Rats are opportunistic omnivores, consuming both plant- and animal-derived foods, and therefore represent a suitable animal model for investigating the potential adverse effects of heterogeneous diets on hematological and biochemical blood profiles. The study included 18 Wistar rats of both sexes, aged 1–2 months, randomly allocated into three groups of six animals each. For a period of seven weeks, Group H was fed bakery products, Group M received meat and meat products, while the control Group K was fed a conventional pelleted diet. Biochemical parameters were analyzed from peripheral blood samples collected from the experimental animals. Statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) were identified among the groups for CREA, UREA, PHOS, Ca, TP, ALB, GLOB, ALB/GLOB, CHOL, and LIPA. No significant differences were observed for the remaining parameters. The biochemical findings indicate impaired renal function in rats from the meat-fed group, as evidenced by elevated creatinine, urea, phosphorus, and lipase levels. In addition, reduced concentrations of serum proteins, particularly albumin, were observed across all experimental groups, suggesting inadequate protein synthesis resulting from insufficient intake of essential amino acids and micronutrients required for normal liver function.

The aim of this study was to assess the possible adverse effects of different dietary regimens—namely diets based onbakery products and meat products—on erythrocytes, their morphology, erythrocyte indices, platelets, leukocytes, andthe leukogram in rats during late puerperium. A monotonous diet may affect the hematological profile and potentiallycause pathophysiological disorders. The study included 18 clinically healthy rats in the late puerperal period, divided intothree groups of six animals each: a group fed meat products (Group M), a group fed bakery products (Group H), and acontrol group (Group K) that consumed standard pelleted rodent feed. All groups of rats were fed their respective dietsseparately for a period of 49 days. At the end of the experimental period, hematological blood analyses were performed.Statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) were found among the groups for the parameters MCV, MCH, and PLT. It wasalso established that HCT, HGB, MCV, and MCH values in the experimental bakery-product group (H) were lower than boththe physiological reference intervals and the corresponding values in the control group (K). Moderate anulocytosis wasobserved, accompanied by hypochromic erythrocytes of reduced volume. Regarding the experimental group that consumedprocessed meat products, the results indicated the presence of hypochromic anemia, as evidenced by decreasedHGB, MCV, and MCH values. Examination of peripheral blood smears revealed the presence of poikilocytotic erythrocyteforms, namely echinocytes, with a notable percentage occurrence (14.05%) within microscopic fields of view. A diet basedon bakery products led to changes in hematological parameters, resulting in the development of iron-deficiency anemia.Furthermore, prolonged consumption of meat products contributed to the development of hypochromic anemia and suggestedpossible impairment of kidney function. This study demonstrated that rats during the late puerperal period are notimmune to the adverse effects of a monotonous meat-based diet nor to a monotonous diet consisting of bakery products.

A proper diet that provides balanced nutrients according to species, breed, age, sex, and purpose is essential for achieving optimal animal growth, development, and physiological function. In relation to this statement, the aim of this study was to quantitatively assess the effects of different dietary regimens on the morphometric characteristics of the small intestine of late puerperal rats, with a emphasis on the duodenum and jejunum. The research included measurements of the height and width of intestinal villi, and the depth of crypts, in order to determine specific morphological changes associated with the influence of the diet. The experiment involved 18 adult rats divided into three groups: the first group received standard commercial rat feed (control group), the second group was fed bakery products, and the third group was given a diet consisting exclusively of meat. Over a 49-day period, body weight, organ weights, and intestinal segment lengths were measured. Histological analyses of duodenum and jejunum samples were performed, alongside detailed morphometric assessment of the intestinal mucosa. Significant alterations in intestinal villi were observed. In the duodenum, the greatest villus height and width, as well as crypt depth, were observed in rats that had meat-based diet. Similarly, in the jejunum, rats from the same group exhibited the greatest villus height and crypt depth, while the mean measure of the villus width was almost identical to mean measure in rats that were fed with commercial food. These findings suggest that diet composition profoundly influences intestinal architecture and function. Overall, the study emphasizes the critical role of balanced nutrition in maintaining gastrointestinal health, systemic homeostasis, and optimal development, not only in laboratory animals but also in a broader veterinary and biomedical context.

BACKGROUND Enteric infectious diseases claim more than 1 million lives annually and are among the top ten causes of death in children younger than 5 years. Remarkable global investment has been dedicated to enteric infectious disease prevention and control; however, the shifting global health landscape is testing the continuance of progress. To evaluate the current status and guide future interventions, we present the latest epidemiological estimates of enteric infectious diseases from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2023 and assess progress towards the Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Pneumonia and Diarrhoea (GAPPD) mortality target of fewer than 20 deaths per 100 000 children younger than 5 years by 2025. METHODS We quantified the incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) of enteric infectious diseases by age, sex, and year across 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2023. In GBD 2023, the following were considered under the category of enteric infectious diseases: diarrhoeal diseases, enteric fever (typhoid and paratyphoid), invasive non-typhoidal Salmonella spp (iNTS) infections, and other intestinal infectious diseases. We also examined 15 aetiologies contributing to diarrhoeal diseases. Incidence and prevalence were estimated with DisMod-MR (version 2.1), a Bayesian meta-regression tool, drawing on data from systematic reviews, population-based surveys, claims data, and hospital sources. Cause-specific mortality was modelled with Cause of Death Ensemble Modelling based on data from sources including vital registration, mortality surveillance, verbal autopsy, and minimally invasive tissue sampling. Years of life lost and years lived with disability were computed and combined to derive DALYs. For aetiology-specific estimation, population-attributable fractions (PAFs) for 15 pathogens were derived with a counterfactual framework. Point estimates and 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs) were generated from 250 draws from the posterior distribution. FINDINGS In 2023, enteric infectious diseases resulted in an estimated 1·27 million (95% UI 0·963-1·68) deaths globally, declining from 3·69 million (3·04-4·56) in 1990. The global age-standardised mortality rate (ASMR) decreased from 74·1 (62·0-92·9) per 100 000 population to 16·4 (12·6-21·3) per 100 000 population during the same period. Diarrhoeal diseases accounted for most deaths in 2023 (1·11 million [0·811-1·54]), followed by enteric fever and iNTS. South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa remained the most affected regions in 2023, with 599 000 (441 000-882 000) and 501 000 (373 000-648 000) deaths due to enteric infectious diseases, respectively, predominantly from diarrhoeal disease. Rotavirus was the leading cause of all-age diarrhoeal disease deaths (PAF 16·3% [12·0-21·5]), followed by norovirus (10·2% [2·4-17·0]) and Shigella spp (9·3% [5·4-15·2]). Among children younger than 5 years, PAFs of deaths due to diarrhoeal diseases were 40·2% (32·5-48·5) for rotavirus, 24·0% (15·1-36·7) for Shigella spp, and 23·4% (13·7-34·3) for adenovirus. Across 204 countries and territories, 141 met the GAPPD mortality target in 2023. The driving aetiologies among countries that did not meet the target in 2023 varied slightly by GBD super-region, but the highest or second-highest number of deaths in children younger than 5 years were consistently attributed to rotavirus. Astrovirus and sapovirus, newly included in GBD 2023, were responsible for 24 600 (6290-49 000) and 18 800 (4650-44 400) deaths, respectively, in 2023, mainly in children younger than 5 years. INTERPRETATION Our findings show that mortality and ASMRs of enteric infectious diseases declined substantially between 1990 and 2023. This decline is consistent with the expansion of public health measures and broader socioeconomic development. However, the burden in 2023 remains considerably high, with the highest mortality concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa and south Asia. Considering that more than a quarter of all countries had yet to meet the GAPPD mortality target in 2023, sustained efforts are needed to address the persistent burden in affected countries and to adapt to the changing global health landscape. FUNDING Gates Foundation.

Climate change significantly affects human physiology and contributes to increased morbidity and mortality, with heat stress representing one of the most severe consequences of thermal imbalance. The aim of this study was to analyze morphological changes to leukocytes on the peripheral blood smears of Wistar rats exposed to hyperthermia using the geometric morphometrics method. A total of forty Wistar albino rats were divided into three experimental groups according to water temperature exposure (37 °C, 41 °C, and 44 °C). Peripheral blood smears were prepared, stained, and digitally recorded using Motic Images Plus 2.0 software, after which selected images were analyzed using geometric morphometric programs (tpsDig, tpsUtil, and MorphoJ) to evaluate leukocyte shape variations. Comparative analysis demonstrated statistically significant morphological changes in polymorphonuclear cell shapes between the control group (37 °C) and rats exposed to 41 °C (p = 0.009). Significant differences were also identified in mononuclear cell morphology between the antemortem and postmortem groups (p = 0.00307). The findings indicate that exposure to elevated temperatures induces measurable alterations in white blood cell morphology, confirming that hyperthermia produces significant structural changes in polymorphonuclear cells and mononuclear cells detectable through geometric morphometric analysis.

This case report describes the early clinical and laboratory course of an orphaned wild Bosnian Mountain Horse foal, with the aim of highlighting the diagnostic value of age-appropriate interpretation of clinicopathological findings during early life. The report is of particular interest because published data on the clinical monitoring of orphaned foals of this breed remain limited. The case included repeated hematological and biochemical analyses, coprological examinations, and dermatological evaluations, initiated partly due to the occurrence of two distinct skin lesions. Laboratory findings obtained at approximately two and four months of age were interpreted with consideration of age-related physiological variations characteristic of foals. Progressive decreases in erythrocyte parameters were consistent with physiological anemia of foals, while leukocyte profiles, platelet counts, and biochemical values reflected normal developmental adaptation rather than pathological changes. Two clinically distinct skin conditions were identified during follow-up. The first was a localized periocular dermatophytosis caused by Microsporum canis, diagnosed by microbiological analysis of skin scraping collected from the lesion margins. The second was diffuse, irregular, poorly demarcated alopecic lesion of non-infectious origin, supported by negative microbiological and parasitological findings from skin scrapings and by spontaneous regression without specific therapy. Despite early-life challenges associated with orphan status and suboptimal nutrition, the foal maintained stable systemic health throughout the monitoring period. This case underscores the importance of age-appropriate interpretation of clinicopathological parameters and comprehensive clinical assessment in orphaned or free-ranging foals.

Background: Wound healing is a complex physiological process involving hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling. Erythrocyte and platelet parameters, along with erythrocyte morphology including poikilocytosis, are valuable indicators of systemic responses to injury and therapeutic interventions. Manuka honey and chlorine dioxide (ClO2) are known for their antimicrobial and reparative properties, yet systemic hematological effects following topical application remain poorly characterized. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate systemic hematological responses in Wistar rats with surgically induced wounds following the topical application of manuka honey and ClO2, compared with gentamicin treatment and untreated controls, focusing on erythrocyte and platelet parameters and poikilocytosis. Methods: Sixty Wistar rats were randomly assigned to four groups: control (C, n=15), gentamicin (AB, n=15), manuka honey (MH, n=14), and chlorine dioxide (ClO2, n=15). Under full anesthesia, a 4 cm abdominal incision was surgically induced in all rats, followed by twice-daily topical treatment for 14 days. On day 14, peripheral blood samples were collected for hematological analysis, including red blood cell count (RBC), hemoglobin concentration (HGB), hematocrit (HCT), platelet count (PLT), plateletcrit (PCT), and poikilocytosis. Statistical comparisons were performed using the Kruskal-Wallis test, significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: Most hematological parameters remained within expected physiological ranges. Significant intergroup differences were observed for HGB, HCT and PLT. Post hoc Dunn comparisons showed that HGB was significantly higher in the AB group than in the C group (p=0.011), ClO2 (p=0.015), and MH (p=0.006) groups. HCT was significantly higher in the AB group compared with the C (p=0.037), ClO2 (p=0.015), and MH (p=0.011) groups. PLT was significantly higher in the ClO2 group compared with the C (p=0.041), AB (p=0.019) and MH (p=0.014) groups. Poikilocytosis was minimal in all groups, primarily absent to mild, with the most frequent forms being anulocytes and stomatocytes. Conclusion: At the evaluated endpoint, topical application of manuka honey and ClO2 did not reveal marked systemic hematological disturbances in Wistar rats with surgical wounds. ClO2 had the most pronounced effect on platelet parameters among the tested treatments. Minimal poikilocytosis further supports the relative hematological stability observed at the evaluated endpoint. These findings provide valuable insights into systemic responses to topical treatments applied to surgically induced wounds and support further studies incorporating leukocyte profiling, complementary hematological, immunological, and histopathological assessments.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation and destruction of cartilage, as well as by extra-articular manifestations. Rheumatoid nephropathy is a common complication of RA and its principal target is the renal corpuscle. Vitamin D and its analogs exert immunomodulatory actions throughout the body due to the widespread of their receptors. Our study aimed to compare the effects of cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) and alfacalcidol on renal corpuscle changes in pristane-induced RA model following a 28-day treatment, using geometric morphometrics. Forty female Wistar rats (190–210 g; 12–13 weeks old) were randomly assigned to four groups: the control (Cont) group (n = 10) received saline i.c., the PIA group (n = 10) was administered pristane i.c., PIA-ALF group (n = 10) was administered pristane i.c. and alfacalcidol orally, and the PIA-CH group (n = 10) was injected i.c. with pristane and received cholecalciferol orally. Pristane administration was used for RA induction. At the end of the experiment, the left kidneys were removed and processed by standard histological procedures for geometric morphometric analysis. Geometric morphometric analysis demonstrated that, compared with the control group, the architecture of the renal corpuscles was altered in the PIA (p < 0.0001) and PIA-CH (p = 0.0065) groups. In contrast, no statistically significant differences were observed in the PIA-ALF group (p = 0.3011). Geometric morphometric analysis demonstrated that alfacalcidol, but not cholecalciferol, exertedaprotective effect on the renal corpuscle architecture in pristane-induced rheumatoid arthritis in rats.

Abstract.