegar as a herbal mixture on performance and blood traits of broilers inoculated with chicken infectious anemia virus

This study assessed the effects of a herbal mixture (HM) to protect poultry against chicken infectious anemia (CIA) and to modulate the adverse effects of this virus on performance, mortality, blood profile, white blood cells (WBCs) count, liver enzymes, liver histopathology, and intestinal morphology. Therefore, 240 one-day-old male broiler chicks (Ross 308) were divided into four experimental groups, with six replicates and ten chicks per group. The experimental groups consisted of a control group and groups with 2.5%, 5%, and 7.5% HM, all based on corn-soybean meal. All chicks were inoculated with the CIA virus (CIAV) on day 7. The results showed that supplementation of 2.5% of HM to broiler diet increased feed intake (FI) (P < 0.05) and also increased body weight (BW) and weight gain (WG) slightly (P > 0.05). Adding 7.5% HM caused a reversible decrease in FI, BW, and WG and increased FCR. Compared with the control group, mortality rates declined with an additional dose of HM in CIAV-infected chickens. HM supplementation in the diet of CIAV-infected chickens increased hematocrit (HCT), hemoglobin (Hb), and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and decreased mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) compared to the control (P < 0.05). Lymphocyte percentage and lymphocyte/heterophile ratio increased in HM-supplemented groups, especially at 2.5% (P < 0.05), and heterophile and granulocyte percentages were reduced (P < 0.05). Liver enzyme alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and liver steatosis declined in the 2.5% HM-treated group compared to the control (P < 0.05). It was concluded that adding 2.5% of the HM to the CIAV-infected broiler’s diet did not negatively affect chicken performance. In addition to its hypolipidemic effects, it could prevent HCT and Hb from decreasing in chicks infected with CIAV and positively affect leukocyte types and liver enzymes. Interestingly, an additional dose of HM in the diet of the CIAV-infected broilers reduced mortality. Therefore, adding 2.5% of HM could prevent the adverse effects of CIA on hematological traits in broiler chicken flocks without adverse effects on performance.

Immune response, hematological traits, biochemical blood parameters, and histological status of laying hens influenced by dietary chitosan-oligosaccharides

This experiment aimed to examine the effect of chitosan-oligosaccharides (COS) supplementation in laying hens' diets affected their immune response, hematological characteristics, blood biochemical parameters, and histological status. At the age of 34 wk, 200 laying hens and 20 cocks of the Mandarah chicken strain were allotted into four groups, each consisting of 50 hens and five cocks. The first group acted as a control group, fed on a basal diet. The second, third, and fourth experimental groups each received 0.1, 0.2, and 0.5 g/kg of COS in addition to a base diet. Birds received COS at various dosages had significantly (P ˂ 0.05) increased serum concentration of immunoglobulins, avian influenza, and Newcastle disease antibodies compared with the control birds. Moreover, adding COS at level 0.2 g/kg diet insignificantly enhanced immune response than the rest of the treatment groups. Also, treated birds with COS at different levels had insignificantly improved hematological parameters such as red blood cells, white blood cells, hemoglobin and hematocrit compared to the control group. Birds fed COS at all levels had significantly decreased serum cholesterol, triglycerides, Ca++ and alanine aminotransferase concentrations compared with control birds. In addition, compared to the control group, chitosan-treated birds showed enhanced histological examination of the small intestine, isthmus, and testis, notably in birds given COS at 0.1 g/kg diet compared to other treated birds. Cocks fed COS at all levels improved testicular tissues and increased the number and diameter of seminiferous tubules compared with control birds Morphological examination of the ileum showed increased villi number, height, and crypt depth. It is possible to conclude that laying hens' physiological performance and general health can be effectively improved by using chitosan at 0.1 or 2 g/kg diet levels enhanced immune response.

The effect of polysaccharide from Padina boergesenii on Aeromonas hydrophila resistance and growth, biochemical, digestive enzymes, non-specific immune response in Oreochromisniloticus

The present study was designed to investigate the sulfated polysaccharide isolated from Padina boergesenii influenced immunological mechanisms and disease resistance in Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus after being infected with Aeromonas hydrophila. FTIR, NMR and HPLC were used to characterize the isolated Sulphated polysaccharide extracted from P. boergesenii. The antioxidant properties of the isolated polysaccharide were investigated. The experimental group was divided into five groups (T1-T5) and experimental groups (T2-T5) fed with polysaccharides at concentrations of 0.5%, 1.5%, 2.5%, and 3.5%. The Group T1 serves as a control, and the diet contains no polysaccharides. The 45-day study period involved the examination of O. niloticus haematological, immunological, biochemical, digestive enzymes, antioxidant, and growth traits. Growth, biochemical components, digestive enzymes, haematological, immunological, and antioxidant levels were significantly higher in Experiment T4 (2.5%) compared to the other experimental groups. The experimental groups were infected with A. hydrophila after the feeding trial. Our results predict that the feeding polysaccharide-rich diets may help in growth of the fish and develop their biochemical, digestive enzymes, non-specific immune response, and disease resistance in O. niloticus.

Univariate and multivariate genome-wide association studies for hematological traits in Murciano-Granadina goats.

Hematological traits are important indicators of health status, and they are frequently used as criteria for clinical diagnosis. In humans, the genomic architecture of blood traits has been investigated in depth and thousands of associations with genetic variants have been found. In contrast, the association between marker genotypes and the variation of hematological traits has not been investigated in goats yet. Herewith, we have recorded 12 hematological parameters in 882 Murciano-Granadina goats that were also genotyped with the Goat SNP50 BeadChip (Illumina). Performance of a univariate genome-wide association study (GWAS) made it possible to detect one genomic region on goat chromosome (CHI) 21 (19.2-19.5 Mb) associated, at the genome-wide level of significance, with 4 red blood cell traits. The three markers displaying the highest significances were rs268272996 (CHI21: 19225290 bp), rs268273004 (CHI21: 19565629 bp) and rs268239059 (CHI13: 9615190 bp). Consistently, a multivariate GWAS indicated that the rs268273004 marker on chromosome 21 is associated with seven blood cell traits. Interestingly, this marker maps close to the FA Complementation Group I (FANCI) gene (CHI21: 20021947-20077025 bp), which is functionally related to Fanconi anemia, a syndrome characterized by bone marrow failure, aplastic anemia, and congenital disorders. We have also uncovered additional chromosome-wide significant associations between genetic markers and erythrocyte and leukocyte traits in the univariate GWAS. These findings evidence that the phenotypic variation of hematological traits in goats is regulated, at least to some extent, by polygenic determinants distributed in multiple chromosomes.