Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: I. Štyriak Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Physiology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Košice, Slovakia Author-Name: V. Demečková Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Physiology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Košice, Slovakia Author-Name: B. Žatkovič Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Physiology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Košice, Slovakia Author-Name: V. Kmeť Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Physiology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Košice, Slovakia Title: Collagen binding by vaginal aggregative lactobacilli Abstract: Ten autoaggregating vaginal Lactobacillus strains (five of these strains were selected among isolates from sows' vaginal swabs and the other five among isolates from cows' vaginal swabs) were investigated for their ability to bind type Icollagen (Cn-I). All 10 autoaggregating strains in the range of A570nm readings 0.118-1.806 bound to immobilised Cn-I (at concentration of 100 μg/ml) in wells of microtitre plates, however, Lactobacillus acidophilus SV31 was much more adherent than the rest of the tested strains. The influence of culture medium on Cn-I binding was confirmed only in 50% of the tested strains when agar-grown cells bound significantly more Cn-I than broth-grown cells. The specificity of the binding was confirmed since the Cn-I binding by lactobacilli was abolished after their preincubation with this protein. The effect of heparan sulphate and hyaluronic acid was tested on 5 vaginal strains displaying the best Cn-I binding in microtitre plates after their cultivationon MRS agar plates. Both selected inhibitors significantly (P < 0.001 or P < 0.01) reduced Cn-I binding by the majority of strains. The presence of the gene coding APF (aggregation-promoting factor) was detected in seven strains (all five sows' and two cows' Lactobacillus strains) by PCR. Keywords: vaginal Lactobacillus, collagen, aggregation, extracellular matrix, probiotic use Journal: Veterinární medicína Pages: 89-94 Volume: 46 Issue: 4 Year: 2001 DOI: 10.17221/11932-VETMED File-URL: http://vetmed.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/11932-VETMED.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/vet-200104-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlvet:v:46:y:2001:i:4:id:11932-VETMED Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Z. Páčová Author-Workplace-Name: Masaryk University, Faculty of Science, Czech Collection of Microorganisms, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: E. Urbanová Author-Workplace-Name: Masaryk University, Faculty of Science, Czech Collection of Microorganisms, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: E. Durnová Author-Workplace-Name: Masaryk University, Faculty of Science, Czech Collection of Microorganisms, Brno, Czech Republic Title: Psychrobacter immobilis isolated from foods: characteristics and identification Abstract: A total of 15 strains of Psychrobacter immobilis isolated from animal sources, e.g. cheese, fish and poultry, were tested. A commercial diagnostic kit NEFERMtest 24, conventional tests and determination of fatty acids were used for identification. By using the results of NEFERMtest 24 and numerical identification system TNW version 6.0 the identification was successful on the species level (46.7%) while the correct species identification by using conventional tests increased up to 86.7%. All 9 saccharolytic strains including 7 Czech isolates were identified in most cases on an excellent or very good level by both methods based on biochemical reactions. On the other hand, the identification of 6 asaccharolytic strains was unsuccessful especially by NEFERMtest 24. While 4 asaccharolytic strains were identified correctly on the basis of conventional tests on species or genus level, incorrect identification on species level, for example Ralstonia paucula, Comamonas terrigena, Oligella ureolytica, Moraxella lincolnii andPsychrobacter phenylpyruvicus, was found by using NEFERMtest 24. Determination of fatty acid composition by MIDI System confirmed the species identification of 9 out of the 10 tested strains of P. immobilis and 1 tested strain of Psychrobacter sp. Keywords: Psychrobacter immobilis, characteristics, identification, foods Journal: Veterinární medicína Pages: 95-100 Volume: 46 Issue: 4 Year: 2001 DOI: 10.17221/7866-VETMED File-URL: http://vetmed.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/7866-VETMED.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/vet-200104-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlvet:v:46:y:2001:i:4:id:7866-VETMED Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: A. Škrobonja Author-Workplace-Name: Rijeka University, School of Medicine, Rijeka, Croatia Author-Name: I. Kontošić Author-Workplace-Name: Rijeka University, School of Medicine, Rijeka, Croatia Author-Name: J. Bačić Author-Workplace-Name: Rijeka University, School of Medicine, Rijeka, Croatia Author-Name: V. Vučevac-Bajt Author-Workplace-Name: Rijeka University, School of Medicine, Rijeka, Croatia Author-Name: A. Muzur Author-Workplace-Name: Rijeka University, School of Medicine, Rijeka, Croatia Author-Name: V. Golubović Author-Workplace-Name: Rijeka University, School of Medicine, Rijeka, Croatia Title: Domestic animals as symbols and attributes in Christian iconography: some examples from Croatian sacral art Abstract: The aim of this paper was to register the domestic animals appearing in the iconography of Christian saints and to explain their association. The source of knowledge was literature dealing with hagiographies of saints, sacral iconography and liturgy along with visiting churches, monasteries and museums throughout Croatia. After research in sacral literature and works of art lasting several years, it was observed that the following domestic animals appear as accompanying about seventy Christian saints: bees, bull, camel, cow, dog, donkey, goose, dove, horse, lamb, pig, sheep, steer. Reasons and explanations of their association are most often in practical relations (the animal serves and helps the man). However, in the animal, the most varied symbolic, especially ethical and morality messages are personified very often. Especially interesting are saints honoured as patrons of particular animals and of professionals occupied with animals. In human medicine, they are most frequently protectors from zoonoses, too. In some cases, animals are attributed to saints because of the linguistic association resulting from similarity of the names of animals and saints. In the same way, domestic animals are present in sacral art as a part of ambient decoration, too. In addition, it can also be interesting from the historical and ethnic veterinary point of view. Presented examples show how, by interdisciplinary approach to sacral art and tradition, we can come to other numerous findings surpassing mere religious messages. In this case, these are contributions to the history of veterinary medicine in the widest sense. Keywords: Croatia, domestic animals, history of veterinary medicine, religion, veterinary in art Journal: Veterinární medicína Pages: 101-107 Volume: 46 Issue: 4 Year: 2001 DOI: 10.17221/7863-VETMED File-URL: http://vetmed.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/7863-VETMED.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/vet-200104-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlvet:v:46:y:2001:i:4:id:7863-VETMED Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: V. Tančin Author-Workplace-Name: Research Institute of Animal Production, Nitra, Slovak Republic Author-Name: R.M. Bruckmaier Author-Workplace-Name: Research Institute of Animal Production, Nitra, Slovak Republic Title: Factors affecting milk ejection and removal during milking and suckling of dairy cows Abstract: The release of oxytocin and milk ejection occurrence in response to teat stimulation are crucial for fast and complete milk removal during milking or suckling. The milk ejection reflex can be disturbed at central or peripheral level under different experimental and practical conditions. The central disturbance results in the lack or insufficient ejection of the alveolar milk into the cistern due to inhibited oxytocin release from pituitary into the blood circulation. The important role in the pathophysiological regulation of the inhibited release of oxytocin is played by an opioid system. Endogenous opioids have suppressive effects on oxytocin release under the normal conditions of milk removal. However under the conditions of disturbed milk ejection their role in dairy cows was not confirmed. Other possible mechanisms involved in the central inhibition of oxytocin release are discussed. In dairy cows as compared with rats the mechanisms involved in the regulation of oxytocin release at the central level remain unclear. The central inhibition of oxytocin release has often been observed in dairy practice during milking of primiparous cows after parturition, suckling by alien calf, calf removal before milking, milking of cows in the presence of own calf, relocation and milking in an unknown milking place. If sufficient released oxytocin cannot induce the transfer of milk from alveoli to cistern, peripheral mechanisms are involved. Peripheral mechanisms are related to the increased levels of catecholamines and/or activation sympathetic nervous system at the udder level. In conclusion, the release of oxytocin and milk ejection efficiency can be very easily suppressed by many factors. The effect of milking conditions on regulation of milk ejection has to be considered. Thus the physiological requirements of dairy cows have to be respected. Keywords: dairy cows, milking, suckling, hormones Journal: Veterinární medicína Pages: 108-118 Volume: 46 Issue: 4 Year: 2001 DOI: 10.17221/7860-VETMED File-URL: http://vetmed.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/7860-VETMED.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/vet-200104-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlvet:v:46:y:2001:i:4:id:7860-VETMED Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: G. Tefera Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: J. Smola Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic Title: Pasteurella haemolytica complex of Pasteurella sensu stricto as new genus Mannheimia: changes in taxonomy Abstract: The benefit and usefulness of the new results described by Angen et al. (1999) rest upon the necessity for revising the previous taxonomy of Pasteurellaceae by grouping microorganisms based on their phylogenetic relationships combined with phenotypic characters and the usefulness of molecular biological methods in determining the taxonomic structure based on genomic evidence with supplementary phenotypic data. According to authors cited the phenotypic character of each serotype, species and even genus was well defined by their morphology, growth requirements and metabolic activities. The genomic relationships of serotypes, species and genera were detected by different molecular biological techniques. Keywords: Pasteurella haemolytica, Mannheimia, taxonomy Journal: Veterinární medicína Pages: 119-124 Volume: 46 Issue: 4 Year: 2001 DOI: 10.17221/7864-VETMED File-URL: http://vetmed.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/7864-VETMED.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/vet-200104-0005.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlvet:v:46:y:2001:i:4:id:7864-VETMED