Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: editors Title: VOLUME 54, CONTENTS, AUTHOR INDEX, AUTHOR INSTITUTION INDEX, LIST OF REVIEWERS Journal: Veterinární medicína Pages: I-XV Volume: 54 Issue: 12 Year: 2009 DOI: 10.17221/3094-VETMED File-URL: http://vetmed.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/3094-VETMED.html File-Format: text/html Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlvet:v:54:y:2009:i:12:id:3094-VETMED Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: A. Kanora Author-Workplace-Name: Huvepharma NV, Antwerp, Belgium Author-Name: D. Maes Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium Title: The role of mycotoxins in pig reproduction: a review Abstract: Mycotoxins are commonly present in feed for farm animals. Sows and gilts are highly susceptible to mycotoxins. This article presents a review describing the main mycotoxins encountered in pig feed which have a negative impact on sow fertility and reproduction. Consumption of feed that is contaminated with these mycotoxins may cause a variety of symptoms, depending on the type of mycotoxin, quantity and duration of exposure, as well as the health status and condition of the animal at the time of exposure. Two types of fungi are recognized, field fungi and storage fungi. Field fungi such as Fusarium spp., Aspergillus spp. and Claviceps spp. may produce toxins that lead to disturbed reproductive performance. Storage fungi occur if the humidity during storage is too high. In daily practice, the symptoms related to mycotoxicosis can occur at toxin concentrations below the detection limit. Knowledge of the effects of mycotoxins is expanding rapidly. Mycotoxins may still be present in feedstuffs despite negative analytical findings and because of the presence of hot spots in feed and or feedstuffs. Clinical symptoms can be very pronounced, making the diagnosis for the practitioner quite easy but in many cases the symptoms are vague and not at all present at herd level on a regular basis. The practitioner is in the first line of raising awareness in all parties whenever the first indication exists of a possible mycotoxicosis problem causing reproductive failure in breeding pigs. The problems can be resolved only if all parties involved in pig herd health take the necessary preventive measures and actions. The main toxins causing reproductive failure discussed in this article are aflatoxins, ergot alkaloids, trichothecenes and zearalenone. Keywords: mycotoxins, zearalenone, T-2, ergot, aflatoxins, reproduction, storage fungi Journal: Veterinární medicína Pages: 565-576 Volume: 54 Issue: 12 Year: 2009 DOI: 10.17221/156/2009-VETMED File-URL: http://vetmed.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/156/2009-VETMED.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/vet-200912-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlvet:v:54:y:2009:i:12:id:156-2009-VETMED Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: B. Bezdekova Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: J. Futas Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic Title: Helicobacter species and gastric ulceration in horses: a clinical study Abstract: The goal of this study was to gather more clinical information about the relationship between Helicobacter species and gastric ulceration in horses. Twenty seven privately owned patients were selected for the clinical study. All horses were gastroscopically examined and biopsies were taken from the glandular mucosa. Stomach biopsies were examined using a PCR assay specific for Helicobacter pylori and/or Helicobacter equorum. In addition, faecal samples from thirteen horses were examined using a PCR assay specific for H. equorum. Twenty five horses (25/27; 93%) had lesions in their stomach. Gastric biopsies from twenty two horses were examined using the H. pylori specific PCR and the ure gene was detected in three of them (3/22; 14%). H. equorum DNA was not found in the stomach of any of the ten horses examined. H. equorum was diagnosed in only one faecal sample from the thirteen horses examined (1/13; 8%) and that case was not associated with gastric pathology. This study shows the possibility of sporadic detection of the ure gene in the equine stomach affected by mucosal ulceration. Keywords: EGUS, pyloric stenosis, PCR, Helicobacter pylori, Helicobacter equorum Journal: Veterinární medicína Pages: 577-582 Volume: 54 Issue: 12 Year: 2009 DOI: 10.17221/161/2009-VETMED File-URL: http://vetmed.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/161/2009-VETMED.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/vet-200912-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlvet:v:54:y:2009:i:12:id:161-2009-VETMED Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: M. Ruzauskas Author-Workplace-Name: Lithuanian Veterinary Academy, Kaunas, Lithuania Author-Name: R. Siugzdiniene Author-Workplace-Name: Lithuanian Veterinary Academy, Kaunas, Lithuania Author-Name: V. Spakauskas Author-Workplace-Name: Lithuanian Veterinary Academy, Kaunas, Lithuania Author-Name: J. Povilonis Author-Workplace-Name: Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania Author-Name: V. Seputiene Author-Workplace-Name: Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania Author-Name: E. Suziedeliene Author-Workplace-Name: Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania Author-Name: R. Daugelavicius Author-Workplace-Name: Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania Author-Name: A. Pavilonis Author-Workplace-Name: Kaunas University of Medicine, Kaunas, Lithuania Title: Susceptibility of bacteria of the Enterococcus genus isolated on Lithuanian poultry farms Abstract: The aim of this study was to test and analyse the antimicrobial susceptibility of Enterococcus isolates from Lithuanian poultry farms. Investigations were carried out during the years 2008-2009. The sampling sites, located all over the country, included eight poultry farms of large capacity. All samples were collected from broilers. Enterococcus spp. were isolated from intestines immediately after slaughtering. A total of 160 samples were collected, 20 samples from each farm. The MICs (Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations) of eleven antimicrobial agents were determined for each of the isolates using the broth microdilution method with specific microtitre plate panels (Trek Diagnostic Systems, Inc.). Susceptibility according to clinical breakpoints of chloramphenicol, linezolid, erythromycin, penicillin, quinupristin/dalfopristin, tetracycline, vancomycin, ciprofloxacin and nitrofurantoin was evaluated. One hundred and forty seven samples (92%) from a total of 160 tested samples were positive for Enterococcus spp., however, only 74 strains were selected as non-duplicate isolates. The most predominant species were identified as E. faecium (38%), E. faecalis (17.5%), E. gallinarum (12%) and E. casseliflavus (12%). The most frequent resistance properties were resistances to tetracycline (75.6%), erythromycin (56.8%) and ciprofloxacin (41.9%). No strains resistant to vancomycin and linezolid were found. High percentages of susceptibility to chloramphenicol (82.4%) and penicillin (71.6%) were also observed. A high MIC of tigecycline (≥ 1 mg/l) to 12.2% of enterococci was determined during this study. 44.6% of tested strains had a high MIC (≥ 64 mg/l) to tylosin. There was no significant correlation found between resistances of different species to different antimicrobial agents in vitro. Keywords: antibiotics, antimicrobial agents, clinical breakpoints, resistance, food safety Journal: Veterinární medicína Pages: 583-588 Volume: 54 Issue: 12 Year: 2009 DOI: 10.17221/44/2009-VETMED File-URL: http://vetmed.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/44/2009-VETMED.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/vet-200912-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlvet:v:54:y:2009:i:12:id:44-2009-VETMED Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: M.B. Arciszewski Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences, Lublin, Poland Author-Name: Z. Nowakowski Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences, Lublin, Poland Author-Name: K. Wasowicz Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Warmia and Mazury University, Olsztyn, Poland Author-Name: J. Calka Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Warmia and Mazury University, Olsztyn, Poland Title: Expression of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, substance P and neuropeptide Y in jejunal enteric nerves is altered in rabbits suffering from long term Trichinella spiralis infection: an immunohistochemical study Abstract: In the early intestinal stage of infection with the nematode Trichinella spiralis alterations in gut motility and chemical code of enteric neurons are observed. The present study was designed to characterize the changes in expression pattern of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), substance P (SP) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) in enteric nerves of the rabbit jejunum occurring during long-lasting trichinellosis (35 and 42 days). Sections of the jejunum from healthy and T. spiralis-infected rabbits were processed for double immunocytochemistry in which antibodies against protein gene product 9.5 were used as a pan-neuronal marker and mixed with antisera raised against VIP, SP or NPY. At 35 and 42 days post infection a marked decrease of VIP-, SP- and NPY-immunoreactive (IR) jejunal myenteric neurons was found, whereas the expression of these neuropeptides in submucous neurons was unchanged. In the myenteric plexus and the jejunal circular muscle of T. spiralis-infected rabbits a significant reduction of VIP-IR (but not SP-IR) nerve fibres was noted. In the longitudinal muscle of the jejunum from animals with long-lasting trichinellosis the density of SP-IR nerve terminals was decreased, whereas the number of VIP-containing nerve fibres was unchanged. Long-lasting trichinellosis had no influence on NPY-IR nerve fibres in both circular and longitudinal smooth muscles. The number of NPY-positive (but not VIP- and SP-IR) nerve fibres supplying mucosa and blood vessels was decreased in T. spiralis-infected animals. These data indicate that during long-lasting trichinellosis expression of neuropeptides in jejunal enteric neurons is changed. A possible involvement of VIP and SP in persistent intestinal dysmotility and NPY in altered fluid secretion is discussed. Keywords: neuropeptides, enteric nervous system, neuronal plasticity, trichinellosis, rabbit Journal: Veterinární medicína Pages: 589-597 Volume: 54 Issue: 12 Year: 2009 DOI: 10.17221/66/2009-VETMED File-URL: http://vetmed.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/66/2009-VETMED.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/vet-200912-0005.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlvet:v:54:y:2009:i:12:id:66-2009-VETMED Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: J. Pompe-Gotal Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia Author-Name: E. Srebocan Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia Author-Name: H. Gomercic Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia Author-Name: A. Prevendar Crnic Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia Title: Mercury concentrations in the tissues of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and striped dolphins (Stenella coeruloalba) stranded on the Croatian Adriatic coast Abstract: The concentrations of total mercury in muscle (17 samples), liver (16 samples) and kidney tissues (16 samples) of both bottlenose (Tursiops truncatus) and striped dolphins (Stenella coeruloalba) were analyzed by cold vapour atomic absorption (AA) spectroscopy. The dolphins were found dead at different locations along the east Adriatic over a 10-year period starting in 1990. In this study, the magnitude of mercury contamination of dolphins which are indicators of contamination of the Adriatic as well as the Mediterranean Sea was determined. Our results represent the first investigation of heavy metal concentrations in dolphins sampled along the Croatian coast of the Adriatic Sea. Total mercury levels were high, ranging from 1.51 to 136.7 mg/kg in muscle, from 2.04 to 143.1 in kidney and from 10.35 to 1 833 mg/kg in liver tissues (expressed as wet weight). These results were examined for differences based upon age and tissue type. A high correlation was observed between total mercury concentration and age, and adult dolphins (10 samples) contained statistically significant higher concentrations of mercury compared to juvenile (seven samples) dolphins. Mercury concentrations were generally the highest in liver tissue. The presence of high mercury levels in dolphins is attributed to natural as well as anthropogenic sources. Keywords: mercury, contamination, bottlenose dolphins, striped dolphins, Adriatic Sea Journal: Veterinární medicína Pages: 598-604 Volume: 54 Issue: 12 Year: 2009 DOI: 10.17221/3060-VETMED File-URL: http://vetmed.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/3060-VETMED.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/vet-200912-0006.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlvet:v:54:y:2009:i:12:id:3060-VETMED