Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: E. Bartova Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: K. Sedlak Author-Workplace-Name: State Veterinary Institute, Prague, Czech Republic Title: Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum antibodies in goats in the Czech Republic Abstract: Toxoplasma gondii is zoonotic protozoan parasite that causes infections in many vertebrate species. The present study determined the seroprevalence of T. gondii and N. caninum in goats from the Czech Republic. Serum samples were collected from 251 healthy adult goats in the Czech Republic during the years 2006 to 2009. Sera samples were tested for serum antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with cut off equal to or higher than 50% S/P. The same samples were tested for serum antibodies to Neospora caninum by a competitive-inhibition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with cut off equal to or higher than 30% inhibition; positive sera were confirmed by an indirect fluorescent antibody test with cut-off titre equal to or higher than 40. Sera positive in both tests were marked as positive. In total, 166 (66%) and 15 (6%) goat sera reacted positively for T. gondii and N. caninum antibodies, respectively. All sera positive for N. caninum antibodies were simultaneously positive for T. gondii antibodies. This is the first detection of N. caninum antibodies in goats in the Czech Republic. Our findings indicate that goats in the Czech Republic are frequently exposed to T. gondii, but less frequently to N. caninum. Keywords: neosporosis, toxoplasmosis, Capra aegagrus, serological survey, ELISA Journal: Veterinární medicína Pages: 111-114 Volume: 57 Issue: 3 Year: 2012 DOI: 10.17221/5850-VETMED File-URL: http://vetmed.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/5850-VETMED.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/vet-201203-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlvet:v:57:y:2012:i:3:id:5850-VETMED Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: E. Kosinova Author-Workplace-Name: Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: J. Bendova Author-Workplace-Name: Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: P. Vasickova Author-Workplace-Name: Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: R. Smitalova Author-Workplace-Name: Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: J. Prodelalova Author-Workplace-Name: Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic Title: The prevalence of hepatitis E virus in piglets on Czech pig production farms and phylogenetic analysis of recovered isolates Abstract: The aim of our study was to determine the prevalence of hepatitis E virus (HEV) in domestic pigs and to investigate the genetic divergence of swine HEV in the Czech Republic. To this end, a one-step real time RT-PCR assay was introduced as a screening method while nested RT-PCR was used as an additional method to obtain specific sequences from the HEV genome and thus to perform sequence analysis. A total of 63 piglets originating from 14 farms were examined. Bile and intestinal contents were collected from each animal. At least one HEV RNA positive piglet was found in ten (71.4%) of the monitored farms. HEV RNA was most frequently detected in bile samples (34.9%) compared to intestinal content samples (22.2%). In nine piglets (14.3%), both biological samples were HEV RNA-positive. Based on these results sequence and phylogenetic analysis of one randomly selected HEV isolate originating from each HEV RNA-positive farm was performed. Analysis of 287 bp PCR products of the ORF1 gene showed that all the studied HEV isolates could be classified into genotype 3 and subgenotypes 3f and 3g. The failure to find any 100% homology between our isolates and HEV isolates deposited in the GenBank confirms the significant variability within the HEV genome. Keywords: swine hepatitis E virus, real time RT-PCR, nested RT-PCR, genotype 3 Journal: Veterinární medicína Pages: 115-120 Volume: 57 Issue: 3 Year: 2012 DOI: 10.17221/5858-VETMED File-URL: http://vetmed.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/5858-VETMED.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/vet-201203-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlvet:v:57:y:2012:i:3:id:5858-VETMED Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: F.K. Mohammad Author-Workplace-Name: College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Mosul, Mosul, Iraq Author-Name: A.S. Mansoor Author-Workplace-Name: College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Mosul, Mosul, Iraq Author-Name: M.H.I. Al-Zubaidy Author-Workplace-Name: College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Mosul, Mosul, Iraq Title: Comparative single intraperitoneal dose pharmacokinetics of aspirin and acetaminophen in chicks Abstract: Limited information is available on the pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of aspirin and acetaminophen in young chicks. The purpose of the present study was to examine the pharmacokinetics of acetyl salicylic acid (aspirin) and acetaminophen in 12-day old chicks after a single intraperitoneal administration of each drug alone at the dose of 100 mg/kg body weight. Blood samples were collected from chicks (six/each time period) at 10, 20, 30, 60 and 120 min after each drug administration. The concentrations of aspirin and acetaminophen in the plasma were determined by spectrophotometric methods. The pharmacokinetic parameters of the drugs were calculated by a non-compartmental analysis. The elimination half-lives of aspirin and acetaminophen were 1.68 and 1.36 h with steady state volume of distributions 0.079 and 1.11 l/kg and total body clearances of 0.029 and 0.53 l/h/kg, respectively. The mean residence times of the drugs were 2.74 and 2.09 h and their area under the plasma concentration-time curves (0-∞) were 3486 and 188 μg/h/ml, respectively. In conclusion, the data show the pharmacokinetic profiles of single intraperitoneal doses of aspirin and acetaminophen in chicks and suggest that acetaminophen is well distributed in the body of the chicks and eliminated faster from the body compared to aspirin. These parameters should be taken into consideration in further therapeutic and toxicological studies of drugs in chickens. Keywords: aspirin, acetaminophen, pharmacokinetics, chicken, bioavailability Journal: Veterinární medicína Pages: 121-124 Volume: 57 Issue: 3 Year: 2012 DOI: 10.17221/5851-VETMED File-URL: http://vetmed.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/5851-VETMED.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/vet-201203-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlvet:v:57:y:2012:i:3:id:5851-VETMED Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: D. Lobova Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary and Pharmaceutical University, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Workplace-Name: CEITEC - Central European Institute of Technology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: L. Kohoutova Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary and Pharmaceutical University, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: D. Molinkova Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary and Pharmaceutical University, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: K. Rosenbergova Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary and Pharmaceutical University, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: O. Kubicek Author-Workplace-Name: National Institute for Nuclear, Chemical and Biological Protection, Kamenna, Czech Republic Author-Name: V. Celer Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary and Pharmaceutical University, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Workplace-Name: CEITEC - Central European Institute of Technology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic Title: Prevalence of etiological agents of selected respiratory infections in chicken and turkey farms in the Czech Republic Abstract: The causative agents of respiratory diseases of turkeys represent, primarily in fattening farms, a substantial risk of economic and breeding problems. The purpose of this communication is to provide information on the prevalence of respiratory agents of turkeys and chickens in several fattening and production farms in Southern Moravia. This study was focused on pathogens causing bacterial diseases such as Ornithobacteriosis and Mycoplasmosis, as well as viral rhinotracheitis and laryngotracheitis of poultry. The laboratory diagnosis of these diseases has been performed in our institute since January 2008. We examined 249 samples of turkeys and chickens from a single rearing house and six fattening farms in Southern Moravia. The samples were examined using the PCR or RT-PCR method. The typing of isolates of Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale was done using the M13 fingerprinting method. We established the prevalence of pathogens such as Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale (ORT), Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG), Mycoplasma synoviae (MS), avian metapneumovirus (aMPV) and laryngotracheitis virus (ILT) in selected farms. Keywords: respiratory pathogens, turkey, polymerase chain reaction Journal: Veterinární medicína Pages: 125-132 Volume: 57 Issue: 3 Year: 2012 DOI: 10.17221/5852-VETMED File-URL: http://vetmed.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/5852-VETMED.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/vet-201203-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlvet:v:57:y:2012:i:3:id:5852-VETMED Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: P. Prinosilova Author-Workplace-Name: Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: R. Rybar Author-Workplace-Name: Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: A. Zajicova Author-Workplace-Name: Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: J. Hlavicova Author-Workplace-Name: Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic Title: DNA integrity in fresh, chilled and frozen-thawed canine spermatozoa Abstract: Sperm chromatin status in fresh dog semen and the effect of long-term storage of chilled and frozen dog semen on sperm chromatin integrity was assessed by the sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA). In the first experiment, the chromatin integrity of fresh semen from 60 dogs with differing histories of fertility was compared with other sperm parameters (total sperm count, sperm motility, viability, acrosomal integrity and sperm morphology). Except for 15 dogs that had never mated before, all were used in breeding as semen donors. Thirty-three of them were successful breeding males while in 12 repeated fertility problems were noted. Ejaculates were assigned to groups with good and poor quality, based on determined sperm motility and percentage of morphologically normal sperm. In the second experiment, chromatin status was measured in fresh and chilled spermatozoa (on day 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 of storage). Finally, in the third experiment, the chromatin status was measured in fresh and cryopreserved spermatozoa. Evaluating fresh dog semen, we observed that DNA fragmentation index (DFI) and percentage of cells with high DNA stainability (HDS) negatively correlated with total sperm count, percentage of total and progressively motile spermatozoa, sperm viability and percentage of morphologically normal spermatozoa, even with rather low correlation indices. Lower chromatin integrity was found in the group of dog ejaculates showing poor quality in comparison with the group of good quality ejaculates. All dogs with repeated fertility problems were classed in the group showing poor quality, and even though their DFI was significantly higher than the DFI of successful breeding males, the highest DFI we obtained was only just below 9%. We can assume that the chromatin damage level in any of the evaluated dogs was not high enough to have a significant effect on their fertility. Concerning the potential cause of reduced male fertility, the assessment of chromatin integrity in fresh dog ejaculates failed to add any additional information to the results obtained by other techniques of semen analysis. Thus, the current study indicates that neither 10-day preservation of canine sperm chilled in commercial extenders nor long-term cryopreservation in extenders recommended for canine sperm preservation produce adverse effects on sperm chromatin integrity. Keywords: dog, DNA fragmentation index, sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA), cryopreservation, chilled semen Journal: Veterinární medicína Pages: 133-142 Volume: 57 Issue: 3 Year: 2012 DOI: 10.17221/5853-VETMED File-URL: http://vetmed.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/5853-VETMED.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/vet-201203-0005.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlvet:v:57:y:2012:i:3:id:5853-VETMED Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: J. Kummel Author-Workplace-Name: Clinic for Ruminants, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria Author-Name: R. Krametter-Froetscher Author-Workplace-Name: Clinic for Ruminants, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria Author-Name: G. Six Author-Workplace-Name: Kapuzinergasse 9/2, A-3340 Waidhofen/Ybbs Author-Name: R. Brunthaler Author-Workplace-Name: Clinic for Ruminants, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria Author-Name: W. Baumgartner Author-Workplace-Name: Clinic for Ruminants, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria Author-Name: B. Altenbrunner-Martinek Author-Workplace-Name: Clinic for Ruminants, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria Title: Descriptive study of botulism in an Austrian dairy herd: a case report Abstract: An outbreak of botulism was suspected at an Austrian dairy farm in June 2010. Six Simmental cows, out of a herd of 29, were affected and showed the typical signs. The affected cows included either animals suffering from sudden recumbency and reduced tongue tone or others which developed paresis, which gradually led to recumbency. Most of the affected animals died. Two cases were submitted to the Clinic for Ruminants at the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna in order to clarify the cause of illness. The animals had reportedly been fed recently with silage possibly polluted by discarded cat carcasses spread onto the pasture used for the silage in question. The two referred cases both showed recumbency and swallowing difficulties. Both cows had to be euthanized. One of the two cows was in the late stage of pregnancy and a healthy calf could be delivered by Caesarean section. The outbreak of botulism was diagnosed clinically as well as by confirmation of Clostridium botulinum neurotoxins C and D by mouse bioassay. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report in which a live calf has been delivered out of a cow suffering from acute botulism. Keywords: botulism, herd case, flaccid tongue, recumbency, mouse bioassay Journal: Veterinární medicína Pages: 143-149 Volume: 57 Issue: 3 Year: 2012 DOI: 10.17221/5854-VETMED File-URL: http://vetmed.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/5854-VETMED.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/vet-201203-0006.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlvet:v:57:y:2012:i:3:id:5854-VETMED Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: F. Jelinek Author-Workplace-Name: Veterinary Histopathological Laboratory, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: F. Hozmanova Author-Workplace-Name: Veterinary Clinic Erika, Prague, Czech Republic Title: Lymphoma of the trachea in a cat: a case report Abstract: Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the trachea was diagnosed in a 14-year-old domestic shorthaired cat suffering from dyspnoea. X-ray examination revealed marked stenosis of the lumen in the thoracic segment of the trachea. Post-mortem examination of the trachea disclosed two formations. The larger, visible in the radiograph, was formed by thickened tracheal wall. The smaller one was of crest appearance and was located in the cranial segment of the trachea, immediately behind the larynx. The tumour was characterised by immunohistochemical positivity to CD79αcy epitope in the neoplastic cells. Keywords: airways, neoplasia, cat, clinic, pathology Journal: Veterinární medicína Pages: 150-153 Volume: 57 Issue: 3 Year: 2012 DOI: 10.17221/5855-VETMED File-URL: http://vetmed.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/5855-VETMED.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/vet-201203-0007.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlvet:v:57:y:2012:i:3:id:5855-VETMED Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: D. Klein Author-Workplace-Name: Clinic for Ruminants, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria Author-Name: H. Prosl Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria Author-Name: D. Thaller Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Pathology and Forensic Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria Author-Name: M. Floeck Author-Workplace-Name: Clinic for Ruminants, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria Title: Diagnosis of a Dicrocoelium dendriticum infection in New World Camelids: a case report Abstract: Dicrocoelium dendriticum plays an important role in New World Camelids as infected animals may suffer from severe clinical symptoms even leading to death of the animals. Intra vitam diagnosis may be difficult as clinical signs are atypical and Dicrocoelium eggs are shed only intermittently in faeces. The aim of this paper is to present four clinical cases of dicrocoeliosis in lamas as well as three asymptomatic infected animals to support the veterinarian in practice to diagnose infections. Furthermore, it is the first time that ultrasonographic examinations are described in this context. All seven lamas had been admitted to the Clinic for Ruminants at the University for Veterinary Medicine in Vienna. None of the animals had a history of D. dendriticum infection. The ultrasonographic examination of the liver revealed in all diseased animals as well as in two asymptomatic lamas hyperechoic areas representing calcified bile ducts typical for an infection with liver flukes. These findings together with blood examination of liver enzymes and parasitological examination may lead to the intra vitam diagnosis of dicrocoeliosis in lamas and alpacas. With an early diagnosis, the therapy of Dicrocoelium spp. could become more effective and the number of animals rescued may be increased. Keywords: lama, liver fluke, ultrasound Journal: Veterinární medicína Pages: 154-162 Volume: 57 Issue: 3 Year: 2012 DOI: 10.17221/5856-VETMED File-URL: http://vetmed.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/5856-VETMED.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/vet-201203-0008.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlvet:v:57:y:2012:i:3:id:5856-VETMED Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: M. Skoric Author-Workplace-Name: University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: V. Mrlik Author-Workplace-Name: Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: J. Svobodova Author-Workplace-Name: Regional Institute of Public Health, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: V. Beran Author-Workplace-Name: Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: M. Slany Author-Workplace-Name: Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: P. Fictum Author-Workplace-Name: University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: J. Pokorny Author-Workplace-Name: Veterinary Office StarVet, Stary Plzenec, Czech Republic Author-Name: I. Pavlik Author-Workplace-Name: Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic Title: Infection in a female Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) caused by Mycobacterium intracellulare: a case report Abstract: In early 2002, a bean-like whitish nodule 2 × 1 × 1 cm in size was diagnosed on the tongue of a female Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) kept in a zoological garden in the Czech Republic. The nodule was removed at surgery and histopathological examination revealed a specific granulomatous inflammation. The granuloma contained a necrotic mass surrounded by a variable layer of palisading epithelioid macrophages and multinucleated giant cells with a variable admixture of lymphocytes and plasma cells. Signs of mineralisation within the granuloma were not observed. Using Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) staining the presence of acid-fast rods (AFR) was determined and the presence of mycobacteria was confirmed by PCR. Four years later, this female died after multiple injuries caused by a male during mating. Necropsy and histopathological examinations revealed granulomatous pneumonia and myocarditis with ZN-positive AFR within granulomas. Mycobacteria were cultured from 13 of 19 tissue samples: Mycobacterium intracellulare was confirmed by sequencing of isolates from multiple affected organs including the respiratory tract, tail muscle, inguinal lymph nodes and blood; Mycobacterium sp. were also isolated from the tongue. In addition, mycobacteria were detected in 15 (46.9%) of 32 environmental samples examined in both years. M. intracellulare was detected in water sediment from the female's terrarium in 2002, and in faeces and peat from the terrarium and in water sediment from the male terrarium in 2006. Except for M. intracellulare (n = 4), M. smegmatis (n = 1), M. a. hominissuis (n = 3), M. fortuitum (n = 2), M. interjectum (n = 1), M. peregrinum/alvei/septicum (n = 1) and Mycobacterium sp. (n = 2) were also isolated from different environmental samples. Keywords: granuloma, reptile, Mycobacterium avium complex, potentially pathogenic mycobacteria, zoonosis Journal: Veterinární medicína Pages: 163-168 Volume: 57 Issue: 3 Year: 2012 DOI: 10.17221/5857-VETMED File-URL: http://vetmed.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/5857-VETMED.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/vet-201203-0009.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlvet:v:57:y:2012:i:3:id:5857-VETMED