Bacteriology
Multilocus Sequence Typing for
investigation of diversity of Campylobacter
jejuni strains
from humans and environment in Norway. Jelena Petkovic, Knut Rudi, Olivera Buncic,
Vera Katic and Zorica Lepsanovic 1
Antimicrobial
activity of Enterococcus
faecium
EF 55 against Salmonella
Enteritidis in chicks. Mikuláą
Levkut, Juraj Pistl, Andrea Lauková, Viera Revajová, Robert Herich, Zuzana ©evčíková,
Viola Strompfová, Renáta Szabóová and
Tatiana Kokinčáková 13
Rapid
quantification of Salmonella
Typhimurium inoculated to meat products by real-time PCR. Ching-Yang
Cheng, Jing-Ruei Chi, Sin-Rong Lin, Chi-Chiang Chou and
Chin-Cheng Huang
25
Genetics
Frequency of genotypes in the PrP prion protein gene locus
in the Polish sheep population. Barbara Rejduch, Jan Knapik, Agata Piestrzyńska-Kajtoch,
Anna Kozubska-Sobocińska and Jędrzej Krupiński
39
Parasitology
Immunogenicity of a DNA vaccine
expressing the Neospora caninum surface protein NcSRS2 in
mice. Zhanzhong
Zhao, Jun Ding, Qun Liu, Ming Wang, Jinshu Yu and Wei Zhang
51
Pathology
Secondary tumoural valvulopathy in a dog. Csaba Jakab,
Attila Marcell Szász, Janina Kulka, Ferenc Baska, Miklós Rusvai, Péter Gálfi and Tibor Németh 63
Squamous
cell carcinoma and consequent otitis in a Long-eared Hedgehog (Hemiechinus
auritus) – Case report. János Gál,
Krisztina Landauer, Elena Alina Palade, Katalin Ivaskevics, Miklós Rusvai and Zoltán Demeter 69
Physiology
and physiological chemistry
Effect of combined treatment with aflatoxin B1 and
T-2 toxin and metabolites on some production traits and lipid peroxide status parameters
of broiler chickens. László Pál, Károly Dublecz, Mária
Weber, Krisztián Balogh, Márta Erdélyi, Gábor Szigeti and Miklós Mézes 75
Effect of tamoxifen on sex steroid
concentrations in chicken ovarian follicles. Janusz Rz±sa, Andrzej Sechman, Helena
Paczoska-Eliasiewicz and Anna Hrabia 85
Detection
of trace amounts of abamectin used as an antiparasitic agent in fallow deer tissues. Diana ®ele, Silvestra Kobal, Gorazd Venguąt, Andrej Bidovec, Anton Venguąt
and
Gabrijela Tavčar-Kalcher 99
Ghrelin levels
in prepubertal pig ovarian follicles. Agnieszka Rak and Ewa Ł. Gregoraszczuk
109
The
effect of oxytocin on progesterone secretion, phosphoinositide hydrolysis and
intracellular mobilisation of Ca2+ in porcine luteal cells. Anita Franczak, Beata Kurowicka, Magdalena Kowalik, Renata Elzbieta Ciereszko and Genowefa Kotwica
115
Single oral inoculation with Escherichia coli (atcc 25922) stimulates generalised production of
nitric oxide in mice. Ana Nemec, Zlatko Pavlica, David A.
Crossley, Irena Zdovc, Damijan Erľen, Marjeta ©entjurc, Marjana Nemec and Milan Petelin 127
Glycogenic
induction of thyroid hormone conversion and leptin system activation in the liver of
postpartum dairy cows. Andrea Győrffy, Mónika Keresztes,
Vera Faigl, Vilmos László Frenyó, Margit Kulcsár, Tibor Gaál, Miklós Mézes, Attila
Zsarnovszky, Gyula Huszenicza and Tibor Bartha 139
Reproduction
Migration time of the genital
tubercle in caprine and ovine fetuses: Comparison between breeds, sexes and species. Elielete Maria Pires Azevedo, Maico Henrique Barbosa dos Santos,
Cristiano Rocha Aguiar Filho, Leopoldo Mayer Freitas Neto, Filipe Queirós Gondim Bezerra,
Jairo Pereira Neves, Paulo Fernandes Lima and Marcos Antônio Lemos Oliveira
147
Risk assessment
of postpartum uterine disease and consequences of puerperal metritis for subsequent
metabolic status, reproduction and milk yield in dairy cows. László Könyves, Ottó Szenci,
Viktor Jurkovich, Lászlóné Tegzes, Attila Tirián, Norbert Solymosi, Gyula Gyulay and Endre Brydl
155
Spaying-related urinary incontinence
and oestrogen therapy in the bitch. Maria
Cristina Veronesi, Alessandro Rota, Massimiliano Battocchio, Massimo Faustini and Antonio Mollo
171
Toxicology
A biological hazard of our age:
Bracken fern [Pteridium
aquilinum
(L.) Kuhn] – A review. János
Vetter 183
MULTILOCUS SEQUENCE TYPING
FOR INVESTIGATION OF DIVERSITY OF CAMPYLOBACTER
JEJUNI STRAINS FROM HUMANS AND ENVIRONMENT IN NORWAY
Jelena Petkovic1*, Knut Rudi2, Olivera Buncic3, Vera Katic3 and Zorica Lepsanovic4
1Institute of
Veterinary Medicine, Boska Jovica 6, 35 000 Jagodina, Serbia; 2Norwegian Food Research Institute, Aas, Norway and Hedmark University
College, Hamar, Norway; 3Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Belgrade,
Serbia; 4Military Medical Academy, Belgrade, Serbia
(Received 31 January 2008; accepted 22
May 2008)
This report describes the use of the Multilocus
Sequence Typing (MLST) method for typing 32 strains previously identified as Campylobacter jejuni. This system identified a
great diversity between the investigated strains. The majority of strains belonged to
already existing alleles found on the Campylobacter
MLST home page, and most of them represented clonal complexes ST-21 and ST-45, but there
were some newly identified alleles as well.
Key
words: Campylobacter jejuni, MLST,
clustering, epidemiology
ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF ENTEROCOCCUS
FAECIUM EF 55 AGAINST SALMONELLA ENTERITIDIS IN CHICKS
Mikuláą Levkut1*, Juraj Pistl1, Andrea Lauková1, Viera Revajová1, Robert Herich1, Zuzana ©evčíková1, Viola Strompfová2, Renáta Szabóová2 and Tatiana Kokinčáková1
1Department of
Pathological Anatomy, University of Veterinary Medicine, Komenského 73, 041 81 Koąice,
Slovak Republic; 2Institute of Animal Physiology, Slovak Academy of Sciences,
Koąice, Slovak Republic
(Received 8 February 2008; accepted 22
May 2008)
The protective effect of Enterococcus
faecium EF 55 against Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis phage type 4 (SE PT4) was studied in 1-day-old chicks. The EF 55
strain (isolated and characterised by the authors earlier) was applied daily (1.109
CFU/0.2 ml PBS) for 7 days. Oral inoculation of the SE PT4 strain was performed on day 8 in a single dose of 5.108 CFU/0.2 ml PBS.
The experiment lasted for 21 days. Samples were collected on day 1 of the experiment to
verify the absence of Salmonella, on day 8 to
check colonisation of EF 55 and immunological status in experimental birds, and on days 2,
4, 6, 8 and 14 after SE PT4 infection
of chicks. Strain EF 55 sufficiently colonised the digestive tract of chicks after 7 days
of application. The highest numbers of EF 55 in the faeces of chicks were observed before SE infection and persisted to day
6 post infection (p.i.) in both the EF and EF+SE groups. PCR confirmed the identity of the
EF 55 strain. The counts of SE PT4
strain in faeces of the EF+SE group were significantly reduced in comparison to those in
the SE group on days 2 and 14 p.i. (P < 0.01). The significant reduction of salmonellae
in the caecum was recorded at the end of the experiment (day 14 p.i.) in the EF+SE group
in comparison to the SE group (P < 0.01). At day 4 p.i., colonies of S.
Enteritidis PT4 were found in the liver of chicks of the SE group in a higher
concentration than in chicks of the EF+SE group (P < 0.001). Salmonellae were isolated
from the liver until days 8 and 6 p.i. in the SE and EF+SE groups, respectively. The mean
values of actual lymphocyte subpopulations in the blood and the relative percentage of
caecal intraepithelial lymphocyte subpopulations (CD4, CD8, CD44, TCR, MHC II and IgM)
were not influenced at a statistically significant level by the application of the EF 55
and/or the SE PT4 strain. The results
demonstrate the antimicrobial effect of E. faecium EF 55 against S. Enteritidis PT4.
Key words: Salmonella infection, probiotics, Enterococcus
faecium, chicks
RAPID QUANTIFICATION OF SALMONELLA
TYPHIMURIUM INOCULATED TO MEAT PRODUCTS BY
REAL-TIME PCR
Ching-Yang Cheng, Jing-Ruei Chi, Sin-Rong Lin, Chi-Chiang Chou and Chin-Cheng Huang
Food
Industry and Research Development Institute, P.O. Box 246, Hsinchu 30062, Taiwan, R. O. C.
(Received 12 March 2008; accepted 22
May 2008)
The objective of this
study was to use a 5’-nuclease (TaqMan) real-time PCR method with primers and probe
specific to the spaQ gene as a rapid approach to
quantitatively determine Salmonella Typhimurium. The result showed that the
correlation coefficient between real-time PCR estimates and bovine serum albumin (BSA)
plate counts of S. Typhimurium
was 0.99, independently of 105-fold numbers of bystander Escherichia coli O157:H7 or total viable counts.
The sensitivity of the real-time quantitative PCR assay was 10 CFU/mL for pure S. Typhimurium culture without
enrichment. A known number of S. Typhimurium target cells were inoculated to
dumpling fillings and chicken nuggets and DNA was extracted for real-time PCR analysis.
The sensitivity was 60 CFU/g for S. Typhimurium inoculated to the food samples without any preceding procedure of
enrichment. The duration of the entire experiment from DNA isolation and purification to
PCR amplification was less than 12 h. This study demonstrated that real-time PCR is a
rapid and reliable technique for quantifying S. Typhimurium possessing the spaQ gene in pure culture and in meat products.
Key
words: Real-time PCR, polymerase chain reaction, rapid detection method, Salmonella Typhimurium
FREQUENCY
OF GENOTYPES IN THE PRP PRION PROTEIN GENE LOCUS IN THE POLISH SHEEP POPULATION
Barbara Rejduch, Jan Knapik, Agata Piestrzyńska-Kajtoch, Anna Kozubska-Sobocińska and Jędrzej Krupiński
National Research Institute of
Animal Production, 32-083 Balice n. Kraków, Poland
(Received 31 August 2007; accepted 7
February 2008)
Scrapie is an invariably
fatal transmissible neurodegenerative disease of sheep, goats and moufflons, characterised
by ataxia, lower body weight and changes in behaviour. The aim of this study was to
determine the genotype distribution at codons 136, 154 and 171 of the PrP locus in
sheep bred in Poland. The genotypes of
801 sheep representing 10 different breeds and crossbreds were analysed using real-time
PCR allele discrimination method. The combination of point mutations of the three codons
(136, 154 and 171) created twelve different genotypes in the PrP locus classified
into five categories of risk. The highest frequency for the ARR/ARR genotype was
characteristic of the Pogórze and Berrichon du Cher breeds (72.22% and 63.25%,
respectively). In the Romanov breed (1.52%) and in crossbred sheep (2.61%) the VRQ/VRQ
genotype was observed.
Key
words: Sheep, PrP gene, molecular
methods, frequency of genotypes, frequency of alleles
IMMUNOGENICITY
OF A DNA VACCINE EXPRESSING THE NEOSPORA CANINUM
SURFACE PROTEIN NCSRS2 IN MICE
Zhanzhong Zhao, Jun Ding, Qun Liu*, Ming Wang, Jinshu Yu and Wei Zhang
The Parasitology Laboratory,
Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, China
Agricultural University, Beijing 100094, China
(Received 10 February 2008; accepted 22 May 2008)
The immunogenicity of a
DNA vaccine expressing the surface protein NcSRS2 of Neospora caninum was studied
in BALB/c mice. The NcSRS2-encoding DNA was obtained by PCR amplification of the NcSRS2
ORF gene from the p43 plasmid encoding the N. caninum surface protein NcSRS2, ligated to the
mammalian expression vector pcDNA3.1/Zeo(+) and propagated in E. coli DH5? to produce the N. caninum NcSRS2 DNA vaccine. BALB/c mice were
immunised by two intramuscular injections of the DNA vaccine with or without complete
Freund’s adjuvant (CFA). Serum antibody titres and nitric oxide (NO) concentrations, and
splenocyte proliferation and cytokine expression were measured after immunisation. The DNA
vaccine induced T-cell-mediated immunity as shown by significantly increased NO
concentrations, cytokine gene (IL-2 and IFN-?) expression, and NcSRS2 protein-stimulated
lymphocyte proliferation in mice immunised with the DNA vaccine. The vaccine also induced
weak humoral immunity. The immunogenicity of the DNA vaccine was slightly enhanced by CFA.
The immune response was specific to NcSRS2. No immune response was observed in mice
immunised with the pcDNA3.1/Zeo(+) vector alone.
Key
words: Neospora caninum, NcSRS2 gene, DNA
vaccine, immune response
SECONDARY
TUMOURAL VALVULOPATHY IN A DOG
Csaba Jakab1*, Attila
Marcell Szász2, Janina Kulka2, Ferenc Baska1,
Miklós Rusvai1, Péter Gálfi3 and Tibor Németh4
1Department of
Pathology and Forensic Veterinary Medicine, 3Department of Pharmacology and
Toxicology and 4Department of Surgery and Ophthalmology, Faculty of Veterinary
Medicine, Szent István University, István u. 2, H-1078 Budapest, Hungary; 22nd
Department of Pathology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
(Received 14 April 2008; accepted 22
May 2008)
This short report
describes a case of tricuspid valvular metastasis of canine disseminated histiocytic
sarcoma in a 9-year-old female Rottweiler. Immunohistochemically the malignant neoplastic
cells gave a strong reaction for vimentin and lysozyme, and showed negativity for
serotonin, CD3, CD79a and cytokeratin. The intratumoural microvessels were detected by
immunohistochemistry using CD31 and claudin-5. This appears to be the first report of a
valvular metastasis of canine malignant histiocytosis.
Key
words: Malignant histiocytosis, Rottweiler, metastatic tumour, tricuspid valve,
immunohistochemistry
SQUAMOUS
CELL CARCINOMA AND CONSEQUENT OTITIS IN A LONG-EARED HEDGEHOG (HEMIECHINUS AURITUS) – CASE REPORT
János Gál1, Krisztina Landauer2, Elena Alina Palade1,
Katalin Ivaskevics3, Miklós Rusvai1 and Zoltán Demeter1
1Department of
Pathology and Forensic Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Szent István
University, István u. 2, H-1078 Budapest, Hungary; 2Veterinary Hospital,
Család u. 36, H-1039 Budapest, Hungary; 3Department of Pathology, Weil Emil
Hospital, Budapest, Hungary
(Received 14 April 2008; accepted 22
May 2008)
The authors describe a
squamous cell carcinoma arising from the ear canal of a Long-eared Hedgehog (Hemiechinus auritus). No metastasis could be
identified elsewhere in the animal. Due to the irritation caused by the tumorous
proliferation the animal constantly scratched the affected area, which led to secondary
bacterial infection of the middle ear accompanied by the stagnation of an increased volume
of local secretions. Using routine haematoxylin and eosin and immunohistochemical staining
techniques, the tumour was identified as a squamous cell carcinoma. This work constitutes
the first description of such a tumour in a Long-eared Hedgehog.
Key
words: Long-eared Hedgehog, Hemiechinus auritus, squamous cell carcinoma,
otitis
EFFECT
OF COMBINED TREATMENT WITH AFLATOXIN B1 AND T-2 TOXIN AND METABOLITES ON SOME
PRODUCTION TRAITS AND LIPID PEROXIDE STATUS PARAMETERS OF BROILER CHICKENS
László Pál1, Károly Dublecz1, Mária Weber2, Krisztián Balogh2,3, Márta Erdélyi2, Gábor Szigeti4 and Miklós Mézes2
1Department of Animal
Science and Animal Husbandry, Georgikon Faculty of Agriculture, Pannon University,
Keszthely, Hungary; 2Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Agricultural and
Environmental Sciences, Szent István University, Páter K. u. 1, H-2103 Gödöllő,
Hungary; 3Hungarian Academy of Sciences Supported Research Group of Animal
Breeding and Animal Hygiene, University of Kaposvár, Kaposvár, Hungary; 4Central
Agricultural Office, Veterinary Diagnostic Directorate, Budapest, Hungary
(Received 20 October 2007; accepted 7
February 2008)
Three groups of
cockerels were fed with a control diet, with a diet contaminated with T-2 and HT-2 toxin
(0.31 and 0.26 mg/kg) or with that containing a combination of T-2 and HT-2 toxin (0.32
and 0.25 mg/kg) and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1, 0.38 mg/kg) for 21 days.
Body weight gain and feed conversion ratio did not differ significantly among the groups.
Malondialdehyde concentration of the liver was lower in the group fed the diet
contaminated with the combination of T-2 + HT-2 toxin and aflatoxin B1 as
compared to the control group or the group fed T-2 + HT-2 toxins. Reduced glutathione
(GSH) content of the liver was lower in the T-2 + HT-2 group than in the group fed a
combination of T-2, HT-2 and aflatoxin. Reduced glutathione content of the heart was
higher in the T-2 + HT-2 group than in the control group. Mycotoxin contamination had no
effect on glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity in comparison to the control, but
significantly lower GSH-Px activity was found in the heart of chickens in the T-2 + HT-2 +
AFB1 group than in the T-2 + HT-2 group. In this study, T-2 + HT-2 toxin and
aflatoxin B1 contamination of the diets did not affect the production traits
adversely and did not exert additive effects on lipid peroxidation and on the glutathione
redox system.
Key
words: Aflatoxin
B1, chicken, glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, malondialdehyde, T-2 toxin
EFFECT OF TAMOXIFEN ON SEX STEROID
CONCENTRATIONS IN CHICKEN OVARIAN
FOLLICLES
Janusz Rz±sa, Andrzej Sechman, Helena Paczoska-Eliasiewicz and Anna Hrabia
Department of Animal Physiology,
University of Agriculture, Al. Mickiewicza 24/28, 30-059 Cracow, Poland
(Received 5 October 2007; accepted 7
February 2008)
The aim of the present
investigation was to study the effect of tamoxifen (TAM), an oestrogen receptor
antagonist, on the concentrations of sex hormones in chicken ovarian follicles. The
experiment was carried out on Hy-line hens which were randomly divided into two groups
(control and experimental). TAM was given at a dose of 4 mg/hen (per os) at first once a day for 7 consecutive days,
and subsequently four times a day for the next 6 days. Control hens received placebo.
Birds were killed on the day after the last TAM treatment. From the dissected ovaries the
following compartments were isolated: stroma with follicles < 1 mm, white
non-hierarchical (1–4 mm and 4–8 mm) and yellow hierarchical follicles (F6–F1; 18–35
mm). The concentrations of the sex steroids progesterone (P4), testosterone (T) and
oestradiol (E2) in the ovarian follicles were determined by radioimmunoassay. In the
TAM-treated group, a gradual decrease in egg-laying rate was observed from the 4th day of
the experiment. Eventually, egg laying stopped entirely on the 12th day of the experiment.
TAM significantly decreased the weight of the ovary and affected the sex hormone
concentrations in the ovarian follicles. Following TAM treatment (1) a significant
increase in E2 and T concentrations in the stroma, white follicles and the F4 and F1
follicles, (2) a significant decrease in E2 and T concentrations in the F2 follicle, and
(3) a significant decline of P4 in the F4 to F1 follicles were observed. The results
indicate that the blockade of oestrogen receptors by TAM significantly modulates the
process of chicken ovarian steroidogenesis.
Key
words: Tamoxifen, sex hormones, ovarian follicle, chicken
DETECTION
OF TRACE AMOUNTS OF ABAMECTIN USED AS AN ANTIPARASITIC AGENT IN FALLOW DEER TISSUES
Diana ®ele1*, Silvestra Kobal2, Gorazd Venguąt1, Andrej Bidovec1, Anton Venguąt3 and Gabrijela Tavčar-Kalcher3
1Institute for Breeding
and Health Care of Wild Animals, Fishes and Bees, 2Institute of Physiology,
Pharmacology and Toxicology, and 3Institute for Hygiene and Pathology of Animal
Nutrition, Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Gerbičeva 60, 1000 Ljubljana,
Slovenia
(Received 7 December 2007; accepted 7
February 2008)
A sensitive and reliable
method for the determination of trace amounts of abamectin in muscles, kidneys and fat
tissue of fallow deer is presented. Abamectin was extracted from the tissues with
acetonitrile and the extract was cleaned up on a C8 solid-phase extraction cartridge.
Abamectin residue was derivatised with trifluoroacetic acid anhydride and
1-methylimidazole, and determined using reversed-phase high-performance liquid
chromatography under isocratic conditions and fluorescence detection. The recoveries of
the method were high and consistent, ranging from 78% to 90%. The limit of detection of
the method was below 1 µg/kg when analysing muscle, kidney and fat tissue.
Matrix-matched calibration was used in order to obtain accurate values and to avoid matrix
interference.
Key
words: Abamectin, deer, tissues, HPLC, fluorescence detection, matrix-matched
calibration
Corresponding
author; E-mail: diana.zele@vf.uni-lj.si; Phone: 00386 (1) 477-9196; Fax: 00386 (1)
283-2243
GHRELIN
LEVELS IN PREPUBERTAL PIG OVARIAN FOLLICLES
Agnieszka Rak and Ewa Ł. Gregoraszczuk
Department
of Physiology and Toxicology of Reproduction, Chair of Animal Physiology, Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, Ingardena 6,
30-060 Cracow, Poland
(Received 29 January 2008; accepted 22
May 2008)
Ghrelin is a novel
growth hormone-releasing peptide originally identified in the rat stomach as an endogenous
ligand of the growth hormone (GH) secretagogue receptor. Recent work suggests that ghrelin
plays an important role in reproductive function. In this study, prepubertal pig ovaries
were used to examine ghrelin levels in the ovarian follicles. Ghrelin levels in the
follicular fluid, follicular wall and culture medium
were measured using an enzyme immunoassay (EIA). The ghrelin level in the
follicular fluid (18 pg/ml) was the sum of the amounts found in the follicular wall (13.7
pg/ml) and the culture medium (4.6 pg/ml). In conclusion, the data presented in this paper
suggest local production of this hormone in ovarian follicles.
Key
words: Ghrelin, prepubertal pig, ovarian follicles
THE EFFECT OF OXYTOCIN ON
PROGESTERONE SECRETION,
PHOSPHOINOSITIDE HYDROLYSIS AND INTRACELLULAR MOBILISATION OF CA2+ IN PORCINE
LUTEAL CELLS
Anita Franczak1, Beata Kurowicka1, Magdalena Kowalik2, Renata Elzbieta Ciereszko1 and Genowefa Kotwica1
1Department of Animal
Physiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Oczapowski
Str. 1A, 10-718 Olsztyn, Poland; 2Present address: Institute of Animal
Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Olsztyn, Poland
(Received 2 January 2008; accepted 22
May 2008)
Oxytocin (OT) is
involved in the regulation of steroid secretion by the corpus luteum (CL) in pigs, but OT
signal transduction in the porcine CL has not been identified. In this study, the effects
of OT on in vitro progesterone (P4)
secretion, phosphoinositide (PI) hydrolysis and intracellular mobilisation of Ca2+
([Ca2+]i) were investigated in porcine luteal cells during the early
(days 3–5), mid- (days 8–10) and late luteal phases (days 12–14) of the oestrous
cycle. Basal concentrations of P4 and accumulation of inositol phosphates (IPs)
were higher (P < 0.05) on days 3–5 and 8–10 of the oestrous cycle than on days 12–14.
Basal [Ca2+]i mobilisation
did not differ among studied periods of the oestrous cycle. Oxytocin (10–7 M)
enhanced P4 secretion and PI hydrolysis (P < 0.05) by luteal cells harvested
on days 8–10 of the oestrous cycle. Moreover, OT started to increase mobilisation of [Ca2+]i
at the 15th (days 3–5 and 8–10) or 30th second (days 12–14) in porcine luteal cells.
It was concluded that in pigs OT acts as a regulator of steroidogenesis, stimulating P4
secretion in mature CL. This OT action may be mediated by changes in PI hydrolysis and [Ca2+]i
mobilisation.
Key
words: Oxytocin, porcine luteal cells, phosphoinositide, intracellular calcium,
progesterone
SINGLE ORAL INOCULATION WITH ESCHERICHIA COLI (ATCC 25922) STIMULATES
GENERALISED PRODUCTION OF NITRIC OXIDE IN MICE
Ana Nemec1*, Zlatko Pavlica1, David A. Crossley1, Irena Zdovc2, Damijan Erľen3, Marjeta ©entjurc4, Marjana Nemec4 and Milan Petelin5
1Veterinary Faculty
Small Animal Clinic, University of Ljubljana, Gerbičeva 60, 1115 Ljubljana, Slovenia; 2Institute of
Microbiology and Parasitology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana,
Ljubljana, Slovenia; 3University Clinic of Respiratory and Allergic Diseases
Golnik, Golnik, Slovenia; 4Joľef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia; 5Department
for Oral Medicine and Periodontology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana,
Ljubljana, Slovenia
(Received 27 December 2007; accepted 22 May 2008)
Nitric oxide (NO) production was investigated in the lungs, thoracic
aorta, heart, liver, spleen, kidneys and brain of mice inoculated orally with Escherichia coli ATCC 25922. Detection of NO was
performed by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) using diethyldithiocarbamate (DETC) spin trap. Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitors [nonselective: L-NAME and inducible NOS (iNOS)
selective: 1400W] were used to determine the source of NO. Spin-trap only and untreated
mice were included as controls. Within 2.5 hours (h) of a single oral inoculation with E. coli half of the animals had increased NO levels
in all investigated organs. Thereafter the signals dropped before increasing again to
reach maximal median values by 25 h in all organs of all inoculated mice. The most intense
response occurred in livers, followed by aorta and lungs. Early (2.5 h) inhibition of the
signal was achieved using both NOS inhibitors. L-NAME was also effective at 25 h, while
1400W-treated mice had increased NO levels
beyond 7 h. The generalised increase in NO production in the short and longer term
indicates a host response to E. coli
administered by the oral route of infection.
Key
words: E. coli ATCC 25922, oral inoculation,
nitric oxide, L-NAME, 1400W, EPR
Corresponding author; E-mail: ana.nemec@vf.uni-lj.si;
Phone: 00386 (1) 477-9277; Fax: 00386 (1) 477-9349
GLYCOGENIC
INDUCTION OF THYROID HORMONE CONVERSION AND LEPTIN SYSTEM ACTIVATION IN THE LIVER OF
POSTPARTUM DAIRY COWS
Andrea Győrffy1*, Mónika Keresztes2, Vera Faigl2, Vilmos László Frenyó1, Margit Kulcsár2, Tibor Gaál3,
Miklós Mézes4, Attila Zsarnovszky1,
Gyula Huszenicza2 and Tibor Bartha1
1Department of
Physiology and Biochemistry, 2Department and Clinic of Obstetrics and
Reproduction and 3Department and Clinic of Internal Medicine, Faculty of
Veterinary Science, Szent István University, István u. 2, H-1078 Budapest, Hungary; 4Department
of Animal Nutrition, Faculty of Agriculture, Szent István University, Gödöllő, Hungary
(Received 31 March 2008; accepted 22
May 2008)
In the regulation of
energy metabolism, the liver plays an important role in the reinforcement of energy
production. In periparturient cows the energy homeostasis turns into a negative energy
balance that may shift the physiological regulation of energy balance towards pathological
processes. Propylene glycol (PG), as a complementary source of energy used in the
nutrition of dairy cows, alters systemic thyroid hormone economy; however, the exact
mechanism through which highly glycogenic feed supplements impact liver metabolism is
little known. Previous studies showed that only leptin receptors are expressed in the
liver of cows, and now we report that leptin mRNA is expressed in the liver of cows as
well. The present results show that the mRNA of leptin and its receptors are
differentially modulated by the increased energy content of the feed consumed.
Simultaneous changes in hepatic type I deiodinase activity suggest that hepatic modulation
of the leptin system by PG supplementation may be mediated by an increased local thyroxine–triiodothyronine
conversion. Since PG supplementation with simultaneous T4–T3 turnover and increased
hepatic leptin- and short-form leptin receptor mRNA were not associated with a significant
change in hepatic total lipid levels, it is suggested that the leptin system, directly or
indirectly modulated by thyroid hormones, may represent a local defence mechanism to
prevent fatty liver formation.
Key
words: Cows, thyroid hormones, leptin, fatty
liver, propylene glycol
MIGRATION
TIME OF THE GENITAL TUBERCLE IN CAPRINE AND OVINE FETUSES: COMPARISON BETWEEN BREEDS,
SEXES AND SPECIES
Elielete Maria Pires Azevedo1, Maico Henrique Barbosa dos Santos1,
Cristiano Rocha Aguiar Filho1, Leopoldo Mayer Freitas Neto1,
Filipe Queirós Gondim Bezerra1, Jairo Pereira Neves2, Paulo Fernandes Lima1 and Marcos Antônio Lemos Oliveira1*
1Laboratory of
Reproduction Biotechnology, Department of Veterinary Medicine of Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Av. Dom Manoel de
Medeiros s/n, Dois Irmaos, CEP 52171 900 Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil; 2College
of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, UNB, Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro,
Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil
(Received 17 September 2007; accepted 7 February 2008)
The aim of this work was
to determine the ideal moment to sex goat and sheep fetuses, to compare the average time
of genital tubercle (GT) migration between sexes, breeds and species, and to evaluate the
accuracy of fetal sexing between sexes. A total of 317 fetuses of 219 pregnant females
were monitored at 24-hour interval, from days 30 to 60 of pregnancy in ewes, and from days
40 to 60 in goats. Examinations were
performed using transrectal ultrasound equipped with a linear transducer of double
frequency. Fetuses were identified as male when the GT was next to the umbilical cord and
female when the GT was next to the tail. The average time of GT migration in ewes (41.3 ±
3.1 days) was shorter (P < 0.05) than in goats (47.2 ± 2.3 days). In goats, the
average time of GT migration of Saanen fetuses was later (P < 0.05) than in fetuses of
other breeds, with no difference in the average time of GT migration between male (46.9 ±
2.2) and female fetuses (47.4 ± 2.4). In ewes, the average time of GT migration did not
differ (P > 0.05) among breeds and sexes. In goat and sheep, no difference was noticed
in the accuracy of fetal sexing between males and females (P > 0.05). The results show
that fetal sexing in ewes must be done earlier than in goats, fetal sexing in Saanen goats
must be performed later, and fetal sex does not influence the time of GT migration in
either of the two species.
Key
words: Genital tubercle, nipples, prepuce, scrotal bag, small ruminant, vulva
RISK
ASSESSMENT OF POSTPARTUM UTERINE DISEASE AND CONSEQUENCES OF PUERPERAL METRITIS FOR
SUBSEQUENT METABOLIC STATUS, REPRODUCTION AND MILK YIELD IN DAIRY COWS
László Könyves1, Ottó Szenci2, Viktor Jurkovich1, Lászlóné Tegzes1, Attila Tirián1, Norbert Solymosi3, Gyula Gyulay4 and Endre Brydl1
1Department of Animal
Hygiene, Herd Health and Veterinary Ethology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Szent István
University, István u. 2, H-1078 Budapest, Hungary; 2Clinic for Large Animals,
Faculty of Veterinary Science, Szent István University, Üllő, Hungary; 3Department
of Biomathematics and Informatics, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Szent István
University, Budapest, Hungary; 4Private Veterinarian, Martonvásár, Hungary
(Received 2 April 2008; accepted 22
May 2008)
The objective of this
study was to determine some metabolic and other factors predicting the risk of postpartum
uterine disease (PUD), and the effects of puerperal metritis (PM) on metabolic status,
reproduction and milk yield were analysed. A total of 105 Holstein-Friesian cows were
included, and sampled on day < –14 prepartum and days 4, 10–14, 28–35 and 56–63
postpartum for metabolic tests. From day 4 the development of PUD, and from days 28–35
the ovarian activity was monitored. When grade >= 1 + ketonuria was present on day 4
postpartum, this indicated a higher probability of PUD [odds ratio (OR) 2.64; P < 0.05]
including PM occurring on days 10–14 (OR: 2.65; P < 0.05). Plasma non-esterified
fatty acid (NEFA) concentrations > 0.200 mmol/l on days < –14 prepartum indicated
a higher risk of uterine diseases (OR: 3.44; P < 0.05). The odds of PUD increased,
depending on whether a body condition score (BCS) loss of ? 1.0 occurred between days
< –14 and 28–35 (OR: 2.82; P < 0.05), between days < –14 and 10–14 (OR:
4.79; P < 0.01) or between days 10–14 and 28–35 (OR: 10.81; P < 0.01). PM was
more probable (OR: 27.3; P < 0.001) in cows with retained placenta. The risk of uterine
diseases was lower in multiparous than in primiparous cows (OR: 0.29; P < 0.01). PM
increased the risk of ovarian inactivity between days 28 and 35 (OR: 2.83; P < 0.05).
Cows affected with PM (PM+ cows) showed lower milk production on day 4 (kg; P < 0.05)
and lower milk production (P < 0.05), milk fat and milk protein production (kg; P <
0.01; P < 0.01) in the first 100 days of lactation than did PM– cows.
Key
words: Risk indicators, postpartum uterine
disease, puerperal metritis, metabolic status, dairy cow, reproduction, milk production
SPAYING-RELATED URINARY
INCONTINENCE AND OESTROGEN THERAPY IN THE BITCH
Maria Cristina Veronesi1*, Alessandro Rota1, Massimiliano Battocchio1, Massimo Faustini3 and Antonio Mollo2
1Department of Clinical
Veterinary Science, Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Veterinary Faculty, University
of Milan, Via Celoria, 10–20133 Milan, Italy; 2Department of Clinical
Veterinary Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Padua, Padua, Italy; 3Department
of Veterinary Sciences and Technologies for Food Safety, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
(Received 14 March 2008; accepted 22
May 2008)
Some aspects of spaying-related urinary incontinence
in the bitch still remain incompletely clarified. Therefore, the aims of the present study
were to evaluate the prevalence of the disease among spayed dogs, to detect differences in
risk related to the type of surgery, to describe the characteristics of incontinent
bitches, to assess the influence of age at surgery on the onset of incontinence
occurrence, and to assess the effectiveness and long-term side effects of oestrogen
therapy in affected bitches. Among 750 bitches submitted to ovariectomy or
ovariohysterectomy, those showing spaying-related urinary incontinence were evaluated.
Oestrogen replacement therapy consisted of administering an effective dose followed by an
individual maintenance dose. The results showed that the disease occurred in 5% of
neutered bitches, the type of surgery did not affect the disease occurrence, affected
bitches frequently represented large or giant breeds or large-size mongrels, the body
weight of the affected bitches at surgery was often >= 20 kg, the disease seems to be
associated with tail docking, the age at surgery influences the onset of incontinence,
with earlier occurrence in older bitches, and that a strong co-operation between owners
and veterinarians is necessary to achieve successful response to oestrogen replacement
therapy. Long-term administration seems to be unrelated to oestrogenic side effects.
Key
words: Bitch, spaying, urinary incontinence,
oestrogen therapy
Corresponding author; E-mail:
maria.veronesi@unimi.it; Phone: 0039 (02) 50318-149; Fax: 0039 (02) 50318-148
A
BIOLOGICAL HAZARD OF OUR AGE: BRACKEN FERN [PTERIDIUM
AQUILINUM (L.) KUHN] – A REVIEW
János Vetter
Department of Botany, Faculty of
Veterinary Science, Szent István University, P.O. Box 2, H-1400 Budapest, Hungary
(Received 14 August 2007; accepted 15
November 2007)
Bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum) is the fifth most distributed
common weed species of the world. Its ecological distribution is very wide, and the plant
can grow and spread successfully on many types of soil. The cover of P. aquilinum is – in some cases – remarkable
(e.g. in the United Kingdom). Bracken
fern contains different poisonous agents: some cyanogen glycosides, factors (agents) of
antithiamine character (thermolabile thiaminase and thermostable other compounds) and
factors of carcinogenic activity (first of all ptaquiloside). This paper summarises and
reviews different toxicological problems and poisonings caused by bracken fern in
ruminants (cattle, sheep) and in non-ruminant animals (horses, pigs, rats, mice, etc.).
The carcinogenic properties of the norsesquiterpene-type ptaquiloside make bracken fern a
potent, living hazard. Recent investigations have shown that ptaquiloside pollution of
different soil layers is a distinct possibility. Ptaquiloside may leach from the soil into
the drinking water base. This ecotoxicological aspect seems to be the most hazardous
phenomenon in relation to P. aquilinum and
ptaquiloside. The carcinogenic effect of ptaquiloside is based on its hydrolysis, which
leads to the formation of a dienon intermediate. It can produce DNA adducts, which are
responsible for inducing carcinoma.
Key
words: Pteridium aquilinum, bracken fern,
ptaquiloside, carcinogenic plant, thiaminase, animal poisoning
Corresponding
author; E-mail: Vetter.Janos@aotk.szie.hu; Phone/Fax: 0036 (1) 478-4238
