Bandouchova et al. Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica 2011, 53:2 http://www.actavetscand.com/content/53/1/2 more pronounced, increasing as much as seven-fold when compared with controls. Alkaline phosphatase remained unchanged, as in F. tularensis infection in rodents [18]. The above pattern of early hepatic lesions in tularemia has previously been demonstrated. Hepatic dysfunction in tularemia is probably a contributor to the morbidity and mortality of this infection [14] because the liver is considered to be of major importance in the body’s defence mechanism against bacteria [36]. Although some authors observed a lack of positive cor- relations between the degree of hepatic damage and liver function tests [20], others demonstrated significant correlations between tissue bacterial burdens and bio- chemical parameters such as lactate dehydrogenase, ala- nine aminotransferase and glucose [18]. It is clear from Figures 6 to 8 that the trends for the three above-men- tioned liver enzymes in the F. tularensis-inoculated group of hares were very similar. Kidney function in F. tularensis-inoculated hares was within the normal limits because creatinine was only insignificantly elevated on days 2 and 4 and the changes in urea (cf. Figure 5) were due to liver impairment rather than kidney failure. Page 9 of 13 Low molecular weight antioxidants (LMWAs) in plasma samples collected from control and F. tularensis- inoculated hares were assayed using a screen-printed electrochemical sensor and square wave voltammetry (SWV). The LMWAs present in the sample appear as a typical wave in the anodic range when assayed by vol- tammetry [16]. Two peaks were found when assaying plasma samples collected from hares. The lower was found at 0.55 V, and the higher at 0.68 V. As previously described elsewhere, the first peak corresponds with uric and ascorbic acids [16], while glutathione is responsible for the second peak [37]. Figures 9 and 10 demonstrate the differences in the development profile of uric and ascorbic acids and glutathione, respectively. After an initial drop in both uric and ascorbic acids and glu- tathione on day 2 there was a statistically significant increase on days 6 to 12 and 6 to 14 post-inoculation. As shown, the LMWAs increased to about 120% of the normal level. These parameters were found to normalize from day 16 post-infection. A total of three LMWAs were estimated using SWV. However, the total number of chemical antioxidants occurring in the body is much higher [38]. The limit of detection of isolated Figure 9 Low molecular weight antioxidants oxidizable at a potential of 550 mV (i.e. uric and ascorbic acids) in European brown hares on individual days post-inoculation with F. tularensis. See Figure 1 for a detailed description of groups.