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The food industry in Mexico is a precarious sector and lags behind other manufacturing industries, it is made up mainly of small and medium-sized enterprises. Its importance in the food assurance of the country requires strategic monitoring of the yield and efficiency variables that allow successful interventions to improve results. Commonly, the efficiency in the agriculture sector is evaluated as a one-stage data envelopment analysis (DEA) process using a specific set of variables. In this article, we applied a two-stage process to evaluate the efficiency in the Mexican food industry. The first stage evaluates the efficiency of the production, whereas the second stage evaluates the efficiency of investments in the sector. The process is demonstrated on a sample of 1 672 Mexican municipalities using data from 2014 and 2019 Census. The results indicate a growth in production efficiency with significant differences between regions. Moreover, the results also revealed very low investment efficiency in the whole food sector with a negative tendency.

In the present study, the foam mat drying technique was used to dry pasta sauce based on tomato to become powder. The effect of different egg white concentrations (3, 6, and 9%) and whipping time (2 min and 5 min) on the foam properties of pasta sauce, including foam density, foam expansion, foam viscosity, water activity, morphological and drying behaviour, were investigated. The foamed sauce was dried in a batch-type thin-layer dryer at constant conditions (temperature of 60 °C). Six thin-layer drying models were employed to determine the drying kinetics of the pasta sauce. The results showed that an increase in the egg white concentration and a decrease in the whipping time produced a foamed sauce with low foam density and viscosity and high foam expansion. The Wang and Singh model was the best model to describe the drying behaviour of foamed sauce. According to Fick's second law model, the effective moisture diffusivity of the pasta sauce ranged from 4.95 × 10^-7 to 10.04 × 10^-7 m² s^-1.

The aim of the paper was to seek optimum conditions of extrusion cooking and follow-up processing to produce high-quality tortillas with good sensory properties. Sixteen samples of maize flour were prepared by extrusion with and without alkaline treatment. The extrudate diameters depended primarily on the moisture content of the premix and the temperature in the extruder. Alkaline treatment with calcium hydroxide [Ca(OH)₂] had a strong effect on water absorption index (WAI), water solubility index (WSI), pH, and colour of the extrudates. Besides, WAI was influenced by the moisture of the premix and by the temperature in the second zone of the extruder. Soluble dietary fibre (SDF) in the samples with the addition of Ca(OH)₂ increased more than in the samples without alkaline treatment. In addition, a higher screw speed influenced SDF. The texture of the tortillas was very dependent on the addition of Ca(OH)₂, on the moisture of the premix and the temperature in the second zone of the extruder.

Honey is a complex and variable mixture that contains more than 180 biochemical compounds from various molecule families. This mixture is obtained after processing the nectar out of plant food sources at the level of the bee abdomen. The bioactive components found in this natural product are in charge of its antimicrobial properties. Honey is used for its antibacterial actions against Gram-positive (Gram+) and Gram-negative (Gram-) bacteria, its anti-fungal and antimycotic actions against moulds and yeasts, along with its protozoal and antiviral activities. This literature review outlines the natural antimicrobial potential of honey; it explains the factors responsible for this potential and spells out their mechanisms of action. Osmotic pressure, water activity, the acid content of honey, presence of bioactive compounds like hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), phenolic acids, flavonoids, methylglyoxal (MGO), defensin-1, lysozyme, volatile compounds as well as antibacterial products secreted from the lactic bacteria that are behind this antimicrobial activity. This potential basically depends on the biological activities of the initially harvested floral source, its geographical origin, season, storage conditions, honey age, health of bee colonies and suitable beekeeping practices.

This research has investigated the physical properties (volume expansion, texture) and microstructure of 'kemplang Palembang', traditional fish puffed crackers from Indonesia which were puffed using the microwave-oven method. The microwave-oven method was designed by the factorial randomised block design (FRBD) which contains egg addition as factors (A1 - control; A2 - egg yolk; A3 - egg white and egg yolk) and moisture factors (B1 - 7.5 ± 1%; B2 - 13.5 ± 1%). The results revealed that the egg addition and moisture were significant (P < 0.05) to the volume expansion and texture. Meanwhile, the microstructure of kemplang Palembang was evidenced by 3D visual analysis using the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) technique. The microstructural analysis by SEM showed that the porosity caused a significant change in volume expansion and texture. The results suggest the feasibility of adding eggs and moisture 13.5 ± 1% (A1B2 treatment) for proper volume expansion (523%), texture [156.2 gram-force (gf)], and microstructure.

This study presented the effects of different pectinase maceration pre-treatments on the basic chemical properties, the content of 13 phenolic compounds, and their sensory evaluation of raspberry juice and wine made from Polka and Heritage cultivars. Thermo pectinase maceration significantly (P < 0.05) increased phenolic amounts, turbidity, and colour intensity in raspberry juice samples. But from juice to wine, the least reduction of phenolic amounts, turbidity, and colour intensity occurred in cold maceration (CM) treatments. In addition, the highest amount of phenolic compounds, the lowest turbidity, and the highest sensory scores were found in CM final wines from the Heritage cultivar. The study showed CM treatment was the most efficient pre-treatment maceration method for raspberry winemaking for its better phenolic maintenance and colour stability, and the Heritage cultivar was more suitable for winemaking than Polka for its higher phenolic content and lower turbidity.

Oxidative stress is associated with retarded growth and the initiation and progression of diseases in pigs. The carboxymethylation of chito-oligosaccharide (COS) can improve its antioxidant activity for such issues. Herein, an orthogonal experiment L9 (3⁴) test design was used to optimise the preparation conditions of carboxymethyl (CM)-COS. Fourier-transform infrared analysis evidenced the carboxymethylation of COS, and an in vitro study indicated that the hydroxyl radical scavenging ability of CM-COS is superior to that of COS. CM-COS can also better promote the absorption of cysteine and increase the expression of the amino acid transport system b^0,+ in intestinal porcine epithelial cells. The results suggested that CM-COS can effectively resist oxidative damage by promoting cysteine absorption mediated by transport system b^0,+, which provides important information regarding the antioxidative damage application of COS and CM-COS in the pig farming industry.

Leptospirosis is a widespread infection among pigs throughout the world. In most cases in Ukraine, only the microscopic agglutination test (MAT) is used for the diagnosis of leptospirosis in animals. In general, during the period of 2001-2019, 2 381 163 samples of blood sera from swine were tested in our country and 85 338 positive reactions were received, which is 3.58% [binomial confidence intervals (BCI), 3.56-3.61%]. It was established that the serovars copenhageni - 33.91% (BCI, 33.59-34.23%), bratislava - 14.14% (BCI, 13.90-14.37%), pomona - 8.58% (BCI, 8.39-8.77%), and tarassovi - 7.12% (BCI, 6.95-7.30%) play a leading role in the aetiological structure of swine leptospirosis. A large number of positive reactions to several serovars was observed - 29.78% (BCI, 29.47-30.09%) of the total number of positive cases. In addition, the article presents data according to a retrospective analysis of the eight serovars circulating among pigs in Ukraine. Thus, during the nineteen year period, there was a decrease in the number of positive reactions to bratislava, pomona, and tarassovi and an increase in the number of positive reactions to copenhageni, polonica, and kabura. Mapping Ukraine's territory for leptospirosis among pigs was carried out. This allows one to identify zones with a risk of leptospirosis infections among swine. The maps show that the highest incidence rates were identified in the eastern and central parts of Ukraine.

The clinical, electroencephalographic and neuro-pathological features of three cases (cases 1, 2 and 3) of congenital hydrocephalus in sheep were described. The observed neurological signs reflected damage in the telencephalon and brain stem. The electroencephalogram performed in case 1 and case 2 showed different patterns: symmetric and synchronous high-voltage slow-activity in case 1, and low-voltage slow-activity in case 2. By the post-mortem examination, in all the animals, dilatation of the ventricular system, especially of the lateral ventricles, associated with a glial reaction surrounding the dilated ventricles was observed. Only in case 3, a monolateral meningeal thickening at the left cerebellopontine angle seemed to be responsible for the obstructive hydrocephalus. In the other two brains (case 1 and 2), no potential anatomical cause for the hydrocephalus were detected, even if, in case 2, a compensatory form was not excluded due to the moderate hypoplasia of the cerebrum and the presence of the non-suppurative inflammation. The results of this work provide a contribution to the EEG characterisation in ovine hydrocephalus cases; nevertheless further multidisciplinary studies of a larger number of sheep could permit to better characterise the EEG pattern in ovine hydrocephalus cases.

Electromyography (EMG) is a sophisticated electrodiagnostic-neurophysiological method, which serves to diagnose neuromuscular system diseases. It is based on the measurement of the electrical potentials created by the skeletal muscle activity. For this technique, surface electrodes and needle electrodes can be used, which read the action potential of a large number of motor units and read a small number of motor units, respectively. The wide-spectrum application of this method extends our diagnostic possibilities of the clinical examination in veterinary practice. Together with a clinical neurological examination and imaging methods, EMG forms a part of the diagnosis of nervous system diseases and it is a useful diagnostic technique for differentiating neuropathies, junctionopathies, and myopathies. The results of the neurophysiological examination inform us about the functional state of the peripheral and central nervous system; it can demonstrate subclinical diseases and monitor the dynamics of changes in the functional state of individual nervous systems over time. In this article, we review the electromyographic method and its use in veterinary practice.

Streptococcus uberis is one of the most important mastitis-causing pathogens. Although the pathogenesis and virulence factors required for the intramammary infection development are not yet well established, several putative virulence-associated genes have been described. This work aimed to investigate the presence of ten known and putative virulence-associated genes in S. uberis isolated from subclinical or clinical mastitis and its closely related species Streptococcus parauberis in 135 dairy farms in the Czech Republic. The PCR analysis detected that all the examined isolates possessed at least four virulence genes and most isolates carried eight out of ten virulence genes. All S. uberis isolates were positive for the oppF, gapC and sua genes. Among the most prevalent virulence-associated genes skc (98%) and pauA (97%) were also found. The hasA and hasB genes were always present together in 94% of the isolates. The genes cfu and lbp were detected in 6% and 2%, respectively. In the S. uberis isolates, 14 different virulence gene profiles were observed. The most frequent profile was hasA⁺ hasB⁺ sua⁺ skc⁺ pauA⁺ gapC⁺ oppF with variable hasC, observed in 86% of the tested isolates, occurring in 127 out of 135 farms. S. parauberis was identified very sporadically and, although it is closely related to S. uberis, only a rare occurrence of the examined virulence-associated genes was found.

A two-month-old, male intact, mixed-breed cat weighing 0.6 kg was presented with respiratory distress and anorexia. From the transthoracic echocardiographic, reduced fractional shortening (FS) and increased endocardial echogenicity were recognised with severe congestive heart failure (CHF). The kitten was administered an antibiotic and pimobendane under oxygen supplementation in an ICU cage. However, the respiratory condition worsened and the cat died the next day, and the subsequent necropsy and histopathology examinations confirmed endocardial fibroelastosis (EFE). There is a lack of information regarding the antemortem cardiac function evaluated by tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) in EFE cases. We report on the echocardiographic findings including the TDI in the EFE cat with a concomitant necropsy and histopathology confirmation in this paper. The echocardiographic findings showed presence of a ventricular false tendon within the left ventricle, a decrease in the left ventricular contractility (FS 11.1%, and a marked CHF). In this case, the echocardiographic findings were consistent with the human counterpart. However, these findings were like those of dilated cardiomyopathy and, hence, non-specific to EFE. As a result, veterinarians should keep in mind that endocardial fibroelastosis might be a possible reason for respiratory distress resulting from CHF with a low fractional shortening in young cats.

In recent years, artificial neural networks have become the subject of intensive research in a number of scientific areas. The high performance and operational speed of neural models open up a wide spectrum of applications in various areas of life sciences. Objectives pursued by many scientists, who use neural modelling in their research, focus - among others - on intensifying real-time calculations. This study shows the possibility of using Multilayer-Perceptron (MLP) and Radial Basis Function (RBF) models of artificial neural networks for the future development of new methods for animal science. The process should be explained explicitly to make the MLP and RBF models more readily accepted by more researchers. This study describes and recommends certain models as well as uses forecasting methods, which are represented by the chosen neural network topologies, in particular MLP and RBF models for more successful operations in the field of animals sciences.

Fifty-five healthy conscious dogs were included in a prospective randomised double-blinded clinical study. The dogs allocated to one of four groups received intravenous bolus followed by infusion of fentanyl (FEN-group), or ketamine (KET-group), or lidocaine (LID-group), or saline (SAL-group). The intraocular pressure (IOP), pupil size (PS), heart rate (HR) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were measured prior to and at 2, 5, 10, 20 and 30 min after initiation of the drug administration. The data were analysed using an analysis of variance and the Steel-Dwass test. No significant difference in the IOP within or between the groups was detected. In the FEN-group, the PS decreased significantly at all the measured times. In the KET-group, the PS increased significantly at 2, 5 and 10 minutes. The PS was significantly smaller in the FEN-group compared to the KET-group at 2, 5, 10 and 20 min, compared to the SAL-group at 5, 10, 20 and 30 minutes. In the FEN-group the HR significantly decreased compared to the baseline and was significantly lower compared to the KET-group and LID-group. Fentanyl, ketamine or lidocaine administered at the doses studied as a bolus followed by a 30-min infusion seem to cause no effect on the IOP in healthy conscious non-painful dogs without ocular abnormalities. Fentanyl decreased and ketamine transiently increased the PS.

We investigated the effect of an albumin infusion on the enzyme activity, expression level of cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1), and oxidative stress in the serum and liver of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. The STZ treatment enhanced the alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase activities in the rat serum compared with those in the untreated rats. Treatment with STZ elevated the expression and catalytic activity of CYP2E1, and the oxidative stress, and decreased the reducing potentials in the liver, suggesting the possibility of diabetes-induced liver injury. Moreover, the antioxidant activity of the serum albumin decreased in the diabetic rats. In contrast, the administration of purified albumin from the intact rats to the diabetic rats restored these deleterious liver indices in an albumin concentration-dependent manner. These results suggest that an exogenous albumin infusion alleviates liver damage induced by type 1 diabetes.

A case of a nine-year-old, intact female, American Bulldog with a heart mass is described. Echocardiography was used to identify this pathological lesion. Part of the mass and pericardial sac were surgically removed for histopathological examination. A final diagnosis of neuroendocrine carcinoma was diagnosed by necropsy and histopathology. To the author's knowledge, there is very limited information in the literature about this pathology.

A two-year-old male veiled chameleon (Chamaeleo calyptratus) was referred for a gular oedema and bilateral blepharoedema. The echocardiography revealed a ventricular hypertrophy, pericardial effusion, and valvular regurgitation of the right atrioventricular valve. Treatment with hydrochlorothiazide, enalapril, and carvedilol was commenced. Within 3 weeks of treatment, the valvular regurgitation was noticeably decreased. In the 4^th week of treatment, the echocardiography revealed a reduction in the myocardium hypertrophy. After an additional month of home treatment, the patient was presented with anorexia and decreased activity. Despite the supportive care, the patient died. The histopathology revealed mild to moderate fibrosis of the epicardium. Moderate to severe fibrosis, degeneration of the myofibrils, fatty atrophy, interstitial oedema and mild calcification was seen in the atria. The tunica intima, media and adventitia of the major cardiac vessels were moderately fibrotic, swollen and interfused by myxoedema. The kidney histopathology revealed moderate sclerosis and atrophy of the glomeruli, vacuolation of the tubular epithelium, fibrosis, and infiltration of the leucocytes in the interstitium. The therapeutic protocol with hydrochlorothiazide, ACE inhibitor enalapril and β-blocker carvedilol reduced the myocardium hypertrophy and the valvular regurgitation; however, the prolonged use of diuretics jeopardized the renal function in our patient. Frequent blood analyses are necessary using diuretics in reptile patients.

The objective of this review is to ascertain the advantages and disadvantages of several treatments and therapeutic protocols that have been used for the prevention and treatment of perinatal asphyxia in human neonates and in different animal models. Perinatal asphyxia is one of the main causes of mortality worldwide and is an important factor in triggering physio-metabolic disorders that result in serious neurological consequences and learning disorders not only in human foetuses and neonates, but also in animals. In recent years, the search for new pharmacological protocols to prevent and reverse physio-metabolic disorders and brain damage derived from perinatal asphyxia has been and continues to be the subject of intense research. Currently, within these pharmacological protocols, therapeutic strategies have been evaluated that use respiratory and hormonal stimulants, as well as hypothermic therapies in combination with other putative neuroprotective agents. Similarly, energy supplements have been evaluated with the objective of preventing perinatal asphyxia and treating new-borns with this condition, and to decrease the incidence of neonatal and foetal deaths associated with it. However, despite these promising advances, this pathology has persisted, since the administration of these therapies in low doses may not exert a neuroprotective effect or, in high doses, can trigger adverse effects (such as reduced cardiac contractility, reduced cerebral blood flow, poor perfusion, sympathetic and neuroendocrine stimulation, and increased blood viscosity) in human foetuses and neonates as well as in different animal models (rats, piglets, sheep and rabbits). Therefore, it is important to determine the minimum effective dose with which these therapies exert a neuroprotective effect, as well as the mode of administration, the duration of therapy, etc. Therefore, until a powerful strategy is found to improve the consequences of suffocation, this topic will continue to be the subject of intensive research in the future.

Foodborne pathogens have become a major concern not only due to the diseases they cause, but also because of the rise of antibiotic resistant strains in human and animals. The purposes of this study were to determine the occurrence of Campylobacter jejuni and Escherichia coli and their antibiotic resistance profiles in wild birds, chickens, humans, and the environment in Malay villages in Malaysia. Three Malay villages in Kota Setar, Kedah were chosen. Three hundred nine (309) samples were collected in this study including wild birds (38), chickens (71), humans (47), and the environment (153). Subsequently, the C. jejuni and E coli isolates were tested against antibiotics using the disc diffusion method. Campylobacter jejuni was found positive in 17 (37.8%) flies and 8 (11.3%) chickens. Also, E. coli was found positive in 89.4% of human, 47.4% of bird, 44 62% of chicken and in 71.2% of the environmental samples. Ten antibiotics were used to determine the susceptibility of the isolates. Eighty four percent (84%) of C. jejuni and 100% of E. coli isolates were found to show resistance towards at least one antibiotic. The isolates showed high resistance to cefpodoxime and tetracycline.

The effects induced by medicinal aromatic plants in biological systems vary with the type and amount of bioactive substances these plants contain. Whether the purified form of the main chemical components of these plants, such as carvacrol and thymol, or plant volatile oils containing tens of bioactive compounds are more effective remains a question of debate. This study was aimed at providing a comparative assessment of the effects of Origanum syriacum L. (wild mountain thyme) volatile oil (OSVO) and one of its main components, carvacrol (CRV), on the in vitro ruminal degradability of lucerne herbage and methane production during the degradation of lucerne. For this purpose, wild thyme was harvested at the beginning of the flowering period, and the OSVO was extracted from the plant by steam distillation. Gas production assays were performed in five groups of ruminal fluid samples, one of which was maintained for control purposes, and the other four 40/60/80 mg/l of OSVO and 60 mg/l of CRV were added. Compared to the control group, in the samples with the added CRV and OSVO, the amounts of in vitro total gas and methane production were observed to have been affected, but no decrease was detected in the ruminal protozoa counts. The level of ammonia nitrogen was lowest in the groups, in which CRV and 40 mg/l of OSVO (P < 0.01) were added. The ruminal protozoa counts were not affected by the addition of CRV and OSVO. While the total volatile fatty acid (TVFA) and propionic acid (PA) concentrations in the in vitro fermentation fluid of lucerne herbage were low in all the groups, butyric acid was detected at a level of 40 mg/l in the group where CRV was added. The OSVO was ascertained to have induced dose-dependent alterations in the investigated in vitro digestion parameters. In result, CRV (60 mg/l) and OSVO (40 mg/l) were determined to have shown a relatively positive effect on the in vitro ruminal gas production. The anti-methanogenic effect of the plant extracts was due to the decreased digestibility of the lucerne herbage. This can have a positive impact on the environment, but the same cannot be said for the animal nutrient use and animal performance.

Due to the safe "off label" use of selected antiparasitic drugs in fish, we assessed the effects of a therapeutic bath with levamisole (50 mg/l), fenbendazole (25 mg/l), and ivermectin (0.031 mg/l) on the haematological and biochemical blood indices, oxidative and antioxidant variables, and gill histology of the common carp (Cyprinus carpio). Levamisole did not affect the haematological profile, but significantly increased (P < 0.01) the plasma glucose, lactate, and ammonia concentrations, alkaline phosphatase, and alanine aminotransferase activities, TBARS (muscle, liver), total superoxide dismutase activity (muscle), and catalase activity (liver) and significantly decreased (P < 0.01) plasma aspartate aminotransferase and glutathione reductase activity (gill, liver, muscle). Ivermectin led to a significantly (P < 0.01) greater muscle total superoxide dismutase activity compared to the controls, whereas the haematological and biochemical indices remained unchanged. On the other hand, fenbendazole did not affect the haematological or biochemical indices, and the oxidative stress parameters and antioxidant indices did not differ from the controls. The bath in FBZ can be recommended for safe antiparasitic treatment in carp.

Severe burn trauma triggers oxidative gastric mucosal injury. The purpose of this study was to investigate the antioxidant defence mechanisms and protective effect of melatonin in the gastric mucosa after burn injury. In order to investigate the mechanisms involved in the gastric antioxidant defence in a rat burn model, quantitative real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry techniques were applied. An analysis of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPx4), glutathione reductase (GR), and catalase (Cat) gene expression was performed along with the evaluation of the gastric Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn SOD) activity. Melatonin was applied immediately and 12 h after 30% of total body surface area burns. The burn injury significantly increased the Gpx4 mRNA (P < 0.000 1) and Gsr mRNA (P < 0.000 1) expression. It also had a slight positive effect on the Cat mRNA expression and Cu/Zn SOD activity. Melatonin, in turn, markedly augmented the burn-induced Cu/Zn SOD (P < 0.000 1) activity, reversed the Gpx4 mRNA (P < 0.000 1) and Gsr mRNA (P < 0.000 1) expression, and inhibited the Cat mRNA level. In conclusion, the present study suggests that a burn injury adaptively increases the Cu/Zn SOD activity and enhances the Gpx4 and Gsr gene expression in the gastric mucosa. Melatonin effectively modulates the expression of the cellular antioxidant enzymes, and improves the antioxidant defence by augmenting the Cu/Zn SOD activity.

The basic information dealing with the anatomy of the ferret's immune system, cross-reactivity of the ferret leukocytes with polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies in vitro and immune response to the mitogens and various infections are presented. The leukocyte numbers in the peripheral blood in the ferrets are lower compared to other species and only one subclass of IgG has been identified in ferrets so far. Lymphocytes make up 12-67% of all the leukocytes in the peripheral blood of the healthy adult ferrets. Lymphocyte subpopulations are similar to other mammals and include T- and B-lymphocytes. T-lymphocytes differentiate into helper (Th) lymphocytes and cytotoxic (Tc) lymphocytes. Currently, ferret granulocytes (CD11), B-lymphocytes (CD79α), T-lymphocytes (CD3), Th-lymphocytes (CD3, CD4), Tc-lymphocytes (CD3, CD8), and CD30, CD45 subpopulations are detected with the use of a number of polyclonal as well as with monoclonal antibodies. In a lymphocyte transformation assay, the mitogen response of the peripheral blood mononuclear cells to concanavalin A (ConA), phytohaemagglutinin (PHA), and pokeweed mitogen (PWM) is the greatest at day 2, 2 and 3, respectively. Serious lymphopenia is observed in ferrets during a distemper infection. A significant decrease in the lymphocyte transformation activity is observed on day 5 and reaches a maximal decrease on days 8-11, with full recovery on days 23-30 after the inoculation of laboratory ferrets with the distemper virus. Ferrets have also been used in studies related to the function of the immune system in Helicobacter pylori infections, Crohn's disease and bronchial asthma.

A variety of toxic effects of fipronil (FIP), the active substance of Biopronil Spot on®, on animals and humans has been reported and raises the need to investigate the FIP toxic effects. The objectives of the study were the evaluation of the local and systemic tolerance of Biopronil Spot on® and the assessment of its influence on haematological and biochemical blood parameters after single and multiple topical treatment in dogs. Thirty-two mixed breed dogs were included in the study assessing the local and general tolerance of Biopronil Spot on® following single, triple and fivefold dose after spot-on multiple applications in dogs (on days 0, +28 and +56) at a dosage 134 mg for a dog weighing 10-20 kg and 268 mg for a dog weighing 21-40 kg. A physical examination and biochemical and haematological analyses were performed on the days of the study as follows: -14, -5, +3, +31, +59, +70. No visible pathological changes on the skin were observed. The biochemical and haematological indicators rarely exceeded the reference values. No influence of Biopronil Spot on® administered in single, triple and fivefold repeated doses on the assessed clinical, haematological and biochemical parameters in dogs was found under the conditions described in the study.

A statistical approach was carried out to identify the prevalent virulence factors responsible for post-weaning diarrhoea (PWD). Healthy piglets' faecal samples and diarrhoeic piglets' rectal swab specimens were secured. Twenty-six (26) and 100 independent enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) strains were subsequently isolated. These strains were assessed utilising polymerase chain reaction to identify the encoding genes of six virulence factors: heat-labile enterotoxin (LT; encoded by eltAB), heat-stable enterotoxin A (STa; encoded by estA), heat-stable enterotoxin B (STb; encoded by estB), enteroaggregative E. coli heat-stable enterotoxin 1 (EAST1; encoded by astA), Shiga toxin 2e (Stx2e; encoded by stx2e), and F18 fimbriae (encoded by fedA). The LT and ST secretions were investigated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. From direct observation, no stx2e was evident in the 126 strains. Among the 26 strains retrieved from the healthy piglets, none harboured fedA or secreted LT; 23% (6/26) secreted ST, and 50% (13/26) carried astA. A statistical regression was applied on the 100 E. coli strains retrieved from the diarrhoeic piglets, where fedA was set as the dependent variable and the enterotoxin secretions were set as the independent variables. The results exhibit that the LT secretion was the only significant factor (P < 0.000 1) correlated to fedA in the diarrhoeic piglets; thus, it is concluded that the prevalent virulence factors for PWD were the ECET strain with F18 fimbriae adhesion and LT secretion, but not astA or stx2e.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of long-term blood storage in citrate-phosphate-dextrose-adenine (CPDA-1) on selected haematological values in the green iguana. Seven adult captive-bred green iguanas (Iguana iguana) were enrolled in this study. Samples of CPDA-1-blood mixture (ratio 1 : 7) were kept at 4 °C for 28 days. Haematological examinations were performed immediately after the blood was collected (D0) and repeated at one-week intervals (D7, D14, D21 and D28). The total erythrocyte and leukocyte counts at D21 and D28 differed significantly from the values at D0 (P < 0.05). Significant differences (P < 0.05) in the haemoglobin concentrations (in comparison to D0) were detected at D14, D21 and D28. Starting at D14, marked erythrocyte degradation was present in the majority of the samples and various degrees of leukocyte degradation were present in all the samples. The mean haemolytic scores at D0, D7, D14, D21 and D28 were 0.14 ± 0.38, 0.71 ± 0.95, 1.43 ± 0.98, 2.14 ± 1.35 and 2.43 ± 1.62, respectively. The results indicate that it is possible to keep the whole blood of green iguanas in CPDA-1 at 4 °C for seven days, as statistically significant changes in the haematological values begin to appear on the 14^th day of blood storage.

In connection with the use of cannabinoids for therapeutic purposes in human medicine, there is increased attention for their use in veterinary medicine, particularly by the owners of companion animals and horses. Therefore, veterinarians are expected to face this interest and have the corresponding knowledge on these substances. Presently, it is not possible to use medical marijuana (in terms of the dried cannabis flowers) for veterinary purposes in many countries, but there is increasing evidence that isolated cannabinoids also have beneficial effects (namely cannabidiol - CBD). Thus, this review summarises the possible therapeutic implications of CBD within the scope of evidence-based medicine, particularly in dogs and horses in association with the treatment of pain, epilepsy and anxiety in order to provide veterinarians with a concise overview of scientific findings in this field.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of a Lactobacillus plantarum DPP8 supplementation on the growth performance, pathogenic invasion, inflammation and pathogen resistance signal pathway in rabbits infected with Salmonella Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium). The treatments included a negative control, a positive control with an S. Typhimurium infection and a positive control plus DPP8 at 10⁶, 10⁸ or 10¹⁰ cfu/kg of diet using 300 weaned rabbits. The results showed that supplementing with DPP8 improved (P < 0.05) the feed intake, body weight gain and feed efficiency compared to the positive control. Also, DPP8 decreased (P < 0.05) the S. Typhimurium colonisation and translocation, serum IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α, and intestinal mucosa mRNA expressions of the inflammatory mediators Janus kinase (Jak) 2, the signal transducer and activator of transcription (Stat) 1 and 3 at 7 and 14 d post administration. The dose analysis of DPP8 showed linear increases (P ≤ 0.007) in the feed intake and body weight gain, but linear decreases (P ≤ 0.022) in the S. Typhimurium loads, IL-1β, IL-6 and Jak2. It is concluded that Lactobacillus plantarum DPP8 can be used as a supportive probiotic against an S. Typhimurium infection and it possibly plays a direct or indirect role in the downregulation of the Jak/Stat pathway in rabbits.

A 6-year-old bitch was presented to the clinical examination with the aim of determining the optimal time for intrauterine insemination by frozen-thawed semen. The bitch had already had two litters in the past. Extensive cystic endometrial hyperplasia was diagnosed by an ultrasound examination in the bitch. The timing of the endoscopic transcervical insemination by a combination of ultrasonographic examination of the ovaries and determining the progesterone concentrations contributed to the successful conception in the bitch. The ultrasonographic examination of the ovaries represents a non-invasive method which allowed us to view the changes on the ovaries in real time and, thus, is a very suitable method for the specification of the ovulation time in bitches. Cystic endometrial hyperplasia is considered to be a possible cause of infertility. Nevertheless, the bitch repeatedly conceived and had larger litter sizes. Moreover, a considerable reduction in the number of endometrial cysts was observed after the third pregnancy of the bitch. In the described clinical case, the influence of the cystic endometrial hyperplasia on the conception was not demonstrated.

A 5-year-old neutered male Shiba Inu dog presented with a history of oral bleeding, dysphagia, and depression for 3 weeks. The physical examination revealed a firm mass in the right caudal palatal region along the level of PM4-M2. On the computed tomography, the mass was round-to-oval in shape and 22 mm × 30 mm × 15 mm in size. The mass contained multiple bone attenuated materials with a palatal bone lysis of 4 mm × 6 mm. A complete resection of the mass was proposed; however, the owner declined due to the risk of complications associated with the radical surgery. Therefore, a palliative resection and biopsy of the mass were performed. On the histological examination, the mass was diagnosed as grade 2 multilobular tumour of bone (MTB). Since the mass was incompletely resected, adjuvant therapy was pursued along with targeted therapy using a tyrosine kinase inhibitor. The tumour cells showed overexpression of the receptor of tyrosine kinase for c-KIT, PDGFR-α, PDGFR-β, and FGFR1 compared to normal tissue cells. Additionally, the cytotoxic effect of imatinib on the MTB cells was confirmed in vitro. Four weeks postoperatively, the administration of imatinib and carprofen was initiated and continued for 259 days. The patient maintained a good functional outcome for 306 days after the initial presentation.