Anatomy and histology
Scanning electron
microscopic features of the ovine interdigital sinus. S.
Karahan, D. Yildiz and D. Bolat ........... 417
Bacteriology
Phenotypic and genotypic characterisation of Pasteurella multocida
strains isolated from pigs in Hungary. Zsuzsanna Varga, Boglárka Sellyei and T. Magyar ........... 425
Biochemistry and physiology
Expression of proopiomelanocortin, proenkephalin and
prodynorphin genes in porcine luteal cells. J. Staszkiewicz, M. T. Skowronski, Gabriela
Siawrys, T. Kaminski, B. E. Krazinski, K. J. Plonka, B. Wylot, Jadwiga Przala and S. Okrasa . ........... 435
Clinicochemical
follow-up of broiler rearing – a five-week study. A.
Szabó and
G. Milisits ........... 451
Effects
of ochratoxin A on some production traits, lipid peroxide and glutathione redox status of
weaned piglets. K. Balogh, J.
Hausenblasz, Mária Weber, Márta Erdélyi, Judit Fodor and M.
Mézes ........... 463
Clinical veterinary science
Isolation of Malassezia
pachydermatis and M. sympodialis from the
external ear canal of cats with
and without otitis externa. C. E. Dizotti and Selene D. A. Coutinho ........... 471
Nutrition
Influence of a combination of formic and propionic acids added
to wheat- and barley-based diets on the performance and gut histomorphology of broiler
chickens. N. Senkoylu, H. E.
Samli, M. Kanter and Aylin Agma ........... 479
Parasitology
Serological evidence for Babesia
canis infection of horses and an
endemic focus of B. caballi in Hungary. S. Hornok, Renate
Edelhofer, G. Földvári, Anja Joachim and R. Farkas ........... 491
Myxobolus
infections of common carp (Cyprinus carpio)
in Syrian fish farms. Amal Dayoub, K.
Molnár, H. Salman, A. Al-Samman and Cs.
Székely ........... 501
Pathology
Histological and ultrastructural studies of renal lesions in Babesia canis infected
dogs treated with imidocarb. Á. Máthé, M. Dobos-Kovács and K. Vörös ........... 511
A
case of equine abortion caused by Encephalitozoon
sp. L. Szeredi, A.
Pospischil, L. Dencső, A. Mathis and M.
Dobos-Kovács ........... 525
Surgery
Skin biopsies predict acute graft-versus-host disease after
small bowel transplantation in pigs. Tadeja Pintar, A.
Pleskovič, M. Alessiani, Francesca Abbiati, Aleksandra Milutinović, D. Petrovič, M.
Pogačnik and
Ruda Zorc-Pleskovič ........... 533
SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPIC FEATURES OF THE OVINE
INTERDIGITAL SINUS
S. Karahan1, D. Yildiz2 and D. Bolat2
1Department of
Histology and Embryology and 2Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary
Medicine, Kirikkale University, 71451 Campus, Kirikkale, Turkey
(Received 15 November 2006; accepted 11 January 2007)
This article describes
the scanning electron microscopic (SEM) features of the ovine interdigital sinus. The
lumen was filled with a dense secretory material and quite a number of hairs embedded in
the luminal content. For SEM purposes, the sinus was divided into three parts: base, body
and neck. At the cut surface, the wall exhibited significant folds which were almost
absent in the base, the very short blind end of the sinus. The wall had three layers:
epidermis, dermis and fibrous capsule. Stratified epithelium with a prominent keratin
layer faced the lumen. The inner surface was similar to the skin surface; however, it was
coarser due to folds. The fibrous capsule was composed mainly of dense connective tissue,
constituting the outermost layer of the wall. The dermis contained common skin structures
including sebaceous glands, hair follicles, arrector pili muscles and apocrine glands.
Sebaceous glands appeared as groups of bubbles if they were not collapsed. Apocrine glands
generally appeared as a group of coiled tubules. They frequently exhibited apocrine blebs,
which is a feature of apocrine secretion. SEM was able to locate some secretory vesicles
in the lumen of apocrine tubules which is frequently filled by secretory content. Thus,
the apocrine tubules exhibited classical features of apocrine secretion.
Key
words: Apocrine gland, interdigital sinus, interdigital gland, sheep, scanning
electron microscopy
PHENOTYPIC AND GENOTYPIC CHARACTERISATION OF PASTEURELLA MULTOCIDA STRAINS ISOLATED FROM PIGS IN
HUNGARY
Zsuzsanna Varga,
Boglárka Sellyei and T. Magyar
Veterinary Medical Research
Institute of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, H-1581 Budapest, P.O. Box 18, Hungary
(Received 28 March 2007; accepted 19
April 2007)
A total of 146 Pasteurella multocida strains isolated from swine
in Hungary in the last 20 years were
examined. Biochemical characterisation and PCR-based techniques were used to determine
species, subspecies, biovar, capsule type and presence of the toxA gene. Eighty-seven percent of the isolates
belonged to P. multocida ssp. multocida, and 98% of these had biovar 3 or were
trehalose- or lactose-fermenting or ornithine decarboxylase negative variants of that. Ten
percent of the strains were P. multocida ssp. septica, and within this group 80% of the strains
showed sorbitol-negative biovars (5, 6 and 7). The rest of the strains (20%) were lactose
positive. Only 3% of the porcine isolates were P.
multocida ssp. gallicida and 3 out of the
4 strains belonged to the dulcitol-fermenting biovar 8. Using a capsule-specific multiplex
PCR, 60% of the strains belonged to capsule type D, 38% to capsule type A, and only 1
isolate had capsule type F. In contrast with data published in the literature, only 3% of
capsule type D isolates carried the toxA gene,
while this ratio was 41% for the type A strains. A remarkable regional distribution of toxA gene positive strains was observed. All but
two isolates were found in swine herds located in the Transdanubian region, separated from
other parts of Hungary by the river Danube.
Key words: Pasteurella
multocida, swine, PCR, capsule type, biovar,
toxA gene
EXPRESSION OF PROOPIOMELANOCORTIN, PROENKEPHALIN AND
PRODYNORPHIN GENES IN PORCINE LUTEAL CELLS
J. Staszkiewicz, M. T.
Skowronski, Gabriela Siawrys, T. Kaminski, B. E. Krazinski, K. J. Plonka, B. Wylot, Jadwiga Przala and S. Okrasa
Department of Animal Physiology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn,
10-719 Olsztyn, Oczapowskiego 1A, Poland
(Received 20 October 2006; accepted 19
April 2007)
The objective of the
study was to examine the expression of the genes coding for proopiomelanocortin (POMC),
proenkephalin (PENK) and prodynorphin (PDYN) in porcine luteal cells isolated from corpora
lutea (CL) collected on days 3–6, 8–10 and 13–16 of the oestrous cycle. Total RNA
was purified from non-incubated cells and from cells incubated for 48 h in the absence or
presence of luteinising hormone (LH). The semi-quantitative RT-PCR technique, involving
co-amplification of the target and control cDNA (ß-actin or 18S rRNA), was used to
examine gene expression. It was found that the genes coding for opioid precursors are
expressed in both non-incubated and incubated porcine luteal cells representing the early,
mid- and late luteal phase. In non-incubated cells, only POMC mRNA content changed during
CL development, whereas the expression of PENK and PDYN genes remained relatively
constant. Additionally, the treatment of cells with LH markedly affected the expression of
POMC and PENK, but no influence on PDYN expression was observed. The present study
indicates that porcine luteal cells may produce opioid peptides and that gene expression
of their precursors (except for PDYN) may be modulated in these cells by LH. Moreover, the
present results support the involvement of opioid peptides in local regulation within the
CL of the pig.
Key
words: Proopiomelanocortin, proenkephalin, prodynorphin, luteal cells, corpus luteum,
pig
CLINICOCHEMICAL FOLLOW-UP OF BROILER REARING – A FIVE-WEEK
STUDY
A. Szabó and G. Milisits
Faculty of Animal Science, University of Kaposvár, H-7400 Kaposvár, Guba S. u. 40, Hungary
(Received 6 September 2006; accepted 19 April 2007)
Commercial broilers
were raised in a 5-week period and a detailed clinicochemical follow-up was carried out,
to characterise a flock selected for one-sided muscle mass production. Blood samples were
drawn at the ages of 1 day, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 weeks, and plasma enzyme activities,
metabolite and ion concentrations were determined. Early increases were found for all
plasma nitrogenous compounds (total protein, albumin, creatinine and urate). Triglyceride
showed a post-hatch peak with a significant effect of age. Plasma total cholesterol was
characterised by a marked post-hatch concentration peak, while during the first week its
concentration decreased markedly. Plasma AST showed an increase during the rearing, while
a one-magnitude increment was found for creatine kinase activity during the study. The
main results of the study outlined a typical precocial bird (post-hatch triglyceride peak;
decreasing cholesterol and early peaking plasma protein and urate concentrations) with
very quick skeletal muscle mass growth (increasing creatine kinase and AST activities,
slight hyperkalaemia).
Key words: Broiler,
rearing, plasma clinicochemical parameters, creatine kinase
Corresponding author: András Szabó; E-mail: szan1125@freemail.hu; Fax: 0036 (82) 320-175
EFFECTS OF OCHRATOXIN A ON SOME PRODUCTION TRAITS, LIPID
PEROXIDE AND GLUTATHIONE REDOX STATUS OF WEANED PIGLETS
K. Balogh1,2, J. Hausenblasz1, Mária Weber1, Márta Erdélyi1, Judit Fodor2 and M. Mézes1
1Department
of Nutrition, Szent István University, H-2103 Gödöllő, Páter K. u. 1, Hungary; 2Hungarian Academy of Sciences
Supported Research Group of Animal Breeding and Animal Hygiene, University of Kaposvár,
H-7400 Kaposvár, Guba S. u. 40, Hungary
(Received 9 February 2007; accepted 19
April 2007)
The effect of feeding
ochratoxin A (OTA) contaminated diet (379.6 and 338.1 µg/kg in starter and grower diets)
on production traits, lipid peroxidation and some parameters of the glutathione redox
system were investigated in weaned piglets over a seven-week period. Feed intake and feed
conversion ratio (FCR) did not differ significantly, but in the first phase (0–28 days)
the daily weight gain was significantly lower in the piglets fed the OTA-contaminated
diet. Lipid peroxidation, as measured by the amount of malondialdehyde, glutathione
content and glutathione peroxidase activity, did not change significantly in the blood
plasma and red blood cell haemolysate in the OTA-loaded group, while malondialdehyde
content increased significantly in the liver and markedly but not significantly in the
kidney of piglets fed OTA-contaminated feed. Glutathione content did not differ
significantly in the studied organs of the two groups while glutathione peroxidase
activity of the OTA-loaded animals was significantly lower both in the liver and in the
kidney. The results suggest that the use of feedstuffs contaminated with low levels of OTA
for seven weeks did not cause marked differences in the production traits or in lipid
peroxidation and amount or activity of the glutathione redox system in the blood plasma,
red blood cells and kidney, while significant changes occurred in the liver homogenate.
Key
words: Ochratoxin A, lipid peroxidation,
glutathione peroxidase, pig
ISOLATION OF MALASSEZIA
PACHYDERMATIS AND M. SYMPODIALIS FROM
THE EXTERNAL EAR CANAL OF CATS WITH AND WITHOUT OTITIS EXTERNA
C. E. Dizotti and Selene D. A. Coutinho
Veterinary Medicine Faculty, Paulista University (UNIP), Sao Paulo, Brazil
(Received 10 January 2007; accepted 19
April 2007)
The objective of this study was to determine the presence of Malassezia spp. in the external ear canal of cats
with and without otitis. Forty-five animals were studied, 20 with and 25 without otitis
externa (OE). Cerumen or secretion from external ear canal samples was cultured on
modified Mycosel agar and sterile olive oil was added to the surface of the medium before
specimen seeding. The isolates were analysed for macro- and micromorphology and identified
by catalase tests and on the basis of growth on Tween 20, 40, 60 and 80. Malassezia spp. were isolated from 15 out of 20
(75%) animals with otitis and from 7 out of 25 (28%) cats without OE; the difference
between the two groups was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Malassezia pachydermatis and M. sympodialis were isolated from 60% (12/20) and
40% (8/20) of cats with otitis, respectively, with no significant difference in the
frequency of isolation between the two species. In the microflora of the healthy ear canal
M. pachydermatis was significantly more common
(6/25, 24%) than M. sympodialis (1/25, 4%). The
present investigation confirms that M. sympodialis
can also act as an aetiological agent of feline OE, and if commercial veterinary
laboratories do not use media with added lipids for the isolation of Malassezia spp., this might lead to false-negative
results.
Key
words: Malassezia pachydermatis, Malassezia sympodialis, cat, microflora, otitis
INFLUENCE OF A COMBINATION OF FORMIC AND PROPIONIC ACIDS ADDED
TO WHEAT- AND BARLEY-BASED DIETS ON
THE PERFORMANCE AND GUT HISTOMORPHOLOGY OF BROILER CHICKENS
N. Senkoylu1, H. E. Samli1, M. Kanter2 and Aylin Agma1
1Department of Animal
Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Namik Kemal University, 59030 Tekirdag, Turkey; 2Histology
and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Trakya University, Edirne, Turkey
(Received 6 August 2007; accepted 11
January 2007)
Day-old male chicks
were used to test the effects of a combination of formic and propionic acids (CFP) added
to wheat- and barley-based diets on the performance and gut histomorphology of broilers.
The CFP, containing formic and propionic acids based on an inorganic phyllo-silicate
carrier, was added to starter and grower broiler diets of standard (NRC, 1994) or lower
nutrient density (LND) using different levels of wheat and barley. Body weight gain (BWG)
and feed conversion ratio (FCR) of broiler chicks were significantly (P < 0.001)
improved by CFP supplementation at 21 days of age regardless of nutrient density (ND).
However, at 35 days of age CFP addition significantly (P < 0.001) increased BWG and
FCR. Proventriculus weight was also significantly affected by the dietary treatments.
Ileal viscosity was significantly (P < 0.05) affected by ND which was associated with
wheat and barley contents, whereas feed viscosity was significantly (P < 0.05) affected
by CFP supplementation. Villus height was significantly (P < 0.05) increased by the CFP
supplementation. In the case of villus width, an interaction effect was observed: there
was a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in the group fed the standard ND diet, but only a
numerical decrease in the group fed the LND diet
compared to control group. No significant effect of dietary treatment on the thickness of
the lamina muscularis mucosae could be detected.
Key
words: Formic acid, propionic acid, viscosity, villus, crypt, broilers
SEROLOGICAL EVIDENCE FOR BABESIA
CANIS INFECTION OF HORSES AND AN ENDEMIC FOCUS OF B. CABALLI IN HUNGARY
S. Hornok1,
Renate Edelhofer2, G. Földvári1, Anja Joachim2 and R. Farkas1
1Department of
Parasitology and Zoology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Szent István University, H-1078
Budapest, István u. 2, Hungary; 2Department of Pathobiology, Institute of
Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
(Received 2 March 2007; accepted 19
April 2007)
In order to evaluate
the seroconversion of horses to Babesia caballi
and B. canis in Hungary, blood samples were collected from 371 animals on 23 different locations of
the country. The presence of antibodies to B.
caballi was screened with a competitive ELISA. All 29 positive samples came from one
region (the Hortobágy). The prevalence of infection did not show correlation with sexes,
and reached 100% in the age group of 2–5 years. Babesia
canis-specific antibodies were demonstrated by IFAT in 6.74% of animals kept in 7
regions. The titres were low or medium level (1:40 to 1:160), indicating that the horses had previously been exposed to this
piroplasm, but their infection must have been limited. The highest seropositivity rate was
observed in the age group of 3–4 years, and males (stallions and geldings) were
significantly more frequently infected than females. However, neither B. caballi nor B. canis could be identified in the peripheral
blood samples of infected horses by PCR. Since most of the B. caballi-positive horses remained negative in
the B. canis IFAT, whereas seroconversion solely
to B. canis was detected in several regions of
the country, serological cross-reaction between the two species can be discounted. This is
the first serological evidence of horses being naturally infected with B. canis, supporting the view that piroplasms are
less host specific than previously thought.
Key
words: Horse babesiosis, Babesia canis, Babesia caballi, seroprevalence, Hungary
MYXOBOLUS INFECTIONS
OF COMMON CARP (CYPRINUS CARPIO) IN SYRIAN FISH
FARMS
Amal Dayoub1, K. Molnár2, H. Salman1, A. Al-Samman3 and Cs. Székely2
1Faculty of Science,
Tishreen University, Latakia, Syria; 2Veterinary
Medical Research Institute, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, H-1581 Budapest, P.O. Box 18,
Hungary; 3Veterinary Faculty, Al-Baath University, Hama, Syria
(Received 29 January 2007; accepted 19
April 2007)
During a survey on Myxobolus infection of pond-cultured common carp in
Syria three Myxobolus spp. were found. Myxobolus dispar infected the gill arteries,
forming large elongated plasmodia in the gill filaments. The plasmodia of M. basilamellaris were located in the gill
arches at the base of the filaments. Elongated filiform plasmodia of M. encephalicus were found in the blood vessels of
the brain. Despite the common occurrence of the above parasites, no disease symptoms were
observed in the infected fish specimens. This is the first report on myxosporean infection
of fish from Syrian waters.
Key
words: Myxobolus, Myxosporea, common carp,
first occurrence, Syria, histology
HISTOLOGICAL AND ULTRASTRUCTURAL STUDIES OF RENAL LESIONS IN BABESIA CANIS INFECTED DOGS TREATED WITH IMIDOCARB
Á. Máthé1, M. Dobos-Kovács2 and K. Vörös1
1Department and Clinic
of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Szent István University, H-1078
Budapest, István u. 2, Hungary; 2Department of Pathology and Forensic
Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Szent István University, Budapest, Hungary
(Received 6 January 2007; accepted 19
April 2007)
Histological and
electron microscopic examinations of the kidneys of 8 dogs suffering from fatal, naturally
acquired Babesia canis infection and nephropathy
are presented. Seven animals were treated with imidocarb dipropionate on average 4.5 days
prior to death. Severe anaemia was present only in 2 cases. Degenerative histological
changes observed mostly in the proximal convoluted tubules included vacuolar-hydropic
degeneration, necrosis and detachment of renal tubular epithelial (RTE) cells from the
basement membrane. Necrotic debris occasionally formed acidophilic casts within the
tubules. In some cases, necrosis of the whole tubule was observed. Haemoglobin casts in
the tubules and haemoglobin droplets in RTE cells seldom appeared. No significant
histological changes were seen in the glomeruli. Ultrastructural lesions in RTE cells
included nuclear membrane hyperchromatosis, karyopyknosis, karyolysis, swelling or
collapse of mitochondria with fragmentation of cristae and vacuolar-hydropic degeneration
in the endoplasmic reticulum and microvilli. Nuclear oedema was also observed. Many RTE
cells exhibiting necrosis collapsed. Vacuolar-hydropic degeneration and necrosis were also
observed in the glomerular and interstitial capillary endothelium. The severe acute
tubular necrosis described in this study is probably the result of hypoxic renal injury.
Systemic hypotension leading to vasoconstriction in the kidneys might be the most
important cause of renal hypoxia in B. canis
infections, but anaemia may also contribute to inadequate oxygenation. Imidocarb should be
applied with caution in patients with possible renal involvement until further data become
available on its potential nephrotoxicity in dogs.
Key
words: Babesia canis, kidney, histology,
light microscopy, electron microscopy, imidocarb
A CASE OF EQUINE ABORTION CAUSED BY ENCEPHALITOZOON SP.
L. Szeredi1, A. Pospischil2, L. Dencső1, A. Mathis3 and M. Dobos-Kovács4
1Central Agricultural
Office, Veterinary Diagnostic Directorate, H-1149 Budapest, Tábornok u. 2, Hungary; 2Institute
of Veterinary Pathology, 3Institute of Parasitology, University of Zurich,
CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland; 4Department of Pathology and Forensic Veterinary
Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Szent István University, Budapest, Hungary
(Received 12 February 2007; accepted 19 April 2007)
A Lippizan mare aborted
a male fetus a few days before the expected foaling date without showing any clinical
sings. Focal lympho-histiocytic hepatitis in the foal and multiplex focal
lympho-histiocytic villitis accompanied by villus necroses and marked hypertrophy of
chorionic epithelial cells in the arcades were observed. Elongated nucleated organisms
were seen in groups in vacuoles or solitarily located
in the cytoplasm of the chorionic epithelial cells. The organisms were in large numbers and often extracellularly in
areas of villitis and villus necroses. They were Gram-positive, stained with haematoxylin
and eosin (HE), periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) and Giemsa, weakly with Warthin-Starry silver
stain but not with Gömöri’s methenamine-silver stain. By ultrastructural and
immunohistochemical examinations, the organisms were identified as microsporidia belonging
to the genus Encephalitozoon. No Encephalitozoon organisms were detected in the
fetal organs. This is the first reported case of equine abortion induced by Encephalitozoon sp. in Europe. Although abortion induced by Encephalitozoon
is rare, microsporidia should be considered a differential diagnosis for intracellular
organisms observed in the chorionic epithelial cells of horses.
Key
words: Horse, abortion, placentitis, Encephalitozoon
sp.
SKIN BIOPSIES PREDICT ACUTE GRAFT-VERSUS-HOST DISEASE AFTER
SMALL BOWEL TRANSPLANTATION IN PIGS
Tadeja Pintar1, A. Pleskovič1, M. Alessiani2, Francesca Abbiati2, Aleksandra Milutinović3, D. Petrovič3, M. Pogačnik4 and Ruda Zorc-Pleskovič3
1Abdominal Surgery
Department, Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia; 2Department of
Surgery, University of Pavia and IRCCS Fondazione Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy; 3Institute of Histology and Embryology, Medical Faculty,
University Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia; 4Institute of Pathology, Forensic
and Administrative Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Faculty, Ljubljana, Slovenia
(Received 23 November 2006; accepted 11 January 2007)
Intestinal
transplantation is being increasingly performed to treat patients with irreversible
intestinal failure. The major cause of intestinal graft failure is graft-versus-host
disease (GVHD) that represents a life-threatening complication after small bowel
transplantation (Itx). The purpose of this study was to assess the diagnostic and
prognostic value of skin biopsy histological changes for acute GVHD after Itx in pigs. Thirty-four Large White pigs were divided into
three groups: Group 1 with Itx only, Group 2 with Itx and donor bone marrow infusion (Itx
BM) and Group 3 (control group – before the operation). Animals received
tacrolimus-based immunosuppression from day 0 to day 30 postoperatively. Skin and small
bowel biopsies were histologically assessed, analysed and classified from grade 1 to 4 on
postoperative days 15, 30, 45 and 60. There was a strong correlation between the
histological grading values of skin biopsy changes and the histological grading values of
small bowel biopsy changes (Kendall’s
tau_b is 0.855 for the Itx group and 0.730 for the Itx BM group). The significant
correlation found between skin and small bowel histological changes suggests the
prognostic value of skin biopsies after Itx. In conclusion, our findings emphasise the diagnostic and prognostic value of
skin biopsy analysis for acute GVHD after Itx.
Key
words: Skin biopsies, graft-versus-host disease, small bowel transplantation
