Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: C. Herrera-Luna Author-Workplace-Name: Department for Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria Author-Name: D. Klein Author-Workplace-Name: Department for Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria Author-Name: G. Lapan Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Microbiology, Department of Molecular Biology, Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES), Moedling, Austria Author-Name: S. Revilla-Fernandez Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Microbiology, Department of Molecular Biology, Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES), Moedling, Austria Author-Name: B. Haschek Author-Workplace-Name: Department for Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria Author-Name: I. Sommerfeld-Stur Author-Workplace-Name: Department for Biomedical Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria Author-Name: K. Moestl Author-Workplace-Name: Department for Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria Author-Name: W. Baumgartner Author-Workplace-Name: Department for Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria Title: Characterization of virulence factors in Escherichia coli isolated from diarrheic and healthy calves in Austria shedding various enteropathogenic agents Abstract: Faecal samples from 230 diarrhoeic and healthy calves aged 0-6 weeks, from 100 farms in Austria, were examined between October 2004 and February 2005 for the presence of bacteria, especially Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC), viruses and parasites. Escherichia coli was detected in 17% of all the faecal samples and was more prevalent in healthy calves. However, E. coli F5 was identified only in one calf without diarrhoea. Overall, 35 out of the 230 (15.2%) samples analyzed carried the Shiga toxin gene: stx1, stx2 or both stx1 and stx2 in their faeces, STEC. Nevertheless, out of 39 pathogenic E. coli positive samples observed, only two carried the Shiga toxin genes: stx1, in a diarrhoeic calf and both stx1 and stx2 in a healthy calf. eaeA and Ehly genes were detected more frequently in the strains from diarrhoeic calves 57.1% and 50.0%, respectively. Clostridium perfringens was detected in twenty-one samples, the most prevalent toxin type of Clostridium perfringens was found to be type A (76.2%). Other bacteria such as Klebsiella spp. and Proteus spp. were present in 1.3% and 0.4% of all samples. Salmonella spp. was not detected. The detection rates of other enteropathogens were 25.7% bovine coronavirus, 11.7% Cryptosporidium spp., 10.4% Eimeria spp., 9.1% group A rotavirus and Giardia spp. 6.1%. We demonstrated the presence of the STEC virulence genes in healthy and diarrhoeic Austrian calves but the importance of the virulence factors of STEC (stx1, stx2, eae and Ehly) in calf diarrhoea and systemic disease is not well defined. Therefore, further studies are necessary to identify reservoirs or potential sources of virulent STEC strains in order to establish control and prevention strategies for STEC associated diseases in animals and humans. Keywords: diarrhoea, cattle, calves, enteropathogens, Escherichia coli, virulence genes, Shiga toxin Journal: Veterinární medicína Pages: 1-11 Volume: 54 Issue: 1 Year: 2009 DOI: 10.17221/3080-VETMED File-URL: http://vetmed.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/3080-VETMED.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/vet-200901-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlvet:v:54:y:2009:i:1:id:3080-VETMED Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: R. Smitalova Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Bacteriology and Virology, Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: L. Rodak Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Bacteriology and Virology, Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: B. Smid Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Bacteriology and Virology, Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: I. Psikal Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Bacteriology and Virology, Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic Title: Detection of nongroup A rotaviruses in faecal samples of pigs in the Czech Republic Abstract: Besides group A rotaviruses, group B and C rotaviruses have been detected as the cause of diarrheal diseases in pigs. Of a set of 329 faecal samples from pigs, 16 samples were selected in which rotavirus was detected by electron microscopy and at the same time group A rotavirus was excluded by ELISA method. Rotaviruses were assayed using specific primers for detection of group B and C rotaviruses, and RT-PCR and semi-nested PCR methods. In one sample, no rotavirus of group B or C was detected; in the remaining 15 samples rotavirus group C was detected, in two samples together with group B rotavirus. Sequencing of the obtained PCR products and comparison with corresponding gene sequences revealed 80% nucleotide sequence identity between group B rotaviruses and available sequences of porcine isolates. A nucleotide sequence identity of 92% was obtained in group C rotaviruses as compared with the Cowden strain. Keywords: group B rotavirus, group C rotavirus, nongroup A rotavirus, enteritis, RT-PCR, semi-nested PCR Journal: Veterinární medicína Pages: 12-18 Volume: 54 Issue: 1 Year: 2009 DOI: 10.17221/3081-VETMED File-URL: http://vetmed.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/3081-VETMED.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/vet-200901-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlvet:v:54:y:2009:i:1:id:3081-VETMED Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: E. Skrivanova Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Science, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: V. Skrivanova Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Science, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Z. Volek Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Science, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: M. Marounek Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Science, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic Title: Effect of triacylglycerols of medium-chain fatty acids on growth rate and mortality of rabbits weaned at 25 and 35 days of age Abstract: Three hundred Hyplus rabbits reared on a commercial farm were weaned at the age of 25 days and 300 rabbits were weaned at the age of 35 days. Early-weaned and conventionally weaned rabbits were assigned to three groups and fed diets supplemented with protected palm fat (PPF), coconut oil (CO) and an oil containing triacylglycerols (TAG) of caprylic and capric acid (Akomed R) at 10 g/kg. The principal fatty acids in these supplements were palmitic, lauric and caprylic acid, respectively. Diets were fed until slaughter at 77 days of age. Mortality of early-weaned rabbits fed the diet supplemented with oil containing TAG of caprylic and capric acid (23%) was significantly lower than that of rabbits fed PPF (45%), and non-significantly lower than mortality of rabbits fed CO (37%). Corresponding mortality rates in rabbits weaned at 35 days of age were 6, 14 and 16%. In all groups, the highest mortality occurred in the 2nd and the 3rd week after weaning. The final body weights of surviving early-weaned rabbits were not significantly different. In conventionally weaned rabbits, however, final body weight was significantly lower in rabbits fed PPF. It can be concluded that under practical field conditions early weaning represents a risk for animal health and leads to a high mortality of young rabbits. The negative effect of early weaning can be alleviated by commercially available TAG of caprylic and capric acid. Keywords: rabbits, early weaning, lipid supplements, mortality Journal: Veterinární medicína Pages: 19-24 Volume: 54 Issue: 1 Year: 2009 DOI: 10.17221/3079-VETMED File-URL: http://vetmed.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/3079-VETMED.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/vet-200901-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlvet:v:54:y:2009:i:1:id:3079-VETMED Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: M. El-Boshy Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt Author-Name: H. Abbas Author-Workplace-Name: Animal Health Research Institute, Cairo, Egypt Author-Name: S. El-Khodery Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt Author-Name: S. Osman Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafr El-Sheikh, Egypt Title: Cytokine response and clinicopathological findings in Brucella infected camels (Camelus dromedarius) Abstract: The present study had the aim of assessing the cytokine response and selected clinicopathological findings associated with brucellosis in camels (Camelus dromedarius). 340 dromedary camels were examined for brucellosis using agglutination and Complement Fixation tests (CFT). Twenty-five camels (7.35%) were positive by both tests; 14 (4.12%) for B. abortus and 11 (3.23%) for B. melitensis. IL-1β and IL-10 interleukin levels in both B. abortus and B. melitensis infected camels showed significant elevations (P < 0.05) compared with controls. Moreover, there was significantly larger increase in IL-1β interleukins in camels infected with B. abortus compared with B. melitensis. TNF-α, IFN-γ and IL-1α levels showed significant decreases (P < 0.05) in Brucella infected camels compared with non-infected ones; however, there was non-significant changes in IL-6 levels in Brucella infected camels compared with controls. Lymphopenia was recorded in infected camels but not in controls. However, normocytic normochromic anemia, hypoproteinemia, hypoalbuminemia and hypoglycemia were recorded in the B. abortus group only. Sorbitol dehydrogenase (SD), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) showed significant increases (P < 0.05) in infected camels compared with controls, and in B. abortus infected camels compared with B. melitensis infected animals. This is the first report that describes changes in selected cytokines and various haematological and biochemical parameters associated with brucellosios in dromedary camels. Emphasis should be placed on multidisciplinary research to elucidate the immunomodulatory features of camel brucellosis. Keywords: camel, Brucellosis, cytokines, hematology, biochemical parameters, Egypt Journal: Veterinární medicína Pages: 25-32 Volume: 54 Issue: 1 Year: 2009 DOI: 10.17221/3044-VETMED File-URL: http://vetmed.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/3044-VETMED.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/vet-200901-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlvet:v:54:y:2009:i:1:id:3044-VETMED Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: A. Sagliyan Author-Workplace-Name: Veterinary Faculty, Firat University, Elazig, Turkey Author-Name: E. Karabulut Author-Workplace-Name: Veterinary Faculty, Firat University, Elazig, Turkey Author-Name: E. Unsaldi Author-Workplace-Name: Veterinary Faculty, Firat University, Elazig, Turkey Author-Name: I. Yaman Author-Workplace-Name: Veterinary Faculty, Firat University, Elazig, Turkey Title: Evaluation of the activity of intraarticular hyaluronic acid in the repair of experimentally induced osteochondral defects of the stifle joint in dogs Abstract: The present study examined the results of using hyaluronic acid with autogenetic cancellous grafts in the treatment of experimentally induced osteochondral defects in the stifle joints of dogs. In this study, 10 mature dogs of different breeds, weights and of both sexes were used. General anesthesia and usual operation procedures were followed. A 10 mm deep defect was created on the femoral sulcus of the trochlea with a drill tip of 8 mm in diameter. The defects in the right and left legs were filled with autogenic cancellous grafts taken from the metaphysial region of the tibia. The left legs constituted the experimental group while the right legs served as control group. In the experimental group, 2 mg/kg intraarticular hyaluronic acid was twice administered into the stifle joint, i.e., immediately subsequent to the operation and 1 month afterwards. Parenteral antibiotics were prescribed postoperatively for ten days. Five animals were sacrificed at the third and sixth month after surgery. Macroscopic and microscopic findings obtained from each case were evaluated. On macroscopical examination, trochlear defects were determined to be incompletely filled at the third month in both control and experimental groups. On histopathologic examination, a loose fibrovascular formation in the area where the graft was applied was observed to be present in both control and experimental groups. However, in the experimental group this formation was more superficial, ossification activity was greater and trabeculous bone formation had been initiated. Macroscopical examination carried out in the sixth month determined that in the control group the defect surface did not fill up to the trochlear sulcus level. In the histopathologic examination, in control groups it was found that fibrocartilageous structures were developing in the fibrovascular space even though ossification was incomplete. The macroscopic examination showed that in the experimental group, the defect surface reached the trochlear sulcus level of defects in this month. The histopatologic examination revealed that fibrous tissue comprised a thin layer, under which ossification processes were complete and bone trabeculates fully formed. It was concluded that the usage of autogenic cancellous graft along with hyaluronic acid may be useful in the repair of large osteochondral defects. Keywords: osteochondral defect, hyaluronic acid, dog Journal: Veterinární medicína Pages: 33-40 Volume: 54 Issue: 1 Year: 2009 DOI: 10.17221/3043-VETMED File-URL: http://vetmed.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/3043-VETMED.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/vet-200901-0005.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlvet:v:54:y:2009:i:1:id:3043-VETMED