Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: J. Rajchard Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Ecology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic Title: Sex pheromones in amphibians: a review Abstract: Amphibians are interesting animals, very often kept by aquarists and vivarists. Their ability of intraspecific chemical signalization belongs to very interesting biological features. The skin glands of anurans secrete various biologically active compounds. The pheromones are peptides consisting of various numbers of amino acid residues and their synthesis is regulated by hormones (e.g. prolactin and androgens). Similarly, the responsiveness of the vomeronasal epithelium to some of these compounds is enhanced by some hormonal substances (prolactin and oestrogen). Hypophyseal hormones, arginine vasotocin and gonadotropin-releasing hormone are involved in the humoral regulation of pheromone discharge. The storage of some compounds with pheromonal activity in a biologically inactive form was also proved. The pheromones have an important role in sexual relationships. These chemosignals increase female receptivity and are probably involved in the mate choice. The courtship pheromone signals may be conserved across related species. Chemosignals play an important role in female attraction and/or territorial announcement. In addition to sex pheromones, various neuropeptides, antimicrobial and other biologically active peptides were found in skin glands of these amphibians. The infochemical system can be disturbed by a chemical influence in the environment. Keywords: chemosignal, peptide, hormone, skin gland, frog, toad, newt Journal: Veterinární medicína Pages: 385-389 Volume: 50 Issue: 9 Year: 2005 DOI: 10.17221/5637-VETMED File-URL: http://vetmed.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/5637-VETMED.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/vet-200509-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlvet:v:50:y:2005:i:9:id:5637-VETMED Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: L. Pavlata Author-Workplace-Name: Clinic of Diseases of Ruminants, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: A. Podhorsky Author-Workplace-Name: Clinic of Diseases of Ruminants, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: A. Pechova Author-Workplace-Name: Clinic of Diseases of Ruminants, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: P. Chomat Author-Workplace-Name: Clinic of Diseases of Ruminants, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic Title: Differences in the occurrence of selenium, copper and zinc deficiencies in dairy cows, calves, heifers and bulls Abstract: This study was conducted to evaluate the mineral status of various bovine categories reared on the same farm, and to monitor the quality of their mineral nutrition in this way. Blood samples were collected on 20 farms in various regions of the CzechRepublicto diagnose the selenium (Se), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) status of dairy cows, calves, heifers and bulls. Blood samples were collected from 5 dairy cows and their calves, 5 heifers and, whenever possible, also from 5 bullocks (10 farms). To assess the Cu and Zn status of the cattle, blood serum concentrations of the elements were determined by flame AAS. The Se status assessment was based on the glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity in whole blood. Dairy cows and calves showed the higher GSH-Px activity in comparison with heifers and bulls (P < 0.001). Overall mean GSH-Px activity in the blood of dairy cows, calves, heifers and bulls was 720.47 ± 174.47 µkat/l, 688.34 ± 204.12 µkat/l, 555.69 ± 318.36 µkat/l and 516.17 ± 214.70 µkat/l, respectively. Se deficiency was diagnosed in 23% of the examined dairy cows (20% herds), 31% calves (25% herds), 51% heifers (50% herds) and in 58% of bulls (50% herds). Dairy cows showed lower Zn and higher Cu concentrations in comparison with the other categories (P < 0.001). Mean Zn concentrations in blood serum of dairy cows, calves, heifers and bulls were 12.21 ± 3.19 µmol/l, 18.91 ± 5.78 µmol/l, 17.80 ± 2.76 µmol/l and 16.69 ± 3.08 µmol/l, respectively. Zn deficiency was diagnosed in 41% of the examined dairy cows (45% herds) and 13% of bulls (10% herds). None of the calf or heifer herds was classified as Zn deficient when Zn deficiency was found in only 9% of calves and 1% of the examined heifers. Mean Cu concentrations in blood serum of dairy cows, calves, heifers and bulls were 13.62 ± 2.62 µmol/l, 10.18 ± 3.22 µmol/l, 10.96 ± 2.52 µmol/l and 11.18 ± 2.40 µmol/l, respectively. Cu deficiency was diagnosed in 28% of the examined dairy cows (20% herds), 70% of calves (80% herds), 65% of heifers (75% herds) and 70% of bulls (60% herds). Deficiency of at least one of the microelements monitored was diagnosed on all investigated farms. Keywords: microelements, mineral nutrition, diagnostics, blood, cattle Journal: Veterinární medicína Pages: 390-400 Volume: 50 Issue: 9 Year: 2005 DOI: 10.17221/5638-VETMED File-URL: http://vetmed.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/5638-VETMED.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/vet-200509-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlvet:v:50:y:2005:i:9:id:5638-VETMED Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: S. Faix Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Physiology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Kosice, Slovak Republic Author-Name: Z. Faixova Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Pathological Physiology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Kosice, Slovak Republic Author-Name: K. Boldizarova Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Physiology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Kosice, Slovak Republic Author-Name: P. Javorsky Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Physiology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Kosice, Slovak Republic Title: The effect of long-term high heavy metal intake on lipid peroxidation of gastrointestinal tissue in sheep Abstract: The present study was designed to determine the effects of dietary heavy metal intake on malondialdehyde levels (MDA, product of cellular lipid peroxidation) in the tissues of gastrointestinal tract, kidneys and liver of sheep. The experiment was carried out on twelve female sheep of mixed breed, weighing from 30 to 35 kg, one year old. The first group of sheep was bred in the conditions of laboratory farm. They had free access to hay and 300 g of barley per sheep was added daily. The second group grazed on a natural pasture in the environs of a factory processing copper ore. The second group of sheep had significantly higher concentrations of copper and cadmium in the tissues of rumen wall, duodenum, colon wall, liver and kidneys. The concentration of lead was significantly higher in the rumen wall, colon, liver and kidneys, but no differences were found in duodenum. The concentration of mercury was significantly higher only in the kidney tissue, but no differences were found in rumen wall, duodenum, colon wall and liver. The concentration of malondialdehyde was found significantly higher in reticulum epithelium, omasum, duodenum and colon. The significantly higher concentration of MDA was measured in colon wall and kidney medulla. The highest concentration of MDA was found in liver. Our results confirm that lipid peroxidation is one of the molecular mechanisms of cell injury in chronic heavy metal poisoning. The epithelium of the gastrointestinal tract of sheep is more sensitive to the oxidative damage induced by dietary heavy metal intake. Keywords: malondialdehyde, thiobarbituric acid, reticulorumen, intestine Journal: Veterinární medicína Pages: 401-405 Volume: 50 Issue: 9 Year: 2005 DOI: 10.17221/5639-VETMED File-URL: http://vetmed.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/5639-VETMED.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/vet-200509-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlvet:v:50:y:2005:i:9:id:5639-VETMED Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: S. Kucukersan Author-Workplace-Name: Ankara University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ankara, Turkey Author-Name: K. Kucukersan Author-Workplace-Name: Ankara University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ankara, Turkey Author-Name: I. Colpan Author-Workplace-Name: Ankara University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ankara, Turkey Author-Name: E. Goncuoglu Author-Workplace-Name: Akdeniz University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Burdur, Turkey Author-Name: Z. Reisli Author-Workplace-Name: Ankara University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ankara, Turkey Author-Name: D. Yesilbag Author-Workplace-Name: Ankara University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ankara, Turkey Title: The effects of humic acid on egg production and egg traits of laying hen Abstract: The effects of humic acid on feed consumption, egg production, feed efficiency, egg weight and external and internal egg quality of laying hens were studied during feeding periods. A total of 180 (Hysex Brown) layers (36 weeks of age) were used in this experiment. There was one control and two experimental groups, each containing 60 hens and 4 subgroups. The experimental period lasted 16 weeks. At the end of the experiment, the supplementation of humic acid had a significant effect on feed consumption and feed efficiency. An increase in egg production was determined when humic acid was added to the diets at 30 g/t of feeds (91.70%) and 60 g/t of feeds (91.32%). There were no significant differences between the groups in egg shell thickness, egg shell breaking strength, yolk index, albumen index and Haugh unit. It can be therefore concluded that the dietary supplementation of humic acid at doses of 30 and 60 g/t feed can be used to improve egg production, egg weight and feed efficiency. Keywords: egg quality, egg production, egg weight, humic acid Journal: Veterinární medicína Pages: 406-410 Volume: 50 Issue: 9 Year: 2005 DOI: 10.17221/5640-VETMED File-URL: http://vetmed.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/5640-VETMED.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/vet-200509-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlvet:v:50:y:2005:i:9:id:5640-VETMED Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Z. Ozudogru Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Ataturk, Ilica-Erzurum, Turkey Author-Name: D. Ozdemir Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Ataturk, Ilica-Erzurum, Turkey Title: Intrarenal arterial patterns in the wolf (Canis lupis) Abstract: Study of the intrarenal arterial pattern of kidney by a corrosion cast method was carried out on 10 kidneys of wolves. The left renal artery was longer than the right one. The renal arteries divided into two dorsal and one ventral branches. The dorsal branches were longer and thinner than the ventral one. Both dorsal and ventral branches gave off the interlobar, arcuate and interlobular arteries, respectively. The right dorsal branch gave off 5-7 segmental arteries, the right ventral branch 4-5 segmental arteries, the left dorsal branch 6-9 segmental arteries and the left ventral branch 7-8 segmental arteries. No anastomoses were observed between the renal arteries and their branches. Keywords: renal artery, kidney, wolf Journal: Veterinární medicína Pages: 411-414 Volume: 50 Issue: 9 Year: 2005 DOI: 10.17221/5641-VETMED File-URL: http://vetmed.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/5641-VETMED.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/vet-200509-0005.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlvet:v:50:y:2005:i:9:id:5641-VETMED Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: V. Strompfova Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Physiology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Kosice, Slovak Republic Author-Name: M. Marcinakova Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Physiology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Kosice, Slovak Republic Author-Name: S. Gancarcikova Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Gnotobiology and Diseases of Young, University of Veterinary Medicine, Kosice, Slovak Republic Author-Name: Z. Jonecova Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Gnotobiology and Diseases of Young, University of Veterinary Medicine, Kosice, Slovak Republic Author-Name: L. Scirankova Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Gnotobiology and Diseases of Young, University of Veterinary Medicine, Kosice, Slovak Republic Author-Name: P. Guba Author-Workplace-Name: Advise, s.r.o., Kosice, Slovak Republic Author-Name: J. Koscova Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Gnotobiology and Diseases of Young, University of Veterinary Medicine, Kosice, Slovak Republic Author-Name: K. Boldizarova Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Physiology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Kosice, Slovak Republic Author-Name: A. Laukova Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Physiology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Kosice, Slovak Republic Title: New probiotic strain Lactobacillus fermentum AD1 and its effect in Japanese quail Abstract: Probiotics have been used with increasing frequency in nutrition and for prophylactic purposes during the last years. In the present study we investigated the effect of Lactobacillus fermentum AD1 - canine isolate on selected intestinal microbial groups, weight gain, organic acids, haematology, glutathione peroxidase and phagocytosis of leucocytes in 2-days-old Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica). The results demonstrated that the 4-day application of this strain significantly increased the population of lactic acid bacteria - lactobacilli and enterococci in faeces (P < 0.01 and/or P < 0.001) and caecum of quail (P < 0.001) and significantly decreased the counts of E. coli in faeces (P < 0.05). The daily weight gain was increased by 14%. Although intestinal pH of both groups of birds was similar, the concentration of lactic acid was significantly increased in the experimental group (P < 0.05). The concentration of other organic acids (acetic, acetoacetic, formic, succinic, valeric, propionic, butyric) as well as blood glutathione peroxidase was not influenced. The index of phagocytic activity of leucocytes was significantly improved (P < 0.01). Keywords: probiotic, Lactobacillus sp., Japanese quail, effect Journal: Veterinární medicína Pages: 415-420 Volume: 50 Issue: 9 Year: 2005 DOI: 10.17221/5642-VETMED File-URL: http://vetmed.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/5642-VETMED.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/vet-200509-0006.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlvet:v:50:y:2005:i:9:id:5642-VETMED Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Z. Knotkova Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: S. Mazanek Author-Workplace-Name: Municipal Zoological Garden, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: M. Hovorka Author-Workplace-Name: Municipal Zoological Garden, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: M. Sloboda Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: Z. Knotek Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic Title: Haematology and plasma chemistry of Bornean river turtles suffering from shell necrosis and haemogregarine parasites Abstract: Nine Bornean river turtles (Orlitia borneensis, Gray, 1873) suffering from lethargy, ulcerations and caseous necrosis of the plastron were evaluated for haematology and plasma chemistry. Intra-erythrocytic haemogregarine parasites were associated with anaemia, low haemoglobin, basophilia, eosinophilia, heterophilia and azurophilia. After eight months of treatment consisting of antibiotics, debridement and scrubbing of lesions with enilconazole or povidone iodine, rehydration, deworming and tube feeding, lymphocytes, basophils, eosinophils, heterophils and azurophils returned to the normal ranges. Haematocrit, RBC and haemoglobin concentration were under the normal ranges in 24 months. A progressive decrease in haemogregarine parasitaemia was also seen, however, haematologic changes could not be definitely attributed to these parasites. Keywords: reptiles, Orlitia borneensis, blood profile, blood parasites Journal: Veterinární medicína Pages: 421-426 Volume: 50 Issue: 9 Year: 2005 DOI: 10.17221/5643-VETMED File-URL: http://vetmed.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/5643-VETMED.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/vet-200509-0007.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlvet:v:50:y:2005:i:9:id:5643-VETMED