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Rapidly increasing amount of biological data necessarily requires techniques that would enable to extract the information hidden in the data. Methods of molecular phylogenetics are commonly used tools as well as objects of continuous research within many fields, such as evolutionary biology, systematics, epidemiology, genomics, etc. The evolutionary process not only determines relationships among species, but also allows prediction of structural, physiological and biochemical properties of biomolecules. The article provides the reader with a brief overview of common methods that are currently employed in the field of molecular phylogenetics.

Current sequencing projects are often based on random sequencing of genomic libraries followed by contig assembly by means of bioinformatics tools. This approach is convenient for whole genome sequencing projects. Chromosome walking described here is suitable for mapping and sequencing of short genomic regions in species where whole genome sequencing is not possible or for cloning gene from its closest known marker. This method is based on searching for overlapping BAC clones specific for the genomic region of interest.

The production of organic acids and changes during decomposition of rice straw amended with tricalcium phosphate (TCP) and Udaipur rock phosphate (URP) were studied under laboratory conditions. The organic C content of rice straw decreased and total N increased with time, resulting in a decrease in C:N ratio as the decomposition progressed. The pH decreased to acidic range in all the treatments on day 15, but became alkaline again later on. Soluble P increased at 15 days after incubation, declined later during decomposition, and was highest in the treatments containing TCP and Aspergillus awamori inoculation. Citric, oxalic, formic and maleic acids were detected during decomposition of rice straw and maximum amounts were present on day 15. Citric and oxalic acids were responsible mainly for P solubilization from TCP and URP; generally, citric acid was the most effective in P solubilization.

Several fusarioid microorganisms were isolated as potential pathogens of hop (Humulus lupulus L.) but their virulence was not proved in inoculation trials in field conditions. Molecular search for other possible pathogens was then performed. Using terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (TRFLP), Gibberella pulicaris (anamorph: Fusarium sambucinum) was identified as a probable cause of the hop wilting. The primary cause of the disease is wounding of hop crowns by feeding of rosy rustic moth (Hydraecia micacea) caterpillars or by defect pruning and other unfavourable circumstances. The specific primer HLf1 was designed that can be used to detect the pathogen in soil and in damaged plant tissues.

Basmati rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars viz. PRH-10 (pusa rice hybrid-10) and PS-2 (Pusa Sugandh-2) were grown under two different day/night temperatures (31/24°C, 35/28°C) at ambient (370 μmol/mol) and elevated (550 μmol/mol) carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentration, respectively, to characterize how an increase in CO₂ and temperature affects rice photosynthesis and carbohydrate metabolism. At elevated CO₂, the photosynthetic rates increased under both the temperature regimes, compared with plants grown at ambient CO₂. The photosynthetic rate, sucrose-P synthase (SPS) activity and accumulation of soluble sugars and starch were higher in PRH-10 (pusa rice hybrid-10), compared to PS-2 (Pusa Sugandh-2). Elevated temperature decreased the photosynthetic rates both under ambient and elevated CO₂ conditions. The SPS (sucrose-P synthase) activity and the accumulation of soluble sugars and starch were enhanced at elevated CO₂ under both temperature regimes compared with plants grown at ambient CO₂. The up-regulation of SPS (sucrose-P synthase) under elevated CO₂ and temperature would be beneficial for growth and productivity of rice plants for the future climatic conditions.

Microbial activities and counts of microorganisms were monitored as a part of research projects at 11 localities on arable land of different soil types during the years 2002-2006. The counts of microorganisms (total bacteria count, actinomycetes, micromycetes, Azotobacter, oligotrophic and spore-forming bacteria) and microbial activities (respiration, ammonification and nitrification tests) were evaluated using summary statistics, analysis of variance and correlation coefficients. The average counts of microorganisms corresponded with usual counts of microbes in arable soils. There were only some differences among localities in Azotobacter counts. Soil respiration is very often used as an indicator of soil microflora activity. Average values of basal respiration were slightly lower (0.45 mg CO₂ /h per 100 g dry soil) than usual values, potential respiration with glucose (G) or with ammonium and G (NG) responded to usual values (average G 4.27, NG 9.53 mg CO₂ /h per 100 g dry soil). All activities (except actual ammonification) were higher in spring season, but the differences were not significant. There were significant differences in correlation coefficients among the selected criteria; 66% from the total number of correlation coefficients were non-significant, 34% were significant (13% of them was at the significance level 0.05, 10% P < 0.01, and 11% P < 0.001).

A three-year field experiment was conducted from 2000 to 2002 in North-East Poland. Each year three sulphur fertilization rates in the form of sulphate (S-SO^2-₄) and pure (S-S⁰) sulphur were applied: 40, 80 and 120 kg/ha. In the soil horizon at the depth of 0-40 cm the triple rate of S- and S-S⁰) depressed soil reaction. Acidification of soil caused by S-SO^2-₄ became evident already in the first year of the study while that resulting from S-S⁰) application appeared as late as in the third year. The effect of sulphur on soil in the 40-80 cm horizon was irregular. As the sulphur rates increased and the duration of the experiment progressed, sulphates accumulated in soil. In the 0-40 cm soil layer, the increasing rates of sulphur tended to increase the content of N-NH⁺₄. In most objects, the NPK + S fertilization, and especially the single S-SO^2-₄ treatment, caused an increase in N-NO^-₃ in both soil layers compared with the NPK fertilized object. The dose of 120 kg/ha S-SO^2-₄ caused a significant increase in the concentration of available phosphorus in soil in the 0-40 and 40-80 cm layers.

By reference to the Eternal Rye trial in Halle, Germany, as an example, it is demonstrated that long-term trials provide indispensable information for contemporary and future land use research. These trials serve as tools for the examination of cultivation measures or the effects of climate on nutrient dynamics and mobilization, microbial biodiversity, mineral composition or soil formation processes. They are therefore essential for the evaluation of land-use strategies or climatic change and, because of that, can provide more accuracy in related political considerations.

The paper deals with the possibilities of arsenic analysis in the soil. The aim is the selection and verification of the methods for analysis of As in the soil, which seem to be suitable for risk evaluation based on the increased As soil load. Economical and analytical availability of the methods is an important criterion. A sample set of 6 heavily contaminated soils was used to compare application potential of prevalent as well as less common procedures for determination of arsenic forms in soils. The results showed that substitution of analytically more demanding As total content analysis and sequential analysis for simple extraction using one-off agents seemed to be promising in many cases. The comparison and evaluation of statistical correlation of used methods of As analysis in the soil was realised. The results suggested that using the combination of simple 1M NH₄NO₃ extraction and determination procedure for amorphous Fe forms in the soil (the Tamm method) was suitable for the risk assessment stemming from the As contamination without necessity of the application of more complicated sequential extraction procedures.

Urbanization has drastically changed soil properties, and an assessment of these changes is essential for soil management and soil health. The activities of urease, acid phosphatase, invertase and catalase, soil organic matter, pH, electrical conductivity (EC) and clay (< 0.01 mm) content of urban soils under two land-uses in the central built-up area of the Shenzhen city were investigated, and multivariate analysis was used to study the relationship between soil enzymes and soil physical-chemical properties. The results showed that invertase activity in roadside soil was significantly higher than that in urban park soil, whereas catalase activity was significantly higher in urban park soil. Soil organic matter had significant positive correlation with activities of invertase, urease and acid phosphatase but not with catalase. Soil pH had a significant negative direct effect on urease and acid phosphatase activity, but the effect was counteracted by positive indirect effect of soil organic matter. Soil EC had a positive direct effect on activities of catalase and there was a significant correlation between soil EC and soil catalase activities. Soil organic matter, soil pH and EC were the major factors influencing activities of soil enzymes.

Producers in highland and semiarid regions have difficulty in increasing diversity in crop rotations due to unfavorable conditions imposed by cool temperatures, inadequate rainfall, and shorter growing periods. In such conditions, safflower appears as a promising alternative because it is cold and drought tolerant. The objective of this study was to determine the responses of the hybrid and open-pollinated safflower genotypes to irrigated and non-irrigated conditions in a highland environment. For this reason, the field research was performed during the years of 2001 and 2002 in eastern Anatolia, Turkey. According to the results of the study, safflower genotypes tested were well adapted to the cool and short-season conditions in this region. The response of seed yield to genotype varied depending on the growing seasons. The non-irrigated plants produced nearly the same seed yield as irrigated ones. Average seed yields of safflower genotypes tested were 914.3 and 928.0 kg/ha in 2001, and 1143.6 and 1139.9 kg/ha in 2002 years for irrigated and non-irrigated experiments, respectively. In general, the genotypes differed in all of the investigated traits. In both irrigated and non-irrigated experiments genotype × year interactions were very significant for all parameters. This research shows that in semiarid and highland environments safflower has a big potential value as an oilseed crop under dryland conditions.

In order to study the characteristics of element values in the cell of plants and soils and their relationships that would help to evaluate the biogeochemical effect of soil on the element contents in the cells of plants in the same environment of Southwestern China, the soil samples were collected for analysis and the weight and atom percentage of elements (WT% and AT%) in the leaves of two different species of Flos Lonicerae were analyzed by the electron probe (EDX-9100). The results of soil analysis show that the nutrient element contents in the soil are determined by the liable content of elements, which were arranged as: Ca > Mg > Cu > Mn > K > Na > P > B > SiO₂ > Zn > Fe, even though the total element values in soil of different horizons were arranged as: SiO₂ > Fe > Ca > Mg > K > Na > Mn > P > Zn > B > Cu. It indicates that karst environment is composed of soluble calcium-rich rock and soil scarcity. Moreover, the migratory velocity and availability of elements are also determined by their coefficient variability. According to statistical results, Ca, Mn and P in the soil have high coefficient variability, reflecting its background of karst soil. Based on the electron probe, it is shown that the content of Ca is higher while Mg is the lowest in the cell of two different species of Flos Lonicerae (r = -0.156, P < 0.05) and the content of P in the cell is inferior to Ca (r = 0.868, P < 0.01). By studying the relationship of soil and the plants, it can be seen that these results are probably caused by the characteristics of local biogeochemistry. Ca is mainly absorbed by plant with the help of transpiration and accumulated in the cell, and thus becomes a predominant element in the cell. The accumulation of Ca in cell of plant will affect the absorbency and the content of other elements in the cell of Flos Lonicerae, resulting in the different contents of other elements in the Flos Lonicerae through synergistic and antagonistic action, followed by the affected quality and officinal value of the Flos Lonicerae.

: For the measurement of the infiltration speed under operational conditions, we were equipped by a rain simulator with the measuring surface of 0.5 m². The infiltration speed is determined from the defined rain intensity and water surface runoff from the measured surface. The retained water mass from the surface runoff is recorded at regular time intervals over the whole measuring period. The beginning of the water runoff from the measured surface indicates the beginning of elutriation. The measuring time is finished after the infiltration speed has been stabilised. The beginning of elutriation and infiltration speed stabilisation are typical and mutually comparable parameters for defined soil properties at the site followed.

This paper is focused on the Jizera Mountains as a region strongly influenced by man in the past. The structure of the natural forest was changed. Species monocultures with similar tree ages were planted. High acidificants concentrations in atmosphere led to the decline of these monoculture forests in the top parts of the mountains and the high acidificants deposition damaged the soils in the whole region. The goals of this study are to describe the distribution of the soil properties in altitude transects, where temperature, precipitation, and vegetation gradients are recorded, and to compare the soil properties in spruce and beech forests. The soil samples were collected from soil pits in a surviving nature-close beech forest, in a production spruce forest, and also in the top dead forest area with a grass cover. Soil samples from sufficiently deep diagnostic horizons were taken for the study of chemical properties. The basic soil characteristics were determined by the commonly used methods (pH, effective cation exchange capacity - eCEC, and the contents of cations in the sorption complex, A₄₀₀/A₆₀₀ as humus quality parameter, the contents of available Ca, Mg, K and P, pseudototal content of Ca and Mg, and two differently extracted Fe and Al forms contents). The soils of the Jizera Mts. are strongly acid with a low eCEC which is the result of the natural and anthropogenic acidification processes. Soil chemical properties of the most affected top mountainous parts are in some aspects more favourable than lower parts (binding of potentially toxic Al in organic matter, slightly higher pH), but in other aspects they are still endangered by the acidification symptoms (higher leaching of base cations, especially Mg). The soils of nature-close beech forests represent more favourable soil properties than those of planted spruce forests. Generally, it can be concluded that the natural systems have higher resilience, and that natural mechanisms are able to mitigate slightly the soil degradation.

The main aim of this work was to compare the results of the water storages obtained in the experimental basins in the Jizerské hory Mountains before the time of snowmelt with the total outflows, which were measured in the hydrological stations during the snowmelt period in two winter seasons with extraordinary snow depths (2005 and 2006). The snow water equivalent (measured in weekly steps), daily precipitation amount, and runoff in hourly values were the input data; the calculated runoff coefficients were the output values. The runoff coefficients from the snowmelt periods of 2005 and 2006 were compared in the Uhlířská and the Jezdecká Basins. The runoff coefficient in the Uhlířská Basin increased in 2006 from 0.636 to 0.688 (increase by 4%) and in the Jezdecká Basin it increased in 2006 from 0.660 to 0.749 (increase by 9%). It may have been the result of a bigger volume of precipitation during the snowmelt period 2006. The calculated runoff coefficients, which express the differences between the water storage obtained and the total outflow, can describe the specific characters of the experimental basins. It may be useful for the estimation of the expected inflow into water reservoirs and also for the hydrological forecasting in the foothills of the Jizerské hory Mountains. The measured data of snow cover also serve as a check, and also for the possible adjustment of the snow water equivalent generated by the model SNOW 17 - which is a part of the forecasting modelling system Aqualog. This system is in everyday use for the Elbe river forecasts in the Forecasting Centre of CHMI. The usefulness of this procedure was proved especially during the floods arising from snowmelts in last years. The model SNOW 17 has been calibrated for the catchment of the Černá Desná Stream with the Jezdecká closing profile (one of the experimental basins in the Jizerské hory Mountains). The results obtained demonstrate a very good capability of the model to duplicate the dynamics of the snow cover accumulation and thaw, if quality input data are available.

Two different models (WBS FLAB, WaSiM-ETH) were used in the project HochNatur (flood prevention and nature conservation in the Weißeritz catchment in the Eastern Ore Mts. - Erzgebirge) to determine risk areas with quick runoff processes and to simulate the discharge. It was done in different scales, in the mesoscale Weißeritz catchment as well as two selected subcatchments with different natural and urban conditions, the Weißbach subcatchment with a well-structured landscape, the Höckenbach subcatchment with a greater part of arable land. On the basis of selected scenarios, the effect of land use changes on the runoff generation processes of an area and on the hydrograph is described. Land use changes are able to reduce the portion of quick runoff components, the water erosion and the discharge. The effect occurs especially in smaller catchments and with short heavy rains (events with a frequency of occurrence of 5-50 years). Depending on the present situation the changes have to include areas of more than 25% of the catchments area to cause a significant effect. It became apparent that nature conservation and flood prevention agree well in their requirements with the land use. A rich structured landscape proved to be extraordinarily positive for both, flood prevention and nature conservation.

The Web of Science database searched results for papers published from the Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic, were analysed. The Veterinary Research Institute has increased publication activity in 2001-2005; more than 4 times in comparison with the period 1990-2004. The impact factor of journals has increased 5.5 times. The collaboration with 31 foreign countries and 175 institutions resulted in the publication of 277 papers in 93 journals during the past five years. Positioning of the Veterinary Research Institute is now among the worldwide leading teams is evident in twelve research profiles. The Web of Science is an efficient tool for record analysis and researcher's and institution's publication activities.

Twenty seven Pasteurella multocida rabbit isolates were characterised by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) generated by restriction endonuclease ApaI, and examined for the presence of capsule and fimbriae, and tested of haemolytic activity and endotoxin release in presence of rabbit plasma. Among the isolates a high number (n = 20) of different PFGE types was observed. All isolates were found to be encapsulated and four of them also possessed fimbriae. Although the presence of the aphA gene, conferring a haemolytic phenotype for Escherichia coli under anaerobic conditions, was indicated in all of the isolates by PCR, clear haemolytic activity was observed in only one isolate when grown anaerobically. All of the isolates grew easily in the presence of rabbit plasma which showed a high capacity to bind the released endotoxin.

Ethiopia is one among the nations that possesses the largest number of livestock population in the African continent estimated to be 33 million cattle, 24 million sheep and 18 million goats. In contrast to the huge livestock resource, the livestock productivity is however, found to be very low. The major biological and socio-economical factors attributing to the low productivity includes: the low genetic potential and performance, poor nutrition (in quality and quantity terms), the prevailing of different diseases, traditional way of husbandry systems and inadequate skilled manpower, among others. Ethiopia is one of the African countries where tuberculosis is wide spread in both humans and cattle and the endemic nature of tuberculosis in humans and cattle has long been documented. The disease is considered as one of the major livestock diseases that results in high morbidity and mortality, although the current status on the actual prevalence rate of bovine tuberculosis (BTB) at a national level is yet unknown. Detection of BTB in Ethiopia is carried out most commonly on the basis of tuberculin skin testing, abattoir meat inspection and very rarely on bacteriological techniques. Recently undertaken studies indicated the prevalence rate of BTB with a range of 3.4% (in small holder production system) to 50% (in intensive dairy productions) and a range of 3.5% to 5.2% in slaughterhouses in various places of the country. BTB in cattle remains to be a great concern due to the susceptibility of humans to the disease. The infections mainly take place by drinking raw milk and occur in the extra-pulmonary form, in the cervical lymphadenitis form in particular. The aim of this paper is to review the status of BTB in Ethiopia in relation with the existing animal husbandry systems and abattoir meat inspection surveillances. Control measures, economic impacts and the zoonotic aspect of the disease are also briefly addressed.

Significance of a short-time survival test for the prediction of quality parameters of sperm obtained by gradient centrifugation was evaluated from an aspect of their functional resistance. Frozen semen samples from 27 bulls before and after separation were assessed by a 120-min survival test. The evaluation of morphological examination of ejaculates was carried out using the SASMO computer program. Statistically significant interrelationship between sperm quality parameters in the initial insemination doses, the amounts of obtained sperm after separation and their functional and vital resistance in the survival test was documented.

The genetic diversity of 132 pig isolates of Mycobacterium avium subsp. avium (MAA) from the Czech Republic, the Slovak Republic and Slovenia was examined by IS901 restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis with restriction endonuclease PvuII. A total of 18 RFLP types were detected. The occurrence frequency of respective RFLP types varied between respective pig farms, with the exception of one RFLP type F found in 21 (34.4%) of 61 farms and in 10 (55.6%) of 18 farms in the Czech Republic and Slovak Republic, respectively. Two different RFLP types were detected in 5 (33.3%) of the 15 studied farms, from which more than one isolate were examined. These results show the low variability of the MAA isolates among the pig farms and the possibility of various sources of infection for pigs from infected farms.

During the past few years, there has been an increasing interest in rapid visual tests that could be performed outside the laboratory, for example on farms, in store houses or in food production plants. Hence, cost effective and simple screening methods are required for residual analysis of environmental and food samples on-site. Here, a simple and instrumental independent dipstick immunoassay for sulfamethazine detection is described. The polyclonal antibody was optimised in terms of coating dilution on a nitrocellulose membrane, dilution of peroxidase tracer conjugate, blocking agents and incubation times. Test results assessed by visual measurement can be available within 20 minutes. In buffer, water, skimmed milk and pig manure extract, sulfamethazine fortified at 50 and 100 µg/l has exhibited clear visual differentiation in colour development (lower intensity) in comparison to the control spot intensity (high intensity) of the dipstick.

Malachite green has been used as an effective compound to control external fungal and protozoan infections of fish since 1933 but it has never been registered as a veterinary drug for use in food fish because of its potential carcinogenicity, mutagenicity and teratogenicity in mammals. The present paper reviews negative side-effects of malachite green including its accumulation and persistence in fish that have been treated and describes other alternative substances for the treatment of fish and fish eggs.

An outbreak of koi herpesvirus (KHV) infection associated with high mortality of common and koi carp was recorded in the USA and Israel in 1998. At present, this disease is viewed as one of the most significant factors that can adversely affect common and koi carp breeds. The disease has spread worldwide including European countries neighbouring with the Czech Republic (CR), i.e. Germany, Poland, and Austria. To monitor the situation in the CR, samples were collected from a total of 138 common and koi carps in seven and eight locations in CR respectively, and were examined between 2005 and 2006. Locations owned by the major producers of common and koi carp were selected with respect of potential occurrence of the KHV virus. No records of increased mortality and morbidity were noticed there. Preferentially carps with non-specific symptoms of disease were sampled, often with isolated skin erosions. To obtain detailed picture about health condition of examined fish the bacteriological and haematological examinations were accomplished. The next part of the examined samples were carp and koi carp for export from professional breeders, imported koi carp and fish from breeds with increased mortality (45 and 21 fish in 2005 and 2006, respectively) The only virological testing was done in this case. The culture and PCR method, according to Gilad et al. (2002) showed negative results for virus KHV in all years. Retrospective investigation by PCR method according to Bercovier et al. (2005) showed positivity in five locations in 2005. In 2006, KHV virus was not detected in any of the selected locations. The aim of our study was to find out the presence/absence of KHV in selected locations and potential correlation of virological, bacteriological and haematological findings. The results of first testing for presence of koi herpesvirus indicates the necessity of regular KHV monitoring in the Czech Republic in the next period.

Out of the total number of 434 horses that underwent colic surgery, small intestine was operated in 195 (44.9%) patients, caecum in 10 (2.3%) horses, large colon surgery was performed in 196 (45.2%) cases and small colon surgery in 14 (3.2%) horses. In 12 patients (2.8%) two different parts of the gastrointestinal tract were affected simultaneously, one horse suffered from peritonitis, torsion of the uterus developed in two mares and three animals had negative surgical findings. Of 434 horses, 371 (85.5%) survived. After small intestinal surgery, 159 patients (81.5%) recovered from anaesthesia and were discharged home as well as seven horses (70%) after caecal surgery, 175 horses (89.3%) after large colon surgery and 14 horses (100%) following small colon surgery. 75 out of 103 horses (72.8%) were discharged home after the small intestinal resection and 89 of 98 horses (90.8%) with small intestinal problems where no resection was needed. In total, 43 of the patients that underwent one surgery did not survive the immediate postoperative period. The most frequent lethal complications in horses following the small intestinal surgery included peritonitis (five horses) and paralytic ileus (four horses) and in horses with large colon problems it was typhlocolitis (six cases). Relaparotomy was indicated in 41 of 434 horses (9.4%) that recovered from colic surgery. 21 out of the 41 (51.2%) relaparotomised colic patients were released from the clinic. All successfully repeated surgeries were carried out to overcome primary small intestine ileus problems, and in 14 of these cases (66.7%) resection and anastomosis were performed. The most common finding, diagnosed in 9 of 21 reoperated horses, was paralytic ileus. Of 20 relaparotomised horses that did not survive, three animals were lost after the introduction of anaesthesia, nine horses were euthanised after the abdominal cavity revision, one horse did not recover after the surgical procedure and seven horses did not survive the postoperative period. In 15 of 20 dead horses, the cause of the first surgical intervention was small intestinal ileus, in other four horses there was a large colon problem and in the last patient, it was a stomach disease. In 13 of 15 (86.7%) horses with small intestinal problems and in three of four (75%) patients with large colon disease, either resection or bypass was performed. In the remaining four non-surviving horses of 20 relaparotomised ones, peritonitis and/or adhesion formation was diagnosed at the second surgery, in three horses anastomosis complications were the main problem. Peritonitis or paralytic ileus led to death or euthanasia in four of seven horses that recovered after relaparotomy.

Three hundred and thirty-one (331) horses out of 371 cases (i.e. 351 individuals discharged from the clinic) were followed up in order to evaluate long-term survival rate and complications after colic surgery. Twenty horses were subjected to surgery twice during the period of this study. Out of the sample of 331 patients, 302 animals (91.2%) survived at least 11 months after the operation. Twenty-nine horses (8.8%) died or had to be euthanized. Colic episode was considered to be the cause of death in 23 (79.3%) out of 29 patients. Seven colic patients had to be reoperated. The remaining six patients died of a cause unrelated to the gastrointestinal disease. Seven out of 302 long-term surviving patients needed the second operation within the first 11 months after the first surgery. Colic episode was reoperated in another 15 patients after 12 months to 4 years after the first operation. Conservative treatment was necessary in another 10 long-term surviving horses. In eight long-term surviving horses and in one patient that did not survive 11 months, incision hernias were identified as the postoperative complication. Twenty-one horses out of 331 were subjected to relaparotomy during their first hospitalization. Eighteen out of these (85.7%) survived 11 months after the surgery; the remaining three were euthanized within six months due to colic.

Psittacine beak and feather disease (PBFD) is a common viral disease of psittacine birds. The causative agent, beak and feather disease virus (BFDV) is a small circular single-stranded DNA virus belonging to the genus Circovirus. We report the detection of viral DNA predominantly in the heart, intestine and liver, but also in the testes and digestive organs. Additionally, BFDV transmission was investigated. We discuss the possibility that BFDV is transmitted horizontally. In our experiments, embryonated and non-embryonated budgerigar eggs were analysed for the presence of BFDV DNA. In 35.3% of non-embryonated and 20% of embryonated eggs viral DNA was detected, suggesting that BFDV can be transmitted horizontally and vertically.

Interstitial pneumonia (2/3 of the lungs were affected) and diffusely enlarged bronchial and mediastinal lymph nodes were diagnosed by gross examination of a dead 16-year-old mare. Based on histopathological examination and the detection of acid-fast rods after staining by the Ziehl-Neelsen technique, tuberculosis was suspected. Mycobacterium avium subsp. avium of serotype 2 and IS901+/IS1245+ genotype was isolated from the pulmonary lymphnode after five-week incubation at 37°C. Due to the fact that horses have a naturally high resistance to mycobacterial infections, the high age of the mare most likely contributed to the development of the disease.