Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: R. Rybak Author-Workplace-Name: Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: L. Faldikova Author-Workplace-Name: Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: M. Faldyna Author-Workplace-Name: Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: M. Machatkova Author-Workplace-Name: Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: J. Rubes Author-Workplace-Name: Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic Title: Bull and boar sperm DNA integrity evaluated by sperm chromatin structure assay in the Czech Republic Abstract: Analysis of sperm parameters is very important for predicting the outcome of assisted reproductive techniques and is necessary for determination of fertility potential of males tested for artificial insemination. In our study we have determined the level of bull and boar sperm DNA damage by Sperm Chromatin Structure Assay (SCSA). This test is based on increased susceptibility of altered DNA (strand breaks) in sperm nuclear chromatinto in situ denaturation measured by flow cytometry after staining with acridine orange (AO). Sperm chromatin damage was quantified by percentages of spermatozoa with detectable DNA Fragmentation Index - DFI divided into moderate (m-DFI) and high (h-DFI) DFI. Percentage of immature cells (HDS; cells with High DNA Stainability) was also evaluated. We measured sperm SCSA parameters in a total of 37 bulls in two groups from different localities and 68 boar samples from one locality. Significantly higher percentage of spermatozoa with detectable DFI was detected in six bulls (16.2%) and a significantly higher percentage of immature cell forms (HDS) was found in other six bulls (16.2%) among all tested bulls. The mean percentages of spermatozoa with h-DFI and HDS of bulls from the second group were statistically higher than those from the first group (P < 0.01). Five boars (7.4%) of all tested boars had significantly higher percentage of spermatozoa with DFI and 18 boars (26.5%) had significantly higher percentage of sperm with HDS compared to the other boars. Both percentages of spermatozoa with DFI and HDS were significantly higher in one boar compared to the others. Boars had significantly higher percentages of spermatozoa with h-DFI and HDS (P < 0.0001) in comparison to bulls. For individual bulls, the highest percentages of spermatozoa with DFI and HDS were 20.8% and 3.5%, respectively while for boars these were 17.6% and 10.2%, respectively. No significant correlations were found between percentages of spermatozoa with DFI and HDS. This sensitive procedure seems to be convenient as additional method for semen quality detection in farm animals before their exploitation in breeding. Keywords: sperm, DNA integrity, flow cytometry, bull, boar, fertility Journal: Veterinární medicína Pages: 1-8 Volume: 49 Issue: 1 Year: 2004 DOI: 10.17221/5668-VETMED File-URL: http://vetmed.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/5668-VETMED.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/vet-200401-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlvet:v:49:y:2004:i:1:id:5668-VETMED Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: A. Akca Author-Workplace-Name: , Y. G 1, M. K 1, S. K 2 1Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kafkas University, Kars, Turkey Author-Name: C. Babur Author-Workplace-Name: , Y. G 1, M. K 1, S. K 2 1Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kafkas University, Kars, Turkey Author-Name: MO Arslan Author-Workplace-Name: , Y. G 1, M. K 1, S. K 2 1Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kafkas University, Kars, Turkey Author-Name: Y. Gicik Author-Workplace-Name: , Y. G 1, M. K 1, S. K 2 1Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kafkas University, Kars, Turkey Author-Name: M. Kara Author-Workplace-Name: , Y. G 1, M. K 1, S. K 2 1Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kafkas University, Kars, Turkey Author-Name: S. Kilic Author-Workplace-Name: , Y. G 1, M. K 1, S. K 2 1Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kafkas University, Kars, Turkey Title: Prevalence of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii in horses in the province of Kars, Turkey Abstract: This study investigates the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in horses from seven villages in the province of Kars in north-eastern Turkey. A total of 189 serum samples from clinically healthy, local crossbred horses were tested for anti-T. gondii antibodies using the Sabin-Feldman dye test. Antibodies to T. gondii were found in 39 (20.6%) horses, with specific titres of 1 : 16 (27), 1 : 64 (11) and 1 : 256 (1). The 95% confidence interval for the population proportion ranged from 13.3 to 27.9%. The number of seropositive horses in Yucelen village (40%) was considerably higher than in other villages, whereas in the villages of Caglayan (8%) and Cerme (10.5%) the seroprevalence was lower than elsewhere. However, the differences in seroprevalence between the seven villages were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). In contrast, the overall seroprevalence in the province of Kars was significantly higher than that reported previously in studies carried out on army and private horse stud farms elsewhere in Turkey (P < 0.05). The relevance of these findings to the epizootiology of toxoplasmosis in Kars and Turkey is discussed. Keywords: Toxoplasma gondii, horse, seroprevalence, dye test, Turkey Journal: Veterinární medicína Pages: 9-13 Volume: 49 Issue: 1 Year: 2004 DOI: 10.17221/5667-VETMED File-URL: http://vetmed.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/5667-VETMED.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/vet-200401-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlvet:v:49:y:2004:i:1:id:5667-VETMED Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: J. Piskula Author-Workplace-Name: , M. B 1, Z. H 1, F. T 2 1Department of Veterinary Ecology and Environmental Protection, 2Department of Infectious Diseases and Epizootiology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: M. Beklova Author-Workplace-Name: , M. B 1, Z. H 1, F. T 2 1Department of Veterinary Ecology and Environmental Protection, 2Department of Infectious Diseases and Epizootiology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: Z. Holesovska Author-Workplace-Name: , M. B 1, Z. H 1, F. T 2 1Department of Veterinary Ecology and Environmental Protection, 2Department of Infectious Diseases and Epizootiology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: F. Treml Author-Workplace-Name: , M. B 1, Z. H 1, F. T 2 1Department of Veterinary Ecology and Environmental Protection, 2Department of Infectious Diseases and Epizootiology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic Title: Spatio-temporal aspects of tularemia in Southern Moravia, Czech Republic Abstract: In the last decade, apart from the rise of numbers of positive hares and infected humans, we have been witnessing some spread of natural foci of tularemia into more northern areas of Southern Moravia, Czech Republic. It was, therefore, the aim of this paper to evaluate the spatio-temporal development of tularemia in Southern Moravia (in a selected study area of 130 × 90 km) using a geographic information system. Correlation analysis resulted in finding that the geographic distribution of natural foci of tularemia in any year correlated with the distribution in any other year of the study period of 1994-2001. The coefficients of correlation of all possible combinations of distribution in years 1994-2001 vary from 0.38 to 0.96 (n = 3 700, P = 0.01). The closer the years, the greater the correlation of distribution of tularemia. It can be stated that, in the study area during the period of eight years, tularemia persisted rather in the same locations but, as the coefficients of correlation do not equal 1.0, some variation in the distribution could be observed. Keywords: Francisella tularensis, natural foci, geographic distribution, geographic information system Journal: Veterinární medicína Pages: 15-18 Volume: 49 Issue: 1 Year: 2004 DOI: 10.17221/5670-VETMED File-URL: http://vetmed.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/5670-VETMED.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/vet-200401-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlvet:v:49:y:2004:i:1:id:5670-VETMED Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Z. Svobodova Author-Workplace-Name: ,2, J. K 1 1University of South Bohemia Ceske Budejovice, Research Institute of Fish Culture and Hydrobiology at Vodnany, Czech Republic Author-Name: J. Kolarova Author-Workplace-Name: ,2, J. K 1 1University of South Bohemia Ceske Budejovice, Research Institute of Fish Culture and Hydrobiology at Vodnany, Czech Republic Title: A review of the diseases and contaminant related mortalities of tench (Tinca tinca L.) Abstract: The paper provides a review of the current state of knowledge of parasites, diseases and poisonings of tench (Tinca tinca L.) based on the literature and on the authors own findings. Information on the viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites reported from tench are provided along with deaths resulting from alterations in environmental quality. Finally, a list of the current known species of parasites and diseases reported in the Czech Republic are provided based on our own investigations carried out at the Research Institute of Fish Culture and Hydrobiology at Vodňany (University of South Bohemia Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic) between 1984 and 2002. Keywords: viral diseases, bacterial diseases, fungal diseases, parasitic diseases, environmental effects, poisonings, monitoring of tench health in Czech Republic (1984-2002) Journal: Veterinární medicína Pages: 19-34 Volume: 49 Issue: 1 Year: 2004 DOI: 10.17221/5671-VETMED File-URL: http://vetmed.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/5671-VETMED.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/vet-200401-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlvet:v:49:y:2004:i:1:id:5671-VETMED