open access

Vol 52, No 3 (2014)
Original paper
Submitted: 2014-03-24
Accepted: 2014-07-23
Published online: 2014-10-10
Get Citation

Adverse effects of inhaled sand dust particles on the respiratory organs of sheep and goats exposed to severe sand storms in Mongolia

Yoshimi Kobayashi, Akinori Shimada, Mai Nemoto, Takehito Morita, Altanchimeg Adilbish, Mungun-Ochir Bayasgalan
DOI: 10.5603/FHC.2014.0028
·
Folia Histochem Cytobiol 2014;52(3):244-249.

open access

Vol 52, No 3 (2014)
ORIGINAL PAPERS
Submitted: 2014-03-24
Accepted: 2014-07-23
Published online: 2014-10-10

Abstract

Sand storms in Mongolia have increased in frequency and scale, resulting in increased exposure of the inhabitants of Asian countries, including Japan and Korea, to Asian sand dust (ASD), which results in adverse effects on the respiratory system. However, there is no information on the health risks of severe sand storms in domestic animals in Mongolia. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of sand dust particles on the respiratory organs, including the lungs and tracheobronchial lymph nodes, of sheep and goats exposed to severe sand storms in Mongolia. Seven adult sheep and 4 adult goats that had been exposed to sand storms and 3 sheep with no history of exposure were included in this study. Lung tissues and tracheobronchial lymph nodes were subjected to histopathological and immunohistochemical examination. The mineralogical contents of the lungs and lymph nodes were determined using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy. Fibrosis and granulomatous lesions comprising macrophages containing fine sand dust particles were observed exclusively in the lungs of sheep and goats exposed to sand storms. The activity of macrophages was also demonstrated by the presence of IL-6, TNF, and lysozyme. In addition, silicon, which is the major element of ASD (kosa aerosol), was detected exclusively in the lung tissues of the exposed animals. Our findings suggest that exposure to sand dust particles may affect the respiratory systems of domestic animals during their relatively short life span.

Abstract

Sand storms in Mongolia have increased in frequency and scale, resulting in increased exposure of the inhabitants of Asian countries, including Japan and Korea, to Asian sand dust (ASD), which results in adverse effects on the respiratory system. However, there is no information on the health risks of severe sand storms in domestic animals in Mongolia. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of sand dust particles on the respiratory organs, including the lungs and tracheobronchial lymph nodes, of sheep and goats exposed to severe sand storms in Mongolia. Seven adult sheep and 4 adult goats that had been exposed to sand storms and 3 sheep with no history of exposure were included in this study. Lung tissues and tracheobronchial lymph nodes were subjected to histopathological and immunohistochemical examination. The mineralogical contents of the lungs and lymph nodes were determined using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy. Fibrosis and granulomatous lesions comprising macrophages containing fine sand dust particles were observed exclusively in the lungs of sheep and goats exposed to sand storms. The activity of macrophages was also demonstrated by the presence of IL-6, TNF, and lysozyme. In addition, silicon, which is the major element of ASD (kosa aerosol), was detected exclusively in the lung tissues of the exposed animals. Our findings suggest that exposure to sand dust particles may affect the respiratory systems of domestic animals during their relatively short life span.
Get Citation

Keywords

domestic animal; sand dust; silicon; lungs; fibrosis; pulmonary toxicity; activated macrophages; sheep; goat

About this article
Title

Adverse effects of inhaled sand dust particles on the respiratory organs of sheep and goats exposed to severe sand storms in Mongolia

Journal

Folia Histochemica et Cytobiologica

Issue

Vol 52, No 3 (2014)

Article type

Original paper

Pages

244-249

Published online

2014-10-10

Page views

1556

Article views/downloads

1953

DOI

10.5603/FHC.2014.0028

Bibliographic record

Folia Histochem Cytobiol 2014;52(3):244-249.

Keywords

domestic animal
sand dust
silicon
lungs
fibrosis
pulmonary toxicity
activated macrophages
sheep
goat

Authors

Yoshimi Kobayashi
Akinori Shimada
Mai Nemoto
Takehito Morita
Altanchimeg Adilbish
Mungun-Ochir Bayasgalan

Regulations

Important: This website uses cookies. More >>

The cookies allow us to identify your computer and find out details about your last visit. They remembering whether you've visited the site before, so that you remain logged in - or to help us work out how many new website visitors we get each month. Most internet browsers accept cookies automatically, but you can change the settings of your browser to erase cookies or prevent automatic acceptance if you prefer.

By VM Media Group sp z o.o., ul. Świętokrzyska 73, 80–180 Gdańsk

tel.:+48 58 320 94 94, faks:+48 58 320 94 60, e-mail:  viamedica@viamedica.pl