Ovine theileriosis is a tick-borne disease that restricts the development of small ruminant husbandry in northern China. In this study, we report on a molecular epidemiological survey of ovine Theileria spp. in 198 blood samples taken from sheep in northern China. The DNA samples were screened by a nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the 18S rRNA gene of ovine Theileria spp. The prevalence of ovine Theileria spp. in Yanji, Nongan, Longjing, Toudao and Jinchang was 80%, 40%, 37%, 24% and 32%, respectively. The sequencing analyses approved the present of the T. orientalis and/or T. luwenshuni in these regions. Taken together, we have demonstrated a high incidence of Theileria spp. in northern China that calls for the need to design effective control programs for ovine theileriosis.

The current study investigated the protective potential of Azolla pinnate ethanolic extract (APE) against lead-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Sixty male Wistar albino rats were randomly allocated into six groups (n = 10). The control group was orally administrated with saline. The second group received lead acetate (100 mg/kg body weight (BW) orally for 60 days). The third group was fed with APE (10 mg/kg BW orally for 60 days). The fourth group was administrated with lead acetate like the second group and APE like the third group, concomitantly, for 60 days. The fifth group was administrated with APE like the third group for 30 days, then orally administrated with the lead acetate like the second group for another 30 days. The sixth group was administrated with lead acetate like the second group for 30 days, then with APE like the third group for a further 30 days. Phytochemical analysis of APE indicated the presence of peonidin 3-O-glucoside cation, vitexin, rutin, thiamine, choline, tamarixetin, hyperoside, astragalin, and quercetin. The latter has been elucidated using one- and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (1D and 2D NMR) and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS-MS). Lead acetate increased the serum levels of alanine and aspartate aminotransferases and that of urea, creatinine, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and interleukin 1β, hepatic tissue malondialdehyde contents, and caspase 3 protein expression, as well as altering the hepatic tissue architecture. However, it decreased the serum levels of interleukin 10 and glutathione (GSH) contents, and the activities of catalase and superoxide dismutase in hepatic tissue. In contrast, the administration of APE ameliorated the lead-induced alterations in liver function and structure, exemplifying the benefits of Azolla’s phytochemical contents. Collectively, A. pinnate extract is a protective and curative agent against lead-induced hepatotoxicity via its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic impacts.

The current study was conducted to investigate the protective properties of Eucalyptus globulus leaves methanolic extract (EGLME) against diclofenac sodium (DS) induced hepatorenal and testicular toxicity in male rats. A total of 40 rats were equally divided into 4 groups, Control, Diclofenac sodium (DS), EGLME and DS + EGLME groups, respectively. DS and EGLME were administered orally at dose rate 2.5 and 100 mg/kg BW, 4 times/week for 8 weeks, respectively. Administration of DS distorted hepatorenal functions manifested by alteration of serum levels of ALT, AST, total protein and albumin, creatinine and urea with changes of histological architectures. DS caused reproductive toxicity represented by minimized sperm count, individual sperm motility and viability; depleted concentration of reduced glutathione (GSH) in testicular tissue; and decreased testosterone level with alteration in testicular histological features. In contrast, co-treatment of DS intoxicated rats with EGLME protected rats against the adverse effects of DS revealing enhancing properties of EGLME on rats’ liver, kidney and testes. In conclusion, we demonstrated that EGLME had a potent protecting property against DS induced hepatic, renal and testicular toxicity in male rats, with special concern to testicular tissue via modulation of GSH as an oxidant marker. (classification by EVISE): Diclofenac sodium toxicity (hepatorenal and testicular toxicity), co-treatment with natural herbal extract, blood biochemical assays, tissue anti-oxidants assay, histopathology and reproductive indices analyses.