Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: O. Cengiz Author-Workplace-Name: Veterinary Faculty, Adnan Menderes University, Aydin, Turkey Author-Name: B.H. Koksal Author-Workplace-Name: Veterinary Faculty, Adnan Menderes University, Aydin, Turkey Author-Name: O. Tatli Author-Workplace-Name: Veterinary Faculty, Adnan Menderes University, Aydin, Turkey Author-Name: O. Sevim Author-Workplace-Name: Veterinary Faculty, Adnan Menderes University, Aydin, Turkey Author-Name: H. Avci Author-Workplace-Name: Veterinary Faculty, Adnan Menderes University, Aydin, Turkey Author-Name: T. Epikmen Author-Workplace-Name: Veterinary Faculty, Adnan Menderes University, Aydin, Turkey Author-Name: D. Beyaz Author-Workplace-Name: Veterinary Faculty, Adnan Menderes University, Aydin, Turkey Author-Name: S. Buyukyoruk Author-Workplace-Name: Veterinary Faculty, Adnan Menderes University, Aydin, Turkey Author-Name: M. Boyacioglu Author-Workplace-Name: Veterinary Faculty, Adnan Menderes University, Aydin, Turkey Author-Name: A. Uner Author-Workplace-Name: Veterinary Faculty, Adnan Menderes University, Aydin, Turkey Author-Name: A.G. Onol Author-Workplace-Name: Veterinary Faculty, Adnan Menderes University, Aydin, Turkey Title: Influence of dietary organic acid blend supplementation and interaction with delayed feed access after hatch on broiler growth performance and intestinal health Abstract: A trial was conducted to investigate the effects of a dietary organic acid blend for a period of 35 days on the growth performance, intestinal histomorphology and microflora of male broiler chicks with delayed access to feed. One hundred and ninety two one day old broiler chicks (ROSS 308) were randomly distributed into 4 groups housed in four replicate pens with 12 birds in each. A 2 × 2 factorial design was implemented. Four experimental groups were formed by two levels of dietary organic acid blend supplementation (Control and Fysal Dry®) and two periods of delayed feed access (0 and 36 h). At 36 h after hatching body weight and body weight change of chicks were significantly (P < 0.001) lower than groups fed immediately after hatching. Delayed feed access had an adverse impact (P < 0.001) on the body weight and feed consumption of broiler chickens on days 14 and 28. Between the days 28 and 35 of the feeding period, these differences disappeared. The relative weight of gizzard (P < 0.05), pancreas (P < 0.01) on day 6 and intestine (P < 0.05) on day 10, and gizzard (P < 0.01) on day 10 were reduced in birds subjected to delayed feed access. Dietary organic acid blend inclusion increased villus length (P < 0.001), whereas delayed feed access decreased villus length (P < 0.05) and increased the incidence of epithelial degeneration and basal membrane separation of the propria mucosa of villus in the jejenum. A significant decrease in Enterobacteriaceae count (P < 0.01) was noted in organic acid blend supplemented groups on day 25. Pectoral muscle malondialdehyde levels were decreased (P < 0.01) with dietary organic acid blend supplementation at day 10. Delayed feed access significantly increased (P < 0.05) the heterophil:lymphocyte ratio at day 6. Overall, dietary organic acid blend supplementation helped broiler chicks to develop a healthier intestinal microflora and this may, in turn, inhibit the delayed feed access-induced increase in malondialdehyde in the early growing period. However, the inclusion of organic acid blend to broiler diets may not be a protective management practice in preventing delayed feed access-related growth depression of broiler chickens. Keywords: broiler, organic acid, delayed feed access, growth performance, intestinal health Journal: Veterinární medicína Pages: 515-528 Volume: 57 Issue: 10 Year: 2012 DOI: 10.17221/6363-VETMED File-URL: http://vetmed.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/6363-VETMED.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/vet-201210-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlvet:v:57:y:2012:i:10:id:6363-VETMED Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: K. Tamura Author-Workplace-Name: Aikouishida Animal Hospital, Kanagawa, Japan Author-Workplace-Name: Division of Veterinary Surgery, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Tokyo, Japan Author-Name: N. Nagashima Author-Workplace-Name: Aikouishida Animal Hospital, Kanagawa, Japan Author-Name: H. Oda Author-Workplace-Name: Aikouishida Animal Hospital, Kanagawa, Japan Author-Name: M. Kunimi Author-Workplace-Name: Aikouishida Animal Hospital, Kanagawa, Japan Author-Name: T. Itoi Author-Workplace-Name: Aikouishida Animal Hospital, Kanagawa, Japan Author-Name: M. Yasukawa Author-Workplace-Name: Aikouishida Animal Hospital, Kanagawa, Japan Author-Name: T. Miyata Author-Workplace-Name: Division of Veterinary Surgery, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Tokyo, Japan Author-Name: K. Terakado Author-Workplace-Name: Division of Veterinary Surgery, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Tokyo, Japan Author-Name: H. Takemitsu Author-Workplace-Name: Division of Veterinary Biochemistry, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Tokyo, Japan Title: Investigations into the lymphocyte phenotypes and the presence of rheumatoid factor and antinuclear antibody in the peripheral blood of 515 dogs Abstract: The levels of rheumatoid factor (RF), antinuclear antibody (ANA), and composition of peripheral lymphocyte subsets in 515 dogs were examined. Of these sample cases, 33 cases were diagnosed as immune-mediated fever that presented with high C-reactive protein (CRP), 31 cases were diagnosed with Hansen's Type 1 disc herniation and the remaining 415 cases were clinically healthy dogs, and served as controls. In the cases diagnosed with immune-mediated fever, 84% of the dogs tested positive to either RF or ANA (RF positive 60.6%; ANA positive 24.2%). By contrast, 16.2% of the healthy dogs were positive for either RF or ANA (RF positive 14.9%; ANA 1.3%). The CD4/CD8 ratio for peripheral lymphocyte was high for all analysed cases diagnosed with immune-mediated fever, and was significantly higher than those of healthy controls. These results indicate that the abnormal levels of lymphocytes may be an effective indicator for immune-mediated disease coupled to immune-mediated fever. Keywords: CD4+/CD8+ ratio, immune-mediated disease, herniated disc, canine, C-reactive protein, lymphocyte Journal: Veterinární medicína Pages: 529-535 Volume: 57 Issue: 10 Year: 2012 DOI: 10.17221/6364-VETMED File-URL: http://vetmed.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/6364-VETMED.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/vet-201210-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlvet:v:57:y:2012:i:10:id:6364-VETMED Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: G. Spinella Author-Workplace-Name: University of Catanzaro, Germaneto, Italy Author-Name: J.M. Vilar Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Gran Canaria, Spain Author-Name: C. Anastasi Author-Workplace-Name: Veterinary practitioner, Catanzara, Italy Author-Name: A. Santana Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Gran Canaria, Spain Author-Name: U. Prati Author-Workplace-Name: University of Catanzaro, Germaneto, Italy Author-Name: L. Roveda Author-Workplace-Name: University of Catanzaro, Germaneto, Italy Author-Name: G. Ricciardi Author-Workplace-Name: Veterinary Practitioner, Vicenza, Italy Author-Name: D. Britti Author-Workplace-Name: University of Catanzaro, Germaneto, Italy Title: Three combinations of clonidine in association with tiletamine-zolazepam for anaesthesia induction in rats: evaluation of reflexes and pain sensibility Abstract: The aim of this study was to assess the combination of tiletamine-zolazepam (Zoletil 20®) with three different doses of clonidine for general anaesthesia induction in rats submitted to vascular microsurgery. The evaluation of anaesthetic and analgesic effects was performed in 30 Wistar rats randomly divided into three groups and induced with Zoletil 20 [90 mg/kg Intraperitoneal (IP)] associated with three different doses of clonidine (60-90-120 μg/kg IP). Four clinical parameters were evaluated after induction: loss of righting reflex, voluntary movement, the pedal withdrawal response, and pain sensitivity tested by pinching the tail. The combination of Zoletil with 90 and 120 μg/kg of clonidine provided a surgical anaesthesia; however, 90 μg/kg of clonidine provided the most rapid anaesthesia induction, as confirmed by data obtained by clinical evaluation of the loss of the pedal withdrawal response and the absence of the tail pinch response. The increase in dose of clonidine did not lead to a more rapid action of the α2 agonist, probably due to achievement of a dose-dependent plateau. Keywords: anaesthesia induction, clonidine, reflex test, tiletamine-zolazepam, Winstar rats Journal: Veterinární medicína Pages: 536-542 Volume: 57 Issue: 10 Year: 2012 DOI: 10.17221/6365-VETMED File-URL: http://vetmed.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/6365-VETMED.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/vet-201210-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlvet:v:57:y:2012:i:10:id:6365-VETMED Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: L. Landa Author-Workplace-Name: University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: K. Slais Author-Workplace-Name: Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: A. Sulcova Author-Workplace-Name: Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic Title: The effect of memantine on behavioural sensitisation to methamphetamine in mice Abstract: After repeated administration the psychostimulant methamphetamine (Met) produces a substantial increase in behavioural responses, which is termed behavioural sensitisation. Many studies have reported that N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors play an important role in the development and expression of behavioural sensitisation. Memantine (Mem) is used particularly for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and acts as a non-competitive NMDA glutamate receptor antagonist, possessing a variety of psychotropic effects. For example, there are studies indicating that memantine prevents the expression of withdrawal symptoms in mice and causes reversal of opioid dependence. Although not all pharmacological mechanisms of memantine have been clarified yet, it is known that memantine inhibits NMDA receptor inward currents. Thus, the present study was designed to assess whether memantine would influence behavioural sensitisation to the stimulatory effects of methamphetamine on mouse locomotion. Mice were randomly allocated into four groups. They were given vehicle on Day 1of the experiment and after five days without application they were administered seven drug daily doses (i.p.) from Day 7 to Day 13 of the study, as follows: (a) n1, 2: 2.5 mg/kg/day of Met; (b) n3: combination Met + Mem at the doses of 2.5 mg/kg/day and 5 mg/kg/day, respectively; (c) n4: Mem at the dose of 5 mg/kg/day. On Day 14 mice were given the first "challenge treatment" (a) n1: Met, (b) n2: Met + Mem, (c) n3: Met, (d) n4: Mem. The second "challenge treatment" was given after a six day wash-out period on Day 21: (a) n1: Met, (b) n2: Met + Mem, (c) n3: Met, (d) n4: Mem. Changes in locomotion were measured for a period of 3 min in the Open field on Days 1, 7, 14 and 21 to assess the sensitising phenomenon. Met pre-treatment significantly sensitised to the effects of the challenge doses (n1). Mem given alone did not change the measured behavioural parameters after the acute dose but it significantly decreased locomotion after its repeated administration (n4). Repeated pre-treatment with the Met + Mem combination (n3) did not produce sensitisation after Met challenge doses and similarly, repeated pre-treatment with Met did not induce sensitisation after the challenge dose of Met + Mem (n2). Thus, our results suggest that the role of the NMDA receptor antagonist memantine in the development and expression of behavioural sensitisation to Met seems to be an inhibitory one. Keywords: behavioural sensitisation, methamphetamine, memantine, NMDA receptor antagonist, mice Journal: Veterinární medicína Pages: 543-550 Volume: 57 Issue: 10 Year: 2012 DOI: 10.17221/6366-VETMED File-URL: http://vetmed.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/6366-VETMED.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/vet-201210-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlvet:v:57:y:2012:i:10:id:6366-VETMED Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: K. Chroust Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: M. Vodnansky Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: J. Pikula Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic Title: Parasite load of European brown hares in Austria and the Czech Republic Abstract: The parasite load of brown hares (Lepus europaeus) is of great interest to hunting ground managers and veterinarians. We compared the prevalence and intensity of parasitic infections in 362 hares from Austria and the Czech Republic with respect to age and body weight. Samples of the entire gastrointestinal tract, liver and lungs were collected during autumn hunting events in 2007. The parasite spectrum of hares included Protostrongylus pulmonalis, Graphidium strigosum, Trichostrongylus retortaeformis, Trichuris leporis, Eimeria spp. and tapeworms. The most prevalent gastrointestinal nematode was Trichostrongylus retortaeformis, while only individual specimens of tapeworms such as Andrya rhopalocephala, Mosgovoyia pectinata, Cittotaenia denticulata and Ctenotaenia ctenoides were found in subadult hares. A single hare was infected with Cysticercus pisiformis in Austria. Lungworms Protostrongylus pulmonalis and findings of pneumonia were significantly less prevalent in subadult than adult hares (P < 0.01) from both countries and were much less prevalent overall in the Czech Republic (P < 0.01). Graphidium strigosum, Trichostrongylus retortaeformis, Eimeria spp. and enteritis were more prevalent in subadult hares. The nematode Trichuris leporis, on the other hand, prevailed in adults. The body weight of adult hares was negatively correlated with the intensity of infection by Protostrongylus pulmonalis (r = -0.67) and Trichostrongylus retortaeformis (r = -0.73) and the parasite loads served as significant weight predictors in multiple regression equations. This study revealed that parasitic infections of the lungs and intestines influences the health and decreases the body weight of hares in Austrian and Czech hunting grounds. Keywords: Lepus europaeus, gastrointestinal parasites, lungworms, coccidia, body weight Journal: Veterinární medicína Pages: 551-558 Volume: 57 Issue: 10 Year: 2012 DOI: 10.17221/6367-VETMED File-URL: http://vetmed.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/6367-VETMED.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/vet-201210-0005.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlvet:v:57:y:2012:i:10:id:6367-VETMED Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: A. Erdemir Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, Yildiz Technical University, Davutpasa Campus, Istanbul, Turkey Author-Name: M. Aktas Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Firat University, Department of Parasitology, Elazig, Turkey Author-Name: N. Dumanli Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Firat University, Department of Parasitology, Elazig, Turkey Author-Name: D. Turgut-Balik Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, Yildiz Technical University, Davutpasa Campus, Istanbul, Turkey Title: Isolation, cloning and sequence analysis of lactate dehydrogenase gene from Theileria annulata may lead to design of new antitheilerial drugs Abstract: Theileriosis is a serious animal disease that is transmitted by ticks. Theileria species are tick-borne obligate intracellular protozoan parasites that cause severe and mild infections in their hosts. Two of them, Theileria annulata and Theileria parva, cause lymphoproliferative disease with high mortality and morbidity in cattle commonly known as tropical theileriosis and East Coast fever, respectively. Currently available antiparasitic drugs are effective in animals but animals may remain carriers and treatment is most effective in the early stages of the disease. The isolation, cloning and analysis of lactate dehydrogenase from T. annulata was the goal of the present study with the ultimate aim of designing new antiparasitic drugs that will hopefully have a wider mode of action in animals. Blood samples were taken from a four year-old Brown Swiss cow showing signs of acute tropical theileriosis and genomic DNA was extracted following the confirmation of the clinical diagnosis. For the first time, in this study, the lactate dehydrogenase sequence was isolated from from a Theileria species. Following extraction from genomic DNA by PCR the sequence was cloned into the vector pGEM-T easy. Sequencing of the whole gene from both directions indicated that the open reading frame was interrupted by two introns. Several single nucleotide exchanges, deletions and insertions were also observed in the T. annulata lactate dehydrogenase sequence compared to the host. The most remarkable difference between the parasite and host enzyme is a five residue insertion in the active site loop region that might be an attractive target for inhibitors of the enzyme. This study opens a new route to further kinetic and structural studies towards the development of novel inhibitors of T. annulata lactate dehydrogenase. Keywords: Theileria annulata, theileriosis, antitheilerials, lactate dehydrogenase, gene cloning Journal: Veterinární medicína Pages: 559-567 Volume: 57 Issue: 10 Year: 2012 DOI: 10.17221/6368-VETMED File-URL: http://vetmed.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/6368-VETMED.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/vet-201210-0006.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlvet:v:57:y:2012:i:10:id:6368-VETMED